As Orchid had figured it would be, kissing Julian was quite a heightening experience. He was quite good at it- just rough enough to make her neck hairs stand up. It was exhilarating. The kiss was long and slow and by the time they got done Orchid was quite breathless.

"Okay, what was that all about?" Orchid couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed the moment, but she really had no clue what Julian was getting at.

Julian had a childish look on his face, something which didn't suit him well. "I don't know. It just felt right, didn't it?"

"I don't know….I thought we kind of hated each other."

"I did hate you at first, but over time I've realized, it wasn't you who was drawn to the ring, I think the ring was drawn to you. It wasn't a mistake that you found it. You can cast a spell of light in the ring, that means you not only have certain powers many lack, but you have a unique light in your soul, like Jenny had."

"Hrmmm, I always thought of myself as a creature of darkness."

"You have to face the facts, Orchid. Despite your tough image you're a good person at heart."

"Uh huh. And you realized all this after you watched me get tortured by your freaky little friends in that wretched….that *place*?"

"Basically."

Orchid ran a hand through her choppy hair and sighed. This was starting to get messy, and she liked things clean and simple. As far as she could tell they had both lost their soul mates, so how on earth could they ever be happy with each other?

"You're not Jenny. Nothing can replace her. But second best isn't always a bad thing."

"Julian, I just don't know if things would work out with you and me. I mean, I'm a vampire. I've got a very demanding sort of life, and you….you, well, you're just kind of freaky with your weird powers and your games and stuff."

"Don't try to pretend you don't feel something. I can read minds too, you know."

"I just think we should think this thing out. There'll be complications if we get together. Mainly the elders will try to have you killed for knowing about our world. I'm not used to having someone around all the time, either. I like to just do my own thing, you know?"

"Come on, Orchid, whoever these elders are you know I can take them."

Orchid hissed in frustration. "Julian, this is stupid! We shouldn't even be having this conversation! I won't work! Just get me out of here and leave me alone!"

Julian stared at her, his piercing blue eyes hiding his emotions. "Is that really what you want?"

Orchid stared at him. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes." she said flatly. "Yes, that's what I want."

Julian sighed. "Fine."

Orchid didn't have time to reply before the world around her dissolved. She blinked and gasped, unable to figure out what had just happened. She was standing in her room in her apartment, all by herself. Slowly she began to recover her senses. It was finally over. Julian had really sent her home. No more games. No more blonde-haired, blue-eyed weirdos invading her life. She walked into her bedroom. The unmade queen-sized bed had never looked so wonderful. She felt like leaping and screaming for joy. Things were finally back to normal again! Yet, though she wouldn't admit it to herself, part of her had never felt so alone.