Jenny stepped up the man, she felt Julian at her back ready to defend her when, or if she needed him, but Jenny wanted to help the man, not increase his problems. She wondered vaguely how he had gotten here in the first place but put aside her questions as she prepared to warn him of the danger of shadow men.
"Not you!" The man said straight to her face. "You are no a shadow man!"
Jenny was so shocked she just watched as he strode past her and stood in front of Julian. Nobody had ever treated Jenny like that! They always had at least some sense of honour for her.
Her shocked look turned to a worried frown as she saw the man start demanding things from Julian.
"I want the power of knowledge and my research makes me believe you can give it to me."
After that Jenny got scared as she watch the anger and fury alight on Julian's face. How stupid was this guy?
Jenny's momentary paralysis faded and gaining her confidence she stepped forward and turned to face the guy. This movement also brought her side-by-side with Julian and Jenny could feel him all along the left side of her body. It gave her confidence.
"You should get out while you still can. Go finish your research." The man just looked at her and Jenny backed down behind Julian. "OK," she whispered in Julian's ear, "I am a little inexperienced for this. Couldn't we start the games on a easier level?" She saw Julian smile slightly at that but his expression hardened again as he looked up at the guy.
"What do you offer for such a price so high?" His voice was still the liquid over rocks but now Jenny noticed an immense aura about him that yelled 'predator', it was something she had noticed before. Jenny had sensed his hunger for her, a tribal or wild animal sense of wanting. Now Jenny felt it again except this time it was different. It was more of a protective wildness than a hungry one. Like a wild being ready to pounce on an intruder Julian was watching the man. Jenny noticed how the man trembled, his hands were knotting together in front of himself and his eyes were darting around, flickering from Julian to Jenny, to the room, then back to Julian.
"Price?" He whimpered.
"Julian," Jenny said quietly. He turned around and Jenny watched as his expression turned to one of love yet enquiry. "Can't we let him go?" She asked pleading, because even though the man hadn't treated her politely she wanted to help him. He obviously needed it.
"No, rules forbid it" Julian said simply.
"Don't want to anyway!" Yelled the man, "So there is a price. What do you want?" He sounded so sarcastic Jenny looked up at him quickly.
Julian gently touched Jenny's face, his fingers trailing from her forehead down her cheek. She felt the touch long after Julian turned back to the man.
"How about your soul?"
Jenny didn't want to hear the answer. She sat down suddenly onto the couch and wished herself back in her bed. She closed her eyes and reinforced it. Ironically Jenny thought of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, and then she noticed the darkness behind her eyes and truly marvelled that she could wish herself elsewhere.
She opened her eyes and noticed that yes, she was on her bed. She quickly shut the curtains, making herself a world full of fabric and shadows. She grabbed a pillow and pulling it to her stomach Jenny burst into tears.
