As the dark night cast a black, ghostly shadow over the Out-lands, Stayne in all of his heart's plight and misery was waiting to carry out Iracabeth's evil orders. Iracabeth advised him it would be best to wait until dusk, as it would be then that the Black Swan would return to it's dwelling in the lake.

Stayne put on his eye-patch (which was quite worn and uncomfortable to wear) over his left eye. His reflection changed so much since his meeting with the Red Queen.

Cast out by his cruel Mother and Father as a young teenager, the then Crown Princess welcomed him into her parent's court…Iracabeth had admired Stayne's attractive looking face, his thick, wavy Jet black locks and his tall and refined physique. Stayne once had a set of beautiful, deep set hazel eyes...many young ladies of the court said they were windows into a mysterious and charming soul. It was this charm the young Stayne possessed that made the Crown Princess Iracabeth grow jealous…how he lost his eye…

This served as a special brand for Ilosovic Stayne. Property of the Red Queen… a punishment in his mind was worse than cutting off his head.

Head…

This poor creature was doomed to the same fate as many others Iracabeth had executed- murdered even. It's lifeless image made Stayne feel anxious. If there was one thing Stayne wanted to do was to protect it. Iracabeth only targeted people and creatures weaker than her.

He shook his head, blocking out the vile imagery that was haunting him. As he began to make his way down to the lake, Iracabeth appeared from the hollowed tree shelter.

"Ilosovic!" why did she have to be so loud?

"Yes?" Stayne replied. His voice chocked slightly in his angst.

"Before you go…" she began. She fluttered her long black eyelashes and began again "I have something for you…" she put a delicate white hand into the inside of her waistcoat. Stayne's eye widened in alarm and his heart began to race violently…

Please not sex. Please not sex. Please not sex! Stayne wasn't ordered to make love to the Queen since before their exile…the thought of it sickened him to the core. He made it very clear, if she ever asked him to, he would abandon her, making Mirana's proclamation true…she would not have anyone in the world.

To his sudden relief, she pulled a small dagger out and closed up her waistcoat. He recognized it immediately as the same dagger he tried to kill her with. The dagger had been a gift to him from Iracabeth after he first came to court. He silently wished he killed her with it all them years ago…

"Take this, it will quicken the job"

"Iraca-"

"THAT'S NOT ME ASKING, THAT'S AN ORDER!" then she stomped off into the shelter, leaving Stayne alone in the dark.

In a raging fury Stayne heaved the dagger towards the lake sending a great army of ripples flowing through the water. He watched as the faint sight of gold and scarlet disappeared from sight as it sank to the deep. Then everything went silent.

Then, suddenly he caught notice of a shadowy reflection swiftly moving from above. He watched it for a moment, desperately debating to himself should he perform the deed. Why kill something so beautiful? What was the need? His legs moved before he even thought and took him plunging into the lake and right to the castle. He couldn't get over the hard emotions he was feeling…his heart was aching like never before. Like no feeling he felt any man could feel. His movements were impulsive, bold and impetuous with every kick of calf muscle and every beat in his heart.

There she was…the fragile black shadow elegantly stood on a rock with its neck tucked into its wings so bashfully.

If Stayne could pluck one feather…he could fabricate that the swan escaped, and that he was certain it would never return.

"I wont harm you, Black Swan, trust me" as he tried to move gently Stayne fell dramatically after tripping on a hidden stone causing the Black beauty to sore in the air with fright. The swan cried out as it swiftly escaped through the spiral staircase, with Stayne heavily on it's pursuit.

Stayne's heart pumped, thrusting his blood in his veins, which he could feel beating against the soft skin of his neck. At last, both the creature and the exile were trapped by an open balcony, which was flooded by strong moonlight.

Stayne covered his eye, as the white light seemed to grow brighter. It was so bright it powered Stayne to his feet. There was an intense feeling of warmth around him…like he was in the presence of something pure and spiritual. Then after what Stayne felt like was forever, the tense feeling began to fade and Stayne relaxed.

Stayne opened his heavy eye and unsteadily returned to his feet. His vision was hazy…but in his vision's obscurity, he thought he could see something standing there in front of him.

"I must be dreaming"

He turned away and rubbed his face. Then, he curved his head over his shoulder…he was not imagining anything, nor was he dreaming. What he could see was real…touchable…

And they both starred at each other, in silence.