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[color=lightgray][i][u]Location: Shadowzone[/u][/i][/color]
[@Punished GN], [@Blizz]

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Layla couldn't help the chill creeping along her spine as she stepped into the portal. [i]Where on earth were they going?[/i]

[quote=Jack][color=6644ff]”Welcome to the Shadowzone. My home, away from Shimmer.”[/color][/quote]

Void breathed in deep as they entered the Void. He could tell they were in shallow waters. The dangers of the deep were unlikely to bother them here.

His eyes glanced over the mundane home, then to Layla. Despite the shivering, she seemed alright. [i]Good.[/i]

[quote=Jack][color=6644ff]”Shortly, we’ll eat and discuss what we do in the future.”[/color][/quote]

Void's eyes landed on Jack, and narrowed slightly. He was being nice. Sure, he had liked Alizée, but he had never stepped out and tried to make Void feel [i]welcome[/i]. 

In the many years the Void Heart had traveled the war-torn areas of the Void, and the dark alleys of the Shimmer, he had learned one thing: kindness always had a price.

In the case of the Temple, he knew he wouldn't refuse if management asked for a favor.

In the case of Jack, well, it made Void wonder… What price did Jack want? What was he purposefully leaving out?

[quote=Jack][color=6644ff]”And a word of advice- Do not look outside the windows, or open the doors. Do you understand, Layla?”[/color][/quote]

Layla's shivering increased, eyes wide as she took in what Jack said. Was the Void really that dangerous? Who would want to live here?

She felt scared, a bit unnerved and unsure. But right now, Jack was a beacon of assurance. She appreciated his kindness, and what he was doing for them. Perhaps her good karma in the old coven was finally paying off.

She sat beside Jack on the couch, pulling her leather jacket a little closer around her small frame. Purposefully, her vision dipped, avoiding the windows.

[color=7ABBFF][b]“O-okay, Jack. Whatever you say.”[/b][/color] She peeked at him from the corner of her eye as she sat there.

Void stared at Jack for a long moment. [i]No way.[/i] He didn't have any definite evidence, but something was off. [i]Way[/i] off. Don't look outside? This was shallow waters, Layla would probably be fine.

Why was Jack pushing such an over-protective request such as this?

That got Void thinking… Why didn't Jack just move them to another location in the Shimmer, like Layla's home, or the Temple?

Why was it necessary to be in this specific place, of all places?

[i]Suspicious.[/i]

Void moved to the window, peering outside into the darkness briefly. As he began to draw the curtains closed, he narrowed his eyes at the ground. A thin, black line wormed its way down above the stone, black specks drawing into the swirling line. It would eventually become a portal.

Satisfied, Void drew the curtains closed quickly. Now, all he had to do was wait.

He didn't know exactly what or why, but he had a feeling they shouldn't be here long. Jack was acting strange. [i]Very[/i] strange. Usually, acts like this ended up badly.

He turned back to the room, eyes studying Jack as he bided his time. He had to give the impression he wasn't suspicious.

He moved to hover in the center of the room, hand thoughtfully placed on his chin. 

[color=A299FD][b]“If Auri wants us outed, and me sealed, aren't you betraying her for helping us?”[/b][/color]

All he had to do was bide his time.