Ebony had met the circle reluctantly. They had seemed nice, although their questions had been slightly too intrusive for her liking. They all seemed too goody, goody for Ebony's immediate trust and liking. She had sat for ages listening to the one called Thierry drone on about the millennium. As if there wasn't enough in the human media about computer-bugs and other stuff. Still she had listened patiently to their tales of love, hope and romance and other such nonsense like soulmates. When her time came to talk, share, heal and crap she was silent, much to Thierry's distaste. They were nice, but they seemed to like talking about the millennium disaster and the prophecies more than actually getting off their backsides and doing something.
Ash had been friendly to her, despite Mary-Lynette's elbow jabs and sweet smiles. He had introduced her to some very interesting people. Morgread, Quinn and Delos to name but just a few. The problem was they all seemed to soulmates. The girl called Jez scowled and kept turning Morgread's attention from Ebony. Rashel the slayer didn't seem to mind Ebony flirting with her man. She was too confident that nothing could take Quinn from her. She was right. Maggie however didn't even seem to realise. Delos had struck Ebony's fancy at first, but after a short while his conversation became tiresome. She made her excuses and retreated to the room they had given her. All she could think of was her fear and insane lust for Darius.
Even Ash didn't know about Darius. All he knew was she had been turned into a vamp against her will recently and she didn't know who did it. She couldn't very tell him about Darius, she didn't have her own emotions sorted inside her. Besides, she didn't really know Ash. Finding a guy sexy doesn’t immediately mean you can confide in him.
She and Darius had met in San Francisco, she had been shopping when she took a short cut home at night. She had waltzed into a dark, deserted street, swinging her new jeans in the blue carrier, innocent and free. She had run out after seeing Nicolette, the school bitch, in a lifeless embrace with the handsome green-eyed stranger. She ran as fast as she could and never looked back. But he had seen her. He had seen the moonlight reflect off her beautiful, regal features. He had seen her…and he had wanted her.
****
The figure watched from the shadows, lurking in the unearthly twilight. He watched the girl undress for her angelic slumber. He fell back as she approached the window and paused as if trying to attune to a secret, supernatural vibe. She brought a delicate hand to brush the glass that separated them, not quite focusing on his shadow. She put a hand to her breast, to the whereabouts of her now undead heart. Her lips curved to a dangerous half smile and her ebony black hair shone in the dim light from the street. Her bright blue eyes looked angelic in contrast to her smile. She returned to her bed, opening the window just slightly before she entered the dream.
****
Ebony was searching…and then she found it. It was an old white box, it gave her a thrill to run her fingers over the shiny, blank surface. She picked it up and shook it, knowing this is what she came for. When the one she called Ash entered the room he tried to take it from her. The more he pulled it away, the tighter she grasped it. He finally gave up and the box began to thrum heavily. Ebony tried to throw it across the room but she couldn't let go. Her fingers seemed to be stuck to it. The sun set and Ash left the room. As the darkness blanketed her ebony still had her fingers stuck to the mystery box. A new figure entered her vision. She had an instinct to hiss and hide away but the box wouldn't let her. He sighed patiently as she backed away. She now recognised the figure as Darius Redfern. He walked, almost floated up towards her and held out his hand. She went to take his hand but still could not drop the box. He sighed again and plucked the box from her hands gently. It disappeared as soon as he held it. A single, blood red rose appeared in it's place. He held it out to her and spoke… "What do you really want, Ebony?" and then he was gone…along with the rest of the dream world.
****
Ebony awoke. The only evidence of the strange occurrence was a flower on her pillow, a single blood red rose.
