Destiny (Ronin/Witchblade
Crossover)
By: Yin-Yang & JanimeLee
~Chapter Two~
Closing the shop early wasn't as easy as he thought. Dais had hoped that he would be able to get out of his beloved store so that he could be the first one to pick up his daughter. He couldn't help grinning as he touched the small bag that rested on the passenger seat next to him, as he drove through the insane city traffic towards the outskirts where his ex-wife lived.
Dini was boredly watching TV, sitting on the sofa upside down and humming under her breath. She was bored after that incident at the mall but said nothing. And now she and the other girls were doing their own thing. Her mother was working on her fashion designs and talking with her fashion designer. Lupia and Zenida were outside, sparing a bit of hand-to-hand. Naomi was somewhere around this place, working on something.
She looked up as she heard the doorbell and yelled she got it. However when she tumbled off the sofa she regretted it. "Ow... what a head rush!" Dini made her way to the door, nursing a mild headache and opened it.
"Surprise."
"DAD!" Dini practically jumped into her father's outstretched arms, and he hugged her tightly. "Okay, air, I need air!" she faked gasping.
"Cut it out," Dais grinned and ruffled his daughter's hair, then handed her the bag. "For you."
"You don't have to bring me things," said Dini, while inside she was dying to know what it was.
"Who's at the door, Dini?" her mother asked, walking into view. "Dais... hello."
"Hello, Megumi," he nodded to her with a smile.
"You're early," his ex-wife said after a pause.
"Dad this was so sweet of you!!" Dini practically squealed and hugged her dad tightly. She visited him every time she got and was usually the first to know if he got some news tricks or such in and he did. As she hugged him again her sleeve pulled back to reveal the spider bracelet.
Dais started as he saw the trinket and looked at it closer. "Where did you get this?"
"Oh well mom and me and the others went to the mall and Lupia bought this. It's it cool! Kinda reminds me of those spiders you have at the joke shop," she smiled some, not wanting to scare her parents about the power it seemed to hold.
"Lupia bought it for you?" Dais asked.
"Yeah," Dini nodded. "She got one for herself that looked like a wolf, one for Zenida--her's looks like an ogre, and Naomi's looks like a cobra. They were the only ones there."
Dais' face darkened a bit. "I see."
"Something wrong, Dad?"
"No." Dais smiled at his daughter. "It's nothing. So, are you packed to spend the weekend with me?"
"Yep! Oh this is gonna be fun!" she smiled broadly, dashing upstairs to get her bag and shoved her books under her bed. She could do her homework when she got back on Sunday. She always did.
"Come in, she might be a while," Megumi let him come in, closing the door behind him and they went to sit in the living room. "So... how is the store doing?" she asked, lowering the volume on the TV some as the news came on from the commercial.
"Very well," Dais sat on the couch. "Had a hard time closing up to get here."
"I know; usually you're the last one to arrive."
"That's why I set my clocks ahead nowadays."
Megumi laughed. "I wish you had done that when we were dating."
Dais couldn't help smiling. "How's your business?"
"Couldn't be better," Megumi beamed. "My associate is here; she's helping me go over the new account information."
"That's good to hear, I'm glad." He smiled and looked up as Dini came in with her bag and looking ready to go.
She bounced her way to her mom and hugged her. "Okay mom you take care and I'll see you Sunday!" She was about to leave with her dad when the TV showed the mall and the incident at the bookstore.
"Today a group of young men tried to rob the occupants of the local bookstore in mall downtown yet police are baffled as to what happened. One man was pronounced dead on the seen, two were knocked unconscious, one had marks on him as if a wild animal jumped him, and the presumed leader of the group had what looked like spider silk around his head. When we tried asking some of the people what happened they all remarked 'I don't remember.' If you know of anything that happened please call us the number is down below."
Dais looked at Megumi and Dini. "Were you at the bookstore?"
"We were..." Megumi frowned at the news report. "But he's right... we don't remember what happened."
"Not a thing," Dini said quickly and placed her hand over the spider bracelet.
Dais noticed his daughter's movement. "Come on, Dini. Megumi, I promise no extra sugar coated ice cream cones this times."
"Thank you!" Megumi sank into the couch with overly dramatic relief.
"Very funny," Dini grumbled and shut the door behind her as she and Dais walked to his car. "Thanks for the wax lips, Dad."
"Well, you've been asking for them," Dais grinned.
She smiled and it grew as she saw that her uncle Cale had arrived. He smiled as Lupia was happily talking to him and grinning impishly set her bag down and raced at her friends. One of the perks she loved about her dad the joke shop downtown was that she got first dibs on everything.
Zenida smiled as she saw her uncle and looked at Dini stood next to her. She nearly took a double take as she looked at her mouth and smirked some. "Um Dini? It looks like you got a allergic reaction to something."
"Zenida! Give me kiss!" Dini began to lightly chase Zenida around the others.
"Get away from me!" Zenida laughed as she fled.
Lupia laughed as she leaned against her dad, thinking how funny it was as she watched her friends. Cale lightly chuckled, helping to steady his daughter as they left the bike and headed to the large home.
"Hey Dais. Better call her off before she decided to come over here and give us a kiss!" he jested, docking the punch his long time friend swung at him. "Good to see she has your sense of humor."
"And Lupia has you're love of the nightlife," Dini smiled as she came back, taking the lips off and gave proper greetings. Zenida came back also, still laughing and promised she would get her back.
"And what does Zenida happen to love?"
"Hi Daddy!" Zenida ran to Anubis and hugged him.
Anubis kissed her cheek. "Do tell what you love."
"Life itself."
A deep green, almost black car pulled along side the curb in front of the house. A man with dark green hair, wearing a long black coat and sunglasses stepped out. He shut the door and leaned against the car, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Sekhmet!" Cale smiled, greeting his friend with a wave.
Sekhmet nodded stiffly in response, then turned his head to the door of the house. Naomi walked out with her bag over her shoulder and a not too pleased look on her face that mirrored her father's. She half-heartedly waved goodbye and got into the car.
"He's certainly changed over the years," Dais added quietly as the man got back in the car and drove off. Sighing some he looked at the girls. "Ladies we need to talk about something before we all head out."
"Oh that's okay! I gotta get my stuff together." Lupia gave her dad a sheepish grin and the girls headed inside to get their stuff ready. Zenida was already packed up but she could always double check to see if she forgot anything
"I take it neither of you saw the news yet?" Dais quietly asked once he was sure they were alone.
"No we just got here. Something happen we should know about?" Cale asked, making sure to watch the news tonight at home.
The white haired man told them what the reporter said and then mentioned some new gifts the girls got when they were at the mall. Needless to say they each remember just what kind of power those trinkets held.
"So how was your stay at Dini's?" Sekhmet asked.
Naomi looked at him in surprise. "You actually care?"
"Any harm in that?"
"No... It's just that this is the first time you ever asked."
"I worry," Sekhmet glanced at her briefly and turned his eyes back to the road. "You never noticed."
"You never showed it." Naomi turned to look out the window again.
"Were you at the mall this morning?" asked Sekhmet.
"Yeah, we were," Naomi answered, unconsciously touching her new bracelet on her left wrist. "Why?"
"Saw on the news about a strange event at the bookstore." Sekhmet turned left. "A gang tried to rob it but they were stopped. One was dead by the time the police arrived due to a strange poison, another had just about been mauled, the third was beaten, and one had spider silk on his face which nearly suffocated him." He paused as they reached the stoplight. "Yet no one remembered anything."
She didn't say anything but nodded. No one knew what happened except her and the others. But she wasn't going to tell him. Not yet. "Yeah well guess the shock made everyone forget. No one expected a book store to be robbed of all places."
Sekhmet pulled off the main road and started going towards the park.
"Where are you going?
"The park. I haven't taken you there in a long time and I think we should have a talk." was all he said. Within minutes they had arrived to a large field with some benches, a large fountain and large playground set for the children. There were a few families there and some children as well. Sekhmet parked the car and stepped out, taking a deep breathe of the clean air.
Naomi stepped out of the car and walked beside her father. "A talk?" she asked. "What do you mean?"
"When your mother and I started dating, I used to bring her up here," Sekhmet began; he walked over to the fountain and sat down on the wide rim. "After you were born, we would bring you here, too."
Naomi sat beside him, looking at him with a little concern--her father never talked about the past, let alone sentimental stuff.
"The day after our divorce was finalized, I came here." Sekhmet took his sunglasses off and looked at the children on the playground. "I found a coin that day. They say that finding a coin means good luck, and if you make a wish and toss it into the fountain it will come true."
"So... what did you wish for?" Naomi asked in a low voice, very interested in what he had to say. Maybe... things were looking up. Maybe they could act like a family like her friends. The snake bracelet seemed to stir a bit on her wrist but stopped, blinking ruby eyes slowly as it too listened in.
"I wished that I had been a better father and a better husband," Sekhmet sighed; reaching into his shirt, he pulled out a metal chain with a gold ring dangling from it.
His wedding ring... Naomi realized.
"I still love your mother, Naomi."
"Then why did you two divorce?"
"I didn't want you two getting involved with what happened to me," Sekhmet looked at his daughter. "I didn't want my past to consume either of you."
"Dad..." slowly she reached over and took his hand in both her own, meeting his eyes. "I know we haven't been on best terms with each other... but can we start over? Please?"
Sekhmet looked at her for a long time before squeezing her hands and gave her a wry smile. The first real smile he had in a long time. "I would like that very much." Maybe... this is my second chance. I won't lose this chance. He looked down and saw the snake bracelet on her left wrist. "Where did you get that?"
"Oh, Lupia bought this for me," Naomi touched the trinket. "She got one for herself, Zenida and Dini."
"Mind if I take a closer look?" he held her wrist in his hand, studying the bracelet and frowned a bit. No doubt about it this bracelet was the same one he used to have a long time ago. "It's interesting. Didn't think you like snakes that much."
Naomi shrugged her shoulders some. "It's alright and it reminded me alot of you."
Sekhmet grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Naomi smiled herself. "So this is a new start, then?"
"Yes," her father nodded. "Shall we before your mother leaves 50 messages, wondering where we are?"
"Okay." As Naomi stood up, she noticed something small and shinny by her foot. Picking it up, Naomi grinned and saw it was a coin.
"What is it?" Sekhmet asked.
"A coin," his daughter answered. Her grin widened as she closed her eyes, and then tossed the coin into the fountain.
"Did you make a wish?"
"Yep; want to know what it is?"
"No, it's bad luck to tell your wish on the same day," said Sekhmet.
The teenage girl just smiled and leaned into him, holding onto his hand as he wrapped her shoulders. Together they headed back to the car where they headed home. Things were indeed looking for them and she was more than glad.
Downtown, speeding on a motorcycle Lupia was holding onto her father tightly, moving with him as he leaned side to side to keep the balance. Even with the helmet and jacket to keep the cool air off she still shivered some. The thrill of these rides always made her feel like this. She couldn't wait to leave how to ride one but her mother told her over and over "I have enough problems worrying about your father on that death bike to worry about you as well!"
Cale slowed the bike down as they came to a stop sign, looking both ways they turned down the street and stopped in front of a club that was opened even this early. He set out the kickstand and pulled the helmet off, grinning wolfishly at his daughter.
"Just had to stop by and make sure I don't work tonight. I don't plan on leaving you home alone this weekend. And who knows maybe your mom can get off also."
Lupia gave her father a suspicious look. "You want mom to have the weekend off?"
"It's not what you think," Cale handed her his helmet. "I'll be right out."
"Right. Tell mom I said hi." As she sat there waiting she looked at the black bike and smiled to herself. She wanted to learn how to ride one of these things so much but she had to wait a few more weeks and she would be sixteen. She couldn't wait.
Inside there weren't many people drinking, so the waitresses were taking an early break and making sure everything was set up for tonight. A woman with short black hair with dark blue highlights was one of the few actually working. She was wearing tight black jeans and a tight shirt with the club's name on the back. She sighed and placed the order for a bloody Mary and a tall beer.
"I always did love looking at the moon," a dark sensual voice said from behind.
She whirled around, ready to hit the pervert with her tray, only to discover whom the voice belonged to. "Cale, honestly."
"Come on, Liana," her estranged husband said. "You always knew how I acted ever before we got married."
"I know," she said. "Where's Lupia?"
"Outside on my bike."
"Cale, I don't want her riding on that-"
"Relax, sweetheart, I took the keys. "Cale jingled the small ring of assorted metal in his right hand. "I'm not that stupid to leave her out there with these in the ignition. She'll take off before either of us can take a breath."
"Impulsiveness she got from you," said Liana.
"Shopping habits she got from you," Cale retorted.
Liana narrowed her eyes. "You little-"
"Liana, please," Cale became serious. "Are you off tonight? I am, and we said we were trying to see if we could work things out before the thought of a lawyer comes into mind."
She looked down at the counter, setting the drinks on her tray before sighing and looked back at him. "As soon as the night crowd comes in I get off. I'll stop by then just... don't tell Lupia about the lawyer. Not yet." she looked at him with dark eyes, not wanting their daughter to get torn between them.
"I'm hoping we can avoid that," Cale said. "If possible."
"So am I," She gave him a brief smile and nodded to him, balancing the tray easily on her hand with long time practice. "You better get going before she comes in here." She still loved this man but something happened along the way. She didn't want to lose him or force their only child to choose between them. It wouldn't be fair to either of them. Forcing a calm expression on her face she headed over to the table she was waiting on, setting the drinks down and ignoring the way they hollered at the top of their lungs.
Why didn't I ever tell you? Cale thought, mentally kicking himself as he left.
"Is she off?" Lupia asked, handing back the helmet to her father.
"Yes," Cale put it on his head and climbed in front of his daughter. "She'll be home a little after six."
"Cool!" She smiled, holding onto her dad as he started up the engine and drove off. She really enjoyed being with her mom, as much as her dad and looked ahead as they drove to the apartment that was close by.
Dini happily dumped her bags on the floor next to the door; glad to be home with her dad and smiled up at him. "So what do you want to do first, dad?"
"I'll be honest, I didn't really have anything planned," said Dais; he looked at his watch. "Three, two, one..."
The phone rang. Dini picked it up. "Hello? Hi, Mom!"
"Right on time," Dais said.
"Hi hon, glad I caught you both at home." she smiled as she settled herself on the sofa, glad her work was done for today and looked forward to sleeping in tomorrow. "So what are you two doing?"
"Well we just got home right and trying to figure out what to do," the teenage girl smiled, watching her dad sit across from her, motioning that he wanted to talk to her when she was done but to take her time. Dini gave him the thumbs up and continued talking with her mother.
Dais looked at the bracelet on his daughter's left wrist. Why has it shown up? Dais thought. We buried them years ago. Why now? Please, not my daughter, not any of our daughters.
"Well just remember no more sweets for you, young lady. I don't want to hear that you gave your dad a hard time either, but I also want you two to have fun."
"I won't give him a hard time," Dini said in a mock hurt voice. "I never do such a thing."
"Yeah right," Dais said quietly, rolling his eyes.
Dini stuck her tongue out at him.
"Just behave," said her mother.
"I will," Dini promised. "I love you, Mom. Oh, here's Dad--he wants to talk to you."
"Alright I'll wait," she smiled, pulling her legs up as she watched a commercial about hair loss. She smoothed a hand through her white blonde hair.
"Thanks," Dais said as he took the phone, settling back into his chair and spoke into the receiver. "Nothing to worry about here we got alone well. Except when it comes to having a joke off." he chuckled softly, remembering the times they would try to out do each other with pranks and there hasn't been a time yet that his little girl could trick him.
"I hope you two aren't going to have a war like you did two years ago in the summer," his ex-wife said. "People thought I had divorced a Shaolin Monk."
"Oh thanks," Dais grumbled lightly and touched his hair. "No hair remover shall be within this house ever again."
"For your sake, I hope not. However, you did manage to use that hat Dini got you for your birthday."
"Ha-ha."
Dini looked at her dad and smiled before looking back at the TV. She settled on old black and white Three Stooges marathon that seemed to be running. She loved these guys alot. When her school held a talent show she managed to get her friends to do a three stooges act but something happened and they ended up getting the judges hit with the cream pies they made. It was funny but they had been disqualified on the spot.
"Well I know you two so keep it to a minimum. Oh and remind Dini that she has homework to do. I'll be by tomorrow to drop her books off. I don't like her to do her work at the last minute," she smiled some, leaning her head back and sighed softly. "Why don't you two go to the theater tomorrow. I heard they were showing a movie that got great reviews in the states."
"What is it called?" Dais asked.
"Lemme think... Lord of the Ring I believe. Lots of magic, fantasy world, you two might like it." She reached over to see if she had the movie section of the paper and unfolded it. "Says here they're showing it at different times on three screens. Really popular here as well," she smiled and leaned back in her seat. Dini laughed as the stooges were in a pie fight with some of the 'upper class.' She could watch these shows all night!
"Shows like Dini is having fun already. I'll let you go and I'll be in the morning with her books. Take care of her, alright?"
"Promise," Dais raised his right hand. "Cross my heart and all that other mumbo jumbo."
"You don't need to put your hand up--we're on the phone."
"Mom has MSP. Mother Sensory perception," Dini called back, laughing and rolling onto her back as Curly was trying to ride a horse backwards on a foxhunt.
"She has your wit. Tell her good night for my and take care of yourself. I'll see you both in the early afternoon."
"I will," said Dais. "You have a good night, too."
"Good night, Mom!" Dini yelled between laughs.
"Pleasant dreams," she smiled and hung up the phone. Aye what a family she had but she loved them both dearly. If only... he could tell me what happened in his past. He's so secretive about it. Sighing she decided to get ready for some sleep.
Dais set the hone down and got up, heading to the kitchen to make them dinner as Dini laughed at the antics of three grown men who made fools of themselves as a career. He decided to heat up some left over spaghetti he made yesterday for lunch.
"Spaghetti?" he asked.
"Okay," Dini giggled as Curly ran around the living room set. When the commercial came on, she glanced down at her spider bracelet. Dini cautiously touched it, then the jewel started to glow.
Dais was stirring the spaghetti in the pot when a familiar sensation began on his forehead. He gasped and quickly put his hands over his kanji.
"Dad, are you okay?" Dini asked in a worried voice. The glow faded from the jewel.
"I'm all right," Dais answered, slowly lowering his hands when he knew his kanji was gone. "Almost burned myself."
She didn't look to believe him and handed him the potholder. "Then use this. Don't want you to hurt yourself now." she smiled at him and got two plates out, setting them on the table. Dad you're alot more careful than that. What's wrong? Why don't you trust me to tell me? She thought to herself and pushed the thought aside for now.
"Grated cheese?" she asked.
"Top shell on the left."
Dini took out the jar and placed it on the table. "So how's the shop?"
"Business is good."
"Seeing anyone?"
"Dini, please," her father gave her the famous 'Not going there' look.
"Fine fine. Just wondering," she said as she held her hands up. She pulled out a jug of water and juice, setting them on the table with the glasses and such. She sat down, helping him serve the meaty noodles and they began to eat. Taking the cheese she covered her plate with it and mixed it together with her fork. "Dad you made the greatest spaghetti."
"How much is it?" Dais asked
"It what?" his daughter asked innocently.
"Every time you compliment on my cooking that's a sure sign that you want to buy something. So you might as well tell me know."
"Weeell at the mall I saw this super cute dress and even mom said it looked nice! Please dad I know you'll like it! I can wear it for Lupia sweet sixteen party!"
"What about all the other dresses we got you?" he asked, swallowing a mouthful of pasta.
"They're so outdated now! Please dad! I would ask mom if she could make me one but I don't wanna stress her out." She got up from her chair and went behind him, hugging him while giving him the sad eye routine. "Please? Pretty please? I won't ask for anything else. This month anyway."
"Two months."
"A month and a half?"
"Deal."
"Thank you!" Dini kissed his cheek and went back to her chair.
At home Zenida smiled happily at being home again. She missed everything, especially the sense of tradition it held. She sighed as she straightens up from putting her clothes away and went to see what her dad was doing. Home is where the heart is. How true that is, she smiled to herself, looking at the mixed tastes of the Orient and the Indian cultures from both her parents.
She found her father inside his small bonzai garden, tending to a new sprout. Anubis took pride in caring for his garden
She smiled softly and on silent feet stood a bit behind him, watching him. "A new life emerging?" she asked softly, not wanting to disturb his concentration too much.
"Yes," her father answered. "A strong one." He set down the palm shears. "Strong willed like you."
"With you love and care there's no question about it." She smiled, running a hand through her light lavender hair. "I'll get dinner ready and call you when it's ready." She nodded to him and headed to the kitchen, thinking about her parents as she did.
Both were traditional and even though their cultures were vastly different they managed to work together in everything they did. Her mother knew her father had secrets to hide but long ago let him tell her when he was ready, not before. Her mother had gone back to India to attends to her aunt's wedding and would be back something this weekend. She loved her parents alot and even her grandparents who said they wanted nothing to do with her. Because her mother had married not of her parents liking they shunned her, but she didn't let it get to her and continued to stay with Anubis. Forever faithful to him and loving to her family, she acted as if nothing was wrong.
Zenida was taking the chicken out of the fridge when the phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hi, honey."
"Mom!" Zenida smiled. "How are you? How was the wedding?"
"It was beautiful," Delia said. "I took alot of pictures and I'll develop them as soon as I come home."
"That's great! I can't wait to see them," she smiled. "So how is everyone doing?"
"You know, same ole same ole. Your grandparents still aren't talking to me but your aunt wished you could've come. She said she expects you to visit when school finishes," she told her, making sure all her camera equipment and items were packed away so she could leave in the morning. "How was your night at your friend home? Did you have fun?"
"It was great. We talked and watched movies and we also went to the mall. I bought this really neat beaded bracelet for you and you won't believe what Lupia myself and the other!" she exclaimed as she set the chicken in the counter and went to get out the pan and other items. "Of course. Dini tried to kiss me with wax lips."
The older woman laughed in a pleasure way, imaging the young girl just doing that and ran a hand through her dark hair away from her deep-set eyes. "Well seems she may have a crush on you little one. But I'm glad you had a good time. You can tell me more when I get home but I better go now. I have to make sure my plane is going to leave on time instead of being early." Oh like she wanted that to happen. because the plane came early she was forced to take another one and was nearly late.
"Okay mom you be careful."
"Same with you. Give your father my love and that I'm sorry I couldn't talk to him. I love you both so very much. Bye."
"Bye mom and we love you too." Zenida smiled and hung up the phone, going to the sink to wash her hands before she would cut the chicken up.
"Four kings," Cale placed his cards on the table. "Both of you owe me ten pretzel sticks."
Lupia looked at her mother then slammed her fists down on the small pile of pretzels. "Now you have pretzel dust."
"Lupia!" Liana gaped at her daughter.
"It's all right," Cale couldn't help laughing. "I did the same thing last time we played poker."
The teenage just shrugged her shoulders but smug with herself. She brushed her hands and gathered the cards all together. "Okay my turn to deal."
Moments like this the small family had fun by having a night of poker were they used mainly junk food, never money. As least with your winnings you could eat them. After this was a night of horror flicks and some comedies from the video store.
"So what movie did you rent?" Liana asked.
"Nightmare on Elm Street?" Lupia grinned.
"Please!" her mother raised her hands. "I had enough nightmares from that one."
"I rented 'Bedazzled'," said Cale. "It's a comedy."
"That I can live with."
"Mom the Nightmare movies aren't so bad." Except for the time she dressed up as Freddy Kruger one Halloween night and nearly gave her mom a heart attack. "Besides, it's rare to find a good movie that you can't it's fake or jazzed up oldie."
Cale reached over and ruffled her electric blue hair, laughing the glare she level at him and took up the cards as they were dealt out. Hmm this was a good hand. "Okay so that pretzels are done. Let's use these." He set a large bag of M&Ms in the center. "We'll use these and no eating until the game is done. Or I win all your hands."
"When are the eggs gonna hatch?" Naomi asked, looking through the glass of the large tank. There were about ten eggs lying in the middle of the sand with a small heat lamp hanging above the wire mesh top.
"About six more weeks," Sekhmet answered; he looked at the two separate glass cages beside the one with the eggs. "Sasha, King, you're going to be parents."
"Does this make you a grandpa and me an aunt?" Naomi couldn't help grinning.
"Well that's a way to look at it... yes." He smiled at her and stood behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder. "Of course I'm going to need your help in caring for them and naming them." Odd how his ex-wife, Abigail, who was a veterinarian, and had dealt with even premature cubs at the local zoo she could stand his snakes or anything else with scales. But Naomi seemed to like them and he was happy.
The phone rang. "I'll get it." Sekhmet walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi."
"Abigail..." Sekhmet glanced at his daughter who was still peering at the eggs. "How are you?"
"I'm all right," his ex-wife said nervously. "Yourself?"
"I'm good."
Naomi looked in the direction he dad left and straightens up some, looking at the two snakes and smiled a little bit. "Bet you two are happy parents." The snakes just looked at her, flicking their tongues against the glass.
"Well… do you want to talk to Naomi? We got home just a while ago."
"Actually… I wanted to talk to you. Naomi and I haven't exacted been getting along as of late and… I was hoping that maybe... you could see if I didn't anything wrong." She sighed and rubbed her temple briefly. "I don't mean to sound like I'm prying into her mind but I'm worried about her…"
"That's unusual," said Sekhmet. "It's always been the other way around."
"I know; hard to believe, isn't it?"
"So what was happening?"
"Well... her attitude for one thing--she seems so distant and when I ask her what's wrong she explodes." Abigail sighed. "Then she storms into her room and stays there for a while, and then she takes off with the other girls. A few times she didn't come home but she was at one of their houses."
"Hmmm, well I'll see if I can get her to talk about this weekend but I won't make any promises. She's a stubborn girl in her own way." He paused for the moment; peeking back in the room only to see Naomi had settled her on the couch and was watching some music video. Times were changing and he wanted to help his family as much as she could.
Abigail nodded and ran a hand through her thick hair. "Alright I believe you. I had better let you go. Tell Naomi I said to be careful and give her my love."
"I will. Abigail?"
"Yes?"
Sekhmet paused for a moment, the words catching in his throat. "Have a good night," he finally said.
She noted the tenderness in his deep voice and couldn't help smiling. "You too," she said.
Sekhmet hung up the phone after he heard the click on the other end. "Idiot," he muttered to himself. He still loved his ex-wife--the vows they made when they had married still mattered to him even after their quick and almost clean divorce.
Sighing, he walked into the living and sat beside Naomi on the couch. Sekhmet blinked at the music video playing on the screen. "What is this?"
"Marilyn Manson's new video," his daughter answered.
"Okay..."
They sat there in silence for a couple of minutes, the music video the only thing breaking the silent of the room from the TV before the teenage girl spoke up, not bothering to look at her father. "So what did mom say?"
"She wanted to me to tell you to be careful and that she loves you." He decided to leave the part about talking to her for later time. All she did was nod her head and continued to stare at the TV. The older man silently sighed to himself and sat back. This was going to be a long weekend.
Somewhere in a dark and unnerving place a young man was sitting in a leather chair, staring at several screens at once. What was peculiar about them was they were each watching each of the four girls with their fathers at the moment. He tapped slender fingers on the armrest, thinking to himself about these new 'opponents'.
"Ironic, isn't it?" he asked aloud, though he was alone in the room. "What you four wanted to be rid of made its way to your children. Blood is always thicker than water. Always."
Even as the girls were each having an okay time with their family members they couldn't seem to shake the feeling of being watched off. The screens each reflected what each was doing: Dini and Dais were laughing at each other, apparently playing some sort of game. Zenida and Anubis were actually practicing a bit of hand-to-hand combat in the back yard of their home dressed in gi. Lupia was listening to her walkman as she danced about. Linda and Cale watched her amusement, talking a bit between themselves as well but being careful not to let her over here. Naomi and Sekhmet were still watching some more music videos, looking almost bored but the girl was leaning against her father some. The screens seemed to have taken a close up look on the bracelets before the screens began to get static.
"Oh, how it will make you squirm." The unseen viewer pressed the button on the control and rose from his chair, smiling wickedly. "Now this is when the real game begins."
The bracelets each flickered a bit but that was it. The evil was back and they would do all they could to protect their new charges the best to their ability. They wouldn't let their powers be used for destruction anymore.
~End of Chapter Two~