Dusky Dreams [Sephy & Jace]

The forest was quiet. Sephy didn't dare go in too deep, but she'd never really explored it before. It was dusk, there were crickets chirping, and everything seemed peaceful. She'd become quite the master of sneaking out at night since Alex's party; now she just did it to go for walks by herself and just for the sake of doing it. It was her secret thing - her parents had no idea - and she could, for once, go where she pleased. She had such a silent presence that no one noticed her coming or going; not people at school or her parents at home, not animals in the forest. She stopped still and slumped down with her back against a tree trunk, hugging her knees to her chest. It was all so strange right now, what with fighting with Alex, silently fighting for Destin, remaining in the background...

Jace ran through the forest as a stag, deciding to be the prey and not the hunter for once. It felt good to be able to dodge through the thick trees with such ease and each stride helped to loosen his stiff muscles. His father had just put him through an extremely tough work out but now he was free to do as he pleased. His head was hurting badly but he was used to the pain now. It the same every time they had their 'sessions' together. The scent of a human alerted him and he changed his direction, wondering who this person was at this time of night. The moonlight shone done, illuminating [spl] a spot where a young girl sat. He slowed his pace and stood, just out of sight, looking at the girl. She was familiar which meant that she must go to their school, and yet, he hadn't spoken to her before.

Sephy looked up and saw a stag standing opposite her, in the gloomy shadow of two trees. She smiled at the beauty of the animal just out of sight. "Hello," she breathed, not at all worried about scaring the stag away. Animals had always been comfortable around her; it was because she was so calm and quiet all the time, not tense and angry like her parents. They never let her keep a pet, no matter how much she begged. She stood up slowly and approached the stag carefully, reaching a hand out in front of her to gently touch the side of its face. "You're beautiful," she whispered, trying to stare into its eyes.

Jace flinched away from the girl slightly, mimicking [spl] what a real stag would do, but then tentavily [spl] stretched out his head to let the girl stroke him. Normally he wouldn't allow such a ridiculous thing to happen but this girl was undeniably beautiful. He wondered briefly at what type of girl she was; one to settle down for a relationship or go for a one night stand. He hoped it was the latter. He snorted softly then took a step forward, his large antlers [spl] stretching up into the night's sky.

She smiled contentedly and closed her eyes, tilting her head to the darkening sky. It was peaceful, and the stag had not run away. She began to hum a little tune, stroking the stag's neck and down its long head to its muzzle. Suddenly she got an odd flash - her power was working - of a strange boy where the stag was now, and an overwhelming sense of being threatened and horrified. It was frightening, but she knew she shouldn't run away. New Sephy stood up to things that were scary. She would stay and face it. She sighed and opened her eyes, turning her attention back to the majestic animal in front of her. A breeze passed through the clearing and lifted her short skirt, which made her begin to doubt herself, but no. No, she wasn't scared.

Jace could sense the girl's fear and he smirked inwardly. Perhaps he would have more fun than usual tonight. He needed to take his anger out on someone anyway. His head was hurting and the pain was begining to irritate him. It was worse than usual, his father had gone deeper and made him do more things than usual. This girl would be the perfect person to abuse. But he would wait. He was patient like that.

Suddenly she jumped, turning in horror as she swore she heard a twig snap behind her. There was nothing. You're imagining it! It's not real, you're making it up! she told herself firmly, but even the voice in her head was wavering and full of doubt. The wind had risen and seemed to be against her, blowing so hard and unexpectedly that she thought her thin frame would be blown away like a feather. She clung to the stag, her arms around its neck, shielding her face from the wind. It didn't move, it just remained constant as she hung on, near to tears from all this madness. "Please don't run away, please don't run away," she whispered, repeating the words over and over, desperately hoping the animal would hear her pleas and stay, secure and comforting in its odd way.

Jace took a step backwards, startled by the sudden contact. He nuzzled the girl's shoulder, still sensing her fear. He wondered why this girl was so afraid, what was scaring her so badly? The forest was quite scary at night, but he spent most of his time here so he knew what could harm him and what couldn't. He snorted gently and nibbled at the girl's hair which was blowing in the wind. He was patient.

The wind began to drop and Sephy relaxed the tiniest amount, but still kept her arms around the stag's neck. "I'm sorry," she whispered in her usual, quiet voice. "I'm very easily frightened. But not normally by the wind." Stroking its neck with shaking hands, she breathed deeply and told herself to calm down. It probably wasn't her power earlier, it was more likely just her imagination. There'd be no boy and no scary situations. Nothing. Just her and this stag until one of them wanted to leave...

Jace smirked inwardly, easily frightened, now he could have some fun there. He snorted and showed the whites of his eyes - a sure sign of fear - and started to walk backwards, shaking his large head. He stamped the ground, staring off into the distance, a look of terror plastered on his face. 'This is going to be fun,' he thought, acting as if he was afraid of something coming from the forest.

Sephy trotted alongside him, too scared to look behind her to see what it was. "Please don't go, please don't leave me," she murmured desperately, trying to catch up with the stag. Maybe it would take her somewhere safe? She still couldn't bring herself to look around - her nerves were at breaking point - she couldn't take much more of this. In her haste she tripped and fell, grazing her knees as she landed on them and burying her face in her hands, crying freely. Whatever it was would get her now, surely...

Jace took his chance and sprinted away from the crying girl. He made a large circle and transformed back into himself. He smirked and walked forwards, past the clearing where he had just been moments ago. He walked on until he found her, just where he had left her as a stag. "Are you ok?" he asked, crouching down beside her. He would play the good guy for now.

She yelped as she heard a voice, and looked up in horror at the boy who had suddenly appeared. He looked so kind and helpful, surely he couldn't be what the stag had been afraid of? She turned and checked behind her, but saw nothing. She wiped her eyes clumsily and threw her arms around the boy's neck. Normally she would have been much more reserved. "I'm fine... I'm fine, thank you, thank you," she whispered, still shaking. At least she'd stopped crying.

Jace raised his eyebrows in surprise then pulled the girl into a hug, "Good. Is there something you're afraid of?" he asked, letting her go. He looked behind him and back to the girl, cocking his head to the side. "There's nothing to be afraid of," he said, comfortingly, "This forest is safe."

"I know, I know, thank you, I just..." She trailed off, not really sure how to finish her sentence. Even though he'd let go of her she kept her arms around him. He was more comforting than the stag; at least he could respond to what she was saying. "I'm a very...paranoid person," she managed to say. "And I get scared...very easily. My imagination...it always deceives me." She buried her face in his shoulder, standing on tiptoes to hug him properly. He was secure and she didn't want to let go.

Jace chuckled gently, "It's ok, the wind doesn't help either." He wrapped his arms around her again, seeing as she seemed to want to be held. Perhaps this was going to be easier than he first thought. People trusted far too easily. He stroked her hair gently, in a comforting way. "See? There's nothing to be scared of."

She nodded, looking up and into his eyes for the first time. He seemed friendly enough, and she felt safe in his embrace, though she didn't know him. "I'm... My name's Persephone. But most people call me Sephy," she said quietly, reverting to old, shy, insecure Sephy once more. New, slightly more confident Sephy had been scared out of her skin.

Jace smiled, "I'm Jace," he said. It was odd, they had never met before and yet they were now hugging. "Do you want to get something to eat? It's always good if you're suffering from shock to have something sweet," he said, looking down at her. She was very beautiful.

"I'm not hungry, thank you," she whispered. "I'd rather just stay here." To be honest, she didn't think she could walk far. She was still shaking a little and her legs felt like jelly. In fact, she didn't think she could move in any way. She doubted whether she could stop hugging Jace, simply because she didn't think she could move her arms. Jace seemed nice. Tattoos weren't really her thing, but he was quite good looking otherwise - not that that was important.

Jace nodded, "Ok, no worries. As long as you aren't going to faint on me or anything!" he said, chuckling. He lifted her up into his arms, craddling her like a baby, "Let's go somewhere a little more comfortable," he said, smiling softly. "There's a couple of park benches just along here."

It wasn't surprising that he could lift her; she was so slim and light that anyone could have. "Thank you," she said, smiling now, almost laughing in fact as he carried her. She was glad she'd snuck out of the house, even if she had been scared half to death only moments before. How silly of her to be so frightened, when nothing was there!

Jace chuckled, "No problem, I'm always willing to help a damsel in distress. Especially one as pretty as you." He chuckled again then gently set her down on the bench, sitting next to her. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, layering his voice with just the right amount of concern.

She blushed a little and began to play with her hair. "M-much better, thank you," she said, smiling. Jace was nice; perhaps she had a new friend now. And he thought she was pretty. Destin had said she was pretty once, but no one else. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling quite content and happy; she supposed it was the adrenalin that was making her feel so suddenly spaced out.

Jace smiled, "Good good." He took a hold of her hand, entwining their fingers. He meant it as a comfort thing rather than anything else. He could tell that with Sephy he would have to go slowly. It wouldn't be like Alex where both boys wanted the same thing. This would take time to get her to want the same thing as he did. But he would wait.

She smiled widely, looking at their fingers twisted together. She felt dizzy, slightly drunk perhaps, and with an acute sense that she was putting a little too much trust in Jace, considering that she'd only just met him. But no, he'd saved her from whatever it was, and that meant he was good and kind and nice and she could trust him. "I owe you one," she said happily, not even contemplating what he might ask as a favour in return.