Chapter 7

            Stanton parked in front of an abandoned building.

            "Where are we?" Jimena asked suspiciously.

            "This is the squat where the followers stay." Stanton said, walking toward the alley.

            "How do we know this isn't a trap?" Catty asked, not bothering to hide her distrust. She had never liked the fact that Serena liked Stanton so much, and she didn't bother to hide it.

            "Serena is in danger! Do you really think that I would lead you into a trap knowing that?" He asked.

            "I say we go with him, Serena wouldn't have left without us unless she had a really good reason to." Tianna said.

            "But what about the premonition I had?" Jimena asked.

            "Look, Jimena, if your premonition is going to come true, it's best if we're prepared for it and meet it head on." Catty said, giving in to the fact that Stanton was the only way they could find Serena.

            They followed Stanton into the squat and down into the building's basement.

            "Well, Goddess…we meet again. Though I must admit I have the upper hand here, and that's just not a fair fight. But you know what? I really don't care. You've humiliated me for the last time. Power is going to shift in favor of the dark, and there's nothing you can do about it, in fact, you're going to cause it." Tymmie said.

            "Let her go." Stanton growled.

            "Oh look Goddess, you're prince lover came to rescue you. Too bad it's not going to work the way you want it to." Karyl said, stepping towards Stanton. "You're too late."

            "She's been marked Karyl, you're not supposed to touch her." Stanton said.

            "Well, you know, I might be worried if I still followed the ways of the Atrox, but I seem to recall becoming Infidus." He replied, turning and kicking Serena in the ribs. She cried out in pain and Stanton could see tears running down her cheeks.

            Stanton stepped forward, filled with a new anger, but Jimena grabbed his arm.

            "Don't give him what he wants or Serena will be the one who suffers." She warned him.

            He shook her arm off but thankfully remained where he was. Jimena could feel the unholy power building within him. She flinched, if this is what the Prince of the Night's power was, she knew they weren't ready to fight the Atrox. And involuntary shudder overtook her.

            But it wasn't Stanton that had the attention of the followers. They were too busy staring into the back corner of the room, where a fuzzy figure was forming. Slowly Vanessa came into focus, and she looked angry.

            "Why didn't you guys wait for me?" She asked angrily as soon as she could talk.

            "Vanessa, now isn't the time." Catty said.

            Vanessa pushed through the followers until she was near Tymmie and Karyl, who quickly stopped her.

            "Finally, all the Goddesses are in one place, we've been waiting for you Vanessa." Karyl said, putting his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

            To everyone's surprise she didn't pull away, instead she placed her hand on his cheek and asked in a seductive voice, "Why, so we can be together for all eternity?"

            Karyl grinned and replied, "If that's what you want, my wish is your command."

            "Vanessa! What are you doing?" Catty asked.

            "Why fight it?" Vanessa said, turning away from Karyl, "I'm sick of the same old thing, over and over again, we never win, because we can't even fight, all we can do is defend. I'm tired of always having to get up, and fight followers and have absolutely nothing to show for it. I'm sick of it, Catty, that's why I've decided to cross over."

            "You can't cross over! What about everything you stand for! What about your music! You've worked so hard on it, and you're going to have nothing to show for that either!" Tianna cried.

            "I'd have to give it up in less than a year anyway. All I'm doing is passing something up I would eventually lose and someday may gain eternal life." Vanessa said.

            "Vanessa, you're being stupid! What about Micheal?" Jimena asked, hoping that the thought of loosing Micheal might break Vanessa's insanity.

            "What about Micheal? I can always cross him over, then we can be together for eternity, just like we promised each other." Vanessa said, replacing her arm around Karyl. "You see, I'm gaining more than I'm loosing."

            Without warning a strange power unleashed across the room, the bulbs on the ceiling blew, showering sparks upon them, and then there was darkness.