Ice blue eyes pierced the night as the shadow made its way from the forest to the house, making no noise. She gripped the heavy glass doors and slid one open slowly, only to freeze and narrow her eyes as a light flickered on. Her heavy dark red hair was now visible, as were her black jeans and white halter top. Over one arm was a heavy leather jacket, and leather boots completed the outfit.
"Serenity Katharine Fernadez!" Her foster mother growled as she stood in the living room entrance, "Just where have you been?"
"Serenity Katharine Costa Fernadez, Mother dearest." She blinked her eyelashes mockingly, and then she dropped the act and went back to being emotionless as she added, "And I was out with my boyfriend. Can't remember his name, though, if you're going to ask."
Running her hand through brown to dirty blond hairs, Kira Fernadez closed her tawny eyes and heaved a sigh. She ran a hand through her hair, then winced as her wedding ring caught the golden brown stands.
Kira plopped on the couch after a second, head tilted back. The light bathed her in gold, and made her yellow t-shirt look more gold than, well, yellow. Her black jeans looked a lot like her foster daughter's, but neither would ever admit that they had similar fashions, that they agreed on even that small a thing.
The girl was trouble, Kira knew, and she'd pulled this stunt before and would again. Sometimes the older woman wished she'd never offered to take Trinity, as was her ironic nickname, but then she would look her in the eye and realize the girl was wounded and needed help. She had pledged to help those who needed it, and this girl needed it, so that was that.
"I didn't give you permission, Trinity!" Kira finally snapped, "You can't just keep coming and going whenever you feel like it! Life doesn't work like that!" Then a pause came, "Just because I'm not here, doesn't mean you can break the rules!"
"So it's do as I say, not as I do? You can be out all night, but I can't be?" Trinity snapped back, her voice rising a bit. She normally had control on her emotions, but her shields were still kinda weak, and Kira's emotions were screwing with hers. They always did on nights like this.
"I'm different! I'm an adult!" Kira argued back weakly, but Trinity didn't push it. She just turned it out, instead. Let Kira yell a bit, that would make her feel better.
Trinity knew exactly what Kira did this late at night. The woman was a former yellow Power Ranger, and she mentored the new group. Trinity had tracked and followed Kira the second day she had been here, and found it all out. She knew Kira and the team were helping people, and that's why she didn't say a thing, and tried not to give Kira more grief about not being around.
"...grounded for a month. School, home, work. That's it." There was a pause as Kira finally took a breath.
"Screw. That!" Trinity snarled, then pivoted and bolted up the stairs. She was on the last step when she felt a hand grab her shoulder.
She reacted; she felt a hard, aggressive person behind her, his hand on her, and she moved as she had learned on the streets. She turned sharply, grabbed his forearm, and with a little too much power, more than a man twice her size, sent him flying into the wall. Without thought, she snapped out her leg, pinning the person's chest to the wall.
Trinity was stronger, faster and smarter than anyone thought, and knew what to make of it. She might only be a slender, almost too skinny, medium height girl, but she could handle herself well. It wasn't superpowers, but she had grown up on the in a living hell, born of destruction and forged of fire. Practice made perfect, and she was pretty near perfect with her fighting.
Everything in the room was quiet as she looked down with a raised eyebrow and guarded face. Trent Fernadez, her foster father, pushed her leg aside while Kira stood gaping at her husband. He looked a little beat up with his hair a mess, and his fashion sense – white t-shirt with jeans - was still bad, but all in one piece. She blinked and brought her leg slowly to her side, then down. She shouldn't have displayed her power, but she had and that was that.
Looming over her, he glared down as he brushed himself off, then smiled like a shark, shaking his head. "I was going to tell you to listen to you're mother, but it seems I shouldn't have tried. Though I'm not sure you should be so harsh next time, Trinity. I was truly only going to talk to you."
She could sense he was still pissed, feel it in her bones. Of course, she was still wearing the fingerless gloves, so the touch it took to throw him would have allowed her to feel most of the emotion. Ignoring them all, she took care of the problem by slipping off the fingerless gloves and pulling on the full leather ones she always kept in her pockets.
Finally, seeing that no one was going to leave her alone, she said shortly, "I lived on the streets, remember? I can defend myself pretty damn well." Her excuse for the reason she fought so well, and really, it wasn't all a lie.
"As we can all see," Jonas said from where he was leaning against the door jam to the kitchen. "Now that you're finished, can we steal Kira? We need help in the Juice Bar."
Trinity turned her glare on him, carefully making sure her mental walls were up. Jonas was the only one of the group that worried her. At six foot three with broad shoulders and a presence of a leader, the Red Dragon Ranger was physically intimidating. With spiked up (dyed) brown hair, and amber eyes, he looked tough, acted tough, was tough. It was worse than the physical, though. He was a mind reader, which was what worried her.
Chris, the Blue Ranger, stood behind Jonas and to his left. The oldest at nineteen, Chris was almost six foot one, and while slim, almost as dangerous as Jonas. He was Trent's son from the guy's first marriage, and look a whole lot like his father, except his eyes. His eyes were a dark blue, and he had inherited Trent's power tenfold. He could even make object he touched blend with their surroundings.
Lauren, Chris's girlfriend, was the last of the ranger trio. She wore a pink halter and a pair of blue jeans like always, looking as Nordic as ever. Her hair was silver blonde, a ponytail high on the back of her head, emphasizing her sharp cheekbones. Her eyes were dark blue, and she was whip thin, her sleek muscles those of a runner. The daughter of Connor and Krista, she had taken superspeed from her father, and his love of soccer. She'd come to live with them when she had become a ranger, and had hit it off with Chris right away.
"Yeah. In fact, you can take Trent, too. Keep him while you're at it." Trinity snarled before turning and going back towards her original destination.
She slammed the door of her room, despite the fact that Kira had called after her not to. She stripped out of the jeans and halter top, throwing the leather jacket on her twin bed. She tossed the bra back into the basket, followed by her underwear, before she rummaged in her closet. She never slept naked, if only because she always needed to be ready to run.
Black sweat pants with a silver streak down the side graced her long legs after a second, and a black tank top with a sports bra that supported her small breasts came next. Then she made her way to the bathroom, putting on the hot water as she waited to strip off her makeup. God, she hated playing goth girl, if only because it required so much makeup and falseness.
She looked around and frowned, realizing she didn't have a hand towel. She turned off the water and left her bathroom, wincing as she felt people in the hallway. She closed the door softly and made her way towards the linen closet, wincing again when she felt the door creek. She grabbed a fluffy white towel, then stopped and sighed. Jonas stood behind her.
Turning slowly, she narrowed her eyes on him as he leaned against the stair's railing. "What do you want?" She finally asked when he just continued looking at her.
"I wanted to ask if you'd be a bit nicer to Kira and Trent." He finally said, all air of joking pushed aside. "I was adopted by them as well, and I know what you're going through, but be civil, will ya? They took you in against everything and you're treating them like dirt. They've given you everything and you're spitting on them."
"They," Her voice was chilly, because she was angry. Angry because he was right. "Give me food and shelter. Nothing more. They took me in because they felt obligated." She turned, giving him her back against every instinct. "Oh, and you have no idea what I'm going through." She almost winced at the last line; she sounded like a petulant teenager.
She heard an aggravated sigh as she closed the door of her bathroom again, but ignored it. Instead, she turned the water on hot and washed her face. The water burned, but that was alright. She'd suffered a whole lot more in hell.
Finally, she turned the water off and patted her face with the fluffy white towel, letting her hair loose from the bun. Tossing the towel on the toilet bowl seat, she made her way to her room. Tearing back the cover, she dragged her leather jacket with her, cuddling to it like someone would a blanket. This way, if she ever had to run, she'd have a jacket as well. Plus the knife in the pocket.
After about ten minutes of lying still, her nightmares finally overtook her, and she left them have her.
She felt the burning pain, the searing heat hitting her skin, pulling at her. Still, she gave not a cry for release or mercy. She'd had worse, much worse. Besides, if she cried out she'd be giving the women what they wanted. Sick and twisted, they tortured her until she would call out and cry, scream and moan, writhe in pain. She would hold out until they got bored or she broke. A twisted and demented game, but one she was good at.
The hot pokers moved from her skin, and she felt blessed numbness a second before the pain started again. "Give us their names." One of the women commanded.
She blinked, tearing herself from the Game. This wasn't part of it, this wasn't the script. There was never to be any talking from the women, never from her. Her cries and pleads were the only sounds aloud, except the laughter. What was with the rule breaking?
"This can all stop. It can never happen again." A pause, "We can give back the power, a place among us once again. All you are required is to tell us who the Power Rangers are, and how to stop them."
So this wasn't a game, she thought. They were fishing for information this time. "No." Her voice was harsh, as if she'd been screaming, though she hadn't been. "I'm happier away from this place. I don't want back, and I want the Power Rangers to win."
The women shrieked and screamed and something was pushing into her skin. She felt nothing for a moment, then all the pain she'd ever felt was thrown into her and she screamed and raged.
Then she woke up.
Trinity sat straight up, eyes wide and tears tracking down her face. God, that nightmare was worse than usual. She was still hearing the shrieks of anger. Then she blinked and looked to her left. Her alarm clock was the one screaming, not the witches. She reached over and slammed the snooze, then stumbled for the off button.
Two hours of sleep. Maybe she shouldn't have gone out last night, or maybe she should have come back before three. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she let the leather jacket drop back to the sweat covered sheets and yanked off her clothes. A second later, she had darted into the bathroom and was under the winter cold water of her shower.
She let loose a string of curses, then finished her hair and shaving. Turning it, she let loose another flurry of curses as the cold air touched her. She grabbed the towel from last night and dried herself, then grabbed her black fluffy robe from the hook and shrugged it on.
Thirty minutes later, her hair was dried and curled around her face. She was decked out in black fair jeans, white and silver twining down the sides. Her shirt was gray, or at least the torso was. The sleeves were cut so that her upper arms were bared, though her shoulders and the rest of her arm was covered. The sleeves, black in color, flared like bell bottoms.
She finished the last touches on her thick black eyeliner, wincing at the raccoon eyes. Her lips were blood red today, her face tanned despite the fact she was trying to look Goth. She wore a single chain around her neck, the locket hidden by her shirt. A ring was on each hand, both of bright silver. The leather gloves that she slipped on covered the metal, though.
Trinity grabbed her combat boots and trotted downstairs, silent as the cat that lay on the throne like chair at the end of the dinning table. "You are soooo spoiled, Shade." She grumbled with humor at the black and white tomcat. Fatter than anything she'd ever seen, the cat was her favorite part of the house. She'd come here and instantly bonded with him.
A bowl clacked on the table, and she set the microwave for a minute and a half. A second later, oatmeal – strawberry and cream – went in the bowl, two packets, and a silver spoon joined the not-yet-ready food. When the microwaves pinged, she poured the half cup of milk and water mix in the bowl and stirred. When it was good and mushy, she grabbed a glass – a purple plastic one only she used – and poured the last half cup of milk into it.
Then she joined Shade at the table, sitting with her back to a wall and her eyes alert. At least until she got the first bite of warm cereal. She moaned, eyes rolling back. This was her favorite type of day. No one got up this early, and it was before sunrise but no longer night. Plus, she loves oatmeal.
"I always wondered how we ran out of oatmeal so fast, since no one eats it for breakfast," Jonas said from the doorway, causing Trinity to start and drop her spoon and the oatmeal.
She glared at him, good mood forgotten. "Well, obviously I ate it, if no one else did." She snapped, "Why are you down here bugging me?"
He shrugged, "I guess I was just curious about what you did every morning at five. Also, I was up and really rather bored."
Which meant that he had been out fighting and had yet to come down from the adrenaline rush. "So you decided to go and annoy me?"
"You know, I might have just been looking for Shade." He snapped, eyes flaring up.
"Oh yeah, I can just see it," Trinity mocked, "You being up at five in the morning, not bothering to sleep, and wandering around to find the cat. Yes, that is just so you."
He rolled his eyes, "Fine, I came down to apologize for yesterday, or rather, this morning. I had no right to say anything, even though we both know I'm right."
She was silent for a second, then smirked, "As 'sorries' go, that one royally sucked. But its accepted anyway." She finished her oatmeal and stood, pouring the last few drops of leftover milk in the bowl before taking it to the sink.
Trinity turned the hot water on, rising out the bowl and getting out the swirly brush. A second later, a clean plastic bowl and cup were put back where they belonged. "How come you clean it? We do run the dishwasher every day, you know. You can just put it in there." Jonas pointed out.
She shrugged, "I have time, and I like to leave things looking nice. Taking care of things, y'know." It wasn't really a question.
He nodded. "So, now that its six and you have two hours before school, what are you going to do? Homework? You're already dressed and ready. "
She shook her head, "Homework's done and I have no new emails. Checked those last night," Then she scowled, knowing he was dragging her out to have a conversation. Sighing, she swallowed the urge to flip him off and leave. "I was thinking on going to a walk, or maybe taking my bike for a ride."
Another nod from him. What? Did she need his approval or something? "I'm not even gonna mention the fact you're grounded."
"You just did." She pointed out, sharing a smirk with him. Then she stopped and glared.
"Well, I'm gonna go back to bed." He paused, "Unless I'm welcome to join you on your walk? I promise not to speak if you don't want me to."
She snickered, she couldn't help it. "Sure. And you're allowed to speak, just not too much, or about annoying things."
She drew on her boots as he vanished inside the hallway. A minute later, as she was re-lacing her boots, he appeared. Before, he'd been in a tank top and sweat pants. Now he was in jeans, a work shirt over his tank top and shoes on his feet, though she doubted he was wearing socks. She marveled for a second on how fast he was when dressing, then realized he must have picked the jeans off the floor, from the wrinkled state of the denim.
Standing, she stretched and gathered Fat Shade in her arms. He gripped her shoulder with his claws as she let go with one hand and opened the door. The morning was chilly, but it was just past summer and therefore didn't require a jacket.
"You seriously gonna take the cat with you?" Jonas asked as he slipped out behind her.
"You seriously gonna keep asking stupid questions?" She retorted, flipping him a smirk to soften the look.
He huffed in fake indignation. "Only if you keep doing things like picking up fat cats and taking them for walks without walking them."
She had to admit, he was kinda funny. "Kings don't walk when they can be carried," She announced, a fake regal tone dripping from her voice.
They both looked at each other and laughed, and Shade, insulted, meowed and jumped from Trinity's arms. He sat his fat butt down and glared up at them, as if he were a little king and they mere peasants. Trinity had to hold back another laugh.
"Dear lord, that catis spoiled." Jonas remarked after a second, shaking his head in mock disappointment at the tomcat.
"Sounds like other people I know." Trinity said flippantly, causing Jonas to look at her strangely. She knew he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Props for him.
They kept on the walk way for another thirty minutes, neither tiring in the rising sun. They didn't really talk, just moved in silence. Trinity didn't mind. It was, in truth, quite nice to have company that didn't quiz her every second of her available time.
The house came into view once more, as they had circled around. It was a big place, with six bedroom and five bathrooms. Everyone had their own room, with one left over for guests. Trent and Kira shared the master bed and bath, and while Trinity and Lauren both had their own rooms, they had to share a bathroom.. Jonas and Chris were right next to each other and had a Jack'n'Jill bathroom, though Jonas usually used the guest bathroom and Lauren usually used both Chris's bed and bath, thank god.
All the rooms faced west, and all had great views of the lake and sunrise. There were two living rooms, an attic that had been converted to a game room, and a breakfast room that was used more often than the formal dinning room. There were two offices, one belonging to Trent, the other having two computers that were always open for the other house members.
Of course, there was also the Power Ranger headquarters under the house, but that had certainly never been listed.
Trinity ducked in the door behind Jonas and made her way to her room without a word, coming back a second later with her purse, her binder and notebook, and huge, hardcover, Cathrine Coulter book in her arms.
"I'm going. Got some stuff to take care of," She said as she ducked her head in the kitchen. It was about seven, maybe ten or fifteen minutes off, which meant Chris, Lauren and either Trent or Kira were all up, not to mention Jonas.
Trent looked at her, as if wondering what she was going to do, before finally nodding. "Be back at four thirty. Remember, you're still grounded."
She just looked at him for a second, then ducked back around. "What a spoiled little girl," She heard Lauren say after a second, but ignored it.
Jonas paused as she passed him, and she merely roll her eyes as he mouthed 'sorry'. Then she was gone, her books in the backseat of the her truck. A silver and chrome Dodge Ram truck that took her about five minutes to get in, since the truck was tall and she was short, but she didn't mind. It roared as it started up and she smiled, backing out blasting five miles too fast down the road.
She really enjoyed days like these.