Looking At A Summary Of Daniel Defoe English Literature Essay Essay Example

Taking a gander At A Summary Of Daniel Defoe English Literature Essay Robinson Crusoe was conceived in 1632. He drives a simple and calm life, and his dad needs him to obtain an office occupation. In any case, His kid needs to explore the universe and canvas everywhere throughout the universe. One twenty-four hours he went to the seaport and goes on a boat. The boat comes directly into a tempest, however all the boat individuals are sheltered in cut. At the point when he is back at the coastline he has a pick: or he returns to place, or he went farther on his canvas venture. He picked the last choice en cruised with a skipper of a boat to Africa. On their way they are assault by liars. Robinson Crusoe is from this clasp the captive of the commander of the copyright infringers. After 2 mature ages he ponders a program to escape from the skipper. On an excursion he tossed the commander in the sea and tells the boat individuals that he is the skipper of the boat. After al long clasp they show up at Brazil. Their Robinson Crusoe sells his pontoon and start with a manor. After a short clasp he calms with his estate and begins to cruise again to Africa. Other than this clasp, the boat comes in issue and overturns. Robinson Crusoe is the solitary 1 who endure the mishap and swim to a close by island. Each twenty-four hours he returned to the vessel since it did nt drop. From the wood of the pontoon he manufactures a pontoon. Other than he got some supplement, attire and apparatuses. After 12 yearss the pontoon sank. We will compose a custom paper test on Looking At A Summary Of Daniel Defoe English Literature Essay explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom article test on Looking At A Summary Of Daniel Defoe English Literature Essay explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom article test on Looking At A Summary Of Daniel Defoe English Literature Essay explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer On the Island he manufactures a spot in a cavern. He fabricates a fencing and he made seats en plain arraies for his place. One twenty-four hours his cavern surrender and he needs to look for another topographic point where he can kip. He needs to the opposite side of the island thus he manufactures a kayak from a tree. After 5 mature ages the kayak is inevitably wrapped up. After 11 mature ages he finds a footmark that he ca nt recognize. 7 mature ages consequently he other than finds human castanetss. He fabricates a more grounded fencing around his place since he s a spot terrified. After 24 mature ages he saw the man-eaters for the primary occasions. On their pontoon are 2 casualties. At the point when they show up one of the casualties endeavors to escape however 3 of the man-eaters pursue the person in question. One of the followers stops after a will and returned and the other 2 followers has been executed by Robinson Crusoe. He called the casualty Friday. He instructed him to talk English, and that Robinson Crusoe is his foreman and that human flesh consumption is really awful. They become compani ons. After a duo of mature ages the man-eaters show up again with 2 casualties. Presently Friday and Robinson Crusoe killed all the man-eaters and rescue the people in question. One of the casualties is the male parent of Friday. Robinson Crusoe orders them to step in the kayaks of the man-eaters and get some guide. After 8 yearss they return with a huge boat. The team on the boat is all English. Robinson Crusoe Asked them what occurred and they told it was revolt. Friday went into the Forest with the a few people of the team and he makes them lost. The other group individuals have been executed. The 4 individuals, Robinson Crusoe, Friday, Fridays male parent and the Spaniard returned to England with the boat of the English work powers. So After around 28 mature ages Robinson Crusoe returned to England. Innovative task Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe Jeroen new wave Lieshout A5d What must be in the article doubtlessly? The occupations he had, The canvas ventures, His clasp as a slave, The well disposed relationship with Friday. 28 mature ages on an Island Robinson Crusoe has been lived on an Island for 28 mature ages. Robinson Kruetznaer, conceived in 1632, has lived on an island for around 28 mature ages. Robinson Kruetznaer, other than named as Robinson Crusoe was a youthful fiery male youngster with a fantasy. He needs to wayfarer the universe and canvas over all the incredible seas, however one tempest changes his life straight. It begins with a naiveté excursion to the seaport however it closes 28 mature ages in this way. Robinson Crusoe went to the Harbor and takes an articulation at a boat, when the pontoon begins to cruise. The commander revealed to him that there was no way back thus his venture begins. After a couple yearss the pontoon came into a tempest, however all the team individuals were rescue in cut. They sail in their liberation pontoons back to the beach. Robinson does nt head out back to put, no he cruised further. He met a commander and he is permitted to cruise with the chief. Be that as it may, non each excursion is sheltered. This one is non safe to. This clasp the activity is literary thieves, who attack the vessel. After the invasion Robinson Crusoe is taken with the skipper. He turned into a slave and needs to buckle down simply like each slave in the sixteenth until the nineteenth century. Servitude is extremely troublesome, the slaves need to make all the work and the wages is to a great extent a little bit of old staff of life. After a short clasp he went with the commander on a vessel to Africa. On their way he tossed the skipper in ocean and he turned into the commander. For a slave it s truly astonishing what he did, however interestingly, all the boat individuals concur with the way that he is the new chief. They sail to Brazil and their he begins an ain manor. In any case, as an existent sailor, he halted after a short clasp with the ranch and backpedaled on the ocean. This clasp he sails to Africa, yet close to this clasp the excursion is nt without issue. The boat and Robinson Crusoe came into another tempest. All the team of the boat is dead, with the exception of Robinson Crusoe. Robinson Crusoe and Friday together on the Island. He saw a close by island and swam to it to pass on himself in safe spot. At the point when he showed up his boat was all the while floating on the H2O. Robinson Crusoe is by all accounts extremely shrewd, on the grounds that he swam back and take everything that he could procure, that made a simple life on the island. With the wood of the boat he made a pontoon. He other than took the Canis familiaris with him to gain anyone on the island. The most amazing thing is the way that he gets vivify creatures non for supplement, however for his pleasance. He gets a parrot, a feline and a caprine creature. With his new family physical make-up he another from now on, with a spot in a cavern including seats and an even exhibit. Yet, another activity occurred: his place surrender and he needs to look for another spot. On the island there are numerous trees, so he felt one and develop a kayak of it. With his new kayak he cruised to the opposite side of the island where the energizing started. He saw different people groups, man-eaters, with two casualties. One of the casualties got away and race to Robinson. They became companions and taken in one another various things, for example, the semantic correspondence, how to fight and that Robinson Crusoe is the Boss. Robinson called the casualty Friday. Together they crush the man-eaters and 2 new casualties make the most of their gathering. One of them is the male parent of Friday. Robinson sent them back to the sea to secure guide and after a short clasp a massive boat is come ining. Robinson en Friday made the team lost and Robinson Crusoe and his 3 casualties enter the vessel and canvas back to England. After around 28 mature ages Robinson Crusoe inevitably gain back to the central place that is known for England. Robinson Crusoe rescuing every one of his merchandise out the disaster area of his boat.

knowledge and information :: essays research papers

I might now want to make reference to enactment that features the significance of how Council secures and forms it. The Data Protection Act of 1984 has been modified and the new 1998 Act was brought into power on 1 March 2000. The new demonstration changes unique definitions and implications and it expands the extent of the first demonstration. There are eight standards inside the demonstration and it separates between close to home information and delicate individual information. Touchy individual information covers:  ·Ã‚     Racial or ethnic source of the information subject.  ·Ã‚     Political supposition.  ·Ã‚     Religious or profound conviction.  ·Ã‚     Whether or not an individual from a worker's organization.  ·Ã‚     Physical or psychological wellness or condition.  ·Ã‚     Sexual life.  ·Ã‚     The record of any affirmed or real crime or condemning.  ·Ã‚     (HMSO, 1998, PartI). The demonstration involves the accompanying eight standards: First Principle . As demonstrated already close to home information must be prepared decently and legitimately and at any rate one of the handling conditions is met. In relating this to Council on account of preparing touchy individual information, the information must be handled reasonably and legally and at any rate one of the conditions for handling delicate individual information is met. Second Principle. Individual information will be gotten distinctly for at least one indicated and legal purposes, and will not be additionally handled in any way contradictory with that reason or those reasons. Third Principle. Individual information will be satisfactory, applicable and not over the top comparable to the reason or purposes for which they are handled. Fourth Principle. Individual information will be exact and where fundamental stayed up with the latest. Fifth Principle. Individual information handled for any reason or purposes will not be saved for longer than is vital for that reason or those reasons. 6th Principle. Individual information will be handled as per the privileges of information subjects under this demonstration. Seventh Principle. Suitable specialized and authoritative measures will be taken against unapproved or unlawful handling of individual information and against incidental misfortune or obliteration of, or harm to, individual information. Eighth Principle. Individual information will not be moved to a nation or domain outside the European Economic Area, except if that nation or region guarantees a satisfactory degree of assurance for the rights and opportunities of information subjects according to the preparing of individual information. (HMSO 1998, refered to by DOH, 2000, pp.1-8). Unmistakably, the above enactment fortifies the significance of overseeing data and information inside a contemporary association, for example, Council. Such enactment not just tries to protect the privileges of administration clients who get to my association yet in addition to offer guidelines to Council as far as suitability of handling data and information.

Reverse Culture Shock

Reverse Culture Shock The week after my semester at MIT ended, I was accompanied by this looming sense of vertigoâ€"like something inside me was always cycling, pushing forward, and in the absence of motion, it was simply falling. This didn’t manifest any more than just a weird feeling swooshing around, and in any case, I was far too busy to contemplate what it meant. I met up with my dad in New York. He had traveled to the US for a program called Book Expo America (BEA) and we were both attendants. My dad’s steadfast love of books translates into an extensive collection of them that I grew up with, even in the absence of much else, and I’m sure being surrounded by this deluge of words and stories had something to do with my wanting to create words and stories. So I imagine that for the both of us, BEA was fun and immersive. To me, it was also somewhat intimidating. There were scores and scores of people, moving from booth to booth, clutching all sorts of books, taking pictures of and getting autographs from famous writers. In fact, I remember prancing all dreamy-eyed past one of the booths when I saw someone. My jaw dropped and my eyes popped open. I heard myself pull in air. It was Jane Lynch, the actress who plays Sue Sylvesterâ€"the hilarious, no-nonsense coach on Glee. She was mere feet away from me, smiling and holding up a book she had written. While this was fun and memorable, it wasn’t the source of my intimidation. I think I just remembered, in some sense, what it means to want to writeâ€"not just simply typing up words whenever an idea for a story comes to mind, but actually having to invest yourself in this battlefield of emotions.   There’s the personal battleâ€"dealing with word choices and certain storylines, wondering if this or that even makes sense, and who in their right minds would want to read this. And then there’s the bigger scopeâ€"trying to get the attention of readers, having to accept strong criticism, having to reconcile with how hard, how crazily hard it is, to break into the global publishing market. I saw all sorts of writersâ€"debut authors promoting their books being published by small, independent presses to renowned authors backed by the powerhouses like Penguin and Scholastic. Let’s just say that I had a lot to contemplate about the newer stories I want to write, and an increased sense of affection for what is mechanically no more than moving my fingers across a keyboard for a long, long time. After the book launch, my dad and I stayed in New York for a few days, and I got to watch every cultural stereotype of the city come to life. Yes, the city never sleeps. Yes, it throbs with life. Yes, a good number of New Yorkers are…well, probably deserving of an occasional punch or two in the face. With a steel chair. Then there was the long, long flight back to Nigeria. After we finally landed, I stepped out into the airport and joined a long line trying to clear customs. The air seemed unusually warm. To the left of me, a small bickering dialogue between a scowling officer and a family burst into full screaming. As I observed this, the power in the airport went out as if to say, “Hey buddy, welcome home.” I grinned, because it definitely felt like home. ** We all know about inertia, about the little resistance our bodies give when a fast-moving car suddenly comes to a halt. It’s like we’ve just settled into an unchanging state of mind, all like, “Okay, this is what’s happening, p-sets and complaining and hunting down unhealthy free food. I can deal with it. And then Life steps on the brakes, and the car screeches and you just have to lurch, because you don’t wanna stop. You wanna keep moving. When I came to the US in September to begin my studies at MIT, my world restructured itself on a fast, personal and somewhat upsetting level. I had to go from eating mostly Nigerian meals to eating mostly non-Nigerian meals. I had to deal with the cold, crappy weather and dressing up like an astronaut all the time. I also had to squeal in delight at things I’d never been used toâ€"the constant power supply, the unbelievably fast internet speed, the culture of diversity that brimmed in MIT, people who were so like-minded in their capacity for diverse forms of ingenuity. It was a thrilling world, and a strange one, and the inertial being in me, while getting used to this, still clamored for the safe familiarity of homeâ€"of my friends and my food and my family. Thankfully, MIT was a good place to be overwhelmed by culture shock, and with time, I found myself adjusting. Now that I’m back to Nigeria, there’s a lesser but marked degree of reverse culture shock. When talking about MIT to friends and family, I unconsciously find myself speaking in usual MIT lingo. I’m back to my usual regimen of Nigerian dishesâ€"I still have pleasant dreams about some spicy goat pepper-soup I had days agoâ€"but it still feels delightfully strange to be eating eba and egusi after so long instead of pasta and pizza. Of course, the power keeps flickering in and out, and I’ve had to remind myself that seeing things like a line of men peeing into a gutter or beggars lining busy commercial roads or conductors hanging from buses and screaming names of places are all commonplace here. There’s a strong sense of displacement I can’t quite explainâ€"like whatever was cycling around me in MIT has suddenly decided it wants to run instead of cycle. I don’t think it’s because I forgot what home was likeâ€"that’s far from possible, barring some nasty treat like Alzhe imer’sâ€"but it’s like after returning home, my mind is constantly juxtaposing every sight I take in with its American analog, from the movies to the roads to the food to even the sprawling skyline. In any case, I haven’t been to Nigeria in nearly ten months, and it feels great to be back. ** I’ve caught up with old high school classmates. I’ve kept on working on the new book I’ve been thinking of, and I think the characters being mind-painted are heading down what looks like a dark, solemn road. But I think the most important event I’m looking forward to right now is the Whirlwind of Metamorphosis book launch. It’s common in Nigeria for novels to be officially shown to the public in a launch ceremony, in which the book is presented to an audience and sales begin. Even while I was in the US, the book publishers had been busy. There’s a planning committeeâ€"it handles everything from invitations to marketing to program of events for that day. A hall has been booked, and we’re expecting over three hundred guests. Support has been pouring in from distant relatives and family friends and even people I don’t know, in terms of checks and hugs and verbal encouragement. Theres also been merchandisefrom branded caps to branded T-shirts to branded bags. This Thursday promises to be quite a day, and I’m looking forward to it. There’s something surreal about the whole processâ€"this whole deal started with my parents discussing the news. A kidnapping had taken place. A family was in shreds. For whatever reason, that stuck with me, and I begin to see another family crawling inside my head, undergoing the same thing. For a long time, these people existed in my head. I began to type, and they began to live on dark letters assembling on a screen. I only realized well into the process that this was a book I would actually like to see published, and I think I’m just realizing that the concept, the dream itself, existed in an inert place in my mind. It was very real to me, but while I imagined that it could someday leave the confines of my imagination and become a real thing to others as well, the whole thought was subdued by some cynical other self remarking, “Yes, yes, dream on. Imagine. That’s pretty healthy, right? But that’s all it’s gonna be. And that’s absolutely fine.” But thankfully, very thankfully, that wasn’t all it was. So while I count down with my family and friends to June 19, I’m realizing again that after a long period spent indoors, dreams sometimes get big enough to climb out of our minds. There’s a whole lot of local support for the book, for which I’m grateful. I think our minds are like cemeteries, and ideas just lay buried in their own graves. Dig hard enough, and one of them will just spring right out. And if there’s one thing you should take away from this post, it’s simply this: do not dig open a grave in real life. That’s just plain nasty and probably illegal. But it’s a thing to be said about imagination that in the province of the mind, this becomes a mere analogy. Then, those dirt-hitting shovels will strike something that becomes bigger than the mind that gave birth to it. Wish me luck on June 19th.

Benefits of Music Essay - 1038 Words

Music â€Å"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.† These were the words of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a Russian composer and pianist who was very influential in the twentieth century. Sergei had a very accurate perception of music and he understood the significance that music has. For some people, music is the center of their lives and it is the foundation on how they live. Everybody knows what music is and they all have heard a form of it but most people underestimate the value and power music has in our everyday lives. Whether they know it or not music can affect the mood of people and influence their behaviors as well. Music is so much more than it is made out to be and it is a core aspect of life itself. As†¦show more content†¦Different types of music help different things. Music with a strong beat causes the brain to sync with the beat and as a result the patient is more alert and can concentrate more efficiently. Slower more laid back typ es of music helps people relax and helps bring them down to a meditative state. As the brain is a muscle it also is capable of responding to muscle memory like the other muscles found throughout the body. As a result this causes the brain to shift speeds more easily even without music making these effects long term benefits. Music is an effective tool which has uses that are only limited by the people who create it. Music is very influential in society today. It is present in almost every part of our everyday lives. Imagine watching a movie that does not contain any music whatsoever. Some movies are dependent of scenes that convey a sense of emotion in which the audience has a connection to the characters in the movie. Whenever a significant scene in a movie occurs there will be background music to further help the mood whether it is an emotional moment or an action sequence. Suspense moments also have some sort of sound that builds anxiety inside of the viewer. Music is not only pr esent in movies but also everywhere that you go. Every major retailer of supermarket has music playing in the background. Service shops play music to make the time go by faster for the person who is waiting for the service Music has also been criticized for influencingShow MoreRelatedThe Benefits Of Music Therapy Essay1342 Words   |  6 PagesThe Unbeknownst Benefits of Music Therapy Music therapy, a clinical use of music interventions to accomplish therapeutic goals, involves a broad range of activities including playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music. Similar to occupational and physical therapy, this expressive arts therapy remedies psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or hypertension to maintain the well-being of an individual. Likewise, music has been a therapeutic tool that has shown positive effectsRead MoreThe Benefits Of Instrumental Music1489 Words   |  6 PagesMusic to my Ears: The Benefits of Instrumental Music It s happened to us all - instead of working on that persuasive essay or that chemistry homework, we spent the week hanging out with friends or watching YouTube videos, leaving us with a huge workload to finish the night before its due. We re up at 12:30 AM trying to figure out what to write about or how to solve that problem, all while stressing about our grades or our sleep schedules. We try to work on the schoolwork, but we end up gettingRead MoreBenefits of Music Education2049 Words   |  9 PagesWilder-Newland English 12 15 March 2012 Benefits of Required Music Education According to â€Å"College Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers,† â€Å"Students in music appreciation classes scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation.† Music programs are being cut and underfunded even though these programs should be the first to be funded; they provide a magnitude of benefits. Music should be taught progressively just likeRead MoreThe Benefits of Music Education Essay990 Words   |  4 PagesThe Benefits of Music Education Due to budget cuts, students all across America are missing an opportunity that could benefit them greatly. Many changes all across America are cutting the fine arts program out of schools. The fine arts program is incredibly important for a child. Children should be exposed to music at a young age to help them succeed as an adult. Music education should be properly funded so they can gain important knowledge and life skills in school. Music benefits kids in multipleRead MoreMusic Therapy: What Are the Benefits?1193 Words   |  5 Pagesalternative is music therapy. Music therapy is used address health issues regarding their physical and emotional health. The therapist meets with a patient to learn about their strengths and weaknesses before creating a customized treatment plan. Some methods of treatment include singing, playing with instruments and listening to music. These methods of treatment in turn help the patients learn different skills that can also be used to improve their daily lives. Research shows that music therapy hasRead MoreBenefits Of Music Therapy On Children Essay1651 Words   |  7 PagesBenefits of Music Therapy in Autistic children Benefits of Music Therapy in Autistic children Literature Review Zuleima Haskins â€Æ' Introduction Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of conditions of the brain development. (Vries, 2015). The main characteristic of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is that they have difficulties to adapt and interact with other people. Also, individuals with Autism have problems with their development of verbal and nonverbal communicationRead MoreBenefits Of Music And Art Education977 Words   |  4 PagesThe Benefits of Music and Art Education If we live in the land of many opportunities, then why should music and art programs be cut from schools? When people hear the term â€Å"art†, their first initial thought would most likely be drawing or painting. However, it’s a lot more than the visual art forms that can be set on a paper or canvas; According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the term â€Å"Art† is â€Å"something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses importantRead MoreMusic Education and the Benefits Essay examples1700 Words   |  7 Pages Most understand that music is a useful tool for relaxation and leisure time. Fewer know that learning a musical instrument, or even listening to music for long periods of time, can have a positive impact on one’s academic abilities. Numerous researchers and college professors have looked into this correlation and again and again have produced data that confirms this common theory. Studying music can no t only improve academic skills, but sharpen motor skills, memory, and create a well rounded, enrichedRead MoreSample Bibliography : 20 Important Benefits Of Music1035 Words   |  5 PagesAnnotated Bibliography â€Å"20 Important Benefits of Music In Our Schools.† National Association for Music Education, 21 July 2014, www.nafme.org/20-important-benefits-of-music-in-our-schools/. This source is an online article from a credible source: The National Association for Music Education (NAFME). The actual author is unknown. This source presents twenty significant advantages of music in schools. The advantages presented are actual facts due to studies performed. This article is important to myRead MoreReflection of the Chaffey College Music Department Benefit Concert 947 Words   |  4 PagesI attended the Chaffey College Music Department Benefit Concert on February 7 at the Chaffey College theatre. The visual and performance arts presents in concert Los Angeles Philharmonic String Quartet. The concert was lead by Vijay Gupta, LA Philharmonic first violins with Tao Ni on cello, and Michael Larco on violas. The theater was filled up with audience coming from all over the place waiting for the performance to start. The concert had become a trio because one of the performers could not make

What You Can Do About High School Research Paper Example Beginning in the Next 3 Minutes

What You Can Do About High School Research Paper Example Beginning in the Next 3 Minutes Sample research paper may arrive in handy as you are writing your own assignment. You can opt to get an essay at Essays-Writer. Superior essays expect a thesis, support, and strong conclusion. In the event that you were fortunate enough to compose your college essay or research paper, you may want to edit it until shiny. High school essay writing is a frequent classroom activity and is also part of several normal examinations. Writing college research papers is an extremely challenging endeavor for the majority of students. Students should use many sources when writing research papers. While sometimes the student can select from a list of suggested topics, he might also be permitted to choose one of his own. A considerable introduction is one which tells the readers what the composition is about. 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The Splendiferous Sunset Free Essays

The horizon slices through the magnificent sun, a bigger segment lying in reflection in the water as its sharp blend of rays in orange, pink, blue, red and purple pierce the clouds painfully. The bright yellow, hot flames that had been warming and brightening the day slowly extinguish, converting to deep cool orange flames. The never ending, deep ocean tardily becomes several shades darker, mirroring the splendiferous sky while sharing the unique beauty of its colours smoothly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Splendiferous Sunset or any similar topic only for you Order Now The scene is simply dazzling. Colours of the rainbow given off by the umbrellas, hats and swimming costumes, battled wildly against the colour of, the golden sand; a layer of tiny eroded rocks blanketing the land from the ocean. All the colours were fading swiftly like water pouring out of a jug. The dark grey cliffs piercing the splendid sky, with its sharp heads, adding to my view of the sweet scene, hanging uninterestingly in the sides of the sand. The once noisy beach, where children’s shout of laughter was heard, is suddenly slowly being replaced by the constant whisper of the wind and the splashing, spluttering and swishing of the waves. Footprints stamped into the sizzling sand, being washed away by the wild waves driven by the wind; erasing all evidences of life having been there. Distant leaving figures, against the stunning colours of the background, were shown as black difficult to observe. Silence hung, a sharp knife, threatening anything that disturbs it. Sharp rocks pierce my feet as I walk through the sand slowly, but also strangely comforting at the same time; the skin on my feet being slowly stroked by the waves is left tingling. As I slowly sat myself positioned between the sand and small waves, the feeling of comforting loneliness suddenly started to overwhelm me, the sereneness of the sunset scene, the whispering of the few trees stranded, the sound of the distant seagulls all combined together able to make any stone heart melt. As the enormous orange marble makes the last step of its journey, welcoming the darkness that would soon wrap itself around the world until tomorrow, with its remaining rays. I got up slowly, my gaze on the amazing scene before me; trying to absorb as much of the beauty while it lasts. Inch by inch the orange marble slips out of view, letting its slowly extinguishing rays say goodbye with the little energy left in the rays to the land soon to be enclosed in darkness. I started to run home. How to cite The Splendiferous Sunset, Papers

Teenage Pregnancy Vs Parental Consent In Regards To Abortions (Unwante

Teenage Pregnancy Vs Parental Consent In Regards To Abortions (Unwanted Abortions) Teenage Pregnancy VS Parental Consent in Regards to Abortions (Unwanted Abortions) In today's society, Teenage Pregnancy has risen to substantial percentages. Teenage pregnancy has become an epidemic. Statistics show that Teenage pregnancy has reached at all time high percentage resulting in an high abortion percentage. According to Seventeen magazine, the April 99 issue, reports show that more than a million teenagers get pregnant yearly. Among them 50% have abortions of the other 50%, 96% keep their babies and 41% option for adoption. On the same report, teens who get pregnant before the age of 21, 80% don't intend to be so. Being a teenager has stresses of its own. Starting from adolesence, which is the ages of 12-17, brings on a major developmental process. For example: puberty, identity, and thinking abstractly. Just to name a few. While reviewing Family Planning Pespections, the Jan/Feb of 99 issue, stated that teenagers are not fit to make decisions as to whether or not to have an abortion. And that's where Parental Consent comes in to play. Alot of parents feel the need to control their teenagers. Being that teenagers are not fully developt, they have to be the second brain for them. Alot of young adults know more than we think. Even though they tend to make pretty bad decisions, does not mean they are completly clueless. Everyone has made or will make an unwise decision in their life some time or another. We just have to learn from our mistakes. That apart of growing up. Eventhough teen pregnancy has skyrocketed in this country, I don't fell that no one has the right to force any one into an unwanted abortion. Although most teens between the ages of 13-17 have no ideal what life is all about at this point; some do have a level of maturity to care for a child if taught right. I honestly feel that parents should not force their daughters into abortions. Teenagers are still yet fragile. An abortion can cause major psychological problems for a young girl mentally and physically due to the fact that abortions can cause sterility. We as parents need to help these young ones, teach them and show them what their doing wrong, not criticize them for what their doing. Health and Beauty Essays

Tidal Energy essays

Tidal Energy essays Tidal energy is a type of energy that produces electricity and other forms of power through the use of water. The tides in places that naturally hold water, such as lakes and oceans, make the water able to produce this energy. This energy that causes the power is held in tidal waters. There is so much potential energy in the earth's oceans and other natural water containers that is not being used, but could be. (Tidal Energy) The method of using tidal energy for power dates back to the 11th century. In that century, mechanical energy was produced by having water run through a water wheel. The water wheel turned as a result of this, powering whatever was intended to be powered. In modern day, tidal energy is used to produce electricity through the rise and fall of the tides. This provides electricity for coastal areas. (Tidal Energy) The coastal areas are the only places where electricity may come from tidal energy, unfortunately. Just because the area is a coastal one does not mean the area's electricity can come from tidal energy. The first restriction is the area must have generally high tides. An ideal place for tidal energy to produce power is the Bay of Fundy in Atlantic Canada. The tides in the Bay of Fundy reach up to seventeen meters (these are the highest tides in the world). The tides must have at least a five meter difference between high and low tides. The higher the tides are, the more power will be produced, therefore, coastal areas with high tides are ideal so that there will be sufficient power for the area since tidal energy can only be produced twice a day, at high tide. (Tidal Energy) Another restriction for an area to be able to use tidal energy is the area must be financially able to afford this form of power. In the area that holds the water, a dam must be installed, as well as gates and turbines. Ideally, an area with a narrow opening is best for this so that less money will ...

The Xinjiang Qanat System of the Turpan Oasis

The Xinjiang Qanat System of the Turpan Oasis The Xinjiang Qanat System is a remarkable feat of irrigation engineering skill, and it is considered one of the three great wonders of China, after the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) Great Wall and the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE) Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The qanat (also known as a karez) system is a rich water source for the Turpan Oasis, tapping groundwater stored in the deep subsurface gravel layers of the Gobi belt. What makes this all the more interesting is the fact that scholars are still not agreed upon when the qanat system was built... and that begs the question of who built it. Climate of the Turpan The Turfan (or Turpan) basin, located to the east of the more famous Tarim Basin, is one of the driest areas in China, with a total precipitation of 15-25 millimeters (under one inch) per year, and an elevation about 160 meters (524 feet) below sea level. The average temperature of the basin is 32.7 degrees Celsius (90.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in July, but the winters are rather chilly, and in January the average temperatures are about 9.5 degrees C (49.6 degrees F), and can fall as low as -28 degrees C (18 degrees F). The Turfan Basis, while a desert, is much more hospitable than its southern neighbor, the harsh Taklamakan Desert. Wedged between the Taklamakan and the Tianshan Mountains, the Turfan was a much preferred, not to say feasible, route for travelers on the Silk Road: its oasis was a critical stopover. Irrigating the Turfan Theres no doubt that the oasis had a natural beginning. A total of 4,000 sq km (1,500 sq mi) of the Turfan Basin lies below sea level; the Turpan Oasis lies in the lowest part, at an elevation of 154 m (505 ft) below average sea level. The oasis is nestled at the foot of the Tianshan (Flaming or Heavenly) mountains, and from autumn to spring, water from snowmelt off the Tienshan rushes into Turpan, revitalizing the oasis naturally. But at some time in its past- scholars argue that occurred anywhere from 200 to 2,000 years ago- the residents of Turpan built a massive qanat system that reached into the water table and tapped the aquifer, in some cases up to 200 m (650 ft) below the surface. That system included over 5,000 km (3,100 mi) of underground tunnels and thousands of wells. Whether it was built as a result of an environmental disaster or merely insurance against one, the Xinjiang qanat system is evidence that the Turpan was a highly prized stop on the Silk Road. Qanats in the Deserts A qanat is a system of underground tunnels and wells that tap deeply buried aquifers in arid and semi-arid places. In brief, a well is dug into the aquifer, a horizontal tunnel is excavated from the well to a surface collection place and ventilation shafts are placed at intervals along the tunnel to provide maintenance access. Invented by the Persians in the 7th century BCE, qanat technology was spread by imperialism: outside of Persia by the 6th century BCE Achaemenid king Darius the Great; into Syria and Jordan by the Romans in the first and second century CE; into North Africa and Spain by the Islamic civilization in the 12th and 13th centuries CE; and finally into North and South America during the 16th century Spanish conquest. The only place in China where qanats exist at all is in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in the Turfan basin on the far western edge of Chinas realm. Deserts make up 43 percent of Xinjiang province, oases only about 4.3 percent and the rest is mountains. In the 2nd century BCE, the international trade network called the Silk Road was dependent on a line of strategically situated oases wedged between the Tianshan Mountains and the Taklamakan Desert in the Tarim and Turfan basins. Turpan was an important oasis in the eastern-most segment of the Silk Road, and, even today, more than 95 percent of the total population and almost all the agriculture, settlements and industries in Xinjiang are concentrated in the Turpan Oasis. The Size and Complexity of the Turpan Qanat System The Turpan qanat system includes at least 1,039 qanats (some sources suggest as many as 1,700), with underground channels stretching for a length of more than 5,000 kilometers, or about 3,100 miles. While there is no doubt that the origins of the Turpan Oasis were natural, there is also no doubt that the Xinjiang Qanat System was built to increase the available access to water. Whether the qanats were built as a result of climate change or to support a population increase or even provide year-round water is open to debate: probably a little of all those things. Estimates for the construction date of the qanats vary from the first century BCE to the 19th century CE. The system is so successful that grapes are grown in a region of what is essentially a continental desert- the earliest grapes in Turpan are from the Subeixi culture Yanghai tombs, with an  AMS radiocarbon date of about 300 BCE. What we know for sure is that in the 1950s, an intense increase in well irrigation was established in Turpan, over-exploiting the aquifer: since then the majority of the qanats have dried and become abandoned. Only 238 were functioning in 2009. The Karez Wells in Turpan were inscribed into UNESCOs Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2012. Sources Beck U, Wagner M, Li X, Durkin-Meisterernst D, and Tarasov PE. 2014. The invention of trousers and its likely affiliation with horseback riding and mobility: A case study of late 2nd millennium BC finds from Turfan in eastern Central Asia. Quaternary International 348:224-235. Chen T, Yao S, Merlin M, Mai H, Qiu Z, Hu Y, Wang B, Wang C, and Jiang H. 2014. Identification of Cannabis Fiber from the Astana Cemeteries, Xinjiang, China, with Reference to Its Unique Decorative Utilization. Economic Botany 68(1):59-66. Jiang H-E, Zhang Y, Là ¼ E, and Wang C. 2015. Archaeobotanical evidence of plant utilization in the ancient Turpan of Xinjiang, China: a case study at the Shengjindian cemetery. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 24(1):165-177. Luo L, Wang X, Guo H, Liu C, Liu J, Li L, Du X, and Qian G. 2014. Automated extraction of the archaeological tops of qanat shafts from VHR imagery in Google Earth. Remote Sensing 6(12):11956-11976. Luo L, Wang X, Liu J, Guo H, Lasaponara R, Ji W, an d Liu C. 2017. Uncovering the ancient canal-based tuntian agricultural landscape at Chinas northwestern frontiers. Journal of Cultural Heritage 23(Supplement):79-88. Tang Y-N, Li X, Yao Y-F, Ferguson DK, and Li C-S. 2014. Environmental Reconstruction of Tuyoq in the Fifth Century and Its Bearing on Buddhism in Turpan, Xinjiang, China. PLoS ONE 9(1):e86363.Wang S, and Zhao X. 2013. Re-evaluating the Silk Roads Qinghai Route using dendrochronology. Dendrochronologia 31(1):34-40.

The Influence of Edger Allan Poe and Pablo Picasso on Society Term Paper

The Influence of Edger Allan Poe and Pablo Picasso on Society - Term Paper Example The paper "How did Edger Allan Poe & Pablo Picasso Influence Society" will explore how did Edger Allan Poe & Pablo Picasso influence society. Edgar Allan Poe introduced new genres in literature and became the inspiration for future writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He also holds the distinction of being the first person to ever make a living through writing alone. Pablo Picasso was one of the foremost Cubism pioneers whose works of art conveyed the inner thoughts and emotions of the artist. He also helped launch art that came to be known as collage alongside the Symbolism and Surrealism school of thought in modern art. Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the most prolific and trend setting literary writers of the 20th century. His writing often reflected the many struggles he had to undergo in his life and his stories delved deep into the psyche of his characters. Thus creating whole new genres of writing and character development in the process. Keeping in mind all that we know about this tragic writer's life and accomplishments, the one question that remains to be answered is, â€Å"What were Edgar Allan Poe's contributions to modern 20th century literature?† From the time his father abandoned him a year after his birth, to the death of his mother a year later. Edgar seems to have been hounded by tragedy for most of his life. It was perhaps this trauma that caused him to have such a confused young adult life under the guardianship of his godfather. The one constant in his life seemed to be literature.

Systemic family therapy(psychotherapy) TEAM Essay

Systemic family therapy(psychotherapy) TEAM - Essay Example Within the systems approach, there are three different ways problems are approached, namely, the strategic approach, the structural approach and the systemic approach. The strategic family therapist addresses problems in light of uncertain and inconsistent hierarchies within the family system (Watson n.d., p.381). He/she elicits "power and control issues, and directs change by means of family assignments or paradoxical injunctions" (Haley 1976, Madanes 1981, cited in Watson n.d., p.381). A structural family therapist looks into family structure, subsystems, and boundaries with an ideal family structure in mind and tries to reorganize the boundaries of families. The systemic approach has its origin in the work of the Milan therapy team inspired by Mara Selvini Palazzoli along with L.Boscolo, G. Cecchin and G. Prata (Wright & Watson 1991, p.407). Systemic therapy involves conceptualization of family problems from a systemic perspective, which plays an important role in the treatment pr ocess. Systemic therapists offer information and advice that liberate the family and enable them to solve their own problems. A systemic opinion is "offered by conceptualizing the presenting symptom as a solution to some other hypothetical or implied problem that would or could occur should the symptom not be present" (Tomm, cited in Wright & Watson 1991, p.427). This is called reframing. ... They offer different and contradicting views of reality, referred to as split opinions, which enable the family to be more open to change (Wright & Watson 1991, p.428). Therapists require the family to follow a pattern of behavior that is different from what it is used to. This is referred to as a ritual. Rituals help families to make new connections which in turn help them find new realities, leading to change and resolution of issues. The reflecting team In systemic family therapy, a reflecting team consisting of consultants or co-therapists from different fields helps the family in finding its own solution. The family is invited to sit behind a one-way mirror and observe the team's discussion on a previously held conversation between the family and the therapist. The team's voicing out aloud about the family's problems and possible solutions directs the family to consider alternate views of the family situation, problems and possible solutions. Andersen has suggested several assumptions and working guidelines for the reflecting team (cited in Jenkins 1996, p.1). A reflecting team follows the assumption that information needs to shared and not withheld, and based on this, the team can share its thoughts with the family during discussions. When there are multiple ideas discussed, there are different perceptions of reality, and the family's perception of its situation is also enriched on hearing these differences. Consequently, the family gets an opportunity to view its problems and possible solutions from alternate perspectives. These enriched pictures of the family and its dilemma form "an ecology of ideas" (Bogdan, cited in Jenkins 1996, p.1). Listening to the multitude of ideas and opinions of the reflecting team members helps the clients

Theories On Domestic Violence Causes

Theories On Domestic Violence Causes Previously there has been a lot of work done to determine the causes of domestic violence and their relationship with it. This literature review focuses on the theories related to causes of domestic violence and highlights the key findings of these theories. This literature review is a summary of selected sources which directly or indirectly address domestic violence and its causes. Sources range from academic research papers, other literature reviews, scholarly articles and online books. Work and family have reciprocal relationship with each other and this has been proved by the research and the effects of one are spilled onto other. Occupational spillover effects are best explained by feminist and work-family theories because work and violence are gendered. Research that was done previously has ignored issue of violence when analyzing occupational spillover and has only focused on occupations influencing workers identities health outcomes, renting styles and health outcomes. Relationship is being discovered by researchers between interpersonal conflicts and arguments at work leading to arguments at home. There are few family violence researchers who have focused on occupational characteristics affecting intimate relationships. Occupational violence spillover means that men in physical violent jobs are more likely to cause violence on their partners because they have learnt at work that violence Is a legitimate way to exercise control on their partners. Compensatory masculinity focuses on work-family linkages and according to this, men who are unable to earn satisfactory income level and are dissatisfied in their working environment try to gain satisfaction at home by perpetrating violence at their female partners. It has been found by family violence researchers that men in blue collar, male dominated occupations have higher rates of domestic violence as compared to men having white collar jobs but the issue has not been examined thoroughly. Research has concluded that men in physically violent occupation usually bring their work home in the form of violence and their female partners suffers from occupational spillover. Few work-family researchers have focused on the role of occupational stress in causing domestic violence on intimate partner and are unable to explain the root causes of violence. Research on intimate partner violence has explained the connection between income, education and employment with violence. Marital dependency (Kalmuss Straus, 1990; Straus, Gelles, Steinmetz, 1980) and stress frustration theories (Holtzworth-Munroe, Bates, Smutzler, Sandin, 1997; Riggs, Caulfield, Street, 2000; Straus, 1990; Straus et al.) view income, education, and employment as indicators of access to economic resources. According to Anderson, women face risk of abuse due to power differences rather than sociodemographic position. Traditional status of men along with several sociodemographic factors such as income, education, employment, race and social class increases the risk for women to face intimate partner violence. Marital dependency theory suggests that women are financially, educationally and occupationaly dependent on their male partners which limits their ability to end violent relationships. 1986). Lupri, Grandin, and Brinkerhoff (1994) suggest that because men hol d the majority of high paying positions in society, it follows that they also command higher power in have adverse effects on marital relationships. Rogers and Amato (1997) and Rubin (1994) find that husbands with low level of income are likely to feel more insecure and consequently the couple will experience more marital problems. Socioeconomic differences favouring women are often viewed as uncomfortable and problematic by male partners. According to Jasinski (2001), violence is used by men to construct traditional masculinity and when men are unemployed and unable to financially support their family, they use violence as a mean to regain their masculinity. Researchers have analyzed the impact of mens and womens financial contributon to household income and have concluded that overall poverty increases the risk of violence rather than income disparity between intimate partners. (Anderson, 1997; McCloskey). Moreover, employment is also considered as an important factor causing violence and according to Macmillan Gartner, a woman is more likely to experience violence when she is employed and has a higher job status compared to her husband. Many researchers have also found that women with higher education compared to their partners face greater risk of intimate partner violence than women with lower education (Hornung et al DeKeseredy and Hinch (1991) Family violence and feminist researchers have focused on the role played by socioeconomic factors in causing partner violence but the literature lacks the exact role played by these factors in causing physical and emotional abuse so there is a continuous need to explore the relationship between income, employment and education with partner violence. Empirical analysis of the different forms of intimate partner violence and physical abuse is required to be done. According to feminist theories, men perpetuate violence in order to maintain power and control and family violence researchers have concluded that structural environment plays an important role in causing domestic abuse. It has been found that elements of structural environment such as age, race, cohabition, educational and income resources have a relationship with domestic violence and these same structural elements do not lead to the violence in a similar fashion by men. Previously the role of cultural constructions of gender was ignored by the researchers and in most studies violence perpetrated by men is examined only. Moreover. Gender theorists argue that social constructs create masculinity and femininity and construction of feminine identity is much easier as compared to the construction of masculine identity. (Connell, 1987). Men try to maintain their masculinity by obtaining higher levels of income, more education and greater occupational prestige than women (Gerson, 1993; S egal, 1990). Men with higher educational resources and earning less income are more likely to perpetrate violence on their female partners than with lower educational resources and higher income (Fagot, Leinbach, Hagan, 1986). Men use violence as a mean to maintain and re establish their power and control when they are deprived of material resources in their lives (Goldschneider Waite, 1991). The study conducted by Horning Mcullough concluded that partners hold different expectations regarding decision making and housework when they have different educational levels. The relationship between education and domestic violence should be studied more closely in the research because their relationship has been found inconsistent in the past studies (Lupri et al., 1994). Theories focusing on socioeconomic causes of domestic violence must be integrated with feminist theories to better understand the problem. There is a dire need of future research that should analyze and examine the interrelationship of sociodemographic factors and structures of gender and power. Strong relationship between domestic violence and age,cohabiting status, unemployment and socioeconomic status has been found by sociologists using national survey techniques. A link between stress and domestic assaults has been found by studies (Straus et al., 1980). Gender of victims and perpetrators hold a great importance when examining causes of domestic violence but the literature lacks an analysis of how and why gender matters in spousal violence. Furthermore, past studies of resource the ory has limitations. One limitation is that the data is collected from one partner leading to gendered reporting bias. The literature lacks the emipirical and theoretical analysis of how gender matters in the relationship between resources and violence. Research indicates that domestic violence may arise from feelings of low personal control among men and it negatively influences the personal control of women. According to perpetrator literature, feelings of personal control play a vital role in causing domestic abuse and the characteristics of perpetrator are low self esteem, poor self control and a high need for control. Research has proved that various aspects of social structural environment influences the mens ability to perpetuate violence on women and these aspects are poverty social resources, stress and unemployment. A link has been found between socio structural conditions and domestic violence by the researchers. According to feminist theories, violence is used as an instrumental act by men when they have little control over an element of their environment such as unemployment and fewer resources to maintain or re-establish their sense of control.. According to studies conducted earlier, gender greatly influences personal control and domestic violence. Johnson (1995) suggests that there may be gender differences in motivation to control, physical strength differences that make violence effective, normative acceptability of control, inclination to use violence for control. According to Kirkwood (1993), men uses their personal resources and physical power to exert control on their female partners and if they also have access to more resources, they can use these to exert further control. Research conducted earlier has indicated that relationship between personal control and domestic violence is different for men and women and the experience of abuse is entirely different for men and women. The literature has focused on men regarding control and domestic violence but it has not empirically tested the relationship between personal control and domestic violence The literature is quite broad and vague when examining male control and domestic violence and it suggests that men initiate partner violence because they have little control over their partners and circumstances of their lives. More research should be conducted to find out more relationships among personal control and domestic violence and how the association is different for men and women. Moreover, there is a need of finding out possible gender differences using qualitative research. There are many socioeconomic factors leading to domestic violence but the most important ones are poverty and low income. (Greenfeld et al., 1998; Rennison Welchans,2000, Tjaden Thoennes, 1998). According to interpersonal perspectives, the factors contributing to domestic violence are within the relationship conflict and ineffective conflict resolution increases the risk of violence for women. Family members aid in perpetuating violence on women violence (Hamberger Hastings 1993, Cunningham et al 1998, Healey et al 1998, Eisikovits Edleson 1989, Jewkes 2002). The most widely accepted theory of violence is that some groups in the society encourages the use of violence on women. According to feminist researchers, there are several control tactics used by men to exert power and control on women.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 14

â€Å"You called us together for biblical porn?† Hugh turned away with disinterest from where the vampires and I huddled around my kitchen table. Barely a bruise showed on him anymore. Putting a cigarette to his lips, the imp produced a lighter from his coat pocket. â€Å"Don't smoke in here,† I warned. â€Å"What do you care? Are you saying you didn't smoke throughout most of the twentieth century?† â€Å"I'm not saying that at all. But I don't do it anymore. Besides, it's bad for Aubrey.† The cat, sitting on one of my counters, paused mid-bath at the sound of her name and eyed him askance. Hugh, glaring back, took a long drag on the cigarette before putting it out on the countertop next to her. She returned to her cleaning, and he paced around the apartment. Beside me, Cody leaned over the table, studying my proffered Bible. â€Å"I don't get how these guys are actually angels. ‘Sons of God' seems like a generic term for humans. I mean, aren't we all supposed to be children of God?† â€Å"Present company excluded, of course,† called Hugh from the living room. Then: â€Å"Jesus Christ! Where'd you get this bookcase? Hiroshima?† â€Å"Theoretically we are,† I agreed, ignoring the imp and answering Cody's question. I'd done a lot of biblical perusal since my earlier discovery today and was growing tired of looking at the book. â€Å"But Warren's right – that term is used throughout to refer to angels. Plus, the women here aren't called ‘daughters of God.' They're called ‘daughters of men.' They're human, their husbands are not.† â€Å"Could just be good old-fashioned sexism.† Peter had finally taken the plunge and shaved his hair off. I did not find the look flattering at all, considering the shape of his head. â€Å"It's not like that'd be a new concept in the Bible.† â€Å"Nah, I think Georgina's right,† said Hugh, returning to us. â€Å"I mean, we know something made angels fall. Lust is as good a reason as any, and it beats the hell out of gluttony or sloth.† â€Å"So what's the point then?† Peter wanted to know. â€Å"How does this relate to the not-just-a-vampire hunter?† â€Å"Here.† I pointed to verse 6:4. â€Å"It says, ‘There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.' The key words here are ‘in those days' and ‘also after that.' It's saying angels have fallen for human women more than once. This answers our question about whether angels still fall anymore. They do.† Cody was nodding along with me. â€Å"Which backs up your theory that one is trying to fall right now.† â€Å"It doesn't sound like lust is going to be his catalyst, though,† Hugh noted. â€Å"I think assault and battery will do it first.† â€Å"Unless it's lust for Georgina,† suggested Peter dryly. â€Å"He seems to think you're pretty enough.† Something odd struck me at Hugh's observation. â€Å"Would assault and battery really do it, though? Especially of vampires and imps? It might be frowned upon by the other side, but I'm not convinced taking out evil agents would necessarily warrant an angel turning into a demon.† â€Å"Past evidence suggests the other side isn't exactly†¦ flexible with transgressors,† observed the imp. â€Å"And ours is?† wondered Peter. Cody gave me a sharp look. â€Å"Are you backing out of your own theory?† â€Å"No, no. I'm suddenly reconsidering the falling bit, that's all. The ‘rogue' or ‘renegade' part might be more accurate.† â€Å"But your note did mention angels falling,† Hugh pointed out. â€Å"Surely that's indicative of something? A meaningful clue and not just a bad attempt at humor?† I thought about the note. Yes, Hugh was right. I felt certain the note's content played a role here; I just couldn't yet grasp what it meant. â€Å"Bad humor is par for the course with angels,† Peter reminded us. â€Å"At least if Carter's any indication.† I hesitated a moment, nervous about bringing up my secondary theory. They all seemed to be going along with the angel idea, however, so I figured it was now or never. â€Å"Do you guys think†¦ do you think it's possible Carter might be the one behind all of this?† Three sets of eyes turned on me in astonishment. Hugh spoke first. â€Å"What? Are you crazy? I know you two spar a lot, but Christ, if you think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Carter's one of us,† agreed Cody fiercely. â€Å"I know, I know.† I proceeded to explain the reasoning behind my accusation, citing his weird shadowing of me and subsequent conversation at Erik's. Silence fell. Finally, Peter said, â€Å"All of that is strange. But I still can't buy it. Not Carter.† â€Å"Not Carter,† agreed Hugh. â€Å"Oh, I see. Everyone's quick to implicate me for Duane, but not perfect Carter?† My ire rose at their automatic solidarity, at the idea that Carter would be above reproach. â€Å"Why does he hang out with us then? Have you ever heard of an angel doing anything like that?† â€Å"We're his friends,† said Cody. â€Å"And we're more fun,† added Hugh. â€Å"You can believe that if you want, but not me. Going from pub to pub with a demon and his cronies is the perfect setup for sabotage. He's been spying on us. You're just biased because he's such a good drinking buddy.† â€Å"And don't you think, Georgina,† warned Peter, â€Å"there's just the slightest possibility that you're the one who's biased? I admit, this crazy angel theory makes more and more sense as time goes on, but where'd Carter come from?† â€Å"Yeah,† said Hugh. â€Å"Seems like you just sort of threw him in for no good reason. Everyone knows you two don't get along.† I stared disbelievingly at the three sets of angry eyes. â€Å"I have plenty of good reason. How do you explain him being at Erik's?† The imp shook his head. â€Å"We all know Erik. Carter could have been there for the same reasons you were.† â€Å"What about the things he said?† â€Å"What did he say really?† Peter asked. â€Å"Was he like, ‘Hey Georgina, hope you got my note'? It's all pretty flimsy.† â€Å"Look, I'm not saying I have strong evidence, just that circumstantially – â€Å" â€Å"I need to go,† interjected Cody, standing up. I gave him a cold look. Had I pushed them that far? â€Å"I understand if you don't agree with me, but don't just walk out.† â€Å"No, there's something I've got to do.† Peter rolled his eyes. â€Å"You're not the only one dating now, Georgina. Cody won't admit it, but I think he's got a woman stashed somewhere.† â€Å"A live one?† asked Hugh, impressed. Cody put his coat on. â€Å"You guys don't know anything.† â€Å"Well, be careful,† I warned automatically. The tense mood was suddenly shattered, and no one seemed to be angry with me about suspecting Carter anymore. It was clear, however, that no one believed me about him either. They were dismissing my ideas like one does a child's irrational fears or imaginary friends. The vampires left together, and Hugh followed soon thereafter. I wandered off to bed, still trying to put the pieces into place. The note writer had made a reference to angels falling for beautiful women; that had to be significant. Yet, I just couldn't reconcile it with this bizarre pair of attacks on Duane and Hugh, which had more to do with violence and brutality than beauty or lust. When I got to work the next day, my e-mail inbox revealed a new message from Seth, and I feared some sort of follow-up to his date request from yesterday. Instead, he merely responded to my last message, which had been one in an ongoing conversation about his observations of the Northwest. The message's writing style and voice were as entertaining as ever, and he seemed for all the world not to have minded – or even noticed – my wacky rejection yesterday. I verified this further when I went upstairs to buy coffee. Seth sat in his usual corner, typing away, oblivious to it being Saturday. I paused and said hello, getting a typically distracted response in return. He did not mention asking me to the party, did not seem upset, and indeed apparently didn't care at all about it. I supposed I should have been grateful that he'd recovered so quickly, that he wasn't pining or breaking his heart over me, but my selfishness couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I wouldn't have minded making a slightly stronger impression on him, one that elicited some regret over my refusal. Doug and Roman, for example, hadn't let one rejection deter them. What a fickle creature I was. Thinking of both of them reminded me I was meeting Roman later to go to Doug's concert. I grew heady at the thought of seeing Roman again, though apprehension tinged the feeling. I didn't like him having this effect on me, and I had thus far demonstrated no aptitude in refusing his advances. We were going to reach a critical point one of these days, and I feared for its outcome. I suspected that when it did come, I would wish Roman had bowed out of my pursuit so easily as Seth seemed to have. Such worries vanished from my mind that evening when I admitted Roman into my apartment. He wore dress clothing all done in elegant shades of blue and silvery gray, every hair and fold perfectly in place. He flashed me one of those devastating smiles, and I made sure my knees didn't start knocking, schoolgirl style. â€Å"You do realize this is a post-grunge, punk rock, ska -type of concert we're going to. Most everyone else will be in jeans and T-shirts. Maybe some leather here and there.† â€Å"Most good dates do end in leather.† His eyes took in the sights of the apartment, lingering briefly on the bookcase. â€Å"But didn't you say this was a late show?† â€Å"Yup. Starts at eleven.† â€Å"That gives us four hours to burn, love. You're going to have to change.† I looked down at my black jeans and red tank top. â€Å"This won't work?† â€Å"That does wonderful things for your legs, I admit, but I think you're going to want a skirt or dress. Something like you wore swing dancing, only maybe†¦ steamier.† â€Å"I'm pretty sure I've never heard the word ‘steamy' applied to any of my wardrobe.† â€Å"I find that hard to believe.† He pointed down my hall. â€Å"Go. The clock is ticking.† Ten minutes later I returned in a clingy, navy dress made of georgette. It had spaghetti straps and an asymmetrical hemline, jagged and ruffled, that rose high on my left leg. I had taken my hair out of its ponytail and now wore it long over my shoulders. Roman looked up from where he'd been having meaningful, eye-to-eye communication with Aubrey. â€Å"Steamy.† He pointed to the King James Bible sitting on my coffee table. It was open, like he'd been perusing. â€Å"I never took you for the churchgoing type.† Both Seth and Warren had made similar jokes. That thing was ruining my reputation. â€Å"Just something I'm researching. It's only been moderately useful.† Roman stood up and stretched. â€Å"Probably because that's one of the worst translations out there.† I remembered the plethora of Bibles. â€Å"Is there a better one you'd recommend?† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm no expert, but you'd probably get more out of one meant for research, not devotional use. Annotated ones. Ones that they use in college classes.† I filed the information away, wondering if the mystery verses might still have more to reveal. For now, I had a date to contend with. We ended up at a small, hidden Mexican restaurant I'd never been to. The waiters spoke Spanish – as did Roman, it turned out – and the food had not been watered down for Americans. When two margaritas appeared on our table, I realized Roman had ordered one for me. â€Å"I don't want to drink tonight.† I recalled how flaky I'd been the last time we went out. He stared at me like I'd just declared I was going to stop breathing for a change. â€Å"You have to be kidding. This place makes the best margaritas north of the Rio Grande.† â€Å"I want to stay sober tonight.† â€Å"One won't kill you. Take it with food, and you won't even notice.† I stayed silent. â€Å"For Christ's sake, Georgina, just try the salt. One taste and you'll be hooked.† I reluctantly ran my tongue around the edge. It triggered a longing to taste tequila that rivaled my succubus urge for sex. Giving in against my better judgment, I took a sip. It was fantastic. The food was too, not surprisingly, and I ended up having two margaritas, instead of just the one. Roman proved to be right about drinking with food, fortunately, and I only felt mildly buzzed. I did not feel out of control and knew I could handle things until the sobering up began. â€Å"Two more hours,† I told him as we left the restaurant. â€Å"Got something else in mind?† â€Å"Sure do.† He inclined his head across the street, and I followed his motion. Miguel's. I racked my brain. â€Å"I've heard of that place†¦ wait, they do salsa dancing there, don't they?† â€Å"Yup. Ever tried it?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"What? I thought you were a dancing queen.† â€Å"I'm not done with swing yet.† Truthfully, I was dying to try salsa. Like Seth Mortensen's books, though, I did not like to burn through too much of a good thing too fast. I still enjoyed swing and wanted to run it into the ground before I switched dances. Long life tended to make one savor things more. â€Å"Well, now you'll just have to multitask.† Taking my hand, he led me across the street. I tried to protest but couldn't really explain my reasoning to him, and so, like the margaritas, I gave in fairly easily. The club was warm and packed with bodies, and the music was to die for. My feet immediately began counting out beats as Roman paid our entrance fee and led me to the dance floor. Just like with swing, he turned out to be an expert at salsa, and I found myself easily catching on after a few practices. I might not have demonstrated much talent for standing my ground against margaritas, but I had been dancing for centuries. The skill was fused into me. Salsa turned out to be a lot sexier than swing. Not that swing wasn't sexy, mind you, but salsa had a dark, sinuous edge about it. One couldn't help but focus on the closeness of the other person's body, the way hips moved together. I now knew what Roman had meant about steamy. After about a half hour, we took a break, and he led us to the bar. † Mojitosnow,† he told me, holding up two fingers for the bartender. â€Å"In keeping with our Latin theme tonight.† â€Å"I can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But the mojitos appeared without my counsel and turned out to be pretty damned good. We finished them faster than we should have, so we could get back out on the floor. By the time we had to leave for Doug's concert, post-grunge, punk rock, ska -type music didn't sound so good anymore. I was exhilarated from dancing, hot and sweaty, and I'd gone through another mojito and a tequila chaser. I knew I'd found a new passion in salsa and silently cursed Roman for what would probably become a dancing addiction, even though I had exalted in the movement. His body had moved with a seductive grace, brushing against mine in a way that left me quivering and aching. We stumbled out into the street, holding hands, breathless and laughing. The world spun around me slightly, and I decided it was probably just as well we'd left when we did. My motor controls had stopped operating at normal levels. â€Å"Okay, where'd we park?† â€Å"You've got to be kidding,† I told him, jerking him around the corner where I could see the soft glow of a yellow taxi. â€Å"We have to take a cab.† â€Å"Come on, I'm not that bad.† But he had the wisdom to protest no further, and we caught the taxi up to the brewery in Greenlake. People milled in and out of the building; there had been two other performances before Doug's. As I had feared, our posh dancing clothing looked hopelessly out of place among the rough and tumble ware of the college-aged, but it no longer seemed the big deal it had when Roman picked me up. â€Å"Don't get caught up in fashion games,† he advised as we squeezed our way inside the packed brewery. â€Å"These kids probably think we're old, nark conformists or something, but really, they're just conforming in their own ways. They're conforming to nonconformity.† I scanned for the bookstore crew, hoping they'd secured a table. â€Å"Oh no. You don't wax political when you're drunk, do you?† â€Å"No, no. I just get tired of people always trying to fit a mold, trying to toe some line, regardless if it's right or left. I'm proud to be the best-dressed person in this room. Make your own rules, that's what I say.† I spotted Beth and dragged Roman over to a table on the other side of the room. Other bookstore natives sat with her: Casey, Andy, Bruce – and Seth. My stomach sank. â€Å"Nice dress,† said Bruce. â€Å"We saved you a seat.† Casey indicated a chair. â€Å"I didn't realize you'd have a†¦ friend.† The chair situation held little concern for me. All I could feel were Seth's eyes on me, his face thoughtful but neutral. Flushing, I felt like a complete idiot and wished I could just turn around and leave. After refusing him with my stupid tirade about not dating, here I was, hand in hand, drunk off my ass with Roman. I couldn't even imagine what Seth must think of me now. â€Å"Not a problem,† Roman declared, oblivious to my churning emotions and unfazed by my colleagues' bemused attention. He sat down in the chair, pulling me onto his lap. â€Å"We'll share.† Andy made a bar run, bringing back beers for all of us except Seth who, just like with caffeine, chose to abstain. Roman and I explained where we'd been, lauding salsa as the world's new greatest pastime, thus earning demands from the others that I start up a second wave of dance lessons. Doug's group soon came on stage, and we all cheered appropriately at the sight of Doug-the-assistant-manager turned Doug-the-lead-singer of Nocturnal Admission. Beer kept coming, and while continuing to drink was probably the stupidest thing I could have done, I was beyond the point where I could reasonably stop. Besides, I had too many other things to worry about. Like avoiding eye contact with a thus-far-silent Seth. And savoring the feel of being on top of Roman, his chest against my back and arms around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder, giving him easy access to whisper in my ear and occasionally run his lips by my neck. The hardness I felt underneath my thighs suggested I wasn't the only one getting something out of this seating arrangement. Doug came to talk to us during a break, covered in sweat but thoroughly ecstatic. He took in the sight of me plastered on Roman. â€Å"You're a little overdressed, aren't you, Kin- caid?† He reconsidered. â€Å"Or under. Hard to say.† â€Å"You're one to talk,† I shot back, finishing my†¦ second†¦ or was it third†¦ beer. Doug wore tight, red vinyl pants; combat boots; and a long, purple velvet jacket left open to expose his chest. A ragged top hat perched jauntily on his head. â€Å"I'm part of the entertainment, babe.† â€Å"So am I, babe.† Some of the others chuckled. Doug's expression turned disapproving, but he said nothing to me, instead making some comment to Beth about the number of people who had turned out for the show. I entered that weird sort of tunnel vision that occurs sometimes with alcohol, where I became so consumed with my own buzzing, swirling perceptions that the conversation and noise around me blurred to an indistinct drone, and faces and colors faded out to an irrelevant background separate from my existence. Indeed, all I really felt was Roman. Every nerve in me was screaming, and I wished the hands he rested on my stomach would slide up to touch my breasts. I could already feel my nipples hardening under the thin fabric and wondered what it'd be like to turn around and ride him like I had Warren†¦ â€Å"Restroom,† I suddenly exclaimed, clambering ungracefully off Roman. It was weird how one's bladder could turn from tolerable to unbearable so quickly. â€Å"Where's the restroom here?† The others looked at me strangely, or so it seemed to me. â€Å"Back there,† pointed Casey, her voice sounding far away despite her close proximity. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Yeah.† I pushed a slipping strap up. â€Å"I just need to use the restroom.† And get away from Roman, I silently added, so I can think about things clearly. Not that that last feat would probably be possible in my current state. Roman started to rise, as drunk and fumbling as me. â€Å"I'll go with you – â€Å" â€Å"I will,† offered Doug hastily. â€Å"I need to get back there anyway before the next set.† Taking my arm, he wound us through the people toward a less-populated back hallway. I staggered slightly as we went, and he slowed his pace to help. â€Å"How much have you had to drink?† â€Å"Before or after I got here?† â€Å"Holy shit. You are trashed.† â€Å"You got a problem with it?† â€Å"Hardly. How do you think I spend most of my nights off?† We paused outside the ladies' restroom. â€Å"I bet Seth thinks I'm a lush.† â€Å"Why would he think that?† â€Å"You don't see him drinking. He's such a fucking purist. Him and his stupid no caffeine and no alcohol shit.† Doug's dark eyes flickered in surprise at my language. â€Å"Not all nondrinkers despise drinkers, you know. Besides, Seth's not the one I'm worried about. I'm more concerned about Mr. Happy Hands out there.† I blinked, confused. Then: â€Å"You mean Roman?† â€Å"You've come a long way from refusing to date to practically making out in public.† â€Å"So?† I countered hotly. â€Å"Can't I be with someone? Aren't I entitled to do something for a change that's actually something I want to do, not something I have to do?† My words came out with more bitter truth – and volume – than I intended. â€Å"Of course,† he soothed, â€Å"but you aren't yourself tonight. You're going to do something stupid if you're not careful. Something you'll regret later. You should ask Casey or Beth to take you home – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, you're a piece of work,† I exclaimed. I knew I was being irrational, that I'd never have turned on Doug sober, but I couldn't stop. â€Å"Just because I won't go out with you, just because I choose to fuck Warren or someone else, then you have to step in and try to keep me pure and untouched. If you can't have me, then no one can, is that it?† Doug blanched, and a few passersby stared at us. â€Å"Christ, Georgina, no – â€Å" â€Å"You're such a fucking hypocrite,† I yelled at him. â€Å"You have no right to tell me what to do! No fucking right.† â€Å"I'm not, I – â€Å" I didn't listen to what else he had to say. Turning, I stormed into the ladies' restroom, the only place I could go to escape these men. When I'd finished and gone to wash my hands, I looked up in the mirror. Did I look trashed? My cheeks were pink, some of the waves in my hair a little limper than when I'd started the evening. And I was sweating. Not too trashed, I decided. I could be a lot worse. I felt hesitant to leave the restroom, fearing Doug waited for me. I didn't want to talk to him. Another woman came in with a lit cigarette, and I bummed one off her, smoking it in its entirety while I crouched in a corner to kill time. When I heard the band kick up again, I knew it was safe. I walked out of the restroom and ran straight into Roman. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked, his hands catching me around the waist to steady me. â€Å"I was worried when you didn't come back.† â€Å"Yeah†¦ I'm fine†¦ er, no, I don't know,† I admitted, leaning into him, wrapping my arms around him. â€Å"I don't know what's going on. I feel so strange.† â€Å"It's all right,† he told me, patting my back. â€Å"Everything's going to be all right. Do you need to leave? Is there anything I can do?† â€Å"I†¦ don't know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I pulled away slightly, looking up into his eyes. Those blue-green depths were drowning me, and suddenly, I didn't care. I don't know who started it – it could have been either of us – but suddenly we were kissing, there in the middle of the hallway, arms pulling each other tighter, lips and tongues working furiously. The alcohol enhanced my base physical response yet numbed my awareness of succubus energy absorption. It must have still been working in spite of my inability to sense it, however, because Roman abruptly pulled away from me, looking aghast. â€Å"Weird†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He put a hand to his forehead. â€Å"I feel†¦ dizzy all of a sudden.† He hesitated a moment then shook it off, pulling me toward him again. Just like all the others. They never caught on that it was me doing it, me hurting them, so they still came back for more. His pause had been what I needed to gain some tiny sense of clarity in my drunken cloud. What had I done? What had I let myself become tonight? Every interaction with Roman had pushed me past another boundary. First I'd said we wouldn't date. Then I'd confined us to limited dates. Tonight I'd sworn I wouldn't drink, and now I could barely stand up from all the booze. Kissing was another taboo I had just broken. And it would only lead to the inevitable†¦ In my mind's eye, I could see us after sex. Roman would sprawl, pale and exhausted, drained of his life. That energy would crackle through me like an electric current, and he would stare at me, weak and confused, unable to comprehend what he no longer had. Depending on how much I stole from him, he would lose years off his life. Some sloppy succubi had even been known to kill victims by drinking too much life too fast. â€Å"No†¦ no†¦ don't.† I pushed him away, unwilling to see that future realized, but his arm still held me. Looking beyond him, I suddenly caught sight of Seth coming down the hallway. He froze when he saw us, but I was too preoccupied to pay any attention to the writer. I was a hair's breath away from kissing Roman again, from taking him somewhere – anywhere – where we could be alone and naked, where I could do all the things I'd fantasized doing with him. Another kiss†¦ another kiss, and I would not be able to stop. I wanted it too much. I wanted to be with someone I wanted. Just once after all these years. And that was exactly why I couldn't do it. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Roman confusedly, hands still on me. â€Å"Please,† I begged, my voice a whisper, â€Å"let me go. Please let me go. You have to let me go.† â€Å"What's wrong? I don't understand.† â€Å"Please let me go,† I repeated. â€Å"Let me go!† The sudden volume of my own voice startled me, giving me a small boost of will to break from his grasp. He reached toward me, saying my name, but I stepped back. I sounded hysterical, like a crazy woman, and Roman was looking at me rightfully so. â€Å"Don't touch me. Don't. Touch. Me!† My anger was more at myself, at my life, than it was at him. A terrible rage and frustration, amplified by alcohol, coursed through me at the universe. The world wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that some people had perfect lives. That beautiful civilizations should fall to dust. That babies should be born with only a handful of breaths. That I should be trapped in this cruel joke of an existence. An eternity of making love without love. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Don't touch me. Ever again. Please,† I whispered hoarsely, and then, I did the only thing left to me. Escape. I ran. I turned from him and ran down the hall, away from Roman, away from Seth, away from the main seating area. I didn't know where I was going, but it would keep me safe. Would keep Roman safe. I might not be able to heal my own pain, but I could prevent any more from coming to him. My poor coordination and desperation made me run into people who responded with varying degrees of politeness to my mania. Was Roman behind me? I didn't know. He'd drunk at least as much as I had; his coordination couldn't be any better. If I could just be alone, I could shape-shift or go invisible and get out of here†¦ I burst through a door, and a wave of cool night air suddenly engulfed me. Gasping, I looked around. I stood in the back parking lot. It was packed with cars, and a few people smoking pot lingered around, most not paying attention to me. The door I'd come through opened, and I turned, expecting Roman. Instead, I saw Seth, looking anxious. â€Å"Stay away from me,† I warned. He held up his hands, palms forward in an appeasing gesture as he approached me slowly. â€Å"Are you okay?† I took two steps back, fumbling for my purse. â€Å"I'm fine. I just have to†¦ have to get away from here†¦ get away from him.† I pulled out my cell phone, intending to call one of the vampires. It slipped from my hands, dodged my attempts to catch it, and hit the asphalt with a sickening crack. â€Å"Oh shit.† Kneeling down, I picked up the phone, looking with dismay at the gibberish on the display. â€Å"Shit,† I repeated. Seth knelt by me. â€Å"What can I do?† I looked up at him, his face swimming in my blurred vision. â€Å"I have to get out of here. I have to get away from him.† â€Å"Okay. Come on. I'll take you home.† Seth took my arm, and I had a faint recollection of being led a few blocks to some dark-colored car. He helped me inside and drove away. Leaning back, I sank into the motion of the drive, letting it pull me under, the backward and forward of inertia, backward and forward, backward and forward†¦ â€Å"Pullover.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Pull over now!† He complied, and I opened the door, expelling the contents of my stomach onto the street outside. When I had finished, Seth waited a moment before asking, â€Å"Are you okay to keep going?† â€Å"Yeah.† But a few minutes later, I made him pull over and repeated the process. â€Å"This†¦ car ride is killing me,† I gasped once we were on the road again. â€Å"I can't stay in the car. The motion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Seth's brow furrowed, and he suddenly made a hard right that nearly set me to throwing up inside the car. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. We drove a few more minutes, and I was on the verge of asking him to pull over again when the car stopped. He helped me out, and I looked around, not recognizing the building in front of us. â€Å"Where are we?† â€Å"My place.† He ushered me inside, straight to a bathroom where I promptly knelt and paid homage to the toilet, again releasing more liquid than I had realized was in me. I felt distantly aware of Seth behind me, pulling my hair out of the way. Dimly, I remembered that higher immortals like Jerome and Carter could be affected by alcohol as little or as much as they liked, choosing to sober up at will. Bastards. I don't know how long I knelt there before Seth gently helped me to my feet. â€Å"Can you stand?† â€Å"I think so.† â€Å"It's†¦ uh†¦ in your hair and on your dress. I think you'll want to change.† I looked down at the navy georgette and sighed. â€Å"Steamy.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Never mind.† I started pulling the straps down so I could get out of the dress. His eyebrows rose, and he hastily turned away. â€Å"What are you doing?† he asked in a forcibly normal voice. â€Å"I need to shower.† Naked, I stumbled over and turned on the water. Seth, still not looking at me, retreated to the door. â€Å"You won't fall or anything?† â€Å"I hope not.† I stepped into the water, gasping at its heat. I leaned against the tiled wall and just let the heavy stream power-wash me, the shock momentarily rousing my wits. Looking up, I saw that Seth was gone, the bathroom door closed. I sighed and shut my eyes, wanting to sink to my knees and pass out. Standing there, I thought again about Roman, about how good it had felt to kiss him. I didn't know what he would think of me now, not after how I'd acted. When I turned off the water and stepped out, the bathroom door opened a crack. â€Å"Georgina? Use these.† A towel and an oversize T-shirt were tossed through before the door closed again. I dried myself off and put on the shirt. It was red and had a picture of Black Sabbath on it. Nice. The activity took its toll, however, and a wave of nausea rolled over me again. â€Å"No,† I moaned, making for the toilet. The door opened. â€Å"Are you okay?† Seth came in and pulled my hair back once more. I waited but nothing came. Finally, I stood uneasily. â€Å"I'm all right. I need to lie down.† He led me out of the bathroom and into a bedroom with an unmade queen-sized bed. I collapsed onto it, pleased to be flat and stationary, even though the room continued to spin. He sat down gingerly on the bed's edge, watching me uncertainly. â€Å"I'm sorry about this,† I told him. â€Å"Sorry you had to†¦ do all this.† â€Å"It's okay.† I closed my eyes. â€Å"Relationships suck. This is why I don't date. You just hurt people.† â€Å"Most good things come with the risk of something bad,† he observed philosophically. I remembered the letter he'd sent me, about the long-term girlfriend he'd neglected for his writing. â€Å"Would you do it again?† I asked. â€Å"Go out with that one girl? Even if you knew things would turn out exactly the same?† A pause. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Not me.† â€Å"Not me what?† I opened my eyes and looked up at him. â€Å"I was married once.† It was the kind of drunken admission one made fully aware that it would never have been spoken sober. â€Å"Did you know that?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No one does.† â€Å"It didn't work out then?† Seth asked when I didn't say anything for a minute. I couldn't help a bitter laugh. Didn't work out? That was an understatement. I had been weak and foolish, giving into the same physical urges that had nearly led me into disaster with Roman. Only with Ariston, I couldn't claim drunkenness for that slip. I had been dead sober, and honestly, I think I'd been planning it for a long time anyway. We both had. He'd come over one day for another visit, only this time we didn't talk much. I think we were past conversation by then. We'd both been restless, pacing and standing, making small talk that neither of us really listened to. My attention was on his physical presence – on his body and the powerful muscles in his arms and legs. The air was so thick with sexual tension it was a wonder we could move at all. I walked to the window, staring at nothing as I listened to him pacing the rest of the house. A moment later he returned, this time standing behind me. His hands suddenly rested on my shoulders, the first deliberate touch he'd ever made. His fingers burned me like a brand, and I shivered, making his hold tighten as he stepped closer to me. â€Å"Letha,† he said in my ear, â€Å"you know†¦ you know I think about you all the time. I think about what it would be like to†¦ be with you.† â€Å"You're with me now.† â€Å"You know that's not what I mean.† He turned me around to face him, and his gaze was like hot oil running over my body, slick and scorching. Trailing his hands up my neck, he cupped my face for a moment. He leaned down and held his mouth a breath away from mine. Then, his tongue darted out and lightly ran over my lips, the barest of caresses. My lips parted, and I leaned forward to take more, but he stepped away with a small smile. One of his hands moved down to my shoulder, to the clasp that held my gown together, and unfastened it. The fabric slid off me, pooling around me on the floor, so I stood naked before him. His eyes blazed, taking in every part. I should have felt embarrassed or shy, but I didn't. I felt wonderful. Desired. Adored. Wanted. Powerful. â€Å"I would do anything, anything at all to have you right now,† he whispered. His hands traveled down my shoulders to the sides of my breasts, to my waist, and then my hips. My mother had always said my hips were too skinny, but under his hands, they felt lush and sexy. â€Å"I would kill for you. I would go to the ends of the earth for you. I would do anything at all that you ask. Anything just to feel your body against mine and your legs wrapped around me.† â€Å"No one's ever said anything like that to me.† I was surprised at how calmly my voice came out. Inside, I was melting. I would hear variations of his promises for the next millennium or so, from a hundred different men, but at the time, the words were fresh and new. Ariston'slips turned up in a rueful smile. † Kyriakosmust say things like that all the time.† There was an arch tone to his voice, reminding me that even though the two men were longtime friends, there had always been a rivalry underscoring that friendship. â€Å"No. He makes love to me with his eyes.† â€Å"I want to use a lot more than my eyes.† In that moment, I suddenly understood the power women had over men. It was surprising and exhilarating. Never mind issues of property and politics; it was in the bedroom that women ruled. With flesh and sheets and sweat. The knowledge filled me, rushing through me with an arousal stronger than any aphrodisiac could produce. I thrived on it, liking this newfound clout. I think it was this revelation that would later make the powers of hell cast me as a succubus. I reached out trembling hands to him and began removing his tunic. He stood still as I undressed him, but every inch of him quivered with heat and longing. His breathing came heavy and fast as I studied his body now, noticing all the ways it was the same as Kyriakos ‘ and all the ways it was different. I moved my fingertips over him, lightly touching the tanned flesh, the well-defined muscles, the nipples. Then my hands moved lower, below his stomach, wrapping around the long, hard length they found there. Ariston emitted a soft groan but did not move toward me yet. He was still waiting for my consent. I raised my eyes from my fondling hands and looked into his face. He really would have done anything for me. That awareness increased my need for him. â€Å"You can do anything you want to me,† I told him finally. I made it sound like a concession, but truthfully, I wanted him to do anything he wanted. My words broke the spell that had been holding us apart. It was like a damn bursting. Like exhaling after holding your breath for too long. A rush. A release. My body nearly tumbled into his, like it had been straining and straining at bindings that had finally been cut. Touching him made me realize we should have been touching long before this. He jerked me into a harsh kiss, jamming his tongue into my mouth as his hands moved under me to grab the backs of my thighs. In one motion, he hoisted me up and pressed my back against the wall. My legs wrapped around his hips, needing him closer to me, and then with one hard thrust, he was inside. I don't know if I was too tight or he was too big – maybe both – but it hurt in a sort of pleasurable way. I let out a surprised cry, but he didn't stop to see if I was okay. The passion had seized him, that animalistic urge locked deep into our blood that ensures the continuation of our species. He focused only on his own pleasure now as he pushed into me, over and over, harder and harder, seeming to thrive on every moan and scream that crossed my lips. I wouldn't have thought I could find release in such rough sex, but I did – more than once. Each time, it came as a great, consuming wave of sensation, starting deep within me and spreading throughout my body, rubbing every nerve, covering every piece of me until I was completely saturated. Then the wave would explode into glittering fragments, leaving me warm and tender and breathless. Like being shattered then remade. It was exquisite. Each of these orgasms seemed to drive him more urgently until his own climax came. This time, I was the one thriving on his release, digging my nails into his back as tightly as I could, holding on to him, bringing the episode to a shuddering, gasping end. And yet, it wasn't the end because in only a little while, he was ready again. He took me to my bed and this time put me on my knees, leaning into me from behind. â€Å"I've heard the old women say this is the best position for conceiving a child,† he whispered. I had only a moment to ponder this before he was in me again, still rough and demanding. I considered his words as he pumped away, that maybe he would be the one who gave me a child after all, not Kyriakos. The realization made me feel strange, eager yet regretful. Aristonfelt no such regret when we lay back on the blankets later in the afternoon, both of us exhausted and spent as warm sun spilled in over us through the window. â€Å"The lack could be in Kyriakos,† he explained. â€Å"Not you. With as many times as I've had you today, you can't help but get pregnant.† He sucked my earlobe and wrapped his arms around me from behind, letting his hands rest on my breasts. â€Å"I've filled you up, Letha.† His voice was low and proprietary, like he'd just gained something more tangible than sex. Suddenly I wondered who really did have the power in the bedroom after all. I lay against him, wondering what I had done and what I wanted to do now. How did one go back to being a wife after being someone else's goddess? I never got to decide, however, because the next thing I heard was Kyriakos calling me from the front of the house, home too early. Ariston and I both sat up, startled. My fingers fumbled as I tried to get the blankets off me, tangling in the fabric. My dress. I needed to find my dress. But it wasn't here, I realized. I'd left it in the other room. Maybe, I thought desperately, I could get to it before Kyriakos found us. Maybe I could move fast enough. But it turned out I couldn't. In the present, all I said to Seth was: â€Å"Yeah. It didn't work out. Not at all. I cheated on him.† â€Å"Oh.† A pause. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because I could. It was stupid.† â€Å"That's why you don't date?† â€Å"Everything about that hurt too much. No good justified the bad.† â€Å"You can't know that the next one will turn out badly. Things change.† â€Å"Not for me.† I closed my eyes to hide the tears welling up. â€Å"I'm going to pass out now.† â€Å"Okay.† He might have left or he might have stayed; I didn't know. I simply slept, lost in black, numbing sleep.