It was colder inside the aircraft, now that they were thousands of feet in the air. Jenny folded her arms around herself. It was strange and scary how he’d stepped out from her dreams and into the world like this. Part of her felt safe and comfortable with him, even crazily attracted to him, but she didn’t know if she could trust that part. He seemed dangerous, with all his knowledge of the past.
And even if he’d been good to her twenty-five centuries ago, she didn’t know anything about what kind of person he’d become since then.
“How did you know to come protect me tonight?” she asked.
“I came to Fallen Oak to find you, but I then saw the fear-giver in town, and spied on him.” Alexander paused a moment, as if thinking something over. “He’s in league with my opposite, Esmeralda.”
“What’s the opposite of making zombies?”
He laughed. “She can only listen to the dead. I command them.”
“Why aren’t you interested in her? If she’s your opposite?”
“For one thing, she always hates me,” Alexander said. “She’s a part of their faction.”
“What faction?”
“The love-charmer, the fear-giver,” Alexander said. “Your enemies and mine. I came here for you only, Jenny. I have no interest in her.”
“Is anybody else on our side?” Jenny asked. “And what are the sides, anyway? Why do we have to fight?”
“We’ve always fought,” Alexander said. “That’s why we need to be together now, while you’re in danger. Your power and mine will be at their peak, if we need them.”
“I don’t ever want to use mine again,” Jenny said. “I can’t do any good for anyone. I’m just a monster.”
“You’re my beautiful monster.” Alexander gave her a smile. His eyes reflected the stars and the black night sky. “And I love you for what you are.”
Jenny looked deep into the night, into the vast darkness of the unknown.
THE END