Title: The Choice

By: Senna Night

Rating: PG 13

Spoilers: All the books through The Kill (book 3) of The Forbidden Game by Lisa Jane Smith.

Disclaimer: They're mine, I tell ya. Mine!!! (Yeah, right...who the hell am I kidding?) All the characters you recognize belong to the great LJ Smith. If you don't recognize them, then they are mine. Hehe. You can borrow them if you ask me. No money is being made off of this. Damn. This is strictly for entertainment purposes only. Damn that, too. LOL!

Comments: Cussing, violence, cuddling, but no sex. Hell, I'm not writing a sex fic. If you have a problem with that, kiss my ass. Any other questions?

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Chapter 1 - Jenny

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"Julian," I spoke softly. My eyes looked around for any sign of him. It was a bright and sunny day. It's always like this in my dreams. Bright and sunny, exactly how Julian wanted it to be. I was sitting on the dark green grass in a park alone...waiting for him. Sometimes Julian showed up, sometimes not. I waited anyways.

It's been one year exactly since Julian died, saving my life fighting against the other Shadow Men. He was the youngest of them all. But yet, he stood up to them and protected me. When they carved out his name from the runestave, it was like they ripped out his heart. When he died, it felt like they had ripped out my heart, along with Julian's. I loved him. I admit it. There was a part of me that grew to like him. He may have acted like he was the big bad wolf, but deep down, I knew there was good in him. I knew it when he saved me from the waters in the cave. The other Shadow Men tried to drown me, without Julian knowing. When he saved me, I knew that it wasn't him that tried to kill me, even if I made him angry before. When I awoke and heard Julian saying my name over and over hoping I was still alive, something inside of me just knew that he loved me and I loved him. I couldn't help it. I've always loved Tom, and still do. A part of my heart also loves Julian. I just wonder, who has won the prevalent piece of my heart.

Strong, warm arms wrapped around my waist. I turned my head slowly to face him. My lips curled into a soft smile. Julian smiled back, a mirroring image of mine. "Miss me?" he asked.

I laughed softly. "Of course," I responded, before our lips moved closer. It was a deep avid kiss that lasted just short of eternity. When we broke the kiss, he sat down beside me. I rested my head on his chest and breathe in the scent of him. He was wearing cologne. I had no idea which type it was, all I knew was I liked it. I smiled, even more, at the thought.

 

"Have you decided which college you're going to, yet?" he asked, resting his chin on the top of my head. College. I could stay here with the rest of my friends, and, my boyfriend, Tom. Or I could go somewhere else, and start a new beginning, a new beginning from my life here. But, which choice would make me happier?

"I haven't really decided yet," I sighed, "I'm not sure if can leave my friends behind, I just don't know if I can…"

"Leave Tom behind…" he spoke softly, trying to hide the hurt in his voice. I nodded.

"I've still got a month till I have to decide," I considered to myself. I took his left hand and gently squeezed it, silently telling Julian 'I can get through this'.

"I know, my love, I know."

 

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Julian

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"Julian, arise!" A sound. A voice. A word. I blinked. My eyes opened and I quickly threw my hands over my eyes. It was bright, very bright, and almost too bright. "Nice of you to come back, Julian," a soft voice spoke. The voice sounded so beautiful… so magical. Just like…

"Karina," the name flowed from my lips. There was fear behind my words, but hardly noticeable, to most. "Where are you?" My eyes were now fully adjusted to the harsh white light. I could see no sign of anyone, but some Shadow Men can hide better than the others. So, I was always careful, just like how I was taught to be.

Karina. I almost smiled as the memories of her and I came to mind. I remembered how her hair felt when I ran my hand through the stands of hair. She had natural brown and black hair. It looked black from a distance, but closer you came near Karina, you could see some brown mixed in. Her eyes were a beautiful hazel. I could have spent eternity looking into her eyes, until I meant Jenny.

A whisper, "Julian." I couldn't tell where she was. Wherever I am, anything said is like an echo. You just can't tell where it started, or where it ends. Damn. I sat up. My eyes searched for an exit. Nothing. Great. Then her two arms wrapped around my waist, slowly. It was almost like she was cautious.

I never moved. When both of her arms stopped, I still didn't move. The silence was deafening. "Julian," she said. Karina was being too cautious. She's never like this. "Aren't you glad to see me?" Should I be?

I paused. What should I say? "How long have I been gone?" I asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer.

"Too long, in my opinion," I turned my head towards her face. Our faces were only inches apart. "You haven't answered my question… Aren't you glad to see me?"

She's not going to give up. "Yes." Well, I was glad to see her. It's been, what, years perhaps from the last time I've seen her. I think. "Now what about my question."

"It's only been a few months since the Shadow Men carved your name out of the runestave. To be exact, it's been 8 months," she paused, "Why did they carve your name out, Julian?" I couldn't tell Karina the truth.

"Karina, I just can't tell you right now."

"Fine, then answer this for me… It's been 12 years since that stupid little girl broke her grandfather's spell and released you. Why haven't you tried to find me since then?"

It hurt me to hear Karina call Jenny a 'stupid little girl', if she only knew. "I tried, mon feu," I lied, " When I hadn't heard a response from you, I thought you found someone else and chose him over me," I looked down, making the lie seem real, "I gave up thinking those words over and over again." I forced my eyes to look depressed with a tint of sadness. I looked into Karina's eyes. My best acting skills was at 100%. I sighed. If she sees through this lie, then Jenny's in trouble.

"Oh, Julian, I'd never leave you for anyone else," a tear trickled down her cheek, "Ever." A happy smile appeared on my lips. Jenny is safe. "I can arrange the wedding within a month."

"Wedding?" I asked in disbelief.

She grimed. "Of course, don't you remember? You proposed to me three days before you were captured." My heart started to beat faster and faster. Oh, shit, I forgot all about the proposal.

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End Chapter 1

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A/N: So, how is it? Bad, horrible, disgustingly horrid, just-throw-it-away bad or do you actually like it, love it, or even cherish it? Any comments are welcomed, except flames. Just because I'm a witch, or was it bitch?, doesn't mean you have to burn me to a crisp. I can just hear someone saying, "Burn, baby, burn." Laurel? Was that you? Or how about you Liz? Maybe it's my next-door neighbors. They never really liked me… *looks around cautiously*