51 comments/ 157060 views/ 120 favorites Silver Oranges By: ABSTRUSE Elise lifted the cup to her lips, paused to inhale its aroma, took another sip and smiled. It smelled deep and rich like moist earth from a far away land. She took a drink and let it sit on her tongue before she swallowed and allowed the heat to slide down her throat. "God, why can't I get coffee like this back home?" she thought. She shook her head in disbelief as she thought about how she would stand in a long line each day before work, to get a cup of coffee that couldn't begin to compare to this blend. She toyed with the thought of filling her suitcase with nothing but this coffee before her trip back home. Again a smile formed across her lips as she imagined customs opening her bag and finding nothing but coffee. They would slit open a package and as a cascade of beans spilled to the floor, she would innocently look at the quizzical stare of the burly customs man and in her sweetest voice, she would explain. "I really, really love this coffee." She had been in Budapest for three days before she found the little restaurant. It became her home base. She preferred it over the stuffy office she worked at, as well as her lonely hotel suite. Here, she could at least see people and not only a screen and codecs. Working in Budapest was not much different to making a living in the State; with the exception, that here, she didn't feel the oppressive sense of urgency that she had grown accustomed to back home. She tapped a few keys on her laptop to access her email and sighed. Most of her mail was work related. One or two were from the few acquaintances she had and one was a reminder she had sent to herself. She wrote a brief summary to send back to the home office, updating them on her progress. As she logged off, her desktop revealed a picture of a lake back home where she and her parents had spent their summer vacations. She remembered how much she loved to walk along the shore, watching the small fish skitter from the shallows to hide beneath the plants. As they sensed her nearby, their tiny bodies quivered in anticipation as they waited for her to move so they could swim back to the shallows and warm themselves in the sun. She missed the sunsets the most. She would sit on the dock overlooking the lake in her sweatshirt and shorts, while she listened to the music her parents played outside by the fire. Her mother would play the violin as her father strummed his guitar, and she would watched the colors of the setting sun appear and change as if they were summoned by the music. Sometimes friends would gather at the river banks and join in with drums or hand clapping while others sang. They would drink and dance, and laughter and song filled the air as she watched the sun become a sliver on the horizon, which would finally gave way to a night sky filled with stars. Her reverie was broken by joyous greetings being exchanged at the counter. A young woman had arrived and was leaning over to kiss the cheeks of the owner. She wore low cut jeans that hugged her hips snugly, a scarf around her waist and her arms were adorned with bracelets. Long, wild black hair flowed down her back, moving as if it had a life of its own. The woman reached up with a slender hand, to move tresses away from her face, Elise could see a bright smile as the woman's head briefly turned in her direction. A glint of gold from the woman's earrings made Elise think of how impractical it was to wear such large hoops with such unruly hair. As if the woman could read her thoughts, she looked over at Elise, catching her with dark eyes that Elise could not turn away from. The woman smiled. Elise felt a burning sensation rise from her cheeks as she quickly smiled back and then dropped her head down to look at her laptop. She retrieved a document from her files, and went back to the safety of her electronic world. She quickly fell into her familiar pattern of reformatting and verifying data. She prided herself on her dedication to her job, and felt secure amongst numbers and programs that were complex, yet structured, like her life. Everything had to be well thought-out. Logic would dictate reason. Precise and literal paths lead to solutions. Any problems that came about could be solved either mathematically or factually. The placement of a glass on her table broke her concentration. "What's this?" "Palinka . . .very good, you'll like it." "I didn't order this." "No, it is a gift." The man wiped his hand on his apron and pointed to the young woman as she left the restaurant, "She said you needed it." Elise watched as the woman disappeared into the street and then looked back at the glass sitting in front of her. She wanted to ask the man more, but he was already walking back into the kitchen. She reached for the glass, quickly pulled her hand back, and looked out the window as if the woman would miraculously be standing there smiling at her. She reached for the glass again, lifted the aperitif to her nose and inhaled, liking what she smelled. She decided that the drink was a friendly gesture in a country where people were generous and open. She took a small sip and determined that she liked this drink as much as the coffee, and allowed herself a larger swallow. The delicious burn of the alcohol and the fruity taste swept away any thoughts of her being drugged and kidnapped. "You've been here two weeks," she thought, "and everyone has been nothing but nice to you. This isn't NYC." Minutes later, she ordered another of the same and sipped, while reading a letter from her parents she had scanned and placed in a file before she left for Hungary. They were having a very successful year with their strawberry and raspberry plants and were making large batches of preserves. They would be sending her some shortly. Elise rolled her eyes. She could never understand why they didn't just sell their products. It was delicious, and they could easily market it, turning a comfortable profit. Instead, they gave it away to their friends and to food banks. She read how her mother had sold a few of her paintings, but grimaced when she read that most of the money had been given to a local animal shelter. "So much for planning for your retirement, Mom." She clicked off the letter and closed her laptop, not wanting to read any more. She gathered her belongings, paid her bill, and started making her way back to her hotel room. She didn't feel like walking, so she caught a bus and settled down into an empty seat. She watched out the window as buildings and people went by just as they did back home. Her eye caught a reflection in the window of someone sitting across from her. It looked like the woman she had seen in the restaurant. Casually she turned her head and again found her eyes meeting those of the dark haired girl. She gave Elise a warm smile. Elise smiled back, dipped her head and went back to looking out the window. "Pure coincidence." she murmured. She watched, as the reflection in the window watched her. A slow shiver ran through her body, her heart started to race and she felt the need to run. The bus came to a stop, and she immediately jumped from her seat, and left. She walked along the street daring not to look at the bus as it passed her. She could feel the woman's dark eyes following her. In the next moment, a warm body pushed into hers and she found herself staring into the wrinkled face of an old woman. Her eyes were dark and kind. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going" The woman smiled at her. "It's God's way of letting us meet people." She then pointed to a church behind Elise. "I lit a candle for you." Elise turned, and looked up at the church. The stained glass shining in the setting sun reminded her of a kaleidoscope she had as a child. When she turned back, the woman was gone. Elise looked around, but there was no sign of her in the street. Looking back at the church she found herself drawn to go inside and her legs moved as if they had a mind of their own. She warily pushed the old wooden door open and stepped inside, finding herself reacquainted with the smell of candle wax and incense; the smell of sanctuary. As by habit, she blessed herself and genuflected, before sliding into one of the ornately carved pews. She sat quietly, letting herself take in the wistful faces of painted saints framed in marble walls that adorned the rear of the altar. To the side of the altar was a sculpture of the Holy Mother and her child, and to her left, another Saint that she didn't recognize. She looked at the older women in their babushkas clutching rosaries in worn gnarled fingers, their mouths moving in silent prayer, beseeching the son of God to grant them absolution. But for what sins, she did not know. She knew these women to be pious and hard working. What sins could they possibly have to atone for? Maybe they were praying for the souls of others? Perhaps asking for divine intervention on behalf of the sick, or the poor. Prayer was elusive to her; she felt it to be an illusion. She had been brought up as a good catholic girl - an intervention on the part of her grandparents. She knew about prayer and Saints and all the rituals that went on in church. While the orderliness and expectability of rituals drew her in, the comprehension of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the plight of the martyrs and the adoration of the Holy Virgin left her confused as a child. Believing in someone you couldn't see, hear, talk to or touch didn't make sense to her over active left brain. It was as misleading as magic, politics and true love. She sank down into the wooden seat, and let her eyes roam over the art and architecture, crafted by the hands of the devoted, so many years ago. They loved their work, they loved their God and they combined it with their love for life. She looked again at the old women and their hands. Her own hands were still smooth and delicate, despite her long hours of typing on a keyboard. Eventually she may develop Carpal Tunnel in her hands, but these women, their fingers were bent in arthritic twists and yet they never ceased to work hard. She admired that. Hard work was something she instilled within herself. Devotion; that was something else she understood intimately. She devoted herself to her job, to being perfect and orderly. "Is that so wrong?" she thought to herself. "I'm dedicated to my career, it's a reflection of who I am, and what I can achieve." Her mind went back to the dark haired woman on the bus. The wild hair and all that jewellery. She might as well have worn a neon sign saying "Look at me." Just like her parents and the people they chose to be with - out there and in your face, not caring who looked at them or what they said. She remembered how embarrassed she would be when her friends saw her out with them. Later in school she would be called "hippie" as well as a few more colorful things. "Hey Elise, would your mom make me some love beads and wind chimes?" They would taunt her, and then go on to making comments about her father's long ponytail. She wanted nothing more than to just disappear - unnoticed. Elise shook her head of the memories and rose from the pew. As she was leaving, she saw a small alcove with a statue of the Blessed Virgin. She walked over to it and looked up at the woman's serene face. Taking a few coins from her pocket, she deposited them in the donation box and found a taper, and lit a candle for no one in particular. The streets outside were starting to fill up with the evening crowd. Pulling her jacket tighter around her, laptop bag over her shoulder, she walked towards a small market area. Vendors were already selling a large mix of Christmas goods, reminding her that the holiday was only a month away. She sighed to herself and decided that she would stroll through and see if she could find something to send to her parents. She always sent them something from the cities she had travelled to - usually something handmade and indigenous to where she was staying. As she glanced over the various stalls, the smells of sausages cooking made her hungry. "I'm hungry in Hungary" she giggled to herself, "Oh God, now I'm just a loony American." She spied what she wanted - a kurtoskalacs vendor. Even more so than to the coffee and palinka, she was becoming addicted to the sweet strips of dough rolled into a cylinder, coated in sugar and slowly browned over a coal fire. She ordered one to go, planning to have it later in her hotel room, where she could lick the caramel goodness from her fingers in private. As she walked further, she came upon a stall selling beautiful scarves and handcrafted jewellery. Among the bracelets and necklaces were amulets for luck, love, health and fertility. The Roma or Gypsies were a large part of the community here. Many of them sold their crafts in the markets - beautifully handmade trinkets, some infused with magical properties. She thought of her parents – Hippies . . .Gypsies. Was there really a difference between the two? "I don't have what you are looking for," said a voice from the back of the stall. "I don't have memory cards or data disks." Elise squinted, trying to find the exact location to where the voice was coming from. "Pardon me?" A figure stepped out from behind a makeshift curtain of an embroidered forest scene. The dark haired woman sipped her tea from a small, chipped china cup and looked at Elise. It was the woman she encountered earlier. Elise felt a flush of anger mixed with embarrassment as the woman stared deeply into her eyes. Then she looked down at Elise's laptop bag. "Perhaps . . . " She reached over for an intricately tooled leather bag, " . . . this might be something of interest to you?" Her hands smoothed over the leather bag, fingers tracing along the designs, "Smooth calfskin . . . well made . . . sturdy. And much more pleasing to look at than that bag you already have." "Thank you but no. Mine is functional and I don't need something that . . . elaborate." She clutched her dependable bag a little closer to her. The woman smiled and set the bag down and then selected a pair of earrings. Silver coins strung on small loops that gave a pleasant sound as they moved against one another. "These perhaps?" she held them close to Elise's ears, "They will look beautiful against your hair." Elise stepped back and shook her head. "I'm not really shopping. I mean I am shopping, but not for me," She hoped that she wasn't sounding like the complete idiot she felt. She couldn't help it. This woman made her nervous. "I'm trying to find something for my parents. They live in the States." She grimaced. "That's obvious, isn't it? I mean, I'm American so they must be American and if I'm shopping for them then they aren't here. Not that they wouldn't like it here, it's really beautiful. My mom would probably buy out your entire shop." The woman simply smiled back and then went back behind the curtain, leaving Elise standing alone, still clutching her bag and her snack. "Lord," she thought, "she must think that I'm a lunatic, rambling on like that." The woman reappeared with two small glasses filled with palinka. She handed one to Elise. "Here. Relax. I think you'll like this. My father makes his own and it's the best in all of Hungary." Elise took the glass. The liquid slightly burned and warmed her insides. She hadn't realized that she was trembling slightly. She set her bag with the pastry down on the table for fear of dropping the glass. "Thank you. God, this is good." "You're looking for a silver orange." "Excuse me?" "There is poetry written inside you . . . but those two words, they have no rhyme. You need rhyme and rhythm in your life - a flow that makes sense. But yet, you want that one thing that makes no sense." "I believe that things have logical meanings and a precise sense of order." "You spend your days tapping against the plastic keys of your computer." "It's called making a living." "Ha. Life shouldn't be work. I can go and dance on this table and not care what others think. That is my rhythm. You are tethered to a desk where you drink in bytes and piss in binary codes. You have no rhythm." Elise put down her glass. "You're right. You have nothing here for me." She picked up her bag and rushed off into the market crowds. Her mind was spinning. Who the hell did this woman think she was, telling her what she was looking for? What right did she have to say anything about her life, when she herself, was just a gypsy shop girl? She kept thinking about their conversation all night and into the next day. As she was getting dressed for work, she remembered her snack from last night. She picked up the bag and something dropped to the floor with a thud. It was an amulet of some sort. She turned it over in her hands, looking at the designs engraved along the silver surface. "Gypsy magic." she muttered to herself. "Great, now I'm a shoplifter." Elise spent the rest of her day staring at her computer screen or turning the amulet in her hand. She would have to return it, but she really didn't want to have another confrontation with that woman. Their conversation kept playing over in her mind. How did this woman know what she did all day? Crystal ball? Cards? Tea leaves? "Pull yourself together, Woman," she thought, as she bit her lower lip, "You don't believe in that shit." Her laptop had to be the giveaway. She decided to just go right then and there to take the amulet back, apologize, then come back here, and attempt to be productive. Today had been a total waste. She quickly walked down the street to where she had found the market the night before. She clutched the amulet tightly in her hand. She felt a tingle and a warm sensation that she shrugged off to the tight grip she held it in and dropped it into her coat pocket. Flexing her fingers, she wiped her hand against her coat as if she could brush away the feeling. She reached the church she had been in the previous night and there, as if waiting for her, was the old woman she had bumped into the previous night. "I knew you would return." The old woman gave her a warm crooked smile. "I hadn't really planned on it." "I have faith that you will find what you are looking for here." Elise stood momentarily bewildered. "I'm looking for the market place, that's all." The old woman took Elise's hand and making the sign of the cross on Elise's forehead muttered "Ja Develehi, Az Develehi, Ja Develesky, Az Develesky" She smiled again, nodding her head as if pleased and walked down the street away from Elise. "Um…ok . . . thanks . . ." Elise mumbled in the old woman's direction. She shook her head, and continued on her way to find the dark haired woman's stall. She could still feel the sensation of the old woman's fingertip on her forehead. It took several minutes of searching through the groups of tourists and townsfolk before she found the stall. The woman was there talking animatedly to several people who were trying to bargain with her over some scarves. Elise took the amulet from her pocket, wondering if maybe she should just leave it on the table and slip away unnoticed. A woman next to her asked her opinion about which earrings looked better, making Elise feel trapped. She pointed to a pair she would have selected for herself, rather plain silver hoops. The woman made a face and opted for the dangling coins instead. Turning around, Elise found herself face to face with the dark haired woman. "I take it you may have found something after all?" Dumbfounded Elise held out the amulet. "Good choice." The woman smiled. "No, you don't understand. I took it." Elise stumbled over her words as the woman stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, accidentally. I took it accidentally last night. It must have been when I grabbed my bag. I found it this morning and I wanted to return it to you before you thought I stole it from you. Here." Elise pushed the amulet into the woman's hand. Silver Oranges "It's a phoenix." The woman explained, closing it around Elise's cold hand. "It is a sign of rebirth . . . rising from the ashes anew. It has your energy. It belongs to you now." "Then let me pay you for it." "No, I can't accept money for something that doesn't belong to me." She moved aside to take care of the earring woman. Elise looked back at the amulet again. "But it's yours. I only took it by accident." "It was no accident." she said in Elise's direction and then thanked the earring woman for her purchase. "It found you." "Ok, that doesn't even begin to make sense to me. Look, I can't just take this; I have to give you something for it." "Feed me." "What?" "I'm hungry. Take me for something to eat and we'll be even, so to speak." "Are you serious?" "Yes I am." The woman pulled back the curtain and spoke to someone hidden from view. "Ok, we can leave now." Elise followed behind the dark haired woman, glancing back to see the old woman she met in front of the church, take over the stall. She quickened her pace to catch up and enquired as to who the woman was. "She's my grandmother." she said, without turning around. "I know her." "Everyone knows her." Elise kept quiet, keeping pace with the other woman as they turned down a less crowded street. A few doors down, they went into a small café, its entranceway nondescript. Upon entering they were greeted by a few people eating and drinking at small tables that were lit with candles. They moved to a table towards the back, and sat down. Elise tried to adjust her vision to the dimly lit room. The building was old and the walls showed the telltale signs of age. Plaster that had fallen away, probably during the war, gave way to brickwork walls. Paintings of landscapes and waterways hung on the walls alongside ornately carved sconces with dripping candles lit in them. Clusters of dried flowers, herbs and strings of garlic hung in bunches around the room. Colorful scarves covered the tables and ribbons were tied around the arms of mismatched chairs. The whole room took on a quaint charm that made Elise feel unexpectedly comfortable. A young man came over and brought them both a glass of wine. As he walked away, Elise mentioned that he had forgotten the menus. "Don't worry, I know what to order." She placed her hands over Elise's. "Do you trust me?" Elise looked down at the woman's hands and over her jewelled wrists. She had long beautiful fingers and dark skin that made the silver bracelets seem to glow. She looked up into dark eyes that held nothing threatening. "Why should I trust you?" Elise smiled, "I don't even know your name." The woman laughed, turned her hand in Elise's and shook it. "Jaelle. Nice to meet you….I didn't catch your name." "Elise," she laughed back "the worst shoplifter in Budapest." Jaelle raised her wineglass in a toast. "To new friends, new adventures and to life" Elise clinked her glass against Jaelle's. "Hear, hear." The young man came back with two plates of food and a basket of bread, placed it on the table, and left. "We didn't even place an order, how did he know what we wanted?" Jaelle smiled, broke of a piece of bread and handed it to Elise. "I only come here for Jakob's goulash. Don't worry, you'll like it. "She leaned towards Elise. "It's not as good as mine, but it is the best in this city." They ate in comfortable silence. Jaelle was pleased that the other woman seemed to be enjoying her food. Jakob sat in a corner with his glass of palinka and began to play his violin. He started out with a simple tune to warm his fingers, and then played a livelier piece. Several patrons began to dance. The young man that had served them sat up on the small bar and began to play a drum, his fingers tapping out the beat. Jaelle stood up and grabbed the tambourine that hung on the wall next to Jakob and the small room became alive with music, dance and laughter. An older woman next to Elise was clapping her hands and rocking back and forth to the music. Her husband, Elise assumed that is who he was, came and took Elise's hands and pulled her up to dance before she had time to protest. He gently held her hands in the air and she watched his feet, mimicking his steps. She felt someone wrapping a colorful scarf around her waist and then heard Jaelle's voice next to her ear. "He's teaching you to dance like a gypsy; I thought you should look like one as well." She could still feel a tingle against her neck where Jaelle's breath had touched her even as she watched the dark haired woman dance past her. Amidst the swirling skirts and scarves, the glasses of palinka that would suddenly appear in her hand and the atmosphere of joviality, Elise felt like she was part of a family. Among these friendly strangers she felt more at home than she had in a long time. Exchanging hands as she moved from person to person, she found herself connecting to the people and the music. Each time she felt Jaelle's hand touch hers, there was a different feeling, a linking that left her hand feeling as if she had touched something electrical that tickled against her skin. It wasn't unpleasant; in fact, she found herself missing Jaelle's touch when her hand left Elise's. When there was a pause in the music, they sat back down to catch their breath and drink some more. "You're having fun, aren't you?" Elise downed her glass of palinka in one gulp and placed the glass back on the table. Jaelle filled it again and laughed. "I can't remember the last time I danced so much," Elise laughed. "Hell, I can't remember the last time I even danced!" "You have a gypsy's soul," Jaelle said and then nodded past Elise, "And an admirer." The music had slowed and the older gentleman came up to Elise again, bowed deeply and offered his hand. Elise took it gracefully and let him lead her in a formal waltz. He gently placed his hand against Elise's waist and they soon glided around the small room. Even though she could not understand the language being spoken around her, she could tell their dance was met with approval. She remembered back to when she was a very young girl, her grandfather would dance with her in the same way. Awkwardly stepping on her grandfather's feet as he patiently taught her to waltz under the old maple tree in his back yard, he smelled of soap and sunshine. Her hands looked so tiny in his giant worn ones and his laugh would reach up to the treetops filling every branch. She had forgotten how much she missed him. After the dance she lovingly kissed the old man on the cheek and gave him a tender hug. He spoke to her in his language which Jaelle was happy to translate. "He wanted to thank you for giving an old man one last chance to dance with such a young and beautiful woman. You have made his heart happy and he blesses you." Elise felt her eyes begin to well up. "Tell him thank you for giving me back a piece of my past and allowing me to dance once again with my grandfather. He has made my heart very happy." Jaelle repeated her words to the old man and he smiled. He took his wife's hand, tipped his hat to the women and they left the building arm in arm. Jaelle wrapped her scarf around Elise's neck, gently traced the mark a tear had made down her cheek, and led her out to dance some more. A tall, thin woman appeared from the kitchen. Her face was well worn from years of hard work. Lines etched her face and her lips were pressed into a hard line. Around her arms were many gold bracelets and in her ears large coined earrings also made of gold. She took off her dirty apron and threw it on top of the bar and made her way to the middle of the room. The crowd moved aside for her as she clapped her hands. Her blouse and skirts were red and more skirts of purples and gold showed beneath the red one. Her black hair with a few wisps of grey was pulled back severely beneath her red and gold headscarf. She glanced back at Jakob, who picked up his guitar and began to tune it properly. Elise felt Jaelle link her arm with hers and pull her closer. "We are in for a special treat tonight." She whispered to Elise. "Is she ritualistically going to offer up the Foreigner in a sacrifice?" Jaelle laughed against her shoulder, "No, Voronka is the most amazing flamenco dancer in all of Budapest." "No shit?" Elise swayed against Janelle, "Sorry, that was the palinka talking." Jaelle laughed again and put her arm around Elise giving her a squeeze and holding her steady. "You Amerikai cannot hold your liquor. Did you know that it was the gypsies that created Flamenco?" "I did not know that." "Watch and be amazed." Jakob began to strum his guitar and Voronka began to dance. Long thin hands clapped out a staccato beat and her feet began to stamp on the floor. The woman stood tall and straight, her face softened as she danced. "She can see the music." Jaelle whispered to Elise, "Watch her face, her hands, the way she moves her body. The music is part of her and she is part of the music." The woman lifted her skirts and they watched as her feet expertly tapped to the music. Jakob strummed, and then plucked at the guitar strings. She paused for a second, and then began to sing, her voice tinged with passion and sorrow. Silver Oranges Jaelle slowly traced with her thumb over the back of Elise's hand. "I don't think you are boring at all. In fact, I think you are more adventurous than you let others believe." "I think it's the company I've been keeping. I can't imagine being with you and not having some kind of adventure." She looked down at their hands, then flipped hers over into Jaelle's "Ok, Gypsy Woman . . . read my palm." Jaelle studied Elise's hand, tracing her index finger over the lines, pausing in some spots and raising an eyebrow. "Hmmn." "What?" "I'm looking at your health line. I see . . . weight gain from the dessert we are about to share, but the good news is that it can be worked off with a walk and window shopping." "I'm going to presume the dessert will be chocolate." "Yes. And this . . ." Jaelle's finger ran down, from forefinger to the base of the palm " . . . is your life line. It's very long. This is your head line . . . Wow, it's like a gully." "What is gypsy for 'Smartass'?" "Hush, this takes concentration." Jaelle peered closer at Elise's hand, "Ah, your heart line and your sex line . . . curious, very curious." "Oh? "Your heart line tells me that you have a deep capacity for love, but it has to be earned." she closed Elise's hand in hers, "Your sex line is coiled like a spring." "What does that even mean?" Elise laughed. "It means you have a lot of sexual tension." "You could read that from looking at my hand?" Elise pulled her hand away. "Maybe we should see about that dessert?" she motioned for the waiter. There was a moment of silence before they placed an order, deciding on sharing a Dobos cake and coffee, along with a glass of brandy. "I'm too forward, aren't I?" Elise licked the chocolate filling from her fork. "A little, but that's not a bad thing. I'm just not really used to socializing. Maybe I should start people - watching." "No time like the present." She smiled at Elise, obviously enjoying her torte. "Unless you plan on having an affair with that cake?" They paid their check and began putting on their coats. Elise contemplated getting something to take to snack on later. "I hate that the food here is so good." "I have a feeling you workout before bed." "Was that you who scaled the hotel walls and peered through my window? Next time at least bring me some pastries." "I'll keep that in mind when I'm doing my nocturnal roaming . . . part of my vampire heritage as well." They walked out the door and into the brisk afternoon air. "And, in case you're wondering, my gypsy blood allows me to walk into the sunlight." They spent the rest of the day walking the streets, looking at the window displays. Jaelle gave her a tour of sorts, sharing gossip about the locals, points of interest left after the war, and what she needed to be wary of being a foreigner. They made their way to the market place, sampling some treats. Elise found a few trinkets to send back home. Before long, they found themselves in front of Elise's hotel. "I had a wonderful time, thank you." Elise took her packages from Jaelle and pressed them closely to her body, "I…" she looked down at her feet. Jaelle lifted her head and looked into her eyes. "I'm not expecting you to invite me to your room. I would like to see you again though." "I'd like that a lot." Elise smiled, feeling slightly relieved. "I really did enjoy spending time with you, Jaelle. You've made me feel welcome here and I really didn't expect to meet anyone . . . I mean make friends . . . not that we aren't friends." Jaelle put her finger against Elise's lips, "You ramble when you are nervous. It's cute." She leaned in and kissed Elise gently on the cheek. "Goodnight, You. I'll see you soon." She started to walk briskly down the sidewalk, turning back only to wave and then she was gone. Elise realized she was still staring long after Jaelle had left. Her cheek tingled from where Jaelle had kissed her. The next morning she woke to find herself wrapped around her pillow. She smiled, wondering what Jaelle looked like in the morning. She imagined her wild hair spread across the pillow. Elise closed her eyes, envisioning herself playfully waking Jaelle with kisses. Her reverie was soon broken by Beethoven. Casamir, her co-worker had called to invite her to a gathering of friends. She tried to refuse, but he was very insistent and she didn't want to be rude. She didn't have any real plans for the weekend, but she did hope to spend some time on work. When she finally relented, he told her that he would pick her up and to dress very warmly. Elise found out earlier during her stay, not to question her new friends, or their way of doing things, because you never got a straight answer. Everything here was a surprise - not like back home where she calculated and planned everything she did or was going to do. At the given time, Elise stood outside her hotel, dressed in her warmest sweater and jeans, her long coat thrown over her arm. She felt naked without her laptop bag. After a twenty minute wait, Elise looked up the street seeing Casamir. "You have got to be kidding." She said to Casamir as he sat atop the bench of a horse drawn wagon. "Real gypsy cab, ready to take us to party." He laughed. "Climb up in the back and hang on!" Elise walked to the back of the wagon, stepped up onto a small rung and raised her arms for others to help her in. As they lifted her up she was greeted by familiar co-workers faces as well as a few friendly strangers. They made space for her, covering her legs with a huge woollen blanket and passed her a bottle of palinka. "You're going to have a great time, Elise." said Mara the small girl who worked next to her, "We're going to have good food, dancing, a huge fire and drinks." "I have to warn you all, I'm getting addicted to this palinka." Elise laughed. "So I'm sure come Monday, the stories will go around the office about the American that can't hold her liquor." A tall bearded man in a fedora laughed and told her not to worry; he would make sure she would be too busy dancing, to drink. Elise thought about the night before, with Jaelle, at the little restaurant. How free she had felt dancing with her, how she smiled at Elise, how she touched her hand. She found herself missing Jaelle. The group started to sing and Elise broke away from her reverie. Not knowing the words she clapped along with the others and laughed as the bearded man tried to dance aboard the moving wagon. The bells attached to the horse's harness reminded her of the sleigh rides her grandfather took her on when she was a child. Her family would gather at Christmas time at his farmhouse along with friends and neighbors. She had almost forgotten those times and how much she loved them. The wagon came to an abrupt stop and the party goers were jostled against one another. As they climbed down from the wagon Elise noticed many other people were gathered around a huge fire. Older people, children, and what she thought was going to be a small gathering, seemed more like a block party. Music was playing and people were already dancing. Tables of food were heaped high with local dishes made with pride. Mara grabbed Elise's hand and pulled her along to meet some of her friends. Before she knew it she was sampling foods given to her by grandmotherly women, nodding their heads and smiling as she tasted their dishes. "They think you are too thin." Elise turned with a smile, knowing it was Jaelle's voice. "Do you just turn up everywhere?" "Yes," Jaelle laughed, "I'm the official gypsy greeter of the area." "I was beginning to think there was more than one of you." "No one could handle more than one Jaelle," said the bearded man as he took the plate from Elise and handed it to Jaelle. "Now we dance." Elise looked back at Jaelle and mouthed "Help me" as the man whisked her away. Once again she found herself in a whirlwind of dancers, laughing and singing. She searched to find Jaelle amidst the throng of people. Exhausted from the dance, she excused herself to sit down. She spotted Jaelle talking to a man beneath a large tree. She noticed Jaelle handing the man a small plastic bag, him giving her money in return. Jaelle turned and saw Elise and waved. Elise turned her head and began to walk away. "Great, a drug dealer." She muttered as she found a bottle of Tokay on a table and poured herself a glass. Jaelle soon stood next to her. "Hey, You." Elise downed her glass of liquor quickly. "Look, I don't want to be involved with what you're doing." "What? You mean with . . ." Jaelle burst into laughter. Elise felt her face flush with anger. "What you do is your business, but I'm not into that kind of thing." Jaelle wiped her eyes. "You are so funny, Elise." "Stop laughing at me." She started to walk away, but Jaelle grabbed her arm. "You think I was dealing drugs?" "I know what I saw." "You saw me giving Raphael herbal tea. My grandmother made it for his mother who has stomach problems. My grandmother is one of the best herbalists around here." Elise felt the blood drain from her face. "Oh my God . . . " she stuttered "I just assumed. . . Oh, Shit. . . First I shoplift from you and then I accuse you of drug dealing. I'm so embarrassed now. You must think I'm such an ass." Jaelle smiled and pulled Elise to her, embracing her gently, yet firmly. Elise buried her face in Jaelle's dark hair. She liked how it smelled and she loved how it felt to have Jaelle hold her like this. "I don't think any such thing, but I do think you have a great ass." Elise froze at that sentence. Jaelle sensing her fear, pulled back and winked. She then grabbed the bottle of Tokay and took Elise's hand. "Come on." "Where?" "To the forest." They walked quietly through the forest, Jaelle holding branches out of Elise's way. There was barely enough moonlight for them to see the path, but Jaelle seemed to know her way in the dark. The sound of water running grew closer as they approached a stream. She missed the feeling of Jaelle's warm hand in hers when Jaelle broke away from their grasp. Narrowing her eyes in the darkness, she tried to make out Jaelle's form. The sound of a match striking and the brief flash of light made her wince. In a moment her eyes adjusted to the small fire Jaelle started. Beside the fire sat a small wooden bench. Jaelle waved her hand and patted the warm, thick rug for Elise to sit with her. "This is my own little sanctuary." "I like how you decorate." Jaelle opened the Tokay and passed the bottle to Elise, who took a sip, and T passed it back to the gypsy. "I could really get used to this country." "I'm sure America is beautiful as well." "Yea, parts of it are. My parent's home is great. It reminds me a little of this area here. The forests, the water…I have an attraction to water." "So do I, it's very spiritual." They sat in silence for a moment passing the bottle between them. "About last night . . ." Elise started. She tugged her coat around her shoulders. The fire was warm enough, but she suddenly felt insecure. "You don't have to explain yourself." Jaelle took her hand and gently squeezed it in her own. "And you don't have to be afraid of me. I would never hurt you." Elise smiled back at Jaelle, then looked down at their hands. She noticed a long scar across the top of the darker woman's hand. "How did that happen?" Jaelle pulled her hand back and took a long drink of the Tokay. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand Elise could see her hard set jaw line as Jaelle took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, that's none of my business. I didn't mean to offend you." Jaelle dipped her head down for a moment, her eyes closed and then she smiled slightly. "No, you haven't offended me. It was from when I was a child. As you can tell, the people and culture here are different from what you are used to in America. People in your country think of gypsies as these colorful people who tell fortunes from their caravans, while people here think of us as no less than vermin. They see us as thieves and beggars. Unclean souls. During World War II many of us were slaughtered by the Nazi's. My great grandparents were thrown into the Danube, where we were yesterday. My grandparents had hidden away in the forest." She paused for a moment, taking another drink and turning to Elise. Her eyes were dark with a mix of sadness and anger. "When I was a child, about 6 years old, I was shopping with my mother in the market. The stall owner's son stole a piece of meat from another vendor. He accused me of doing it and being a gypsy it was only natural that everyone assumed that I did steal it. Meat was very precious back then. I told them I didn't take it. They, the police, came to our house and took me away. I remember crying for my mother. I didn't understand what was going on at the time." She turned to the fire, picking up a small stick and poking the embers. "They put me in a cold dark room alone. How long I was there, I didn't know. I cried and cried for my mother. I could hear rats scuttling around the room and I was afraid they would bite me. Then I remembered the amulet my grandmother gave me, I took it out and held it, and when I did, I felt her spirit with me." Jaelle stopped for a moment. Elise wanted to touch her, hold her close to her and tell her everything was okay but she was afraid to move. "One day, they came in and took me to another room. I was called a dirty gypsy thief and that I needed to be punished. A man came in with a large knife. They put my hand against the table and he pressed it down against my skin. I didn't cry, because I knew I wasn't guilty. Just as he was about to cut off my hand for stealing, my grandmother, the vendor and his son came into the room. The son confessed to stealing the meat. I was free, but the man with the knife pulled the blade across my wrist before he released me." "That's so awful, so unfair, you were only a child." "I was a gypsy child. I had no rights." Elise took Jaelle's hand and traced the scar with her finger tip. "I'm so sorry." "It's okay. The best part is that my grandmother got the boy to confess. I never asked how or why, I just thought it was her strong spirit and some gypsy magic." "You almost make me believe in magic." Jaelle reached across and touched Elise's hair raking her fingers through the reddish brown tendrils. She loved how the firelight picked up the highlights making them almost glow. "Don't you wonder why we found each other? You don't feel the magic in that?" Elise let go of Jaelle's hand, took the bottle of Tokay and took a long drink. She let the liquor burn down her throat warming her body. Suddenly she was hot and shrugged off her coat, the cool night air suddenly sobering her. "No, not magic. Coincidence." "Why do you fight it?" "What am I fighting?" "The world." Elise stood up and walked closer to the stream. She needed to clear her head more. This woman, this witch . . . she was getting too close. "I don't fight the world; I don't like things that are illogical. Everything has an order." "Like your computer?" Elise spun around, her mouth hanging open as she stared at Jaelle. "How do you know about that? More of your magic?" "No. Casamir is . . . my cousin. We talk all the time and he told me about the uptight American girl working with him." Elise smiled and shook her head. "You're such a bitch." "I've been called worse." Elise motioned for the bottle and took another drink. Then she sat back down next to Jaelle. "So I guess this is where I tell you something painful?" "Only if you want to, Elise." She looked into Jaelle's eyes, those beautiful dark eyes she was getting lost in, and knew she would be safe. "Yes, I do." Jaelle noticing that Elise was shivering. She put her arm around her and pulled her closer. Elise let her. "When I was growing up my parents were . . . Bohemian for lack of a better word." She looked up at Jaelle and smiled, "I guess you would call them gypsies. My grandfather, my mom's dad, was different. He was my stability. I thought I hated how my parents lived, hated being called "hippie's kid", hated being different. My grandfather made me feel 'normal'. Everything he did had sense and meaning. It was in order. There were rules to follow, and structure. I liked that. I spent every moment with him that I could. He taught me math and logic. He was actually the reason I got into computers." "So, he taught you to calculate and format? "No," Elise laughed "Not just that, he taught me how to fish and dance and sing and…" "And?" "How to enjoy the earth and life and look at sunsets." "Your parents didn't do that?" "They did, but with Grandpa it was different. I can't really explain. Their approach was too 'free' for me. The self discovery wasn't enough, I needed the facts. I wanted to know why the sunset was so many colors and why fishing at dusk was best. I wanted to know why wars were fought, why people died and why poison ivy made me itch. Grandpa gave me the answers to everything. He let me watch the news and read the papers. I wanted to know the world outside of where I lived. My parents sheltered me from that. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, they are just too . . .different from me. I didn't get punished, I had to think about what I did, why I did it and what would be a better solution. " They both smiled, sipping more Tokay and leaning closer together, they held one another tighter. "I'm baring my soul to you." Elise was feeling the effects of the Tokay and she felt liberated for once. "Then please continue." Elise took Jaelle's hand in her own, twisting their fingers together; lying against the dark haired woman, feeling absolutely relaxed, trying to remember the last time she lay against another person like this. Jaelle felt right. It felt like home. "One day, when I was 12, I went out to the barn to see what Grandpa was doing. He fussed over his horses a lot. They were prize winning Belgians. I found him on the ground, face down. I ran over to him, tried to wake him, but he wasn't responding. I ran to the house and called my parents. They arrived a few minutes before the ambulance. He never woke up. He suffered a major stroke and died a few days later. I lost my best friend in the world." Jaelle drew her closer and kissed the top of her head. "I cried so hard, I thought it was something I did . . . or didn't do. My parents tried to explain, logically even, but it didn't matter. I couldn't fix it, I couldn't fix him. From then on, everything I did had to have a purpose, a meaning. Solving things is what I wanted to do best." "You lost your magic." "There is no magic." Jaelle took Elise's face in her hands. "Yes there is." She pressed her lips to Elise's, tasting the Tokay, feeling her softness. Her skin was so smooth beneath Jaelle's touch. Elise responded, letting the woman's lips take away her pain. It felt good, the way Jaelle gently kissed her. She wanted the moment never to end. She parted her lips, wanting to feel Jaelle's tongue against her own. The taste of wine on their lips made Elise want to drink from Jaelle's mouth. She felt light headed and intoxicated from the kisses. Elise let her fingers entangle in Jaelle's hair, relishing the softness of her curls. A soft moan escaped her lips as she felt Jaelle's hands move around her waist and glide up her back. "How long has it been" she thought, "since I've touched someone like this? How long since anyone has touched me this way?" She didn't want to think any more. She wanted to get lost in Jaelle's kisses. Greedily, she kissed her back. Long fingers traced patterns over, and over across the warm skin of her back. She felt Jaelle's hands move beneath her sweater. Silver Oranges Jaelle's mouth moved across Elise's lips and kissed along her jaw line. Elise moaned and tipped back her head slightly, as Jaelle's lips moved down her neck and back up against her ear. She shivered as she felt Jaelle's hot breath tickle inside her ear. "You are so beautiful, Elise" Jaelle whispered hoarsely "So smooth to touch" Elise's hands were gripping the hair behind the gypsy's head, Jaelle's hands moved forwards over Elise's stomach. Jaelle leaned slightly back, watching Elise's face, as she slowly slid her hands upwards, and over the silky bra, as if measuring the fullness and weight of Elise's breasts in the palm of her hands. She felt Elise's chest rising as her breath started to quicken under Jaelle's touch. Jaelle smiled slightly as a moan escaped Elise's lips, while she ran her thumbs over Elise's hardening nipples. Their eyes locked, as Jaelle gently pushed Elise back and pulled her sweater over her head. Elise did not resist, wanting to feel Jaelle's hands on her breasts again. With half closed eyes she watched as Jaelle gently pushed up her tank top and bent over to kiss her stomach. Jaelle continued moving the material up and over Elise's bra, then cupping her hand under each breast, bent her mouth down to kiss Elise's nipples through the silky confines of her bra. "I'm going to fall in love with you if you keep doing that." The words caused Jaelle to stop. This wasn't what she wanted. Not with Elise. With her, she wanted different. She didn't want just sex, she wanted perfection. Jaelle sat back, straightening Elise's clothes and then searching out the bottle of Tokay. Elise gathered herself and sat up straight. "Did I do something wrong?" She was on the verge of tears. "No," Jaelle stared into the fire "You didn't do a thing wrong." Her voice was soft. Elise pulled back in her seat, tucking her legs beneath her. She reached for the bottle from Jaelle. "I don't understand." Jaelle ran her hands through her hair. The sound of her bracelets rang through the silent woods, temporarily taking away from the crackling sound of the fire, like church bells breaking the silence on a winter's night. "It's not you. You didn't do anything wrong." she took back the bottle from Elise "I just can't." Elise blinked back tears. Her face grew cold as the air hit the wetness on her cheeks. Jaelle stood and picked up a small pail from behind the bench and walked to the stream to fill it. She poured water over the fire, dousing the flames. "It will snow soon. We should go." They left the woods, riding back to town together in the wagon with no more words exchanged between them except, a quick 'goodnight'. Silver Oranges Csiky hegyek Utca 6. II. Emelet 17. She looked up at the big numerals on the door in front of her. "Mission accomplished, "she said softly to herself " Now, I panic." The door was ajar and slightly open. She smelt citrus, and something delectable. Her body reacted before she could decide to turn around and leave. As she raised her hand to knock, she realized how hungry she was. "Great," she thought, her right hand in mid-air "I'll just invite myself for dinner, eat her food, then leave. An opportunistic glutton, and a thief. I'm simply charming." "You may come in." She became aware of brief movement inside, as Jaelle's voice beckoned her with invisible fingers. She folded the scrap of paper twice, pushed it deep into her pocket, and entered. She stood very still, just inside the front door, while her senses took in the shapes and shadows, smells and sounds. Almost immediately she felt a pull, a strange familiarness, as her eyes flowed over the colorful displays of artefact, and fabric. To the side of the large, yet full living room, was a quaint kitchen area. Dazzling strings of red paprika and garlic and colorful strings of chilli hung from a wooden beam. There was a large assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables to the side, in an enormous bowl which was made from clay. She recognized the design on the bowl. It was a phoenix. Somewhere music was playing. A brawling energy harmonized with unfathomable sadness. She briefly wondered what type of occasion the music would be appropriate for. It could be the sound of a wedding or a wake. Whichever, it didn't matter. This was Jaelle's music. She wanted to take a step forward and experience the rest of this wonderful apartment. Then she remembered the real purpose for her visit, and waited to hear the voice again. She had spoken English. The realization was both exciting, and alarming. How had she known? "You Amerikai have a unique way of announcing your presence." Jaelle stood in the doorway to another room. Behind her, the setting sun cast an orange glow on her curvaceous silhouette. "I hope I'm not intruding." she really hoped that she was intruding, "I…I needed to see you." Elise shifted back and forth nervously. The cat sat next to her and began to wash its face with a curled paw. "I'm glad you did, but how did you find me? Casamir?" She stood at the table mixing some kind of batter carefully with a wooden spoon. Elise bent down to pet the cat. "No, actually I went to the marketplace first to see if you were there. Your grandmother gave me your address, along with the message to use the raisins soaking in whiskey for your cake." Jaelle just stood and shook her head returning the smile. "Why don't you hang up your coat and help me?" She went to the cupboards and pulled out a jar filled with whiskey soaked raisins. "I told Grandmother to mind the shop, this year I wanted to prepare the cakes. We bake our own special fruitcakes to give away." Opening the jar, she put her fingers inside, took out a raisin and popped it into her mouth. "Mmm, perfect…here taste." She walked over to Elise and placed one in her mouth. Elise resisted the urge to hold Jaelle's fingers inside her mouth and suck on them. "My God." Elise gasped "How long have they been in there? I could get drunk on them alone . . . not that I plan on getting drunk." "Long enough." she laughed "I guess that means you'll be turning down Papa's palinka?" "Do I look insane to you? Wait, don't answer that." She moved closer to Jaelle. "Okay, what do you want me to do? I'm not a great cook, but I do follow instructions well." Jesus, she thought, everything sounds like innuendo coming from my mouth. Jaelle poured them both a glass of palinka and handed one to Elise. "First, a drink. Then, I teach you how to cook." They clinked glasses and downed the fiery sweet liquor. "I'll start you off with something easy" She put a cupful of fruit inside the batter, "Stir gently, until it's well mixed through. Then you can chop some nuts." Elise took the spoon and began to fold the ingredients together. She could smell the spices and fruit blending together and dipped her finger into the batter. "Oh my God, this is good. Old family recipe?" "Very old and very secretive." Jaelle began greasing several small loaf pans "In fact, when we are done, I'm going to have to kill you. You now know too much." "Do I at least get to sample the finished product before you kill me?" Elise laughed. "I hate to think I've died in vain." "Yes, you do." Jaelle set the pans aside and checked the oven temperature. Then she poured them another drink. "It's a little late in the day. Did you have to work long?" Elise felt herself grow warm, her cheeks getting hotter. "Not really, I worked the morning, and then went to find you…and then…I got lost…twice. My navigational skills are not the greatest either." She finished stirring and started to chop at the pile of nuts left aside for her. "How fine do you want these chopped?" Jaelle stood close behind her, making Elise want to turn around and kiss her. "That's good, just like that." She touched Elise's shoulder feeling the woman shudder slightly. The voices in her head were loud and demanding. "Tell her!" Jaelle just shook her head, trying to dislodge the thoughts. "I'm glad you found the house. Now you'll know where to come on Christmas Eve." Elise stopped chopping and looked at Jaelle. "Are you inviting me because you feel sorry for the American girl alone in Hungary?" "No, I'm asking you to share the holiday with me because I don't want to spend it without you." She moved next to Elise and held her face in her hands "If you don't mind spending it with me." She gently placed her lips on Elise's. They kissed for what seemed like the longest time; Elise still held the knife in her hand, completely forgetting about it. Coming to her senses, she put down the knife and wrapped her arms around Jaelle's neck to kiss her properly. Elise pulled back and pressed her forehead to Jaelle's "I would love nothing more than to spend the holiday with you." "Those cakes aren't going to bake themselves." The sound of Jaelle's grandmother's voice caused them to break apart. "Here, take this." She handed them both net bags filled with vegetables and breads. "We're on it Grandmother." Jaelle winked at Elise. "Elise is spending the holiday with us." "Wonderful. I can always use more hands to help." The old woman hung her coat and picked up the cat, causing him to purr loudly. "I see Jaelle has already put you to work." "Yes she has . . . she's a tough boss." Elise moved aside as the old woman inspected the batter. "Thank you for having me Mrs…um, I'm sorry I don't know your name." "Grandmother, you call me Grandmother. Everyone calls me that; so many that I've forgotten my name." She began to put on an apron and searched through the bags pulling out what she wanted. "I hope you like to eat. You're too thin, . . . you'll eat well here." She pulled out a large pot, filled it with water, and set it on the stove. "Do you like soup?" Before Elise could answer, she continued "Of course you do, everyone does. I'm making a special soup only made at Christmas time. Jaelle can finish the cakes; you come and help me now." She took a few garlic bulbs from the hanging strand and grabbed some onions and celery. "You can start by chopping these up." Elise looked over at Jaelle who was grinning widely. "I think I've been drafted." Jaelle laughed, "No, you've been adopted." Elise smiled and started in on her duties. The kitchen became a bustle of energy. Jaelle began to sing and was soon joined by her grandmother. Elise listened carefully, being able to pick out a few of the words. She felt so incredibly comfortable here, enjoying the feeling of belonging and being wanted, especially as each time Jaelle walked by her, she would touch her or put some morsel of food into Elise's mouth. She felt so happy that she didn't want the evening to end. Finally, late into the night, the cakes were all baked and the soup was done and set to cool. They decided to leave the dishes for the morning and settled into the living room for tea. Jaelle and Elise sat together on the couch, the old woman sat in her chair, showing off her knitting to Elise. After only a few sips of tea, Jaelle's grandmother announced she was too old to stay up any longer and was going to bed. Elise rose and told them it was time for her to leave as well. "Nonsense." The old woman pushed her back down in her seat. "It is too late, you're staying here. Jaelle will find you something to wear. You won't find a cab here this late. Goodnight to both of you." She hobbled to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Jaelle and Elise sat quietly on the couch, like two young girls in church, who were trying to stifle their giggles. "I guess I'm staying the night?" Elise bit her bottom lip. "Oh, you are . . ." Jaelle smiled provocatively. Grandmother can be a little insistent." "I really like her. I never told you, but I met her the same day I first saw you, outside a church not far from the marketplace. She blessed me, I think." Jaelle looked at her wide eyed, "Blessed you? What do you mean?" "She made the sign of the cross on my forehead and said something I couldn't understand." She shifted in her seat. "It was a little weird, but I thought it was just some strange custom." She watched as Jaelle wrapped her arms around herself and stared into the fire. "Is something wrong?" "It's hard to explain. I really wouldn't even know where to start." Jaelle moved to face Elise. She met her eyes, seeing worry and anxiety reflected back. "I need to tell you something. It's important and I'm not sure if you are going to understand." Elise gently placed her hand on Jaelle's knee "Don't be afraid to tell me anything Jaelle, you've told me about your time in jail as a child. I can't imagine anything worse than that." "It's complicated." She ran her hand over her dark hair. "I should just jump right in, I guess and before you say anything, please let me just ramble on, because if I don't, I won't be able to say what I need to." She took a deep breath. "Casamir isn't my cousin, he's my fiancé. " Elise's brow furrowed, her face looked pained "What?" "Please let me finish? In my culture, even though my people seem very outgoing and free, my lifestyle … is not acceptable. Casamir knows everything. We've been friends since we were children. My father is an important man in our community and any indiscretions on my part would bring him shame and the possibility of losing his position. Those close to me know and understand, they accept who I am, but not everyone would be so kind. Casamir brought up the idea of a ruse, not just to protect me and my family, but to give him freedom as well. He is not ready to be a married man, he wants his freedom, but we are getting older and much fuss will be brought up about our getting too old for marriage. Together, he can do as he pleases without much commitment and I, as long as I am careful, can do the same. Pretending we are engaged will keep everyone content. Eventually we will move from here as not to raise too much suspicion amongst the clan. That way we can send out a letter saying we are married. We are not intimate in any way. He has deep feelings for Mara. That is why you see the three of us together so much." Jaelle took a sip of tea. Her mouth was feeling dry. "I was content with that idea, and it was working well for both of us, and then I met you and it all changed. I was attracted to you from the beginning. I didn't expect anything more than friendship," she paused "I found myself missing you and wanting to spend more and more time with you. Casamir set up our meeting at the bonfire that night. He knows how I feel about you. " She stood up and walked over to the fireplace, her arms still wrapped around herself. "I know this is a lot to take in. The reason I didn't go any further with you at the fire, was because I wanted it to be right with you, not some drunken night of meaningless sex. Please don't think I don't want you. I do . . . so very much. I just want…special…with you." Jaelle turned around to face Elise. The emotion in the room was almost tangible. "I've fallen in love with you . . . " Elise held her hands out to Jaelle, silently wishing her nearer. Jaelle didn't feel herself moving, but soon, she was wrapped in Elise's arms. Elise stroked her hair and let the tears fall from her own eyes. "I feel the same way. . . I tried to rationalize it, put it into a format that would make logical sense and then I just let myself feel." She gently moved Jaelle's head up, to meet her eyes. "I found the magic. I found you, and I love you." She placed her lips against Jaelle's, feeling the other woman respond and kiss her back. Tears dampened their faces, joining with their kisses. Elise pulled back, looking into Jaelle's eyes. "I love you, but I don't want you to jeopardize your life and your family's honor." Jaelle pressed her finger to Elise's lips, "Shh…listen to me. I thought about this long and hard. My mother followed her head and not her heart and she wasn't happy. She made a good life for us, and she loved my father but not with her heart and soul. Then she died, too young to change things and be happy. I want to be happy and you make me happy." She put her hands against Elise's face "And if it makes you feel any better, we have Grandmother's blessing." Elise smiled widely and started to cry. "That makes me very happy." She threw her arms around Jaelle's neck and held her close. She felt Jaelle's hand stroking her back. "It's late, I think we should go to bed." "We?" Jaelle stood up, taking Elise's hands in hers and pulled her to her feet. "Yes, we. I want to sleep with my arms around you tonight. Besides . . . "she traced her thumb over Elise's lips. ". . . we have unfinished business to take care of." She walked Elise to her bedroom. It was very dark at first. Jaelle let go of her hands for a moment and lit the stubs of a few candles. In the dim light, Elise couldn't really make out the details of the room, but it didn't matter, because this was Jaelle's bedroom. Her eyes, all her senses, only wanted Jaelle. Warm hands snaked around her waist as soft lips sought her mouth. She pressed her body closer, gliding her hands up Jaelle's arms and resting on her shoulders. Soft moans escaped their lips as their tongues explored each other's mouths. Elise broke the kiss. "We might wake your grandmother." Jaelle ran her tongue along Elise's jaw line and whispered in her ear, "She closed her door. She never does that . . . and nothing wakes her when she's asleep." She sucked on Elise's earlobe, "Nothing to worry about . . . except the marks I may leave on your body." Elise shuddered at her words. "You're very sure of yourself, or are you going to use gypsy magic on me?" "I'm going to use my hands . . . " she kissed her cheek…"my lips . . ."she kissed her nose " . . . and my entire body on you." She grazed her lips over Elise's. "I need to take your clothes off." Jaelle slowly began to undress Elise, stopping only to kiss the skin she exposed. Walking Elise backwards towards the bed, she pushed her down gently and slowly undressed herself before her lover. Pushing Elise's legs apart with her knees she stood before her, taking Elise's hands, and placing them on her naked breasts. "I want to feel you touch me. . . and enjoy me" Elise felt Jaelle's nipples grow hard beneath her palms. She let her fingers graze over them as she enjoyed the weight of them in her hands. She groaned, as she let her hands roam over Jaelle. She marvelled at the softness of her skin as she began to map her lover's body. Moving her hands to Jaelle's back she pulled her closer and rested her cheek against Jaelle's stomach before placing a kiss gently between her breasts. Looking up, her eyes met Jaelle's and she watched as a grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. Elise leaned back, wondering what Jaelle was smiling at, her hands moving over Jaelle's hips. Jaelle took her index finger, placing it against Elise's lips, long enough for Elise to place on kiss on the tip. Then she slowly traced a line downwards, over her chin, throat and rested against her breastbone. "Now it's my turn." She pushed her finger hard against Elise forcing her back onto the bed. She knelt down between Elise's legs, gliding her hands up the silky skin of Elise's inner thighs to her waist, her eyes glued to Elise's. Dipping her head downward she ran her tongue around Elise's navel, letting the tip paint circles of pleasure across Elise's stomach sending small pulses of electricity surging through her body. Tendrils of Jaelle's hair tickled Elise's skin, heightening what she was already feeling. She moved her hands to Jaelle's hair, only to have Jaelle take and move them to her sides. "No." Elise let out a sigh of frustration, as she felt Jaelle moving up her body, her tongue leaving a trail of wetness. Taking Elise's breasts in her hands she kissed each nipple, before swirling her tongue over them, causing Elise to moan. She let out a gasp as Jaelle held a hard nipple between her teeth and gently bit down. As Jaelle began to suck the nipple into her mouth Elise fought the urge to hold Jaelle's head. Elise was breathing harder as Jaelle moved further up her body, dragging fingertips across Elise's skin. Hovering above her lips, she looked into Elise's eyes. "Let me have you?" She gently grazed Elise's lips, smiling as she heard a labored "Yes". Jaelle continued to kiss Elise. Raising her own body she slid her hand between them, down over Elise's stomach and finally between her legs. She moaned into Elise's mouth when her fingers felt the wetness she had created. Skilled fingers teased and explored, before entering Elise's slick entrance making Elise reach above her head tugging at the comforter. "You feel so good, so right. My fingers feel at home inside you." Jaelle whispered between trying to regulate her breathing. "Yes . . ." was all Elise could say. Her senses were overloaded with pleasure from what Jaelle's fingers were doing to her. It was as if Jaelle knew her intimately. Her muscles clamped down tightly around Jaelle's fingers, and she wanted nothing more than to have Jaelle fill her completely. "I've waited for this moment for so long . . . to make love to you . . .Elise, I want you so much. . ." Jaelle's lips caressed Elise's neck. "I want to be inside of you. I want to touch your soul." Elise was beside herself with want. Jaelle plunged her fingers deeper inside, and she could feel Elise's hips rise and fall with her movements, seeking perfect rhythm. Jaelle watched as her lover let herself be taken, giving into Jaelle's ministrations with abandon. Letting her thumb rub over Elise's clit with each thrust of her hands, she controlled how much pleasure she would give Elise, and how much she would hold back. Listening to Elise's whimpers, she couldn't wait any longer. .. but she did. Just one more moment, one more stroke of her thumb over her clit . . . one more thrust deep inside of her . . . Elise started to beg. It was all Jaelle could take, knowing how completely Elise was giving herself, knowing how intimately vulnerable Elise was to her in that moment. She wanted to give everything she could, to this woman beneath her. She leaned over and whispered urgently in Elise's ear, "Come for me . . . let me feel you, hear you. Please, Baby, come for me." Elise grabbed Jaelle's hair, holding her next to her, not caring how loudly she cried out into Jaelle's ear. Lost in the wave of pleasure that hit her hard, wanting only the release, she wrapped her legs around Jaelle's waist, keeping her inside of her, trying not to move for fear she would burst to pieces.