Disclaimer: When I own CotL, well… The world'll be a whole lot different.

Author's Note: I wanna thank all my awesome R&Rers! Enjoy :D

...

Dybbuk woke up with a comfortable weight on his torso. He lazily looked over at Philippa, who was asleep beside him, resting her head on his chest. He ran a hand through her hair and brushed some of it from her beautiful eyes.

Dybbuk's only regret is that they still had their clothes on. He yawned and idly laid there, until his lethargy faded and he got up and stretched. He went to his closet and pulled out a pair of fresh clothes and headed next door to the lavish bathroom.

Philippa awoke to the smell of musk lined with aftershave. It was somehow alluring and Philippa moved closer into the pillows and sheets, drawn to the smell. She drowsily sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes. She reached for the nightstand and grabbed her glasses, putting them on.

She looked around the posh bedroom and saw a note on the dresser. She went over to it and examining the messy handwriting, decided it was Dybbuk who had written it.

Phil-

Take a shower. You stink. No joke. You can probably find some fresh clothes if you look around hard enough. Breakfast's downstairs. Don't look for me; I know I'm irresistible, but I'll be at work by the time you get your lazy butt out of bed.

Dybbuk

Philippa rolled her eyes. She opened up the top drawer on the dresser and pulled out a black tee-shirt. She looked around for more clothes, but couldn't find anything different.

Philippa found a plate of waffles in the expansive kitchen, right next to the marble spiral staircase. She greedily ate up the warm, tasty food, forgetting all of her suspicion towards Dybbuk and the food he was feeding her.

"Philippa Gaunt," Iblis had just entered the kitchen. His lips curled into a thin smile.

Philippa almost choked on the waffle that she was eating, "Iblis?" she asked with her mouth full of chewed up waffle.

"Now, now, dear. Mind your manners," Iblis turned away disgusted.

Philippa swallowed, "What the heck? What are you doing here?"

"I live here. Sadly," Iblis shrugged.

Philippa narrowed her eyes and focused on Iblis. She took in a deep breath, "FABULONGOSHOO-"

Iblis interrupted her, "Djinn power doesn't work here, dear."

"Don't call me that," Philippa spat. Her appetite had disappeared as she shoved the plate of waffles aside.

"How have you found your stay here, so far?" Iblis changed the subject.

"Horrible," Philippa replied. "Absolutely horrible."

"That's not what Dybbuk said this morning," Iblis walked closer to her. "He said that you seemed to enjoy his company."

"And you believe him?" Philippa asked.

"Hmm," Iblis pretended to think. "No, I don't. But I suggest you get over yourself and get used to this place. You'll be here a long time."

Iblis turned and made his way to the opposite end of the kitchen and left.

"Hey! What do you mean by that?" Philippa asked him, but she was ignored. She looked at the waffles and grimaced.

...

"Hello, Dybbuk," Iblis chuckled evilly. He was addressing what looked like Dybbuk tied to a chair, in the same fashion that Philippa was in the other day.

"Buck, just Buck," Buck bit his lip. "And I am not your son."

"Believe what you want," Iblis shrugged. "But I'm here to cut you a deal."

"I'll never work with you. Remember what happened last time?" Buck growled.

"Pity," Iblis mock sighed. "I was going to offer you freedom. If you help me take your evil side down, then we'll both be free."

...

Dybbuk was scratching his chin. He was bored. He already had monitored his casinos and he had already inflicted pain upon others, what else could he do? He could work on his master plan, but that'd involve Phil and she really didn't like him.

This isn't going to work if she doesn't like me… Dybbuk thought. How do I regain her trust?

After much thought, Dybbuk opted to spend time with Phil. Maybe if they 'bonded' he could finally get somewhere. He was about to leave his comfy red chair until Iblis appeared.

"Outta my way," Dybbuk pushed Iblis to the side.

"This plan of yours isn't really going to work," Iblis taunted. Dybbuk took in a deep breath and looked at Iblis.

"Thanks," Dybbuk said.

"Really, son, I wouldn't have expected you to be so stupid," Iblis sneered. "How can you make a successful tribe if you have to breed each member? How will your tribe grow?"

Dybbuk hadn't given much thought to this fact, hoping that answers would come along the way. He swallowed. "Once everyone sees how powerful my children are, djinn will be at my feet, begging to join."

"And you're taking responsibility for your kids?" Iblis stirred. "That sounds almost… good," Iblis hit his weak spot. Dybbuk grabbed Iblis by the collar and threw him onto the opposite wall.

...

After her encounter with Iblis, Philippa decided to explore the house. She soon realized it was more of a mansion than anything. There was a huge television in one of the rooms and another had a foosball table and air hockey.

Maybe it won't be so bad, staying here for a while… A part of her thought. No! John and Uncle Nimrod are looking for me right now. I'm not gonna be here too long… she argued with herself.

Philippa shrugged the internal conflict off and stepped out of the sunroom and into the hallway. As she was stepping out, Dybbuk was stepping in. Needless to say, they bumped into each other.

"Can't keep your hands off me, huh?" Dybbuk grinned.

"Uh… No," Philippa pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose. Dybbuk stepped closer to her and Philippa took a few steps back, trying to keep as much distance between him as possible.

"I'm not gonna bite," Dybbuk chuckled. "Unless you want me to," he added, smirking.

Philippa looked shocked; she couldn't think of a comeback.

"Relax," Dybbuk laughed. "I'm just kidding," he sat down on a chaise in the sunroom. "Seriously, lighten up."

"I'm light enough as is," Philippa crossed her arms and turned away.

"Uh huh," Dybbuk picked her up, bridal style and dropped her on the couch.

"Hey!" Philippa exclaimed. She pushed Dybbuk onto the couch as well. He rolled over so that he was lying down beside her. Dybbuk looked up.

"You look really hot from right here," he smirked.

"You don't," Philippa responded. She looked as if she was debating something with herself. "Dybbuk, why did you say you weren't djinn?"

"Because I'm not," Dybbuk replied simply.

"Yes you are!" Philippa insisted.

"No, I'm not."

"Then what are you?" Philippa asked.

"Pure evil."

"I don't believe that," Philippa scoffed.

"There's no good left in me," Dybbuk shook his head.

"No! There is!" Philippa pressed. "You could've done a lot of things! But you haven't!"

"That's a lame attempt at convincing me I'm not that bad," Dybbuk looked Philippa in the eye. "And you don't know what I've done," he added softly.

"If you were pure evil, then maybe you wouldn't still have that coyote we found in India," Philippa added.

Dybbuk winced at the mention of his past.

"I don't like talking about what's happened in the past," he grunted.

"Are you ashamed of your past?" Philippa asked, curious.

"Why don't you mind your own business?" Dybbuk snapped.

"Fine," Philippa looked taken aback. "You're still djinn," she added after a pause.

"Whatever," Dybbuk shook his head.

"Really. You can't use your power inside here, can you?"

"It doesn't matter," Dybbuk replied, not wanting to show weakness.

"Why is Iblis here?" Philippa asked.

"Aren't you just full of questions," Dybbuk mumbled.

"I wish you were full of answers," Philippa said under her breath.

Dybbuk glared at Philippa. He looked closely at her, especially her eyes. He inched closer to her, cupping her face in his hands. Philippa, who seemed a little unsure about his actions, tried to turn away.

"Hey," Dybbuk said softly. He took off her glasses and put them aside and he ran a hand through her soft red locks. For a moment, he seemed a completely different person.

Philippa was a little scared, but too curious in the sudden change to ruin the moment. Philippa gingerly wrapped her arms around Dybbuk's neck.

Maybe… Just maybe… I can help him realize he's not that bad… Philippa thought. Subconsciously, the two moved closer and closer together until there was no room in between them.

Before they realized what was going on, Dybbuk's lips were pressed against Philippa's, and her lips against his. Philippa pulled away, but sucked on his bottom lip for a few seconds.

"That-That... didn't just happen," Philippa said, trying to fight back a small smile as she pulled away.

...

"You and the Marid girl make a cute couple," Iblis jeered.

"I think I can make it without your incredible insight, dad," Dybbuk replied irritably.

"I'm beginning to think you had no plan all along," Iblis continued. "As if you just wanted a girlfriend... And too ugly and introverted to talk to a girl, you decided to kidnap one. Pathetic."

Dybbuk growled, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

"No… I'm not done yet," Iblis smiled cruelly.

"Yes, you are," Dybbuk pushed him aside.

"Going to see your precious lady?" Iblis asked.

"It's none of your concern," Dybbuk said coldly before storming off.

This child will be his own demise… If only he were truly evil… Iblis thought.

Dybbuk sat down to think. Think… He'd been doing a lot of that lately.

Maybe his father was right. Dybbuk had just raced into all of this, without a thought for the consequences. How was he supposed to raise an entire tribe if he had to breed its members one by one? And could he handle actually raise children? He was a horrible person; what kind of role model would he be for his future kids? Was this all a subconscious ploy? Was his deepest desire not power; but love?

Too many questions… Not enough answers…

It wasn't too late, though. Dybbuk could let Phil go; no permanent damage was there yet. And maybe he could just spend another five years working out another 'foolproof' plan… But did he want to? For the first time in so long, Dybbuk was experiencing this foreign feeling… Was it happiness? Did he want to let Phil go?

...

"This is most peculiar," Nimrod lit a fat cigar.

"They only found her car? I say, they only found the car?" Mr. Groanin said in disbelief.

"Yeah, what it looks like," John sighed.

"Light my lamp, but it must be the work of a powerful djinn," Nimrod exclaimed.

"That's not good," John mumbled.

"Tell me, John. Were her keys still in ignition?" Nimrod asked.

"It's what it looked like," John replied.

"Was there a sign of any sort of struggle?"

"I don't know," John said sadly. "I can't believe she's gone. I was so careless… It's all my fault."

"No it's not," Groanin reassured. "I say, I know it's not your fault."

Nimrod let out a puff of smoke, "Do you have any djinn enemies?"

"Are you kidding?"

"Never mind," Nimrod shook his head. "Looks like we'll have to start from the beginning…"

...

Do you like it? Hate it? Is everyone OOC? Please lemme know!