Beckoning
Lydia awoke to find Betelgeuse smoking and watching her. The look in his eyes unnerved her a bit. Gone was his usual smugness, and the glint of mischief. Even the lust, which seemed to always be there, had disappeared. He was just looking at her. Nothing in his eyes gave her a hint what he was thinking. She sat up, and noticed that she was in bed. Her bed. A puzzled look crossed her face. She looked up at him again. His gaze never left her. "Thought ya'd be more comfortable in that," he said. Lydia smiled. He had done something nice for her, and she hadn't even had to ask. Or agree to marry him. Lydia had the feeling that she was never going be able to figure him out. "Have you been watching me all night?" she asked. Betelgeuse cocked an eyebrow at her. "Nah," he replied, "just a couple hours. You're kinda cute when you're not screaming at me, or cryin;." Lydia blushed. She had acted a little irrational since they got to this place. This place…..she still didn't know where they were. "Beej," she said, "where are we?" He flicked his cigarette away and stood, taking a couple of steps toward her. "Limbo," he said, straightening his cuffs. Lydia frowned. "Limbo's real?" she asked, incredulously. "Course it is, babes," he replied. Lydia sighed and got out of bed. "So," she said, "how do we get out of here?" Betelgeuse sat down on the end of the bed. "I dunno yet," he said, wearily. A worried look crept onto her face. Betelgeuse frowned. "Babes," he said, "don't worry. I'm the Ghost with the Most, remember." She smiled weakly. "Yeah," she replied, "I guess you are." He laughed. "Damn right I am," he said with a grin. Lydia sat next to him, pulling her knees to her chin. "You think this'll help?" she asked, pulling something out of her pocket and holding it out to him. Betelgeuse looked at the thing in her hand. The book. "Why didn't you give this to me last night?" he yelled at her. Lydia flinched. "Don't yell at me," she yelled back. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked. Lydia snatched the book from his hand. "Well, if you don't want my help then I'll keep it," she screamed. "Oh the hell you will," he replied, stalking her across the floor, "You give me that goddamn book." Lydia ran to the other side of the bed. "No!" she yelled, "it's mine." Betelgeuse floated up and over the bed. "Give. Me. That. Book." he said through clenched teeth. Lydia screamed and jumped out of the way, right before he lunged at her. "No!" she screamed again. "I ain't playin', little girl." he said harshly. Lydia jumped away again. "Stay away from me," she yelled over her shoulder. Betelgeuse stopped and grinned wickedly. With a snap of his fingers, Lydia was motionless. He stepped toward her and plucked the book from her hand. He bent down only inches from her. "Ghost with the Most," he said smugly. Anger flashed in Lydia's eyes. With another snap, she could move again. "That wasn't fair," she hissed, as she pummeled his chest with her fists, "you are such a cheat." Betelgeuse took a few steps back, holding up his hands defensively. "Okay, okay," he said, "but in my defense, you were acting like a spoiled brat." Lydia huffed. "That's your defense?" she asked, taking another step toward him. "Yeah….that sounded a lot better in my head," he said, taking an unconscious step back. Lydia rolled her eyes and despite herself, began to laugh. Betelgeuse raised an eyebrow. She sat down on the bed once again. "We were both acting pretty childish," she said. Betelgeuse sat beside her, "yeah," he agreed, "how bout we call a truce, and work on getting the hell outta here. Deal?" he asked sticking out his hand. Lydia nodded and shook his hand, "deal." she replied.
