When Ebony returned to the mansion Ash was waiting for her. She closed the door to the den and sat opposite him. He nodded to her and she took her cue to speak.
"I'm sorry about what happened, Ash. I really am. I'm even more sorry that I ran. I left you right in it." He nodded once again. Ebony still found him attractive, but no-one could ever compare to seeing Darius's unearthly beauty.
"It's okay I guess." He laughed unsteadily and shrugged. "Quinn doesn't believe what happened. He now thinks I'm a pervert or summin', but he'll keep quiet…for now."
"Ash, he threatened to kill you…"
"Mystery guy….by the way, does he have a name?"
"His name is Darius. Darius Redfern." The shocked look on Ash's face conquered the unease. "Now you see why I ran out."
"Darius…Darius. He sounds familiar….why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"I thought you were spying on me, and well, things have been so weird recently that I don't know what the fuck's going on…"
"The main thing is you're safe…"
"Yeah but for how long…?" She lowered her voice. "Ash, he came to me outside and said something, Ash he scared me.." Ebony caught her breath.
"What did he say?" Ash didn't entirely believe her. He was too causal about the event.
"He said, well…something about a game. He said he'd take me if I didn't play, and hurt you! If I play and win he'll let me free." Time with Darius moved slowly and her thoughts and memories all began to blur. Almost her only memory was his emerald eyes, watching from the shadows. The shadows, something clicked. "He said something about a shadowman?" Ash paled and his eyes started to believe.
"Oh shit." He pronounced it slowly and deliberately.
"What?"
"I think, Ebony, that you are in very big trouble indeed. There's someone you need to meet."
***
Three hours later an extremely tired Ebony was listening to a girl with honey blond hair drone on. She told Ebony of a gorgeous stranger who had kidnapped her and her friends.
"His name was Julian." The girl started to cry. "I'll never forget him. He was my darkness."
"If you loved him so, why didn't you stay with him?" Ebony questioned.
"I don't…know…I guess." She paused. "I guess it was because he tried to force me. He gave me no choice." Silently Ebony agreed with the girl's reasons. They sounded very familiar. By the end of the heart to heart both girls found they had a lot in common. The only thing was, Darius was untouchable, Ebony knew. The Julian, the girl spoke of seemed good underneath. He seemed more honourable or real than Darius. Something like that. Darius was evil. Short and simple. He had no heart of gold underneath, only blackness and nothing Ebony could do would change that. This saddened her slightly. She bid the girl, Jenny, goodbye and Ash showed her out. They were finally alone.
"Well…?" Ash left the question open.
"She seemed…nice."
"Did you find anything out?"
"Not really. Only that I should be scared, apparently. And I've known that for a very long while."
"Well, I've told the rest of Daybreak…that's Gillian, David, Quinn, Iliana and Mare. Along with Thierry we've come to a decision. It sounds as if we are all in danger if you don't play the game. I'm including you in that. When the time comes we think you should play it. Rashel and Keller will teach you self-defence. Blaise Harman will be brought here to teach you magick. And…"
"Hey, don't I get a say?"
"Not when it involves the circle so directly. Of course, it's your choice whether or not you play, but…"
"I guess we'll just have to see what happens." Ebony yawned, said goodnight and made her way up the marble staircase, followed by visions of the white, blank box from her dream.
