"A little. You?"
"Yes. I thought a walk would help," she lied. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel … good. Real good. Alive. Must be the winter air."
"Yeah, Jonny. I noticed it, too." Her eyes went to the rocks. The two silhouettes were gone. "It's a bit chilly for me. Do you need anything?"
"No, no, I won't keep you," he said quickly. "I think I'll stay out for a little while."
"Stay safe," she said and returned to the compound. Her heart felt heavy as she walked away from the Black God, aware he'd crossed a point of no return. Jenn returned to her room and flipped on the lights. It looked untouched, but a quick search revealed the only weapons remaining were those she'd taken when she left her room, and the beacon was gone.
I'll be watching the wolves circle you. She went to lock her door, only to find the lock had been removed. Xander was playing games with her, like the bored predator he was. She'd just have to play smarter.
* * * Jule Transported himself to the Black God's compound, vaguely aware of Xander's presence. The Original Being was impossible to track with his senses and seemed to fade in and out of existence. Sensing him, the large vamp stopped walking to the fortress built into the mountain and faced him. The cold night didn't affect Jule this time; he used his magic to keep himself warm.
"Ready?" Xander asked.
"Ready enough," Jule replied.
The vamp strode towards the fortress and cut through a trail to the rocky area to the west. Jule trailed, forcing himself to ignore the tingle of vamps that made him itch to reach for his weapons. Xander faced him and crossed his arms, waiting.
"I don't remember much of anything," Jule started. "But I know I hate the Watchers about now."
"They betrayed you."
"They seem to think I betrayed them."
"You made a choice to fulfill your role then refused to be confined again," the vamp said. "I tried to defy them once. I didn't know the key was getting here first."
"I guess I figured it out, though I don't know that I'd say I won that round. I have no powers. How is it you haven't ripped my head off?" Jule asked warily. The massive vamp hadn't attacked or turned his back at the first sight of him, a sign Jule took as positive. He didn't remember Xander, but Xander remembered him. Jule saw it in his face. Xander had seemed curious, the opposite of what Jule expected from the father to the creatures Jule regularly killed. For once, he wished he remembered his time before the Schism.