She was momentarily paralysed in a mixture of suspense, confusion, and a touch of fear. Jenny blinked slowly, and gritted her teeth against the inexplicable urge to burst into tears. The tension before her was mounting with every breath she took. She had to do something to prevent it from reaching climax. She knew she had to intervene, but she was rooted to the spot.

Faye's mask of indifference didn't waver, not even in the face of the menacing fury glaring right back at her on the other side of the door. Jenny's heart raced up her throat before plunging sickeningly to her feet. Chilled fingers of fear danced across the nape of her neck. All she could do was stare.

The boy standing outside was intimidating in his aura; his demeanour was tense, every muscle strained and waiting for the slightest provocation before... Jenny didn't want to think any further than that. Whatever would happen, she didn't want to witness it.

"Julian," Jenny's voice came out in a breath.

Eyes deep and dark like endless glaciers shifted toward her. Their eyes locked, and for what felt like forever to Jenny, they just looked at each other.

"Let's go home," Julian said. His tone of voice was completely at odds with the glowering look he gave Faye; it was quiet and gently coaxing, directed at Jenny.

Faye finally moved, and leaned back against the door. She glanced at Jenny, who still hadn't moved from her spot, and then stared at the black and white vinyl floor of the kitchen.
"We need to talk before you head off." Faye said in a tight voice.

Julian's response was an incredulous snort. He extended his hand toward Jenny, whom in return twitched into motion and took a cautious step toward him.
Faye watched Jenny slowly approach the doorway. Jenny hesitated when she reached Faye, sending a wary glance at her before looking at Julian again. Before she could take another step, Faye's arm shot out and blocked the doorway. Jenny stopped short, looking from Faye's solemn eyes to Julian's grim expression.

"Maybe you guys should talk." Jenny found her voice.
"We should get out of here. That's what we should do." Julian said.
Faye studied Jenny for a moment. A heavy sigh escaped through her lips, and she banged her head back against the door and closed her eyes. The nonchalant facade she'd put up earlier was gone and replaced by obvious annoyance.

"I would have congratulated you in any other circumstance. But we're not exactly friends, and I'm not exactly thrilled that you're spreading demon spawn all over the place." Faye snapped. "Still, I owe you this much..."
"I didn't expect anything less from you." Julian said coldly.

Faye finally opened her eyes and looked at Julian. He was dressed in black from head to toe, his shocking white hair glaring in the artificial light off the hallway, his captivating blue eyes reflecting his curt temper toward her. He looked exactly as she remembered him, even if this was the most modestly dressed she'd ever seen him. His voice still carried the elemental note of beauty in it, but it was watered down from what she recalled and sounded more human. Still, his beauty was as unearthly as it had always been, now even more so because he was surrounded by ordinary things that paled and faded in his shadow.
Faye narrowed her gaze at his words and pursed her lips tightly.


"No, it's really important that you hear what Faye has to say," Jenny said, frowning from one to the other. "This isn't child's play, you know."
"Let's get going, Jenny." This time it was an order.
Jenny didn't budge. Instead she whirled on Faye, gesturing with her hands encouragingly. "Go on. Tell him, Faye, tell him about that other shadow guy."
"What shadow guy?" Julian asked, eyebrows arching in surprise and curiosity turning his eyes lighter.
"There was this guy in the parking lot when I arrived here tonight, and he was...what you used to be, I could just sense it," Jenny said when it was apparent Faye wasn't going to oblige with spilling information. "He came over and talked to me, but I think he was waiting for Faye. But then, Faye said that he was sort of after me, and that he was planning some horrible things..."
"What did he say to you?" Julian asked.
"Oh...the more you have of it, the less you see. I don't know what it's supposed to mean." Jenny added sheepishly.
"It's a riddle." Faye said to Jenny. "I thought the answer could be something like, the richer you are, the easier it is to overlook the bums on the streets. But that's not it."
"It's darkness, is what it is." Julian said.
Faye looked at him sharply, and nearly smacked her hand to her forehead. "Well, duh. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Not that it concerns me, but why is Gahiji hanging around, and why is he dishing out stupid riddles to my wife?" Julian glanced at Jenny. "He didn't touch you, did he?"
Jenny shook her head when Faye spoke. "He's got some sick game lined up, and the prize at stake is...well..." Faye trailed off, glancing at Jenny before arching an eyebrow at Julian.
"Jenny is the prize?" Julian asked, but it was evident he knew better than he was letting on.
Faye gave a slight shake of her head and put her hands on her hips. "I can try source out when and what exactly is going to go down. And don't do anything stupid," Faye snapped a finger at Julian. "Trying to beat Gahiji six feet into the ground is only going to delay the inevitable 'game'."
"You're giving me advice on playing games?" Julian nearly smiled.
"You've got a very ugly temper on you, and Gahiji has a knack for yanking all the wrong chains. Which is why I'm giving you advice. Like Jenny said, this isn't child's play. We need to stick to our rules, and keep up pretences. Gahiji doesn't know I've told you, so don't slip up and give me away." Faye chided.
"Like I would." Julian gave her a burning look.
"He really means business. I don't want him on my case if he finds out we're cheating." Faye looked away toward the window.
"It's not cheating." Julian sighed.
"I know. It's withholding information. Still, it's an unfair advantage on our behalf. Not that anything is fair about this whole mess." Faye chewed her lip nervously. "I don't want to get caught, that's all."
"He's winded you up like a jack in the box. What did he do to you?"
Faye shrugged in response. "He's an ass, and I'll make sure he gets what's coming to him. We'll leave it at that. Besides, it's not like you give a damn."
They eyed each other for a moment before Jenny intervened.
"Will you be able to find out what game he's got in store for us? Don't we have a say in this? What if we don't want to play?" Jenny demanded.
"Then you lose by default." Faye said. "You have to play, Jenny."
"Let me know what you find out." Julian said and wrapped an arm securely around Jenny when she stepped closer to him.
"Yeah. Remember, don't slip up." Faye said and closed the door on them.

Ooo888ooO



A/N: If you read, please review. If you don't review, I won't know you're reading. Which will inevitably lead to me scrapping this whole fic and leaving it incomplete! If it's not worth reviewing, it's not worth writing it.