Bianca shivers at the intimate whisper and the mere thoughts it
evokes, "Anything you want ever is always yours." She takes Maggie’s
hand and they turn to face the crowd together.

"Uh…thanks for the encouragement…" Maggie stutters looking directly
at Anna and David. The crowd begins to disperse.

"I have to say I would have preferred a less public announcement,
Bianca, but I am just glad you are happy." Erica comes up to them
and hugs them both.

"Thanks mom…uh…we are going to leave we have some things to…talk
about." Bianca blushes lightly as Maggie turns form the conversation.

"Now, don’t even do that Bianca…I may be old, but I’m not that old…I
just don’t want the details." Erica smiles kissing her daughter’s
cheek, "Maggie, just love my daughter…you both deserve it."

"Yes, Erica…I promise." Maggie says sincerely.

"I know darling. Now, off with you." She ushers them through the
rest of the crowd. >>>

Bianca moves back her trembling hand from the glass as the vision
lets go of her. She falls to a crouch as the bird hops off to the
ground. She just sits there for a moment trying to regain her
purpose free of the mind numbing vision.

"Always need the punishment. I don’t understand." The crow shakes
it head at her.

"Let us hope you never will." Bianca stands moving back to the
door.

"I have no concerns of it." It replies.

"I have no doubt on that." Bianca opens the door, "Shall we?" she
strides in after the bird watching it fly high above the guests.

Bianca silently moves along the wall sneaking past several partygoers
to make it to the back way up the staircase. Fortunately, most of
the partygoers have been imbibing long enough she is nothing but a
shadow to them. She makes her way to where her travel guide has
perched on the staircase overlooking the ballroom floor. She stands
in the shadows simply looking down deciding the best plan.

"Your plan?"

"Well, spectacle always seems to work for us. Let’s just stick with
that." Bianca smiles darkly.

"I see." The bird flaps its wings and begins to squawk.

As the crowd begins to look up toward the black bird, Bianca hops
onto the railing of the staircase perching next to her companion.
She watches as eventually all heads turn in their direction. She
stares into the crowd spotting Trey among many other faces.

"What the *****?" comes one voice.

"It’s a damn bird is all…."

"No, there is someone up there with it." Adds another hollow voice.

The commotion dies down as Bianca throws her hair out of her face.
She balances well on the railing as she spreads her arms out wide as
if to embrace the whole room.

"I hate to disturb such a lovely event, but unfortunately I have no
choice. I am looking for someone…something…retribution and in order
to get it I have to interrupt your festivities." She calmly explains.

"Security!" several voices ring out as gun toting guards walk in.

"You didn’t have to do that!" she growls out, "Now, it has to get
harder."

Bianca crouches deep into her perch and lunges off the railing flying
through the air amid gasps of awe and terror. She lands on the
chandelier and her weight sends it crashing toward the floor taking
out the lights with it. She hits the ground amidst a spray of
crystal brass. She tucks and rolls out of the glass little cuts
bleeding and healing all at the same time. The dark protects her and
others, but it means it protects her prey form her as well.

"It shouldn’t have had to be this way."

"You wanted spectacle and now you have it." Comes the familiar voice.

"Yes. Help me find him." She practically orders.

"So impatient."

"There is no time for this. Help me!" she demands of the feathered
creature.

"I…yes…help."

The bird takes flight inside the ballroom in the dark of night as it
impedes Bianca’s eyes it does not do so to its own sight. The crow
circles the crowd as people panic and surge at the exits like an
uncontrolled sea.

TBC…