free my hand of its weight . I inched nearer , looking for any sign of a hidden door , but the marble only reflected back almond-shaped eyes , a gift of my Japanese heritage . Stepping quickly toward the wall , pushing the weight of my body forward even faster , I struck the marble panel with my left shoulder . The latch popped open with a dull clank .
He must have been expecting it , because the hidden panel was flung outward with such speed and force that I was pushed backward almost fifteen feet by the sheer strength of him . As my feet came to rest my sword arm dropped to my side , angling out and down away from my body ; more room for a clean blow when I needed it . ‘ Oh , how things have changed ; how much I have changed .’ I thought .
Damascus , obviously realizing I would leave him no other choice , stepped out from his hiding place . His pale skin and light hair were the color of milk and honey . His eyes , however , were like a tumultuous teal ocean and just as stormy . He wore tight leather trousers and an openthroat white silk shirt . Eyelets running up the chest of the cloth had a leather thong that ran through them , but it was not tied , for that would have been undistinguished for one such as him . In the opening of his shirt , lying against his pallid chest was the object I had come for . I walked forward , ready to take it from him however I must .
As Matthias ’ s carriage turned the corner , I returned inside to close for the night . I had sent Benjamin on his way already and put out the lights myself . Grabbing my coat and umbrella , I locked
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