The Daughters of the Moon waited on line for autographs for virtually an eternity. They somehow ended up at the end of the line, but managed to convince themselves that it was better that way, because they'd be able to talk to them.

By the time it was finally their turn, Catty could barely contain her excitement. She would actually get to meet Sniper! She was partially expecting them to be tired and irritable by the time they got to the front of the line, but she couldn't be more wrong.

Lerato grinned as they approached. "Hey guys, check it out! It's those girls who were tearin' up the dance floor! We were wondering when we'd be seeing you!"

"Hi!" Aimee greeted them, "You guys are really talented!" She took Catty's autograph book as the rest of the girls handed theirs to other band members.

"Hey, look who's talking!" said Serena.

"Thanks. So what are your names? We'd like to know who to write these out to."

Once they had all introduced themselves, Catty turned to Faith, who was signing her book. "Hey, thanks!" she said as she took it back with all six signatures. "You know, you guys have got to be the most awesome teen band in all of L.A.!"

Faith turned bright red and then brought her hand up, touching her chin, and extending it out and down with her palm up. The motion was smooth and practiced, and caught the Daughters by surprise.

Jake laughed at their astonished expressions and said to them, "She says 'thanks.'" He turned back to his sister and watched her make another elaborate series of equally graceful gestures.

After a moment, Kevin looked at them and smiled. "She wants to know where you two learned to dance like that."

Each of the five of them looked at each other and shrugged. "Each other, I guess," said Serena.

"C'mon, Faith!" Aimee shoved her playfully. "You should know that you can't learn to dance. You just dance!"

Faith shot her a glare and once again responded in sign language. Jake, Kevin, and Aimee laughed.

"What'd she say?" asked Natalie with one eyebrow raised.

"You don't want to know," Kevin replied.

"She can't talk?" Vanessa tilted her head and looked quizzically at Faith.

"What was your first clue?" Lerato said with a great deal of sarcasm. "I really have to learn sign language. For all I know, she could be dissing me behind my back. . .Right in front of my face!" Faith signed something to her brothers in small, subtle signals as though she were whispering, and they all three laughed. Well actually, since Faith had no voice, her laugh was more a silent, spirited twinkle in her bright, violet eyes. Lerato glared at them, but Faith simply smiled innocently and casually ran her fingers through her long, purple-streaked hair.

Natalie turned to face Catty, letting the others argue. "So you girls are really great friends, huh?" Catty nodded. "It shows. Quite an odd assortment of you, though. You're all so different!"

Catty raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?" Natalie was right, but how could she have known that?

"Natalie laughed at Catty's bewildered expression. "Music," she explained, "Is like any other art form in that it's all about expressing yourself. Part of the magic of it is that when you dance, you're yourself. There's no cares, no worries, no other people. . .So a lot can be told about people by the way they dance. I could tell you five were great friends because of how well you dance together. It's almost as though. . ." She put a dramatic tone in her voice as she said, "destiny drew you together, and your souls are entwined with each other."

Catty blinked in bewilderment. "Whoa. . .That's deep!"

She pulled Catty aside and grinned. "That's nothing. Check this out! We're gonna play a little guessing game." She pointed at Vanessa. "She's the kind of person who who's nice to everyone no matter what. . .even if she doesn't like them. She's mature and responsible, but knows how to get down with her bad self once in a blue moon, right?"

Catty couldn't hold back a laugh. "Yeah, that's Vanessa down to a tee!"

Then Natalie indicated Jimena. "Miss Thang over there is a tough cookie. She likes to think she's tough as nails, but deep down, she's got a soft side in there somewhere. She's very sure of herself, and VERY protective of her territory."

Then she turned to Tianna. "She's a jock. Enough said."

Then Serena. "She's the artistic type. She's very sensitive, creative, and individual. She's true to herself, and won't let herself be swayed by the majority."

"Whoa. . .You're good!" exclaimed Catty. "What about me?"

"You? You're a rebel. You do what you want and nobody can stop you. You hate rules and love nothing more than a good laugh."

"You're REALLY good!"

"Thanks! So what school do you girls go to?"

"La Brea High."

"All of you?"

"Yeah"

"Awesome!" cried Natalie with excitement. "I guess we'll see you there! We start school on Monday."

Catty's jaw dropped. "Are you SERIOUS?!"

* * *

Stanton, meanwhile, watched from the shadows. A grin spread slowly across his face. He understood what had taken place that night, and that at least one of the musicians who had played that night was either a potential asset to him, or a potential enemy. But if his or her. . .or their gift could be utilized by the Atrox, it was possible that it wouldn't need Serena's.

But he hadn't been the only one to witness what had happened to Dolores and Cameo. The Goddesses had seen, but they did not understand what had transpired, and so they didn't pose an immediate threat. However, one of his rivals, Ambrose, knew all about the bearers of Cupid's gift.

~The race is on,~ Ambrose's voice brushed darkly across his mind. ~We'll just have to see which of us will be the first to learn which of the musicians has 'The Blessing,' and which of us will exploit his talent.~

~We will indeed.~ And with that, Stanton released his body into the shadows and was gone.