A/n: So this has been going down hill recently, I'm feeling a little blue about it too. It's my most developed story and I really enjoyed writing it at first, but then something changed. I've decided though to kick it into high gear and make the rest of the story great. I thank all my reviewers for their support.

The Priestess was waiting for Jolouque, in the room at the inn he had come to know so well. She knew he was coming and she knew she might never see another day again, but still she waited patiently; a feeble creature waiting for death. Jolouque found his anger dwindle as his senses told him something was up.

"It is time." The Priestess stated plainly, "Lorn has called for the girl."

Suddenly Jolouque found himself fumbling for words. He hadn't thought that Zalean would actually leave him; he thought he only had to protect her from Dorothea, but now he was learning something different. "Where will she go? What will she do?"

"She will go to Lord Lorn, and from there I don't know."

Jolouque didn't know if he believed what she told him, but getting Zalean away from Dorothea would not only save Zalean, but it would put a damper on Dorothea's plans as well. "Dorothea wants you, she won't stop until you've done what she wants."

"I know, and she can have me but we must keep Zalean from her." The Priestess stood ready to surrender her life for Zalean's. "Bring the girl to the Gate north of Terrielle, do you know the place?"

Before Jolouque could answer, images filled his mind, images that told him exactly where the Gate was.

"Once Zalean goes through the Gate, I care not what happens to me." The Priestess sat back in the armchair she had hovered around through the conversation, and waved her hand in dismissal.

Jolouque would do as she said, it seemed that things went deeper than it seemed. He caught an Opal wind, ushering himself away and back to Dorothea's Keep. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she discovered Zalean was gone.

(Break)

Zalean was settling down, it was evening and the business of the day was slowly fading. Dorothea and her Coven were locked away somewhere probably torturing some poor soul. One thing that she had learned during this stay was that everything reeked of death, and everyone that she met seemed dependent on inflicting pain; this state had come about inevitably because of Dorothea.

That's why she liked Jolouque so much and felt so safe around him. In this world of Dorothea's he seemed to be the only light, and the only hope that, out beyond her window, things were different. Yet there was so much mystery about him, so much past shrouded in those golden eyes. Surprisingly, she found herself dressing up in a lace slip, pinning up her hair, and applying gloss to her lips. All of this in hopes that he'd come, and knowing he would.

A knock on the door made her heart jump, a wave of nausea struck her and she began to feel nervous jitters. Calming herself, and taking one last look in the mirror, she opened the door.

"Did you get all dolled up for me?" The voice was familiar but not Jolouque's, and the eyes that licked up her body full of lust, were gray not gold.

Zalean shrunk back from this presence, searching her mind for where she had seen him. She recalled a moon that overlooked a waterfall and beautiful swimming nymphs; the painting. "Afred! What are you doing here?"

There was a sudden, almost unseen, shift in the man's eyes, as they turned from blue to gray. The transformation made Zalean shiver, she was very aware of the Green Jewel that hung from his neck. A dagger appeared in his hand, a threatening weapon. Zalean looked at it then looked at the man, reading his expression like a book, a scream rising in her throat. Before she could do anything though, his hand closed around her mouth and she felt the sharp point of steel scrap her throat.

"You'll have plenty of time to scream." He whispered the words in her ear, his voice taunting her like a hot red poker.

The last thing she did before he shoved her backwards into the room, putting up a Green aural shield and barrier, was leave a desperate mental note hoping that Jolouque would arrive in time.

(Break)

Dorothea lay in the rumpled bed, which had just been visited by one of the males in her Court. He had been fun but he couldn't contain himself, ending the game too soon. She had been very displeased and sent him out with a mission he was destined to fail.

Now thoughts bubbled in her head, thoughts she always resorted to when she had nothing else to do. Earth was still a main goal, but opening the Gate was even more urgent. Ever since Zalean arrived traveling had come to a halt. Before her arrival Dorothea had planed to send another group into Kaeleer, in order to 'help' the struggling witches there, now that was put off. Zalean had changed many things Zalean had become her obsession, Zalean…

The answer to the riddle finally sunk in, and it was Zalean. Zalean was the one who had closed the Gate not the Priestess. All the Priestess did was make a prophecy.

"One is coming who has the power to close this door forever!"

(Break.)

The hall was silent, and Jolouque could sense that something was wrong. He reached Zalean's door, and listed; nothing. Shaking his head, he reasoned that she was probably asleep. Something wasn't right though.

He opened his barriers, stretching out his Opal sensors for anything that might be amiss. Searching the hall he tried to sweep into the room, but he was met with a wall of pulsing Green. As he withdrew his tendrils he caught the scent of fear, and then he heard the scream Zalean had never made.

A/n: Review! J