"You know…This is the first time I have spoken to anyone in almost seven years…"

Stayne looked into her curious blue eyes.

"That's a long time…"

Stayne had talked to Odile now for most of the night. Odile sat on the edge of the balcony with her slender legs crossed under her black gown. Stayne admired how elegantly the sheer fabric seemed to sit like liquid over her, showing her figure to perfection. The black material was a soft silk which seemed to glitter with each gesture and movement as it hit the moonlight.

"Yes…but I suppose I have company from the other animals from the lake. They would talk to me at night when I'm most alone. I'm glad you're with me tonight, Ilosovic"

They both sighed heavily

"How did you make it through the day?"

Odile looked pensive for a few moments. She picked a few strands of her hair, beginning to pull on the ends. As she worked her long fingers throughout the tousled strands she spoke softly.

"I guess, I was just hoping for some sort of magic to happen"

"What magic?"

Stayne caught Odile's gaze. This moment seemed to last a lifetime; both experiencing shortness of breath. Odile's aqua eyes blinked feverishly…and then she unambiguously cleared her throat, and both withdrew their eyes.

"I'm sure, Stayne, it would have been far worse living in exile…"

"Believe me, Odile…I'd rather take your place than be in my own position. At least during the day you have wings!" Stayne's laugh seemed strained, which Odile noticed.

"Why would you say such a thing?" Odile's heart raced inside her chest. They had only just met…how and why was she feeling concerned, troubled and anxious? She barely even knew him. The only things she knew for certain was he looked frightfully handsome with his thick raven coloured hair and his eye patch which seemed to add some sort of mystery about him. He was like some sort of a special enigma.

"It's complicated…in fact; there is something I must tell you" Stayne held her porcelain hand in his. This thumb gently stroked her soft palms. "I'm not exactly alone on my exile…"

"What are you saying?"

Stayne took a deep breath. He felt scared; a man, who faced battle many times, killed many men with a stroke of a sword, murdered the King and accompanied a vindictive big-head on exile…, was scared.

"I was sent to accompany another on exile. The reason I'm even here on the first place was due to The Red Queen"

"You're…with another woman then" Odile's heart sank

"It's not what you're thinking, Odile. We are no way involved with each other at all"

Odile's eyebrow arched. The pigmentation of her face turned from a rosy pink to more of a dark magenta. Stayne was taken back by this unique quality…

"What's the story between you two then?" the tone of her voice changed from sweet and soft to a deep, rich note which seemed resonate through Stayne's body. Stayne felt a warm shiver travel from his legs, up his back and all over his neck.

Stayne began his story. He told her first of his first meeting of Iracabeth, her insane jealousy, her cruel handling of the Kingdom of Underland and how he was forced out of fear to serve her in battle, her court and in her bed chamber. If Stayne had any fear that Odile would judge him for what he told her, he was very much mistaken. Instead, Odile sat there quietly listening (which was an amazing change from what Stayne was accustomed to). When Stayne finished with Tarrant stopping his attempt to cut Iracabeth's throat, Odile gently rested her head on his shoulder. She smelt so delicious…like a cross between something floral and exotic and something seductively spicy. This sedating aroma lingered for a while until she suddenly broke her contact. Her face looked troubled.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's the moon…I'll be changing soon" They both starred out into the horizon. Through the light flakes of snow, Stayne could see the white sun in the sky slowly begin to set. The sky was changing from a jet black to a deep red and orange…it was almost as beautiful as the woman who sat next to him.

"Don't worry…I'll be here tomorrow night"

Stayne watched as Odile leaped desperately into his arms. Her aroma possessing every inch of him and he groaned. Her delicate face hid into his chest, sending Stayne's mind into a wild frenzy.

"Promise me you'll come to me tomorrow night" her voice trembled "I don't want to be alone…"

"Hush now…" Stayne placed his hand under her chin, pulling her face towards him. Their faces were inches from touching.

"I promise with all my heart, I'll come to you tomorrow"

Odile smiled. Her smile revealed the most beautiful set of pearly white teeth.

"Really?"

"I promise. Know that you can always count on me" he paused "Odile…in good times and bad times, I'll be on your side forever more"

At this moment it seemed that gravity seemed to pull them together like magnets. Just before he could touch her lips a bright light penetrated the air like a bolt of lightening. A ripple of glitter filled the cold air and that same strain Stayne felt as Odile transformed into a human heaved Stayne onto the stone floor. Before he knew it, a black swan stood before him once again. As his eyes wandered over the dazzling creature he noticed once more that stunning shade of aqua blue which lurked in the swan's dark eyes.

Stayne stood up; his legs shaking like jelly. As he composed his posture, he lifted the swan in his arms, taking her down the stone steps and out of the dungeons. When Stayne reached knee depth into the lake he placed her into the lake with a gentle movement.

"Odile, you cannot in any circumstances come anywhere near Iracabeth, for she will not rest until she wears your beautiful black coat" he paused "The real reason I actually came to you was to get a feather from you, to tell that bloody big-head some sort of excuse that you got away.."

Stayne felt crazy talking to her, but he had faith Odile knew what he was saying; despite the fact she gave no sign of her recognition of what he had just said, and gave no response.

Stayne held her majestic black wing out-right

"Sorry…" as Stayne pulled a large black feather, the black beauty swiftly took into the sky, flying past the old stone of the fort.

See you soon… Stayne said to himself. He placed the black feather to his chest, feeling in some ways healed of any pain that ever hurt him before in the world.