Sighing deeply to himself, Edward rubs his face before staring up in the afternoon sky. His head feels like it has a thousand thoughts going through all at the same time since yesterday evening. The shower and small nap at Ripley's helped but it didn't remove the problem or make him feel any better. Ruffling his hair in frustration, he laid back on a decently sized tree stump he'd found halfway between the main campus castle and the spa.

"This is all wrong, how did it even come to this?" Edward groans as he covers his eyes.

"Feeling the lonely sting of betrayal, huh?" A female voice asks from beside Edward.

Sharply opening his eyes, Edward sits up to look behind him. Sitting cross-legged just to the left is Shadowfright playing with a coin.

"Who are you?" Edward asks raising an eyebrow towards the very goth-like woman.

"Nobody important, just leader of the Nightmare Force and your friendly neighbourhood shadow. Though, if names were important I'd encourage you to use Shadowfright." She hops off the stump to spin around and bow.

Edward fully turns to face the woman, even more confused and perplexed than before.

"Edward Meteor, what do you want?" He asks, crossing his legs.

Shadowfright grins and tilts her head slightly, still playing with the coin.

"A little insurance, a plan B, something to turn the tide when things get ugly. To be blunt and truthful because I can imagine your sick of lies, I'd like you to join us. Being recently freed, I'm not as strong as I was before. You can sit here avoiding the problem, sulking in the middle of nowhere surrounded by doubt and pain, or..." Shadowfright leans forward to flip up her coin into her fingers, "You can inflict it on those who wronged you... Why suffer alone, right?"

Edward thinks about it for several seconds, staring at the coin. Was revenge even the right path? Is it what he wants? Would he get another opportunity like this to make Alexander feel what he does?

"I suppose it's only right isn't it?" Edward takes a deep breath taking the coin.

"Excellent! Of course, there is a process etc and some paperwork but we'll get everything sorted..." Shadowfright snaps her fingers, glancing back at Edward with a wide sinister grin, "Let's see how far the rabbit hole goes..."

The surrounding area is slowly engulfed in darkness and Edward finds himself fixated on the silver coin he was given, somehow ignoring the encroaching abyss. Shadowfright chuckles to herself as she walks away, eventually laughing loudly at her secondary plan. The sudden clink of a coin hitting wood is heard from behind as Edward is nowhere to be seen, raising her hand the coin is recalled and pocketed by Shadowfright, earning her a much wider grin.

Alexander sighs as he walks through the forest, heading towards the spa passing the same stump Edward was on.

"Starlight, do you think he'll forgive me..?" Alexander asks, stopping just past the stump when he gets no reply.

Turning around, Alexander can see Shadowfright sitting on the tree stump with her legs crossed, playing with her coin.

"Hello there~" Shadowfright states with a wide grin.

"While I'd love nothing more than to make a reference of that opening... Who are you..?" Alexander asks frowning, "More importantly, where is Starlight?"

Shadowfright grabs her coin and jumps up, straightening her jacket.

"Taking a recurring walk through the same section of forest while we have this chat, oh don't worry she's perfectly safe." Shadowfright pops up beside Alexander making him raise an eyebrow, "...for now."

Alexander shrugs her away, looking more annoyed than he did before.

"So, what does the pasty white ass goth chick want?" Alexander states making Shadowfright sigh.

"You do need to learn some humour, that serious attitude won't do any good for your blood pressure." Shadowfright chuckles, "Okay, fine. Instead of worrying about Starlight you should be worrying about Edward. The poor boy looked so troubled you betrayed his trust."

Alexander begins to form swirling wind in the palm of his hand at the mention of Edward.

"Keep talking..." Alexander states bluntly.

"Hmm... I might have offered him a tiny route of salvation in the midst of his cloudy judgement." Shadowfright plays with her coin again.

The wind in Alexander's hand grows making her a little more than weary.

"You tricked him basically, taking advantage of his state of mind..." Alexander frowns at the woman.

"A state of mind you caused, might I add." Shadowfright grabs her coin and points to Alexander, making his expression soften as the wind disperse.

Smirking at her upper hand, she slinks closer as he sighs deeply.

"... What do you want?" Alexander asks, less annoyed than before.

"It's simple. The winds are changing around Kilgharrah, certain events are soon to unfold. If you can find and convince Edward to forgive you, I'll give him back and reduce any front I might have at said appointed time. Do we have a deal?" Shadowfright asks, extending her hand.

"I don't really have a choice..." Alexander shakes her hand making her smile widely before vanishing into black smoke.

At that moment Starlight comes walking up to Alexander a little confused.

"When did you pull so far ahead? Also, did I see someone else talking to you?" Starlight looks around and furrows her brow.

"Nobody important..." Alexander rubs his eyes before they press on, much against Starlight's inquiery.

Author's Notes:

It's been a while we know, but things and more things have come up etc. We'll hopefully be getting back to it after figuring some stuff out and when my co-author has the time. We thank you for your patience and that you'll continue enjoying the fic.