Faal woke with a sudden indrawn breath and lay for a moment trying to recapture the odd dream. For a moment as soon as he awoke he could have sworn he'd heard the sound of a baby crying... but there was nothing...   He frowned and tried to think of the dream.. There'd been a woman... hardly more then a girl... he frowned in frustration as it slipped away, leaving him unable to remember any of it clearly but with a feeling that he was needed somewhere... by someone... that there was something he had to do...   "Y'okay?" came a sleepy mumble from beside him and he looked down at the figured curled against him. The soft white of her hair a stark contrast against the deep blue skin and the cream coloured sheets.   He offered a weak smirk and stroked the hair off her forehead. "Just a dream... I can't even remember it..." he said with a sigh and settled back against his pillow.   Clarice shifted over enough to lay her head on his chest, one leg threaded though his. "Hate when tha' happens...." she muttered softly and he smirked a bit more. "Go back to sleep, Clarice... you're mumbling..."   She stretched one arm around behind her without moving her head from his shoulder and suddenly her pillow came slamming down at him, hitting him squarely in the face. "Not mumbling... stop tellin' me what t' do..."   Faal smirked ruefully as he shoved the pillow aside and tucked one arm under his head, the other slipping around Clarice. "Fine.. so noted. So what are you going to do then?"   "Shhh... sleepin'...."   He couldn't help the soft laugh that bubbled up at that and he slipped free of her, leaving her the bed to herself. He padded barefoot across the hall to the small bathroom and closed the door behind him, the lights around the mirror making him shake his head at their tackiness. It had been years since he'd first met her and accidently turned her blue... years since she'd learned to control her ability and recovered her 'human' form.   He sighed as stepped out of the pajama pants and into the shower, letting the hot water beat down on him for a moment before adjusting it.   And it had been years since they'd been lovers. He really shouldn't have stayed the night... she'd been mad at Branden for his talk about leaving and breaking up their partnership... and although the two of them hadn't been lovers for a while either.. He sighed and tipped his head back, wetting his hair. His still missed the length... it was growing back from Clarice cutting it a year ago, but it still didn't reach much past his shoulder blades. Her own hair just barely brushed her shoulders and he wasn't sure which he missed most.. his hair or hers.   Red hair.... the woman in his dream had red hair...   He frowned but the rest of the dream slipped away again and he let it, quickly finishing his shower before getting dressed and penning a quick note letting Clarice know he'd gone back to his place in Scotland. She didn't need him here... she'd changed so much in the years he'd known her.. grown so much... he wondered if that was why things hadn't worked out between them. They were still close and he loved her dearly... but ... she didn't need him.   He left the note on the bed side table before quietly closing the bedroom door behind him and opening a rift home. Sometimes he wondered if he'd misunderstood the oracle completely... afterall... There were plenty of 'white haired Ladies' out there... and supposedly only one of them would 'show him the road to his fate' and 'hold the key to his heart' ... all rather cryptic in the way of oracles and fortune tellers. But in the four hundred years since he'd been told that 'fortune'.. Clarice was the only one who'd even come close to fitting the riddle... and things just hadn't worked out that way.   Faal sighed as he walked into the small library and looked around. Maybe a visit to Burnhoff's was in order... it had been a while since he'd been in to see what the rare book shop had added to it's shelves... He paused as he passed a framed photo of him and Clarice taken back in the beginning and sighed. He'd thought he'd finally found the answer.. finally found that special someone who would make life worth living again...
** The slim red head slipped around the corner of the shelf and Faal quickened his pace trying to catch her. He turned the corner.. and found nothing. A dead end not three feet in form of towering shelves jam packed with romance novels. Faal scowled ion frustration and turned to look around. He'd been only a a minute behind and the aisle the led into this alcove had been in his sight the entire time. There was no way for her to have slipped back out again without him seeing.....   He sighed and cast a spell to detect the residue left by any portals or rifts but, like always.. found no trace of any spell of any kind being cast in the area.   Faal ran both hands back over his head in frustration. It had been three weeks since the first dream and it had returned at lest once every night since. The morning always found him on edge with the growing intensity of the need to be somewhere. And now, after weeks of barely any sleep and being on edge with this restless feeling of being needed somewhere... he was being haunted...   The same slim red headed woman from his dreams... he was sure of it... although it wasn't always the same. Sometimes, it was a red headed child that would vanish just as he got close... the same as she did... and every morning when he first awoke he'd been haunted by the crying of a baby...   He'd cast every spell he knew to find the cause and had come up empty on all fronts. He'd even asked a witch couple Clarice knew and they'd failed to find anything either. There was no ghost.   And yet... there was...   .. and she was driving him slowly insane.   He left the little second hand book store quickly and headed up the street to a little outdoor cafe. He'd be safe here from his ghost... he'd figured out fairly quickly she was most likely to appear when he was alone or near books... It had gotten to the point where he hadn't entered his own library in over a week and only dared enter other Libraries or book stores when there were other people around.   The sound of the chair across fomr his scarping on the paving stone brought him around with a start and he sighed in relief to see the man who'd taken a seat across from him at the tiny table.
"Highness... it's good to see you again.. it has.... been quite a while..." he said softly, realizing even as he said it that it had indeed been quite a long time. The last time he'd seen his prince and best friend was almost fifty years ago and they'd parted on a slightly sour note.   "Yes.... it has." Estehl Errin said softly as he studied him. "I'm sorry for that. I've been a bit... distracted."   Faal smirked softly. "And I haven't been any help to you... I'm sorry for...." Estehl waved a hand, cuttting him off. "Don't appologize again, my friend. Your refusal to return to Court has nothing to do with my long absence.... I know your reasons for not wishing to return... and I agree with them, at least to some point. I should not have asked..." heleaned back in his chair with a sigh, his eyes on his friend. "But that's not why I'm here.... I received a call form Jasmine... she's worried about you. I promised I'd stop by.. and I'll admit.. you like Hell... are you alright?"   Faal smirked and propped his elbow on the table and leaned his head in the palm of his hand. "No. I think I'm losing my mind." he said simply. "I'm being haunted by a recurring dream at night and by a ghost... or ghosts.. that do not exist during the day... No spell or witch or psycic can sense any spirits around me, and yet.. I've heard a baby cry every morning for the past three weeks. I've seen a red headed woman and child seperately, at various times through the day, and they always vanish before I can get a close look at them..."   He could feel Estehl watching him and when he couldn't take the silent scutiny any longer he looked up. "I don't know what to do, Estehl. I've tried everything... nothing works... the dreams continue, the crying continues... the ghosts continue..."   "I don't know what to suggest, Faal. Maybe... maybe you've just been here too long. I've heard of fae who've...." Estehl's voice trailed off for a moment. "Return to Ter Nah Nog... you don't have to go to Court... go anywhere, but get out of the mortal realm for a while..."   Faal sighed, hating the very thought of returning to his homeland and yet a part of him aching to do just that. "....... maybe...." he said softly.   A waitress appeared with Faal's order and took Estehl's then left again. The silence stretched between the two men and she returned, setting the drink before him. Their cups were both half empty before Estehl finally spoke. "So.... tell me about this dream."   Faal sighed, both hands wrapped around his cup. He looked up in time to catch the image of a red headed child running past out of the corner of his eyes, but he no longer turned to see... "I can't remember... just vague images and a sense of my being needed.. that there's somehwere I'm supposed to be.... but.. I don't know what it is or where..." He stared into his cup for a moment. "There's a red haired woman who's face I never see... but she's the same one I see as a ghost..." he shook his head slightly. "I don;t know."   Estehl sighed and reached across the table to place his hand over one of Faal's. "We'll figure this out." he said simply. "I'll help... perhaps we can persuade Jasmine as well." Faal snorted at that a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Why do I get a a feeling of .. foreboding .. when you say that?" he asked as he looked up.   Estehl just sat back in his chair and picked up his drink. He smirked softly as he turned his attention to his drink. "I'm quite sure I have no idea what you mean..." Faal snorted then jabbed a finger at the man seated across from him. "You can help... but.. let's leave Jasmine out of it as long as we can. I always seem to find myself in deeper holes when she helps... you're bad enough."   Estehl snorted, his eyes twinkling as the two of them stood, leaving their money on the table. "By the way.. I meant to ask..." Estehl said softly as they left the cafe together. "What in Terra did you do to your hair?!"   Faal snorted. "I don't think I'll go into it... it's a rather long story involving half demons, bounty hunters and vampires... I wouldn't want to bore you.."

       
The leaf dappled sunlight hitting her made her seem ethereal as she sat on the rocks, her bare feet tucked up out of the path of the gurgling stream beside her. The breeze ruffled the deep green of her gown, sending it rippling against the rock she sat on. She was turned slightly away, looking out over the stream and the wind kept blowing the glorious red curls across her face to further hide her from him.   He wanted to brush her hair aside and turn her face so he could finally see her, and with this goal in mind he started towards her. A sudden gust of wind appeared, knocking into him so hard he stumbled and when he looked up she was no longer on the rock, but on the far side of the stream, walking away.   "No.." Faal said softly, started after her. "Wait! Please!" he called out, the wind tearing his words away as he spoke them, and he knew she never even heard him. The pain in his heart at watching her growing ever more distant made him struggle harder against the wind, determined to reach her.   She needed him. He had to reach her... she was in trouble and he needed to protect her...   He stumbled to his knees at a particularly violent burst of wind and he looked up to find himself alone with no sign of the mysterious red head. He cried out and sunk down in despair at losing her once again. He didn't know why he was so sure she was in trouble... she didn't act like she was. But somehow.. he just knew that this sad, beautiful young woman desperately needed him. That she was waiting for him to find her....   He looked up as the sun was suddenly blocked and a shadow fell over him. No cloud marred the perfect sky, nothing but the gently swaying trees.. nothing to cause the sudden shadow and chill...   He stood and was surprised to find his sword in his hands, having no memory of calling it. A faint scream sounded followed by the beating of giant wings, and his heart hammered against his chest as he was suddenly running. The stream and forest vanished, replaced by endless dark hallways of stone that pressed in on him. Ahead he saw a flash of red and green as she fled down a crossing ahead of him, a shadow close on her heels with the sound of wings heavy in the air.   A burst of speed saw him at the junction only to find it a dead end with no sign of her or her pursuer. Faal yelled in frustration as he spun, trying to find a way through to find her. Another scream echoed around him and he screamed back. "LEAVE HER BE!!! SHE'S MINE, DAMN YOU !! LEAVE HER BE!!   The sudden silence that followed his words was almost deafening and he found himself in a large chamber of vaulted stone. There was a sudden soft male laugh and his words were thrown back at him in another's voice. "She's mine! Leave her." Faal brandished his sword as a shadow suddenly flew at him, the beating of wings buffeting him as his sword cut through air. The increasingly powerful blows knocked the sword fomr his hand as he fell to the ground and he scrambled to his knees only to find himself alone again.. the shadow and it's phantom wings gone.   No.. not alone.   A cloaked figure was walking towards him from the center of the room, and he found he didn't have the strength to stand and confront it. Instead he knelt, grabbing his sword as the figure stopped a few feet away and looked at him. "Come to us, Dom."   He looked up in surprise to see the white hair tumbling form the mouth of the hood, framing a beloved face. "Clarice.... little one..." he said softly as he looked up at her, thoroughly confused. She wasn't supposed to be here... was she? "You need to come... she needs you..."   "Who? Clarice... Who is she?" he asked, surging to his feet, but she was already moving away form him again, back towards the center of the vast room.   "She's yours... " was the faint answer that came to him. "Come."
A sudden raccous buzzing sounded and Faal sat up, gasping for breath. With a soft curse he reached over to grab the phone. "Dominic." he said, knowing he sounded irritated but not caring... he'd be so close.. he almost understood... if it had only lasted a bit longer...   "Good morning to you to, sunshine." Came the wry reply and Faal groaned and pulled the pillow over his head.   "What do you want, Estehl?"   "Is that any way to address your prince? I should have you flogged."   "What do you want, your highness?" Faal returned, adding the emphases to the title, but not changing the tired slightly irritated tone to his voice.   "My... you are in a mood this morning, aren't you?" the voice asked almost cheerfully and Faal sighed, flinging the pillow across the room, wincing as he accidentally pulled some of his hair.   "Estehl..."   The was a sigh on the other end. "Ah... dreams again? What is this time ... goblins? Teliveer?.... your mystery girl...?"   Faal sighed and did something he'd never done before.   He hung up the phone.   It took a full five minutes for Estehl to recover from his shock at the unexpected move and call back. Faal had made it all the way to the kitchen and put the kettle on when the phone rang once then stopped, and even though he never answered it, he knew it was Estehl.   Just as he knew the knock on the front door a moment later was Estehl. He sighed again as he unlocked and opened the door, not caring that he was dressed in nothing but burgundy satin pajamas, his feet stil bare. He waved his visitor inside accepting the curious look he received with a tired smirk.   "You hung up on me." Estehl stated simply as he tossed his coat over the back of the nearest chair. "You're lucky I didn't send Jasmine after you for that."   Faal was already headed back into the kitchen as he pulled his waist length hair back over his shoulder and braided it far enough to keep it out of the way. "Kettle's on.. I suppose you'd like some tea?"   Estehl followed curious at his friends strange mood. "Ahh... it WAS the mystery girl... " he said softly as he pulled out a chair and sat down. "Tea would be nice, thank you." Faal snorted softly as he took down the cups and readied the pot. "Since you're obviously not going to leave well enough alone, yes. I've been having the dreams again, and yes they're mostly about her. Now, why did you call?"   "It's been awhile... I was curious as to how you were doing." Estehl answered as he selected an apple fomr the bowl on the table and proceeded to shine it on his pant leg. "So... was it the same, than? The stream in the forest then the halls with the beating wings?"   Faal plucked the boiling kettle from it's spot and filled the tea pot, before moving everything to the table. "Yes." he answered simply, not bothering to mention that there'd been a bit more to it this time. Clarice's part in it still had him baffled, but already the dream was starting to fade, leaving only impressions.   And the feeling of needing to be somewhere.   "I'm fine thank you... business is doing well. I'm currently doing some work for Clarice, helping her find a new base of operations."   Estehl raised an eyebrow. "Taking a bit long, with that, aren't you? It's been over a month now..." he asked softly and accepted his cup. "One would think it would be an easier task if you were there with her...."   Faal stirred his tea idly, watching it swirl around his spoon. "Hmm. I have a place, actually.... but she'll kill me if I don't offer her .. options. I've been debating on the best way to go about it..."   Estehl snorted softly, his eyes sparkling as he sipped his tea. "I'm surprised you're not there already. I know how strongly you feel about her."   Faal looked up at that and snorted, smirking softly. "It's not like that and you know it. It never was."   Estehl smirked into his cup. "Hmmmm ... I used to wonder why it wasn't. The two of you were close enough at one time. And you both obviously still retain ... feelings... for each other. Of course, now that I've actually met her.. I understand. "   Faal leaned back in his seat and eyed his friend curiously at that. "Oh really? You've fought one battle at her side and spoken with her a few times since.... and you know her well enough to make that assumption? Oh.. I HAVE to hear this.. please... tell me why Clarice and myself aren't romantically involved."   "She's too strong. Too independant. You need a more... fragile woman. Someone who needs you to look after her. Someone..." Estehl said with a bigger smirk that he hid in his cup again. "..like your mystery girl.."   Faal snorted, but was smirking softly in reply. "Don't quit your day job, highness. Psycology isn't your strong point." he said simply. "The problem with your theory is that you didn't know her before. Back then she was just the type you described. The simple truth, Estehl, is that it's just not like that. I can't offer any particular reason... We were lovers for a time, yes ... but..." he shrugged lightly. "I don't know. I've grown to see her more as a best friend or even a sister... yes.. I suppose more as a sister." he sighed into his cup, the odd dream still at the edge of his mind. "So why are you really here?" he asked again.   Estehl snorted and bit into the apple. He crunched in peace for a while, watching Faal sip his tea and ignore him. "Are you seeing her outside your dream, yet?" Faal turned a glare on him. "I told you that in strictest confidence, Estehl... all of this... I'd better never hear Jasmine mention any of it..."   Estehl snorted, grinning. "Shut up and answer the question... although I'm rather betting your mood has already answered it for me. You are, aren't you? Your dream girl is once again haunting your waking hours as well..." he shook his head softly. "This is serious, Faal... you need to find out what this really is. Dreams don't act that way... the last time this happened was over a month ago..."   Faal glanced up at the way Estehl's voice faded off and caught a curiously thoughtful expression on his face. "What?" he asked suspiciously. "I know that look... you've just thought of something that you think has some baring on me or my dreams..." He sat back in his chair and sighed, glaring out the window across from him above the sink. "Something that will lead me into no amount of trouble and be a source of endless amusement to yourself, if things follow their usual course." he added then leaned his head to the side and shot him a look. "No thank you. This time.. I choose to pass." he said and finished his tea, setting his cup down and pushed himself to his feet. "Now if you'll excuse me.. I have travel plans to make."   Estehl raised an eyebrow."Oh really? Do you have a new flame stashed away somewhere that you're rushing off to meet for something specail?"   Faal turned back with curious look. "Pardon? Why would you think that?" Estehl laughed softly at the look on Faal's face as he finished his own tea and stood. "Because of tomorrow, my dear Faal. Valentine's Day...?"   Faal sighed and rolled his eyes. "No... I'm not running off to some secret tryst. It has nothing to do with Valentine's Day... I actually forgot about it being tomotrow. I've decided to go to Massecheusetts and get Clarice and her people set up in their new building."   Estehl chuckled softly as he let Faal escort him back to the door and accepted his coat. "I thought you were still deciding how to give her the building and survive the giving?"   Faal shrugged lightly as he opened the door. "I have a few other building that I've found listings for... I'll arrange to view them and then provide her with a report on all of them so she can choose for herself."   Estehl shook his head slightly. "And you'll just make sure that your building is the best one so she'll be sure to choose it? Careful, Faal... you've been spending too much time with our Jasmine... you're starting to think like her..."   Faal riased an eyebrow, biting back the smirk at his comment. "Thank you for stopping in, Estehl. Even if you never did tell me the real reason... I'm sure I'll find out eventually... no doubt Jasmine sent you and you don't know either..."   The look on Estehl's face was answer enough and Faal chuckled softly. "Thought so... give my love to the interferring little snoop, will you? Oh.. but don't tell her I said it that way..."   Estehl merely chuckled softly as he stepped outside and looked around. "You know... I'll never understand why we perfer Scotland when most of the others perfer Ireland..."   Faal snorted. "Maybe we perfer Scotland BECAUSE most of the others perfer Ireland..."   Estehl; laughed at that and gave a short salute as a rift opened beside him. "True enough... as you were , guardsman.." he said and slipped through, leaving Faal standing on his doorstep shaking his head softly.   "Royal pain in the ass." he muttered softly, but with a smile as he shut the door and went to get dressed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw an image of the red haired girl walking past the window, but knew it just another ghost of her.   One day he was going to find out the truth about her and why she haunted him. But in the mean time... he had things to do.. and old friends to see. Perhaps he should call ahead and have the house readied for him. Scotland held too many ghosts at the moment.. a change of scenery might be just what he needed.....
        He watched her as she sat on the rock, the green dress rippling around her, the curly red hair blowing across her face. He sighed softly as he watched, the familiar need to see her clearly over coming him and he started towards her. The wind suddenly kicked up, causing him to stumble. When he looked back up... "Lex?" The red head sitting on the rock turned to look at him and smiled shyly, blushing. The long curly red hair wasn't as long, or curly or a rich a red... and the long dark green gown was gone, replaced by black pin stripe dress slacks and a cream turtle neck... but... it was her.. him.. "Lex?" he asked again as he took a step closer. The wind buffeted him, the same as always, but this time he managed to get a bit closer. The vibrant green eyes smiled shyly at him, the delicate black tear drops on his cheeks standing out in stark detail against his pale skin. The sudden rightness of it hit him suddenly and he knew.... knew without a doubt that the woman he'd been dreaming of all these years....
... was Lex... "But... Lex..." he said softly, puzzled despite the rightness of it. "How can you be her?" A sudden gust of wind slammed him to the ground and when struggled back to his feet, Lex was across the stream, and moving away. "Wait!! Lex!!" he called, and the wind stole his words so they never reached him. He stood for a moment, fight the wind as he watched the slight figure grow distant. "How...?" he said softly to himself. "You're a boy?" The shadow appeared over him and he stood, sword in hand. When the scream came, it was Lex's voice and his heart cried out at the sound of it. He fought against the wind to run after him, the sound of the wind changing to the sound of wings as the walls suddenly surrounded him. Lex ran past up a head and the shadow was close behind. "LEX!!" Faal yelled as he burst into the hall and found the dead end. "NO! LEX!! LEXINE!!" he yelled, and the sound of Lex's scream echoed back to him. "NO!! LEAVE HIM BE!! LEX IS MINE DAMN YOU!!" The silence hit him like a wall as the hall vanished and he was i the cavern.. the menacing voice chuckling as it threw his words back at him. "Lex is MINE." it said with a throaty chuckle. "She's mine.." Faal stumble at that change... wasn't it supposed to repeat his words to him? Yes.. something wasn't right... the dream was changing again.... He turned to look for the cloaked figure.. there was a cloaked figure , he remembered... The sudden sound of wings was deafening as they attacked him, knocking him to the ground. The sword flew from his hand and he tried to shield his face from the blows. The beating stopped just as suddenly as it started and Faal found himself crouched on stone, oddly warm to the touch. He felt a warm breeze against his skin and he opened his eyes to the warm flicker of fire light. At the center of the cavern blazed a column of fire and he walked slowly closer. When the heat grew too much he stopped and watched the fire flicker and shimmer, changing shape within the column. The winged form of a bird dissolved and became a woman, and the woman looked out at him with Lex's eyes. "She's yours." a soft voice whispered from the flames. "She's yours." a soft voice whispered form behind him, and he turned to see Clarice in the black cloak, her white hair spilling out from the hood. "Don't let her go." "Clarice... " he said and took a step towards her. "Choose, Dom." she said softly."Choose and sacrifice." Faal frowned and took another step."Choose what? I don't understand... Sacrifice what?" There was a blaze of heat from behind him and he spun to see the column of flame blaze up out of control and suddenly vanish, leaving a pillar of cold black stone in it's place... the blackness spreading outward quickly. He backed up only to find Clarice vanished and himself alone in the cavern with the steadily growing darkness. He felt his chest grow tight in dread and he called out the first name that he thought of. "LEX!" "Choose." Faal opened his eyes and found a spark floating in the darkness. "Choose what? I don;t understand!" "Choose." the soft whisper repeated. "the fire or the flame?" Faal frowned as the second whisper sent off echoes all around him. "That doesn't make any sense! What do you mean?!" The whispers were suddenly gone and Faal watched the spark suddenly bloom into a bird of fire... and at it's heart was a woman. He shielded his eyes from as he watched the figure grow closer within the flames and suddenly it shifted just enough... "Lex.." he breathed softly and reached out a hand... The sudden leaping of flames seperated them and Faal didn't think... he lept through the fire to grab Lex. As the heat of the fire closed over him, he heard a soft whispering laugh... "she's yours..."
The sudden sound of the phone jerked him awake and he bit back a startled yell. He looked around the room for a moment, not sure where he was. The fire from his dream so real he had to feel himself to make sure he wasn't burnt.
The phone rang again and he flopped back down against the pillow, the trip to Massecheusetts coming back to him. He growled at the thrid ring and reached out for it. "Estehl.. this had better not be you." A moment of silence followed by a soft wry chuckle. "Now that's an interesting way to say hello." Faal gritted his teeth and stared at the ceilign, trying desperately to hold onto the remains of the dream as it started to slip away. "I'm hanging up on you now. And I'm not answering the door this time." he said simply and slammed the phone down. He closed his eyes trying to recall the feel of the dream... the sight of Lex in the flames... He reached over and picked the phone up and left it off the hook. The dream was gone, but oddly enough the usual.. melencholy that followed wasn't present. If anything, he felt... energized. He'd seen her... the woman in his dreams.. after twenty three years of being haunted by her.. he'd finally seen her... "Lex." he said softly and smiled. "I found you." There was a sudden thud and bang from down stair followed by a muffled curse and Faal groaned, pulling the pillow over his face. Gripping it firmly he screamed into the soft down. Sitting up he threw the pillow at the door just as it opened. "Does the term ' break and enter' mean anything to you? How about 'unlawful entry'?" Estehl raised an eyebrow. "How about 'drawn and quartered'?" he replied calmly, ignoring Faal's glare. Faal grunted and stood up, jabbing a finger at the crown prince as he passed by. "I've got a better one.. how about 'pussy whipped' ?" Estehl raised an eyebrow and followed him into the hall. "My my... such language. The mortal realm is having a bad influence on you. Maybe I should toss you in a dungeon back home for a while..." "Will Jasmine or yourself be there?" Faal asked as he slipped into the bathroom and closed the door in Estehl's face. Estehl crossed his arms and turned his back on the door, leaning against it. "No." "Then I might consider it. It would certainly be more peaceful." Faal said as he reopened the door and let Estehl stumble slightly. "My but you're rude this morning. More so then yesterday." Estehl said, frowning as he followed after Faal again. "May I ask why?" "No." "May I ask where we're going?" "The library." Estehl followed in silence for a few steps before heaving a sigh. "May I ask.." "To get a book, Estehl.. and no you may not ask why." Faal snapped as he entered the room and headed straight for the shelf he wanted. A moment later he had the signed First edition of The Club Dumas in his hand and was headed for the phone. Estehl followed grimly along after him, his irritation at Faal brusque manner growing. "Faal..." Faal raised an hand to silence him as he dialed the phone and Estehl raised an eyebrow. With a huff, he sat donw and crossed his arms, waiting for him to finish. "Yes... I need a courier please." he said simply giving the address. "thank you." He hung up the phone and vanished through a rift, leaving Estehl sitting in the library. A moment later he returned barely a long stemed rose and a glittery gift bag into which he stuck the book and the rose, then opened the desk and pulled out some stationary. He quickly penned a note, folded it into a card and stuck it insid with the book. "Finished?" Estehl asked softly as Faal headed towards the front door. "Go home, Estehl... I don;t care to visit right now...i'm busy. Go fill Jasmines head with my sending off a Valentine's gift to someone... I'm sure it will keep her occupied for a while." Estehl snorted but stood and followed him into the hall. "I don;t think I like this new you. Get rid of him and call me when you're your old self again." he said with a smirk.
Faal heard the rift open as he saw the courier pull up outside and hurried out in his pajamas to meet him, handing over the bag and the address. As he headed back inside, he was smiling, Estehl and Jasmine forgotten for the moment. He watched the courier pull away form the curb. "Found you at last." he said softly, smiling to himself. "And I wont let you go..."