This chapter is really long and contains a song done by LeAnn Rimes. It is
not my song. Do not sue me. Thank you.
Chapter Seven
"OUCH!" Damon yelled, flinging himself away from Katrina. "That hurt!" "Oh, stop being such a wimp!" Katrina scolded. "Come back here and let me heal that back wound!" "I can take care of it myself!" Damon snapped, retreating before her oncoming fingers. "You can't possibly reach it!" Katrina said in exasperation. "Now-just-let- me-" Damon roared as her fingers found his back and black energy poured into his wounds, healing them painfully. "That HURT!!!" He bellowed. "Well, it's all better now." Katrina said calmly, reaching again. "Now, just let me take off that silly bandage-" "Forget it." Damon snapped. "You keep your hands away from my back." Katrina gulped, eyes starting to glisten. "Until I tell you that you can." Damon said hastily, praying Katrina wouldn't explode. It worked. Katrina sighed in melancholy before sitting down cross-legged on the cold black marble floor. Spike chuckled. "Well, aren't we being all sensitive." He teased. "Shut it." Damon growled, tensely feeling his back. "If you had any idea-" "How'd you get that, anyway?" Jedin asked. "That stupid cannonball didn't seem like enough-and where'd the bandage come from?" "The cannonball just relit the pain." Damon replied. "As to where it got it-uh-" "What?" Spike asked, interest in his cold eyes. "You guys are going to laugh." Damon muttered. "Try us." He took a deep breath, then said in a rush, "I saved a human girl from being hit by a car and she made me a bandage out of her shirt." He winced, waiting for the torment. It wasn't long in coming. "YOU?!!" Jedin roared in laughter. "YOU saved a HUMAN?!" His voice trailed away into helpless laughter. "That was sooo sweet." Spike said, clasping his hands together and pretending to swoon. "I think I'll faint!" "Gag me." Uther snorted in disgust. "Saving a human. Didn't think you'd stoop so low." "Hey," Damon said, leaning casually against a pillar. "Let's just say, her energy was very good. A definite winner. Couldn't let it go to waste." "Ahhh, thinking for the future, eh, Damon?" A high voice said as Ithengil walked into view. "Most impressive. Very full, you say?" "Extremely." Damon assured him. "All I have to do is get close enough, and then." He trailed off. "Now that's the Damon we know and love." Spike said with a malicious grin. "So," Jedin said, striding over to Ithengil. "What's up for our energy stealing, chief?" "I've found the energy reading is often highest in what humans call, 'teenagers'." Ithengil said, rubbing his hands together. "They're chock full of life and passion. See if you all can mingle in the-ahem-'high school' environment. Plenty of specimens there. And they're these things called 'parties' that many fine specimens attend, but no one seems to notice if a few vanish. I suggest getting acquainted with these people, gentlemen-and ladies." He hastily added to Katrina. "Learn their ways. You're going to have to mingle with them, at least, for two hours a day. And preferably when no one will notice." "Right." Jedin said, smiling slightly. "Penetrate human culture and get invited to 'parties'. Couldn't be simpler." "Oh, and one more thing!" Ithengil called as Damon, Jedin, Katrina, and Spike began to walk away. "I suggest getting acquainted with the 'populars'. These are often the most pretty and fashion-interested humans. They're the ones with perhaps the most 'parties'-and the most energy." * * * "Welcome back to life in the hell mouth." Angie said with a sigh at lunch on Monday. "We don't live in Sunnydale." Rachelle pointed out. "Isn't school enough of a hell?" Angela asked grumpily, taking a gloomy bite of a ham sandwich. "Most assuredly." Mary said tiredly, stretching. "Man, I am SO sore." "Fighting non-stop against evil people with incredible powers can do that to you." Marisa said, eyeing her tray with suspicion. "The poisoned food still bugging you?" Angie asked with a grin. Lacie shuddered as she watched Marisa gingerly pick up a fork and plunge it into the macaroni and cheese. "Personally, I am never buying again." "I wouldn't." Marisa said, looking with distaste at her entrée. "But it takes too much effort to make a lunch. For me, anyway." Malorie sighed and rolled her eyes before taking a bite of her apple. "Hey, Senshi." Kyle put a brown bag lunch bag next to Rachelle and slid into the seat beside her. Rachelle blushed slightly as his arm went around her shoulder. She snuggled in beside him. "You guys are really sickening." Elisha commented. "You shut up." Angie ordered. "Uh-oh!" Malorie whispered suddenly. "Here comes the slut patrol!" "Oh, no." Mary moaned. "Not Hannah!" "The very same." Marisa said with a sigh and a gulp. A beautiful, thin, extremely curved blond was making her way between the tables, her consort of other blonds not as pretty or as nicely built as she was following. A smirk was formed on her sugar-coated lips as she put her hands on the girls' table. "Well, well, well." She cooed, voice coated sweet but unable to hide the cold undercurrent. "What do we have here? Our resident freaks!" "Looks like you paid another visit to the plastic surgeon, Hannah." Angie said politely, pointedly eyeing her shirt. Hannah leaned down to look Angie in the eye. "Oh, I don't have to fake it." She purred. "Unlike some people." She smiled. "Might I suggest some band-aids?" "Please remove your overwhelmingly sickening rotting-flower perfume from my nostrils." Angie said calmly. "It's Chanel." Hannah said icily, sugar-coating gone. "Is that like gangrene?" Mary asked. Angie grinned at her. Hannah sighed and shook her head sadly. "Ah, our poor little resident nutcase. I suppose you haven't spit on anyone, recently?" "It's called gleeking." Mary said, a bit of darkness creeping into her tone. "Ah, yes." Hannah said in tones of false discovery. "Gleeking. My mistake." "Look, are you just here to torment us?" Malorie demanded. "Or is there some other purpose?" Hannah gave her a mean smile as her girlfriends tittered like a bunch of idiotic birds. She turned icy blue eyes on Kyle, and the look melted into pure sweetness. "Oh, Kyle. Babysitting again?" "You could call it that." Kyle said stiffly, arms tightening protectively around Rachelle, who clung to him with a frightened look. Hannah saw this, and her eyes sharpened. But her sweet smile remained the same. "Just here to tell you I'm hosting a little get-together tonight at my apartment. My folks will be gone. All the-" She looked at the girls and muffled a laugh. "-beautiful people will be there. All the populars. Who knows? Maybe you'll even be able to dump the trash for something- better." With this lovely parting statement, she whirled, short skirt riding just below her butt, and walked away, entourage following, casting Kyle admiring and appreciative leers. Rachelle clutched Kyle's blazer as he glared at Hannah's retreating back. "That bitch." He growled. "That low-life, slutty little-" "Kyle, p-please." Rachelle hiccupped, on the verge of tears. "Ignore h- her. She's just t-trying to get b-between us." Kyle looked down, rage melting into worry. He gently cradled Rachelle's head and murmured something into her ear, making her instantly relax and begin to smile. "She's creepy." Angie remarked. "But it was good to hit her with that gangrene remark, Mary. That was truly well-done." "Thank you, thank you." Mary said, bowing and blowing kisses. "I want to thank the little people. Without you, my insanity would not be possible." Angie grinned before turning to Kyle. "So? Are you going?" Kyle snorted. "Are you kidding? Going to where that whore and her mob will be on me all night? No thanks!" "No." Rachelle said suddenly, eyes closed. "You should go, Kyle. And you're taking us, too." All the girls stared at her in shock. "What!?" Lacie exclaimed. "Go to a popular party? Are you nuts?!" Angie saw the trapped look in Rachelle's eyes. "A premonition?" She asked gently. Rachelle nodded. "I-I've just got this feeling. There'll be an attack. On her party. I-I'm sorry, but it's just so deep." "Understood." Angie said, giving her friend a reassuring glance. "And your premonition might have saved some lives yet." "Um, hello?" Marisa asked. "People? How are we supposed to get in to party in question?? We were not invited. The only one who was invited was Kyle. Remember? So what are we supposed to do to get in?" "Isn't it obvious?" Lacie said with a snort. "We go in disguise! Say we're Kyle's cousins who decided to tag along or something." "All of us with one guy?" Mary asked skeptically. "With one guy what?" A voice behind her asked. Malorie choked on her apple. "You?!" She coughed out. Oz cockily smiled down at her as he took a seat next to her. "Yes, me. You sound so pleased." Marisa blushed as Andrew sat by her. Lance took the seat at the far end by Kyle. "Why must you be here?!" Malorie groaned, laying her head down on the table. "For the same reasons you are, M&M." Oz answered, waiting eagerly for her reply. It was instantaneous. "DON'T CALL ME M&M!!!!!!" Malorie shrieked, throwing her apple core at him. It hit his head and bounced off, striking the floor. Andrew sniggered before turning to Marisa. "What were you guys talking about? About all of you with one guy?" "I bet they're all players." Oz muttered. Malorie whacked him across the head. "Well." Angie hesitated. "There's this-party, that Kyle's been invited to, and we want to go. But the hostess doesn't really like us, so she didn't invite us, so we're trying to think of ways to-sneak in." She blushed. "Hannah's party?" Lance asked, glancing up from his latest novel. Angie nodded in surprise. "How'd you know?" Andrew's lips drew up in a smile. "She was our-ahem-official welcoming committee. Practically killed some girls to talk to us. Introduced herself and invited us all in one breath. Said we could start off right, with the 'popular' crowd." Angie sighed. "That's our Hannah. Popular junior varsity cheerleader by day, party-throwing slut by night." "So, you want to sneak in, huh?" Andrew mused, tilting his head back and resting a thoughtful finger on his chin. "I think that perhaps we could invite our lovely out-of-town friends to join us to the extravaganza party of the year." His voice trailed away as he winked at Angie. She jumped on the hint. "You'd take us?! Really?! You would!?" Oz grinned. "Sure, why not? I could use some fun. Beside, it'll be fun to fool the-cheerleader." "Do we have to ask them for help?" Malorie asked Angie plaintively. "I get dibs on taking M&M in." Oz whispered loudly to Lance, who was clearly not playing any attention and merely replied with a grunt. "Stop that!" Malorie wailed, hitting his arm. "Lance can take Lacie and Elisha." Angie said, eagerly planning it out. "One can be his girlfriend and the other his cousin. If we do that with all of you-Andrew with Marisa and Mary, Oz with Malorie and me-and you each pretend that one of the girls is your girlfriend, you can both help us and completely get rid of any hormone-raging girls." "Should I go in with Kyle?" Rachelle said doubtfully. "I mean, they might recognize me-" "You'll go as his cute 8th grade sister." Angie said teasingly. Rachelle glared at her. "Kidding, kidding." She thought for a second, then grinned craftily. "Go as yourself! I'm sure Kyle can shield you from evil girls. I mean, you are his girlfriend, yes? Of course, for the rest of us, we'll have to do complete makeovers. Change hair, makeup, clothes." She began rambling on as sweat drops formed on everyone's heads. "I think your friend's gone." Lance muttered to Lacie, who nodded reverently. Angie came out of her trance to grin at everyone. "Come on, people! Operation Party has begun!!" * * * Damon stared curiously around at the high-school cafeteria. "This is where these people learn?!" He muttered in disbelief. Beside him, Jedin cackled. "My God! All these life forms, so close together." He licked his lips. "Don't try it!" Katrina warned, brushing a flame red lock from her eyes. "The Senshi are here. They might be watching us, and us not even in disguises.." "I refuse to dress like a human today." Spike said flatly. "Simple minded pathetic little shrimps." Damon agreed with Spike, but for different reasons. What if he went into his disguise and..saw Angie? The embarrassment in front of his friends would be too great if he was kind to her, but if he was mean.. His hand strayed down into the pocket of his human pants to quickly stroke the ripped-shirt bandage that had bound his wound. "Hi!" A sugary voice chirped at his elbow. He drew back and stared down at the ice blue eyes and far too peachy face with pink lips that was happily smiling up at him. "Hello," He replied guardedly, eyeing the human girl nervously. Spike, Jedin, and Katrina had noticed the girl also and were peering over his shoulder. "Is this your friend?" Spike whispered. "No!" Damon hissed, shaking him off a bit. The girl giggled. "Boy, but you lot are cute!!" She said appreciatively, eyeing both Jedin and Spike also. "My name's Hannah Brinks, Head Junior Varsity Cheerleader! And you are.?" "What's a cheerleader?" Katrina asked curiously. Hannah chose to ignore her and kept her eyes focused on Damon's face. "Answer her!" Jedin hissed, driving his elbow into Damon's back. Damon cleared his throat. "I'm-Damon. This is Jedin, Spike, and Katrina." He pointed to each in turn. "Charmed!" Hannah said, obviously thrilled. "So, did you four just move here or what?" "Uh, yeah, we were just-relocated." Damon said, wondering when this obnoxious human would go away. "So, are you guys seniors?" She persisted, showing no sign of leaving. "Um.." Damon replied, looking helplessly at Jedin. "Uh." "Of course we are." Jedin said smoothly, coming out from behind Damon. "What else would we be?" Hannah beamed up at him. "Silly of me, of course you are. Anyway, I was wondering." Damon didn't hear the rest of the conversation. His heart had suddenly leapt up into his throat. Right there, not fifty feet away, sitting at a table with other girls and a few guys, was Angie. She was laughing at something, taking a bite of some small, light brown thing, laughing and smiling. Her eyes traveled up to meet his. He quickly looked away, but not before seeing something like shock penetrating her eyes. He came back into the conversation just in time to her Jedin say, "Of course we'd love to come to your party. Wouldn't miss it!" He gave Hannah his most seductive smile. It was a wonder she didn't fall panting at his feet. Damon rolled his eyes as the blond finally walked back to a table nearby, eyes never leaving Jedin's. "What was that all about?" He inquired. Jedin grinned at him. "We, my friend, have an invitation to a rather large formal party which will undoubtedly be full of many energy-full victims. Plus, very, very pretty girls." He licked his lips. Damon elbowed him. "You are such a pervert." Jedin grinned. "Hey, man, anyway I can get it." Damon laughed, and then let his eyes flick over to Angie. Was it possible.would she perhaps be there.? "Apparently only older students, too." Jedin said loudly, erupting any hope Damon had. "Just-'seniors'-and cheerleaders." "Great." Damon sighed. "Spending a night with humans. Great fun." * * * "Don't freak and don't look around." Angie said in a low voice to Malorie, glancing across the cafeteria. "But Jedin, Spike, Katrina, and Damon are all sitting at a table, and completely undisguised, also." Malorie, of course, gasped and looked around. "Where?! Are they moving?! Are they going to fight!?" She asked frantically. "No!" Angie hissed, grabbing her arm. "And stop that! You'll give us away!" Malorie forced her head down. "What are they doing?" She murmured. "Talking to Hannah." Angie muttered, nonchalantly glancing back. "Hannah." Malorie muttered, thinking. She suddenly sat straight up. "She's probably inviting them to her party!" She gasped. "So that's why Rachelle was getting that premonition." Angie said grimly. "The generals are probably going to take victims' energy, there. What better place? People disappearing into closets and bedrooms all over the place." "We've got to be wary, then, tonight." Malorie whispered. "Very wary." Angie said, watching Damon through narrowed eyes. "Very, very wary." * * * "I cannot believe we're doing this!" Lacie griped several hours later. "I mean, look at me!! My hair is yellow! Yellow!!" "Purple hair is not exactly a common hair color, Lacie-chan!" Angie snapped, fingering her own hair. "We had to change its color!" "All I'm saying is, if this stuff doesn't wash out, I am feeding you to seagulls." Lacie said, giving Angie a deadly glare. All the girls were waiting under the streetlight they had planned to meet under. Each looked entirely different, wrapped in dresses, makeup layered on, and hair styles looking completely, fantastically different. Lacie's had been dyed yellow and let down into cascades of straight locks; her dress was a pale lilac color. Elisha's had been dyed black, and wrapped up into a high ponytail secured with a blue hair-tie which nicely complimented her baby-blue dress. Mary's hair had been swirled into a large, very tight bun, and flesh makeup had been piled on to hide her paleness; her dress was a deep midnight blue. Rachelle looked almost the same as she usually did, except that her hair was in curls. She wore a black dress with a fresh red rose on the shoulder, and a red sash around her waist. Malorie's yellow hair had also been curled, and secured into a low ponytail; her dress was gold, and green contacts covered her blue irises. Marisa's auburn waves had been French-braided into two separate parts, and her sequined sea-green dresses was silky and smooth. As for Angie. Angie nervously patted her hair that had been crimped into long, golden waves that curled nicely around her shoulders. Her dress was silver, and sparkled like the moonlight whenever she moved. She nervously smoothed her dress and touched her hair, which her friends had flatly refused to let her put up. "It's so pretty down." Mary had sighed, touching it wistfully. "Hello, ladies." A gallant voice said. Oz, Andrew, and Lance had strode into the circle of light, each wearing a black suit. Lance, for once, was without a book. No one noticed how hard he swallowed when he saw Lacie, or that he hid shaking hands behind his back. Oz eyed Malorie. "Is that the best you could do?" He asked her. Malorie sniffed and raised her nose. "I refuse to stoop to answering that. I am going to have a good time tonight, and not even you can stop me." "They won't let you in to the party, M&M." Oz teased. "You're too scary." With a growl, Malorie's beige purse connected squarely with Oz's skull. The two fell to bickering, while Elisha sighed and glanced at Angie. "Will you be able to control them, tonight?" She asked. Angie grimaced. "Let's hope so." "Am I late?" Kyle asked, jogging up and panting slightly, but looking fabulous in a white suit. He stopped short and stared at Rachelle, who flushed. "Stop it, Kyle, you're making me blush!" She scolded. Kyle stared at her, mouth hanging open. Slowly it closed, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She snuggled up to him as he bent down to kiss the crown of her head. "You're so beautiful." He murmured into her hair. "Kyle?" Angie asked directly. "Save it for when we get to the party. We're already late." "Hey, we're fashionably late!" Andrew said, grinning. "It's always right to be late. It's the only way you can be on time." "Okay, that made no sense whatsoever." Lacie said grouchily. "I can't believe I'm doing this. I hate parties." "Hey, how do you think I feel!?" Angie demanded. "I haven't worn a dress since the 8th grade semi-formal!!" "Or a skirt." Rachelle quipped, laughing. Angie grinned. "What can I say? I'm a tomboy through and through." Rachelle sighed. "Someday I will hit you with a large object, stuff you in a big bag, drag you to the mall, and force you to buy makeup and skirts, do you understand?" "You're not serious, right?" Angie asked uncertainly. Rachelle only grinned in reply. "Let's go, people!" Kyle said, slipping his arm around Rachelle's waist. "Otherwise we will become unfashionably late." "We can't just all go barging in at the same time." Angie directed. "You and Rachelle go in first to test the waters. The others will follow in five-minute sequences. Looks less suspicious that way." "I feel like such a spy." Lance complained, sighing as Kyle and Rachelle strode off towards the dark building a block away where, on one whole story, there were lights. Even from where they were standing, you could hear the cheers and music, and the clinks of glasses. A few minutes later, Oz grinned at Malorie and Angie. "So? Shall we go forth to partying?" He asked in a fake-British accent. "Fine." Malorie muttered, stalking past him. An arm suddenly went around her shoulders. "Hey, my girlfriend can't go walking around without me!" Oz said in a drawling tone, mouth close to her ear. "It wouldn't look commendable!" "Who says I have to be your girlfriend?" Malorie demanded, shooting a look at Angie, who was on Oz's other side. "Take Angie. I'll just be your out- of-town cousin." "I have the right to choose who my girlfriend will be!" Oz sniffed in injured dignity as they began to walk towards the building. He looked over at Angie. "No offense meant." "None taken." Angie replied, enjoying her own private fantasy in which Alan would happen to be at the party. * * * Damon covered his ears against the loud blasting noise. "They call this music?!?!" He yelled to Jedin. Jedin patted the girls who had fastened onto his waist. "Allow me a little time alone, ladies, please." He said gallantly. "I shall meet with you..later." He winked at them as the girls giggled and departed. "I know what you mean." He whispered in an undertone to Damon. "Yowch! I've heard dying beasts that sound better than this stuff!" Katrina sidled up to them, an empty glass in her hand. "What's up, guys?" She hiccupped, giggling. "What's that?" Damon asked suspiciously, pointing to the glass. "This?" Katrina giggled, waving it slightly. "This is the life of the party! It's wine." Jedin snatched the glass and sniffed it. "Alcohol." He muttered to Damon. "Incredibly strong, too. She's drunk as a jaybird!" Turning back to Katrina, he asked, "How many glasses of this did you have?" Katrina giggled and slapped his arm. "Why, only fifteen or sixteen, I think." Damon sighed. "Definitely, definitely drunk." "Hey, guys!" Spike said, thrusting his way through the crowds to them. He was glowing. "Come on! Get out and dance!" "What?" Damon asked derisively. "Dance? To this?!" "It gets into your bones, man." Spike said, grinning. "Into your soul, if we had souls. Come on!" He grabbed Jedin's arm and pulled him into the pulsating crowds. Katrina giggled, hiccupped, and followed. "Coming, Damon?" Spike called over his shoulder. "Nah, I'll hang around the edges." Damon called back. "Look for our 'friends'." "Suit yourself!" Spike yelled before the trio vanished into the mob of humans. Damon pounded his fist into the opposite hand in frustration. Half an hour had been wasted in the dance, they hadn't gotten any victims, and the Senshi could be anywhere. He sighed and rolled his eyes. The guys had probably forgotten all about their mission, with all this loud banging. His eyes focused on the opposite end of the room, where the door into the apartment was located. His sharp hearing clearly picked up over the music, the sound of someone knocking. The hostess, Hannah, dressed in a slinky black dress, had obviously heard it too, for she moved away from the wine table and staggered towards the door to open it. He began to slowly move around the room, wanting to get a look at who was trying to enter. He had a strange feeling about this person. * * * "Stop slouching!" Angie hissed at Malorie as they waited outside Hannah's apartment. "I can't help it!" Malorie wailed. "What if she recognizes us?! We'll be dog chow in less than five seconds! Not to mention the laughing stock of the whole school!" "No one will recognize you." Oz said in a commanding voice. "You're actually beautiful now." Malorie blinked at him, not sure whether to take that as a compliment or a criticism. "Uh.meanie?" She offered doubtfully. Oz grinned at her, then straightened as the door began to open. Hannah blinked out at them, hand clutching the doorway. Angie sneezed as alcohol fumes emitted from Hannah's mouth when she spoke. "Oh, Ozzzzz, you came!" She purred, sounding only slightly out of it. "Hello, Hannah." Oz said as kindly as he could, waving his hand lightly in front of his face. "May we come in?" Hannah's eyes fastened on Angie and Malorie, who began to sweat. "Who are they?" She demanded icily, with a hiccup. "This is my girlfriend, Melissa Amiga." Oz said brightly, squeezing Malorie's shoulder as she fake-smiled at Hannah and dug her elbow into Oz's gut. "And this is her best friend, Andromeda Cassiopeia." Angie tried hard not to snicker as she offered Hannah her hand. "Pleased to meet you!" She said brightly. Hannah took the offered hand with some suspicion. "You look like someone I know." She muttered. Angie tossed her head. "Well, I do visit here once in a while, it's a lovely change from New York and Broadway. This is a very quaint little town." Hannah swallowed abruptly, and opened the door wider to let them in. "Well, have a-nice time, tonight." She said as cheerily as she could muster. Malorie smothered a giggle. "I think you took the wind out of her sails with the 'quaint little town' comment." She giggled. "Angie?" Angie did not reply. Her eyes were focused on the midnight-black head of hair that was across the room. "Angie?" Malorie again asked softly. Damon's here. Angie replied telepathically. Malorie stiffened slightly. You sure? Oh yeah. I'm sure. * * * Damon stared at the golden head that had entered the room. His slowly drew in a breath as he looked the figure up and down. A silver dress clung to slender frame, covering apple blossom skin. Golden hair wrapped softly around a graceful, curved neck. Light blue eyes suddenly raised up to fasten on his. Sailor Diamond was here. In human form, and very possibly weak and helpless. But then, the girl in yellow on the other side of a red-haired man had to be Topaz. The Scouts were penetrating the party. A smile creased his lips as the blue eyes widened when they spotted him, and then narrowed to a glare. No doubt she recognized him, also. His smile widened before he turned away into the shadows. Let her come to him. * * * Angie glared over at the black-haired man who was looking at her with those dark blue eyes. Damon was dressed completely in black, from black shoes to black seemingly leather pants to black turtleneck. He looked human, but the aggressive stance his lean body was in was not right for a party. Or, Angie corrected herself, maybe it was. Especially at one of Hannah's parties. The man grinned at her smugly before turning his back and fading into the shadows. Angie ground her teeth. "Jerk." She muttered. "You say something?" Oz inquired. Angie smiled at him. "No, nothing. Listen, I'm a little thirsty, so I think I'd like to go to the refreshments table to see if there's something here besides wine." "Good luck." Oz muttered. "Judging by everyone's condition, looks like water is nonexistent." Angie smiled before weaving her way through the crowds to the punch table. Malorie watched her go nervously. "My own best friend, abandoning me." She joked lightly, trying not to shiver as she spotted Spike's bleached blond head in the middle of the dance floor. "Abandoning you to your boyfriend." Oz teased, starting to pull her out to the dance floor. "Hey, wait!" Malorie protested. "What are you doing?!" "You said you guys wanted to party, right?" Oz asked. "So.party!" Malorie winced as she felt the dancing crowds squeeze in on her. She slowly began moving back and forth to the music. "You really are uptight, M&M." Oz said with a sigh as he rocked around. "Hey!" Malorie said with a pout. "You can't call me that! I am now Melissa Amiga, remember? Hah!" She crowed, moving a bit faster and grinning at Oz's bemused face. "Got you! You can't call me that!" Oz grinned and took her hand as the two abandoned themselves to the crowds. * * * Angie sniffed at a glass before taking a small sip of it, testing to make sure it was, in fact, water. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "If this is what parties are like, I'll take staying at home any day." She drained her glass of water and sighed, glancing up at the door. Lacie, Lance, and Elisha were just now entering. She grimaced slightly. She hoped Lacie would try not to kill anybody if they accidentally touched her. Of course, right now she looked about tense enough to rip out Hannah's throat. Elisha had spotted Angie. She waved slightly, grinning. Angie grinned back. Damon's here. She whispered in both of their minds. I know. Elisha replied simply. I've seen him. He's over in the shadows. Angie nodded. Be careful. As always, fearless leader. Lacie replied with a small smile. Angie smiled before breaking mind contact. It was too risky, here, with the generals everywhere. Damon had once said he could clearly hear their mind-voices.If he heard them now, he would know for sure that the Jewel Senshi were partying away. Of course, judging by that look he had given her, he probably already knew. Lacie and Elisha sidled their way over to her. "Why, hello, there!" Elisha said, smiling and thrusting a hand towards Angie. "My name's Eleanora Roosebelt!" "And I'm Lilly Moscovitz!" Lacie beamed, thrusting her hand out also. "A pleasure to meet you!" "Hello to you both!" Angie cried, smothering giggles. "My name's Andromeda Cassiopeia! What a lovely surprise to meet you all!" The girls snickered together. "This is hilarious." Elisha giggled, wiping her eyes. "We're fooling the entire school!" "And we might have to save them." Lacie said, grimness coming into her voice. Angie nodded. "You guys stick together. We might have to transform pretty quick. And don't let yourself get caught by anyone!" She glanced around hastily. "Split up from me, I can take care of myself. Just hang close to each other, okay?" Lacie and Elisha nodded before disappearing into the crowds. Angie sighed and reached for another glass of water. "Hey, Angie!" A voice chirped at her elbow. Angie jumped about three feet in the air before realizing who it was. "Rachelle!" She hissed, laughing. "Don't do that! You nearly scared me out of a year's growth." Rachelle smiled. "Sorry about that." She lowered her voice. "Have you seen-" "Damon?" Angie finished. Rachelle nodded. "Yep. I have." "We've got to be careful, Ange." Rachelle whispered. "Just stay close to Kyle and keep one of us in sight constantly." Angie ordered. "And my name's Andromeda Cassiopeia, thank you." Rachelle giggled. "Did Charlie name you that?" "How'd you guess?" Angie said, rolling her eyes. She gave her friend's shoulder a pat. "Good luck to you, my friend." "And to you." Rachelle murmured before drifting back over to Kyle. Angie sighed before glancing around. I'm as tense as a fly at a Bullfrog Convention. She thought with a small, wry smile. "Hey, baby?" Angie recoiled at the sight of a young man-obviously drunk-leaning on the table beside her and leering up at her in a way he obviously thought was charming. She shuddered slightly. "May I help you?" She asked guardedly. The man grinned up at her, trying to brush brown hair out of his eyes. "How about a dance, sweet-cheeks?" Sweet-cheeks. Angie gave the man a cold, brittle smile. "No thank you, sir." She said, voice like ice. The man didn't notice her tone. "Now, don't be haughty, sweet thing." He purred. "I think you'd better come with me." "Do you want yourself thrown over that balcony without an intact liver?" Angie asked conversationally, pointing to the rather large but abandoned balcony. The man brayed like a donkey. "Oh, you're a funny one!" He moved closer to her. The guy immediately found himself on the floor with a fist mark on his face. "Ouch!" He yelped, glaring drunkenly up at Angie. "You little bitch!" "Try that again and you'll find yourself going through the floor, pal!" Angie growled, shaking her fist at him. The man stood up and swayed toward her, scowling angrily. "You're gonna pay for that, you smart-mouthed-" "Andromeda!" Malorie was suddenly at her elbow, dragging her away onto the dance floor. "And you tell us to stay out of trouble! At an enemy's party, you do not go around punching people." "Sorry." Angie said, rubbing her head sheepishly. "He pissed me off. Tried to make a move on me." Malorie rolled her eyes. "Well, no doubt no guy's ever going to approach you again." She teased before glancing around and lowering her voice. "Marisa and Mary just arrived with Andrew. All the Jewel Senshi are mixed in here, and all our eyes are open. If you need help, yell." With that she turned into the crowd, back to where Oz was standing. "Thanks, Topaz." Angie murmured quietly, watching her friend affectionately before beginning to sway to the music. * * * Damon kept a close watch on the golden human. He saw her meet with other girls and saw them laugh together, as if sharing some secret. Probably more Jewel Senshi, He thought in derision. But Diamond stayed by herself. She constantly glanced around, as if she felt his intense gaze. He smiled, baring his teeth. The only direction she refused to look in was where he was. He had no doubt she knew that they were here. But now what to do. "Try that again and you'll find yourself going through the floor, pal!" Someone yelled. His head shot up to see Diamond shaking her fist at a guy on the floor. She was glaring at him furiously, blue eyes sending out sparks. He chuckled to himself. Fierce little bunny. A yellow haired girl-Topaz-ran up and dragged Diamond into the crowds, saying something sharply to her. Diamond looked embarrassed but still pleased. She grinned at Topaz, who grinned back before leaving her to go over to a red-haired man. Diamond stayed where she was, dancing a little, grace defined in her movements. "So strange." He murmured to himself. Part sweet, graceful girl, part fierce, defensive warrior. It was an interesting, deadly combination. He began to move forward out of the shadows to the opposite end of the dance floor from Diamond. * * * "I officially despise my fellow man." Angie muttered to herself as she fended off the fourth move on her that night. "Maybe I should just let Damon and his lot kill a few. A lot of these people wouldn't go to waste." "So glad you agree." A smooth voice said. Angie tensed immediately, eyes rising to the man standing a few paces away. The lights darkened. People instinctively cleared the dance floor, sensing something strange was about to happen. Leaving two people alone, staring at each other, one in fear and hatred, the other in cocky triumph. A new song came on. It had a strange, almost Spanish beat to it. The people on the edges of the floor whispered back and forth to each other. What was happening? They asked. What was going on? Under a lover's sky I'm gonna be with you And no one's gonna be around. Angie slowly began walking around the dance floor, swaying slightly. Damon moved in the same direction, always keeping her directly across from him. The two kept their eyes locked from the opposite sides, moving slowly, but now getting quicker and quicker. If you think that You won't fall Well just wait till the sun goes down. The two continued circling for a few moments more, more dance moves being thrown in here and there. Then Angie suddenly twirled in as Damon moved forward quickly to catch her around her waist. Angie's hands moved up to grab his shoulders. Then they flew apart, hands linking at the last moment. Underneath the starlight, starlight There's a magical feeling so right, Let it steal your heart tonight. The two let go, Angie spinning in circles, letting her dress fan out in silky waves. Damon moved forward to her back to grab her shoulders and spin her roughly around to meet his eyes. You can try to resist Try to hide from my kiss, Angie spun away, half in pure distaste, half in dance. She twirled a few times before stopping, arms near her waist. Damon had meanwhile moved back also, eyes even blacker against the little light there was. Angie's breath caught in her throat. A fiery feeling coursed through her as she let pure passion for dancing take over. Damon's eyes sharpened as Diamond arched her neck and twirled back in, leaping up at the last second. His arms moved and he caught her, one knee bent slightly. But she felt-light. Almost a cloud. She arched her back slightly, giving him a full view of graceful white neck before she slid off him to land gracefully on her own two feet. But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. "Check out these two!" Someone yelled in awe. Rachelle glanced up from her corner with Kyle. "What's going on?" She asked. "Why's it so dark? And why is everyone looking at the dance floor?" "Um." Kyle said nervously, who had a better view than she did. "Did you say Damon was tall, dark, cute, and clothed in black?" "Yeah!" Rachelle exclaimed in alarm. "Is he draining someone?!" "No." Kyle said slowly. "He's.dancing. With Angie, I believe. And it's getting pretty hot on the floor, if you get my drift." "Angie?!" Rachelle gasped. "Dancing sexily with a guy!?" "Let's hope not with a girl." Kyle said dryly. Rachelle grabbed his hand. "Come on! We've got to get in closer!" Angie slid all the way to the floor, feet on the floor but knees raised and legs crossed. She was glad she was on the floor, because the look Damon gave her-that heated, terrible, intense gaze-would have probably sent her there anyway. She felt warm, burning all over, flame and heat coursing from her heart. Damon's smoldering eyes looked her up and down before he reached out a hand. She took it and he pulled her up to his level, so that those eyes were looking straight at her. She shivered slightly before darting back, spinning around, letting her skirt fly out in all directions, sending him a coy glance. Damon wondered if the little minx knew what she was doing to him. Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart, But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. With the softest of growls, he moved forward swiftly, wrapping arms around her waist. She leaned back into him, the crown of her head brushing his lips. He leaned back also, to keep away from the sensation. But she went with him. Almost angrily he rose back up to straightness, then half- twisted, half-flung her away, snagging her hand at the last second. Angie gasped at the force she felt in Damon. He was strong, she had known, but the power she felt..He could have reached out his hand and crushed her skull without a second thought. Like a tiger. She shivered. And she was the deer. The prey. She didn't feel in control anymore, of herself, of her moves, of her spirit. Damon had captured them all now, as easily as he had grabbed her hand. He was in control of the dance that was more than a dance, now. He bared his teeth slightly at her as she looked back at him from their arms' length apart. She sent him a look of cold arrogance before turning her head away . A sharp jerk both turned her around and pulled her close to warm arms again. "Not this time, pet." Damon murmured, voice a smooth growl, like a tiger's. "This time, I'm calling the shots." "Says you." Angie replied coldly, wishing he would let go of her at the same time that her treacherous arms went around his neck. No, you can't fight it. No, you can't fight it. It's gonna get to your heart. Damon's hands moved to her waist. Sensing what was happening, Angie pushed off the ground at the same time he lifted. He really IS strong!! She thought in awe as Damon began to twirl her around in the air, hands like steal vices on her hips and eyes never once showing weakness. She relaxed her grip on his shoulders, and slowly raised her arms into the air, stretched and almost touching the ceiling. It would be easy to kill her now, Damon realized. Just one tight squeeze on her hips could break her backbone. Leaving her helpless enough. But the expression on her face..pure trust and freedom. Her arms were lifted to the ceiling, and her smile was brightening up the room. There's no escaping love, Once a gentle breeze, Sweeps it's spell upon your heart. Slowly, almost gently, Damon lowered her, arms never wavering. She gave him an unintentional grin as she spun away, arms still curved out. Then Diamond stopped on the edge of the circle again, and cocked an eyebrow at him. He moved backwards as well, intentionally giving her a ferocious glare. She responded with only a smile, a teasing but peaceful smile, before beginning to spin around the circle, turning her head to keep herself from getting dizzy. And no matter what you think, It won't be too long, Till you're in my arms. Damon stayed where he was on the circle, watching as Diamond pirouetted towards him. She had to have been a dancer at one point, the grace in which she held her arms and legs and neck was almost unbelievable. Her head snapped around to see him. She grinned again and stopped spinning an inch away from him, swaying a little. Angie grinned to herself as she tried to get the floor to right itself. All that spinning made her dizzy! She swayed back and forth a few times before a strong arm grabbed hers and brought her close, another am going to her waist. Instinctively she raised her other hand up to Damon's shoulder. Deep eyes gazed at her from under dark eyelashes. She stared up at him, grin fading. The moment lasted for a split second before slowly, Damon guiding her, they began to dance, the old-fashioned ballroom way. "Hey, you guys from a team, or something?" Someone asked as they swirled by. He was completely ignored. But similar whispers were coming from the walls- "They're like from a fairytale." "A Cinderella and her prince!" "Diamond! Snap out of it!" The last one was Mary, who had pushed her way through the crowds to watch in horror. But Angie completely ignored her, and danced away in Damon's arms. She's gone absolutely nuts, Mary thought to herself, watching helplessly. "What's happening?!" Malorie asked in horror, coming out right underneath Mary's elbow. "Ang-er, Andromeda's dancing with Damon!" Mary hissed, banging her hand to her forehead in frustration. "Is there something wrong with that?" Oz asked, confused. "We don't like him." Malorie muttered, blinking out at the two dancers. Underneath the starlight, starlight, We'll be lost in the rhythm, so right, It will steal your heart tonight. Angie heard Mary's hiss of warning, but somehow-she ignored it. Completely. And it wasn't she didn't hear her either. Though maybe she didn't want to. She frowned to herself. What was coming over her? She moved back from Damon. Before she knew it, she was spinning again, this time in place. Stop it!!!!! She yelled at herself. I don't want to. The other part of her answered giddily. You must! The first part said severely. No way!! The other part beat the first one senseless and continued to enjoy the dancing. Damon had noticed the frown that slipped over her pretty features for an instant before vanishing. She looked like she was having a private argument with herself. In five seconds, the happy look was back, the more serious one having obviously being beaten into submission. He half-smiled himself, moving forward to grab her, arms entwining around her thin stomach. You can try to resist, Try to hide from my kiss, "Aren't we supposed to be fighting?" Angie calmly asked Damon in a whisper, as he leaned back and she lifted her feet from the floor, kicking out flapper-style. "Supposedly." Damon replied, holding her tight so she could kick out again. "Then why are we dancing?" "No idea." But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. Angie pulled away as her feet touched down, leaping back a step. Damon still had a tight hold on her hand, though, not letting her go too far. She let her feet slide down until her was almost parallel to the floor, the only thing keeping her from falling being Damon's hand. Damon's breath left him as he looked down at the golden girl so close. She was looking up at him, both fear and trust in her eyes. Don't drop me, her eyes seemed to be begging. Please, please, don't drop me. Don't let me go. "Never." He muttered out loud. Never let her go. Deep in the dark, You'll surrender your heart, But you know, but you know, that you, Can't fight the moonlight! "We have a problem." Jedin muttered into Spike's ear. "Huh?" Spike said, disentangling himself from the group of girls crowded around him. "Look to the center of the dance floor." Jedin instructed quietly. Spike looked, looked again, and gasped. "Is that-no, it can't be-" "Yup." Jedin said grimly. "It's Damon." Spike stared at his friend in silence. "I didn't know he knew how to dance so well!" He said finally. Jedin smacked the back of his head. "Spike!!! Look who he's dancing with." Spike's eyes narrowed as he looked the girl over. "That girl looks familiar.." Jedin rolled his eyes. "Try picturing her in a golden sailor suit." Spike gasped. "NO-not Damon-he wouldn't dance with Sailor Diamond!!!" "What does it look like?!" Jedin demanded. "He's having tea with her?!" Spike smacked Jedin's head. "Spare me your sarcasm-let's go get her and stop him!" Angie sighed happily as Damon pulled her back up to an upright position. She rested her head lightly on his chest, just under his chin, and listened to his heartbeat. He's so warm, she thought dreamily. Cozy. Comfortable. Safe. No, not safe. Not safe. Evil. Warm. Damon gazed down at the head resting just below his chin in some perplexity. Strange little golden bird. Dangerous, yet sweet. Cunning, yet caring. Deadly beauty. And why does she trust me enough to lay her head on my chest? Hannah was watching the two dancers with less drunken interest and more cold craftiness. "Those two." She muttered. She suddenly turned to the boy beside her and grabbed his hands. "Dance with me too!" She demanded, pulling him out. Surprised, the boy attempted to mimic the complicated moves the two dancers had accomplished-and failed miserably. Hannah did the best she could, not even coming close to surpassing Angie's show. "Idiot!" She raged, hitting the miserable boy on the head. But her idea had caught on. People began flooding the floor in couples now, copying the moves done by Damon and Angie, more or less succeeding. At least, they were all doing better than Hannah and her partner had. Angie lifted her head to look at the various couples swirling around them. She smiled lightly, realizing they were trying to copy her and Damon. Amateurs, she thought in amusement, watching one couple trip over the feet of another and go sprawling. She moved slightly to the side of Damon, making it so she had to turn her neck to look straight at him. He was looking down at her, the faintest smile playing on his face. She grinned back as they began to turn together, listening to the beat of the music in the background, never breaking eye contact. Gorgeous eyes.Angie thought. Beautiful eyes...Damon whispered to himself. Full of depth, mystery.. Full of purity, love for life. Angie chuckled to herself. I'm in deadly peril, and I'm crushing on a bad guy. My life's reached optimum weirdness. Underneath the starlight, starlight, There's a magic for feeling so right, Let it steal your heart tonight- The two continued whirling endlessly, the room and the people around them seemingly forgotten. They were floating on clouds, leaving the drab, boring planet behind. Dancing for infinity, in a sugar-spun mist dream. Someone back on Earth bumped into their bodies, wrenching their souls back from their escapade. Angie stumbled, tripped, and began to fall. She shut her eyes and winced, getting ready for the pain. Strong arms caught her underneath her back a foot from the floor. Angie wrapped her arms tightly about Damon's neck, not wanting him to let go. Or maybe not wanting to let go of him. You can try to resist, Try to hide from my kiss, But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. Damon drew in a sharp breath as he looked at the girl hovering just below him. She was close. So, so close.. Angie laughed, hugging Damon's neck, till she looked up and saw his eyes. They were rapidly flickering from black to deep blue. Her laughter died on her lips as she stared at him, heat reaching its peak in her stomach. She shivered at its intensity, the same intensity that Damon's eyes had... Damon groaned a little, watching those warm, sky blue eyes staring into his. The thick ice protection around his heart began to thaw and melt a little. He tried desperately to make his hatred for the Senshi sear again, tried to make his eyes stay black, but those damn eyes..peering at him like they knew every slight detail..skin, fair as a midsummer day.hair, sun- kissed and wind-swept...and lips, soft as silk, smooth as rose blossoms. Very, very carefully, he brought one hand out from under body, clasping her tight with the other arm. Very gently, he reached out with one finger to gently stroke her lips. Angie nearly melted under the gentle touch. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensations sweeping over her in electrifying waves. Damon's head bent close, his hair brush her forehead. "Hey, you two! Are you going to stay that way all night?" Damon's head snapped up, eyes immediately blackened. He pulled Angie up from the hold, and roughly straightened and let go. Horrified at what had almost happened, Angie turned away, heading for the milling crowd. "What do you want?" Damon growled, teeth sharpening. The boy backed away nervously. "Hey, man, it's just-you and your girlfriend didn't seem to be coming up for air-just thought you'd like to know the song was over-" "Thank you." Damon snapped, turning away to look at Diamond- She was gone. His eyes snapped up just in time to see that golden head disappearing into the crowds. * * * Angie pushed her way through the crowds, tears half-dimming her vision. She shoved blindly at anyone who got at her way, muttering apologies as she made her way towards the balcony. "Diamond!" Rachelle, Malorie, and Mary were at her side in an instant. "What's wrong?" Rachelle asked anxiously. "N-nothing." Angie replied shakily. "Just-I can't believe I did that-" "Danced that way with a guy? Neither can I!" Mary laughed, a little ruefully. "With Damon." Angie said sharply, turning to glare at her black-haired friend. "With the enemy. With the guy I hate most." There was a long pause. "I've got to be alone for a while." Angie mumbled, turning away to move towards the balcony again. Malorie reached for her, but Rachelle grabbed her arm. "Not now." She whispered. "Let her alone. Whatever happened-between those two-she needs to be alone to think about it." Malorie bit her lip and nodded, watching as her friend slipped out onto the balcony. * * * Angie hurled herself onto the balcony's railing, gasping for breath. The images of the dance were surging unstoppably through her brain in a huge flow like a river. She clenched her hands as she tried to quench the flow, beating at her head with small fists. Slowly, the thoughts almost stopped. Her head grew cool and sharp, and almost clear, except for that one annoying image that kept popping up- The image of Damon- Fingers, touching her lips- She reached up and gently touched her own lip in remembrance. He was so warm. So-protective, almost. Strong. Powerful. Oh, god. She thought, as an idea came crashing down into her brain, bringing back the hysteria, the emotions she had felt earlier, every memory she had, since the moment she laid eyes on him- I wonder..could I maybe be in. "Hey, pet." She shoved her new discovery to the back of her mind as she turned to face the shadows. "Where are you?" She asked suspiciously, peering into the blackness. A low chuckle echoed sinuously as Damon stepped forth, materializing out of darkness into the glow of moonlight. "Right here, pet." "I'm not your pet." Angie snapped, thinking she sounded like an idiot. "So sorry." The two stared at each other in silence for a moment. "Look." Angie said finally. "If you're going to kill me, I'd just as soon you'd get it over with. I really am not in the mood to fight you right now." Surprise lightened Damon's eyes before fading back into craftiness. "What makes you think I'd do that?" "Oh, gee, I don't know." Angie replied sarcastically. "Maybe the fact that we're hated enemies, or maybe it's cause you've tried to kill me, or maybe because your friends would kill my friends without a single qualm-and vice versa-or maybe because you just danced with me!" "The last reason makes no sense." Damon remarked. "SO?" Angie snapped, in no mood to be reasonable. "The POINT is, it's more likely you'll kill me sooner or later than you won't, so I wish you would do it now and stop beating around the bush like you've been doing!!!" Damon stared at her a moment before throwing back a head to laugh-a hearty, full-throated roar. "You are the oddest human, you know." "What?" Angie snapped. "I didn't come out here to kill you." Damon said, very slowly as if talking to a stupid child. "I came to give you something." "What?" Angie retorted. "A good-night kiss?" Damon's eyes narrowed as he moved to grasp something behind his back. Angie tensed, hand straying to the bracelet on her right wrist. Just three little words. Slowly, Damon brought his hand out from behind his back. Angie gasped as she stared at what was lying in an open palm. It was a full rose, at the peak of its life, petals carved perfectly, curved to pure loveliness. But it wasn't red, yellow, or pink-it was black. Pure, deep, moonless-night black. Not rotting or fading away, but- dark. Evil, almost. Sinister, at least. Not unlike Damon, Angie realized. Beautiful but evil. Handsome, but sinister. "It's beautiful." She said, reaching out to touch a silky black petal. Damon carefully deposited it into her outstretched hand. "Mind the thorns." He warned. "They're razor sharp-" "Ow!" Angie yelped, sticking her finger in her mouth and eyeing the wicked sharp thorns angrily. 'Stupid thorns." She muttered, removing her finger from her mouth to inspect it. A drop of blood formed on her index finger, red against the silver moonlight and peach color of her hand. "Told you." Damon said jauntily, forcing his eyes away from the glistening blood. She gave the rose a last look before holding it back out to him. He put up his hands. "It's yours." "Will it die?" Angie found herself asking, staring into the black depths of inky petals. "Not unless I do." Damon replied, biting his lip in frustration. He hadn't meant to say that! "Just keep it in a vase with water." Angie eyed it a moment more before carefully grasping it and securing it behind one ear. She gave him a searching look. "What's it mean?" "It's a promise." "Of what?" His eyes seemed to grow black. "Of something you need not know yet." She frowned, but seemed to accept this. "Thank you." He blinked. "For what?" She grinned at him suddenly, face illuminated by moonlight. "For something you don't need to know yet." Damon stared at her, half in amusement, half in awe. "Who are you?" Angie turned to stare up at the full moon for a moment, and at the stars surrounding it. "Andromeda Cassiopeia." Damon narrowed his eyes. "That's not a real name." "Well, what do you want me to say?" She asked. "I'm Sailor Diamond. A warrior. That name suits me as of now." He sighed. "You're a strange person." "Thank you." She said, smiling. There was a sudden huge crash of glass breaking. Damon and Angie turned to look, just as Sailor Emerald landed at Angie's feet. "Hi, Diamond." She said cheerfully, ignoring the large piece of glass sticking out of her shoulder. "Wanna transform and help us about now?" Angie blinked down at her friend. "Uh..yeah, okay." Sailor Emerald bounced back up, perkily grinning, and trotting back in through the big hole she had punched in the glass. Damon watched her go in confusion. He turned around to ask the girl- "Diamond Star Power-MAKE UP!!!!!!" A nova of golden light and pure energy swirled around, completely blinding Damon. He yelled and covered his eyes, squinting to see the occasionally visible figure. The light cleared away as quickly as it had come. Damon stared at the figure he saw before him. Completely changed, but completely beautiful still. Short gold skirt, hair straight but still as golden and soft looking, eyes still that snapping, fiery blue. But she was deadly now. "We're enemies, now." Sailor Diamond said softly to Damon, walking past him. "You should be trying to kill me again." Damon looked almost wistfully at the proudly arched neck and straight back as Diamond made her way inside. * * * "Whoo-hoo!" Katrina yelled drunkenly as she bit deep into the neck of a blonde boy. "Now this is what I call a party!" "Say it, girl." Spike muttered, raising his head from a bleeding girl's neck. "Ah, and here I see we have our friendly neighborhood party crashers." A light voice said from the balcony. Jedin turned to glare at the figure illuminated by moonlight. "We knew you'd be here." He snarled with a grin. "Well, how convenient!" Diamond said in surprise, walking forward. "Huh. Just like we knew you'd be here! Go figure. But let's think-who always shows up to drain energy, and who always has to find them? If you ask me, I think our effort was a little better. Sorry! You'll have to settle for second place." Katrina giggled. "You're a funny human!" She hiccupped, pointing a finger at her and firing. Diamond gasped and barely ducked in time as a black beam destroyed what was left of the glass door. "You know, you have all the signs of an obsessive compulsive!" She yelled at Katrina. "Not to mention a drunkard! Yeesh! Never mind drinking and driving, try drinking and fighting! Not a good combo." Katrina giggled again before waving her hand. "Oh, do go on, you tell such lovely stories." "Don't try to talk to her." Obsidian remarked from the doorway to the hall. "She's twice as drunk as a redneck!" "How'd you get everyone cleared out so fast?" Diamond asked, running to her friends' side. "Well, Katrina blew away any surprise attempt by tossing a guy into the wine table after she had drained him. After that, it was fairly easy." Topaz reported. Then, with a snort, "All the ones who weren't stoned drunk, at any rate." "Have we attacked?" Diamond inquired. "We're in a bit of trouble." Sapphire muttered into her ear. "Every time we try, someone always attacks us before we can complete the attack phrase!!!! That's how Emerald got thrown through the door!" "Aggravating." Diamond muttered. "Have you tried attacking two at once?" "Yep." Amethyst said grimly, pulling the glass out of Emerald's shoulder. "Considering the fact that we're outnumbered in strength and skill should lead you to the conclusion." Stung, Diamond snapped, "Well, excuse me for trying to think of ideas rather than cower in a corner while they drain people!!!!!" Amethyst turned away, shame-faced. "Sorry," she muttered. Diamond took a deep breath, and stood up. "What are you doing?!" Garnet demanded. "They'll decimate you." Diamond ignored her. She calmly strode to two feet in front of the generals, and then announced in a loud voice, "Jedin is a dirty, slime- mouthed, tootsie-roll eating Popsicle who is exactly like a slug, except that the slug looks better." Jedin's head snapped up. He stared at her, open-mouthed. "Katrina is a drunk little slut who enjoys being a guy's bitch and being taken advantage of. She's the easiest girl in the universe." Diamond continued, making sure to state this as clearly as she could. Katrina burped drunkenly, and stared at her, hiccupping slightly. "And Spike is a Blondie-bear who has a witch of a girlfriend who sings to herself like a retarded child and is nothing but a slut." Diamond finished, glaring at Spike's head. Spike calmly dropped his victim and looked up at Diamond, wiping the blood up his mouth. "I wonder what we should put on the grave, Defender of Justice, or Warrior of Good?" He asked Jedin. "Never mind the coffin. Let's just put her in a box. All that's going to be left of her is going to be able to fit in one." Jedin snarled, dropping his girl and stepping over her. Diamond eyed them coolly. "You want to kill me? Then." She took off in a sudden sprint for the door. "Catch me!" She yelled, before she was gone. With an animal snarl, Spike was running after her, followed closely by Jedin. Katrina giggled. "Get the Senshi! Wheeeeee.." She took a step, hiccupped, and promptly fell on the floor, out like a light. "Disgusting." Garnet remarked, standing up and trotting over to examine Katrina. "Like your friend." A voice said from behind her. Garnet turned in time to see Jedin's fist come at her. The blow sent her flying through the broken glass door and out onto the balcony, all the way to marble railing. Garnet hit the railing with a crack. The marble shuddered, and crumbled into nothing, dust raining down fifteen stories. And Garnet, with nothing to stop her fall, clung to the edge of the balcony for dear life. "Help me!" She screamed, willing for someone, anyone to come. "Someone! Scouts?! Guys!" She gulped and looked down. The world tilted crazily so far below her. "HELP!" Her grip on the marble began to slip. She frantically grasped at the smooth slipperiness, terror clouding her eyes. "HELP!!!!!" A tanned face with purple eyes appeared just above her. "Garnet!" "Kyle?!" Garnet gasped, looking up into those blessed, blessed eyes. "Kyle, oh god-" "Hang in there." Kyle ordered, grabbing her arms. He turned his head to yell over his shoulder. "Hey! Can we get some help over here?!" There was the sound of feet, and then half a dozen boys appeared above her. They grabbed at her arms and hands, some reaching all the way down to grab her fuku top. A head of bright blond hair appeared to the side of everyone. "Hang in there, miss." Chase said calmly, like he pulled girls from death everyday. "Everybody ready-pull!" All the guys gave a mighty heave. Garnet found herself being quickly yanked up. Her feet kicked in the air, they hit something hard-and then she was resting on solid ground again. She took a deep breath, resisted to urge to kiss the balcony floor, and turned to the boys to bow. "Thank you. I owe you my life." Chase grinned. "Hey, we owe you ours for fighting those-things-inside." He said cheerfully. There was a smash, and Katrina was flung onto the balcony, still giggling drunkenly. She slid neatly to the guys' and Garnet's feet. Sapphire looked out through the hole in the door. "You all right, Garnet?! How'd you get saved?!" "Some guardian angels pulled me from certain death." Garnet said with a smile, patting Kyle's head affectionately. Sapphire hesitated when she saw Chase among the group, but she made her way up to them and bowed. "T-thank you, for my friend's life. We'll always defend the populace." She said awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. The guys nodded quickly, then moved past Sapphire and skirted Katrina in a wide range. The idea of evil super villains was comparatively new to this town. Chase had not left. He looked at her closely. A slow smile drew across his face. "Now I remember you. You're the angel who saved my life in the cafeteria, right?" Sapphire blushed and nodded. "Just doing my job." She muttered shyly. An idea flickered in Chase's mind. He bent down to look into Sapphire's eyes. "Can I say thank you this time?" Before Sapphire could respond or even guess what was going on, Chase had moved his face forward and gently placed his lips on hers. Sapphire's eyes open wide and she half-gasped into the kiss, but she did not pull back or slap him. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut as she began to enjoy it. His lips were soft, almost like kissing a cloud. Chase gently broke out of the kiss and backed away. He smiled at her and strode back into the ruined apartment, stepping over part of Katrina on the way. Sapphire sighed as she dreamily touched her lips. "Wow." "Oh, Sapphire!" Garnet breathed, entranced. "Oh, wow! Was that your first time?" Dazedly, Sapphire nodded. "Wow.." Garnet sighed. "That was really beautiful. And so romantic, too!" Obsidian stuck her head out through the missing glass. "Hey! Hel-lo!! Scouts! We have un problemo!" "What is it?" Garnet asked grouchily, not enjoying the call back to reality. "Wow." Sapphire said dreamily. "It's Diamond." Obsidian said tersely. "She's in trouble." * * * "God, oh God, oh God, oh God." Diamond muttered, sprinting down the hallway outside Hannah's apartment. Spike was right on her tail, with Jedin only a few yards behind. And they were beginning to gain on her. "God, oh God-" Diamond cursed as the end of the hallway loomed up in front of her. There were no stairs, just two elevators and a few rooms. Diamond pounded on the elevator button for down. "Please-" She muttered. "Please, please, please-" She ran to the other elevator and pounded the button for up. "Come on, come on!!" She glanced back. Spike was only thirty yards away! "No fun getting rammed into two separate pieces!" Diamond decided, grabbing in between the crack of the doors for the second elevator. She concentrated, and began to pull as hard as she could. Slowly the elevator doors began to open. A sweat broke on Diamond forehead as she held them open two feet apart. She looked up and saw the elevator coming down. Just a few more seconds. Spike was so close. The elevator settled into place and its doors opened with a "ping!" "Up! UP!" Diamond screamed, leaping in and pressing the top floor button and the doors-close one. She had a glimpse of Spike's furious face not five feet from the elevator before the doors closed and the elevator began to shoot up the stories. She leaned on one of the cold mirrors that made up the walls and ceiling, gasping for air, shaking a little at the near- collision. She stared up at the floor counter over the doors. 17, 18, 19. "God." She breathed, shoving sweaty hair back from her face. "Wonder where Damon is?" Not that it matters, she added silently. We're enemies, now. He'll try to kill me again. Won't he? A "ping!" startled her out of her thoughts. The elevator doors had opened, and Diamond walked out, rubbing her eyes. "Man, when they say top floor, they mean top floor." She muttered, gazing around at the building's roof top. It was gravelly, with a few ventilation shafts here and there, and a generator in the corner. "I wonder if they'll try to find me up here." Diamond wondered, going to the edge of the rooftop and peering down at the ground a full thirty stories below. "Well if we didn't, it would take all the fun away from our game of hide and seek, wouldn't it?" Spike said cheerily from behind her. Diamond froze, mind shutting down in panic and terror and just plain fatigue. "Jeez." She muttered, trying not to fall to her knees. No way was she going to die bowing to these creeps. Spike strode forward from the hole he had made shooting up fifteen stories. "Lovely view." He commented, gazing out at the city. "One day, all this will be ours. All the people in it, too." He leered at Diamond. She spat at his boots. "Go to hell. This town'll never be yours." Spike shook his head pityingly. "It already is, pet. It already is." "For the last time-I'M NOT ANYONE'S PET!!!!!" Diamond yelled. "And that includes you, Damon!!!!!" She pointed at the dark haired figure who was hovering just above the hole. Damon raised his hands. "Not even dreaming of calling you pet, pet." Diamond sighed. "That's it. I give up!" "You give up your fight?" Spike questioned, delight springing into empty eyes. "No, I give up ever trying to get you lot to stop being annoying." Diamond retorted, sighing and forcing her mind to stop spinning. "Didn't know you had ever started." Damon muttered. "Shut up, Damon." Spike ordered, not looking back. Damon stared at him, startled. "Spike?" "I said, shut up." Spike said in his most dangerous tone. Damon found himself glaring at the back of Spike's head. "Why should I listen to you?" He asked, his own voice dropping into darkness. The air around the two men crackled with drawing power. Diamond stared at them, horrified, and stepped backward. Her foot knocked against the edge of the building, and she looked down all those stories. Nothing to break her fall- Wait. Twenty stories down. There was something.sticking out of the side of the building. "Because you let the girl go one too many times!" Spike growled, glaring at Damon. "She insulted my girlfriend. And now, I'm going to kill her." "And I'm going to help." Jedin added, making his own hole right beside Spike as he shot up. Damon sighed. "Fine. Go ahead and try. You'll never do it. She's tricky." "He's right!" Diamond said cheerfully, hoping the terror at what she had to do wouldn't show in her voice. Spike swung around to glare at her. "I'm going to feed your eyeballs to my Screamers!" He swore. Diamond blinked and edged back just a little. "Well, that's nice." She smiled a winning, bright smile at all three men. "Well, chaps, it's been fun, but, I'm leaving." "You're leaving?!" Jedin asked with a snort. "Where can you go? We're not going to let you use our holes or the elevator." Diamond only smiled. Oh, my God....she thought in her mind. God, oh god, oh god. Damon saw what she was going to do a split second before she did it. His mouth dropped open as he stared at the girl. She gave him a mysterious smile, and bent her knees. "Get her!" He yelled. "She's going to-" Too late. Diamond jumped into the air and back-dived off the building. Spike roared in disbelief and ran to the edge. "I don't believe it! She's going to kill herself!" "Hey, let me see!" Jedin protested, elbowing Spike out of the way to peer down. Meanwhile. "God, oh my GOD!!" Diamond screamed, watching the ground come flying up at her. "Okay, calm down, count the stories-where's that damn-" She froze, and tried desperately to fling her body sideways in the air, aiming for the side of the building. The balcony for Hannah's apartment on the fifteenth story whizzed past-Garnet and Kyle were still out on the balcony-she caught a glimpse of Garnet's horrified face-"Come on." She muttered, moving her arms and legs in frantic swimming motions. "Come on-" The flagpole sticking out of the wall on the tenth story-it was right there-she was too far away-she was going to miss- "Unnngh!" With a huge effort, she flung herself the two feet more that was necessary, and her left hand got hold of the flagpole-which miraculously did not break. Her flight abruptly stopped with her arm being yanked out of the shoulder socket. "OW!" With tears in her eyes, she scrambled to desperately get a better hold on the slippery metal pole-and ended up hanging by her ankles, rubbing her left shoulder. "Great." She muttered. "BRILLIANT plan, jumping off the building. Next time, I'll just jump out of an airplane without a parachute. Or maybe the Empire State Building." Gingerly, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her shoulder, she swung up to grab the flag pole with her hands. Her posture now somewhat resembled a sloth. She giggled at what anyone would think if they looked out the window right now. A cry of "There!" made her look up. Dimly she could see two blond heads peering over the top of the building at her. She carefully let go of the pole with one hand to wave happily up at them. "Hi!" She called. There were a few loud curses, then the heads disappeared. Diamond began to laugh as she grabbed the pole with both hands again. She hung for a few minutes, giggling and shaking with laughter. "Oh, jeez." She chuckled, finally wiping her eyes. "What I would give to have seen Spike's face." A loud scream from a few stories up made her sigh. "Great. Back to the battle." Carefully she let go with her legs and began to swing back and forth, legs aimed at a window a few feet away. "Ready." Diamond muttered. "Aim.FIRE!!!" With that, she let go, and sailed through the glass. She landed hard on- fortunately-nicely carpeted floor and rolled a few feet before she hit the wall. "Ow." There was a scream, and a light came on. Two people sat up from a large bed a few paces away, staring at her. Diamond waved a little from her upside-down position against the wall. "Hello." The woman-a nice, middle-aged brunette type-screamed and clutched at the blankets around her. "It talks!" She yelled, panicking. "Excuse me?!" Diamond said indignantly. "I'm a she, not an it!" "Are you-human?" The man asked steadily, slightly less afraid than his wife. "I think so." Diamond replied, carefully righting herself and standing. "Whoa.major blow to the head." She shook her head back and forth experimentally before smiling. "No harm done." "Except to our window!" The woman screamed, gesturing at the broken glass. "And my sanity!" "Err-sorry." Diamond said, blushing. "But, the thing is-I was fighting- then I jumped off the building-oh, never mind, it'd drive you nuts. I've got to go now, anyway." She began to walk towards the door, then stopped and turned back. "By the way? This is all just a very, very bad dream. The glass was broken by an owl crashing into your window, but the owl was all right. Good night!" "Just a bad dream?" The man repeated dazedly. "Just a dream." Diamond said reassuringly. "In fact, you're still asleep. So stay that way. Bye!" She promptly ran from the room and apartment, not wanting to have to explain things anymore. * * * "Did you just see Diamond falling by?" Obsidian asked uncertainly, walking out to where Garnet was standing. "It wasn't just me, right?" "Uh-huh." Garnet replied, eyes as big as saucers. "Uhhhhhh..." "I think she's in shock." Emerald said, walking out with Topaz and Amethyst. (All three girls were very careful to step on some part of Katrina's body on their way.) "Did Diamond just fall past us?" Topaz asked, waving her hand in front of a still-dreamily-sighing Sapphire. "Yes." Obsidian said simply, grinding her teeth. "Yes, she did." "So-she's probably dead?" Amethyst asked, kicking Katrina's head with a giggle. "Did you guys drink the punch or something?!" Obsidian demanded. "Why are you so stoned?!" "Only one glass each." Emerald hiccupped. "You idiots!" Obsidian yelled. "That stuff was practically pure vodka! Or wine, or something." Topaz grinned and giggled. "Something? Like cherries?" "Jeez.." Obsidian muttered, pushing hair out of her eyes. "Hey, look!" Amethyst said, giggling and pointing at her hair. "My hair's normal again!" "Sapphire's too!" Topaz said, yanking on a strand of said hair. "OW!" Sapphire yelled, coming out of her trance to slap Topaz's arm. "That hurt!" "Sorry." Topaz giggled. "They're drunk." Obsidian told Sapphire flatly, rubbing her head. "Obviously." Sapphire said, waving her hand in front of her face. "Whew! You guys are emitting fumes like a gas factory! You smell worse than Hannah!" That woke them up. "I do not!" Emerald yelled, hitting Sapphire's head. "We only had one glass!" Amethyst voiced, frowning. "I had two." Topaz said, still giggling. "Great." Obsidian said, rolling her eyes. "A drunk Senshi. Oh, that will scare the pee out of our enemies." There was a crash, followed by an "OW!" as Topaz tripped over Katrina and fell to the ground, the rest of her drunkenness knocked out of her. "All fear the mighty Jewel Senshi!" Garnet proclaimed, sighing. "Uhhhhh..hangover.." Topaz muttered, holding her head. "Major headache..wish Diamond were here, she could heal me.." "Unfortunately, your leader has just plummeted to her death on the grounds thirty stories below." Jedin's voice said smoothly. All the girls tensed. "Where are you?!" Obsidian demanded, looking around. "Right here." Obsidian whirled and her face connected squarely with Jedin's fist. "And now I wish Diamond was here." She muttered, rubbing her face as she leaped back a few steps. "She's-dead?" Garnet stuttered, moving back from the edge where the three dark men hovered. "But-she can't be-dead-you evil FREAKS!!!!!!" This last part was said as Garnet took a flying leap off the balcony and rammed into Damon, biting, kicking, and scratching furiously. Damon yelped in surprise, grabbed Garnet's neck, and threw her back onto the balcony, right into the middle of the group. Senshi went flying. Jedin giggled. "Bowling with Sailor Scouts! I like it." Amethyst struggled up to glare at Jedin. "You slimy evil BASTARDS!!!!!!" She screamed. "You killed Diamond!" "She killed herself." Damon said coldly. "Jumped off the roof to get away from us." "I jumped off, yes, but I don't believe I'm quite dead yet." Diamond said, striding out from Hannah's apartment. "A lovely flagpole broke my fall." Emerald gasped and pointed to Diamond's arm, which was puffing out in lovely colors of orange, blue, black, and purple. "Your arm! You're injured!" "This? Nah, this is just a scratch." Diamond said comfortably, patting Emerald's shoulder. "See, now," she began to walk over to where Jedin was hovering. "This-" She punched him hard in the stomach, "or this-" she slapped his face and punched his nose, "or this might have hurt-" she kicked him in the shin. "-but a little twenty-story fall? Nah. Nothing to it. I just yanked my arm out of my socket, I'm pissed off, mad, angry, furious, and every other word in the English language that describes being unhappy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And-" She glared at Jedin. "It's-" punch to the head-"all-"punch to the shoulder-"-your-" punch to the gut- "fault!!!!!!!!!!!" She knocked Jedin one in the crotch, grabbed his collar, and flung him over the edge of the building. "Not to mention," She added, striding over to Spike. "That I'm hurt-" Spike backed away. "I believe you! You're angry and injured! We're going away now!" "Damn right you are." Diamond growled, shoving her arm back into her shoulder with a "pop!" "Absolutely! Leaving! Not dreaming of staying!" Spike laughed weakly, struggling to gain altitude. "Spike, what the hell are you doing!?" Damon hissed. "We could finish them like you wanted to!" "Did you see what she did to Jedin!?" Spike whimpered. "Besides-" His face suddenly contorted. He gasped, "We're out of time!!" "Uh-oh." Diamond stared at Spike. His skin was moving in ripples..like Katrina's had, that day in the cafeteria..like Katrina's was now. "What's happening?" Garnet whispered, crawling up beside her. Diamond sunk to her knees. "I don't know." She answered truthfully. "But- I think it's going to be bad." "And big." Emerald added, crawling forth as well, edging away from Katrina. The other Senshi followed suit, staring at the red-haired body that was shivering, skin growing paler and paler. "I don't like this." Topaz said, sniffing the air. "The wind-it's changed, somehow. Colder. Warning of evil." "Why did you just sniff the air?" Diamond asked curiously. "And how can you tell? I hardly feel a thing, except the air feels creepy." "I have no idea why." Topaz snapped. "Maybe because air's my element or something! I don't know, I don't care, all I know is that something really evil is coming!!" "You've got that right, Topaz." Damon said coldly, flying down to land beside the scouts. "What are you doing here?" Amethyst hissed. "Staying away from their transformations." Damon replied, staring up at Spike. "Transformations?" Diamond asked, voice barely above a whisper. "To what?" "Their true forms." Spike raised his head and howled, a long, eerie howl that made the Senshi cover their ears in pain. "True forms?!" Diamond yelled over the noise as another howl pierced the air, coming from far below. "What true forms?!" "The Beast Within them." Damon responded, not looking at her. "I'd suggest you lot get out of here. They're going to kill whoever they next see." "B-but-my god-" "DO it!" Damon roared. "Leave!!!!!! I'm the only one who knows how to help them! Get out of here while you can! They can smell your blood! They hear your heart beat!!! GO!!!!" Diamond wasted no more time. She grabbed Garnet's hand and Emerald's hand and pulled them up, shoving them towards the apartment. "Come on!" She yelled. "Do it!" "Why are we trusting him!?" Topaz cried, shuffling towards the door. "Because I do, now move it!!!!!" Diamond screamed, shoving them all through the glass door and glancing back. Spike's muscles were bulging under his clothes, and his howl was going even higher pitched. Katrina was beginning to stir, her muscles rippling and growing. "GO!" Diamond screamed, shoving her friends out of the apartment. "Move it! Go, go, go!!!" "What happened to no retreating?" Obsidian grumbled, resisting a shove. "It vanished when Spike began mutating, now, bloody hell, MOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!" Diamond gave a tremendous shove as Katrina's howl rose as high as Spike's-and much closer and clearer. "Damn you, move!" "No need to curse." Garnet said in injured dignity. "She's right, move!!" Topaz gasped, yanking on Sapphire's and Emerald's arms. "Can't you hear the wind screaming?! Please, let's go!!" Diamond felt an enormous dark presence well up in her mind. She whirled to face the open door down the hall. "Topaz," she ordered tersely, "take them and run. All of you, move it." "What about you?!" Sapphire asked indignantly. "As your leader and as your friend I command you to GO!!!!!!!!" Diamond screamed, urgency etched on her face. The Senshi stared at her before turning to run down the hall. Topaz was last, urging Garnet along. "Come on, Shellie!" She murmured. "We've got to hurry!" "But-Diamond-" "Knows what she's doing!" Topaz said grimly, tugging on her friend's arm. "I hope." "So, while we run like chickens, she stays and acts all high and mighty?!" Amethyst asked indignantly. "I do not think so." She started back to where Diamond was tensely facing the open doorway. "Diamond-" "Oh my GOD!" Obsidian screamed, pointing at the doorway. Amethyst recoiled in horror, tripping over her own feet as she ran. "Move!" She yelled. "Move it! Move it!!" "What'd you see?!" Garnet panted, as they charged down the stairs. "Nothing you ever want to see, Shellie!" Amethyst said grimly. "Something I hope for God's sakes I'm only dreaming about." "What about Diamond!?" Obsidian asked frantically. "She can't face that- that-thing!" "Never mind Diamond, she told us to save our own skin, and that's what we're going to do!!" Amethyst yelled, grabbing Obsidian's arm as she hesitated. "We can't fight that thing! So let's move!" Meanwhile, Diamond was staring in controlled horror at the thing that was leering out of the doorway at her. Huge, blood red, and ultimately hideous, it stared at her from two pale blue oval eyes the size of tires. A large, wide open gaping maw snapped open and closed, revealing row upon row of teeth as sharp as knives and as large as computer screens. Skinny, spindly arms with two enormous claws on the end grasped the doorframe, and the thing walked on huge legs that had knees that bent backwards, like dogs. The legs ended in tyrannosaurus-rex type feet with bronze claws the size of hubcaps. It was over eight feel tall, and as wide as a car, made up mostly of huge head, and the blood-red skin seemed stretched over the bones. Diamond stared at the monster, wondering where the hell it had come from. Nothing like this existed out of nightmares. True forms. Oh my God. "Katrina?" She asked guardedly, stepping back a little, The thing raised its gigantic head and sniffed the air, eyes focusing on her. It howled and began to try to move towards her, ripping the door frame into shreds. "Oh, God." Diamond whispered, backing up a few steps. "What. Have. I. Gotten. Myself. Into." The thing-the beast that Katrina had become-thundered far quickly than anything of that size should have been able to towards her. Diamond froze, staring at the thing before turning to run down the hall as fast as she could. The beast followed, ripping away the ceiling of the hall as it went. Diamond ran as fast as she ever had towards the stairs. Almost there- Something burst through the ceiling to land five meters in front of her. It looked much like the creature behind her, except it was an inky blue- black, it's eyes were a maroon shade, and a crown of spiky horns came out from what seemed to be its forehead. Diamond gulped, leaping backwards. "Damon?" She wondered. "Or Spike?" The thing leered at her before moving forward, slowly but steadily. Diamond fell down as the floor shook. She scrambled away on her hands and bottom, until she ran into something. Something that breathed in her ear and snarled. Diamond rolled away just as Katrina's huge jaws came down and snatched up the piece of floor she had been sitting on. The monster chomped up the piece of floor, blinking blue eyes at her. "Oh, my God." Diamond whispered. She was trapped between two of the most horrible things she had ever seen, and all her brain could do was dart frantically around in all her memories. She vaguely wondered if her life was flashing before her eyes. The blue beast raised a gigantic foot over her head, blocking out the light from the above story. She stared up, horrified, mind sluggishly moving through the time she had smacked Bobbie Semipro upside the head for daring to ask her to dance on a dare from his stupid friends. Warm arms suddenly grabbed her shoulders and hauled her backwards just as the monstrous foot came down. Diamond collapsed in relief, breathing hard. "Dear lord." "Hang on." Damon instructed, holding the small golden haired girl tightly to him. Spike roared and moved forward to crush him as he leapt up through the broken ceiling to the story above. Diamond snuggled in slightly against him, sighing deeply. "One more second, and I'd've been nothing more than road kill." She said, fists clenched. "You're going to be lucky if you don't get that way before this is over." Damon said grimly, avoiding Katrina's flailing arm as she tried to snag them to bring them back down. "What are they?!" Diamond asked, staring down, horrified and fascinated. "Demons." Damon answered quietly, looking at Spike and Katrina in something like pity. "Pure, unchanged evil forms. It's-painful-changing to these forms. Their civilized being-their soul, you might say-gets killed. Completely. All that's in them now is animal instincts, and their love of Rubian." "So, they can't feel or love?" Diamond asked. "But-can they recognize you? Will they hurt you?" "No-o." Damon said slowly. "The darkness in me discourages them. But they don't know who I am. They don't even really know who they are, now." "And-they want-to kill us?" Diamond questioned timidly. Damon nodded grimly. "It's their sole purpose, aside from the desire to feed, both on flesh and on energy. It's our desire constantly." Diamond's head snapped up. She frowned at him. "Why aren't you changing?! Or are you going to at any moment and are holding me just so you can eat me?!" "This is my real form." Damon said impatiently, avoiding a swipe from Spike's claws. "Then how come they all look like that?!" Diamond demanded, waving her hand at Spike and Katrina. "Watch it!" Damon snapped, grabbing her hand and yanking it in as Spike's teeth snapped at where it had been a second earlier. "Eep." Diamond cheeped in terror, shutting up and massaging her almost- chopped-off hand. "They're like that because that's how Rubian made them to be." Damon explained, not looking away from Spike, who was eyeing Diamond now like she was a piece of meat. "She created them to be like this, and gave them the power to change to other forms, so as to blend in. The humanoid forms are the ones that they like the most. There's when they think normally, where they have a spirit, have emotions." "Rubian.created you all?" Diamond asked, feeling like she'd been socked in the gut. "All but one." Damon said quietly. Diamond wriggled in his arms until she could look up into his partially- hidden face. "Not you?" "Not me." Diamond took a deep breath, sensing she was stepping on delicate ground. "Would it be rude to ask where you came from?" "Yes." Damon answered sharply. "And it's none of your business." Diamond did not press again, but after a moment, Damon said, "I was born a human is all I know. I think I was abandoned as a child or something. At any rate, Rubian killed me, and then made me the way I am today." "Soul still intact?" Diamond murmured, hoping he wouldn't do something in anger-like drop her. "Somewhat." Diamond knew better than to say anything more. With a roar, Katrina leapt up to the second floor, feet digging into the walls. She glared at Damon and Diamond, the latter of which shivered hard and clutched at the former's cloak. Damon calmly leapt down to where the beast had been and sprinted lightning- fast down the hall. With a roar, the two creatures pursued him, crashing through plaster and wood as they ran. "When I drop you, you've got to get away from here as quick as possible, you understand?" Damon asked, flying down a flight of stairs. "No way!" Diamond said indignantly. "This is my fight too! And-those guy's are bad guys-and as a warrior, I have to fight-" "You fight, you die." Damon said harshly, zooming down a hall. "Well, then, let me stay and be bait or something!" Diamond begged. "Please! I could help in some way, I know!" "Bait?!" Damon snorted, wishing he hadn't been thinking the exact same thing. "Are you nuts? Those two will be on you and decimate you before you could run a hall." "Not if you get them first!" Diamond retorted. Damon ran down another flight and hallway and listened to the crashes coming from the stairway they had first gone down. "Well.." "Please." Diamond said, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "I'm begging you." Damon sighed, and gently placed her on her feet. "It'll take me a few moments to get ready." He told her, hovering in the air a few feet above her head. "Best begin running." Diamond nodded and took off, jumping down the full flight of stairs, turning the corner-gone. Damon sighed and looked down at the end of the hall where the two monstrosities had appeared. "Hope I do this right the first time." He muttered, clapping his hands together to start the binding ritual. Diamond raced down the hall, hearing the roars of the two creatures hot on her trail. She sprinted as fast as she could without draining herself completely, willing for this to be a good day for her stamina. Halfway down the hall she stopped short. She felt like she was forgetting something..and something was surging in her mind, coming from close by. She choked back a scream as a green monster's face peeked out of the end of the hall. Guess that answered what had happened to Jedin. "Damn it." She swore, turning to see Spike and Katrina emerging at the other end. "Will someone help me." The creatures began to quickly move towards her. She whirled to stare at Spike, who was coming the fastest. "Golden Halo Attack!!" The beast roared as the golden halo savagely ripped through its skin on all sides, a whirl of light. It reached up and caught the halo in its jaws, crushing it into lifeless nothing. "Hey!" Diamond yelled. "My halo.my attack.!" A knock from behind sent her sprawling. She stared up as Jedin's ugly face loomed over her- "DEATH CRESCENTS DESTROY!!!" "BRIGHT WHIRLWIND GUST!!!" "BEAUTY ROSES BLAST!!!!" The creatures screamed and retreated as six girls jumped in around their stricken leader. "You okay, Diamond?" Obsidian called, glaring at Katrina. "I thought I told you guys to leave!" Diamond gasped in amazement. "We're disobedient children." Sapphire said with a grin. "Oh, come on, you know we'd never leave you alone! We're a team! Jewel Senshi! All for one, one for the money, so on and so forth." "You guys are evil." Diamond muttered, standing and looking back and forth between the monsters. "But I'm glad you came." "So, how do we kill them?" Topaz asked brightly. "I mean, our attacks had NO effect whatsoever." "Damon's doing something." Diamond told her, trying to peer over Spike's and Katrina's enormous shoulders. "And we're trusting him. Again." Garnet sighed. "This is not normal. Normal people do not have to put their lives in the hands of their enemies." "Enemies who recently danced very-interestingly-with our leader." Obsidian said with a snigger. "Shut up." Diamond ordered good naturedly. "Or I might have to kill you and feed your bloody corpse to these monsters." Garnet shuddered and backed away as Katrina took a large step towards them. "B-bad monster." She said, teeth chattering. "B-bad! Don't b-be n- naughty!" Katrina lunged forward, mouth snapping at Garnet's retreating hand. "YIPE!" Garnet promptly hid behind Diamond and buried her face in the back of her skirt. "Whoa!" Diamond yelled, yanking her skirt away. "Garnet, you baka! Sicko!" "S-sorry." Garnet gulped, covering her face with her hands. "But these things are creepy!" "No reason to reveal my underwear to the whole world." Diamond snapped, smoothing her skirt down carefully. "Oh, but wouldn't Damon love to see it?" Amethyst asked innocently. Diamond promptly hit her over her head. Amethyst yelped and hit the floor. "That hurt!" "You deserved it!" Diamond raged, shaking her fist at Amethyst, not noticing Katrina inching closer. "Idiot!" "Ditz!" "Pervert!" "Witch!" "Right!" Diamond yelled, suddenly whirling to face Katrina. "Golden Halo Attack!" "Death Crescents Destroy!" Katrina let out a shriek that raised the hair on everyone's heads and clambered back a few pages, tongue lolling out of her maw to lick at the blood coming from the top of her head. Spike's blood red eyes fastened on the blood. With a roar, he charged Katrina, tongue trying to reach the blood squirting from her body. Katrina fended him off with a screech, clawing at his arm and drawing bluish black blood. Spike's attention turned to his own wound, and began to lick the blood there. "Gross." Topaz commented, watching interestedly. "They even like their own blood?!" Diamond said in disgust. "Double gross and yuck-o-rama!" "An insane instinct of some sort?" Obsidian muttered, dry-mouthed. The beasts stopped licked at their wounds to screech and leap forward upon the scouts. Obsidian screamed as Spike's gigantic foot clamped her to the ground, unable to move or even breath much. "Obsidian!" Diamond cried, running over to Spike's leg and pulling on it fruitlessly. "Let her go!" She demanded, kicking Spike's huge leg. "Let her go!!" She gave it an extra hard kick. Spike roared and quickly swiped at her with huge front claws. Diamond leapt back, clutching at her stomach. A deep gash was visible under her torn tunic. Blood bubbled up and spilled onto her hands. "Great." Diamond moaned, trying to ignore the pain as she shoved her hand into the gash to stop the bleeding-and also trying not to think of what organs she might be touching. Spike and Katrina sniffed at the air, smelling her blood. Spike's paw lifted off of Obsidian's body to take a large step towards the bleeding girl. "Gaaaah.." Obsidian muttered, drawing in a full lung of air and rolling away as Katrina's paw came down. Diamond skirted backwards from the oncoming beasts, trying to keep away. She slipped in her own blood that had formed a puddle on the floor and fell, continuing to inch backward from the blood-hungry mad eyes. "Damon!" She yelled. "Whatever you're doing, better get it done fast!!!" Damon heard the roars of Katrina, Spike, and Jedin. Feverishly he worked, trying to complete the spell. "Blood is life." He muttered, taking his small sword and pricking his finger. Black blood spilled out as he raised his hand into the air. "Blood binds soul to soul, heart to heart, spirit to spirit. Let those below me who walk as they should not, be bound to me and to my command!" The air screamed as black and purple lightning zigzagged around him in a circle. A rune made of blue fire etched itself under Damon's feet. A crown of white flame played on his brow. "Katrina." He murmured fiercely. "Spike. Jedin. Let your souls be bound to me until-I-will-them-" He stopped, gasping for breath, sweating as the power around him increased. This was too much. Three at once. Diamond's plea for help suddenly rang loudly in his ears. He gritted his teeth. "-until-I-will them-gone. Let-their-souls-be-under-my-control. By- devil's-pact-and-darkness'-blood-let my will be!" Diamond stared at Spike's enormous jaws that loomed just above her. He lowered himself, maw opening, teeth aiming for her head- And very suddenly, the beast froze stock still. Its eyes rolled about in what seemed to be surprise. Beside him, the monster that was Katrina was stopped too, foot half-raised in the air. Jedin had been reaching for Garnet. Now he froze, arm reaching for her but not ever there. "Jeez." Garnet muttered, raising her head from under her arms. "Did someone hit the pause button?" "More like the stop." Emerald said, gingerly touching Spike's mutant skin and shuddering. "I'm guessing this is what Damon was trying to do." Diamond said, reaching a hand out to carefully touch one of Spike's teeth. "Either that, or we've just flown into the Twilight Zone." "There's-something on the wing!" Obsidian gasped, contorting her face and grasping her neck. "Some-thing." "Enough with the Shatner impression." Diamond said, muffling a giggle. "I wonder what happen now." She drew her hand away from Spike's mouth, staring at her hand as a drop of blood welled where she had touched his tooth. "Diamond-your wound?" Topaz asked. Diamond winced as she looked down and saw the bloody gash. The pain came back in a tidal wave, as if seeing the injury made it worst. She slowly lowered herself onto the ground, breathing heavily. "Heal yourself!" Amethyst ordered, holding her friend's shoulders. "Come on, Diamond, all you need to do is heal yourself and you'll be okay." Diamond nodded as the colors of Amethyst's face swirled together like watercolors. "Yeah, okay. Yeah, okay." She breathed deep, a light-headed feeling coming into her head. "Everlasting.Love.Purify." Golden light played behind her eyelids as the pain began to recede. The lightheaded feeling began to steal away into the recesses of her mind. Diamond blinked once or twice, then carefully removed her hand from her wound as the light penetrated it. There was the moment where her body screamed in pain as the light moved within her, and then all the pain was gone. "Whew." She muttered, standing up and stretching. "That was not pleasant. I don't even want to think about what I was touching." "Guts." Garnet said promptly. "Must you remind me?!" Diamond demanded. "My insides should not have seen light! This is not right! I have the right to remain disturbed for a while." "Right granted." Sapphire said, staring intently at Spike's maroon eyes that moved when she moved, watching her. "Everyone else finds this excessively creepy, correct?" Emerald wondered, waving her hand energetically in front of Katrina's face and watching robin egg's blue eyes follow it. "So." Amethyst said, cracking her knuckles. "Do we kill 'em?" "What?! No!" Garnet said, shocked. "They're just-helpless. We can't do that, right?" "Exactly! Helpless!! Kill now!" Obsidian said brightly, giving Jedin a kick. "Let their bloody gore paint this hall a lovely mix of red and blue!" "You're disturbed." Topaz told her. "What separates us from them?! The fact that we don't kill inhumanely. They're not attacking us now!" "Excepting the fact that they were about two inches from killing us earlier!" Sapphire growled, glaring at Topaz and Garnet. "We can't just let them go! What if we let them go, and they go drain someone and that person dies?! We could have prevented it! We could save an entire planet if we kill them now!" "But now we're not defending, we're being aggressive." Emerald said quietly. "I thought we're supposed to defend, not attack. So far, when they start to threaten, we're always there to beat them back. Are we going to switch roles? Will we become like them?" "This is nuts." Amethyst snorted, looking at Diamond. "Diamond, tell them we have to kill this trash." "No, no!" Garnet cried. "Tell them that we have to be merciful! We're the good guys! We'll prevail anyway! We have to show mercy!" Diamond hesitated, torn between Amethyst's violent purple eyes that were shooting sparks, and Garnet's crimson ones that were overflowing with tears. She sighed, breathed deep, and let her eyes travel back up to the stairs leading to the above floor. Damon stumbled down, breathing heavily, exhausted but relieved. The beasts had been stopped. The scouts.lived, yes..Diamond...all right...he clung to the railing, fists clenched, fingers driving into the wood. Diamond's heart tore in her chest. She looked at the still monsters, and said quietly, "We're not going to hurt them." "What?!" Amethyst bellowed. "Why NOT?!" "We're not gods, Amethyst." Diamond said softly, staring into Spike's red eyes. "We don't have the right to pass judgment on their souls, no matter how much we want to. If we were in battle, I'd say yes on the spot, but here." She sighed. "It would just be murder. No matter what kind of creatures these are." "That it so butch." Amethyst snapped. "We're demon killers-" "No." Diamond said calmly. "We're Sailor Senshi. End of discussion." Amethyst sighed and drooped her head. "All right, fine, whatever-" "-Mom." Diamond growled and swiped at Amethyst, who dodged good-naturedly and grabbed her in a headlock. "Come on, fearless leader. Let's go, before I turn into a renegade and stomp all over these creeps, including your boyfriend." "He's not my boyfriend." Diamond growled defensively. "Uh-huh." Garnet said with a smirk. "Sure he's not." "Shut up!" Diamond yelled as the girls giggled and began to walk down the stairs. "Come on, you guys, he's not my boyfriend! He's evil! Enemy! You guys? GUYS!" Damon smiled to himself, watching the scouts go. Before she rounded the corner, Diamond turned around to flash her bright smile at him before she turned and disappeared. Damon sighed and glared at the monsters. "You all are going to get me into so much trouble." He muttered before teleporting back to the base, dragging the beasts with him.
Chapter Seven
"OUCH!" Damon yelled, flinging himself away from Katrina. "That hurt!" "Oh, stop being such a wimp!" Katrina scolded. "Come back here and let me heal that back wound!" "I can take care of it myself!" Damon snapped, retreating before her oncoming fingers. "You can't possibly reach it!" Katrina said in exasperation. "Now-just-let- me-" Damon roared as her fingers found his back and black energy poured into his wounds, healing them painfully. "That HURT!!!" He bellowed. "Well, it's all better now." Katrina said calmly, reaching again. "Now, just let me take off that silly bandage-" "Forget it." Damon snapped. "You keep your hands away from my back." Katrina gulped, eyes starting to glisten. "Until I tell you that you can." Damon said hastily, praying Katrina wouldn't explode. It worked. Katrina sighed in melancholy before sitting down cross-legged on the cold black marble floor. Spike chuckled. "Well, aren't we being all sensitive." He teased. "Shut it." Damon growled, tensely feeling his back. "If you had any idea-" "How'd you get that, anyway?" Jedin asked. "That stupid cannonball didn't seem like enough-and where'd the bandage come from?" "The cannonball just relit the pain." Damon replied. "As to where it got it-uh-" "What?" Spike asked, interest in his cold eyes. "You guys are going to laugh." Damon muttered. "Try us." He took a deep breath, then said in a rush, "I saved a human girl from being hit by a car and she made me a bandage out of her shirt." He winced, waiting for the torment. It wasn't long in coming. "YOU?!!" Jedin roared in laughter. "YOU saved a HUMAN?!" His voice trailed away into helpless laughter. "That was sooo sweet." Spike said, clasping his hands together and pretending to swoon. "I think I'll faint!" "Gag me." Uther snorted in disgust. "Saving a human. Didn't think you'd stoop so low." "Hey," Damon said, leaning casually against a pillar. "Let's just say, her energy was very good. A definite winner. Couldn't let it go to waste." "Ahhh, thinking for the future, eh, Damon?" A high voice said as Ithengil walked into view. "Most impressive. Very full, you say?" "Extremely." Damon assured him. "All I have to do is get close enough, and then." He trailed off. "Now that's the Damon we know and love." Spike said with a malicious grin. "So," Jedin said, striding over to Ithengil. "What's up for our energy stealing, chief?" "I've found the energy reading is often highest in what humans call, 'teenagers'." Ithengil said, rubbing his hands together. "They're chock full of life and passion. See if you all can mingle in the-ahem-'high school' environment. Plenty of specimens there. And they're these things called 'parties' that many fine specimens attend, but no one seems to notice if a few vanish. I suggest getting acquainted with these people, gentlemen-and ladies." He hastily added to Katrina. "Learn their ways. You're going to have to mingle with them, at least, for two hours a day. And preferably when no one will notice." "Right." Jedin said, smiling slightly. "Penetrate human culture and get invited to 'parties'. Couldn't be simpler." "Oh, and one more thing!" Ithengil called as Damon, Jedin, Katrina, and Spike began to walk away. "I suggest getting acquainted with the 'populars'. These are often the most pretty and fashion-interested humans. They're the ones with perhaps the most 'parties'-and the most energy." * * * "Welcome back to life in the hell mouth." Angie said with a sigh at lunch on Monday. "We don't live in Sunnydale." Rachelle pointed out. "Isn't school enough of a hell?" Angela asked grumpily, taking a gloomy bite of a ham sandwich. "Most assuredly." Mary said tiredly, stretching. "Man, I am SO sore." "Fighting non-stop against evil people with incredible powers can do that to you." Marisa said, eyeing her tray with suspicion. "The poisoned food still bugging you?" Angie asked with a grin. Lacie shuddered as she watched Marisa gingerly pick up a fork and plunge it into the macaroni and cheese. "Personally, I am never buying again." "I wouldn't." Marisa said, looking with distaste at her entrée. "But it takes too much effort to make a lunch. For me, anyway." Malorie sighed and rolled her eyes before taking a bite of her apple. "Hey, Senshi." Kyle put a brown bag lunch bag next to Rachelle and slid into the seat beside her. Rachelle blushed slightly as his arm went around her shoulder. She snuggled in beside him. "You guys are really sickening." Elisha commented. "You shut up." Angie ordered. "Uh-oh!" Malorie whispered suddenly. "Here comes the slut patrol!" "Oh, no." Mary moaned. "Not Hannah!" "The very same." Marisa said with a sigh and a gulp. A beautiful, thin, extremely curved blond was making her way between the tables, her consort of other blonds not as pretty or as nicely built as she was following. A smirk was formed on her sugar-coated lips as she put her hands on the girls' table. "Well, well, well." She cooed, voice coated sweet but unable to hide the cold undercurrent. "What do we have here? Our resident freaks!" "Looks like you paid another visit to the plastic surgeon, Hannah." Angie said politely, pointedly eyeing her shirt. Hannah leaned down to look Angie in the eye. "Oh, I don't have to fake it." She purred. "Unlike some people." She smiled. "Might I suggest some band-aids?" "Please remove your overwhelmingly sickening rotting-flower perfume from my nostrils." Angie said calmly. "It's Chanel." Hannah said icily, sugar-coating gone. "Is that like gangrene?" Mary asked. Angie grinned at her. Hannah sighed and shook her head sadly. "Ah, our poor little resident nutcase. I suppose you haven't spit on anyone, recently?" "It's called gleeking." Mary said, a bit of darkness creeping into her tone. "Ah, yes." Hannah said in tones of false discovery. "Gleeking. My mistake." "Look, are you just here to torment us?" Malorie demanded. "Or is there some other purpose?" Hannah gave her a mean smile as her girlfriends tittered like a bunch of idiotic birds. She turned icy blue eyes on Kyle, and the look melted into pure sweetness. "Oh, Kyle. Babysitting again?" "You could call it that." Kyle said stiffly, arms tightening protectively around Rachelle, who clung to him with a frightened look. Hannah saw this, and her eyes sharpened. But her sweet smile remained the same. "Just here to tell you I'm hosting a little get-together tonight at my apartment. My folks will be gone. All the-" She looked at the girls and muffled a laugh. "-beautiful people will be there. All the populars. Who knows? Maybe you'll even be able to dump the trash for something- better." With this lovely parting statement, she whirled, short skirt riding just below her butt, and walked away, entourage following, casting Kyle admiring and appreciative leers. Rachelle clutched Kyle's blazer as he glared at Hannah's retreating back. "That bitch." He growled. "That low-life, slutty little-" "Kyle, p-please." Rachelle hiccupped, on the verge of tears. "Ignore h- her. She's just t-trying to get b-between us." Kyle looked down, rage melting into worry. He gently cradled Rachelle's head and murmured something into her ear, making her instantly relax and begin to smile. "She's creepy." Angie remarked. "But it was good to hit her with that gangrene remark, Mary. That was truly well-done." "Thank you, thank you." Mary said, bowing and blowing kisses. "I want to thank the little people. Without you, my insanity would not be possible." Angie grinned before turning to Kyle. "So? Are you going?" Kyle snorted. "Are you kidding? Going to where that whore and her mob will be on me all night? No thanks!" "No." Rachelle said suddenly, eyes closed. "You should go, Kyle. And you're taking us, too." All the girls stared at her in shock. "What!?" Lacie exclaimed. "Go to a popular party? Are you nuts?!" Angie saw the trapped look in Rachelle's eyes. "A premonition?" She asked gently. Rachelle nodded. "I-I've just got this feeling. There'll be an attack. On her party. I-I'm sorry, but it's just so deep." "Understood." Angie said, giving her friend a reassuring glance. "And your premonition might have saved some lives yet." "Um, hello?" Marisa asked. "People? How are we supposed to get in to party in question?? We were not invited. The only one who was invited was Kyle. Remember? So what are we supposed to do to get in?" "Isn't it obvious?" Lacie said with a snort. "We go in disguise! Say we're Kyle's cousins who decided to tag along or something." "All of us with one guy?" Mary asked skeptically. "With one guy what?" A voice behind her asked. Malorie choked on her apple. "You?!" She coughed out. Oz cockily smiled down at her as he took a seat next to her. "Yes, me. You sound so pleased." Marisa blushed as Andrew sat by her. Lance took the seat at the far end by Kyle. "Why must you be here?!" Malorie groaned, laying her head down on the table. "For the same reasons you are, M&M." Oz answered, waiting eagerly for her reply. It was instantaneous. "DON'T CALL ME M&M!!!!!!" Malorie shrieked, throwing her apple core at him. It hit his head and bounced off, striking the floor. Andrew sniggered before turning to Marisa. "What were you guys talking about? About all of you with one guy?" "I bet they're all players." Oz muttered. Malorie whacked him across the head. "Well." Angie hesitated. "There's this-party, that Kyle's been invited to, and we want to go. But the hostess doesn't really like us, so she didn't invite us, so we're trying to think of ways to-sneak in." She blushed. "Hannah's party?" Lance asked, glancing up from his latest novel. Angie nodded in surprise. "How'd you know?" Andrew's lips drew up in a smile. "She was our-ahem-official welcoming committee. Practically killed some girls to talk to us. Introduced herself and invited us all in one breath. Said we could start off right, with the 'popular' crowd." Angie sighed. "That's our Hannah. Popular junior varsity cheerleader by day, party-throwing slut by night." "So, you want to sneak in, huh?" Andrew mused, tilting his head back and resting a thoughtful finger on his chin. "I think that perhaps we could invite our lovely out-of-town friends to join us to the extravaganza party of the year." His voice trailed away as he winked at Angie. She jumped on the hint. "You'd take us?! Really?! You would!?" Oz grinned. "Sure, why not? I could use some fun. Beside, it'll be fun to fool the-cheerleader." "Do we have to ask them for help?" Malorie asked Angie plaintively. "I get dibs on taking M&M in." Oz whispered loudly to Lance, who was clearly not playing any attention and merely replied with a grunt. "Stop that!" Malorie wailed, hitting his arm. "Lance can take Lacie and Elisha." Angie said, eagerly planning it out. "One can be his girlfriend and the other his cousin. If we do that with all of you-Andrew with Marisa and Mary, Oz with Malorie and me-and you each pretend that one of the girls is your girlfriend, you can both help us and completely get rid of any hormone-raging girls." "Should I go in with Kyle?" Rachelle said doubtfully. "I mean, they might recognize me-" "You'll go as his cute 8th grade sister." Angie said teasingly. Rachelle glared at her. "Kidding, kidding." She thought for a second, then grinned craftily. "Go as yourself! I'm sure Kyle can shield you from evil girls. I mean, you are his girlfriend, yes? Of course, for the rest of us, we'll have to do complete makeovers. Change hair, makeup, clothes." She began rambling on as sweat drops formed on everyone's heads. "I think your friend's gone." Lance muttered to Lacie, who nodded reverently. Angie came out of her trance to grin at everyone. "Come on, people! Operation Party has begun!!" * * * Damon stared curiously around at the high-school cafeteria. "This is where these people learn?!" He muttered in disbelief. Beside him, Jedin cackled. "My God! All these life forms, so close together." He licked his lips. "Don't try it!" Katrina warned, brushing a flame red lock from her eyes. "The Senshi are here. They might be watching us, and us not even in disguises.." "I refuse to dress like a human today." Spike said flatly. "Simple minded pathetic little shrimps." Damon agreed with Spike, but for different reasons. What if he went into his disguise and..saw Angie? The embarrassment in front of his friends would be too great if he was kind to her, but if he was mean.. His hand strayed down into the pocket of his human pants to quickly stroke the ripped-shirt bandage that had bound his wound. "Hi!" A sugary voice chirped at his elbow. He drew back and stared down at the ice blue eyes and far too peachy face with pink lips that was happily smiling up at him. "Hello," He replied guardedly, eyeing the human girl nervously. Spike, Jedin, and Katrina had noticed the girl also and were peering over his shoulder. "Is this your friend?" Spike whispered. "No!" Damon hissed, shaking him off a bit. The girl giggled. "Boy, but you lot are cute!!" She said appreciatively, eyeing both Jedin and Spike also. "My name's Hannah Brinks, Head Junior Varsity Cheerleader! And you are.?" "What's a cheerleader?" Katrina asked curiously. Hannah chose to ignore her and kept her eyes focused on Damon's face. "Answer her!" Jedin hissed, driving his elbow into Damon's back. Damon cleared his throat. "I'm-Damon. This is Jedin, Spike, and Katrina." He pointed to each in turn. "Charmed!" Hannah said, obviously thrilled. "So, did you four just move here or what?" "Uh, yeah, we were just-relocated." Damon said, wondering when this obnoxious human would go away. "So, are you guys seniors?" She persisted, showing no sign of leaving. "Um.." Damon replied, looking helplessly at Jedin. "Uh." "Of course we are." Jedin said smoothly, coming out from behind Damon. "What else would we be?" Hannah beamed up at him. "Silly of me, of course you are. Anyway, I was wondering." Damon didn't hear the rest of the conversation. His heart had suddenly leapt up into his throat. Right there, not fifty feet away, sitting at a table with other girls and a few guys, was Angie. She was laughing at something, taking a bite of some small, light brown thing, laughing and smiling. Her eyes traveled up to meet his. He quickly looked away, but not before seeing something like shock penetrating her eyes. He came back into the conversation just in time to her Jedin say, "Of course we'd love to come to your party. Wouldn't miss it!" He gave Hannah his most seductive smile. It was a wonder she didn't fall panting at his feet. Damon rolled his eyes as the blond finally walked back to a table nearby, eyes never leaving Jedin's. "What was that all about?" He inquired. Jedin grinned at him. "We, my friend, have an invitation to a rather large formal party which will undoubtedly be full of many energy-full victims. Plus, very, very pretty girls." He licked his lips. Damon elbowed him. "You are such a pervert." Jedin grinned. "Hey, man, anyway I can get it." Damon laughed, and then let his eyes flick over to Angie. Was it possible.would she perhaps be there.? "Apparently only older students, too." Jedin said loudly, erupting any hope Damon had. "Just-'seniors'-and cheerleaders." "Great." Damon sighed. "Spending a night with humans. Great fun." * * * "Don't freak and don't look around." Angie said in a low voice to Malorie, glancing across the cafeteria. "But Jedin, Spike, Katrina, and Damon are all sitting at a table, and completely undisguised, also." Malorie, of course, gasped and looked around. "Where?! Are they moving?! Are they going to fight!?" She asked frantically. "No!" Angie hissed, grabbing her arm. "And stop that! You'll give us away!" Malorie forced her head down. "What are they doing?" She murmured. "Talking to Hannah." Angie muttered, nonchalantly glancing back. "Hannah." Malorie muttered, thinking. She suddenly sat straight up. "She's probably inviting them to her party!" She gasped. "So that's why Rachelle was getting that premonition." Angie said grimly. "The generals are probably going to take victims' energy, there. What better place? People disappearing into closets and bedrooms all over the place." "We've got to be wary, then, tonight." Malorie whispered. "Very wary." Angie said, watching Damon through narrowed eyes. "Very, very wary." * * * "I cannot believe we're doing this!" Lacie griped several hours later. "I mean, look at me!! My hair is yellow! Yellow!!" "Purple hair is not exactly a common hair color, Lacie-chan!" Angie snapped, fingering her own hair. "We had to change its color!" "All I'm saying is, if this stuff doesn't wash out, I am feeding you to seagulls." Lacie said, giving Angie a deadly glare. All the girls were waiting under the streetlight they had planned to meet under. Each looked entirely different, wrapped in dresses, makeup layered on, and hair styles looking completely, fantastically different. Lacie's had been dyed yellow and let down into cascades of straight locks; her dress was a pale lilac color. Elisha's had been dyed black, and wrapped up into a high ponytail secured with a blue hair-tie which nicely complimented her baby-blue dress. Mary's hair had been swirled into a large, very tight bun, and flesh makeup had been piled on to hide her paleness; her dress was a deep midnight blue. Rachelle looked almost the same as she usually did, except that her hair was in curls. She wore a black dress with a fresh red rose on the shoulder, and a red sash around her waist. Malorie's yellow hair had also been curled, and secured into a low ponytail; her dress was gold, and green contacts covered her blue irises. Marisa's auburn waves had been French-braided into two separate parts, and her sequined sea-green dresses was silky and smooth. As for Angie. Angie nervously patted her hair that had been crimped into long, golden waves that curled nicely around her shoulders. Her dress was silver, and sparkled like the moonlight whenever she moved. She nervously smoothed her dress and touched her hair, which her friends had flatly refused to let her put up. "It's so pretty down." Mary had sighed, touching it wistfully. "Hello, ladies." A gallant voice said. Oz, Andrew, and Lance had strode into the circle of light, each wearing a black suit. Lance, for once, was without a book. No one noticed how hard he swallowed when he saw Lacie, or that he hid shaking hands behind his back. Oz eyed Malorie. "Is that the best you could do?" He asked her. Malorie sniffed and raised her nose. "I refuse to stoop to answering that. I am going to have a good time tonight, and not even you can stop me." "They won't let you in to the party, M&M." Oz teased. "You're too scary." With a growl, Malorie's beige purse connected squarely with Oz's skull. The two fell to bickering, while Elisha sighed and glanced at Angie. "Will you be able to control them, tonight?" She asked. Angie grimaced. "Let's hope so." "Am I late?" Kyle asked, jogging up and panting slightly, but looking fabulous in a white suit. He stopped short and stared at Rachelle, who flushed. "Stop it, Kyle, you're making me blush!" She scolded. Kyle stared at her, mouth hanging open. Slowly it closed, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She snuggled up to him as he bent down to kiss the crown of her head. "You're so beautiful." He murmured into her hair. "Kyle?" Angie asked directly. "Save it for when we get to the party. We're already late." "Hey, we're fashionably late!" Andrew said, grinning. "It's always right to be late. It's the only way you can be on time." "Okay, that made no sense whatsoever." Lacie said grouchily. "I can't believe I'm doing this. I hate parties." "Hey, how do you think I feel!?" Angie demanded. "I haven't worn a dress since the 8th grade semi-formal!!" "Or a skirt." Rachelle quipped, laughing. Angie grinned. "What can I say? I'm a tomboy through and through." Rachelle sighed. "Someday I will hit you with a large object, stuff you in a big bag, drag you to the mall, and force you to buy makeup and skirts, do you understand?" "You're not serious, right?" Angie asked uncertainly. Rachelle only grinned in reply. "Let's go, people!" Kyle said, slipping his arm around Rachelle's waist. "Otherwise we will become unfashionably late." "We can't just all go barging in at the same time." Angie directed. "You and Rachelle go in first to test the waters. The others will follow in five-minute sequences. Looks less suspicious that way." "I feel like such a spy." Lance complained, sighing as Kyle and Rachelle strode off towards the dark building a block away where, on one whole story, there were lights. Even from where they were standing, you could hear the cheers and music, and the clinks of glasses. A few minutes later, Oz grinned at Malorie and Angie. "So? Shall we go forth to partying?" He asked in a fake-British accent. "Fine." Malorie muttered, stalking past him. An arm suddenly went around her shoulders. "Hey, my girlfriend can't go walking around without me!" Oz said in a drawling tone, mouth close to her ear. "It wouldn't look commendable!" "Who says I have to be your girlfriend?" Malorie demanded, shooting a look at Angie, who was on Oz's other side. "Take Angie. I'll just be your out- of-town cousin." "I have the right to choose who my girlfriend will be!" Oz sniffed in injured dignity as they began to walk towards the building. He looked over at Angie. "No offense meant." "None taken." Angie replied, enjoying her own private fantasy in which Alan would happen to be at the party. * * * Damon covered his ears against the loud blasting noise. "They call this music?!?!" He yelled to Jedin. Jedin patted the girls who had fastened onto his waist. "Allow me a little time alone, ladies, please." He said gallantly. "I shall meet with you..later." He winked at them as the girls giggled and departed. "I know what you mean." He whispered in an undertone to Damon. "Yowch! I've heard dying beasts that sound better than this stuff!" Katrina sidled up to them, an empty glass in her hand. "What's up, guys?" She hiccupped, giggling. "What's that?" Damon asked suspiciously, pointing to the glass. "This?" Katrina giggled, waving it slightly. "This is the life of the party! It's wine." Jedin snatched the glass and sniffed it. "Alcohol." He muttered to Damon. "Incredibly strong, too. She's drunk as a jaybird!" Turning back to Katrina, he asked, "How many glasses of this did you have?" Katrina giggled and slapped his arm. "Why, only fifteen or sixteen, I think." Damon sighed. "Definitely, definitely drunk." "Hey, guys!" Spike said, thrusting his way through the crowds to them. He was glowing. "Come on! Get out and dance!" "What?" Damon asked derisively. "Dance? To this?!" "It gets into your bones, man." Spike said, grinning. "Into your soul, if we had souls. Come on!" He grabbed Jedin's arm and pulled him into the pulsating crowds. Katrina giggled, hiccupped, and followed. "Coming, Damon?" Spike called over his shoulder. "Nah, I'll hang around the edges." Damon called back. "Look for our 'friends'." "Suit yourself!" Spike yelled before the trio vanished into the mob of humans. Damon pounded his fist into the opposite hand in frustration. Half an hour had been wasted in the dance, they hadn't gotten any victims, and the Senshi could be anywhere. He sighed and rolled his eyes. The guys had probably forgotten all about their mission, with all this loud banging. His eyes focused on the opposite end of the room, where the door into the apartment was located. His sharp hearing clearly picked up over the music, the sound of someone knocking. The hostess, Hannah, dressed in a slinky black dress, had obviously heard it too, for she moved away from the wine table and staggered towards the door to open it. He began to slowly move around the room, wanting to get a look at who was trying to enter. He had a strange feeling about this person. * * * "Stop slouching!" Angie hissed at Malorie as they waited outside Hannah's apartment. "I can't help it!" Malorie wailed. "What if she recognizes us?! We'll be dog chow in less than five seconds! Not to mention the laughing stock of the whole school!" "No one will recognize you." Oz said in a commanding voice. "You're actually beautiful now." Malorie blinked at him, not sure whether to take that as a compliment or a criticism. "Uh.meanie?" She offered doubtfully. Oz grinned at her, then straightened as the door began to open. Hannah blinked out at them, hand clutching the doorway. Angie sneezed as alcohol fumes emitted from Hannah's mouth when she spoke. "Oh, Ozzzzz, you came!" She purred, sounding only slightly out of it. "Hello, Hannah." Oz said as kindly as he could, waving his hand lightly in front of his face. "May we come in?" Hannah's eyes fastened on Angie and Malorie, who began to sweat. "Who are they?" She demanded icily, with a hiccup. "This is my girlfriend, Melissa Amiga." Oz said brightly, squeezing Malorie's shoulder as she fake-smiled at Hannah and dug her elbow into Oz's gut. "And this is her best friend, Andromeda Cassiopeia." Angie tried hard not to snicker as she offered Hannah her hand. "Pleased to meet you!" She said brightly. Hannah took the offered hand with some suspicion. "You look like someone I know." She muttered. Angie tossed her head. "Well, I do visit here once in a while, it's a lovely change from New York and Broadway. This is a very quaint little town." Hannah swallowed abruptly, and opened the door wider to let them in. "Well, have a-nice time, tonight." She said as cheerily as she could muster. Malorie smothered a giggle. "I think you took the wind out of her sails with the 'quaint little town' comment." She giggled. "Angie?" Angie did not reply. Her eyes were focused on the midnight-black head of hair that was across the room. "Angie?" Malorie again asked softly. Damon's here. Angie replied telepathically. Malorie stiffened slightly. You sure? Oh yeah. I'm sure. * * * Damon stared at the golden head that had entered the room. His slowly drew in a breath as he looked the figure up and down. A silver dress clung to slender frame, covering apple blossom skin. Golden hair wrapped softly around a graceful, curved neck. Light blue eyes suddenly raised up to fasten on his. Sailor Diamond was here. In human form, and very possibly weak and helpless. But then, the girl in yellow on the other side of a red-haired man had to be Topaz. The Scouts were penetrating the party. A smile creased his lips as the blue eyes widened when they spotted him, and then narrowed to a glare. No doubt she recognized him, also. His smile widened before he turned away into the shadows. Let her come to him. * * * Angie glared over at the black-haired man who was looking at her with those dark blue eyes. Damon was dressed completely in black, from black shoes to black seemingly leather pants to black turtleneck. He looked human, but the aggressive stance his lean body was in was not right for a party. Or, Angie corrected herself, maybe it was. Especially at one of Hannah's parties. The man grinned at her smugly before turning his back and fading into the shadows. Angie ground her teeth. "Jerk." She muttered. "You say something?" Oz inquired. Angie smiled at him. "No, nothing. Listen, I'm a little thirsty, so I think I'd like to go to the refreshments table to see if there's something here besides wine." "Good luck." Oz muttered. "Judging by everyone's condition, looks like water is nonexistent." Angie smiled before weaving her way through the crowds to the punch table. Malorie watched her go nervously. "My own best friend, abandoning me." She joked lightly, trying not to shiver as she spotted Spike's bleached blond head in the middle of the dance floor. "Abandoning you to your boyfriend." Oz teased, starting to pull her out to the dance floor. "Hey, wait!" Malorie protested. "What are you doing?!" "You said you guys wanted to party, right?" Oz asked. "So.party!" Malorie winced as she felt the dancing crowds squeeze in on her. She slowly began moving back and forth to the music. "You really are uptight, M&M." Oz said with a sigh as he rocked around. "Hey!" Malorie said with a pout. "You can't call me that! I am now Melissa Amiga, remember? Hah!" She crowed, moving a bit faster and grinning at Oz's bemused face. "Got you! You can't call me that!" Oz grinned and took her hand as the two abandoned themselves to the crowds. * * * Angie sniffed at a glass before taking a small sip of it, testing to make sure it was, in fact, water. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "If this is what parties are like, I'll take staying at home any day." She drained her glass of water and sighed, glancing up at the door. Lacie, Lance, and Elisha were just now entering. She grimaced slightly. She hoped Lacie would try not to kill anybody if they accidentally touched her. Of course, right now she looked about tense enough to rip out Hannah's throat. Elisha had spotted Angie. She waved slightly, grinning. Angie grinned back. Damon's here. She whispered in both of their minds. I know. Elisha replied simply. I've seen him. He's over in the shadows. Angie nodded. Be careful. As always, fearless leader. Lacie replied with a small smile. Angie smiled before breaking mind contact. It was too risky, here, with the generals everywhere. Damon had once said he could clearly hear their mind-voices.If he heard them now, he would know for sure that the Jewel Senshi were partying away. Of course, judging by that look he had given her, he probably already knew. Lacie and Elisha sidled their way over to her. "Why, hello, there!" Elisha said, smiling and thrusting a hand towards Angie. "My name's Eleanora Roosebelt!" "And I'm Lilly Moscovitz!" Lacie beamed, thrusting her hand out also. "A pleasure to meet you!" "Hello to you both!" Angie cried, smothering giggles. "My name's Andromeda Cassiopeia! What a lovely surprise to meet you all!" The girls snickered together. "This is hilarious." Elisha giggled, wiping her eyes. "We're fooling the entire school!" "And we might have to save them." Lacie said, grimness coming into her voice. Angie nodded. "You guys stick together. We might have to transform pretty quick. And don't let yourself get caught by anyone!" She glanced around hastily. "Split up from me, I can take care of myself. Just hang close to each other, okay?" Lacie and Elisha nodded before disappearing into the crowds. Angie sighed and reached for another glass of water. "Hey, Angie!" A voice chirped at her elbow. Angie jumped about three feet in the air before realizing who it was. "Rachelle!" She hissed, laughing. "Don't do that! You nearly scared me out of a year's growth." Rachelle smiled. "Sorry about that." She lowered her voice. "Have you seen-" "Damon?" Angie finished. Rachelle nodded. "Yep. I have." "We've got to be careful, Ange." Rachelle whispered. "Just stay close to Kyle and keep one of us in sight constantly." Angie ordered. "And my name's Andromeda Cassiopeia, thank you." Rachelle giggled. "Did Charlie name you that?" "How'd you guess?" Angie said, rolling her eyes. She gave her friend's shoulder a pat. "Good luck to you, my friend." "And to you." Rachelle murmured before drifting back over to Kyle. Angie sighed before glancing around. I'm as tense as a fly at a Bullfrog Convention. She thought with a small, wry smile. "Hey, baby?" Angie recoiled at the sight of a young man-obviously drunk-leaning on the table beside her and leering up at her in a way he obviously thought was charming. She shuddered slightly. "May I help you?" She asked guardedly. The man grinned up at her, trying to brush brown hair out of his eyes. "How about a dance, sweet-cheeks?" Sweet-cheeks. Angie gave the man a cold, brittle smile. "No thank you, sir." She said, voice like ice. The man didn't notice her tone. "Now, don't be haughty, sweet thing." He purred. "I think you'd better come with me." "Do you want yourself thrown over that balcony without an intact liver?" Angie asked conversationally, pointing to the rather large but abandoned balcony. The man brayed like a donkey. "Oh, you're a funny one!" He moved closer to her. The guy immediately found himself on the floor with a fist mark on his face. "Ouch!" He yelped, glaring drunkenly up at Angie. "You little bitch!" "Try that again and you'll find yourself going through the floor, pal!" Angie growled, shaking her fist at him. The man stood up and swayed toward her, scowling angrily. "You're gonna pay for that, you smart-mouthed-" "Andromeda!" Malorie was suddenly at her elbow, dragging her away onto the dance floor. "And you tell us to stay out of trouble! At an enemy's party, you do not go around punching people." "Sorry." Angie said, rubbing her head sheepishly. "He pissed me off. Tried to make a move on me." Malorie rolled her eyes. "Well, no doubt no guy's ever going to approach you again." She teased before glancing around and lowering her voice. "Marisa and Mary just arrived with Andrew. All the Jewel Senshi are mixed in here, and all our eyes are open. If you need help, yell." With that she turned into the crowd, back to where Oz was standing. "Thanks, Topaz." Angie murmured quietly, watching her friend affectionately before beginning to sway to the music. * * * Damon kept a close watch on the golden human. He saw her meet with other girls and saw them laugh together, as if sharing some secret. Probably more Jewel Senshi, He thought in derision. But Diamond stayed by herself. She constantly glanced around, as if she felt his intense gaze. He smiled, baring his teeth. The only direction she refused to look in was where he was. He had no doubt she knew that they were here. But now what to do. "Try that again and you'll find yourself going through the floor, pal!" Someone yelled. His head shot up to see Diamond shaking her fist at a guy on the floor. She was glaring at him furiously, blue eyes sending out sparks. He chuckled to himself. Fierce little bunny. A yellow haired girl-Topaz-ran up and dragged Diamond into the crowds, saying something sharply to her. Diamond looked embarrassed but still pleased. She grinned at Topaz, who grinned back before leaving her to go over to a red-haired man. Diamond stayed where she was, dancing a little, grace defined in her movements. "So strange." He murmured to himself. Part sweet, graceful girl, part fierce, defensive warrior. It was an interesting, deadly combination. He began to move forward out of the shadows to the opposite end of the dance floor from Diamond. * * * "I officially despise my fellow man." Angie muttered to herself as she fended off the fourth move on her that night. "Maybe I should just let Damon and his lot kill a few. A lot of these people wouldn't go to waste." "So glad you agree." A smooth voice said. Angie tensed immediately, eyes rising to the man standing a few paces away. The lights darkened. People instinctively cleared the dance floor, sensing something strange was about to happen. Leaving two people alone, staring at each other, one in fear and hatred, the other in cocky triumph. A new song came on. It had a strange, almost Spanish beat to it. The people on the edges of the floor whispered back and forth to each other. What was happening? They asked. What was going on? Under a lover's sky I'm gonna be with you And no one's gonna be around. Angie slowly began walking around the dance floor, swaying slightly. Damon moved in the same direction, always keeping her directly across from him. The two kept their eyes locked from the opposite sides, moving slowly, but now getting quicker and quicker. If you think that You won't fall Well just wait till the sun goes down. The two continued circling for a few moments more, more dance moves being thrown in here and there. Then Angie suddenly twirled in as Damon moved forward quickly to catch her around her waist. Angie's hands moved up to grab his shoulders. Then they flew apart, hands linking at the last moment. Underneath the starlight, starlight There's a magical feeling so right, Let it steal your heart tonight. The two let go, Angie spinning in circles, letting her dress fan out in silky waves. Damon moved forward to her back to grab her shoulders and spin her roughly around to meet his eyes. You can try to resist Try to hide from my kiss, Angie spun away, half in pure distaste, half in dance. She twirled a few times before stopping, arms near her waist. Damon had meanwhile moved back also, eyes even blacker against the little light there was. Angie's breath caught in her throat. A fiery feeling coursed through her as she let pure passion for dancing take over. Damon's eyes sharpened as Diamond arched her neck and twirled back in, leaping up at the last second. His arms moved and he caught her, one knee bent slightly. But she felt-light. Almost a cloud. She arched her back slightly, giving him a full view of graceful white neck before she slid off him to land gracefully on her own two feet. But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. "Check out these two!" Someone yelled in awe. Rachelle glanced up from her corner with Kyle. "What's going on?" She asked. "Why's it so dark? And why is everyone looking at the dance floor?" "Um." Kyle said nervously, who had a better view than she did. "Did you say Damon was tall, dark, cute, and clothed in black?" "Yeah!" Rachelle exclaimed in alarm. "Is he draining someone?!" "No." Kyle said slowly. "He's.dancing. With Angie, I believe. And it's getting pretty hot on the floor, if you get my drift." "Angie?!" Rachelle gasped. "Dancing sexily with a guy!?" "Let's hope not with a girl." Kyle said dryly. Rachelle grabbed his hand. "Come on! We've got to get in closer!" Angie slid all the way to the floor, feet on the floor but knees raised and legs crossed. She was glad she was on the floor, because the look Damon gave her-that heated, terrible, intense gaze-would have probably sent her there anyway. She felt warm, burning all over, flame and heat coursing from her heart. Damon's smoldering eyes looked her up and down before he reached out a hand. She took it and he pulled her up to his level, so that those eyes were looking straight at her. She shivered slightly before darting back, spinning around, letting her skirt fly out in all directions, sending him a coy glance. Damon wondered if the little minx knew what she was doing to him. Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart, But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. With the softest of growls, he moved forward swiftly, wrapping arms around her waist. She leaned back into him, the crown of her head brushing his lips. He leaned back also, to keep away from the sensation. But she went with him. Almost angrily he rose back up to straightness, then half- twisted, half-flung her away, snagging her hand at the last second. Angie gasped at the force she felt in Damon. He was strong, she had known, but the power she felt..He could have reached out his hand and crushed her skull without a second thought. Like a tiger. She shivered. And she was the deer. The prey. She didn't feel in control anymore, of herself, of her moves, of her spirit. Damon had captured them all now, as easily as he had grabbed her hand. He was in control of the dance that was more than a dance, now. He bared his teeth slightly at her as she looked back at him from their arms' length apart. She sent him a look of cold arrogance before turning her head away . A sharp jerk both turned her around and pulled her close to warm arms again. "Not this time, pet." Damon murmured, voice a smooth growl, like a tiger's. "This time, I'm calling the shots." "Says you." Angie replied coldly, wishing he would let go of her at the same time that her treacherous arms went around his neck. No, you can't fight it. No, you can't fight it. It's gonna get to your heart. Damon's hands moved to her waist. Sensing what was happening, Angie pushed off the ground at the same time he lifted. He really IS strong!! She thought in awe as Damon began to twirl her around in the air, hands like steal vices on her hips and eyes never once showing weakness. She relaxed her grip on his shoulders, and slowly raised her arms into the air, stretched and almost touching the ceiling. It would be easy to kill her now, Damon realized. Just one tight squeeze on her hips could break her backbone. Leaving her helpless enough. But the expression on her face..pure trust and freedom. Her arms were lifted to the ceiling, and her smile was brightening up the room. There's no escaping love, Once a gentle breeze, Sweeps it's spell upon your heart. Slowly, almost gently, Damon lowered her, arms never wavering. She gave him an unintentional grin as she spun away, arms still curved out. Then Diamond stopped on the edge of the circle again, and cocked an eyebrow at him. He moved backwards as well, intentionally giving her a ferocious glare. She responded with only a smile, a teasing but peaceful smile, before beginning to spin around the circle, turning her head to keep herself from getting dizzy. And no matter what you think, It won't be too long, Till you're in my arms. Damon stayed where he was on the circle, watching as Diamond pirouetted towards him. She had to have been a dancer at one point, the grace in which she held her arms and legs and neck was almost unbelievable. Her head snapped around to see him. She grinned again and stopped spinning an inch away from him, swaying a little. Angie grinned to herself as she tried to get the floor to right itself. All that spinning made her dizzy! She swayed back and forth a few times before a strong arm grabbed hers and brought her close, another am going to her waist. Instinctively she raised her other hand up to Damon's shoulder. Deep eyes gazed at her from under dark eyelashes. She stared up at him, grin fading. The moment lasted for a split second before slowly, Damon guiding her, they began to dance, the old-fashioned ballroom way. "Hey, you guys from a team, or something?" Someone asked as they swirled by. He was completely ignored. But similar whispers were coming from the walls- "They're like from a fairytale." "A Cinderella and her prince!" "Diamond! Snap out of it!" The last one was Mary, who had pushed her way through the crowds to watch in horror. But Angie completely ignored her, and danced away in Damon's arms. She's gone absolutely nuts, Mary thought to herself, watching helplessly. "What's happening?!" Malorie asked in horror, coming out right underneath Mary's elbow. "Ang-er, Andromeda's dancing with Damon!" Mary hissed, banging her hand to her forehead in frustration. "Is there something wrong with that?" Oz asked, confused. "We don't like him." Malorie muttered, blinking out at the two dancers. Underneath the starlight, starlight, We'll be lost in the rhythm, so right, It will steal your heart tonight. Angie heard Mary's hiss of warning, but somehow-she ignored it. Completely. And it wasn't she didn't hear her either. Though maybe she didn't want to. She frowned to herself. What was coming over her? She moved back from Damon. Before she knew it, she was spinning again, this time in place. Stop it!!!!! She yelled at herself. I don't want to. The other part of her answered giddily. You must! The first part said severely. No way!! The other part beat the first one senseless and continued to enjoy the dancing. Damon had noticed the frown that slipped over her pretty features for an instant before vanishing. She looked like she was having a private argument with herself. In five seconds, the happy look was back, the more serious one having obviously being beaten into submission. He half-smiled himself, moving forward to grab her, arms entwining around her thin stomach. You can try to resist, Try to hide from my kiss, "Aren't we supposed to be fighting?" Angie calmly asked Damon in a whisper, as he leaned back and she lifted her feet from the floor, kicking out flapper-style. "Supposedly." Damon replied, holding her tight so she could kick out again. "Then why are we dancing?" "No idea." But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. Angie pulled away as her feet touched down, leaping back a step. Damon still had a tight hold on her hand, though, not letting her go too far. She let her feet slide down until her was almost parallel to the floor, the only thing keeping her from falling being Damon's hand. Damon's breath left him as he looked down at the golden girl so close. She was looking up at him, both fear and trust in her eyes. Don't drop me, her eyes seemed to be begging. Please, please, don't drop me. Don't let me go. "Never." He muttered out loud. Never let her go. Deep in the dark, You'll surrender your heart, But you know, but you know, that you, Can't fight the moonlight! "We have a problem." Jedin muttered into Spike's ear. "Huh?" Spike said, disentangling himself from the group of girls crowded around him. "Look to the center of the dance floor." Jedin instructed quietly. Spike looked, looked again, and gasped. "Is that-no, it can't be-" "Yup." Jedin said grimly. "It's Damon." Spike stared at his friend in silence. "I didn't know he knew how to dance so well!" He said finally. Jedin smacked the back of his head. "Spike!!! Look who he's dancing with." Spike's eyes narrowed as he looked the girl over. "That girl looks familiar.." Jedin rolled his eyes. "Try picturing her in a golden sailor suit." Spike gasped. "NO-not Damon-he wouldn't dance with Sailor Diamond!!!" "What does it look like?!" Jedin demanded. "He's having tea with her?!" Spike smacked Jedin's head. "Spare me your sarcasm-let's go get her and stop him!" Angie sighed happily as Damon pulled her back up to an upright position. She rested her head lightly on his chest, just under his chin, and listened to his heartbeat. He's so warm, she thought dreamily. Cozy. Comfortable. Safe. No, not safe. Not safe. Evil. Warm. Damon gazed down at the head resting just below his chin in some perplexity. Strange little golden bird. Dangerous, yet sweet. Cunning, yet caring. Deadly beauty. And why does she trust me enough to lay her head on my chest? Hannah was watching the two dancers with less drunken interest and more cold craftiness. "Those two." She muttered. She suddenly turned to the boy beside her and grabbed his hands. "Dance with me too!" She demanded, pulling him out. Surprised, the boy attempted to mimic the complicated moves the two dancers had accomplished-and failed miserably. Hannah did the best she could, not even coming close to surpassing Angie's show. "Idiot!" She raged, hitting the miserable boy on the head. But her idea had caught on. People began flooding the floor in couples now, copying the moves done by Damon and Angie, more or less succeeding. At least, they were all doing better than Hannah and her partner had. Angie lifted her head to look at the various couples swirling around them. She smiled lightly, realizing they were trying to copy her and Damon. Amateurs, she thought in amusement, watching one couple trip over the feet of another and go sprawling. She moved slightly to the side of Damon, making it so she had to turn her neck to look straight at him. He was looking down at her, the faintest smile playing on his face. She grinned back as they began to turn together, listening to the beat of the music in the background, never breaking eye contact. Gorgeous eyes.Angie thought. Beautiful eyes...Damon whispered to himself. Full of depth, mystery.. Full of purity, love for life. Angie chuckled to herself. I'm in deadly peril, and I'm crushing on a bad guy. My life's reached optimum weirdness. Underneath the starlight, starlight, There's a magic for feeling so right, Let it steal your heart tonight- The two continued whirling endlessly, the room and the people around them seemingly forgotten. They were floating on clouds, leaving the drab, boring planet behind. Dancing for infinity, in a sugar-spun mist dream. Someone back on Earth bumped into their bodies, wrenching their souls back from their escapade. Angie stumbled, tripped, and began to fall. She shut her eyes and winced, getting ready for the pain. Strong arms caught her underneath her back a foot from the floor. Angie wrapped her arms tightly about Damon's neck, not wanting him to let go. Or maybe not wanting to let go of him. You can try to resist, Try to hide from my kiss, But you know, but you know that you, Can't fight the moonlight. Damon drew in a sharp breath as he looked at the girl hovering just below him. She was close. So, so close.. Angie laughed, hugging Damon's neck, till she looked up and saw his eyes. They were rapidly flickering from black to deep blue. Her laughter died on her lips as she stared at him, heat reaching its peak in her stomach. She shivered at its intensity, the same intensity that Damon's eyes had... Damon groaned a little, watching those warm, sky blue eyes staring into his. The thick ice protection around his heart began to thaw and melt a little. He tried desperately to make his hatred for the Senshi sear again, tried to make his eyes stay black, but those damn eyes..peering at him like they knew every slight detail..skin, fair as a midsummer day.hair, sun- kissed and wind-swept...and lips, soft as silk, smooth as rose blossoms. Very, very carefully, he brought one hand out from under body, clasping her tight with the other arm. Very gently, he reached out with one finger to gently stroke her lips. Angie nearly melted under the gentle touch. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensations sweeping over her in electrifying waves. Damon's head bent close, his hair brush her forehead. "Hey, you two! Are you going to stay that way all night?" Damon's head snapped up, eyes immediately blackened. He pulled Angie up from the hold, and roughly straightened and let go. Horrified at what had almost happened, Angie turned away, heading for the milling crowd. "What do you want?" Damon growled, teeth sharpening. The boy backed away nervously. "Hey, man, it's just-you and your girlfriend didn't seem to be coming up for air-just thought you'd like to know the song was over-" "Thank you." Damon snapped, turning away to look at Diamond- She was gone. His eyes snapped up just in time to see that golden head disappearing into the crowds. * * * Angie pushed her way through the crowds, tears half-dimming her vision. She shoved blindly at anyone who got at her way, muttering apologies as she made her way towards the balcony. "Diamond!" Rachelle, Malorie, and Mary were at her side in an instant. "What's wrong?" Rachelle asked anxiously. "N-nothing." Angie replied shakily. "Just-I can't believe I did that-" "Danced that way with a guy? Neither can I!" Mary laughed, a little ruefully. "With Damon." Angie said sharply, turning to glare at her black-haired friend. "With the enemy. With the guy I hate most." There was a long pause. "I've got to be alone for a while." Angie mumbled, turning away to move towards the balcony again. Malorie reached for her, but Rachelle grabbed her arm. "Not now." She whispered. "Let her alone. Whatever happened-between those two-she needs to be alone to think about it." Malorie bit her lip and nodded, watching as her friend slipped out onto the balcony. * * * Angie hurled herself onto the balcony's railing, gasping for breath. The images of the dance were surging unstoppably through her brain in a huge flow like a river. She clenched her hands as she tried to quench the flow, beating at her head with small fists. Slowly, the thoughts almost stopped. Her head grew cool and sharp, and almost clear, except for that one annoying image that kept popping up- The image of Damon- Fingers, touching her lips- She reached up and gently touched her own lip in remembrance. He was so warm. So-protective, almost. Strong. Powerful. Oh, god. She thought, as an idea came crashing down into her brain, bringing back the hysteria, the emotions she had felt earlier, every memory she had, since the moment she laid eyes on him- I wonder..could I maybe be in. "Hey, pet." She shoved her new discovery to the back of her mind as she turned to face the shadows. "Where are you?" She asked suspiciously, peering into the blackness. A low chuckle echoed sinuously as Damon stepped forth, materializing out of darkness into the glow of moonlight. "Right here, pet." "I'm not your pet." Angie snapped, thinking she sounded like an idiot. "So sorry." The two stared at each other in silence for a moment. "Look." Angie said finally. "If you're going to kill me, I'd just as soon you'd get it over with. I really am not in the mood to fight you right now." Surprise lightened Damon's eyes before fading back into craftiness. "What makes you think I'd do that?" "Oh, gee, I don't know." Angie replied sarcastically. "Maybe the fact that we're hated enemies, or maybe it's cause you've tried to kill me, or maybe because your friends would kill my friends without a single qualm-and vice versa-or maybe because you just danced with me!" "The last reason makes no sense." Damon remarked. "SO?" Angie snapped, in no mood to be reasonable. "The POINT is, it's more likely you'll kill me sooner or later than you won't, so I wish you would do it now and stop beating around the bush like you've been doing!!!" Damon stared at her a moment before throwing back a head to laugh-a hearty, full-throated roar. "You are the oddest human, you know." "What?" Angie snapped. "I didn't come out here to kill you." Damon said, very slowly as if talking to a stupid child. "I came to give you something." "What?" Angie retorted. "A good-night kiss?" Damon's eyes narrowed as he moved to grasp something behind his back. Angie tensed, hand straying to the bracelet on her right wrist. Just three little words. Slowly, Damon brought his hand out from behind his back. Angie gasped as she stared at what was lying in an open palm. It was a full rose, at the peak of its life, petals carved perfectly, curved to pure loveliness. But it wasn't red, yellow, or pink-it was black. Pure, deep, moonless-night black. Not rotting or fading away, but- dark. Evil, almost. Sinister, at least. Not unlike Damon, Angie realized. Beautiful but evil. Handsome, but sinister. "It's beautiful." She said, reaching out to touch a silky black petal. Damon carefully deposited it into her outstretched hand. "Mind the thorns." He warned. "They're razor sharp-" "Ow!" Angie yelped, sticking her finger in her mouth and eyeing the wicked sharp thorns angrily. 'Stupid thorns." She muttered, removing her finger from her mouth to inspect it. A drop of blood formed on her index finger, red against the silver moonlight and peach color of her hand. "Told you." Damon said jauntily, forcing his eyes away from the glistening blood. She gave the rose a last look before holding it back out to him. He put up his hands. "It's yours." "Will it die?" Angie found herself asking, staring into the black depths of inky petals. "Not unless I do." Damon replied, biting his lip in frustration. He hadn't meant to say that! "Just keep it in a vase with water." Angie eyed it a moment more before carefully grasping it and securing it behind one ear. She gave him a searching look. "What's it mean?" "It's a promise." "Of what?" His eyes seemed to grow black. "Of something you need not know yet." She frowned, but seemed to accept this. "Thank you." He blinked. "For what?" She grinned at him suddenly, face illuminated by moonlight. "For something you don't need to know yet." Damon stared at her, half in amusement, half in awe. "Who are you?" Angie turned to stare up at the full moon for a moment, and at the stars surrounding it. "Andromeda Cassiopeia." Damon narrowed his eyes. "That's not a real name." "Well, what do you want me to say?" She asked. "I'm Sailor Diamond. A warrior. That name suits me as of now." He sighed. "You're a strange person." "Thank you." She said, smiling. There was a sudden huge crash of glass breaking. Damon and Angie turned to look, just as Sailor Emerald landed at Angie's feet. "Hi, Diamond." She said cheerfully, ignoring the large piece of glass sticking out of her shoulder. "Wanna transform and help us about now?" Angie blinked down at her friend. "Uh..yeah, okay." Sailor Emerald bounced back up, perkily grinning, and trotting back in through the big hole she had punched in the glass. Damon watched her go in confusion. He turned around to ask the girl- "Diamond Star Power-MAKE UP!!!!!!" A nova of golden light and pure energy swirled around, completely blinding Damon. He yelled and covered his eyes, squinting to see the occasionally visible figure. The light cleared away as quickly as it had come. Damon stared at the figure he saw before him. Completely changed, but completely beautiful still. Short gold skirt, hair straight but still as golden and soft looking, eyes still that snapping, fiery blue. But she was deadly now. "We're enemies, now." Sailor Diamond said softly to Damon, walking past him. "You should be trying to kill me again." Damon looked almost wistfully at the proudly arched neck and straight back as Diamond made her way inside. * * * "Whoo-hoo!" Katrina yelled drunkenly as she bit deep into the neck of a blonde boy. "Now this is what I call a party!" "Say it, girl." Spike muttered, raising his head from a bleeding girl's neck. "Ah, and here I see we have our friendly neighborhood party crashers." A light voice said from the balcony. Jedin turned to glare at the figure illuminated by moonlight. "We knew you'd be here." He snarled with a grin. "Well, how convenient!" Diamond said in surprise, walking forward. "Huh. Just like we knew you'd be here! Go figure. But let's think-who always shows up to drain energy, and who always has to find them? If you ask me, I think our effort was a little better. Sorry! You'll have to settle for second place." Katrina giggled. "You're a funny human!" She hiccupped, pointing a finger at her and firing. Diamond gasped and barely ducked in time as a black beam destroyed what was left of the glass door. "You know, you have all the signs of an obsessive compulsive!" She yelled at Katrina. "Not to mention a drunkard! Yeesh! Never mind drinking and driving, try drinking and fighting! Not a good combo." Katrina giggled again before waving her hand. "Oh, do go on, you tell such lovely stories." "Don't try to talk to her." Obsidian remarked from the doorway to the hall. "She's twice as drunk as a redneck!" "How'd you get everyone cleared out so fast?" Diamond asked, running to her friends' side. "Well, Katrina blew away any surprise attempt by tossing a guy into the wine table after she had drained him. After that, it was fairly easy." Topaz reported. Then, with a snort, "All the ones who weren't stoned drunk, at any rate." "Have we attacked?" Diamond inquired. "We're in a bit of trouble." Sapphire muttered into her ear. "Every time we try, someone always attacks us before we can complete the attack phrase!!!! That's how Emerald got thrown through the door!" "Aggravating." Diamond muttered. "Have you tried attacking two at once?" "Yep." Amethyst said grimly, pulling the glass out of Emerald's shoulder. "Considering the fact that we're outnumbered in strength and skill should lead you to the conclusion." Stung, Diamond snapped, "Well, excuse me for trying to think of ideas rather than cower in a corner while they drain people!!!!!" Amethyst turned away, shame-faced. "Sorry," she muttered. Diamond took a deep breath, and stood up. "What are you doing?!" Garnet demanded. "They'll decimate you." Diamond ignored her. She calmly strode to two feet in front of the generals, and then announced in a loud voice, "Jedin is a dirty, slime- mouthed, tootsie-roll eating Popsicle who is exactly like a slug, except that the slug looks better." Jedin's head snapped up. He stared at her, open-mouthed. "Katrina is a drunk little slut who enjoys being a guy's bitch and being taken advantage of. She's the easiest girl in the universe." Diamond continued, making sure to state this as clearly as she could. Katrina burped drunkenly, and stared at her, hiccupping slightly. "And Spike is a Blondie-bear who has a witch of a girlfriend who sings to herself like a retarded child and is nothing but a slut." Diamond finished, glaring at Spike's head. Spike calmly dropped his victim and looked up at Diamond, wiping the blood up his mouth. "I wonder what we should put on the grave, Defender of Justice, or Warrior of Good?" He asked Jedin. "Never mind the coffin. Let's just put her in a box. All that's going to be left of her is going to be able to fit in one." Jedin snarled, dropping his girl and stepping over her. Diamond eyed them coolly. "You want to kill me? Then." She took off in a sudden sprint for the door. "Catch me!" She yelled, before she was gone. With an animal snarl, Spike was running after her, followed closely by Jedin. Katrina giggled. "Get the Senshi! Wheeeeee.." She took a step, hiccupped, and promptly fell on the floor, out like a light. "Disgusting." Garnet remarked, standing up and trotting over to examine Katrina. "Like your friend." A voice said from behind her. Garnet turned in time to see Jedin's fist come at her. The blow sent her flying through the broken glass door and out onto the balcony, all the way to marble railing. Garnet hit the railing with a crack. The marble shuddered, and crumbled into nothing, dust raining down fifteen stories. And Garnet, with nothing to stop her fall, clung to the edge of the balcony for dear life. "Help me!" She screamed, willing for someone, anyone to come. "Someone! Scouts?! Guys!" She gulped and looked down. The world tilted crazily so far below her. "HELP!" Her grip on the marble began to slip. She frantically grasped at the smooth slipperiness, terror clouding her eyes. "HELP!!!!!" A tanned face with purple eyes appeared just above her. "Garnet!" "Kyle?!" Garnet gasped, looking up into those blessed, blessed eyes. "Kyle, oh god-" "Hang in there." Kyle ordered, grabbing her arms. He turned his head to yell over his shoulder. "Hey! Can we get some help over here?!" There was the sound of feet, and then half a dozen boys appeared above her. They grabbed at her arms and hands, some reaching all the way down to grab her fuku top. A head of bright blond hair appeared to the side of everyone. "Hang in there, miss." Chase said calmly, like he pulled girls from death everyday. "Everybody ready-pull!" All the guys gave a mighty heave. Garnet found herself being quickly yanked up. Her feet kicked in the air, they hit something hard-and then she was resting on solid ground again. She took a deep breath, resisted to urge to kiss the balcony floor, and turned to the boys to bow. "Thank you. I owe you my life." Chase grinned. "Hey, we owe you ours for fighting those-things-inside." He said cheerfully. There was a smash, and Katrina was flung onto the balcony, still giggling drunkenly. She slid neatly to the guys' and Garnet's feet. Sapphire looked out through the hole in the door. "You all right, Garnet?! How'd you get saved?!" "Some guardian angels pulled me from certain death." Garnet said with a smile, patting Kyle's head affectionately. Sapphire hesitated when she saw Chase among the group, but she made her way up to them and bowed. "T-thank you, for my friend's life. We'll always defend the populace." She said awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. The guys nodded quickly, then moved past Sapphire and skirted Katrina in a wide range. The idea of evil super villains was comparatively new to this town. Chase had not left. He looked at her closely. A slow smile drew across his face. "Now I remember you. You're the angel who saved my life in the cafeteria, right?" Sapphire blushed and nodded. "Just doing my job." She muttered shyly. An idea flickered in Chase's mind. He bent down to look into Sapphire's eyes. "Can I say thank you this time?" Before Sapphire could respond or even guess what was going on, Chase had moved his face forward and gently placed his lips on hers. Sapphire's eyes open wide and she half-gasped into the kiss, but she did not pull back or slap him. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut as she began to enjoy it. His lips were soft, almost like kissing a cloud. Chase gently broke out of the kiss and backed away. He smiled at her and strode back into the ruined apartment, stepping over part of Katrina on the way. Sapphire sighed as she dreamily touched her lips. "Wow." "Oh, Sapphire!" Garnet breathed, entranced. "Oh, wow! Was that your first time?" Dazedly, Sapphire nodded. "Wow.." Garnet sighed. "That was really beautiful. And so romantic, too!" Obsidian stuck her head out through the missing glass. "Hey! Hel-lo!! Scouts! We have un problemo!" "What is it?" Garnet asked grouchily, not enjoying the call back to reality. "Wow." Sapphire said dreamily. "It's Diamond." Obsidian said tersely. "She's in trouble." * * * "God, oh God, oh God, oh God." Diamond muttered, sprinting down the hallway outside Hannah's apartment. Spike was right on her tail, with Jedin only a few yards behind. And they were beginning to gain on her. "God, oh God-" Diamond cursed as the end of the hallway loomed up in front of her. There were no stairs, just two elevators and a few rooms. Diamond pounded on the elevator button for down. "Please-" She muttered. "Please, please, please-" She ran to the other elevator and pounded the button for up. "Come on, come on!!" She glanced back. Spike was only thirty yards away! "No fun getting rammed into two separate pieces!" Diamond decided, grabbing in between the crack of the doors for the second elevator. She concentrated, and began to pull as hard as she could. Slowly the elevator doors began to open. A sweat broke on Diamond forehead as she held them open two feet apart. She looked up and saw the elevator coming down. Just a few more seconds. Spike was so close. The elevator settled into place and its doors opened with a "ping!" "Up! UP!" Diamond screamed, leaping in and pressing the top floor button and the doors-close one. She had a glimpse of Spike's furious face not five feet from the elevator before the doors closed and the elevator began to shoot up the stories. She leaned on one of the cold mirrors that made up the walls and ceiling, gasping for air, shaking a little at the near- collision. She stared up at the floor counter over the doors. 17, 18, 19. "God." She breathed, shoving sweaty hair back from her face. "Wonder where Damon is?" Not that it matters, she added silently. We're enemies, now. He'll try to kill me again. Won't he? A "ping!" startled her out of her thoughts. The elevator doors had opened, and Diamond walked out, rubbing her eyes. "Man, when they say top floor, they mean top floor." She muttered, gazing around at the building's roof top. It was gravelly, with a few ventilation shafts here and there, and a generator in the corner. "I wonder if they'll try to find me up here." Diamond wondered, going to the edge of the rooftop and peering down at the ground a full thirty stories below. "Well if we didn't, it would take all the fun away from our game of hide and seek, wouldn't it?" Spike said cheerily from behind her. Diamond froze, mind shutting down in panic and terror and just plain fatigue. "Jeez." She muttered, trying not to fall to her knees. No way was she going to die bowing to these creeps. Spike strode forward from the hole he had made shooting up fifteen stories. "Lovely view." He commented, gazing out at the city. "One day, all this will be ours. All the people in it, too." He leered at Diamond. She spat at his boots. "Go to hell. This town'll never be yours." Spike shook his head pityingly. "It already is, pet. It already is." "For the last time-I'M NOT ANYONE'S PET!!!!!" Diamond yelled. "And that includes you, Damon!!!!!" She pointed at the dark haired figure who was hovering just above the hole. Damon raised his hands. "Not even dreaming of calling you pet, pet." Diamond sighed. "That's it. I give up!" "You give up your fight?" Spike questioned, delight springing into empty eyes. "No, I give up ever trying to get you lot to stop being annoying." Diamond retorted, sighing and forcing her mind to stop spinning. "Didn't know you had ever started." Damon muttered. "Shut up, Damon." Spike ordered, not looking back. Damon stared at him, startled. "Spike?" "I said, shut up." Spike said in his most dangerous tone. Damon found himself glaring at the back of Spike's head. "Why should I listen to you?" He asked, his own voice dropping into darkness. The air around the two men crackled with drawing power. Diamond stared at them, horrified, and stepped backward. Her foot knocked against the edge of the building, and she looked down all those stories. Nothing to break her fall- Wait. Twenty stories down. There was something.sticking out of the side of the building. "Because you let the girl go one too many times!" Spike growled, glaring at Damon. "She insulted my girlfriend. And now, I'm going to kill her." "And I'm going to help." Jedin added, making his own hole right beside Spike as he shot up. Damon sighed. "Fine. Go ahead and try. You'll never do it. She's tricky." "He's right!" Diamond said cheerfully, hoping the terror at what she had to do wouldn't show in her voice. Spike swung around to glare at her. "I'm going to feed your eyeballs to my Screamers!" He swore. Diamond blinked and edged back just a little. "Well, that's nice." She smiled a winning, bright smile at all three men. "Well, chaps, it's been fun, but, I'm leaving." "You're leaving?!" Jedin asked with a snort. "Where can you go? We're not going to let you use our holes or the elevator." Diamond only smiled. Oh, my God....she thought in her mind. God, oh god, oh god. Damon saw what she was going to do a split second before she did it. His mouth dropped open as he stared at the girl. She gave him a mysterious smile, and bent her knees. "Get her!" He yelled. "She's going to-" Too late. Diamond jumped into the air and back-dived off the building. Spike roared in disbelief and ran to the edge. "I don't believe it! She's going to kill herself!" "Hey, let me see!" Jedin protested, elbowing Spike out of the way to peer down. Meanwhile. "God, oh my GOD!!" Diamond screamed, watching the ground come flying up at her. "Okay, calm down, count the stories-where's that damn-" She froze, and tried desperately to fling her body sideways in the air, aiming for the side of the building. The balcony for Hannah's apartment on the fifteenth story whizzed past-Garnet and Kyle were still out on the balcony-she caught a glimpse of Garnet's horrified face-"Come on." She muttered, moving her arms and legs in frantic swimming motions. "Come on-" The flagpole sticking out of the wall on the tenth story-it was right there-she was too far away-she was going to miss- "Unnngh!" With a huge effort, she flung herself the two feet more that was necessary, and her left hand got hold of the flagpole-which miraculously did not break. Her flight abruptly stopped with her arm being yanked out of the shoulder socket. "OW!" With tears in her eyes, she scrambled to desperately get a better hold on the slippery metal pole-and ended up hanging by her ankles, rubbing her left shoulder. "Great." She muttered. "BRILLIANT plan, jumping off the building. Next time, I'll just jump out of an airplane without a parachute. Or maybe the Empire State Building." Gingerly, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her shoulder, she swung up to grab the flag pole with her hands. Her posture now somewhat resembled a sloth. She giggled at what anyone would think if they looked out the window right now. A cry of "There!" made her look up. Dimly she could see two blond heads peering over the top of the building at her. She carefully let go of the pole with one hand to wave happily up at them. "Hi!" She called. There were a few loud curses, then the heads disappeared. Diamond began to laugh as she grabbed the pole with both hands again. She hung for a few minutes, giggling and shaking with laughter. "Oh, jeez." She chuckled, finally wiping her eyes. "What I would give to have seen Spike's face." A loud scream from a few stories up made her sigh. "Great. Back to the battle." Carefully she let go with her legs and began to swing back and forth, legs aimed at a window a few feet away. "Ready." Diamond muttered. "Aim.FIRE!!!" With that, she let go, and sailed through the glass. She landed hard on- fortunately-nicely carpeted floor and rolled a few feet before she hit the wall. "Ow." There was a scream, and a light came on. Two people sat up from a large bed a few paces away, staring at her. Diamond waved a little from her upside-down position against the wall. "Hello." The woman-a nice, middle-aged brunette type-screamed and clutched at the blankets around her. "It talks!" She yelled, panicking. "Excuse me?!" Diamond said indignantly. "I'm a she, not an it!" "Are you-human?" The man asked steadily, slightly less afraid than his wife. "I think so." Diamond replied, carefully righting herself and standing. "Whoa.major blow to the head." She shook her head back and forth experimentally before smiling. "No harm done." "Except to our window!" The woman screamed, gesturing at the broken glass. "And my sanity!" "Err-sorry." Diamond said, blushing. "But, the thing is-I was fighting- then I jumped off the building-oh, never mind, it'd drive you nuts. I've got to go now, anyway." She began to walk towards the door, then stopped and turned back. "By the way? This is all just a very, very bad dream. The glass was broken by an owl crashing into your window, but the owl was all right. Good night!" "Just a bad dream?" The man repeated dazedly. "Just a dream." Diamond said reassuringly. "In fact, you're still asleep. So stay that way. Bye!" She promptly ran from the room and apartment, not wanting to have to explain things anymore. * * * "Did you just see Diamond falling by?" Obsidian asked uncertainly, walking out to where Garnet was standing. "It wasn't just me, right?" "Uh-huh." Garnet replied, eyes as big as saucers. "Uhhhhhh..." "I think she's in shock." Emerald said, walking out with Topaz and Amethyst. (All three girls were very careful to step on some part of Katrina's body on their way.) "Did Diamond just fall past us?" Topaz asked, waving her hand in front of a still-dreamily-sighing Sapphire. "Yes." Obsidian said simply, grinding her teeth. "Yes, she did." "So-she's probably dead?" Amethyst asked, kicking Katrina's head with a giggle. "Did you guys drink the punch or something?!" Obsidian demanded. "Why are you so stoned?!" "Only one glass each." Emerald hiccupped. "You idiots!" Obsidian yelled. "That stuff was practically pure vodka! Or wine, or something." Topaz grinned and giggled. "Something? Like cherries?" "Jeez.." Obsidian muttered, pushing hair out of her eyes. "Hey, look!" Amethyst said, giggling and pointing at her hair. "My hair's normal again!" "Sapphire's too!" Topaz said, yanking on a strand of said hair. "OW!" Sapphire yelled, coming out of her trance to slap Topaz's arm. "That hurt!" "Sorry." Topaz giggled. "They're drunk." Obsidian told Sapphire flatly, rubbing her head. "Obviously." Sapphire said, waving her hand in front of her face. "Whew! You guys are emitting fumes like a gas factory! You smell worse than Hannah!" That woke them up. "I do not!" Emerald yelled, hitting Sapphire's head. "We only had one glass!" Amethyst voiced, frowning. "I had two." Topaz said, still giggling. "Great." Obsidian said, rolling her eyes. "A drunk Senshi. Oh, that will scare the pee out of our enemies." There was a crash, followed by an "OW!" as Topaz tripped over Katrina and fell to the ground, the rest of her drunkenness knocked out of her. "All fear the mighty Jewel Senshi!" Garnet proclaimed, sighing. "Uhhhhh..hangover.." Topaz muttered, holding her head. "Major headache..wish Diamond were here, she could heal me.." "Unfortunately, your leader has just plummeted to her death on the grounds thirty stories below." Jedin's voice said smoothly. All the girls tensed. "Where are you?!" Obsidian demanded, looking around. "Right here." Obsidian whirled and her face connected squarely with Jedin's fist. "And now I wish Diamond was here." She muttered, rubbing her face as she leaped back a few steps. "She's-dead?" Garnet stuttered, moving back from the edge where the three dark men hovered. "But-she can't be-dead-you evil FREAKS!!!!!!" This last part was said as Garnet took a flying leap off the balcony and rammed into Damon, biting, kicking, and scratching furiously. Damon yelped in surprise, grabbed Garnet's neck, and threw her back onto the balcony, right into the middle of the group. Senshi went flying. Jedin giggled. "Bowling with Sailor Scouts! I like it." Amethyst struggled up to glare at Jedin. "You slimy evil BASTARDS!!!!!!" She screamed. "You killed Diamond!" "She killed herself." Damon said coldly. "Jumped off the roof to get away from us." "I jumped off, yes, but I don't believe I'm quite dead yet." Diamond said, striding out from Hannah's apartment. "A lovely flagpole broke my fall." Emerald gasped and pointed to Diamond's arm, which was puffing out in lovely colors of orange, blue, black, and purple. "Your arm! You're injured!" "This? Nah, this is just a scratch." Diamond said comfortably, patting Emerald's shoulder. "See, now," she began to walk over to where Jedin was hovering. "This-" She punched him hard in the stomach, "or this-" she slapped his face and punched his nose, "or this might have hurt-" she kicked him in the shin. "-but a little twenty-story fall? Nah. Nothing to it. I just yanked my arm out of my socket, I'm pissed off, mad, angry, furious, and every other word in the English language that describes being unhappy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And-" She glared at Jedin. "It's-" punch to the head-"all-"punch to the shoulder-"-your-" punch to the gut- "fault!!!!!!!!!!!" She knocked Jedin one in the crotch, grabbed his collar, and flung him over the edge of the building. "Not to mention," She added, striding over to Spike. "That I'm hurt-" Spike backed away. "I believe you! You're angry and injured! We're going away now!" "Damn right you are." Diamond growled, shoving her arm back into her shoulder with a "pop!" "Absolutely! Leaving! Not dreaming of staying!" Spike laughed weakly, struggling to gain altitude. "Spike, what the hell are you doing!?" Damon hissed. "We could finish them like you wanted to!" "Did you see what she did to Jedin!?" Spike whimpered. "Besides-" His face suddenly contorted. He gasped, "We're out of time!!" "Uh-oh." Diamond stared at Spike. His skin was moving in ripples..like Katrina's had, that day in the cafeteria..like Katrina's was now. "What's happening?" Garnet whispered, crawling up beside her. Diamond sunk to her knees. "I don't know." She answered truthfully. "But- I think it's going to be bad." "And big." Emerald added, crawling forth as well, edging away from Katrina. The other Senshi followed suit, staring at the red-haired body that was shivering, skin growing paler and paler. "I don't like this." Topaz said, sniffing the air. "The wind-it's changed, somehow. Colder. Warning of evil." "Why did you just sniff the air?" Diamond asked curiously. "And how can you tell? I hardly feel a thing, except the air feels creepy." "I have no idea why." Topaz snapped. "Maybe because air's my element or something! I don't know, I don't care, all I know is that something really evil is coming!!" "You've got that right, Topaz." Damon said coldly, flying down to land beside the scouts. "What are you doing here?" Amethyst hissed. "Staying away from their transformations." Damon replied, staring up at Spike. "Transformations?" Diamond asked, voice barely above a whisper. "To what?" "Their true forms." Spike raised his head and howled, a long, eerie howl that made the Senshi cover their ears in pain. "True forms?!" Diamond yelled over the noise as another howl pierced the air, coming from far below. "What true forms?!" "The Beast Within them." Damon responded, not looking at her. "I'd suggest you lot get out of here. They're going to kill whoever they next see." "B-but-my god-" "DO it!" Damon roared. "Leave!!!!!! I'm the only one who knows how to help them! Get out of here while you can! They can smell your blood! They hear your heart beat!!! GO!!!!" Diamond wasted no more time. She grabbed Garnet's hand and Emerald's hand and pulled them up, shoving them towards the apartment. "Come on!" She yelled. "Do it!" "Why are we trusting him!?" Topaz cried, shuffling towards the door. "Because I do, now move it!!!!!" Diamond screamed, shoving them all through the glass door and glancing back. Spike's muscles were bulging under his clothes, and his howl was going even higher pitched. Katrina was beginning to stir, her muscles rippling and growing. "GO!" Diamond screamed, shoving her friends out of the apartment. "Move it! Go, go, go!!!" "What happened to no retreating?" Obsidian grumbled, resisting a shove. "It vanished when Spike began mutating, now, bloody hell, MOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!" Diamond gave a tremendous shove as Katrina's howl rose as high as Spike's-and much closer and clearer. "Damn you, move!" "No need to curse." Garnet said in injured dignity. "She's right, move!!" Topaz gasped, yanking on Sapphire's and Emerald's arms. "Can't you hear the wind screaming?! Please, let's go!!" Diamond felt an enormous dark presence well up in her mind. She whirled to face the open door down the hall. "Topaz," she ordered tersely, "take them and run. All of you, move it." "What about you?!" Sapphire asked indignantly. "As your leader and as your friend I command you to GO!!!!!!!!" Diamond screamed, urgency etched on her face. The Senshi stared at her before turning to run down the hall. Topaz was last, urging Garnet along. "Come on, Shellie!" She murmured. "We've got to hurry!" "But-Diamond-" "Knows what she's doing!" Topaz said grimly, tugging on her friend's arm. "I hope." "So, while we run like chickens, she stays and acts all high and mighty?!" Amethyst asked indignantly. "I do not think so." She started back to where Diamond was tensely facing the open doorway. "Diamond-" "Oh my GOD!" Obsidian screamed, pointing at the doorway. Amethyst recoiled in horror, tripping over her own feet as she ran. "Move!" She yelled. "Move it! Move it!!" "What'd you see?!" Garnet panted, as they charged down the stairs. "Nothing you ever want to see, Shellie!" Amethyst said grimly. "Something I hope for God's sakes I'm only dreaming about." "What about Diamond!?" Obsidian asked frantically. "She can't face that- that-thing!" "Never mind Diamond, she told us to save our own skin, and that's what we're going to do!!" Amethyst yelled, grabbing Obsidian's arm as she hesitated. "We can't fight that thing! So let's move!" Meanwhile, Diamond was staring in controlled horror at the thing that was leering out of the doorway at her. Huge, blood red, and ultimately hideous, it stared at her from two pale blue oval eyes the size of tires. A large, wide open gaping maw snapped open and closed, revealing row upon row of teeth as sharp as knives and as large as computer screens. Skinny, spindly arms with two enormous claws on the end grasped the doorframe, and the thing walked on huge legs that had knees that bent backwards, like dogs. The legs ended in tyrannosaurus-rex type feet with bronze claws the size of hubcaps. It was over eight feel tall, and as wide as a car, made up mostly of huge head, and the blood-red skin seemed stretched over the bones. Diamond stared at the monster, wondering where the hell it had come from. Nothing like this existed out of nightmares. True forms. Oh my God. "Katrina?" She asked guardedly, stepping back a little, The thing raised its gigantic head and sniffed the air, eyes focusing on her. It howled and began to try to move towards her, ripping the door frame into shreds. "Oh, God." Diamond whispered, backing up a few steps. "What. Have. I. Gotten. Myself. Into." The thing-the beast that Katrina had become-thundered far quickly than anything of that size should have been able to towards her. Diamond froze, staring at the thing before turning to run down the hall as fast as she could. The beast followed, ripping away the ceiling of the hall as it went. Diamond ran as fast as she ever had towards the stairs. Almost there- Something burst through the ceiling to land five meters in front of her. It looked much like the creature behind her, except it was an inky blue- black, it's eyes were a maroon shade, and a crown of spiky horns came out from what seemed to be its forehead. Diamond gulped, leaping backwards. "Damon?" She wondered. "Or Spike?" The thing leered at her before moving forward, slowly but steadily. Diamond fell down as the floor shook. She scrambled away on her hands and bottom, until she ran into something. Something that breathed in her ear and snarled. Diamond rolled away just as Katrina's huge jaws came down and snatched up the piece of floor she had been sitting on. The monster chomped up the piece of floor, blinking blue eyes at her. "Oh, my God." Diamond whispered. She was trapped between two of the most horrible things she had ever seen, and all her brain could do was dart frantically around in all her memories. She vaguely wondered if her life was flashing before her eyes. The blue beast raised a gigantic foot over her head, blocking out the light from the above story. She stared up, horrified, mind sluggishly moving through the time she had smacked Bobbie Semipro upside the head for daring to ask her to dance on a dare from his stupid friends. Warm arms suddenly grabbed her shoulders and hauled her backwards just as the monstrous foot came down. Diamond collapsed in relief, breathing hard. "Dear lord." "Hang on." Damon instructed, holding the small golden haired girl tightly to him. Spike roared and moved forward to crush him as he leapt up through the broken ceiling to the story above. Diamond snuggled in slightly against him, sighing deeply. "One more second, and I'd've been nothing more than road kill." She said, fists clenched. "You're going to be lucky if you don't get that way before this is over." Damon said grimly, avoiding Katrina's flailing arm as she tried to snag them to bring them back down. "What are they?!" Diamond asked, staring down, horrified and fascinated. "Demons." Damon answered quietly, looking at Spike and Katrina in something like pity. "Pure, unchanged evil forms. It's-painful-changing to these forms. Their civilized being-their soul, you might say-gets killed. Completely. All that's in them now is animal instincts, and their love of Rubian." "So, they can't feel or love?" Diamond asked. "But-can they recognize you? Will they hurt you?" "No-o." Damon said slowly. "The darkness in me discourages them. But they don't know who I am. They don't even really know who they are, now." "And-they want-to kill us?" Diamond questioned timidly. Damon nodded grimly. "It's their sole purpose, aside from the desire to feed, both on flesh and on energy. It's our desire constantly." Diamond's head snapped up. She frowned at him. "Why aren't you changing?! Or are you going to at any moment and are holding me just so you can eat me?!" "This is my real form." Damon said impatiently, avoiding a swipe from Spike's claws. "Then how come they all look like that?!" Diamond demanded, waving her hand at Spike and Katrina. "Watch it!" Damon snapped, grabbing her hand and yanking it in as Spike's teeth snapped at where it had been a second earlier. "Eep." Diamond cheeped in terror, shutting up and massaging her almost- chopped-off hand. "They're like that because that's how Rubian made them to be." Damon explained, not looking away from Spike, who was eyeing Diamond now like she was a piece of meat. "She created them to be like this, and gave them the power to change to other forms, so as to blend in. The humanoid forms are the ones that they like the most. There's when they think normally, where they have a spirit, have emotions." "Rubian.created you all?" Diamond asked, feeling like she'd been socked in the gut. "All but one." Damon said quietly. Diamond wriggled in his arms until she could look up into his partially- hidden face. "Not you?" "Not me." Diamond took a deep breath, sensing she was stepping on delicate ground. "Would it be rude to ask where you came from?" "Yes." Damon answered sharply. "And it's none of your business." Diamond did not press again, but after a moment, Damon said, "I was born a human is all I know. I think I was abandoned as a child or something. At any rate, Rubian killed me, and then made me the way I am today." "Soul still intact?" Diamond murmured, hoping he wouldn't do something in anger-like drop her. "Somewhat." Diamond knew better than to say anything more. With a roar, Katrina leapt up to the second floor, feet digging into the walls. She glared at Damon and Diamond, the latter of which shivered hard and clutched at the former's cloak. Damon calmly leapt down to where the beast had been and sprinted lightning- fast down the hall. With a roar, the two creatures pursued him, crashing through plaster and wood as they ran. "When I drop you, you've got to get away from here as quick as possible, you understand?" Damon asked, flying down a flight of stairs. "No way!" Diamond said indignantly. "This is my fight too! And-those guy's are bad guys-and as a warrior, I have to fight-" "You fight, you die." Damon said harshly, zooming down a hall. "Well, then, let me stay and be bait or something!" Diamond begged. "Please! I could help in some way, I know!" "Bait?!" Damon snorted, wishing he hadn't been thinking the exact same thing. "Are you nuts? Those two will be on you and decimate you before you could run a hall." "Not if you get them first!" Diamond retorted. Damon ran down another flight and hallway and listened to the crashes coming from the stairway they had first gone down. "Well.." "Please." Diamond said, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "I'm begging you." Damon sighed, and gently placed her on her feet. "It'll take me a few moments to get ready." He told her, hovering in the air a few feet above her head. "Best begin running." Diamond nodded and took off, jumping down the full flight of stairs, turning the corner-gone. Damon sighed and looked down at the end of the hall where the two monstrosities had appeared. "Hope I do this right the first time." He muttered, clapping his hands together to start the binding ritual. Diamond raced down the hall, hearing the roars of the two creatures hot on her trail. She sprinted as fast as she could without draining herself completely, willing for this to be a good day for her stamina. Halfway down the hall she stopped short. She felt like she was forgetting something..and something was surging in her mind, coming from close by. She choked back a scream as a green monster's face peeked out of the end of the hall. Guess that answered what had happened to Jedin. "Damn it." She swore, turning to see Spike and Katrina emerging at the other end. "Will someone help me." The creatures began to quickly move towards her. She whirled to stare at Spike, who was coming the fastest. "Golden Halo Attack!!" The beast roared as the golden halo savagely ripped through its skin on all sides, a whirl of light. It reached up and caught the halo in its jaws, crushing it into lifeless nothing. "Hey!" Diamond yelled. "My halo.my attack.!" A knock from behind sent her sprawling. She stared up as Jedin's ugly face loomed over her- "DEATH CRESCENTS DESTROY!!!" "BRIGHT WHIRLWIND GUST!!!" "BEAUTY ROSES BLAST!!!!" The creatures screamed and retreated as six girls jumped in around their stricken leader. "You okay, Diamond?" Obsidian called, glaring at Katrina. "I thought I told you guys to leave!" Diamond gasped in amazement. "We're disobedient children." Sapphire said with a grin. "Oh, come on, you know we'd never leave you alone! We're a team! Jewel Senshi! All for one, one for the money, so on and so forth." "You guys are evil." Diamond muttered, standing and looking back and forth between the monsters. "But I'm glad you came." "So, how do we kill them?" Topaz asked brightly. "I mean, our attacks had NO effect whatsoever." "Damon's doing something." Diamond told her, trying to peer over Spike's and Katrina's enormous shoulders. "And we're trusting him. Again." Garnet sighed. "This is not normal. Normal people do not have to put their lives in the hands of their enemies." "Enemies who recently danced very-interestingly-with our leader." Obsidian said with a snigger. "Shut up." Diamond ordered good naturedly. "Or I might have to kill you and feed your bloody corpse to these monsters." Garnet shuddered and backed away as Katrina took a large step towards them. "B-bad monster." She said, teeth chattering. "B-bad! Don't b-be n- naughty!" Katrina lunged forward, mouth snapping at Garnet's retreating hand. "YIPE!" Garnet promptly hid behind Diamond and buried her face in the back of her skirt. "Whoa!" Diamond yelled, yanking her skirt away. "Garnet, you baka! Sicko!" "S-sorry." Garnet gulped, covering her face with her hands. "But these things are creepy!" "No reason to reveal my underwear to the whole world." Diamond snapped, smoothing her skirt down carefully. "Oh, but wouldn't Damon love to see it?" Amethyst asked innocently. Diamond promptly hit her over her head. Amethyst yelped and hit the floor. "That hurt!" "You deserved it!" Diamond raged, shaking her fist at Amethyst, not noticing Katrina inching closer. "Idiot!" "Ditz!" "Pervert!" "Witch!" "Right!" Diamond yelled, suddenly whirling to face Katrina. "Golden Halo Attack!" "Death Crescents Destroy!" Katrina let out a shriek that raised the hair on everyone's heads and clambered back a few pages, tongue lolling out of her maw to lick at the blood coming from the top of her head. Spike's blood red eyes fastened on the blood. With a roar, he charged Katrina, tongue trying to reach the blood squirting from her body. Katrina fended him off with a screech, clawing at his arm and drawing bluish black blood. Spike's attention turned to his own wound, and began to lick the blood there. "Gross." Topaz commented, watching interestedly. "They even like their own blood?!" Diamond said in disgust. "Double gross and yuck-o-rama!" "An insane instinct of some sort?" Obsidian muttered, dry-mouthed. The beasts stopped licked at their wounds to screech and leap forward upon the scouts. Obsidian screamed as Spike's gigantic foot clamped her to the ground, unable to move or even breath much. "Obsidian!" Diamond cried, running over to Spike's leg and pulling on it fruitlessly. "Let her go!" She demanded, kicking Spike's huge leg. "Let her go!!" She gave it an extra hard kick. Spike roared and quickly swiped at her with huge front claws. Diamond leapt back, clutching at her stomach. A deep gash was visible under her torn tunic. Blood bubbled up and spilled onto her hands. "Great." Diamond moaned, trying to ignore the pain as she shoved her hand into the gash to stop the bleeding-and also trying not to think of what organs she might be touching. Spike and Katrina sniffed at the air, smelling her blood. Spike's paw lifted off of Obsidian's body to take a large step towards the bleeding girl. "Gaaaah.." Obsidian muttered, drawing in a full lung of air and rolling away as Katrina's paw came down. Diamond skirted backwards from the oncoming beasts, trying to keep away. She slipped in her own blood that had formed a puddle on the floor and fell, continuing to inch backward from the blood-hungry mad eyes. "Damon!" She yelled. "Whatever you're doing, better get it done fast!!!" Damon heard the roars of Katrina, Spike, and Jedin. Feverishly he worked, trying to complete the spell. "Blood is life." He muttered, taking his small sword and pricking his finger. Black blood spilled out as he raised his hand into the air. "Blood binds soul to soul, heart to heart, spirit to spirit. Let those below me who walk as they should not, be bound to me and to my command!" The air screamed as black and purple lightning zigzagged around him in a circle. A rune made of blue fire etched itself under Damon's feet. A crown of white flame played on his brow. "Katrina." He murmured fiercely. "Spike. Jedin. Let your souls be bound to me until-I-will-them-" He stopped, gasping for breath, sweating as the power around him increased. This was too much. Three at once. Diamond's plea for help suddenly rang loudly in his ears. He gritted his teeth. "-until-I-will them-gone. Let-their-souls-be-under-my-control. By- devil's-pact-and-darkness'-blood-let my will be!" Diamond stared at Spike's enormous jaws that loomed just above her. He lowered himself, maw opening, teeth aiming for her head- And very suddenly, the beast froze stock still. Its eyes rolled about in what seemed to be surprise. Beside him, the monster that was Katrina was stopped too, foot half-raised in the air. Jedin had been reaching for Garnet. Now he froze, arm reaching for her but not ever there. "Jeez." Garnet muttered, raising her head from under her arms. "Did someone hit the pause button?" "More like the stop." Emerald said, gingerly touching Spike's mutant skin and shuddering. "I'm guessing this is what Damon was trying to do." Diamond said, reaching a hand out to carefully touch one of Spike's teeth. "Either that, or we've just flown into the Twilight Zone." "There's-something on the wing!" Obsidian gasped, contorting her face and grasping her neck. "Some-thing." "Enough with the Shatner impression." Diamond said, muffling a giggle. "I wonder what happen now." She drew her hand away from Spike's mouth, staring at her hand as a drop of blood welled where she had touched his tooth. "Diamond-your wound?" Topaz asked. Diamond winced as she looked down and saw the bloody gash. The pain came back in a tidal wave, as if seeing the injury made it worst. She slowly lowered herself onto the ground, breathing heavily. "Heal yourself!" Amethyst ordered, holding her friend's shoulders. "Come on, Diamond, all you need to do is heal yourself and you'll be okay." Diamond nodded as the colors of Amethyst's face swirled together like watercolors. "Yeah, okay. Yeah, okay." She breathed deep, a light-headed feeling coming into her head. "Everlasting.Love.Purify." Golden light played behind her eyelids as the pain began to recede. The lightheaded feeling began to steal away into the recesses of her mind. Diamond blinked once or twice, then carefully removed her hand from her wound as the light penetrated it. There was the moment where her body screamed in pain as the light moved within her, and then all the pain was gone. "Whew." She muttered, standing up and stretching. "That was not pleasant. I don't even want to think about what I was touching." "Guts." Garnet said promptly. "Must you remind me?!" Diamond demanded. "My insides should not have seen light! This is not right! I have the right to remain disturbed for a while." "Right granted." Sapphire said, staring intently at Spike's maroon eyes that moved when she moved, watching her. "Everyone else finds this excessively creepy, correct?" Emerald wondered, waving her hand energetically in front of Katrina's face and watching robin egg's blue eyes follow it. "So." Amethyst said, cracking her knuckles. "Do we kill 'em?" "What?! No!" Garnet said, shocked. "They're just-helpless. We can't do that, right?" "Exactly! Helpless!! Kill now!" Obsidian said brightly, giving Jedin a kick. "Let their bloody gore paint this hall a lovely mix of red and blue!" "You're disturbed." Topaz told her. "What separates us from them?! The fact that we don't kill inhumanely. They're not attacking us now!" "Excepting the fact that they were about two inches from killing us earlier!" Sapphire growled, glaring at Topaz and Garnet. "We can't just let them go! What if we let them go, and they go drain someone and that person dies?! We could have prevented it! We could save an entire planet if we kill them now!" "But now we're not defending, we're being aggressive." Emerald said quietly. "I thought we're supposed to defend, not attack. So far, when they start to threaten, we're always there to beat them back. Are we going to switch roles? Will we become like them?" "This is nuts." Amethyst snorted, looking at Diamond. "Diamond, tell them we have to kill this trash." "No, no!" Garnet cried. "Tell them that we have to be merciful! We're the good guys! We'll prevail anyway! We have to show mercy!" Diamond hesitated, torn between Amethyst's violent purple eyes that were shooting sparks, and Garnet's crimson ones that were overflowing with tears. She sighed, breathed deep, and let her eyes travel back up to the stairs leading to the above floor. Damon stumbled down, breathing heavily, exhausted but relieved. The beasts had been stopped. The scouts.lived, yes..Diamond...all right...he clung to the railing, fists clenched, fingers driving into the wood. Diamond's heart tore in her chest. She looked at the still monsters, and said quietly, "We're not going to hurt them." "What?!" Amethyst bellowed. "Why NOT?!" "We're not gods, Amethyst." Diamond said softly, staring into Spike's red eyes. "We don't have the right to pass judgment on their souls, no matter how much we want to. If we were in battle, I'd say yes on the spot, but here." She sighed. "It would just be murder. No matter what kind of creatures these are." "That it so butch." Amethyst snapped. "We're demon killers-" "No." Diamond said calmly. "We're Sailor Senshi. End of discussion." Amethyst sighed and drooped her head. "All right, fine, whatever-" "-Mom." Diamond growled and swiped at Amethyst, who dodged good-naturedly and grabbed her in a headlock. "Come on, fearless leader. Let's go, before I turn into a renegade and stomp all over these creeps, including your boyfriend." "He's not my boyfriend." Diamond growled defensively. "Uh-huh." Garnet said with a smirk. "Sure he's not." "Shut up!" Diamond yelled as the girls giggled and began to walk down the stairs. "Come on, you guys, he's not my boyfriend! He's evil! Enemy! You guys? GUYS!" Damon smiled to himself, watching the scouts go. Before she rounded the corner, Diamond turned around to flash her bright smile at him before she turned and disappeared. Damon sighed and glared at the monsters. "You all are going to get me into so much trouble." He muttered before teleporting back to the base, dragging the beasts with him.