And The Raven Never Flitting

A/N: Oh my. No, I don't believe there will be any lemon in this story. Maybe. We'll just have to see how it plays out.

Chapter Two: Object of Nightmares

"I know it'se
Ie
I shouldn't call at this hour
But it's my fate
I need lips to devour."
Conjure One, "Sleep"

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Julianne shoved him away, and surprisingly, he let her do so. She cast a frightened look between him, her mother, and the stars. Choosing the latter of the three, she darted up them, slamming behind her the bedroom door. Glancing around, she looked for something -Anything- that could save her from the demon she was faced with now.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are.." Legato called in a sing song voice. How could he be so happy! While she sat fuming on the floor, her sadness and fear melted away into something else, something..

A white-hot rage exploded in her, and she climbed slowly to her feet. She scowled at the door as it opened, revealing the tall frame of that beast, a smirk resting on that unnaturally pale face. Julianne's breathing was hitched, her eyes unfocused and her nostrils flared, resembling a predator that had just caught the scent of it's prey.

"Aww..is the little witch upset?" He added in that cruel tone.

Julianne's eyes flashed. Gold, for a moment, but it wasn't missed by Legato. He growled at her, and muttered something beneath his breath. There was a tingling sensation running down Julianne's arms and back. Her own growl was heard, growing quickly into a feral cry, her body enveloped in a bright yellow light, energy pulsing around her.

"Stop it! Stop it now!" Legato yelled, reaching out to grab her arm. He was thrown back by an invisible force, landing harshly on the floor. When he had pushed himself back into standing, Julianne stood before him. The yellow light was gone, and she looked weary, her legs threatening to give out on her. When she spoke again, her voice was weak and hoarse.

"Get..out.."

Her eyes rolled back in her head, her body falling limp to the floor in a heap of pale skin and fragrant red curls. Legato stepped forward, a pensive look coming across his features as he brushed a few ringlets away from her face. Scooping his arms beneath her, he lifted her up as though she weighed no more than a dead leaf, and glancing around, he set her on the bed in the corner of the room.

Turning, he examined his surroundings. Against one wall sat a piano, atop of whice were a few photographs and various trinkets. Beneath the window was a dresser, and the floor was bare and wooden except for a rug in the center of the room. Legato ran his fingers along the ivory keys of the piano, sharp eyes glancing at the music before him. He disregarded it as he seated himself on the bench, and closed his eyes.

And he began to play.

It was a horribly melancholy tune, old and haunting, the chords filtering out softly. His fingers moved with the elegance and skill that only the most seasoned players possessed, leaving the listener with distinct impression of heart break and despair. Unnaturally green eyes opened only when the last chord had faded into silent, bloody tears cascading down those white cheeks like rose petals on snow.

Snow.

A five year old Julianne.

"Julie, dear, I want to tell you a story.." he grandmother had said, wise blue eyes watching her as she climbed onto thp ofp of the little old lady.

"A story, Gran?" She spoke with skepticism, narrowing her eyes.

"Aye. A story. Now, once upon a time there was an evil prince, whose name we do not speak. He was a creature of the night --"

"Like a vampire, Gran?"

"Exactly like a vampire. Now the evil prince fell in love with a beautiful lady named Lilliana. But when she found out he was evil, do you know what she did?"

"What did she do, Gran?" the child squirmed on the old lady's lap with the impatience of childhood.

"She banished him. Never to return to our world again."

"Is there a way to bring him back?" The old lady known as Gran stood, taking her granddaughter into her arms. "I hope not, dearest..

I hope not."

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"Gran!" Cried Julianne, sitting up with a start, her breathing coming in short, soft pants. Tears welled up in her eyes as she buried her face within her hands, sobs shaking her lithe frame as she whispered, "Oh God. I'm so sorry, Gran..I'm so sorry.."

"I see you're awake.." Legato said, frowing when she didn't even flinch at the sound of his voice. He crossed the room slowly, arms folding across his chest as he studied her. She did, indeed, look much like Lilliana. Except for the eyes. Lilli, as he had affectionately called her, had brown eyes, while this one had eyes of emerald green. Eyes that held a wealth of understanding and knowledge beyond her years. "Come, now..it isn't the end of the world. Well, it may be. But not just yet, anyway."

"Not only are you seriously grating on my nerves, monster, but the amount of tact in this conversation is greatly lacking." Growled Julianne, not even bothering to look at him as she rolled over onto her side. "Now, I would like you to leave, so that I might mourn my mother's death, and the future death of the world in peace. After all, it is my fault."

"..your fault?" He whispered, sounding shocked. Had one of Lilliana's descendants purposefully released him from centuries of sleep? Julianne sat up, facing him wtih those tear-streaked features. She cocked her head to the side, and sniffled slightly.

"Yes, my fault. The attic door was open. It was never open before. Nobody could get it open, even the most experienced locksmith. There was a chest in the corner, and I opened it. And sitting in it was this one piece of paper. It looked like poetry, so I read it outloud." She laughed harshly. It was slightly high pitched and nervous, with a slightly hysterical edge to it. "Had I known all that crap my mother practiced was true, I never would have been so hasty. Now I've just conjured a demon from the depths of hell, and I have no idea how to deal with it."

Legato stared at this girl, who couldn't have been more that seventeen or eighteen years old. Her lithe frame, her blouse stained with dried blood. And that red hair. Those crimson curls that fell down in soft curls and waves to spread around her head like a halo. He stared at this girl, who seemed to be slipping rapidly into madness before his very eyes.

"So..someone had written an incantation? To summon me back?"

"Isn't that what I just said?" She drawled, rolling back onto her side, facing away from him.

"Well, obviously somebody wanted me back."

"No, really?" She asked sarcastically.

"I suggest you rethink that tone of voice, my dear Julianne. I'm not one to forgive and forget." There was a long moment of silence before she spoke, and for a moment he thought she had fallen asleep.

"..My great aunt Emma. She was a bit mad. Quite obsessed with revenge on her sister, my grandmother. She probably wrote that incantation, but Gran got to her before she could recite it. Come to think of it, I have no clue exactly how Aunt Emma died." She mused, venturing completely off subject. She sounded a bit dazed. Shocked, even. Completely unaware of her surroundings.

"Dear Miss Julianne, while I would very much love to stay and chat about your dead relatives, I really must run. It is dark out," he motioned towards the darkened sky outside the window, "And I really must feed. You can imagine the appetite after four centuries, can you not?"

Julianne gasped, and sat up, meaning to stop him. But he was already gone.

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"Julianne.."

Someone whispered her name.

"Julianne, honey. Wake up."

"Papa?" The five year old Julianne looked up at her father, with his brown hair and his warm face. He smiled sadly down at her, stroking her cheek gently.

"Yes, Julie. It's me. I want you to have this, honey," said her father, and from his hand dropped a locket, dangling on a silver chain. He leaned down, and placed a kiss on her forehead as he pressed the piece of jewelry into her hand. "I'll always love you. Always. And I'll always watch over you."

"Always, Papa?"

"Always and forever. 'Til the end of time."

The present-day Julianne groaned, and rolled over, feeling exhausted and sore. She stared up at the ceiling for the longest time, contemplating the dream she had just had. Her father, with his kind heart and loving demeanor. She had never seen him again after that. Her mother told her that he had died. She flopped onto her stomach, and groaned into the pillow. It had been a week since she had accidentally summoned Legato. A week since she had last seen him. And today she had buried her mother.

"Julianne.." Said a familiar voice. She felt herself freeze, her eyes going wide. She closed her eyes tightly, pressing her lips together, until the voice said her name again. She sat up slowly, and faced the direction of the voice. There, sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, was her father. He was a ghastly shade of pale, his features no longer vibrantly full of life, yet still loving and warm. Julianne threw herself out of the bed, and ran over towards her father, embracing him tightly.

"Papa! Oh my God! It's really you!" She sobbed, burying her face into his shoulder. He was cold. So..cold. He wrapped his arms around her, petting her hair gently. He whispered to her soothingly, allowing her to sob into his arms. "Oh, Papa..I summoned him..I didn't mean to! He killed Mom! Gran tried to warn me when I was little!"

"Julie..Julie, please. Calm down. I was told by some..friends..that something big happened here. I need to know what it is. I need you to explain to me." He said, holding her out at arm's length. His daughter took a deep breath, and looked at him.

"Papa, please don't be angry with me." She unconciously clutched the locket around her neck, "But..the attic door finally came open last week, and when I went in, I found this piece of paper in a chest. I don't know what compelled me to read it out loud. But I did. And.. I.."

"What happened, sweetheart?"

"..I summoned Legato."

Julianne's father stiffened considerably at those words. She looked up at him, at the same bright green eyes that she had. He leaned down, and brushed his lips across her forehead. It was a light, cool kiss. He then stepped back, and looked at her.

"Darling, don't worry. You remember what I told you?"

"That you would always watch over me."

"Always and forever."

"Until the end of time."