Title: Forbidden Love

Author: Chocoholic

Email: lollypop@bubble-gum.co.uk

Category: FG, NW, DV

Rating: 15

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Julian or any other Forbidden Game character. (~ * sigh *~) In fact nothing is mine except the plot. Night world, Dark visions, Forbidden game etc. and it's concepts belong to Lisa.

Summary: Well Julian comes back (duh!) and he's on a mission.

Feedback: Would be adored. ^_^

Julian had waited over ten years. It had been torture, the shadow-men had resurrected him only to give

him a choice. He remembered it well…

***

"I'm not so sure. We should just kill him again." The one with the hoof glared at Julian as he spoke. Another one, this one with horns spoke up. He seemed to have power over the others.

"Aljunni, we may not be good people by most's definition, but we are a fair race. You have been resurrected to suit our purpose."

"And that purpose may be…" Julian gave a dangerous grin, trying to look tough in front of the elders, trying not to let his hatred of them shine through.

"Silence" The finned one roared. "You may not speak"

"Fine" Julian muttered and rolled his eyes carelessly, sweating inside, hoping Jenny was alright. Time had passed but he was not sure how much. The horned one scowled.

"We know mortals can be tricky little vermin…I too once…" His eyes flashed dangerously. "But you, Aljunni, you have gone too far. You have broken many sacred laws of the shadows, falling in love with vermin, disgracing the elders, failing, protecting the vermin, all of which were forbidden, you shouldn't mess with forbidden things lad. Need I go on??? And now you're trying to act flippant about it!"

"Yes lad, you'll be punished, we'll crunch your bones, gouge out your eyes and hear you beg before we kill you again" Flipper ones eyes gleamed.

"No"

"No?" Flipper stared in shock at the horned figure

"No, remember, we had a reason for bringing him back, a purpose" Julian saw horns give a barbaric grin - the kind Dee used to give. His stomach plummeted but his face stayed neutral.

"The purpose, we need you to run an errand, nothing large. All you must do is prove your loyalty is back with us. You are powerful Aljunni, don't become weak. We are to turn you half mortal…permanent I'm afraid." He cackled. "A time is coming in the human world. The planets are aligning and a time of darkness is coming. You are the chosen. Go forth Aljunni, go forth to open the gate to the mortal realm. Give us passage, you will become our leader, we will walk the earth, and god that world will bleed…"

The next thing Julian knew he was part human, god it hurt. He was used to no pain except emotional, and before he met Jenny, no pain at all. Then he saw her, Jenny. She was the sunlight, his reason for living, she was…different. Sure she was older, she looked about nineteen though. According to the year she should be twenty-eight…going on twenty-nine. There was something else, a fluidity in how she walked. A smoothness. Julian started to shake, eyes widening and his frosty hair tendrils flying about wildly. He ran towards her, slower than usual, but fast considering he was half mortal. She turned and saw him approaching, she had the same type of reaction only started to run away from him, tripping and dropping her bags as she went. Julian let her run. Now wasn't the time.

What was he going to do? He doubted he would become the shadow-men leader. On the other hand he couldn't find any trickery in the horned ones words or anything in the ancient laws about it. God she was beautiful. Julian kept trying to keep on track but his mind kept slipping to Jenny. He would track her, then think about the task at hand. He gathered Jenny's bags and set off in the direction she went following the palm lined drive.

***

"Nilsson, help me" Nilsson saw a terrified girl attempting to lock the mansion doors. She had been in the circle for ten years, after some demon had destroyed her and her friends lives. She had heard all the prophecies and was one of Thierry's closest friends. Nilsson tried to calm her and he locked the door. Best to humour her. She ran past him into the den where the main circle members were discussing the prophecies, their usual pastimes.

"Lordthierryhelpmehesbackandhescomeforrevengehelpme!"

Audrey sighed and stopped painting her nails for a second. Dee turned and paused her conversation with Rashel, Keller and Jez. Summer looked like a rumpled kitten scowling at Zach chat up Kaitlyn. She was telling Iliana and Daphne how Zach had insisted those pictures were art and Kaitlyn was kindly helping him. She couldn't help him with clothes??? She turned when the girl came in. Micheal looked up from the buffet, his face stuffed.

"Jen hon" Audrey spoke. "What's the matter?" Dee nodded as if to second Audreys question. Jenny took a deep breath and turned away from Thierry to face the entire circle. She took a deep breath, halfway to hyperventilating.

"I just said, Julian, I've seen him, he's back."

There was chatter around the circle. Zach dropped his pictures, Micheal spat sausage roll across the room and Audrey spilled her nail polish across Thierry's new white carpet. Summer went pale and fainted dead away, she had nearly died last time. Dee gave a concerned look at Jenny.

"Are you sure sunshine?" When Jenny nodded Dee turned and gave her famous grin. "Leave it to me and the girls, we'll beat the crap out of him…again"

Most the circle didn't believe. The ones that did believe were trusting, or had seen the darker side. Thierry spoke.

"Where Jenny?"

"Outside…the door…Nilsson…locked…won't stop him…I..feel….fain…" Jenny never finished and collapsed onto the floor. Lupe and Nilsson rushed towards her and Thea started to chant witchy stuff. All her friends except Dee started to gather around her. Dee was already preparing to fight.

"Jez and Keller, you can check the front drive, me and Rashel will survey the perimeter." Thierry knew he couldn't stop Dee or her gang. All he could say was…

"Be careful, take Quinn, Ash, Morgread and…"

"Delos?" Ash finished.

"No - um, James. Delos is too valuable."

"Damn" Ash swore.

"Gee, thanks" James shot back, but he went anyway. Better safe than sorry if this shadow man was as tough as described. He glanced behind him to see Jenny was waking. She was telling Poppy what happened. Thierry turned to Lupe. Take her upstairs to rest. She's had a nasty shock. Only later did he realise his mistake…

Jenny lay peacefully, dreaming of better times, before her world was turned upside-down. Her and Tom at the beach, the junior prom, her 16^th birthday, at Shelia Thomsons 7^th birthday party. Before the horror. Before the confusion. Before…Julian. Then she lay quietly thinking of Julian. His electric blue eyes, impassioned, raw with emotion in the Joyland cavern. His eyes wide with discovery at the end of the first game. His wolf hungry grin. Him masquerading as Zach, dancing with him at the senior prom. Him…giving his life for her. A tear slid off her cheek. He had manipulated her, tortured her friends, devised psychotic games to force her to stay with him….and she loved him. After all these years, she still loved him. With Tom dead, killed by vampires, she still missed Julian more.

She heard Jez and Quinn shout to each other. They'd found nothing. She knew what would happen. Her friends would think she was having an episode, Thierry, would believe her but send her to Paul, the circle psychiatrist. He is the best, Thierry would tell her apologetically, he helped little Timmy recover from the lies Hunter told him. He even help chamber-pot-emptier (or should I sat Hortense) adapt to life outside of the castle. Well Jenny didn't care. She did not need a psychiatrist. She did not…..and then she saw the shadow man. Jenny screamed.

Julian clapped a hand around Jenny's mouth. "You've got to be quiet Jenny. Don't make me kill them" He gestured to Mary-Lynette and Ash guarding her door (and making out).

"Julian?"

"Yeah, I'm back baby!" He grimaced at his choice of words. "They carved me back. I'm really here!" Then came the kiss. She'd forgotten the passion. Awash in a pink haze, Jenny surrendered. The world fell away.

***

She felt…connected. That was the only word for it. She was a part of him, she knew then that everything he did, he had done for her. He had died for her…and would do it again. His hair felt soft, like cats fur under her fingers. The air hummed, she was being pulled into Julian's mind. He was as shocked as she. What…???? She could hear his thoughts and see his mind, scenes from his memory reflected in many different faces of a crystal. She saw him watching her, for hours, she saw the game, she saw…him die. Julian, she thought to him, I'm sorry. She didn't expect a reply. Don't be. I'd do it all again for you. We can be together now, I'm half mortal. It was Jenny's time to speak…

Julian, I'm not. I'm a vampire. The connection was severed.

"You're a what???" Julian roared. "You can't be. They don’t exist."

"Welcome to my world, Julian, sure they don't exist…just like shadow men don't exist!" Julian looked shocked.

"Who did this to you?"

"It happened a year ago…we were attacked, turned into vampires. They were going to kill us afterwards. Sort of a…game." Jenny glared. "They killed Tom, at least, that’s what they said. Then they killed us. I woke up dead. They even got Dee…well, a shapeshifter did. We're all immortal now. I'm a vampire, Dee's a new kind of shapeshifter, everyone else are vampires, 'cept for Zach. He's a wolf." Julian smirked at the image of Summer as a vampire. Jenny interrupted.

"Yes, I know. She's quite good at it really." Julian looked puzzled. "I can read thoughts now Julian. And don't even think of it."

"What?" Julian gave an overly innocent expression. Jenny giggled.

"You know!" Julian was about to kiss her, Jenny could sense it, when Ash opened the door.

"He's in here…quick everyone!" Half the circle scurried in with weapons. Jenny stepped forwards.

"No..don't" Ash fired his crossbow at Julian. Jenny was terrified. Julian was half mortal…it might kill him. All of a sudden the crossbow exploded into blue flames, before turning into dust. Thierry stepped forward. Julian looked shocked.

"I think we need to discuss this" He said, and lead Julian and Jenny into the den.

***

Jenny tried to explain to Julian. "…and so you're the fourth wild power"

"But I didn't do anything!"

"Of course you did! Haven't you heard the prophecies? A time of darkness is coming."

"A time of…darkness?" Julian pondered this.

"Yes, and the wild powers can stop it. This is Jez, Delos and Iliana. The other powers. You're the fourth!"

"No I'm…" Thierry interrupted him.

"Arguing won't help…who else could it have been?"

"But I didn't spill blood"

"Maybe you did but didn't realise?"

"That's fuckin' stupid" Julian shouted. "You people are insane!"

Quinn spoke. " That's what I thought at first, but…." He sighed "Jenny, how come you're so friendly with him all of a sudden?" Jenny stuttered.

"I…um..uh…well" Aradia was facing the window pondering.

"I think she means because he's her soulmate." She said softly. The circle went quiet.

"Nah!" Dee burst into hysterical giggles. "Yeah right, sure, whatever."

"Du redest Quatsch!" Audrey put in. Summer smiled trying to understand what was happening. Zach seemed to understand a little and actually stopped looking at Kaitlyn's helpful photo's for the second time that night. Micheal looked unsure. Jenny started at her feet, ashamed. Julian was the first to speak.

"Maybe I'm missing something…what the fuck is a soulmate?"

Aradia was staring out the window yet again and so Thierry did a quick explanation for Julians benefit.

"So a soulmates like your true love, eh?"

"Some people would say that, yes. But there are more pressing matters at hand…Lupe, get maximum security up. We now have all the powers. Delos, you have the most training. Take Jez and Iliana and help him control his power. Be careful. Rashel and Quinn, take Nilsson and secure the area. Ash, you and James go protect those four."

"I don't need any protection…." Julian shouted.

"Oh, not James again…can't someone else put up with him?" Ash interjected. "Can't I go with Quinn or Morgread?"

"No - Now hurry, we have a lot to do!"

***

"He's not going to. I told you we should have killed him!" The hoofed one wailed.

"He was weak, love made him that way. It's a pity really…I had great plans for him. Never mind." Horned leader shrugged, or at least tried to under the scales developing at his neck.

"NEVER MIND!! Now the darkness will never come! We are stuck. How can you say NEVR MIND!"

"I can say it because I have other arrangements…an old…friend of his. I have sent for him. We shall be free, the darkness will come" A figure approached the doorway.

"You sent for me, master" Tom Locke stood there…very much alive.

***

Julian had spent the evening learning to use his powers he supposedly had. Not one burst of blue fire had escaped him yet. Jez said he just needed some practice. These dammed daybreakers were trying his patience already. He'd stay though, he'd stay if it made Jenny happy.

Julian had already made the decision to keep the portal closed. The shadow men would be stuck forever, no sweat off his back. He couldn't let them through, he couldn't do that to Jenny. Not that he intended to tell her of his encounter with them. She wouldn't trust him anymore, that's for sure. He chuckled to himself. She never trusted you in the first place, you kiddnapped her and you twisted your words. Only a fellow shadow man would understand his system of truth and honour.

At the current moment he was in Zach and Micheal's bedchamber, trying to escape Iliana who wanted to teach him to use his power in a more PRIVATE area. The bimbo Julian thought sourly. He was about to leave for a new hiding spot when Micheal and Zach came in. Micheal raised his eyebrows higher.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Camping out." Julian nodded to the sleeping bag on the floor.

"Why???" Julian chuckled.

"Micheal, don’t you trust me?"

"Julez ma man, YOU SUCKED ME DOWN THE BOG INTO ANOTHER WORLD!" Julian grinned.

"Got some great pictures of that snake though" Zach murmured absently.

"According to rumours man, those aren't the only great pictures you've got recently"

"Hey, those are artistic." Zach protested. Micheal reached quickly under Zachs mattress and pulled out some magazines.

"And I guess the subscription to playboy is for inspiration then?"

"Whatever" With Zach's obvious annoyance at the subject Micheal changed the subject and turned back to Julian.

"I would not trust you as far as I could throw you…and I'm not very strong at that." Julian pondered a second.

"Y'know Micheal. I haven't been very fair to you. What'ya say we head down the pub, have some beers, and play a little game…" Micheal screamed and ran out the room. "…of mortal combat" Zach snorted, finding this somewhat amusing. Julian settled down, wondering whether he should go find Jenny.

Tom stood in the cavern, preparing for his journey to the human world. The horned one was speaking, something he liked to do too often.

"I knew you'd make a good shadow man the moment I saw you boy. Don't fail us…just gather the powers and then open the gate. You may kill Aljunni later if it suits your purpose. I'm afraid you must kill the girl though. She's caused us too much trouble…"

Since the night he was turned into a shadow dweller he had thought of nothing but Jenny. She was innocence. He knew what Julian meant, but he also knew innocence was dangerous. He would turn her into a shadow dweller as well. She would then be bound to him forever. The elders did not believe it was a good idea. Kill her and be done with it flipper had said. They would come around to the idea. Tom could persuade them. He was about to enter the mortal world. He had one final thought before jumping into the portal though,

Light to my darkness Jenny, you'll see.

***

When the doorbell rang at the daybreak estate, Lupe answered it. With all four powers found Thierry decided it was better someone with fighting skills opened the door. Lupe had commented dryly on how glad she was that she was considered tough enough to handle the task. Nevertheless, she took the task and was the first to see Tom Locke alive and well since a year ago exactly. Of course she had no idea who he was. She was greeted by a devil may care smile and very informal and relaxed "Hey baby".

"Who the fuck are you? State your business now or else" Tom found this amusing.

"Now that's no way to greet a friend now, is it? I'm Tom Locke esq. And I'm here for Jenny" Lupes eyes narrowed suspiciously. She used her intercom to get a message to Jenny.

"Jenn, there's some creep here, goes by the name of Tom Locke. Do ya know him?" Jenny ran downstairs in disbelief, followed by a scowling Julian, followed by a yattering Iliana.

"Tom, it's really you…you're…alive"

"You realised?" Jenny hugged him again. Then frowned. Lupe left.

"Tom…I, well…you look, different!" Toms appearance had become more handsome than before after his change to shadow man. Iliana had noticed too.

"Hi, I'm Iliana"

"Why hello there my pretty… my how beautiful you are, a painting more intriguing than the Mona Lisa. I must take you to Paris for you belong in the Louvre to inspire millions with your beauty."

Julian whispered to Jenny "Sounds like he's into the same inspiration as your cousin"

Iliana stared ahead blankly "Hi, I'm Iliana" she turned to Julian "I'm bored, take me somewhere."

Julian groaned bringing Tom's attention to him.

"What is he doing here?" Tom clenched his fists. Jenny sighed. Better to get it all over with now. She opened her mouth to speak but Julian interjected.

"You see…Tommy…" He pronounced it like a disease, like he did in the first game. It stirred up memories for Jenny. "…Jenny is my soulmate. Ash told me you were here at daybreak a little before you…died??? So you know what that means." Julian frowned. "How come you're alive?"

"You're…soulmates." Tom sounded disbelieving. More like his old self. "We'll see about that then, I'll see you later Jenny. I need to…talk to you." Jenny repeated Julians question. Tom glared his gaze never leaving Julians, and walked slowly into the house.

Jenny had nightmares that night, plagued with shadow men and darkness. They were catching up on her as she no longer had to dream Julian into places of light. She awoke to James, David, Poppy, and Gillian running down the hall. James and Gillian wore teddy bear PJ's and David was in his boxers. Poppy was in an oversized T-shirt. Jenny grabbed her dressing gown.

"What is going on? Some people are trying to sleep, you know!" David turned.

"It's the wild powers, they're missing!"

"Shit, they're missing? How the fuck did that happen?"

"Dunno, Thierry's calling a meeting. Hurry up!"

***

Thierry had on a grave face, his usual expression. He was telling everyone to keep calm. Julian helpfully added. "Yeah, it's not the end of the world." The circle members were all downstairs by now and Thierry was going through the clues they had. Just one, a note from Iliana. Thierry read it out.

"Don't worry, gone to France to play a game. Be back soon." Iliana's room showed no sign of struggle but whoever took them had overpowered Delos, Jez AND Julian. This was dangerous. Maybe another dragon? Jenny thought and something fell into place. "France? Tom said he would take Iliana to France. Oh my god…Tom took them!" There was chatter around the room.

"Yeah but where are they? I seriously doubt they're in France." Rashel put in. Jenny's head hurt. Dee ordered a search, taking charge for the umpteenth time. Jenny decided to go up to her room.

***

The binding magik the elders had given him worked perfectly. He had to hurry though. It only lasted an hour. Until then the wild powers were helpless. It could only be undone before the hour if blue fire touched the spell. That wasn't going to happen though as all the wild powers were bound. Tom loved being a shadow dweller. It suited him. All he had to do was open the portal now. He needed Jenny to come first…he wanted to change her into a shadow dweller while the portal opened.

***

Jenny found the note only a few minutes after she went up to her room. She read it out loud a couple of times.

The note came white a clip of snow-white hair. Tommy, Jenny thought to him, you watch too many movies. She grabbed her jacket pulled on a T-shirt. She headed past a sleeping Lupe and an…occupied Nilsson (talking about art with Zach - and exchanging photos) an went out the front door shutting it quietly behind her.

***

The powers were bound physically as well as magically. They were all cut form fighting Tom, but they still could not use their powers. Jez had already staked Tom twice…but it hadn't affected him. There was only one way to kill a shadow man. Unfortunately Iliana had forgotten her spare runestave. At the moment the wild powers were getting a teensy bit sick of each other…

"I've told you before…NEVER CALL ME JEZABEL!"

"Yikes, calm down Jezzy"

"JEZZY??…grrr, Delos you just wait 'til I get free!"

"Oh…I can't wait" Delos rolled his eyes. "Julian, how you holding up?"

"Does anyone know how to shut her up?" Iliana was having a one sided conversation with Julian about Paris. She still hadn't realised that they were in trouble. Tom, at this, got up and walked over to Iliana.

He snarled inhumanly. "I think there's a bloody off switch somewhere here" And socked Iliana in the jaw. Surprisingly…she shut up.

"Time to open the portal I think…can't keep the elders waiting, even for Jenny, eh Jules?" Tom sighed. "She'll have to become a shadow dweller later rather than sooner." Julian snarled and let himself imagine the things he would do to Tommy when he got free. Tom started to chant in some foreign language. It was the language of the ages, Julian knew. Jez and Delos watched in horrified wonder. Iliana just watched blankly and wondered when Tom was taking her to France. Tom finished the ritual just as the door creaked open.

"Jenny" he said "I'm glad you could make it."

The gateway glowed brightly. There was not much time left. In a few minutes the world would cease to exist…if they were lucky. Unfortunately Jenny was alone and unarmed. No match for a shadow man.

"I beat you, didn't I?" Jenny answered his thoughts. "Telepathic…remember?"

Julian grinned bleakly, a shadow of his usual wolf hungry smile. Tom lunged for Jenny she dodged him.

"At least now I know, Tom…so you're a shadow man?" Tom lunged again.

"Yeah, I'm just your type…now hold still"

"Yeah, like I'm really going to do that!" Tom lunged a final time but hit Iliana. Iliana fell into Jenny and Jenny tumbled down.

"Don't worry Jenny…being a shadow dweller isn't all bad."

"I don’t really want to spend eternity with YOU, thanks" Tom considered.

"You'll get used to it."

"I doubt that." Tom growled and brought a big, sharp wooden knife out of his bag.

"Now this may hurt a little…but it's required" Julian, Jez and Delos screamed and shouted at Tom. Tom brought the knife down cutting deep into Jennys vampire wrists. The gateway flashed.

"Oh not now!" It was the elders.

"What are you doing???"

"What's it look like?"

"We forebode you to change her."

"So…?" While this was going on, Jenny slowly rose. She spoke loudly.

"Free them!" blue fire shot from her wrists. The powers were free from their binding. "Delos…" she called. Delos spoke unsurely…

"One from the land of kings long forgotten…" with what little intelligence she had, Iliana caught on.

"…one form the hearth, that still holds the spark…." Jez took her place.

"…one from the day world where two eyes are watching…" Jenny finished off.

"…one from the twilight…" she nodded to Tom and his twilight eyes (Now he's a shadow man) "…to be one with the dark." And nodded to Julian. All the powers stood with their arms up wrist to wrist. All had cuts from the binding and the fight. The four stood as a gigantic blue fireball started to form. Julian stood in awe looking at the prince, the witchchild, the halfbreed and his love. They shouted in unison.

"IN BLUE FIRE, THE FINAL DARKNESS IS BANISHED.

IN BLOOD, THE FINAL PRICE IS PAID."

Jenny brought her arms lower, aiming for the shadowmen, Tom still clutching his knife.She spoke in even tone.

"I send thee back to thy darkness."

The world exploded in blue fire and the shadow men were gone. Julian and Jenny hugged and Jez phoned daybreak…after pummelling Delos (Jezzy indeed). Iliana sighed.

"Now who's going to take me to France"

No-one ever saw the shadow men again and no-one liked to speak of them, lest their speech bring them back. The runestave had vanished and Julian was still in existence, mortal, at least until Jenny turned him vampire. Kaitlyn and Gabriel were now back together and so Zachs art suffered, Thierry actually, nearly smiled when he heard the darkness had been banished. About a week later Julian and Jenny were talking…

"…so how did you use the fire the first time? I though blood had to be spilled?" Jenny looked thoughtful.

"Remember when I first saw you back? Well when I ran away I tripped and grazed my knee. That must have set it off."

"Okay, that makes sense. So what do you think happened to…well…them?"

"I don't know. I still miss Tom though"

"I'm sure he's gone to a better place….."

***

Tom sat up. He was in smothering darkness, so black, he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. Where was his knife? He called out

"Hello?"

"Hello child, I see you're awake."

"Where am I?" The biggest cliché.

"Well…you're trapped in eternal darkness with a load of very pissed shadow men who, incidentally, have your knife." The horned one didn't sound too tolerant. Flipper spoke, eyes gleaming.

"We'll crunch your bones and gouge out your eyes, and we'll hear you beg before we kill you…then we'll bring you back, and the punishment will start all…over…again."

Tom screamed, but the cold silence never replied.

THE END….OR IS IT????