They stood there in silence for awhile. Serena was in a total state of confusion; she only moved to shield the glowing moon amulet under her blouse. Stanton and Raphael were daring each other to a fight with their eyes.

Finally, Raphael broke the silence. "Hoping to fulfil the prophecies, Stanton?" He inclined his head just a little so that he may look down upon Stanton.

As if in response, Serena felt the terrible tremble of evil quake around Stanton. Whatever this prophecy is, Stanton obviously didn't like the mention of it. But instead of releasing his demonic energy, he responded in a controlled, tight voice, "I thought that would be what you are attempting."

Raphael gave a short, forced laugh and replied in a mocking concerned voice, "Oh, I would never seek to claim the one you already have chosen." And in a fluid motion, he took Serena's arm with a firm but gentle grip and led her off to the side, knowing that Stanton was following.

Now in the safe in a dark corner from the straining ears and peeping eyes of room, the group continued their talk. Serena was still silent, soaking in the words of the two evil beings on both sides of her. She was still confused. 'What is this prophecy and what does it have to do with me? Who is Raphael? He is obviously evil and not a friend of Stanton's.'

Just then, Crawling by Linkin Park filled the air around her and screamed with emotion. Serena couldn't help but to relate to the song. Then, the conversation resumed and she hid he look of impatience on her face.

"You know how things work, you cannot take one who I have claimed for myself." Stanton was enraged and he was holding in his fierce anger as best as he could. He was pushed to his limits and shimmers of his hate and detest for Raphael was pulsating off of him; the strength of which were hitting Serena with a steady stream of pain and chills.

"The Atrox is angry with you for not doing it yet, your excuses are running low and talk is stirring that you never plan to do it, seeing you dancing with her like that sends a different message than what you tell us." Raphael responded, trying not to wince in pain because of Stanton's tremors.

Stanton's fury was at a peak, and Serena almost fell to her knees. She started to shake. Her knees gave out, but she did not fall. It was then that she noticed Stanton's hold on her, it had been so gentle and constant that she didn't even realize he was holding her up.

Stanton continued in his tight and controlled voice, though his eyes shone with fury, "I am the Prince of Night." He exclaimed, "if the Atrox were angry with me, I would know. And I do not nor will I ever have to explain my actions to a low class Hunter such as yourself." At this, he unleashed what must have been only a fraction of his mighty power. The sheer force, however, was enough to knock Serena's feet out from under her. Stanton's hold was the only thing that prevented her from falling.

The air became staticy and the bittersweet smell of electricity surrounded the three in the small corner. Small sounds of popping sizzled in Serena's ears as the charge grew stronger. Even though Stanton's main force was directed at Raphael, Serena was feeling the horrible effects of his power. If this attack were to last any longer, Serena would faint and be nearly destroyed, but it did not come to that. Stanton's power decreased and the atmosphere around them slowly returned normal.

When Serena found her bearings, she looked across from her at Raphael. He looked weak from defending such an attack, yet somewhat amuse for the reaction he had gotten.

"That was a mere warning," Stanton started. "Never doubt me or my actions again. Go." He ordered.

Raphael turned on his heels and stalked quickly away. He slowed at the bar and glanced at a young girl dressed in black and nodded at the door and then walked out. She, in return, got up, pouting, and said goodbye to the crowed of good looking guys around her. They looked saddened by her leaving, and for good cause, Serena thought.

Serena had never noticed this girl before. She had long straight black hair that shimmered down to her waist. Her face, pale in complexion except for the redness in her lips, was utterly perfect. And even from the distance that separated Serena from this stranger, Serena noticed the bright green jeweled eyes beset on the stranger's brow. But now the girl turned and her black dress flipped about her knees as she marched out of Planet Bang behind Raphael.

As Serena was thinking about what this girl had to do with Raphael, she felt Stanton slowly loosen his grip on her. He let go with her with one hand and inspected her face with the other. "You okay?" He asked in a surprisingly cool voice considering what just happened.

She turned her gaze upon him now, "Yes," she began, "a little confused and tired, but I am fine. Who is he?" She asked.

He dropped the hand that was holding her face and returned it to her shoulder. "He is the Hunter who our 'good friend' Zirus worked for." Stanton was a little angry still, and it showed in his voice. But he truly tried to block it for Serena's sake; she had been through enough for today.

He started to release her, but she faltered a little and he regained his grip on her. He stooped down to peer into her eyes and said, "sorry if I had scared you, but I needed to give him a message."

"I wasn't scared" She replied. She was not sure if she said it to him or if she spoke it to his mind, but he looked intrigued as if he had gotten the message. She told him the words that she loved from her favorite book, Archangel, "For the world slows and the stars falter, and all that remains is you…"

He stood up straight in response and had a stern look upon his face. "Serena," he whispered across her mind, "I--" but he was cut off.

She suddenly wrenched herself free from his grasp and pushed his hands away when he reached for her again. "No." She protested. "Stanton, you are the Prince of Night, Prince of Darkness. Everything I stand against." She didn't know how to explain herself properly, so she again quoted her favorite book. " We are like noon and midnight, chasing each other from one side of the world to the next. Let it go--let the world spin on between us."

"You don't honestly want that." He tried to persuade her, but she didn't want to hear it.

"I thank you for all the help you are giving us, me. But your excuse is that you are only helping us so that you can later destroy us and take all the fame. Don't deny it, it is true." She accused him forcefully.

"I do deny it, for it is not the real reason why I do it." Stanton answered in his cool and sexy voice. "What we feel is real, and maybe it is you who is in denial." He took her hand and wrapped it in his.

Serena wanted to pull free. More than anything of the world she wanted to be free from this torment of being with Stanton--being away from Stanton, for both were equal in pain for her. She was transfixed in his eyes. He was not inviting her to join the Atrox, or trying to destroy her. No, he wanted her to see the human part of him, the part that loves her.

She was pulled from this reverie, thankfully, by Tianna, who popped up at her side. "Stanton, let Serena go." She ordered.

"Never" he simply answered.

Derek appeared now, too, beside Serena. "Hey, let her go before I call the rest of the Goddesses." Derek knew of his girlfriend's, Tianna, powers and also about the Goddesses because Tianna saved his life, after she endangered it.

With a smile and a promise of meeting again, Stanton let go of Serena's hand and walked away.

"What was that all about?" Derek asked, brushing his red dreadlocks away from his face. Derek had just got back from visiting his grandmother in Ireland. He had spent two weeks there and knew nothing that had happened with Serena and the Hunters.

Tianna answered for Serena, who was watching Stanton leave. "You missed a lot while you were on your trip."