A/N:Yes,this is the sequeal to my summer hit Please,Keep Faith In Me.Guranteed to be better or at least the same or your valuable reading time back.lol.Humor,maybe I should put that back into my stories sometime.Anyways,this is more of a reversal but anywho,read onward & this is before The Love Cruise and I mean right before Love Cruise.No spoilers though,sorry.
In Paris on the Eiffel tower (the Dream Realm version...)
Rose stood atop the nine-hundred and eighty-six foot structure overlooking the orange kindled city that seemed to be flooded in sheer brightness,almost like they were long strips of gold bars the color of copper with pitch black tops that were the roofs.She inhaled the brisk,fresh air that greatly felt like actual air and smiled to herself approvingly;this was surely one of her best and least conseqeuntial chooses the teenager had ever made.Surely,her and Jake were safe here.
"I guess you could say the city is the light of these French people's life,"His suave voice filled the night sky as he came up alongside her,unbiddenly putting an arm around her shoulders as he did."But your the light of mine,"he grinned at her sideways."How've been doing,Rose?"
"Fine now that you're here,"She replied high-spiritedly and moved closer until no space except their heads remained apart,as they were admiring the shimmering lights."They're pretty,huh?"
"Yeah."Jake admitted truthfully,tightening his arm only slightly."But they'll never match you."
His standard words of affection went deep into Rose and made a rush of happiness filter into her and spread to every part of her being,because she believed him and he believed her.Rose now trusted everything they spoke to one another as true and meaningful,though they had to be exceedingly careful and avoid each other in real life most of the time,here they were free of all the pressures to be enemies.It was strange,because precisely five months ago they were that.
"You remembered not to eat supper again,right?"Rose asked him,a bit absently as the intensity of the sea of orange and Jake's contact began to lull her into a perfect dreamy state of mind.
"I've done it for four nights."Jake sounded wide awake and went on ask."Are you awake?"
"Hmm?Oh!"She took a step back in surprise,making out the dragon in his human form in front of her whom was giving her a bit of a puzzled look."No,I'm fine.I was just comtemplating."
His face drew a blank."Is that some sort of French plate game?I only brought regular ones."
"Non,ne'cest pas une assiette."Rose laughed softly,her accent prompt and perfect.
"You speak French?"Jake inquired with an impressed note,walking over to a picinic bench.
"It was mandated we learn a second language when doing business with members of the clan that were gathered in scattered foreign countries.The Huntsman also speaks it and taught me."
"Speakin' of which,"His voice and eyes suddenly reflected worry as the two seated themselves directly across from one another."Is he planning on resuming finding the remaining three skulls?"
Rose shook her head."He's postponed it because their's been an oppsion to using the skulls on magical creatures and completely wiping them away."she sighed in exasperation and continued on."Apparently,some like hunting magical creatures for the sport.Not just to eliminate them all."
"You mean there's a divide?"He appeared intrigued.
"Pretty much but there's always been conflicts amongst the Huntsclan over different oppions."
"Hey,let's try a famous French sub."Jake changed the subject,his interest on the matter sated.
Later on a starlit boat ride...
The stars that clung in the ebony sky above appeared tiny but in the multitude,growing only a bit larger randomly in their silverish spangles.Though Jake had wanted to use his dragon tail as a makeshift paddle,Rose had insisted on him using the traditional lengthy pole.A little grudingly he had agreed and brought his arms up and back in powerful strokes down the narrow current.
It was man-made,however.Under decorative bridges and the occasional elegant ivory-colored swan that moved pass them,they were utterly alone.Rose sat near the back,enchanted at all of the unique sceneary.The long wooden boat glided gently against the tranquil,dark water which looked smooth and undisturbed enough to touch.But this was a dream,anything was possible.
"At first I would have rather just gone through some tunnel of love,"Jake commented sheepishly as he finally ceased his strideful strokes and settled down beside her,spreading out his arms the length of the back top of the boat and closing his eyes."But this is a lot nicer I think,good pick."
"Only the best."Rose replied confirmingly and rested her hand on his knee,which he clasped.
The two were that way for a long time,staring up into the sky at the seemingly endless stars that dotted the firmament and occasionally blinked.A inner hesitance in Rose was cracking down hard on her nerves,more so then ever before.They had been here on their first dream date only several weeks ago and she had nearly told Jake the truth,nearly had found the courage to tell him with all her heart that she loved him.But what if they awoken?What if he didn't love her in return?
"Jake."She began slowly,biting her lower lip and almost without realising it,loosened her grip.
"Yes,Rose?"He asked back,smiling casually at her through the marble-ish cast of night lighting.
Her brain wracked with malfunction towards forming the right words now that they were in one of the most romantic settings imaginable but her heart was accelerating with the passion she felt and the need to get it out in the open.Ambivalence had caught her but looking in his constantly familiar eyes that were bright and self-assured,she longed for some of it and knew he gave it to her and she did the same for him.They completed albeit they contrasted each other;she sighed.
"Jake,"She straightened up and turned in her seat to face him,clearing her throat."I have to tell you something that I just have to get off my chest right here and right now.I'm just afraid that..."
"Afraid?"He laughed nonchalantly,easing up into a sitting position and giving her a little grin at her admission."This coming from a former ruthless,evil dragon slaying ninja she-witch."his cool demeanor faltered when he covered his face with one of his hands,slightly embarrassed."I think I've been hanging around my best friends so long that I'm starting to repeat them sometimes."
Minorly put off,Rose explained with slight rigidness to her words."I'm serious about this,Jake."
The dragon gave her a curious look."Something the matter?"
"You're not taking me seriously,"she told him impatiently at him not catching on sooner."Here I am trying to tell you something that's been on my mind morning,noon and night and meanwhile all you care about is if your picking up on weird slang from your friends,which is probably so."
Perplexed by her exaggerated outburst,he arched his brows and stood up abruptly."Well...the two of them are your friends and I don't see you repeating exactly everything they say;do you?"
Rose threw her hands in the air with a groan and stood as their pointless feuding escladed but only found that it resulted itself by them glaring at each other.Suddenly drained of all the will to attempt to tell him now,she sat back down and rested her arms atop the side nearest the stern.
"Hey,"Jake told her apologetically,placing his hand on her shoulder."You know you can tell me anything.Especially after that whole Yang experience,we promised to be completely honest."
"I remember,"Rose replied bitterly,recalling the insufferable memories of one month ago.She could suddenly feel his touch then and it sent a tingling of rapture through her.An affable smile smoothed across her fine features and her hand reached to close onto the top of his."Jake,I-"
Then,as if some sort of unknown entity had moved near her,she felt herself leaving and a horrid feeling that went through her with a dark,chilling experience petrified her but not to the point at which it stopped her from turning her head and stilling her jumbled breaths,saw with relief that Jake's hand remained there but when she looked back outwards the world had gone a blank white.
"Were going to a place to where we can talk,"A blackened voice,a voice that sounded entirely like Jake's spoke to her."There,hopefully we'll come to some agreement on who you love."
His malovolent voice resounded over the depths of her soul,leaving with the ultimate fear that had come to pass besides her being discovered for treachary,Yang Jake had offically returned.
To Be Continued...