Part Three: The Mischievous Ones

Chapter Nine: Cassandra's Deadly Wish

This chapter is most wonderfully dedicated to Demon Dea and person. +Hands them a cookie as a token+

Ariel led Torrence into the house. Torrie glanced around, feeling slightly confused.

"Why did we come here?"

"It's easier for me to produce the illusion in surroundings I know. Just a thing of mine," Ariel explained.

Torrence glanced around the house. It was immaculate. Everything was polished and spotless. Glancing around a bit more, she noticed how little darkness there was. When she entered Ariel's room, though, she realized where all the dark fled.

Her walls, floor, and yes, even ceiling, were painted black. In the middle of the room was a large, circular black bed. Two dressers on opposite sides of the room were painted black. Everything was so dark. It made Torrence shiver. Sometimes, she feared the dark.

Ariel flicked on the overhead lights, the plopped down onto her bed. She smiled up at the confused Torrence. The black color flickered and turned purple. The room was never black, but a dark shade of purple. Tor laughed at herself.

"You wanna sit, Torrence, and stop staring at my wonderfully decorated room?" Ariel teased.

Torrence sat on the bed, amazed by how comfortable it was. Ariel smiled at her, as if reassuring her.

"How are you going to show me my father? No, wait. How did you know me?" That really bugged Torrence.

"My power can show me your…I suppose you could say dreams. Not like the kind of dreams you see at night, but the thing that is personal. The dream you desire most in life."

"How does that work?"

Tor wanted to know the identity of her father so terribly bad. Even if he had never thought of her, she just wanted to know his identity. More than the identity of her mother. More than escaping Mark and Kristina.

"Are you ready for this?" Ariel asked.

Tor nodded. "Yes."

Ariel held Torrence's head in both hands, advising the blue-eyed girl to close her eyes.She felt so dizzy, and yet she also felt so safe. Then it felt like worms were beginning to crawl over her mind. The pixie was crawling in her brain, seeing things she couldn't even remember, things seen, but not able to be pulled up. She wondered if the image was being created while she felt these things.

When would she be able to open her eyes and see her father? Maybe, if this was successful, Ariel could produce an image of her mother, too.

"Ariel, what in…"

Ariel dropped the connection, and Torrence stared up at the woman with a horrified expression. The woman had to be Ariel's mom. They shared some similar characteristics, including the maroon colored hair. Ariel blinked up at her mother.

"I'm busy, Mom," she said stiffly.

Torrence wasn't paying attention anymore. She was staring at the image of her father. He looked so young, maybe just a few years older than herself. His hair was blonde and kind of spiky. His eyes were her eyes. Blue and so very hypnotic. He was very handsome, and she some other similarities between her, Chris, and their father. However, she wasn't the only one staring at the dream-like image of her father.

Ariel's mother stared with pure abhorrence at Torrence. "Oh my God! You! YOU!"

"Mom, what is it?" Ariel asked.

"You brought that filthy bitch into my house!"

Torrence shook in shock. "I don't know who you are!"

The woman grabbed Torrence, her eyes full of loathing for her. "You're her daughter! His and hers! You're Stanton's daughter!"

"Is that my father's name?"

"I bet your mother laughs at me. Has she ever mentioned Cassandra before? Oh, how I bet she laughs," Cassandra continued on, ignoring Torrence's question of ignorance.

Cassandra's hands wrapped around Torrie's throat as she began choking her. Torrence pushed at the hands, tried to kick the mad woman, but she was absolutely relentless. Tor focused her power, freezing Cassandra's hands. She screamed as Ariel pulled her mother's victim free. Tor fell against Ariel, coughing and rubbing her neck, trying to cool it from the searing heat and pain caused by Ariel's mother. Cassandra came at her again, but Ariel pushed her away this time.

"Mom, stop this! Are you crazy?"

"I want her dead! I won't rest until she's dead!"

Torrence shuddered as Giselle's hypnosis let go of its grip on her. She wiped at her face, feeling the thin sheet of sweat that had begun to glisten there. Her hands shook as she ran them through her hair. She blinked a few times, trying to shake the frightened feel from her bones.

"Are you okay?" Giselle smiled softly. Concern filled her eyes.

Torrence nodded slowly. "Ariel's mother tried to kill me. Why?"

"She knows your parents, I guess. She's obviously not happy with them, though."

"I know what my father looks like. I know his name!"

Absentmindedly, she fingered her ring. Was it a gift form her father? Is that why she felt a greater connection to this Stanton guy more than her mysterious mother? Did Chris get something as well?

"I need to go. I need to see someone," Tor whispered.

Giselle caressed her cheek. "Tell me where you need to go. I'll take you there."

"I need to see my brother. He might be at El's house. I don't know. I just need to see him." She knew she was rambling, but she was so excited.

Giselle took her hand, and they slipped into the shadows.

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Torrence caught Chris just as he was leaving to go back to the hotel. She ran over to him from the dark, forgetting his family, and wrapped her arms around him. He looked at her, surprised. His parents smiled.

"Hello, Torrie," Catty greeted. "You're out late!"

"You, too, Mrs. O," she replied. She turned her attention to Chris. "What would you do if I told you I know who our father is?"

"Do you know who he is?" Chris asked excitedly.

"You found him?" Kyle asked as well.

"Found him? Sadly, no. But I know his name, and I know what he looks like."

Chris swept her up, swinging her around. His kissed his twin's cheek before setting her down. "I can't believe it. I just can't believe it!

She grinned at him. "Meet me tomorrow morning. I know someone who might know all."

"Aren't you going to tell me his name?"

"Don't you have school?" Catty questioned, smiling at her knowingly.

"Mrs. O, please. Don't get all motherly on me now," Torrence pleaded.

She liked Chris' mom. She was a lot of fun, and they connected easily.

"Don't worry, Torrie," Kyle assured her as he nudged his wife towards the car where Miranda was waiting for them impatiently now. "He'll meet you."

Torrence couldn't wait.

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Up next: Torrence and Chris go to Jimena to confront her with their news. Will Jimena finally confess about Stanton and her mother? Chris is important to the Atrox? And what's this. Robert knew the entire time? That's unacceptable! He couldn't lie to Torrence, he just couldn't…

elephantsrocmysox: No, sadly, Catty is really nothing now because in my wonderful universe, she chose to lose her powers and forget being a goddess. And Jimena is Conrad's mother, and the mentor to the Daughters. Thank you for liking my chapter. Good guesses. Gives you a consolation lollipop for trying

person: They are not perfect, as you might think. They look nice, yes, but I'm not sure if I'd be doing Lynne Ewing justice by making the Daughters fat and ugly and you know, just not like her book characters. They do have flaws. If you read the story before this, you'll see that. Torrence is insecure and has a pretty low self-esteem issue. Hailley is just generally a bitch and kind of snobby. Blaze is a pothead. And Auriella can be too perky and is nice to everyone. I hate that, but I wanted her that way. So, I'm sorry if you feel that my characters are too perfect. Oh, and if you are referring to Giselle and Tiberius, there are real good reasons for this. But, you're gonna have to wait until the third story, Chosen One, that will come out after the side story dealing with Ariel and her guardian is finished. Please, just be patient with me and my unperfected characters.