A/N: Okay, so, thank you all who reviewed - I have a good idea of where this is going - don't let anything you've read mislead you, either way. June has a long way to go, poor thing, but in the end, I think we'll all be happy (at least I hope).

This story seems to have a life of its own...even if the plot is in my hands...or at least I think so. A few scenes are planned, and I have lots of ideas still, and the ending is determined but not yet written. Anway, your feedback is highly appreciated!!

Déjà Vu

Julian

Before appearing to June, I stood quite near her in my invisible form, allowing the intoxicating rose-scent of her freshly-washed hair to wrap around me as I peered over her shoulder. In her shaky hands was a crumpled piece of yellow parchment which looked as though it had been bunched into a ball several times. She was staring numbly at the single hand-written line on it.

Listening to her uneven breath, I pushed aside my regretful ache for her as I watched, bitterly, her trembling fingers trace the words that were hastily scrawled in red-ink, written with a clumsy hand to form a simple, short message, underlined mockingly for full impact:

Remember our agreement.

Reading humans' minds and feelings was an effortless task, but there was no such need with June, as I could easily tell from the way her shoulders were slumped that the deliberate shortness of the note greatly pained her. No, she could never forget her promise. Not even if her Erik hadn't bothered with this note; June was cursed for as it appeared the poor thing was in the habit of getting herself into awkward agreements.

Ah, and no, he wasn't her Erik. Nor would he ever be.

Then, perhaps she sensed something because goose-bumps appeared on her neck, and the soft hairs there stood on end. Instinctively she held the note to her heart, guarding it from my prying eyes.

"I know you're here, Julian."

I was rather taken aback by her proclamation; her capability to sense me was extraordinary – never before had a human shown an equal height of awareness. From the beginning it was something I found to be quite fascinating, and I now knew that it was what summoned me to return to her, day after day. Was this just a part of what made June unique?

Instead of appearing myself, I instantaneously willed the fire place directly beside her light itself. As if on cue to her caught breath, I then merged into visibility, still in my place directly behind her.

"I wouldn't want you to catch a cold." when I spoke, again she gasped, but turned to face me, managing to suppress another frantic, intake of breath at my unexpected proximity.

To my amusement, her eyes narrowed but she still said nothing.

She really ought to get used to this, I thought.

"I assume you are enjoying your shampoos and bathing oils?"

To my evident delight, her cheeks flushed indignantly – perhaps she thought I had repeatedly spied on her during those times. Indeed, often I was tempted, but never was I so perverse.

Was this choice the honourable thing to do? Never before had I imagined myself existing in one sentence with that word. Would I ever reveal to her that she had that effect on me? A puny little human, having this kind of control over such as I – it was absurd. No, I would never tell her…

With her cheeks flushed in her fury, I found that I could not tear my eyes away from her. Even though the curtains were drawn, from the tiny cracks that allowed light to creep in, her flushed cheeks made her look astoundingly…breathtakingly…beautiful.

Perhaps it was the remnant effect of the hot water, and my distracted senses!

Instead of contemplating about this any longer, I opted to change the topic, in a desperate effort to distract myself from the sight.

"Do you like your new fire place, My Pet?"

It was a rhetorical question, of course, and I asked it knowing fully well that I wouldn't get a reply.

Very often I had found her shivering at night, after her baths but I convinced myself it was just the guilt that wanted to make her as comfortable as possible.

Her brows furrowed adorably, her hazel eyes flashing delightfully at me, and she graced me with a reply, of some sort, after all. "Don't call me that."

I will call you whatever I wish…, I replied though was careful not to let her hear me, although willed her to remain where she was, standing closely.

Oh, she fought it for a moment, but had learned well to give up such struggles and this pleased me. No, she hadn't managed a single movement in retreat from her position in front of me.

What was disturbing to see, though, was that soft, almost exposed sadness reappear in those eyes that had but earlier shot me a dark glance. Again, a part of me yearned to help her forget…

A distant hand on her shoulder would have sufficed to sweep her with me to my castle, though this fact was a small, irrelevant detail, was it not?

Unsure whether it was my magic or by her conscious choice, those orbs locked with mine as I gently, yet resolutely wrapped an arm around her. Enveloping her with both wings of my cloak, I leaned over her shoulder, helplessly breathing in her scent again.

Tall, wide and arched windows allowed late autumn's daylight to flood into my dining hall, its glass capturing the sun's warmth within the newly created space. Sunlight beamed onto us, and as June was still finding her bearings upon our arrival, my eyes drank in the sight of her golden-auburn hair that was set afire by the beaming rays pouring onto her.

Why could she not be mine?

After overcoming her slight disorientation, I let her push away, as she took notice of our surroundings, which included the long, extravagantly-set table with two places prepared on one end.

The white-clothed table-top was laid with five or six silver platters offering freshly cut fruit – exotic and seasonal; steaming sausages, bacon, eggs in every shape and form – even her favourite kind of omelet.

"I didn't know…sorcerers ate." She could barely keep from gaping.

I glared at her deeply when she glanced in my direction, smiling slightly; proud of the fact that this trite capacity of my power was so awe-inspiring for her, "This one does."

The answer had meant to flatter her, though it appeared to confuse her instead.

With a slow gesture of my hand, I indicated the end of the long table, still refusing to break my eye contact with her. This acted as some sort of spell that I enjoyed…a sort of power over her that I could use to my advantage, and because she was vulnerable, it was all the more effortless.

When she sat down, this bond was regrettably broken, and she softly sighed as though this withdrawal of energy was a tremendous drain on her.

I had never watched anyone eat before. Such a strange ritual, this eating – though perhaps I could get used it?

…If it were to involve watching my little pet, day after day…

Surely she would choose this type of breakfast over the bleakness of bread and water in the depths of my dungeons? Then again, would I ever commit her to such a fate, should she refuse my offer? Well, it was no offer, after all, but the repercussion of an outcome to our agreement! No, it would never come to that, even if she were to decline the position by my side.

What else was it that humans did during such times? Ah yes, they conversed.

"How is everything going?"

Modestly as ever, June was about to place a piece of freshly cut fruit into her mouth and paused to glance at me with a look that contained a combination of curiosity and incredulity.

In her hazel orbs, there was a spark of pain, before she blinked and looked away toward the nearest window.

"Everything is well. I'm looking forward to rehearsals."

Not that I was expecting her to admit to anything that had transpired between her and Erik (I assumed she suspected that I sometimes watched her), or how deflated she was feeling about our little arrangement (as she had made this quite evident before), but even as she attempted to be nonchalant about her reply, I already knew that she was a terrible liar.

The incapability to deceive, in my opinion, had always been a sign of weakness, though somehow, in June's situation, I found it to be a rather admirable quality. Bias was odd that way, I supposed.

My usual laws no longer apply to her, do they?

Most of the meal was spent in silence that was made all the more awkward for June because I had been openly watching her. Yet again, her unease brought me satisfaction, and I suspected that this was a source of power for me…

"Would you like to see more of my castle?"

As reluctant as she was, inwardly she was thinking about how desperately she yearned for distraction from thoughts about Erik. Of course, I was more than happy to comply with these whims.

As we walked in silence without discussing a destination, she observed the corridor walls, her eyes caught by many archaic tapestries from every dynasty lining the stone. Some were from her world and others from my own.

"How do you like it so far?"

June's guard seemed to be down as she examined a sculpture of a princess closely (one that used to be a real princess, turned into stone by my evil hand), and she absent-mindedly answered my question without hesitation, "It reminds me of the fairy-tales I used to read about as a kid."

"Have you ever considered living in a castle?" I asked, briefly wondering how her fear of me would increase if she knew that the work of art had once been able to speak.

"I think every little girl imagines what it must be like. I am no exception." For a moment she walked backward in the same direction, glancing around to absorb the sight that had been behind her. From my view, I watched intently, once again convinced that a dress of my world would suit her shape nicely.

Deep in thought, she stopped, looking at a set of closed doors nearby. "What's in there?"

Her eyes asked whether she could see, and I simply nodded with permission, eyeing her carefully; curious as to how she would react upon seeing what I had been wanting her to see. I could, after all, change my castle's layout with a single thought.

The room was simply elegant, with colours I knew would fit June's fancies. In the recent months, I had learned a lot of her tastes, and used this knowledge to my advantage as my plan was taking form.

As she looked around, spellbound and mesmerized by the sight, abruptly, as though wakened from a beautiful dream, her eyes caught the painting on the wall I had placed there, in hopes that she would notice it. If she was a fan of Monet, surely she wouldn't fail to see…

As recognition dawned on her features, I wondered whether she would faint – the colour drastically drained from her face then, as her eyes jumped about, frantically examining the features of the person in the painting.

Still disbelieving, she turned to me shakily, and asked who was depicted on the canvas. I was sure that neither the subtle white strokes of lace about the face created by my magic brush, nor the flowing dress were overlooked.

As cruel as it was, I remained silent, pretending to examine the painting for myself. Eyeing her calmly but intently, my only reply was a pensive, and soft, evil smile.

If possible, she became even paler, and I was content to see her sway a bit even, as it gave me an excuse to appear nearby to steady her with the support of an arm around her waist. As I held her, she refused to look up, dizzily leaning on me with her heavenly warm palms against my chest.

Little did she know that slowly but surely, I was coming undone by those hands.

"Would you like to see more?" I purred into her ear, my question purely rhetorical, as I once again basked in her helpless state. It was the kind of power I relished, and held onto with a desperate grip, as it was the only power I still held over her. "Perhaps some fresh air will do you some good, my dear."

Without waiting for her to agree, we were outside in the quiet, late fall's cool air, standing on the edge of the forest that marked the outskirts of my property. The fresh air seemed to bring her fully to her senses then, and her strength suddenly returned.

Within the same moment, she broke free of my embrace, sprinting away from me and unknowingly heading back toward my castle.

As abrupt as her attempt to flee had been, she stopped just as unexpectedly, frozen and shivering not from the chilly climate but from having to face the frightfully harsh reality of the scene that now appeared before her.