Walking down the still snowy streets on her way to the restaurant, she kept looking in the windows of the stores she passed.  There was something wrong with her reflection, but she just couldn’t figure out what that was.  Realizing she hadn’t worn her glasses, she reached into her purse to put them on.  Now everything was blurry, not just her features.  Removing them again, she put them back in her purse. Shaking her head, she thought it was just one more mystery in all the strange things that had been happening to her lately. Turning her head sharply, she caught sight of someone.  They seemed to duck into a doorway, as if not wanting to be seen.

Walking along a little more quickly, she saw she was almost to the restaurant John had specified. She still couldn’t believe he had asked her to dinner.  Granted it was a working dinner, but still. Looking around, she didn’t see anyone.  "It must have just been a shadow I saw," thought Eliza. Glancing again at her note, she smiled.  It had been easy finding The House of Magura.  She tucked the note in her pocket and opened the heavy door.  Stepping inside she stopped for a moment and let the hauntingly low music and the rich smell of good food wash over her.  Removing her hat, she was approached by the concierge, who greeted her with a polite, "Will madam be dining alone tonight?"  Shaking her head, she saw Dr. Rolf moving towards them.

"I hope you didn’t have any problem finding this place."  He smiled, "It’s not the most popular or well published restaurant in town, but it is good.  I’ve eaten here several times and been pleased each time."

She smiled and replied, "No I had no problem finding it John, your directions were very clear."

After being lead to their table, Eliza looked around the restaurant.  There were many shadows and the lighting was dim lending itself to the slightly mysterious atmosphere.  The music continued, hauntingly beautiful, calling to her.  With a start, she realized John had asked her a question and she had absolutely no idea what he had asked.  Looking at him with an obviously startled look on her face, she asked him to repeat the question.

Smiling, he explained it wasn’t a question as such, but she had seemed to disappear somewhere and he had wondered where she had gone.  Looking at her watch, she realized that 10 minutes had gone by.  "Oh dear, I am so sorry.  I had been listening to the music and must have become lost in it.  There seems to be a hypnotic quality about it," she replied.  "You did seem to be in a sort of trance," John said.  "Now that you are back with me, shall we order?"  He asked.

Smiling, Eliza told him that the only thing she really wanted to try, was the Beef Goulash.  "I will leave the rest of the ordering up to you".  Turning to their waiter, John then said "alright then, we’ll start with an appetizer of Mititei, for the soup, Oxtail, I think. The lady will have the Beef Goulash and I will have the Chicken Paprikash.  Also, a bottle of your Plum Wine".

The waiter then asked if they would like their wine now or with their dinner, or if they would prefer a cocktail to start off.  "No, said John, your Plum Wine is quite potent, I think that will be fine.  You may bring it now."

Course followed course.  Each better than the last. The conversation had been sparse as they had both been enjoying the deliciously prepared food.  "This has been a most delightful evening John, but we seem not to have gotten much done on work."

Smiling, he replied that they had plenty of time to work, at work.  This had indeed been very nice.  The atmosphere and the good food made it a wonder that it hadn’t become a raging success.  That was just as well for them, though.  Making the restaurant not the overcrowded place that some were, made it easier to enjoy the ambiance.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, Eliza again saw what looked to be someone watching her. This time she vaguely saw the outline of a man and he seemed to be staring intently at her.  The look on his face, was one of menace.  She couldn’t imagine what the problem could be, as she had never seen this man before.

Turning back to John, she quietly said, "Dr...... John there seems to be a man glaring at me from that table over there."  Looking again, she saw that the man was gone.  Where could he have gone so quickly?  "Well no matter, I guess it was my imagination again."

Looking at her pale face, John asked her what she meant by again.  "Well on my way here tonight, I thought I was being followed.  I just caught a glimpse of someone before they ducked into a doorway, as if not to be seen."  Not wanting to put a down mood to the wonderful dinner they'd just finished, Eliza felt that it would be better to just forget what had happened.  It was really no more than an impression.

After thanking the waiter for the excellent service and wonderful food, John left the table to take care of the check.  Eliza remained at the table, again enjoying the music.  It seemed to enfold her, call to her, like no other music had ever before.  Again, she drifted into an almost trance-like state.  Hearing nothing but the music.  She was startled, when she again heard John ask if she was alright.  Smiling sheepishly, she replied that the music seemed to do strange things to her.

"Maybe it was the potent wine," John replied.

She laughed lightly, and replied that the wine had indeed been potent.  Looking at the deep, deep red of the wine left in her glass, it reminded her of blood.  "Now why would I think of that," she thought to herself.

Standing, they moved to the cloakroom where she had left her cape and hat.  Looking into the mirror on the wall by the cloakroom, she thought to check her hair and the slight makeup she had applied.  Knowing she would need to re-apply her lipstick.  Again her clothing stood out, but her features were more blurry than before.  That is so strange she thought.  "Why on earth can I not see myself clearly?"

Turning so John could help he with her cloak, she slowly buttoned it and put on her hat.  As they moved toward the door, a man, moving quickly, pushed his way to the door.  In doing so, Eliza got the impression it was the same man that had been staring so intently in the dining area.  As he pushed his way passed her, something sharp on his jacket cut into her hand.  With a sharp cry, Eliza looked at the blood flowing from a deep cut on her hand.  Without thinking she put her hand to her mouth, lapping at the blood still flowing.

John, hearing her cry out had turned from opening the door just in time to see the man push passed Eliza and out the door.  He saw her standing there with her hand to her mouth, and in surprise, realized she was lapping at the flowing blood.  Taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he gently took her hand and wrapped it up.  Quickly the handkerchief turned red with her blood.

"You are going to need stitches Eliza.  What happened?" he asked.

She tightly pressed the handkerchief and was surprised that the first, sharp pain had subsided.  "That man, he was the one that was staring at me in the restaurant.  Something on his coat cut me."  The pain was almost gone, now, but a sense of disquiet troubled her.  She deliberately shoved it to the back of her mind, not wanting to spoil the evening.

"Ok, lets see if a trip to the emergency is going to be needed."  John took her hand and carefully unwound the handkerchief.  "I'll be..." he muttered.  He gingerly touched her wounded hand. "Does that hurt?"

"No, not all, John."  She looked at her hand, and except for a fleck or two of blood, it looked perfectly normal.

"Where is the cut?  I saw the blood!  I know you were cut."

She held up her hand.  "It did hurt, but only for a moment or so.  Maybe it was just a slight nick that hit a vein.  After all, he only brushed by me."  They both stared at her obviously healthy hand and Eliza even gingery poked at the 'wounded' area.  "It's ok.  It really doesn't hurt at all, John.  I'm really fine."

Dr. Rolf released her hand and smiled.  "Well, I'm not going to argue with the obvious.  We've had a nice evening and I'm glad it didn't end in the emergency room.  What a freaky thing!"  They walked out of the restaurant and it felt natural and comfortable that his arm was around her shoulders.

The ride to her apartment was uneventful.  Traffic was light but Eliza still had the uneasy feeling about being followed.  She kept glancing in the rearview mirror and she was quite sure she saw the same beat up, faded blue car following them.  As they turned into her street, a chirping sound came from John's belt.  "Oh darn," he breathed.

He slowed and looked at his pager.  "I'm sorry, Eliza.  This it important; I really have to go."

Eliza glanced in the mirror but there was no sign of the blue car.  She sighed. "I'm sorry too, John.  I would really have enjoyed spending more time with you, but...  Oh!  Can you drop me off at the store.  I forgot to get cat food."

John laughed.  "You have a cat!  I never figured you for a cat lady."  He slowed and parked in from of the store she'd indicated.

She chuckled, thinking of her 'guest.'  "It's more like he's an Eliza cat rather than me being a cat lady.  I think I've been adopted.  This little guy was most certainly not planned but he is a welcome addition to my home."  They sat, silent for a few moments, staring at each other.  Impulsively, Eliza kissed him and then hopped out of the car.  "Thanks for a wonderful evening, John."  She vanished into the grocery store.

Dr. Rolf put the car into gear and slowly drove off, a bemused expression on his face.

In the store, Eliza quickly went to the cat food and picked up a couple of cans for her furry friend.  The sudden uneasy feeling a struck her and she instinctively ducked behind the shelves.  Carefully peeking around the high shelves, she could see a beat up blue car parking in front of the store.  She felt a thrill of fear course through her.  She wondered what she could do.  Keeping the shelves between her and the window, she backed into a small store room and closed the door and took a deep breath.  The tinkle of the bell over the door announced that someone had entered.  She heard a masculine voice. "Hi, where are your sugar cookies?"  Pat, the counter lady made an inaudible reply and she could hear foot steps approaching towards her.  Holding her breath, she was really wishing she had a weapon.  In her wildest imagination, she'd never wanted a weapon before.  "Damn!  She's not in here.  I told you not to lose them."

A younger male voice replied, "I tried but I'm not going to ram a cop car.  If you think you can do better you try driving that piece of junk."  The bickering went on in low voices for several minutes and then she hear the older sounding voice ask Pat, "Didn't a young lady wearing a cape come in here a few minutes ago?"

Pat didn't hesitate.  "You mean Lucy?  She's the only one I can think of that wore a cape.  She moved about a week ago.  I haven't seen her since then."  The muttered response sounded unhappy and the tinkle of the overhead bell and the slam of the door indicated they had left.

Eliza slowly came out of the store room and walked uncertainly to the checkout counter.  "Those were two strange characters, Eliza.  It was you they were following wasn't it," Pat asked.

"I think so, and thank you so much!  I've never even seen them but I thought someone was following me all evening."  She and Pat chatted for a few moments.  She described the two to Eliza, an older and a younger man, both clean shaven, neatly dressed and mostly unremarkable.  She deliberately did not tell Pat about the incident in the restaurant.  Somehow she didn't want to talk about it.  She really wanted to get home, feed the kitten and relax.  On the whole, it had been a very pleasant evening.  Now, all she had to do was get home!

Getting home actually turned out to be very easy.  During the short walk the streets were totally deserted.  Her apartment never looked better and the kitten never seem cuter or more loving.  She relaxed and the heat of the room was making her sleepy.  She started shedding her clothes on the way to bathroom.  A half hour later found Eliza neck deep in a hot tub of water, the kitten sitting on the toilet, looking at her like she was crazy, while she sipped a tall glass of very red wine and remembered how good John's lips had felt.  Maybe the wine was making her bold but she was certain he'd like it.  She giggled to herself.  She'd liked it.

Sliding into bed, she drifted into a pleasant slumber filled with strangely disturbing but satisfying and sensuous dreams.  She handed him a goblet of blood red wine.  Grasping his hands she raised the cup to his lips and he sipped the sweet liquid.  Eye to eye, she rotated the vessel and put her lips on the spot he'd sipped from, where the heat of his lips could still be felt.  Salty yet sweet, the fluid burned its way to her belly.  She felt his eyes burn into her's; she lowered the container and felt a quiver of anticipation.

The buzzing of her alarm clock signaled the start of the new day.  Sitting up, her pounding head and dry mouth reminded her of the evening with the wine bottle.  Remembering a fast fading dream, she giggled then groaned as she made her way to the bathroom to find the aspirin.