
      Complicated - SR 2


      Author: aria


      Rated: R



      Prologue
      Venice, Mardi gras
      A sea of silk and glitter swirled around in the Piazza San Marco filling 
      it with every hue that could be concocted by the imagination. The entire 
      square had been transported back into time. Jugglers and actors strolled 
      along entertaining anyone they encountered. Musicians wandered playing 
      almost uselessly amid the merry din. Figures in lavish costumes and 
      equally fine masks strolled, chatted and danced under the light of the 
      moon.
      All eyes turned to the silvery figure floating towards the pier on an 
      ornately gilded gondola. Out of the mists she appeared instantly 
      commanding the attention of the masses with her serene presence and 
      extraordinary costume. The gondola touched the dock and she took the hand 
      of the nearest man who helped her step lightly onto the silken petals 
      strewn over the wooden deck. Weightlessly, she floated into the piazza.
      A mysterious smile on her blood-red lips, she walked into the middle of 
      the crowd where several people were dancing to the blended stains of a 
      violin and cello.
      His eyes were arrested by the sight of such a goddess walking towards him. 
      Her hair a golden mass of curls that caught and teased the light of the 
      moon. Her softly inviting eyes and sensual curve of her lips the only 
      things on her face not covered by the glittering silver of her mask. In 
      contrast to the silver, a golden crescent moon adorned her forehead and 
      flashed in the light with every movement of her head letting everyone now 
      who she was. Her dress, looked as if were spun from moonbeams and clung to 
      her slender body as if were the moonlight itself before falling into fold 
      after fold of velvet and lace.
      He had to have at least one dance with her.
      He pushed his way through the crowd "Goddess della luna, I beg you for 
      just one dance." His heart thundered when she nodded.
      He gathered her up in his arms and they swayed to the music. "You are the 
      most beautiful creature I have ever seen." He twirled her in his arms and 
      dipped her low. "Tell me your name."
      A simple smile was his answer.
      "Per favore, I must know."
      She shook her head. The song ended and she pulled away from him and 
      disappeared into the sea of lavish costumes. Leaving him behind to stare 
      as her retreating silhouette disappeared once again into the mist.
      She quickly walked around the corner aware of all the looks she was 
      getting. Calmly she walked into an elaborately designed building, climbing 
      the stone stairs. At the top she pulled out a key that she took from the 
      man. Smiling at his stupidity, she opened the door and swept inside.
      She had already studied the floor plans of the house and knew exactly 
      where she was going. Not wasting anytime she punched in the security code 
      and headed to the bedroom. She knew that the safe was in the room behind a 
      picture hanging over his bed. How predictable was that?
      Almost laughing out loud, she easily turned the combination lock to the 
      correct sequence of numbers. He really had to get better friends. All it 
      took was a bat of an eyelash and they told her everything she wanted to 
      know.
      She pulled it open and gazed at the prize that awaited her. Shimmering in 
      the dim light was a beautiful chain of diamonds. She admired it a moment 
      before moving it aside and grabbing the minidisc in the back of the safe. 
      Here was her real prize.
      Carefully she placed it in a special compartment in her mask and moved to 
      close the door. The necklace caught her eye again.
      Almost as an after thought, she grabbed it and shoved it down her bodice. 
      No one said she couldnt take anything for herself. Smiling she closed the 
      door and walked to the window.
      It over looked the inky canal, just perfect to make her escape. She pulled 
      out a rope and with a click of button produced a grappling hook that was 
      collapsed and strapped to her thigh until that moment.
      She easily rappelled down the side of the building into the waiting boat. 
      Easily, she manoeuvred the boat back around to another dock then climbed 
      out.
      Rearranging her skirts she walked back to the piazza.
      The man immediately approached her again. "If you will not tell me your 
      name, at least give me one more dance."
      She nodded, smiling softly to herself. She made sure to return the key to 
      the appropriate pocket while they were dancing. Then moments later, she 
      pulled away and out of his protesting arms.
      Without a word she spun majestically and walked away, melding once more 
      into the swirling crowd of costumes.