A/N: Enjoy this and the next chapter, any suggestions or comments are welcome so please Review! J
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There was no one even mildly interesting at the club, it was dark and smokey, the music mainly blues or jazz and Diablo was yet to see a single program wandering around. The band finished and there was applause for their efforts. A woman, looking almost as innocent and nice as a young girl, took her place at the microphone. She looked over the audience as she spoke, she blue-green eyes sparkling.
"I'm sure you all enjoyed that, thank the guys of Transcended again." There was more clapping. "Ok, now I'm going to sing for you "The Man that got Away" so just sit back and enjoy." Her smile was bright, not perfectly even nor the colour of toothpaste adds as the more updated programs were, he watched as a sad and wistful look came across her face, the intro playing softly on the piano.
"The night is bitter,
The stars have lost their glitter,
The winds grow colder and suddenly, you're older.
And all because of, the man that got away." Her voice carried in the silence, the melancholy air, the regret and loss affecting him as he never thought it could. He almost felt sorry for her. Shaking his head he went back to his drink, leaning on the bar.
"She's got a voice doesn't she, sunshine?" An old woman said, sliding onto the barstool next to him.
"I suppose."
"You know, I never imagined I'd get the pleasure of seeing you here. Especially considering who you are."
"I think you may have mistaken me for someone else." The woman laughed, causing him to look at her, dark brown eyes set in a chocolate face sparkled at him.
"On no, you're Diablo, the famous Exile Hunter. You're supposed to be stopping the Merovingian but instead you're sitting here, listening to my girl sing a song about lost love." The words of the song echoed over him, making him feel lost and alone. He focused his equally dark eyes on the Oracle.
"I'm here to complete a trade. I was instructed that if possible all others must remained unharmed in the course of my mission. But you already knew that, Oracle."
"Of course, what I want to know is are you going to believe that puffed up program or are you going to listen to someone who knows?"
"You know that too." He said, taking another drink as the verse section repeated with different words, her voice taking on a more confused tone.
"The Merovingian is wrong. The only way you could bring her to him would be if she loved you more than she valued her life. And even then he wouldn't be safe."
"Why?"
"Well, it's not the action that would make her powerless, honey. It has to be both before anything will happen and she's a smart girl. But I'd be more worried about her finding out that's why you're here later. Don't lie to her or you won't be seen for code." With that she smiled, offering him a cookie. She smiled and walked closer to the stage, eyes focused on the performer. He took a bite of the cookie and let his eyes wander anywhere except the woman singing.