Prologue

Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Berbalen study hall as I frowned over my assignment. As part of my studies for my final year at university I was meant to write a full essay on mortal history and sociology and its applications in modern Djinn society. I tucked my long red hair behind my ear for the fifth time in as many re-reads before sighing and finally looking up from my work to take a sip of the coffee that had been stirring itself for the last half hour. A breath warmed it up again; I can't stand cold coffee. It was then that I noticed that, as I glanced past the door, I was no longer alone in the room. Damien was watching.

Now, a couple of things you should know about Damien before we go any further with this... He's the sort of guy that, try as you might, you can't take your eyes off of. He's arrogant, a show off, refuses to work hard at anything, could pick and choose among girls since he was ten, and has the sort of mysterious bad boy looks most girls swoon over. He used to be my best friend, but when we went to high school then university it got more and more one-sided. In the end, I'd taken to keeping to myself as much as possible and studying alone. I cared about him a lot, probably more than he'd ever find out, and sure as the mortals still think the sun rises and sets around their planet and not the other way around I wasn't about to tell him and put a 'dampener' on his time with the grouplets. The gaggle of girls that always seemed to hang around him that had, if they were lucky, a collective braincell. All very pretty though, I'd give them that. It was still sickening...

At the moment though, he was leaning against the doorframe, watching me lazily with his piercing blue eyes, arms crossed comfortably over his chest. I drank him in a moment, watching the way the light highlighted the slight reddish tint in his very dark brown hair, wondering what it would be like, just for a moment. Then I frowned at him and thought one simple word in his direction, not even deigning to speak it aloud. "What?"

"Be nice." He replied, almost automatically. Which surprised me. It used to be a common phrase for him around me, but he hadn't used it in the last three years. "I just thought I'd come and see the smartest, prettiest girl in class, that a crime?"

My look plainly said it was.

He smiled his dashing smile at me and casually uncurled and walked over. "You need to lighten up Talendra; what happened to all the fun we used to have?"

Gritting my teeth, I ignore that for the moment and manage an icy question that had been bothering me since he showed up. "So what do you want this time Damien?"

He at least had the good grace to look shocked for a moment before replying with a wry smile on his face. "I miss just being able to talk without all this suspicion... But actually I do need some help. You know that paper we have due in tomorrow for the end of term exam? I managed to lose mine while I was out with the guys on the way home last night and I really need some help re-writing it so..."

I was not amused. I hadn't really listened much beyond his admittance of needing help and since then a dustcloud had been forming round my feet and the fists my hands had balled into by reflex. By the time he finally faltered in his little prepared speech I'd prepared one of my own.

"Enough Damien." I said crisply, no longer caring whether or not I bottled my emotions up any more. "You know, I've had it with you? When we left high school to come here we were barely friends any more, you spent all your time with the guys or your little grouplets doing God knows what, and no I don't want you to tell me what you used to do, which was all fine and dandy. I just got on with my own life, and yes it hurt that you ditched me but I got over it. For three years you've only shown up when you wanted or needed something from me, we don't talk any more, not even in passing, and yet you think its ok, still, to come in here when we're all busy and ask me for help with your project that you lost through your own carelessness? Does that about sum it up Damien or am I missing something vital here?"

He'd just opened his mouth to reply when I'd finished shoving my stuff into my bag and let what I'd really wanted to say out in the open. "And to think, Damien Arnold Sharpe, that I loved you and cared about you all this time for what looks a whole lot like nothing is more than I'm prepared to put up with now. Its been really nice knowing you, but I'd rather not get hurt more so if you don't mind I'm leaving."

And then, just like that, I grabbed my jacket and turned to storm out of the room. My mind was buzzing, I was still far beyond annoyed at him, and my hair was smoking at the ends in rage... and yet all I could do was curse myself for an idiot inside. Then I heard what I'd never ever expected to hear, much less from him.

"I love you too..."