Dull Blue

A/N: sorry it's taken me so long to post- I've been a bit busy. I've got lots of work 2 do and my mum's unwell so I've got quite a bit on mi mind :P sorry guys. Buuuut… hehe… I luv mi reviews

Ryderion: hehe… heated could be one word for it ;)

Jamra: sorry it took me so long :( hope ur withdrawl haven't taken over so completely!! Enjoy this 1

Lady of the Storm: hope u do continue reading it XD let me no wat u think 2!!

Angelforsaken: (I luv ur name by the way) hehe it's not that well written but glad u like it

This chapter's for u guys!!!!

(changed my mind about that- I just havent' been inspired to write even a slightly maturer scene for a very long time… haven't been inspired to write very much recently :( sorry guys but here's chapter 7 as promised :))

Lucus watched her as she pulled her shirt on. He loved how she wore nothing beneath the shirt. It was almost a shame for him that the garment was so loose. But then again, she was his queen. Other prying eyes were most certainly prohibited.

As she put her hands behind her to slide off the bed, he snatched up her wrist, and pulled her towards him once again. He kissed her small mouth softly.

"When yer comin' back?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

"When I c'n," Dylan replied, smiling at him. She kissed his rough cheek gently, and twisted her little hand out of his grip. "I'm am stayin' wiv an earl a' the momen'. Migh' be a bi' difficul' ter ge' ow'."

She slide off the bed and pulled on her canvas jeans. As she pulled on her shoes once more, and laced them up, Lucus got out of bed, and grabbed his own trousers.

"Don' bother swee'hear'," she said mildly, "I'm jus' gonna go straigh' back. Don' need an escor'." She looked up at him, pushing hair away from her eyes she smirked at him, then pouted. "I'm a big gal now." She winked, dropped her hair and went back to tying up her shoes.

It was his turn to smirk. He came round behind her, bent over her with the curves of their body identical and wound his arms round her waist. "Don' I know i'," he murmured in her ear, softly.

Pushing the two of them upright, Dylan turned in the circle of his arms and wrapped his neck in her own embrace. She kissed his mouth softly. "Shuddup," she said as she leaned back again to examine those intense honeyed eyes, the strong face and soft hair, "yer always wan' a come back… even if i's no' needed."

"I's the on'y way I win," Lucus attempted a pout, only to have Dylan bare her teeth at him. His lower lip immediately retreated into a sheepish grin, "fiiine… you go 'ave fun playin' games wi' yer lil earl."

She kissed his cheek and pulled away from him. "Oh I will," she beamed, as she turned, grabbing her hat and headed towards the door. She stood in front of the door for a moment, tucking her hair into her cap, she turned her profile towards Lucus for just a moment, "I am gonna 'ave so much fun…"

There was a glint of something in her eyes that Lucus could decipher. It wasn't anger as he might have expected but something else. Impatience maybe. Curiosity. And something definitely not pleasant.

He shuddered. To be on the wrong side of Dylan Sedgewell you either had to be mad of have incredible contacts- preferably with angels or gods.

Outside Dylan took a deep breath. A lock of hair fell to her face. She scowled, and pushed it up beneath her cap. Pulling her cap lower over her eyes. Just then she did not want to see any one. She could not bring herself to. Her fix with Lucus only lasted so long. But it was enough to get her through.

She headed out the side allies, the ones that pretty much only sheknew about. Only a quarter of pick pockets knew half the streets she had discovered. Murders or hard core thieves may knew almost all of them as well. But as far as Dylan knew, no one else used them.

She made her way slowly back to the street where her clothes were hidden. She looked round, and pulled up the flag stone retrieving her clothes.

Her senses were sharper than ever as she pulled her dress back on and reattached her heels. Not many people used her little hiding street. She was so glad for it.

For a moment or two she sighed and leaned against the wall within her apparently abandoned door way. Tears crept down her cheeks. She allowed four to fall.

After that she took a deep breath, pushed them away and continued on her way back to Oscar's flat. She would be a little earlier than she expected. But she had not realised such a catastrophe had happened. She was not sure she wanted to face either Oscar or Cain.

Oscar being so loud and boisterous and Cain being so perceptive.

She knew normally she would have been fine coming back. But the overwhelming feeling of loss kept coming back and hitting her. It was as if the waves of the ocean kept coming in and out, refreshing that cold feeling inside her gut.

At the same time, Mary-Weather was her friend, and she would know just how to look after her. Dylan had never been good at dealing with such losses. Even the death of her real mother hurt her.

Not long after that, she found herself outside the building apartment. She hadn't even realised she had walked so far. Sitting on the stair just outside was Oscar, a cigarette in hand, concentrating on a spot on the ground.

Smiling to herself Dylan walked over, and sat beside him. As he looked up at her in surprise, she took his cigarette, and took a long draft from it.

"You smoke?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied, getting back her upper class accent, "well… not really. Just sometimes." She handed back the smoking stick. "Don't tell Cain," she winked, "he probably things I'm a bad influence on Mary as it is."

Oscar smiled at her. Dylan was taken a back at how soft and genuine it was. Evidently there were times when he could be more calm. "I think he likes you," he said simply, "he's not great at showing things like that. But he likes you."

Dylan laughed. "He thinks I am a mystery and he is tryingto uncover it."

Oscar shrugged. "Yeah… that too…" Dylan laughed again, making Oscar blush. "But Mary loves you to bits. I think he may have let you off the hook slightly for that."

She shrugged. "We'll see." She stood up. "Is anyone actually in the apartment?"

"Well… Cain's out if that's what you mean."

"What means Riffeal too?"

"Of coarse." A look crossed Oscar's face, one of unusual suspicion and anguish. But it lasted for just a moment. Dylan knew she had seen it, but she did not push the subject. "Mary's there though."

"So what are you doing out here?" Dylan asked, she smirked.

Oscar grinned, embarrassed, his hand went to the back of his head, a usual reaction for him when he got embarrassed. "Cain won't let me near her on her own."

"Neither will she," added Dylan.

"Oh she's just playing," insisted Oscar, "she's young, so she doesn't want to admit her deep feelings for-"

"Stop talking crap," said Dylan abruptly.

Oscar stopped and stared at her. Dylan looked back at him unblinking, but silently cursing herself for falling back into her cursing habit.

"What did you say?" he asked surprised.

"I said stop talking such rubbish," she said simply, trying to keep her face impassive. She let a confused look cross her face, only a slight one. "What did you think I said?"

Oscar shook his head. "Nothing… I think the smoke's getting to me." He looked at his cigarette. The took another drag from it. "Go on up," he said, "Mary's probably so bored."

"Definitely," she inclined her head towards him, then walked into the building towards his apartment.

She knocked on the door. Mary asked who it was.

"It's Dyl, baby," she said quietly, "open the door." She could feel tears building in her eyes again. She couldn't stand it.

Hearing the tone, Mary ran to the door. She saw Dylan's normally ever changing eyes dulled to a muddy colour she could not decipher, and pulled her in, shut the door and dragged the older girl into her room and bolted the door with a chair.

"What happened?" she demanded.

Tears fell from Dylan's eyes again. But shut pushed them away. "Lisa… she's gone… She left us…"

Mary's eyes widened. She did not know the little girl, but she had heard so much about her from Dylan it was hard not to cry as well. She knew exactly how the child looked, how she would react to things, even Lisa's favourite food. It was strange to think that she would never hear about Dylan's goddaughter ever again.

"When?"

"A while ago. I found out today."

"Will…"

"I'll be fine…" she sighed, and looked up, "I have to be."

Mary shifted over and pulled off Dylan's shoes for her, then kicked off her own. Putting her arms round her friends neck, she curled up into her side.

Taking the hint, Dylan hugged Mary to her. She knew it had the distinct possibility of making her cry, but just then she needed to hold onto some one. For someone to hold onto her.

The two sat together till they heard the door open at the front and Oscar and Cain arguing again. dylan could not quite make out the words, but she knew it was something along the lines of leaving Mary alone in the apartment.

Wiping her tears away, she walked towards the door, opened it and stepped out.

"But my lord," she said softly, Cain looked away from Oscar (who was struggling against his grip on his shirt) and towards Dylan, "I was here with her. I arrived just as Oscar stepped out." She smiled at the still struggling figure of Oscar.

"See? See?!" complained Oscar, "you always think so bad of me! I would never have-"

"Shut up," sighed Cain, releasing him.

Oscar sighed in relief and mouthed a thank you at Dylan, who simply winked in return.

"How was your day, lady?" asked Cain, coming to take a seat as Riff removed his jacket.

Taking it as a signal that he wished to talk, Dylan sighed and came out of the room fully, closely followed by Mary. The pair sat on the sofa opposite, Mary curled up in Dylan's side.

"Oh rather slow. I saw a few old friends, made a few acquaintances." She wished she could have kept her up beat tone, but her emotions were getting the better of her. Her voice cracked, and her head dropped. She did not wish for Cain Hargreaves of all people to see her in such a state. "Sorry," she mumbled, "I also received some bad news. Excuse me please."

She removed mary from her side and quickly left the room to go to her own. Mary sighed as she looked at her big brother.

"Don't tell me off…" he warned.

"I wasn't going to," said Mary, "I was just wandering… maybe we should call of the theatre tonight."

"What's happened?"

"Her friend's daughter died. The child was like a niece to Dyl. The death hit her hard, she just isn't big on showing it."

"Evidently…" said Cain, rather cooly. He stood up sighing.

"Where are you going, big brother?" asked Mary.

"To talk to Dylan."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" she said softly.

"You would," replied Cain simply, "because then you would be me… and you would not know so much about the girl."

"Jealous are we Cain?" asked Oscar, getting his teasing nature back.

"I thought I told you to shut up…"

Oscar made a face and turned away again, muttering to himself.

"Riff… make sure he does not go near Mary."

"Yes of coarse sir," Riff replied, automatically.

"That's not-" started Oscar jumping to his feet. Cain simply shot him an angry stare, making him sit down again, muttering to himself.

Cain made his way quickly to Dylan's room and knocked on the door softly.

"Yes?" she called, her voice was surprisingly clear.

"It's me."

"The earl of poisons or Oscar?"

Cain felt a muscle twitch in his cheek, but it stopped almost as soon as it started. "Your earl of poisons, my lady."

He thought he heard a slight chuckle, but at the same time it could have been a sob.

"The door's open," she said lightly, "come in."

He pushed the door open. The girl was standing in the middle of the room attempting to finish the zip at the back of her dress. Though incredibly flexible, she the zip was stuck on material.

Smirking to himself Cain walked towards her, closing the door behind him. He brushed her hair away from her back, allowing his fingers to brush her skin. But again she made no reaction, it was as though she had not felt it. He laid a hand on hers, and moved it away from the zip.

"Allow me," he said softly, taking the tag, sliding it open slightly to release the trapped cloth.

Dylan allowed her arms to drop to her side. "Thank you, master wolf," she said, smirking herself. She knew all too well what Cain's game was. Try to intimidate her. Probably how he treated most girls. Only they were probably the protected type; she was not.

He pulled the zipper shut, and delicately laced the back of the corseted dress up. She glanced over her shoulder at him.

"I was gonna ge' Mary ter do i'," she said casually, allowing the accent back again. Her cheerful smirk returned again as he looked up at her in surprised. "What's the matter, my lord?" she asked, swinging into the upper class, "not used to one with so many identities?"

Cain tied a small bow, and marvelled slightly at his handiwork. He had not realised he could do such a thing before, he was relatively good.

"You would be surprised, my lady."

"'ow many times to I 'ave ter tell yer," she said sharply, "don' call me lady."

Cain blinked in surprised, then smirked. He put a thumb and forefinger on her chin. Her body turned towards him automatically. So fast she lost balance. Her hands shot out, landing on his chest. Yet her eyes never left his.

"Slum borns never forget do they?" he murmured softly, his other hand pushing the hair away from her dull blue eyes. It came to rest at her waist. "You always know where you come from…"

"I would never wanna ferge'," she replied smoothly, pushing her chin up proudly, knowing all too well it was pushing her face towards this handsome young earl at the same time. She really did not care. "It's 'oo I am. Dylan Sedgewell? Pfft…"

She rolled her eyes and puled away from him, laughing.

"Lady Dylan Sedgewell? Maybe in another life… another time… but not now."

She faced him again. "Being a lady is far too much work," she said lightly, "would you not agree my lord?"

Cain looked at her in surprise. She seemed so different. There was something odd about her. Though she was smiling, though she was teasing him and goading him, there was something there… just behind her eyes.

Then it hit him. Her eyes. They were normally an extraordinary colour of a mixture between brilliant blue and emerald green. They were dull blue. Twinkling admittedly, but with a false light.

These smiles and teases, they were apart of her charade. Her attempt to cover up her hurting soul were working well. If only for her eyes.

Cain caught up her wrist, and pulled her close once more, watching her eyes.

"Wha'?" she asked.

"You do not need to pretend."

"Pretend? Of coarse I must! I am already the black sheep… I do not wish more hurt upon the family that took me in as their-"

"About how you feel."

She raised an eyebrow, leaning away, putting some distance between them. "Oh really? And what would you know."

"Your eyes, black sheep."

A hand went to her cheek, her long middle finger touching the corner of a wide eye. A look of shock crossed her face. "How did you-"

"With someone with eyes as conspicuous as yours, I'm surprised other do not notice the change so as well."

"Others are not as nosey," she said, sounding satisfied. She wrenched her wrist from his grip, "come come now. Make up will be needed for the theatre. Unless you want to help?"

"We don't have to go," said Cain, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Of coarse we do," Dylan said brightly. She saw a look of fleeting concern cross Cain's face before returning to his normal impassive expression.

She sat at her dressing table, and pulled out a few bottles of make up, "do not worry, good earl Cain," she said softly, "I'll be fine. She's playing with the angels."

She looked at him via the reflection in the mirror.

"Besides," her smirk returned with a vengeance, "a show should be a decent distraction to me."

He studied her face for a moment. Seeing the smirk, and the mischievous glitter in the gradually brightening blue of her eyes, he realised there was no changing her mind.

He nodded. "Be prepared to help Mary," was all he said before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

As he left, he saw Dylan's back curve, and her head bow at the neck. Her shoulders shook slightly but she did not say a word nor made a sound.

Cain left with out a word, re-entering the main living room.

Oscar was still sulking while Mary interrogated Riff as to where they had been.

He sat heavily on a seat, staring blankly into nothing.

As mary opened her mouth to say it, he interrupted her. "I know I know… but she's such a mystery…"

Mary smiled gently and murmured it again. "I told you so, Cain."