It was near dark when they got back from the festival. Anton stood there with his arms folded with a jealous pout on his face. He observed the 2 walking back from where ever they were. She was smiling and laughing and he was holding onto her tight. He watched them for awhile. Then after watching Tony leave, Anton went to talk to Valentina in the trailer.

"I'm telling you he's a con artist."

She looked at him and was instantly annoyed. "You said that already," she said angrily.

"And I'm telling you he doesn't feel a bit of shame or guilt." She rolled her eyes. "I look out for you!" He shouted desperately.

"But I'm not yours to look out for!" She returned angrily.

"You need looking after."

"I despise that notion. I need no such thing."

"Valentina, don't be- don't be blind. You don't know who or what he is."

"Now you're just being presumptuous," she said with out looking at him.

"It's right there in front of your face. When he looks at you it looks like he's looking right through you. He seems to have an answer for everything. And people believe him because he's slippery. He's a clever, insincere shark that wants to take you away from me."

"Oh no," she whispered rushing towards him. "That it's." He turned on his heel and stepped out the door. She shoved him and he stumbled. She gripped the back of his jacket and spun him around causing him to fall to the ground. "He's lively, when I'm with him it's like electricity coursing through me! Looking at you is a constant reminder of why I want to get out of here! You're painfully boring, going nowhere! Pathetic coward!" She shouted at him. "He is clever, making our show better then it's ever been! Your incessant trash talk about him makes you look like a fool. You're just jealous and a whiner." She took him by the collar. "Stay out of my business!" she spat. She turned and walked away satisfied and heady.

Tony chuckled darkly and stepped out of the shadows. "I didn't want to, uh; interrupt that thing you had going on over there." He snickered again. She looked cross.

"It's not funny." He took her by the shoulders and said,

"It was a little bit funny."

"You're right." She smiled. "It was."

"And how do you feel?"

She hesitated. "Accomplished, like a weight is off my shoulders. An annoying weight," she answered. He took her into his arms and kissed her forehead and her nose. That's my girl, always stand up for yourself."

Out of frustration and concern Anton went to Doctor Parnassus to discuss Valentina and Tony.

"I mean we don't even know who the guy is. We don't know what he is. I mean he has been lying. He's a perfect con. He proved that the first time he worked with us. He's slippery. I'm telling you he's slippery. And he likes Valentina. Do you hear me?"

"Yes yes, I hear you," said Doctor Parnassus. "He might not be the best thing for her but it's not our decision. We have to let her have experiences of her own and hopefully she will learn from them."

"Well I'm not going to let her. I keep trying to tell her-"

"I understand you want to save her from him but telling her to stay away from him will only drive her further away."

"Don't you want to save her?"

"Save her from what dear boy?"

"From, from getting hurt," he said frustratingly.

"Don't just assume you know the man. You don't."

"That's what I'm trying-"

"Just leave them alone. There's nothing you can do. She'll be at the age of consent in just a few days. It's her decision."

"I can't accept that. I won't."

Given her 16th birthday was fast approaching, her father, the Doctor, finally told her the rest of the story. The story if how the man received youth again to be able to woo the woman he loved. Her father was that man. It was a deal with the Devil and the Devil required any of his children that he would father when they reached the age of 16. He finally told her the story was real which meant in two days time she was doomed.

Tony heard shouting and found Valentina throwing rocks against a nearby abandoned building.

"It's a lie! It's a lie!" She cried.

Tony ran over to her. "Hey, hey what are you doing?" He tried to grab her arms but she pulled away. "Calm down. What is it? Talk to me."

"Just leave me alone!" she said hopelessly.

"No," he said taking her wrists in his hands. She struggled in his grip. "Calm down, come here. What is wrong?"

"I hate him! He's a liar!"

Putting both hands on the sides of her face he said, "Valentina look at me. Who's a liar?"

"It was all a lie!"

"What? The Imaginarium? What are you talking about?"

"We can't even run away!" She said with tears running down her cheeks.

"Can't even run away from what? You want to run away from this?" He ran his finger through her hair and stroked her head. "I can take you somewhere, alright? I can get you out of this darkness, he nodded. I'll take you to the light, alright? I'll take you somewhere beautiful. Just you and me. Trust me, trust me, it will be perfect. I promise."

Tony finally hears the story of the very real consequences of a person making the right choice or the wrong choice when they are in the Imaginarium. You get the easy way in which case the Devil takes your soul. Or you take the mysterious more challenging route.

So Tony, with all of his talent, made sure the Doctor was the first with 5 souls, gaining Valentina's freedom.

Valentina lead Tony to a private spot under a bridge. Unbeknownst to them, Anton followed and watched, jealous, sad and angry.

She laid down and took Tony's hand and pulled him atop her. "Kiss me Tony," she said. "Kiss me." Her hands went to his neck and tugged on his hair. Putting her lips to his ear she said; "I want to make you feel good Tony. Tell me what to do." He rolled, sitting her on top of him. He loosened her clothing around the shoulders. Suddenly he flipped so he was on top. She laughed in excitement. He looked into her eyes and he worked the fabric down her body, revealing the sensitive skin. He licked up and down her generous curves melting her beneath him and she gave herself to him for the first time that night.

"I think maybe I love you Jack."

"I love you too Valentina," he said.

"We should be together, she continued. "Get married, make babies."