Chapter 7

Dodging a right jab aim squarely for her head Alex rolls to the side and tries to leg sweep her opponent. However, the move is anticipated and they jump before kicking out once again at her head. She doesn't have time to evade so she brings her hand up and tries to deflect the kick and quickly spring to her feet. The two face each other, both in defensive stances, waiting for the other to make a move. Simultaneously they both strike, each landing their hit and each sending the other off their feet and across the room.

Her opponents smirks at her. "You know Alex, if you weren't superhuman I would have totally kicked your ass."

"Sure you would have. If, you know, I hadn't moved and just let you hit me." Even if Alex didn't want to admit it, there was a slight grain of truth in the statement. Jodie might not have had Gourdangash blood in her, but for an ordinary human she had an incredible amount of speed, strength and finesse when it came to fighting. If Alex didn't have super healing she would certainly be sporting a couple of bruises from their sparring session.

Looking over she sees her smiling as Rachel comes to help her up. It wasn't surprising that she was there. In fact in the last two weeks she had seen Jodie more than Alex or even Seth had. So far they had been on six dates and each one lasted longer than the previous. Jodie would come in practically bouncing and with a smile on her face. When Alex had come over to spar or just visit the other girl would sit her down and talk nonstop about her new love interest. She could remember their last one.

"I really think she could be the one, Alex. I've never felt this way before. I mean, at first I was scared shitless, but this girl..." She trailed off as she thought about the girl who had captivated her. She was fascinated with the other girl. She had her doing things she had never done before, acting in ways she wasn't used to. It was all very new, but Jodie didn't see anything wrong with it. In fact, she embraced the change. Looking towards the blonde, she continues.

"She makes me treat her with respect, to do things for her without expecting something in return, to fix things if I know I've crossed the line or done something wrong." The brunette smiles at her friend. "But for every thing she demands I do, she gives back tenfold without me even having to ask. This girl is the most amazing creature I've ever met."

Alex gives a small nod of understanding. She felt the exact same way with Marissa and even if she hadn't really demanded anything of Alex except for the occassional kiss, Alex happily gave it all to her. She was pulled out of her musing of Marissa when Jodie cleared her throat and gave her another smile. A happy, but anxious smile. A bit of nervousness thrown in for good measure.

"Last night I told her how much she's meant to me. Even just in the last two weeks I've known her. And that I thought I could really fall for her."

"Wow, what did she say?"

Jodie shook her head. "Nothing. She just smiled and pulled me on top of her and we had our hottest groping session yet." Her smile quickly turned into a smirk. Rachel may have had her doing and experiencing a world of new things, but she was still Jodie and nothing pleased her more than touching another woman. 'Nothing quite like it.' She said. 'In fact nothing comes close to it'.

Alex wondered what it was like. Though she and Marissa had definitely had their share of make outs and small touching since they had been together, it had been light, over the clothes type of touching. Alex had insisted on it. She didn't want things to get out of control. Or specifically, she didn't want to get out of control. Even if she had lived much of the last century and probably more, she felt as if she were in high school. She could just image herself letting things go further only to have her end up doing something like rolling off of the bed while they kissed. It was completely irrational given she had better grace and reflexes than a cat. But then again she was never rational with anything that concerned Marissa.

She thought about why the girl chose to be with her and all the things that could be a problem. Alex didn't want to get so caught up that she shirked her duty as the girl's protector and let something happen to her. She didn't know how her past or lack of one would eventually play into things. And quite possibly one of the biggest things, if not simply for the size itself, was their age difference and her origins. Alex was a half breed who, as far as she could tell, was either immortal or pretty damn close to it. Marissa was not. She was simply human. All humans were fragile and would one day eventually die.

From there Alex pulled herself out of the memory. She didn't want to think of the what ifs or things they might have to face later in life. She was with Marissa and she was going to try her damndest to make sure nothing ruined it.

"Alex." Rachel was trying to get her attention.

"Yeah?"

"We're gonna go get Jodie cleaned up then hang out by the pool. Shout if you need us." Alex nods as she watches them go.

Scooting back and resting against the wall, she closes her eyes. Her breath coming out in a slow, steady rhythm. She begins to shut her senses down as she concentrates. Eyes already closed, her sense of sight gone. Taste just as easily gone. Next her hearing. The sounds of the birds flying around outside, the strays scavenging for a meal, Seth's stereo down the hall, they all began to slowly fade away into nothingness. When she's satisfied she starts on the smells of the ocean, the can of soda on table in the corner, breakfast left over from this morning. Again all gone. Nothing left, but her ability to feel.

She expands it. Not just to feel the mat sticking to her legs, or her hair clinging to her neck and shoulders, but deeper, on the inside. She could feel the motion as her blood flowed through her veins, her cells rapidly working to heal any of the potential bruises caused by her earlier sparring match with Jodie. Willing herself to concentrate even more, she reaches out to heighten the sense of feel as much as possible. And then she feels it. A sudden shift in the way the air goes across her legs. Someone was there.

Waiting until she could practically feel their breath on her, she instantly recalls her senses and shoots her hand out, grabbing the intruder by the ankle. As they fall to the ground she reaches out and grabs them by the throat. The brunette stares at her girlfriend with wide eyes.

"Hi."

Alex lets out a sharp breath and moves back. "Haven't we been over this? Don't sneak up on me. You could get hurt."

"I didn't sneak. I called your name like, three times, but you didn't answer." She smiles at the other girl. "Next time I'll just throw something at you."

"Maybe you should." The blonde says with a serious face. Marissa just rolls her eyes.

"You know, I figured since we've started dating you'd be a little more relaxed. You aren't."

Alex shrugs. "Shouldn't be that surprising. I take my job, you and your safety, seriously. And it'll always be that way, no matter what."

Marissa's heart swells at the comment. She tightly wraps her arms around the girl in front of her before kissing her. Just as she tries to deepen it Alex pulls back.

"Wait, what are you doing here?"

"Me and mom finished up early. Figured I'd come and see how my wonderful girlfriend was doing."

She goes to kiss her again, but Alex pulls back again.

"Ok, but how did you get here?"

"I drove."

"By yourself?"

"Of course I did. I do have a license, you know."

"You came here alone without any protection?! Did you even tell anyone where you were going?" Alex stares at her intently. She could feel the glow of her eyes increase with every moment.

"Relax. I told my mom I was coming here, " She eases the grip the other girl has on her. "And you've taught me enough to know how to defend myself and how to get away if anything happens."

Alex lets the worry drain from her limbs and cups Marissa's face with her hands.

"I'm sorry. I just worry about you and with all the things that's going on, it's got me a little bit stressed."

Marissa gently kisses her forehead and settles into Alex's arm. "You shouldn't worry so much. Everything's great, we're finally together and life is perfect."

Alex smiles at her words. She decided to take her girlfriend's advice and stop worrying. For now she would only think of the time she had with the brunette snuggled up to her.

"I don't understand why I have to buy something new to wear."

"Because you have to look your best when going to a party."

After leaving Seth and Jodie's and making a short trip back to the mansion to get cleaned up, Marissa and Alex had went downtown. Currently they were holding hands as they went window shopping. Marissa had already bought a couple of things before informing Alex that she needed to get something to wear.

"Marissa, I'm just going to protect you, remember? I don't think I need to dress up for that."

Marissa suddenly avoids eye contact.

"What?"

"What what?"

"Don't act innocent and confused. You're looking everywhere, but at me. What's wrong?"

"Promise you won't get mad."

"That bad?"

"Promise."

"Fine. I promise. Now tell me."

"I kind of told my mom that you were my date."

They stop short on the sidewalk and Marissa tries to read Alex's face. She can't. The blonde doesn't know exactly how she should feel. Happy that she wouldn't have to sneak around with Marissa? Or maybe she should be watching her back for an enraged Julie Cooper. Either way there would probably be a frightening conversation taking place when they got back to the mansion.

"Oh." Is the only thing she manages to get out.

"Oh? That's it?"

Alex simply shrugs, not sure what to really say. Marissa rolls her eyes.

"Look, you go into that store and find something to wear," Marissa points out the store. "I know they have some things that would look great on you. While you're doing that I have an appointment."

Alex immediately frowns at her. The brunette sighs.

"You know I'm not going to let you go alone."

"We just talked about this."

"Maybe, but I don't like you been out without someone watching over you."

"I'm not a child. You better than anyone else should know that."

"I know. Doesn't mean I can't worry."

"We have an hour and a half before we had to meet my parents for dinner. We don't have enough time to do both together and get back home. Now, walk me to the shop." She grabs Alex's arm and the blonde follows without another word.

She really didn't like Marissa being without protection no matter what the other girl said. Granted Alex had been teaching her self defense off and on for the last few years, but that didn't mean that it would stop someone if they wanted to hurt her. But at the same time Marissa was getting older. She wanted to be out more, to do more things, live life. It would be good for her to do those things and to be free, but freedom could end up having a fatal price tag. Alex always though of the worst case scenario. Next to never finding out who she really was, something happening to Marissa was her greatest fear.

She makes her was back towards the dress store after arriving at the nail salon and saying goodbye to Marissa. Before she gets there an older man stops her in her tracks. With a pleasant smile on his face, hat perched on his head and walking cane in his hand he looked like anyone else's grandfather would. Alex hated him with a passion.

"Good day, Alex."

"What do you want?"

"A quick chat if you wouldn't mind."

"No. I don't have the time."

"Oh, but this won't take long I assure you. Come." He places his hand on her back and leads her into a small restaurant. They sit in a booth in the back.

"I have an offer for you."

"No thanks." She immediately shoots him down. The smile plastered on his face doesn't move an inch.

"But you haven't even heard what it is."

"And I don't need to. You're a bad person with dirty dealings and if there is any kind of higher power you'll burn for your crimes."

"Ah, but I haven't convicted of any crime. The law is still innocent until proven guilty. You need evidence to charge someone with something. There is none against me."

"The law might need it, I don't."

"Alex, you don't even know me. The life I could give you."

"I know enough. And I like my life just fine how it is now."

"Only just fine?"

"Look, we could keep going around in this same circle all day, but you're interrupting my plans. So, if you could just get to the point."

"Of course, my apologies. I've recently had the pleasure of seeing some of the... unique qualities you posses and I would like to extend an invitation for you to join me."

He can see that she has no interest in what he's saying. And from the way she's been acting since he first approached her, he gets the feeling that she may know something about him. Something unfavorable. But he really wanted her under his power and he was going to go all out to get her there if need be.

"I already have a job and like I said before, I like it."

"Yes, but Alex, I don't think you realize all the benefits of working with me; the power of having the name Caleb Nichol behind you, the riches I will give you, anything you want you can have without any consequence, the world will be your playground and you'll have no one to answer to. No one except me, of course."

Before Alex can say anything someone sits down next to them. From Alex's best guess he was only a few years older than Seth. The younger guy looks Alex up and down before scoffing and turning to Caleb.

"She doesn't look like much. You can't really believe this little girl can do a better job than me." He says arrogantly.

"Trey, please. You'll have to forgive my grandson Alex, he's a little over ambitious."

"Not a problem. I think it's time for me to go."

"Alex, wait, please." Ignoring his call, the blonde gets up and walks out. Caleb turns and glares at the boy sitting next to him.

"You idiot. I was trying to persuade her to work with us. Thanks to you I've probably lost any ground I could have had with her."

Trey rolls his eyes. "Why don't you just blackmail her into doing it? You do for pretty much everyone else."

Caleb sighs in frustration. "Don't you think I've thought of that? I've already had background checks of her ran and nothing came up. Not even a last name. The only reason I even know her first is because some girl called out to her. It's like she doesn't exist."

"Well, what does it even matter? She can't be any better than me, so you've got everything you'll ever need." He says with a smug smile.

Caleb stares at him for a moment before muttering 'idiot' and walking out, leaving Trey alone.