Juliet manages to reach a small tavern on the border of Verona. The people that passed her, ogle her with suspicion wondering why noble, a noble woman no less, would be out here by her lonesome, with no wagon, no horse, no escort, walking about tracking mud on her dress like a common heathen or beggar. She shies away from the people, but her clothing stood out from the rest. Torn, yet noticeably expensive fabric layered her body. It was the friar that convinced her family to dress her as such, and if the plan had worked it wouldn't have made much of a difference, but now it was an inconvenience to her.

Juliet sits under a nearby tree that grew across from the tavern. She tries to figure out what to do next, but she was as clueless as a child on the matter. Wishing she had stabbed herself when she had the chance, she begins to shed tears. There was nothing for a woman in this world. Even if she got her revenge, where would she go, how would she live? Everything was dawning on her as if the world was mocking her ignorance. "Long way from home." She hears a course and cold voice. She looks up with her tear filled eyes to see a tall man in a dark brownish cloak, the hood of which covered his eyes.

Juliet's eyes immediately go to the gleaming dagger strapped to his waist. He quickly moves his cloak to hide it. This man was dangerous, she could feel that. His very presence made her feel small and weak, and though hidden his eyes ravish her. She does her best not to show her rising fear but fails miserably.

"Speak wench," He demands. "Where come you from?" 

"I am no witch," Juliet shouts quickly at him, not wanting to be mistaken as a witch. "I am..." She holds her tongue to keep from spouting out her true identity. The man gets closer, hands dangerously close to his dagger. Juliet now frightened beyond relief "From Verona," She carelessly gives away. She thinks fast to catch the fumble she made, "I was traveling to Mantua...with my husband, but we were ambushed by a band of thieves. They took everything that including the life of my husband." She bites her lip in hopes that he believes the lie.

"Verona? What is your family name?" Juliet could now barely make out his eyes as he narrows them at her. By the question and his tone of voice, he didn't seem to buy her story.

Juliet goes through the nobles that stayed in Verona. She remembers a lesser known family with three sons, and one daughter who had perished from the plague, "Clarke. Violet Clarke." She utters the name.

To Juliet's relief, he moves back. He removes his hood revealing a surprisingly young and handsome face with eyes as blue and endless as the English Channel, dark curly hair framed his ruggish square face, "Pitiful circumstances, to have so much misfortune befall you in a short amount of time. What sorcerer's wrath did you occur?" He says almost mockingly. 

Juliet frowns feeling humiliated, "If you are done with your scrutiny, I will be heading to Mantua."

"Why there, Miss? It would be quicker to head back to Verona unless you're trying to get away from there. Tell me, who are you really?"

Juliet winces. "I already told you. I am Violet Clarke." She tries hard to persuade him, but he doesn't buy her story. He groans realizing he has gathered attention from He grabs Juliet's arm and drags her to a more secluded area away from prying eyes and possible intervention. Juliet resists but his strength was far greater as he continues on without a sweat nor bothers of her persistent struggle.

He finally lets go of her making Juliet fall on her bottom, "Tell me, now. What are you running from?" He narrows his eyes at her.

Juliet could no longer hold back as she bursts into tears. She was scared, frightened, confused. She realizes that her vow was for naught. Vengeance would not be hers and those that were responsible for Romeo's death would continue to live out their days without a care. She failed before it even began. She wishes she had plunged the dagger into her heart when she had the chance, maybe she still had a chance to be with him in death.

Juliet stares a the partially hidden dagger the man carried, "It no longer matters, my name, or where I came. Kill me and make it swift, for I have no choice left but to go to him."

The man's eyes gaze at her, less callous. He takes his dagger and throws it to her, "If you're so weak and pitiful then relieve yourself, but I will not take the life of someone who is not worth it."

Again, Juliet is faced with another dagger. Just one swift movement to the chest to end everything. She reaches for the dagger taking the hilt in her hand. "If only I did this earlier..." Her hand was shaking, the dagger within it. She uses her other arm to steady herself. The man watches, waiting curiously for the outcome.

The two are interrupted by an approaching group of men. To Juliet's dismay, she recognizes the two. Her cousins apart from the side of her father. Juliet panics dropping the dagger. She rushes to her feet trying to take off. The man stops her, "Please, let me go. I cannot be discovered."

The man looks at the terrified Juliet and at the men who were getting closer and closer. He narrows his eyes. The group was a long way from the public roads. He knew that there was something going on the moment he had seen Juliet, but she was a fine lady and would go for a nice price on the market, and if she died, her organs would go for an even higher price. He did care which way it ended, yet now he was beginning to think this woman was more trouble than she was worth.

He takes off his cloaks and covers Juliet with it, hiding her face and making sure to hide her clothes as well. "Be still and do not speak." He says as the men came upon them. He turns to face the group.

"Pardon," One of the men speaks to him. "We are looking for a young woman, by the name of Juliet Capulet. She was thought to be dead, but it seems a trick has been played on the House of Capulet and now she has gone missing. She is to be found and brought back immediately."

The man listens with interests, while Juliet gives the three a hidden sneer. She was not going back home to those so called murderers and thieves. He looks back at Juliet peering at her, 'Bingo,' he thinks to himself. "Is there a reward for finding her?" He asks the men almost grinning feeling this meeting may have given him the luck he needed.

Juliet holds back a growl. Trying to find the best way escape the men. The two Capulets look at each other, "If Capulet wishes to bestow his fortune, and he is indeed a generous man."

He didn't trust that. A noble's promise was nothing but words, if it was not definitive then there was no point in handing her over. However, now he found something to occupy his free time. "Sorry, I have not heard of this Juliet, but I did happen to see a pale woman who was heading towards Mantua. She asked me for direction."

The two men nod, "Thank you for your time, sir."

"It is my pleasure, hope you'll be able to find her soon, this world is no place for a woman to be all by her lonesome after all."  The Capulets head off to give word to Lord Capulet of his daughter possibly being in Mantua. The man looks at Juliet as she tries to sneak away, "I throw them off your trail and this is how you repay me, Juliet."

She stops in her track, "I did not need your help." She clenches her fists.

He picks up his dagger, "Oh, I think you require my help more than you think, or you can just kill yourself now and I can drop your body upon your father's doorstep. " He says and Juliet flinches. "Face it, you can't do it. If you could, it would have already been done."

Juliet stays silent, the stale air blows between them, "You're right, I can't take my own life. That's why I so desperately wanted to take theirs." She admits. "But it seems I cannot even do that."

The man laughs,  "Revenge? Rebellious woman you are, but rebelling will end your life faster than the black death. But I'm willing to help. For a price. You see, I know of a way to get what you want, and what I want."

"And that is?" Juliet thinks seriously about taking his offer, but she was still cautious of him. She was determined not to be so naïve when it came to other people.

"I want you."