Next chapter already up! Wow!

Before I review, well, reviews, I'd like to thank PirateWizardThief for putting my OC into her story and doing a fabulous job at that. You should all go check it out!

Now for reviews!

RandomCitizen: I'm so glad that you like this story! And I agree! Belle is awesome! She's always been my fave. She's got a good head on those shoulders! And isnt the villains song always the best part! YAY! Keep reviewing and reading! Thanks for your support!

AnimeCrazedGirl7: Thanks! I will get to that! I haven't really thought about him (shame on me!) so I will have to include him soon!

Silver: Yeah, the plague hit France hard. But not hard enough to wipe smiles off their faces or to keep them from celebrating… love? Strange… Yeah, I don't know who that guy is! I have to check out youtube for clips. Thanks!

yeahIwentthere69: AAAAAAAW! Thanks so much! I really do appreciate it!

Guest: Thanks so much! I'm glad that my stories give you happiness and good moods! Thanks for your support!

IgnitingFireworks: Lets see if your right…! Thanks!

Petitprincess: AAAAW! Thanks! Yeah… I'd kill her for that too. Heck, I got jealous just writing that part! Thanks for your support!

AngelOfDarkness: They accept your hugs and give them back. LOL, thanks so much!

Dragons redemption: DUH DUH DUUUUUUH! Thanks so much for your support! Happy reading!

A Fire in the Attic: THANKS! I was hoping that he'd be good! I was seriously worried because he was really hard to write for! Happy reading!

Thanks so much to all of my reviewers! I know that many of you couldn't review because the stupid thing doesn't allow you to review chapters twice EVEN THOUGHT IT'S A DIFFERENT CHAPTER! Ugh. One of the few things I loathe about this site. And that's one of, like, two or three things. LOL.

Okay! Everyone, here comes the appearance of are next, major villain, who will be playing a big role in this story (along with a lot of others). I hope that you like this chapter!

HAPPY READING!

Lillie growled, ready to get up and give her tripper a piece of her mind. But before she could a voice smoother than good liquor met her ears from above.

"That's a whole lotta stupid to be cursin' on the world, mon ami tombé."

The voice she heard was smoother than chocolate, rushing down in warm but threatening waves. It sent shivers up and down her spine, and if she hadn't been lying flat on the floor she may have just ducked her head and shuffled past. All anger that she had previously been feeling tucked itself into a small ball, ready to strike but allowing itself to be hesitant and wary all the same.

"Are ya'll gonna stare at the carpet all day, or are ya gonna get up?"

"It's a very nice carpet." Well, at least her dry humor hadn't decided to run and hide. "And besides, you did trip me." Those words came out with a bit more spite then she had meant them too. He seemed to notice, whoever he was, because the next thing she heard was his silky chuckle. A hand reached down into her line of vision.

She took it, but not without grumbling a few unheard protests first, and allowed him to help her pull herself to her feet. When she had finally found her grounding once more she surveyed her "attacker" thoroughly.

He was tall. That was the first thing that she noticed. But honestly, who wouldn't notice that first. As she thought about that fact more she had to question the idea of why she had thought of it first. By now she had been around people two times her height, sometimes more. The length of their legs and torsos out-matched that of any normal human being she had ever met. Nevertheless, she had seen enough of it to be almost used to that by now.

Well, her mind told her, maybe not quite used to it.

She wandered from that fact to survey the rest of the man. His skin matched his voice perfectly; dark and rich. The coloring resembling something like smooth chocolate on a stove. As she watched him again his hand flicked slightly. Not impatiently, but more like a habit. She noticed his long, piano man fingers as they danced, flicking imaginary keys in the air. Or was it cards? Something of the sort.

His clothing suggested that he didn't have a very stable income. The reason she could tell was because, much like her, he wore clothes that were far too small for him, not having the time or money to buy fresh pairs of anything. Her subconscious snorted. She knew the feeling, having worn the same shoes for five years, even though her feet grew at an enormous rate, and never having the income to buy a decent pair of jeans that didn't have rips in them. His clothes, consisting of a deep purple jacket, a magenta vest- far too short, showing his navel- black pants that gave her glimpses of twig thin ankles and a strange top hat. He carried a cane, even though he clearly had to problem with his legs. Living with a nurse hat taught her to notice small things like that. Around his neck he wore a necklace scattered with teeth.

His appearance was dark and foreboding. That changed dramatically when he bowed and said, "Enchanté, mademoiselle." His mustache quivered with his charming, gap tooth smile.

Man, did his voice throw her off. She would have described it as silvery, as it was slick and pleasing to the ears. But it wasn't light and pleasant. It was dark and deep and rich. Images flitted through her mind every time she heard it. The idea of smooth chocolate made itself apparent, but she knocked it aside quickly. Something about his tone was too dangerous to be sweet. As she thought harder the idea of smoke came to mind.

She had known many smokers when she had lived in Texas. And on many an occasion she had passed bars where smoking was allowed. The door was always left open so the inner sanctuary wouldn't become too suffocating. Whenever she passed it she would watch in fascination as the tendrils of smoke poured from the door, easing their way down the steps like dry water, slinking and slipping around and then dispersing into the world through the cracks in the ground. His voice was like that. Filled with smoke and shadows that slid in and out of his charm and hiding away in the dark, ready for another opening where they would come closer and closer to making a full appearance.

"I don't believe that we've been formally introduced." She snapped out of her reverie by his voice. "Last time I saw you, you were standin' in a doorway with a bear next to ya'."

She glared at him. "He's a dog."

"My mistake."

Lillie took a deep breath, letting it out in an annoyed huff. His eyebrow lifted into the shape much like a question mark.

"Am I annoying you, mademoiselle?"

Lillie ground her teeth together, now done with hiding any anxiety this man made her feel. "Yes, frankly, you are."

She saw his lip twitch. "And why's that, chere?"

Lillie broke eye contact with him, taking time to bend down and collect her books that had scattered on the floor. She made sure that she grabbed the villains manuscript first, hiding it against her chest.

"Because," she reached for the second book, keeping her eyes on its frayed cover, "you tripped me."

"Would you believe accident?"

Looking back up at him she allowed her glare to fiercen. "No. I wouldn't. I've had a bad day and I'm not letting you get in the way." As she was talking she took great care to control her words. Not because she was scared of saying something that she'd regret. She'd allowed that fear to slip away long ago. It was more of the fear that her accent would slip out, as it did, when she was ferociously mad.

"Bad day, hmm? Well maybe I can help that."

Lillie's body snapped up and her eyes cut into his own. "What the hell do you think you're implying!"

He rose his hands in surrender. "Nothin' that you're thinkin', I promise. I was thinking something more in the… supernatural." Those long fingers flicked and an entire deck of cards popped out. She blinked in surprise, her rage hidden for a moment. "Care for a reading?"

"… Reading?"

"Past, present and future." He smiled down at her, leaning on his cane as he did so. "I can tell you what you've got comin' at ya." He leaned in closer, his cane sticking into the carpet under their feet. She found herself moving with him, her back arching to get away from his advances. "I can make your dreams come true."

"No thanks. I've already got enough, thanks."

"Really? From the look of ya' I'd say you don't got much at all. Just a pair of bad jeans and a sloppy dog."

She growled at him. "Well I don't see you rolling in riches either."

For a moment she saw those shadows that had hidden inside him flit forward, rage slipping through his eyes which, she just noticed, were a brilliant lavender. He had some sort of mad man behind him. Maybe a monster, but more like someone trapped between a rock and a hard place.

It seemed, from just that small glance, this man may have already been some sort of monster.

But monsters were made more dangerous when they were placed in a cage.

"Yes, well, I don't exactly have all the spoils I'd like. But I make do with what I got. Now," he flicked his wrist again, letting the cards disappear and reappear, this time picture facing her, "for a reading."

Lillie hugged the books tighter to her chest. "If you remember what you said before, I don't have any extra money to spend on stupid carnival games right now."

"It's free."

She swallowed hard. This man wasn't going to let it go. "Yunno, that sound just so… enticing, but-"

"Great!"

Before she could finish the sentence, Lillie was grabbed by the shoulders and spun around. His long arm was wound around her like a python as he forced her up another flight of stairs.

"What the hell are you doing! God damn it, let me go!"

"Aw, now that ain't very nice to say! I'm just tryin' to do a service as all!"

"Service, my ass! Let me go!"

He ignored her. "We're here!" His arm acted as a slingshot, flinging her towards a door. She closed her eyes, ready to hit its wooden surface. But instead her feet kept on going. She stopped and found her footing, opening her eyes.

The layout of his apartment was similar to hers, but she guessed that all the apartments were made the same. Unlike her apartment with its boring white wash walls and empty hallways, his apartment was lined from top to bottom in black and purple and red. Tapestries hung against the walls and against the windows, shielding all light that tried to come in. All the light was provided by candles, dancing around and flicking shadows around like a tennis match. Shrunken heads swung from hooks and locked boxes lined shelves.

Lillie stayed in her place, her shoulders squared and her feet shifting. There was a slam behind her as the door was closed. She tensed and began to squeeze the books. Even as he brushed past her, his side just scraping her own, she didn't move.

"Well, are y'all comin'?"

She blinked, looking to where his arm was sweeping towards. A table in the middle of the room. On the farther side sat a high backed chair; his, she guessed. On the other there were three smaller chairs. She approached one, figuring that now, the only way out, was to go with what this man said. She didn't seem to be in any danger. Yet, at least.

As she went closer to her chair she swore she saw the chair itself move back a few inches, something dark pulling it backwards before gliding away. She stopped, almost about to point it out to him, but figured it to be a pointless notion. Instead she wearily took a seat, not even allowing herself to place her manuscripts down.

"Now," the man sat down after flicking back his tailed coat, "I don't believe we've been formally introduced. The names Facilier." His smile appeared again. "Doctor Facilier."

She nodded at him.

"This is the part where you tell me your name."

"If your such a fortune teller why don't you figure it out." Lillie snapped.

His brow rose and then he chuckled his smoky chuckle. "Y'all 'r right. Alright, I will." He spread his cards out into an arc and then flipped one at the end. A domino effect occurred, all of the cards following suit and flipping over. When they were all picture side up she leaned closer. Her jaw dropped.

Every single picture was that of a lily flower.

She looked up and gaped at him, her words strangled.

"From your expression I'm guessing that it's right." He collected the cards, tapping them. "So, your Lily. Like the flower."

She shook her head, her words still stuck. "Spelled… different."

He looked at her and then shrugged. "Little bit unique. I like that."

"Sure you do," she mumbled it under her breath, hating his charm. It wasn't getting to her, but it was annoying how much he pressed it towards her.

"Alright, pick three." He held up the deck to her.

Lillie hesitated but finally picked three random ones from the pack, watching him the whole times for signs that he wanted her to pick specific cards. He made no such expression, actually having the nerve to seem to guess what she was doing and smirking in a triumphant reply. She handed him the cards with a bit too much angry force.

"Here," she grumbled.

He bowed his head and took the cards, spreading them out. "Alright, so past and present and future. We'll start with past, obviously." He flipped it. "You had a pretty good childhood. You had siblings and a mother and father who loved each other and-"

"Wrong."

His head snapped up. "What?"

"I said wrong. That's all wrong." She tilted her head. "I thought you were supposed to be good at this."

"I am," he said through his teeth, "and I'm never wrong."

"Well you're wrong now. I had a really bad childhood. I only had one sibling, not multiple and my parents hated each other. Or at least they had some sort of mutual friendship."

He shook his head. "My cards ain't never wrong."

"Well they're wrong now." She looked at his face. He looked confused.

"Fine. We'll do present." He flipped it over. Unlike the first card where he had flipped it in almost cocky confidence, this one he flipped with nervous anticipation, the card making a small slap sound on the table. "You're here to… visit-"

"Wrong." His face was becoming panicked. "I'm here for work." She herself was beginning to smirk.

"But…"

"What's wrong, Doctor Facilier. Tricks up the wrong sleeve today?"

His eyes twitched upwards, as if wanting to glare, but instead went right back down to the cards again, his hands scaling over them. "This doesn't make sense."

"Okay. Whatever. I'm leaving. Thanks for the prophesy." She rose briskly and walked quickly out of the room, taking care to slam the door behind her. There was the sound of something on the wall falling from the impact, followed by shattering. She smiled. Whatever had broken he deserved it. Quickly she decended the stairs down, not even looking back.

Facilier looked through his cards frantically. He had heard the woman leave and had heard the unmistakable sound of glass breaking, but he ignored it all, shuffling through his cards. Were his powers fading.

Taking a deep breath he focused on himself and flipped his cards over. Nope. Everything it showed was correct. So why hadn't they showed anything for her? They had showed her name, alright. But he had already known her name. The others had told him. All he had to do was think it and the image appeared. But the moment that he looked for the unknown everything went wrong. He stood, pacing the room.

There was something about her. Something that was different and special, he could tell. And he was sure that it was only a matter of time before the others discovered it as well. He'd have to tell them before hand, of course. They'd be asking questions soon enough and he'd have to answer them. What would he say, though? That nothing had worked? That would make him a laughing stock. How does one explain themselves. Especially when ones magic, which is far superior to many other forms, failed when used on a simple mortal. And one with very unstable emotions.

He shook his head, taking off his hat and running his fingers through his rats nest hair.

This was a puzzle, and he hated puzzles. He like being able to see the whole picture. That was how he did what he did. He figured people out, allowing himself to see everything; the whole picture. But this girl still remained a puzzle. He sighed. Like all puzzles she had to be solved, at one point or another. Smashing the hat back onto his head he narrowed his eyes and pocketed his cards. He'd be the one to solve it.

Somehow he'd be the one.

This girl wasn't going to stay in the dark. Not when the king of shadows was pushing her out.

Lillie stormed to her apartment, somehow glad to be home, if she could even call it that. She heard the familiar scraping of claws against the door as Bartleby heard her presence approaching. "I'm coming, Bart." She fished for her keys in her pocket.

"You look like a mess."

She spun around and saw Hades and Jafar staring at her. The bird sat on Jafar's shoulder.

"I was caught in the rain," her reply was curt and cold.

"Yeah. I can tell."

She ground her teeth. "Just leave me the hell alone for now, flame-boy."

Hades' hair flared and then cooled back to a blue. "Fine, I'll back off. Until tomorrow, of course."

There was a pause. "So," Jafar interjected, "I heard you coming from a certain voodoo mans room."

She glared at him. "Really? You just happened to hear me?"

His smile was sharp. "Conveniently I was standing in earshot."

She snorted and shifted her weight. "Yeah, I came from their. The man was trying to read my cards, or whatever."

"And…"

She swung back around, getting more and more irritated. "And what?"

"And what did he find."

"Nothing." His face shifted into one of confusion. "And I'm not lying. I left him up their looking pretty confused. Not surprised though, those carnival tricks are always fifty-fifty. I was surprised though. Usually people who do stuff like that get at least one thing right." She snorted again. "Don't bother me until tomorrow."

Their confused stares turned into ones of anger. And then into amusement.

"By the way, babe," Hades leaned against a wall, "red is a great color on you."

Her brow furrowed. She wasn't wearing any red. Just jeans and a white t-shirt. As her mind remembered the white shirt she was immediately drawn to the memory of her wet body, still damp from rain. She looked down. Her red bra was showing through.

With a screech of both anger and embarrassment she jammed the key into the lock and stormed into her apartment, leaving a stream of curses behind her.

The two watched her go and then turned to eachother.

It was time to figure out what the hell was going on.

Aaaaand that's it! For now at least. I have to work on my Looney Tunes story next! That thing needs some love!

As usual, read and review! And please leave as many suggestions as you can! I LOVES THEM!

~Galimatias