Disclaimer: As always, everything belongs to LJS.
"I've missed you, Julian," Jenny said quietly as they walked together along the outer walls of the house. Julian looked at her, stopped checking the strength of his shields. His eyes were tender, and Jenny felt cared for, adored - something she hadn't felt in a long while. She sighed, for with the joy came the pain that Tom had left her with.
"What is it?" Asked Julian, his voice no longer as inhuman, but still musical, American accented with something underneath - the Icelandic childhood, Jenny guessed. She gazed at him, his eyes worried and gave a weak smile.
"Nothing." What a lie. Julian took her hand, their soulmate bond flickered into life, a steady stream of emotion that flowed thru from one to the other, and Jenny winced, knowing that here was one person she couldn't lie to.
What's wrong, Jenny? Tell me, so I can make it better. Please? Feeling the earnest mindvoice, she wavered, looking into his mind. She was startled as he opened to her completely. She felt the myriad mosaic of colour there, darkened in patches that, as she touched them, she found to be his memories of his past life. They weren't complete, tho seeing people he had met then - such as Theorn - had reawakened some. But those that involved Jenny were complete. She marvelled at how much he had protected her, cared for her. It was one thing to be told it, another entirely to feel it. It had been so strange for him, these tender, loving feelings in the midst of a dark soul. But, she saw, he had been seen as strange by his fellow shadow men - as one of them had said, 'ah, youth'. They assumed he would become as evil as them with time, but Jenny doubted it. The time he had met this Theorn - a white blond with endlessly sad eyes, he had tried to help him with his soulmate...
Han-Ahkt, Hannah. That was her life in the Egyptian period. She was first born tens of thousands of years ago, with Theorn. That's when he discovered they were soulmates. When she was dying. Jenny felt so terrible for him, realised this was why he had that look in his eyes. Yes, agreed Julian. And she kept on dying thru the years, killed before her seventeenth birthday by Maya, the first vampire, who wants Theron all to herself. Jenny felt there was something he wasn't telling her, but didn't push the issue. It was no doubt of little importance. She gazed in his mind again, came across the memory of how his rebirth came about. Julian joined her, reliving the memory.
Blackness. Nothingness. Then... Something. Light, sound, cold. Cold. That was something he'd never felt before and it scared him. Opening his eyes, he stared. Odin, dressed in dark clothes and wide brimmed hat that covered his scarred face, sat before him on a throne made of the blessed ash. He was in Asgard! The wonderful world of the gods where his kind where forbidden. The room was enormous, so large some of the many people that filled it were too far away to recognise. On the walls were inserted eight windows, each showing a world of Norse mythology. Wooden chandiliers and cndles provided the rest of the light. The other gods, representatives from each of the worlds and far more besides sat around the massive hall. Odin's wife Frigg, sat beside him, his sons, Thor, Balder, Freya, Loki all sat around, sharing space with giants and dwarves, elves, even shadow men. Looking around, he recognised gods and goddesses from other Pantheon's - Athene, Apollo, Kali and Shiva, Buddha, Cerridwen, Isis and Osiris, Lord Khrishna and Jesus Christ - they were all there in their splendour, and awe and respect filled him.
"Stand," Odin commanded, and his voice echoed, as though all aspects of him from different cultures spoke with him. Julian/Jenny did as they were told, shaking and terrified. "You gave your life for love. As an inhabitant of Niflheim, this is indeed a great acheivement, for your kind is meant for cruelty and evil." Giving a wicked, crafty smile, Odin added; "I'm impressed, boy."
Frigg nodded beside him, her smile all beauty and radiance. As goddess of love, she was the one who had blessed him. He bowed deeply before her, but she merely laughed and waved her hand dismissively. "There is no need for that; while I gave you the chance for love, the chance has been given to your kind before. Yet none had the capability for it. You are special and unique."
"Which is why we have brought you back, to give you a second chance." Odin's voice was deep and resonant, the way he looked so solemn unnerving. "Of course, you cannot be what you once were. The part of your self that was shadow man belongs to them." The last word was spat with bitter disgust as he pointed with a nod of his head at the Niflheim representative who glowered at Odin. "But we can do other things."
Thor frowned, and spoke. "Surely the small creature shouldst not be allowed to forget his sins."
Odin nodded. "No. He shall remember. And be made to pay for them in a small way. And he should worship us, too."
Frigga wound a corn-blonde lock around her finger and surveyed Julian, thinking about what her husband and his son had said. "He will be a lamia-witch," she proclaimed, getting a nod of agreement from Odin.
"My thoughts precisely. He has a place in the battle on Midgard, an important part to play in the turning of eras. But, we have yet to ask permission," he muttered with a frown, turning to one of the windows thru which the Earth hung in the sky like a blue-green jewel. A golden light appeared over Africa, got larger and brighter as it came closer. It coalesed into human form, into a beautiful woman, the most beautiful thing Julian had ever seen. He got down on his knees and bowed before her. Odin stood, gave a polite and respectful greeting.
"Greetings and thanks to thee, Gaia. You have heard our discourse." She nodded, her smile radiating love and joy. "Will you accept this creature onto your world?" Gaia nodded again, her long black curls bobbing as she turned to look at Julian and offered him a hand. Mesmerised, he took it, filled with joy and wonder.
That's amazing, Jenny whispered, felt his wholehearted agreement and awe, both at the reliving of the experience and at her easy acceptal of it. With everything else she had seen, especially today, this was just another thing to add to the list, though at least this was an amazing thing, someting she could carry around and remember with wonder.
And you. Will you tell me what happened? Why are you so hurt, Jenny? She felt his genuine worry, his almost desperate need to help her, and felt she had to tell him. After all, he had just shared something deeply intimate with her, and perhaps he could help her.
Alright, she whispered. Take a look. She couldn't explain in words, it caused her too much pain. They merged again, and Jenny felt completely at home, and was glad of his stregth as she mentally leant into his embrace, against the pain of memory.
Audrey had told Jenny there was something she needed to see at lunchtime. She'd wanted to catch up on the computer studies she'd missed while she'd been ill for the last week, but it seemed it was urgent. In a white pair of Armani trousers and a stylish black top, it was easy to spot Audrey even in the crowded locker corridor. Staying silent, knowing it was pointless to speak in the noisy hall, Audrey led her outside, then kept walking.
"Where are we going, Audrey?" Asked Jenny, impatiance colouring her voice. "I have work to do."
"It's important, Sunshine," Dee's voice came from the top of the stairs the two girls were climbing.
Jenny's eyes narrowed, looking from one girl to the other. Tall, athletic Dee Eliade, and nemesis Audrey Myers, designer freak. They hated each other. Why would the two of them be working together? She asked them as much. A look passed between the two, a guarded look that confused Jenny even more. With Audrey on one arm, Dee took the other and guided her towards the cospe of tree's on the edge of the school car park. A horrible feeling started in Jenny's gut, started climbing up her throat. Why were the two girls being so secretive? What could be so important to get the two to work together? She ignored the rising terror, determined not to get worried until she found out what they were up to.
Hr heart stopped as she saw. Tom. Her boyfriend, her love, her heart. With Ruby Branson. Kissing her. Ruby Branson, leader of the cheerleading squad, competitor with Audrey for best dressed girl in school and loosing, every time. A bitch. And Tom... Jenny felt a tear roll down her face, felt her heart clenched in a grip of pain.
"We're sorry, Sunshine. We thought you needed to see this yourself." Jenny looked away from the pity in Dee's eyes, not being able to stand it.
"And before you start getting any ideas of forgiving him, he's been with Mina, as well." Jenny felt her heart break, tears falling silently. "I'm sorry, ma cherie, I know it's harsh, but you deserve far better. We told you as soon as we found out." Jenny turned, unable to stand the sight of her boyfriend - ex-boyfriend - any longer. She ran into the restrooms, her friends following her. She cried, them holding her, then sniffed, the pain abating. Looking in the mirror as she fixed her makeup, she looked at the reflections of her friends.
"He told me, you know. 'Tommy's too good for you'."
Dee and Audrey exchanged worried glances at Jenny's reference to Julian, but then Audrey nodded, a grim smile on her face.
"How right he was," she muttered. Jenny played with the ring on the ring finger of her right hand. The ring Julian had given her. "Cherie, I'm sorry." The look on her face was sincere, and Jenny accepted it.
"I always thought he loved me, you know." She glanced at them in the mirror. "How long's it been going on?"
Another exchange. "Almost three years," Dee's voice was quiet yet full of anger. Jenny spun around and stared at her friend in horror.
"You mean..." Her voice trailed off as she thought about what it meant. That when Julian had come for her, Tom had already been cheating on her. Julian who she had loved at least as much as Tom, who had died for them. Julian who truly had loved her, his first and only. Feeling the tears fall again, Jenny wiped at them angrily. At least they weren't for that bastard this time. They were for someone who cared about her. "Why is it that when I find someone I care about, they leave me?" She whispered, and Audrey squeezed her arm. Dee merely raised her eyebrows.
"Men are scum," she said, her well repeated maxim - Jenny was beginning to see the truth in it.
Audrey flashed a look at her. "Even Jeff?" She asked, voice all sweetness and light as she talked about the kung-fu champion Dee had a crush on. She didn't answer, merely glared at her. Audrey smiled, triumphant, and turned back to Jenny. "Not all men are scum."
"No," Jenny agreed, her smile bitter. "But then they die."
Audrey's eyebrows raised, then her eyes lit up in understanding. Not, however, the horror Jenny had expected. "He'd changed, at the end, hadn't he?"
"Yes." Jenny's voice was a whisper as she remembered with aching heart what had happened that day, when Julian had given his life so she might live. "He had changed. I loved him." Her smile grew bitter again. "And he loved me, at least." She looked at herself in the mirror again, and shook her head. "I think I'll go home. I'm not going to let him see me like this."
Nodding, Dee got her car keys out. "Okay, Jen. I'll drive you."
Giving a thankful smile and hug to her friends, Jenny left with Dee after making arangements for them both to come around at the weekend.
When she got home, Jenny cried herself to sleep, both over Tom's betrayel and her own loss in Julian.
I don't beleive he did that. Julian's voice was incredulous.
You didn't know he was doing it? Asked Jenny, an unbeleiving note in her voice.
Yes, admitted Julian, But when I agreed to give myself for you, I thought he would see what he had. Would stop it. I can't beleive he didn't. There was anger in that voice now, and Jenny understood it well, it was hers as much as his. If I ever see him, I'm gonna-
Don't, whispered Jenny. I want you here, with me, for me.
Julian looked into her eyes, his own a startling dark colour. "I will be here for you, forever," he whispered, his lips coming down on hers. She accepted them willingly, and marvelled at both his skill and the amazing difference the soulmate link made. She no longer felt bored or annoyed or any of the other things she'd felt with Tom lately. She felt wild and loved and beautiful. But most important of all, she felt Julian. They were one.