"We don't have time." Alexandria pulled free from Kat's hand. "Don't you see, I have to go? Someone needs help, and they contacted me for help. I have no choice." She walked towards the glowing orb, the strong air current buffeting her body and whipping her floral sundress around her thighs. Suddenly she was jerked forward, as though the orb was surrounded by its own gravitational field.
Kat reached for Alexandria's hand, grabbed it, and then yanked her back. "Look. What's that in the center?" she asked, pointing into the bright center of the orb as a dark shape quickly began to grow. They both watched, mesmerized by the shape, as it transformed into a human figure. They looked at each other for a moment, then looked back at the orb.
Kat stepped a little closer. "Who do you think—" She sprang backward, wrenching Alexandria back with her.
A man in his early forties with long, fair hair tied back into a ponytail with a thin strip of leather appeared in front of them, as though the orb had spat him out. He was dressed in brown breeches and a white, long-sleeved, puffy shirt that was completely open down the front, exposing his broad chest. He stood in front of them, looking them up and down hungrily, then licked his lips, staring in disbelief at Alexandria's and Kat's bare legs. "Je crois que je rêve," he murmured, his eyes resting on Kat's cleavage.
Kat folded her arms across her chest and grimaced. "Do you mind, sleazoid? You're old enough to be my father." She looked him up and down in abhorrence. "Where the bloody hell did you come from, anyway?" she asked.
Moments later, a second man jumped from the orb, dressed in similar medieval garb, a sword in a gloved hand slicing the air above his head. “Arrêtez-vous la, fripouille crasseux!" he shouted at the first man.
Holding her breath, Kat's heart missed a beat. She was quick to notice that this man was much younger than the first. She unfolded her arms and flicked her hair, giving him a clear view of her cleavage. He was movie-star handsome, in a roguish kind of way. His long, dark brown hair hung loose to his shoulders, beneath a wide-brimmed hat. Under a long coat, he wore a laced gray shirt and knee-high leather boots over black, buttoned-up breeches. "Now you are definitely swoon-worthy," she murmured.
The young man, sweeping the cavalier hat off his head, bowed low, a lock of hair falling across his face. "Mesdemoiselles, un plaisir de vous rencontrer, toutes les deux."
The first man saw this brief reprisal as an opportunity not to be missed. He took one look at the spiraling orb, then hightailed it into the forest.
The second man spun on his heels, throwing his hat to the ground. "Arrêtez-vous la, fripouille crasseux!" he shouted again, watching the man disappearing into the dark forest. Exasperated, he turned quickly back to Alexandria, sheathed his sword, and then kissed her on the hand. "Mademoiselle." He bowed again, before turning his attentions to Kat. Taking her hand in his, he kissed it slowly, tenderly. "Mademoiselle. Votre beauté me coupe le souffle," he murmured, bowing again, his brown eyes not leaving hers for a moment.
Kat giggled, offering the dashing stranger one of her sweetest smiles. It took all of her resolve not to reach out and brush the stray tuft of hair away from his face with her fingers. "Who the hell are you, gorgeous, and can I take you home with me?"
"Absolutely," he replied in perfect English. "My name is D'Artagnan, and I would love to be of service to you," he said, a mischievous sparkle in his eye, a wide grin spreading across his face. He took a second to look around, then said, "Ferntree Falls. How lovely to be back," then, without any further explanation, he returned his gaze to the pretty, dark haired girl blushing profusely in front of him, and he smiled the most gorgeous smile Kat had ever seen.
She giggled again, thankful for the cover of night concealing her reddening cheeks. "You can call me Kat."
Alexandria frowned, shaking her head. "D'Artagnan? The D'Artagnan, from the Musketeers?" she asked dubiously, staring at him in utter disbelief.
"Yes and yes," he said, slightly amused, not letting go of Kat's hand. "The very same one, Mademoiselle."
"All for one, and one for all … those musketeers?" Kat asked.
"All for one, and one for all," D'Artagnan said with gusto, repeating the phrase. "I do like that. I may use it sometime."
"Oh, you will," Alexandria whispered, then, raising her voice above the whirling sound of the orb, she said, "Okay. Well, it certainly is a pleasure to meet you in person, D'Artagnan. Although I do have to confess that it is somewhat of a surprise, and I really do hate to be the one to throw a damp cloth over this whole chivalrous thing you've got going on here, but, you see, there's a girl in there," she motioned towards the spinning orb with the whirling pocket watch still in her hand, "that needs help."