Daylight broke as she entered her apartment. She shucked off the ruined dress and remorsefully threw it in the garbage. The thing had cost her to much as it was. Now it was worthless. Drawing on a new set of clothes, ones much more durable, she untangled her ankle length hair and tied it back and out of the way. Then she headed next door for the confrontation that she knew had to happen. Outside the office door she took a deep steadying breath, and opened it. No one was around to be seen.
A faint crackling could be heard, and knowing where she was supposed to go, she made her way past the office to the temple behind it. Fiery arms reached toward the blackened ceiling making her pause as she considered its threat. Stealing herself against an unnatural fear or fire, she walked past it to yet another section of the building. This part looked almost like a home. There was a bedroom off to the left, bathroom to the right, and a kitchen strait ahead. It was to the later that she headed.
"Your late!" A sharp voice called out to her from the brightly lit room, and inwardly Serena groaned. She always had to be bossy. As though being a priestess wasn't enough.
"I don't need a psychic to tell me that Raye." Sarcasm was thick and bitter on her voice, and their old quarrels made it even worse. Today Raye chose to ignore the tone in light of the most recent complications.
"So…." Patience had never been one of her strong points. Serena ground her teeth audibly and relented.
"It's worse that we though. I had to go for help. I went to Him and asked." Raye's sharp intake of breath warned her. "There was nothing else I could do." She began to defend herself, but there really was no defense.
"You could have let one of us make sure you are right. We have no proof other than your word . We don't know anything for sure. You shouldn't have gone to Him. You know the threat he poses. How could you Serena? How could you be so selfish? Nothing ever changes with you Serena." The accusations hurt Serena deeply and she bit her lip to keep from saying anything that would make it even worse. Most of all the pain kept away the tears.
"It's done. He already said he would help. There is nothing to be done now." She said faintly sealing her lips shut before she uttered what was on her mind.
"What was the price?" Raye asked skeptically. With her everything had its price and Serena hated the fact that this once she was right. An odd light crept into her eyes.
"Oh… Just my eternal soul!" The reaction was better than she expected as Raye's eyes widened comically and her hand covered her mouth. Any concern was quickly covered with anger.
"You didn't?" Her black eyebrows formed one as she glared at Serena.
"Nope!" She said lightly. It took a moment for the word to sink in. Now she was even madder.
"Then what was it?" Raye barely held her anger in check.
"I have to go with him to social functions and stuff… I'm supposed to be his social icon I guess." She had teased her enough. The truth shocked her almost as much as the lie. She snorted inelegantly.
"Why?" The word was filled with contempt and maybe jealousy. Serena grabbed a soda out of the fridge, and drank it rapidly not that the caffeine would help any. Raye did not actually want an answer, and Serena didn't really have one so she left it as it was. Raye looked her over with a critical eye.
"You look horrible. Go get some rest. You need it." She was hiding something from Serena, but she was too tired to try and get it out of her. She headed home.
"Thanks for nothing." She mumbled as the front door slammed behind her.
"SERENA WAKE UP!" A voice screamed through her mind. Serena got the impression that whoever it was had been trying for a while. She tended to shield herself while she slept. The voice prepared to shout again when Serena slammed up her mental barriers and cut her off.
"I'm up already." She said out loud although no one could hear her. Throwing back the covers she stood up, and looked at the clock. 3:00. They really let me sleep in. Yawning she redressed in something more appropriate, and black, before grabbing the locket and running out the door. She was careful to quickly jam it in the pocket of her jeans so it wouldn't have time to play. At the office door she ran her fingers through her hair, but it did not do any good as long as it was.
A blond woman opened the door for Serena just as she reached for the handle, and Serena fell through the doorway landing hard.
"Owww... What was that for?" She asked the woman standing over her. The woman flicked her long blond hair at Serena as she turned around and headed inside. Serena picked herself off the floor and meekly followed. The woman was sitting behind her desk when Serena finally caught up.
"Well Serena it looks like nothing has changed. You're still a klutz and you are still getting yourself and us into sticky situations." Mina scolded. Serena looked at her boss with all the innocence she could muster.
"Mina you know I didn't do this on purpose and there is nothing else I could have done. I don't see why I keep having to tell you that." She defended herself. Mina looked doubtful.
"You could've asked one of us you know Serena. Maybe we can handle this without His help. Who are you to judge what we are capable of?" There was real hurt in her voice. Serena hadn't thought that she would think of it this way.
"I have seen a lot of things Mina. More than you will ever imagine and I know when we are outmatched. I don't have to ask anyone for help that we will most defiantly need. What is done is done, and it won't effect anyone other than me if I was wrong. I asked him to help me, not us." She felt the locket in her pocket, and felt a bit better about what she had done. Amy came in just then typing on her computer. She looked up and realized that she was interrupting.
"Sorry Mina, but Lita and I are going to have to go out tonight. Tell her when she gets in that I got a couple odd readings and she needs to find me." She told Mina who made a note of it on a sticky-pad. Amy tossed a bit of black-blue hair out of her eyes, and her stance accentuated her lean, muscular body.
"Got it Ames. I'll send her out as soon as she gets here." Her look asked Amy if there was anything else.
"Um... can Serena come with until Lita can? It would probably be safer if we go in twos." Although Amy knew she could take any normal attacker that came her way; there was always safety in numbers.
"She could, but Serena's going on a date tonight." Both Serena and Amy looked up at that. Mina handed Serena a 3 x 5 card with writing on it. It read:
I'll pick you up after sunset. Dress casually. Do not wear black.
It wasn't signed, but they all knew who it was from. Him. Serena stuffed the card into another pocket and looked at Mina as though daring her to say something. Tactically no one did. Amy looked Serena over from her tousled hair to her black shirt and blue jeans.
"Well if you are going out, shouldn't you at least look decent?" Amy remarked sarcastically at Serena's state of dress. Serena blushed a bit.
"Yeah maybe your right, but sunset isn't until 6:30 since its almost autumn. I've got some time till then. I can go with you till Lita gets here."
"No need." Lita said through the doorway. "I'm ready to go." She hefted a bag and Amy grabbed another just like it by the door. They turned and waved, then headed out. Once Serena would have been worried for them, but now she knew that they could more than take care of themselves. It was an odd feeling. Mina stood up behind the desk and Serena turned around to face her.
"Odd isn't it. The fact that you don't have to protect us anymore." Mina read her thoughts. Serena hadn't realized that there was a hole in her shields. "It's not hard to see Serena, and your shields are as tight as ever. I doubt even he could get through." Her tone was soft and comforting, but she didn't feel any better. Instead she felt worse, and slightly not needed.
"Yeah. It's just...never mind. I'd better go shopping. I don't have anything left that I think fits casual. It's to bad that this doesn't fall under business. I would love to be able to write this off on the company." She groaned at the thought of having to buy a new dress. The one destroyed the night before had cost quite a bit.
"Actually, the Scouts would be glad to pick up the tab for the dress." Mina told her picking the checkbook off the desk. "I'll write you a blank check. Just don't buy the most expensive one you can find." She grinned remembering Serena's spending habits. She wrote the check, and handed it over. Serena took it with a sheepish grin and headed for the door. She pulled it open and almost ran into a tall blond headed man reaching for the handle. He grinned at her devilishly.
"Hey Serena, seen Lita anywhere?" Ken asked. His eyes sparkled with his love for Serena's friend."She's out with Ames. The boss will know where." She jerked her thumb at Mina behind her desk. Ken's grin widened as if they shared a private joke. Serena grinned back and waving the blank check skipped out the door. She walked as fast as she could toward the nearest shopping center.
It was true what Mina had said. Before she had been the one to protect them to keep them safe from the evils of the world, but that was no longer. When she had found them this time they were different. Their minds and souls were the same, but there was an added touch. She was the one who hadn't changed. Not since the first time. Reaching the mall she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind so she could fully enjoy spending someone else's money.
Two hours later she emerged grinning like a Cheshire cat and feeling just as difficult. She had managed to get two entirely new outfits plus the dress for the price of just the dress. Mina would never know the difference. She had to run home and jump into the shower, then throw her knew dress over her head. By then it was 6:15 and fifteen minutes till sundown. That didn't give her very much time. Her hair was barely dry and she was brushing it through for the last time when the bell rang. She grabbed her purse and ran to the door trying not to trip in her new heels. Before opening the door she straitened the simple blue doll dress, and fixed the single spaghetti strap on each shoulder making sure they lined up with her bra. Then taking a deep breath she opened the door ready to face HIM.
A faint crackling could be heard, and knowing where she was supposed to go, she made her way past the office to the temple behind it. Fiery arms reached toward the blackened ceiling making her pause as she considered its threat. Stealing herself against an unnatural fear or fire, she walked past it to yet another section of the building. This part looked almost like a home. There was a bedroom off to the left, bathroom to the right, and a kitchen strait ahead. It was to the later that she headed.
"Your late!" A sharp voice called out to her from the brightly lit room, and inwardly Serena groaned. She always had to be bossy. As though being a priestess wasn't enough.
"I don't need a psychic to tell me that Raye." Sarcasm was thick and bitter on her voice, and their old quarrels made it even worse. Today Raye chose to ignore the tone in light of the most recent complications.
"So…." Patience had never been one of her strong points. Serena ground her teeth audibly and relented.
"It's worse that we though. I had to go for help. I went to Him and asked." Raye's sharp intake of breath warned her. "There was nothing else I could do." She began to defend herself, but there really was no defense.
"You could have let one of us make sure you are right. We have no proof other than your word . We don't know anything for sure. You shouldn't have gone to Him. You know the threat he poses. How could you Serena? How could you be so selfish? Nothing ever changes with you Serena." The accusations hurt Serena deeply and she bit her lip to keep from saying anything that would make it even worse. Most of all the pain kept away the tears.
"It's done. He already said he would help. There is nothing to be done now." She said faintly sealing her lips shut before she uttered what was on her mind.
"What was the price?" Raye asked skeptically. With her everything had its price and Serena hated the fact that this once she was right. An odd light crept into her eyes.
"Oh… Just my eternal soul!" The reaction was better than she expected as Raye's eyes widened comically and her hand covered her mouth. Any concern was quickly covered with anger.
"You didn't?" Her black eyebrows formed one as she glared at Serena.
"Nope!" She said lightly. It took a moment for the word to sink in. Now she was even madder.
"Then what was it?" Raye barely held her anger in check.
"I have to go with him to social functions and stuff… I'm supposed to be his social icon I guess." She had teased her enough. The truth shocked her almost as much as the lie. She snorted inelegantly.
"Why?" The word was filled with contempt and maybe jealousy. Serena grabbed a soda out of the fridge, and drank it rapidly not that the caffeine would help any. Raye did not actually want an answer, and Serena didn't really have one so she left it as it was. Raye looked her over with a critical eye.
"You look horrible. Go get some rest. You need it." She was hiding something from Serena, but she was too tired to try and get it out of her. She headed home.
"Thanks for nothing." She mumbled as the front door slammed behind her.
"SERENA WAKE UP!" A voice screamed through her mind. Serena got the impression that whoever it was had been trying for a while. She tended to shield herself while she slept. The voice prepared to shout again when Serena slammed up her mental barriers and cut her off.
"I'm up already." She said out loud although no one could hear her. Throwing back the covers she stood up, and looked at the clock. 3:00. They really let me sleep in. Yawning she redressed in something more appropriate, and black, before grabbing the locket and running out the door. She was careful to quickly jam it in the pocket of her jeans so it wouldn't have time to play. At the office door she ran her fingers through her hair, but it did not do any good as long as it was.
A blond woman opened the door for Serena just as she reached for the handle, and Serena fell through the doorway landing hard.
"Owww... What was that for?" She asked the woman standing over her. The woman flicked her long blond hair at Serena as she turned around and headed inside. Serena picked herself off the floor and meekly followed. The woman was sitting behind her desk when Serena finally caught up.
"Well Serena it looks like nothing has changed. You're still a klutz and you are still getting yourself and us into sticky situations." Mina scolded. Serena looked at her boss with all the innocence she could muster.
"Mina you know I didn't do this on purpose and there is nothing else I could have done. I don't see why I keep having to tell you that." She defended herself. Mina looked doubtful.
"You could've asked one of us you know Serena. Maybe we can handle this without His help. Who are you to judge what we are capable of?" There was real hurt in her voice. Serena hadn't thought that she would think of it this way.
"I have seen a lot of things Mina. More than you will ever imagine and I know when we are outmatched. I don't have to ask anyone for help that we will most defiantly need. What is done is done, and it won't effect anyone other than me if I was wrong. I asked him to help me, not us." She felt the locket in her pocket, and felt a bit better about what she had done. Amy came in just then typing on her computer. She looked up and realized that she was interrupting.
"Sorry Mina, but Lita and I are going to have to go out tonight. Tell her when she gets in that I got a couple odd readings and she needs to find me." She told Mina who made a note of it on a sticky-pad. Amy tossed a bit of black-blue hair out of her eyes, and her stance accentuated her lean, muscular body.
"Got it Ames. I'll send her out as soon as she gets here." Her look asked Amy if there was anything else.
"Um... can Serena come with until Lita can? It would probably be safer if we go in twos." Although Amy knew she could take any normal attacker that came her way; there was always safety in numbers.
"She could, but Serena's going on a date tonight." Both Serena and Amy looked up at that. Mina handed Serena a 3 x 5 card with writing on it. It read:
I'll pick you up after sunset. Dress casually. Do not wear black.
It wasn't signed, but they all knew who it was from. Him. Serena stuffed the card into another pocket and looked at Mina as though daring her to say something. Tactically no one did. Amy looked Serena over from her tousled hair to her black shirt and blue jeans.
"Well if you are going out, shouldn't you at least look decent?" Amy remarked sarcastically at Serena's state of dress. Serena blushed a bit.
"Yeah maybe your right, but sunset isn't until 6:30 since its almost autumn. I've got some time till then. I can go with you till Lita gets here."
"No need." Lita said through the doorway. "I'm ready to go." She hefted a bag and Amy grabbed another just like it by the door. They turned and waved, then headed out. Once Serena would have been worried for them, but now she knew that they could more than take care of themselves. It was an odd feeling. Mina stood up behind the desk and Serena turned around to face her.
"Odd isn't it. The fact that you don't have to protect us anymore." Mina read her thoughts. Serena hadn't realized that there was a hole in her shields. "It's not hard to see Serena, and your shields are as tight as ever. I doubt even he could get through." Her tone was soft and comforting, but she didn't feel any better. Instead she felt worse, and slightly not needed.
"Yeah. It's just...never mind. I'd better go shopping. I don't have anything left that I think fits casual. It's to bad that this doesn't fall under business. I would love to be able to write this off on the company." She groaned at the thought of having to buy a new dress. The one destroyed the night before had cost quite a bit.
"Actually, the Scouts would be glad to pick up the tab for the dress." Mina told her picking the checkbook off the desk. "I'll write you a blank check. Just don't buy the most expensive one you can find." She grinned remembering Serena's spending habits. She wrote the check, and handed it over. Serena took it with a sheepish grin and headed for the door. She pulled it open and almost ran into a tall blond headed man reaching for the handle. He grinned at her devilishly.
"Hey Serena, seen Lita anywhere?" Ken asked. His eyes sparkled with his love for Serena's friend."She's out with Ames. The boss will know where." She jerked her thumb at Mina behind her desk. Ken's grin widened as if they shared a private joke. Serena grinned back and waving the blank check skipped out the door. She walked as fast as she could toward the nearest shopping center.
It was true what Mina had said. Before she had been the one to protect them to keep them safe from the evils of the world, but that was no longer. When she had found them this time they were different. Their minds and souls were the same, but there was an added touch. She was the one who hadn't changed. Not since the first time. Reaching the mall she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind so she could fully enjoy spending someone else's money.
Two hours later she emerged grinning like a Cheshire cat and feeling just as difficult. She had managed to get two entirely new outfits plus the dress for the price of just the dress. Mina would never know the difference. She had to run home and jump into the shower, then throw her knew dress over her head. By then it was 6:15 and fifteen minutes till sundown. That didn't give her very much time. Her hair was barely dry and she was brushing it through for the last time when the bell rang. She grabbed her purse and ran to the door trying not to trip in her new heels. Before opening the door she straitened the simple blue doll dress, and fixed the single spaghetti strap on each shoulder making sure they lined up with her bra. Then taking a deep breath she opened the door ready to face HIM.