Rayne retuned Gabriella to her home, reluctant to leave her, but knowing he had much to think about. His own affairs needed settling, and there was the crew to think about as well. They were not accustomed to being long in port and there were decision to be made. Then there was Navia, who he knew would be waiting for his return, as always. And yet, he could not see himself leaving Gabriella here alone and unprotected. Yet, there was very little chance of Torquemada presenting himself here, or was there. It suddenly dawned on Rayne that he still had no idea what Gabriella had been doing down at that warehouse at such a late hour. He seemed to lose all train of thought when she was near.
The hour was indeed late and all of his musings would accomplish nothing, so he picked up his glass of cognac, amber liquid that reflected the fire dancing in the grate, and headed upstairs to bed. He knew sleep was a long ways away, and most likely fleeting, but he sprawled across the bed anyway. Sleep did indeed eventually come, just before the dawns lights streaked across the heavens, but with it came dark and sinister dreams.
Rayne sensed danger, it lurked and permeated the room. He saw evil eyes, that glowed red and the snarls even shook his strong heart. He heard shrieks of pain and terror and saw a small urchin dressed in rags with tears streaming down her dirty cheeks. He tried to see what it was the small child focused on to cause such distress, but couldn't see. Suddenly the small bedraggled child turned and ran as if the hounds of hell chased her. She ran down the crowded street, dodging men in uniform and for one so slight in stature, she seemed indeed strong, for she managed to elude the men and disappear as if she had never been there. Rayne awoke a sheen of sweat on his body, soaking the sheets he lay on and there was an uneasiness upon him that he just couldn't seem to shake. A bath and breakfast would return him to normal, or so he thought. But as the morning wore on, the unease only increased, and when he could stand it no longer with an oath, he left the house and took a his horse to Gabriella's house.
Maria answered his urgent knock, and with one look at Rayne, she made the sign of the cross, and swore, "Dios mio" under her breath as she let him in. She turned to fetch Gabriella, but Rayne forestalled her, it was she he had come to see first. He told her of the dreams, and the old lady's breath caught in her throat, he had seen the very scene the day Torquemada murdered Gabriella's parent s in his dreams. If there had been any doubts that he was the raven from her visions, there were none now. She wanted to tell him that all would be well, but she was not so sure that would be true. She had no advice to give him except that good could and would over come evil, but, that did not mean they had nothing to fear, for she knew that until Torquemada was dead...they all had something to fear.
With no more answers forthcoming from Maria, he asked to see Gabriella and Maria ascended the stairs to fetch her. Rayne paced the parlor, for what it seemed an eternity, and a slight movement caught his eye and he turned to see a very pale Maria standing as if a statue in the open doorway. Gabriella was not with him and one look at the old woman made a chill run down his spine.
"Where is Gabriella? Is she coming?" he asked.
"No, she is gone" the old woman managed to get out.
"Gone? Gone where?" Rayne demanded.
Maria only held out a piece of paper to Rayne, which he quickly read thru.
