"I thought you rented us a car, Evan!"

Evan shrugged and hefted Roland's duffel as the bus pulled up to the corner. "Do you know how to drive, Roland?"

"Well…it's been a while…"

"I can't drive either."

He smiled, and Roland's heart danced. Which did nothing to improve his mood. He nudged Patience's strap a little higher onto his shoulder and carefully readjusted the rigid-walled bag hiding Pasha to avoid looking at Evan again.

They rode the charter to the border, transferred to another bus after an interesting scene when they'd realized that Roland only had his driver's license as identification, and Evan, of course, had none to speak of. But while Evan could slip across the border by becoming 'intangible,' as he called it, Roland was left to fend for himself. Along with an unclaimed animal in a sack and a quietly humming instrument.

The border inspector watched him pass with a wistful smile. You can trust a guy with eyes like that, she sighed. And turned back to inspect the suitcases of a pair of snickering young women in matching duck-print tee shirts.

"I still don't see how it's obvious whether Fuzzy Wuzzy was or wasn't fuzzy." The shorter redhaired woman said matter-of-factly to her taller brunette companion. Another inspector joined the first as they ran the suitcases through the X-ray. The brunette – turning away from making calf-eyes at Roland's retreating back – broke up into helpless giggles. The inspectors exchanged a cautious glance over the luggage. I hope it isn't something catching.

* * *

            "New York City is one of the largest cities on this continent. It has the potential for great good, but also great evil."

"Hrm?" It was too early for deep thinking. Roland shook out of the groggy hypnosis caused by the passing darkened landscape. "What'd you say?" Everyone else on the bus seemed to be asleep. And talking was preferable to just staring out the window. Quiet encouraged thinking. Thinking wasn't too pleasant just now, what with demons and unicorns and the possible disappearance of Evan in a handful of hours. The sun was poking up over the Appalachians as purple-blue blobs in the distance. They'd survived one day. Now…it was only a few more hours before they reached New York City and hell broke loose. He grimaced at the thought.

Evan smiled in sympathy. "It's all right. You asked about the unicorns, remember? Well…New York City is quite large. With so many people living together, it is easy for Dark and Light to influence many minds in a small amount of time. Central Park is a hub of human life. It is also the pulse of the city, and things that happen there will have aftershocks in the veins threading out. There are always two unicorns there, holding the balance between Light and Dark in check."

            "But they're creatures of the Light too, aren't they? Won't they disturb the balance? Don't that have to go back to their place, like you?" Roland asked flatly. It sounded to him like he was getting the raw end of the deal, here. And it was too early to skirt around the question.

            "Roland…"

            "Well…?" Simple "yes-no" questions. Rebecca always got straight answers out of him, and she asked simple questions.

            "Do all rules apply to everyone all the time?" Evan asked cryptically in return.

Then again, Rebecca was a Goddess.

Roland bit down hard on the urge to snap something about how the Light only seemed to follow the rules when it suited them. It wasn't fair to Evan. It wasn't as though he could do anything about what the management set down as rules for him.

            Could he?

            "I don't know." Roland replied, simply.

            Evan's smile broadened. "Have you ever read your people's traditional folktales about unicorns?" He asked, spreading his hands as though he were holding open a book for his companion to read.  "They're not all false…just…a bit simplistic. According to them, when God created the world, he created Paradise, and then the animals, and then Adam and Eve. And among the animals that he brought to Adam to be named was also the unicorn."

            Roland recalled the one mythology class he'd taken in college, and as that story seemed like the vaguely familiar start of several, he nodded. Most people found some way to stick unicorns into Creation. Shel Silverstein's theory was by far the most popular, and Roland was quite familiar with the Irish Rovers' adaptation of the poem. Having never met a unicorn before, the Bard couldn't be sure if they were quite that silly, but after what he'd been told, he highly doubted it.

            "And when Adam and Eve were cast out of Paradise, the unicorn followed them out of love."

            Evan, missing all of this inner discussion, continued on. In her case, Pasha began to purr. The Adept dropped his hand down into the open zipper of the bag and stroked her ears. "That story's a bit masochistic, but I've learned that humans seem to enjoy blaming themselves. In any case…in your world, before the barriers were erected, Light and Dark roamed this 'buffer zone,' and fought when they met. It was a nasty time to be alive – humans and creatures of the Gray were just beginning to appear."

            "How?"

            Evan shrugged. "The simplest theory is that Light and Dark mingled, somehow…became evenly mixed and found a way to grow. Many say it was the Goddesses who created Their own being and formed humans in Their image of neutrality, and peopled the world with them to push out the war. There is enough Light and Dark within humans to attract both sides…and in that attraction is power."

            People were beginning to stir. Though the conversation was already being carried out in hushed voices, Roland lowered his a bit further. "And what about the unicorns?"

            "I'm getting to them," Evan replied, pushing strands of blonde hair impatiently out of his face. "I promise. Anyway…the Trinity realized that the humans – be they creations or merely chance – were suffering because of the warring sides, and were exploited callously by the Dark…and manipulated shamelessly by the Light." His tone grew rueful, and even in the half-light, the Adept's eyes seemed infinitely sad. In wordless comfort, Roland covered Evan's hand on the armrest they shared. Warm fingers turned up and entwined with his. The look of gratitude he received in reward more than paid for the gesture. Fortified, Evan went on.

            "To save the humans and the land before it could be tortured any further, the Trinity erected barriers to keep the Light and the Dark from ever entering into that buffer zone between them."

            "The gates around the Garden of Eden."

            "…and to pass through those barriers can cause immense pain."

            "…the flaming sword…?"

            "Not…quite…but it certainly does describe the sensation," Evan affirmed. "And really, Paradise is your Earth. The gates are to keep us out, rather than you." He looked down, expression one of quiet grief. Roland found tears just threatening to prick his eyes. He could understand. It had to be torture to know that he was unwelcome, when all he wanted to do was help. To want to do so much good that it brought harm instead…well…the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Yet another fortune-cookie platitude. I think I'll keep this one to myself.

            "We still haven't gotten to the unicorns," Roland reminded gently. While Pasha didn't speak, a white paw poked from the open zipper, and upon seeing it, both men grinned.

            "All right, all right," The Adept conceded, holding his palms up in defeat with a soft laugh. "Most of the creatures didn't mind the exile too much, though there were arguments. But the unicorns deeply loved the Earth. And moreover, they genuinely loved the people in it, and took care of both people and Earth without exploiting that power. To be taken from the land was torture, and they pined. Many were lost from sheer apathy, and others…" Evan's expression shadowed, "…others became Dark, and as that cannot be, they destroyed themselves. Finally, the Trinity came to those that were left, and asked them what they wanted. Because, you see…the Light only wants those who truly want to stay."

            Had his expression grown wistful? Hard? Sad? Roland missed it, in the cool shadows of morning falling over both of their faces and the sun's already raucous glare. In any case, the Adept's features were schooled when sunlight painted them a warm gold again, all trace of emotion gone.

            "They wanted to go back. They told the Goddesses this. And so…in order to stay beyond the barrier, they were stripped of almost all attributes of the Light and became, essentially, creatures of the Gray. In this way, they do not disturb the balance of Light and Dark."

Roland sat back, awash with so many emotions at once that he wished devoutly for Patience in his hands, just to channel some of it. Triumph, pity, relief, hope, fear…others that he had no name for, though by now, in the presence of Evan, the Bard knew the feel of them. If only he could make Evan want to stay…

"Almost all attributes of the Light?"

Evan nodded, the warm gold line of his throat bobbing distractingly. "What abilities left to them have been changed; limited to keep the balance from tilting. Telepathy and Healing, of course,"

"Of course," Roland agreed with the beginnings of an amused smile.

"Shapeshifting remains as well, to give them safety, though now they can only take a relatively few forms. In the place of the Light's glory, they were given the power of suggestion." He frowned at Roland's snort of derision. "Unicorns are so strong that they can convince anything to believe what they want, if they can pass the barriers of the mind." A road sign caught Evan's attention, and that signaled the end of his tale. The silence stretching between them shattered under the weight of waking voices, and soon, a spiky skyline and a growing flux of traffic around their bus indicated that time was running out.

The Bard studied the curve of Evan's cheek while the Adept was turned away from him, and didn't fight the urge to tease the tiny curl at the nape of his companion's neck. Evan turned briefly to smile at him, dodging the glances of several women languishing in his direction across the aisle. Then, his attention was drawn off on another circuit of the scenery, leaving the Bard alone with his thoughts again.

Had he done enough? Roland knew he hadn't been the most pleasant of friends lately, mostly because of Evan, but he wasn't going to point fingers. I know this is love, but do you feel the same way I do? He hoped so. Or is this just a general 'love for mankind' kind of thing?

That brought on a rather uncomfortable grimace. After all, Evan had been teasing and hinting at him while the Adept was still sleeping with Rebecca…and that in itself didn't seem at all odd where he was concerned. Would it keep on happening?

His gaze tore away at last, and he palmed his face with a stifled groan. It doesn't matter. Evan would be going back. Surely Goddesses didn't make a special effort for every poor creature who found that life beyond the barrier wasn't their cup of tea anymore. And as far as Roland knew, Evan liked that place. So…strike two for the home team.

Fingertips brushed the back of his hand as it fell to the armrest, and he dropped the palm across his eyes. Evan was smiling again, though this time it was wistfully sad. "Don't feel too sorry for the unicorns, Roland," he said, lowering his cheek to the Bard's shoulder, "I think it's possible to be happy across the barrier. With the right reasons…"

A hard pothole jarred their teeth and snapped off the end of Evan's words. He made no effort to reclaim them.

He didn't really need to, anyway. The flummoxed expression on the Bard's face was proof enough. Then, unexpectedly, Evan stiffened against Roland's shoulder and sat bolt upright. His face screwed up with pain, and as Roland watched, terrified, two crystal tears welled up at the rims of wide, sightless blue eyes. "Only two unicorns left. Oh, Roland, I have to stop it!"

"Go!" Roland hissed, ignoring the stares of his travelmates. "I'll find you!" Then, before Evan could disappear, pulled the Adept to his feet and shoved him down the aisle toward the bathroom at the back of the bus. Comprehension dawned on Evan, and he slipped into the tiny stall. But Roland didn't release his arm. Blue eyes met blue eyes.

"Don't get yourself killed before I can get there," Roland whispered, pleadingly. I've only got one chance. Don't spoil it. Please. And ignoring the stares of passengers, he snatched Evan against his chest…

…Only to find that Evan was already halfway there. The kiss that followed could have sated a thousand romantic fairytale princes, and with the fire ignited in those brief moments of contact came courage and a fierce desire to win. They were going to beat this demon. Together.

Then, Roland shoved Evan backward with enough force to tear the Adept's hands from his shoulders, and closed the door. When he opened it again, the other man was gone.

The heat of Evan's mouth still searing his mouth, Roland smiled sheepishly at the curious eyes turned on him from every part of the bus. "Must've gotten a bad basket," he explained, and returned to his seat to the sounds of snickering, cheeks flaring.

It was going to be a long few minutes.