Chap 6

Faye walked ahead, smiling at the cheerful sun and bright skies. It was the right thing to do, the best thing to do. Being in denial for as long as she was, finallyletting him go felt like a welcome breath of fresh air. Her whole body seemed loser now, free of the heavy burden of longing for his touch, yet knowing you can't turn back time.

"I feel like I've been wearing ill fitting rose-tinted glasses for longer than is comfortable. In a way, it's like I've stopped taking the medication that was meant to make me better, but was actually making me ill."

"You still love him, don't you?"

Faye took Vicious by the hand.

"A part of me does; I still care for him, and I guess I always will. But I want to forget him like he has forgotten me. Things will never be the same again. It might take time Vicious."

Faye studied the sand as though searching for the right thing to say. He lifted her chin gently, and spoke just as gently.

"I'll wait for you, even if it takes a lifetime, I'll wait for you."

Holding him close, Faye treasured the feeling of being with a man. She had been alone, destined to become a spinster of lost loves. An old Crone, with no one and with nothing but memories. Knowledge is power, but it can also be destructive. Breathing in deeply his scent, she huddled in his broad chest and found comfort in his strong arms, loving the feeling of his head resting on hers.

She could happily stay like this for eternity. Wrapped in Vicious's loving embrace, greeted by his passionate kisses and charismatic smile. Faye did not have to wonder if he felt the same; she knew it.

Her thoughts strolled into another territory though; her father. Since Spike mysteriously collapsed three years ago, she has not kept in touch with anyone. Too encased with her own grief of losing the man she loved, nobody else seemed to matter.

"How is my father?" She asked suddenly.

"He is well. Do you want to see him?"

"I don't want to spoil the moment…"

"We have plenty of time." He assured her.

Vicious kissed her soft lips, and they walked back to the road side where they hailed a cab. He was understanding in a way that Spike was not. Sure Spike cared and loved her then, but he did not exactly worship the ground she walked on. Vicious seems to do just that, making her feel special.

Or perhaps Vicious was the placebo; a substitute for what she couldn't have, hold or call her own.

No, she cannot do that to him, it would not be fair. Nothing is fair in this world, whispered the devil perching on her shoulder. Just carry on with this until Spike comes around, what Vicious wants doesn't really matter. What other men want from you hasn't ever mattered, so why start caring about them now? He added.

Faye felt small and helpless, letting her doubts and fears ruin this new relationship. It may die out before it even gets to that stage, a little worry tells her. Just like the rest of them.

Suddenly she pulled on his arm, silently gesturing for him to stay still; they had company. Swiftly they got into the cab and paid the driver an obscene amount of wulongs to drive like a speed demon.

Thankfully he was the sort of person to be swayed by money. As they sped along the highway, the car behind them also picked up speed. Someone was tailing them. Three guesses it was a flunky from the Black Widow Syndicate. Apparently the ambush on their HQ didn't kill the witch. They took a detour and it was half an hour before they arrived at the Harloe Mansion. The car was gone.

Faye got out the cab followed by Vicious. The cab drove off round the corner. This time it was him who warned her.

"Listen."

"Its too quiet."

As seasoned assassins, they knew when a place has been searched and evacuated. Vicious got a gun and gave his spare to Faye.

Slowly they edged towards the huge wrought iron gates. Keeping their guns close to ther bodies, eyes like hawks scanning every detail for clues. Silence all around them like a cloaked phantom.

Reaching thewrought iron gates they pushed it open and went through.Edging still closer to the front doors made ofEarth's Swiss Pine, Faye's slender hand clasped onto the cold door handle, and turned it...