Oona forced herself to be patient, though it was not in her nature. She watched her Jack frolic and play with the too-tall mortal girl, listened to the girl's braying laugh, so coarse next to the laugh of a fairy. She left off chasing Jack and invading his dreams, knowing that the Creature of the Great Tree would tell her in time how their plan would play itself out. Gump looked askance at her, suspicious that she had given up the chase so suddenly, but he said nothing.

Days turned into weeks, and Oona's patience, not of strong stuff to begin with, wore thin. Had the Dark Lord forgotten their bargain? Surely not. She had seen the hunger in his eyes. Perhaps time passed differently in the Great Tree. She only hoped it would not be years before Jack was hers.

Finally the Dark Lord visited her dreams, seeping into them like a black mist that wrapped itself around the edges of her mind. His voice was a slippery caress.

…I have not forgotten…

She smirked, unmoved by the images that flooded her dreamspace. "I knew you would not, my Lord."

…She must come willingly. You will lead her here…

"Yes." Oona shivered as the mist wrapped itself around her waist, then her leg, slipping away as quickly as it had come.

…Use a glamour. Make her believe it is the boy she follows. Use her trust in him…

Oona stiffened. She did not relish the thought of being the recipient of this girl's affections, childish though they might be. "My Lord, there are other glamours…"

I would have her trusting, and blind with innocent love. Only then can her change bring pleasure…

Oona was silent. The mist covered her skin, becoming whispers and breaths that teased her exposed parts.

…Do you hesitate, little one?... The mist became constricting, and sharp. …Must I persuade you?...

Oona forced herself to smile. She did not fear him in the way that mortals would, but she must let him believe that she did. "I am yours to command, my Lord. My only wish is for the girl to leave this world."

The voice chuckled. …Not your only wish, little one… The mist swirled and shifted, and Oona gasped as an image of Jack took shape before her, tall and clad in green, his mouth smiling boyishly. "My Oona," he said, and held out his arms to her.

She turned her back on him. "You are not Jack, and this is not part of our bargain," she said quietly.

Warm mortal hands touched her shoulders, caressed her arms and locked her in a gentle embrace. "The girl is nothing to me, dearest Oona. Who would look on her when they could behold you?"

Oona felt her body weaken, felt the words come unbidden to her lips, though she knew it all to be a lie. "My Jack…"

"Sweet Oona, teach me what no mortal woman could…"

She turned and kissed him fiercely, pouring the heat of her fairy soul through his mortal lips, and he moaned longingly against her, warm arms embracing her small body…

…and then his kiss tasted of blood, and fire, and she heard laughter deep in his throat, felt the hands that held her rake her back sharply. She cried out and struggled away from him to see the Dark Lord standing before her for only a second before he flickered into the dark mist that swirled about her dream, slipping around her body, brushing aside the single tear that fell from her eye.