AN: This is my first LXG fic, ever, so please be kind. Also it was meant to be a 500 word prologue that ended up at exactly 900 words.

Disclaimer: Darlings if I have to work for the NHS then do you really think I could possibly own the League?

THE LAST CHANCE

Prologue

The Mongolian wastes:

Hello Dorian, are you well? The grating, malicious voice echoed in the walls and floors of the still smoking fortress, caressing the desiccated corpse like an icy wind. Harsh laughter, filled with evil intent, sounded through the ruined building, picked up by countless cackling beings. The air was heavy with the scent of death, growing thicker as the noise level rose.

Softly though, almost unnoticed, the wind changed, sweeping away the sudden accumulation of death and bringing with it the cool, crisp odour of freshly fallen snow. The dry, rasping laughter hesitated briefly in the path of returning life, before continuing on with much less force.

Following the scent of pure snow came a strong, physical voice, "We've done all we can for you child, it's all up to you now."

"Gee, no pressure or anything," a second, younger, voice remarked sarcastically before the owner stepped into view, making rapid shooing motions with gloved hands, "C'mon scat, ya damn beasties. You can't have him just yet, we've got plans."

A hissing wail roared through the darkened ruins like a gale, before cutting off sharply. Sighing in relief, the figure, dressed in thick winter clothing, pushed the fur-lined hood away from its face to reveal crystalline blue eyes, dainty features and lush, golden curls.

"Well Mr. Gray, let's see what we can do about this pitiful existence of yours…"

Hours later:

"How are you feeling Mr. Gray?" a slightly amused, completely unfamiliar, female voice asked him without even the faintest hint of concern. He opened his eyes slowly, warily, half expecting to find himself in a fiery pit, and was surprised to find himself pinned to the same wall he'd been stood against when Mina, dear Mina, had uncovered his portrait, looking down upon a delicate blonde woman brewing tea over a small fire.

Instinctively the girl raised her head to meet his curious gaze, lifted a slender, golden eyebrow and smirked a little sardonically, "Nothin' to say?" she asked, "Not even a 'Thank you for saving me from eternal damnation'?"

Dorian mirrored her expression before parroting the words, "Thank you for saving me from eternal damnation," in a mocking, sarcastic tone, "Now why, pray tell, did you do that?"

The blonde scowled at him, "You know, a little gratitude would be very appreciated here, I'm breaking god knows how many rules doing this that my fate'll be so much worse than yours could ever have been." She noticed Dorian's disinterested expression and sighed, "Fine, fine, it's only my ass on the line and I'll spend what little time I have allocated to do this answering your bloody questions. You want to know why I saved you?"

He nodded.

"It's called atonement, darling, you're one of the lucky few who've got a chance to make up for their sins."

Dorian opened his mouth, preparing to ask yet another question, but was silenced by a raised hand and a wordless admonishment.

"I don't know why you're getting a second chance Mr. Gray, all I know is, my superiors decided to send the best in our organisation to resurrect you but before she could do so a bunch of wankers from some pro-punishment group came along and claimed a man like you would never change.

"So, long story short, there was a huge argument about your right to live and, hey presto, I'm here and you're back."

"So I won?" Dorian questioned, a smug smile playing across his handsome features.

She laughed at that, cerulean blue eyes flashing with childlike delight, "Oh god, no! Honey you lost, hardly anyone believes you'll ever change."

"Then why…?" the man started.

"Why am I here? Easy, my boss, a bleedin' heart if ever I've met one, thinks you deserve another chance and he's sent me to give you it, not because I'm the best, hell, I'm not even the most powerful, but because I'm so bloody determined that I haven't lost a soul yet.

"There is a condition you have to follow, though. You go too far back into your old lifestyle and I take everything I've given you back. Bye-bye life, hello eternal, uncompromising damnation. Doesn't mean you have to be a saint or anything though, love, cos god knows I'm not and I can't be a hypocrite and expect you to be something I'm not, but you have to stop betraying people, breaking hearts and, well, pretty much anything that other people would consider sins I suppose." She beamed at the pinned man, "That's nothing too difficult now, is it?"

With a smooth, graceful motion the mysterious woman rose to her feet, dismissing the fire and now heavily stewed tea, and slid gracefully across the rubble strewn floor, placing a slender hand on the cane hilt of the sword protruding from Dorian's stomach. "Do you promise to be a good boy, Dorian?" she half-teased as her long fingers closed around the lethal weapon. Without waiting for an answer she jerked her arm back sharply, pushing his chest back against the wall with her free hand.

Dorian doubled over in pain as the deadly blade exited his flesh, his dark eyes closing briefly. As if from far away, he heard the girl's soft words, "Remember Dorian, I'll be here to help you."

Moments later he opened his eyes to the familiar comfort of his library, the lingering echoes of three harsh raps filling the air…

Ending note: Well, how was it? I've started writing the first chapter but I want to know whether you think Dorian should remember his fate and try to be a good voice or not and have this little nagging voice keeping him in line.