Chapter Three: Preparing for the Mission

*"Hey Sere! What's going on?" He flung open the door and walked blindly into the room, a casual and cheerful smile on his face. He walked straight back out, more pale than usual and no longer laughing. Throughout the empty castle a loud, high-pitched scream shattered glass.

"Duo!" Was the subject of the screaming voice.

"Sorry! Sorry!" And he was sorry. His hands were covering his face, his skin was ghostly white. He stood with his hands covering his face for a moment before slowly splitting his fingers. Grinning like a child on Christmas morning, he maliciously poked his head back into the room. "But Sere, it's not like I haven't seen any of it before…" Four gunshots went off in a meek reply. "Alright, alright, I got it, I'm going, I'm gone!"

"And don't come back without knocking!" She called after him. Jesus Mary and Joseph. She had one heck of a brother. If they hadn't grown up together, she might have shot him years ago. He would certainly deserve it too, after all the hell he put her through. After all the teasing and torturing, and nicknames- she shuddered thinking about Squiget- and invasion of privacy.

Though Serena knew that he was what a brother was, loud, annoying, and disgusting, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was more than what a brother should be. Well, of course he was. Both of them were not brother and sister by blood, but by DNA splicing. Both had been experiments at a lab, and both had been rescued by the White Witch. How, they could not remember. But ever since then, they had had a close bond that kept them together.

She sighed, frustrated and angry at herself. Damn! She needed to stop thinking about such useless things like her crazy brother and get down to the real work. Her job was to kill Quatre Winner. Apparently, this man, Winner, had been advocating to instate child-working laws. How outdated could he possibly get? Her mother had taught her differently. Children liked to work. They liked helping their parents in factories, and they liked their jobs. Winner wanted to stop all of the fun the children were having. How dare he? Still, Serena couldn't help but wonder.

When she and Duo were younger, she had hated being stuck inside all day. Breaking bat wings had been fun, she guessed, but the real fun had been when she and Duo were allowed outside in the sun for an hour each day. If she and Duo had liked being free, why wouldn't other children? But her mother was always right. If she said children liked to work, then they truly must have like working, and she was going to stop Quatre Winner from taking away the children's right to have fun.

Suddenly guilt flooded her. How could she do this? How could Serena even begin to question the White Witch? She was their mother, their keeper, the only one that loved them. How dare she question her mother's opinions! It was treasonous! She mentally berated herself for her foolish thoughts. Suddenly a knock came on the door.

"Come in." The door opened and the light was sucked out of the room. Instantly Serena knew who it was. "Hello Taru. Sit."

"Hello Sere." A tired voice allowed a little pain through.

"Did you receive the treatment once again?" Serena asked, suddenly very concerned. Hotaru was like her and Duo, but she had been rescued from the same DNA lab after them. Their mother did not favor her because of her health problems and inability to make the cut in their physical training.

"Yes."

"Come on then, lay down and let me fix you up. I can't have my little one going around all cut up and bleeding, now can I?" Hotaru gave her a brave smile and shook her head. Then, laying very gently on the bed, she allowed Serena to lift off her shirt and attended to the whip wounds on her back.

"Why does she do this Serena? I'm her daughter too." Hotaru asked, not with depression in her voice, but complete and utter confusion.

"We must be cruel to be kind Taru. She simply wishes to teach you a lesson, which will ultimately help you in the end. Remember, we must never question her authority, mother knows best."

"So she does. What did she want to speak to you and Duo about?"

"We have our first missions. We are to kill- eliminate a few men in the government that wish to harm children's rights."

"Those government men are so blind to the truth. Harming children's rights… it's a good thing you and Duo will be there to stop them I suppose."

"Yes. I suppose."

"Wait, Serena. Don't tell you're thinking this mission isn't worth it!"

"No, it is! I merely… don't know when Mr. Winner will be all alone so that I can strike him without being seen is all."

"So his name is Winner?"

"Quatre Raberba Winner. I leave tonight for the kill. Duo leaves tomorrow night to kill one of Winner's friends, Wufei Chang. We have to kill them different nights, so it looks like the same person did it, not just one. Otherwise, if people find out there's more than just one person like us out there, then they will begin looking for us."

"So by sending one a night they'll only look for one?"

"Hmm. Your back is done." Hotaru sat up.

"Thanks Sere. Good luck on your mission."

"Thank you little one. Take care while I'm gone not to upset her anymore. I won't be here to bandage you up."

"Alright." As Hotaru left the room, the A glowing light neared it.

"Hello Serena, my darling sweetheart."

"Mother." Serena bowed deeply in respect for the White Witch.

"Are you ready for your first assignment?"

"Yes mother, I am."

"And You have everything you'll need? Weapons, potions, and your coat for hiding your wings?"

"Yes, I have everything."

"Serena. Do not fail me. This is more important than you could ever imagine. Kill Quatre Winner and you will make me proud of you."

"I will not fail you mother. Ever."

"Good. Then, take your leave of our home dear one, fly swift and true, and complete the task I have set at hand for you." With that, the White Witch vanished in a bright light, leaving Serena alone with her thoughts.

I love my mother. I will not fail my mother. Even if it means murder… eliminating someone. With that, she fluttered her shadowy wings and began to hover in the cool, empty air. She stopped and landed briefly on the windowsill, looking back behind her one last time. Then, she turned ahead. Her future was ahead. All that she was leaving was her past, and once she took the last step, she could never go back. Not that she could now even if she wanted to. But this was the finality of her destiny. She jumped.

Down she fell, the air screaming and whistling in her ears. Finally she spread her large demonic wings and beat them hard, until they raised her high in the moonless sky. The hunt had begun.*

~~~So? How is that? Did I capture what you wanted her to be like? I hope so… And I think I did Hotaru ok too. If you don't think I have it, right, just tell me so I can change it to fit what you think she should be like. I didn't write Duo in too much… I'm not very good with him… but I don't know. Was the DNA thing ok? I figured the White Witch could tell them they were DNA altered, but in reality she did it with a spell and potion or something. I don't know. Write back soon, ja! -Vixen