Alright, chapter two done, not quite as quickly as I'd originally hoped. Only myself to blame for that though. Three bottles of Rolling Rock might make it easy to write something, but the editing process is painful once you've sobered up.

Oh well, enjoy!

Chapter 2- True Colors

One is easily fooled by that which one loves.

Jean Baptiste Poquelin Moliere- Le Tartuffe (IV, 3)

Malchior watched as Raven slowly lifted her arms, eyes focused on the pages before her. She chanted the words slowly, each syllable pronounced with the utmost care. Her hands moved in precise circles, shaping the sphere of energy that was steadily growing before her.

"Raven, you mustn't neglect the movements of your hands. For the spell to manifest correctly, your words and gestures must remain in alignment."

Her eyes quickly left the page to check her progress, but the sudden motion disrupted her concentration, and the orb began to flatten and elongate. Her hands moved to the poles, desperately trying to force the magic back to its former shape. She brought her palms together, and the orb collapsed inward before exploding, the shockwave throwing her across the room. Raven groaned and shakily rose to her feet. She looked up and barely managed to resist screaming.

Malchior had been blown apart by her spell's misfire, and the paper composing his body was scattered across the room, torn pages fluttering gently in the air.

"Oh, no. Oh please no, Malchior!" She ran forward and began grasping frantically at the pages.

"Rrrvnn?"

"Malchior, where are you? Please tell me you're alright!" She looked around the room, hoping a part of his body remained intact.

"Rrvvvvn. Wd…pls gtfff me?" She looked down to see his eyes peering up at her from beneath her boot. Leaping back, she watched as the tattered strips slowly came together, slowly bonding to one another until the wizard's body stood whole once again.

She leapt into him, the force of her embrace nearly tearing through his body. She buried her head in his chest, dry sobs escaping her lips as she cried.

"I'm so sorry; I thought I'd killed you. I'm so sorry."

"Shh, my dear. Remember this body is only pages and ink. You could do me no harm."

She stepped back and blinked away tears. "I know, but when I saw what I'd done… I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you!" She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to hold back more tears. She didn't want to seem weak in front of him, but she had felt panicked, terrified when she first thought he had been destroyed by her own hand.

"I just care about you so much; I don't want to lose you." She felt his arms wrap around her shoulders, and she leaned back into him.

"And I you, sweet Raven. I care for you more than any other I have known in my long life on this world." His stomach twisted at the lies, the sweet-whispered trash he was forced to speak.

"But, haven't you been in love before? Wasn't there anyone in your past life you cared for at all?" He gave no response, and Raven felt his arms slowly loosen and fall away from her. She turned in confusion, and saw emptiness in his eyes, as if his mind was in a far different place.

Malchior was lost in his own thoughts, looking for the answer to a question he had not considered in centuries. Had he? Was there a family somewhere in his past? A mate, children? Were there perhaps siblings or friends? There must have been!

He tried in vain to remember anything, images or names, but his mind recalled nothing before that final, horrific battle against Rorek. He snarled inwardly at the name. This was his doing, some wicked aspect of the curse that bound him inside this book. Anger rekindled in his heart, hatred for the mortal who stole his life, hatred for the entire race that shared in his guilt. His sense of purpose restored, he looked back to Raven and forced his voice into that tone of sickening affection.

"No, for there were none who understood, who could see past my appearance and my magic to discover the real me. I was an outsider; I was called strange, or dangerous. While there were those who knew me well, even they kept me at a distance." He finished with an unseen smile, eager to see how his vaguely disguised reiteration of her own life would be received.

Tears gathered in Raven's eyes, and she embraced him once again. "I understand," she said. "I know exactly what it feels like, being alone, never trusted."

Malchior's invisible grin widened. Here was his chance, one final lie to ensure his release. He leaned forward and whispered one final, poisoned sentence into her ear.

"I love you, and that is why I hope to be freed, to ensure that you will never be alone again."

He felt her pulse quicken as she gripped him tighter, and wet trails crept down his body as her tears poured freely. He simply held her, waiting on her to respond. His eyes looked down from her face, and he was shocked to see that her normally blue and black clothing was quickly changing color. The dark hues lightened, seeming to draw in the feeble light of the room. As he watched, her cloak and leotard changed to pure white.

"Raven, my dear, your clothing has changed." Raven's head rose up to meet his gaze, her eyes shining with tears. She nodded.

"Yes, it means my emotions have found peace, and my powers can be fully controlled. It's because I'm in love."

Malchior took her hand and slowly guided her over to the bed. A blush quickly grew on her face, but he simply shook his head and directed her to lie down. Gently pulling the covers over her, he brushed his palm against her cheek.

"Raven, you truly have no idea how overjoyed it has made me to hear you say those words," he said as he reached over to shut off the lamp. "But although I greatly wish to speak to you further about us," He smirked as her smile grew at the word. "I believe it would be far better for you to rest now. After all, you have had quite the busy day. Rest now; we will speak more of this in the morrow."

She nodded at him, but her smile died as he rose to his feet. Her arm reached out to his, gripping his palm as though he would vanish if she let go.

"You'll… you'll still be here when I wake up, won't you?"

He turned back to face her, and his voice was so quiet she had to strain to make out the words.

"Raven, I promise I will be here until the day you die."

She released his hand and sank back into the bed, a smile gracing her face.

He watched as her breathing slowed and she finally fell into slumber. He closed his eyes, drawing back from his paper form. His senses dulled, and a chill settled upon him as his consciousness returned to the void. He looked across the vast expanse that made up his prison. An infinite world of dark, shifting mists, filled with the echoed whispers of the memories he had lost. For millennia, this plane had been his prison, but no longer. With a last scathing look at his surroundings, he returned to the living world.

Beside Raven's bed, the paper man lifted his head. His eyes opened, and for the briefest of moments, they blazed a fiery crimson.

'Sweet dreams, my dear. They will be the last you'll ever have.'

Still not a lot going on yet, but all this buildup will pay off. The idea for this chapter came around while I was re-watching Spellbound to double-check my dialogue notes. It always frustrated me that Raven's cloak changing to white was revealed so plainly. Considering it was a major development in her relationship (and eventual betrayal), it didn't seem fair that they never gave any explanation or real significance to how it actually happened.

Oh well, read and enjoy. And please review, it makes this old pen jockey's day.