Chapter One
The Creature
Mrs. Smith
She stood in line a few people beyond me, an attractive, shy thing. One that exudes confidence on the outside with the modern day power costume, straight back, shoulders squared, chin high. But the way she clutched her purse, the furtive glances back in my direction, told a different story. She was nervous, almost scared. Voluptuous lips pressed tight together as if some hidden secret strove to burst forth and she fought with all her might to keep it contained. Her short, quick steps, as the line progressed to the cashier, indicated a deep uncertainty. She shuffled forward and, around the shifting people between us, I admired her bare legs. From underneath a medium length, dark blue skirt, they possessed a grace of line seldom seen these days because so many women now wear pants to the office. Once in a while she glanced back in my direction, as if looking for a friend to join her, even though previously none ever had during the work day lunch hour. No, those glances were meant for me, as were all the others over the last couple of weeks.
I wondered what had captured her attention. Was it my modest, s-shaped, flared ankle length skirt and high-necked, long sleeved shirt? The early 20th century granny boots? On the other hand, was it my long hair, done up in a topknot, like so many other ladies from that genteel era? Any one of those things was certainly enough to catch a person’s eye, given that I appeared as some time traveler from the Edwardian Era. Perhaps it was the two, small wrist cuffs I wore that created a matched set. Even though the cuffs were hidden underneath the sleeves, they did poke out at the slightest arm extension. However, whom was I kidding? It was the collar, always the collar, which people noticed and then pretended to ignore. But not this pretty, young woman.
Her eyes always landed on my neck. I brought a hand up, fingered the silver ring that hung down in front, and a wrist cuff emerged in full view. That young face reddened and she hurriedly turned away, eyes front to the chalkboard menu behind the cashier. She placed an order, threw down some money, then snatched up her receipt, clutched in tight hands while she hurried past me, eyes glued to the floor as she wove past everyone.
The little sandwich shop was crowded as usual. People tried to find an open table to gobble down their food. The early lunch arrivers were successful but the nervous woman was not. My own order given, I strode past her while she waited for a table to clear. I didn’t need to wait. I had anticipated that the shop would be crowded and had sent the always reliable Emma ahead to claim a spot for me, a small, round table with two chairs. She sprung up at my approach and her downcast eyes hid a bright, emerald gleam. Dressed like me, but with short, red hair and pale skin, her demure countenance told me that she was almost ready for a match, but she still possessed a willful streak that flared up from time to time. The match I had in mind for her occasionally liked that, but Emma still needed to know when such was appropriate. Meanwhile, back at The Velvet Glove a difficult trainee was all strung up, ready to suffer her first extended punishment, and Emma was at the top of the duty roster. If she got back before the time for punishment expired Emma could wield the whip on the trainee. But I had sent her here, as a test to determine if she could control that temper.
I handed her my receipt, sat without comment, and opened my book of love sonnets. Emma remained standing behind me and, when my order number was called out, she scurried to the counter, picked up the small sandwich and drink, and placed them on the table just beyond my book. She stood in front of me; hands clasped in front, one tight over the other as her knuckles slowly turned white. Oh, she wanted to get back! She wanted that whip in her hand, wanted to make that self-absorbed trainee pay for her attitude. I could sense her dying to say something, to tell me that she wasn’t about to let this chance of raising some welts on tender fl
