Exton

I'm watching from the bar, keeping an eye on Star when her face goes white, her eyes turn red and she starts looking around for a way out. She has the look of a scared, trapped animal I'm sure she's going to run. She can find her way around the woods, no problem, but town? Would she get lost or hurt if she ran outside?

I give Nick a nudge. “Find Raina. Something's wrong with Star...”

I move through the crowd, trying to keep an eye on Star, praying to every Norse god I can think of that she doesn't bolt. Suddenly she moves, heading towards the back of the tavern and I move to cut her off. As luck would have it, Star turns and runs right into me, damn near knocking herself down. She stumbles and looks right at me but I'd swear that she's so frightened that she doesnt recognize me.

“Star, it's me, Erik. What happened? What's wrong?” I'm afraid to touch her, afraid that will scare her even more.

She shakes her head, and blinks, tears starting to form. Her breath is shallow and she looks like she might pass out. She tries to talk but all she can say is “Go, have to go...”

I pick her up - Gods, she weighs next to nothing.... - and turn to Monty, “A private room?” and Monty nods and leads me behind the bar to a room in the back. "You'll be okay here," he says. "We only use this room for private dinners and such."

Sitting with Star in my lap on the loveseat in the corner, I try to figure out what the hell just happened. She tries at first to slip off my lap, but then relaxes in my arms, too weak from crying to struggle. I hold her and let her cry, not knowing what else to do. "It's okay, Star, no one can hurt you now; it's all right, baby." She sits up, tries to wipe at her eyes and shakes her head.

“It can't be all right..”

I move her hair back from her face, “Yes it can, why couldn't it be?”

“Because of what… happened. You won't want to even talk to me.....”

“Oh, sweetie, I can't imagine anything that would make me not want to talk to you...” and a whole lot more besides - but I don't dare say that, not now. “What happened out there to scare you so bad? Is there someone I need to make leave?”

“That woman, the fae, with the very red hair. Tt... tthose... men... had red hair like that...”

That puzzles me for a moment, then the light dawns with a vengeance. That redheaded bitch that keeps coming back to the tavern reminds Star of someone... someone with the same fiery red hair.