{Title} Dangerous Devotion

{Author} Sweet Charisma

{Chapter} 2. Will You Remember Me?

{Story Summary} Stanton remembers all but a couple of things. Catty and Vanessa arrive, trying to think of possibilities.

{Notes} Enjoy. =) R&R. Flames aren't nice.

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Serena sat on the couch, Stanton's head on her lap. He'd been asleep for a good 2 hours now and Serena just sat watching T.V in the meantime. She absentmindedly ran her hands through his hair, just enjoying the feeling similar to letting water run through her fingers. She always loved his hair. She brushed her fingers against his forehead occasionally. He'd once told her he loved it when she did so. It became more of a habit, really.

The Goddess looked down upon Stanton's sleeping form worriedly. A smile tugged at her lips. He was so peaceful and she was just happy he was no longer in such pain.

If she didn't know better than anyone, she'd never have guessed he belonged to evil. Perhaps that's why it rarely bothered her that he was her enemy. Sometimes she felt there had to be a good reason for that, yet she couldn't think of it. When she felt it, it was strange really.

The phone interrupted her thoughts of him and she jumped slightly. Stanton stirred in her lap, eyes twitching as if he were going to open them any minute. She noticed he did that a lot when awakening.

But, no matter how comfortable, Serena had to answer the phone. Maybe it was Jimena or Collin with an emergency.

She took a pillow from behind her and slid it carefully under his head. She slowly slithered from her position and made sure he looked comfortable. Satisfied, Serena planted a kiss on his forehead and strode to the phone. She picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Serena! It's Vanessa. Catty and I were just wondering if we could drop by and borrow a few things."

"Oh, hey Vanessa. Sure…but be warned; Stanton is here."

"Stanton? Why is Stanton there?"

It was then Serena heard a few rustles in the background Catty was murmuring something, demanding for the phone.

"Stanton?" Catty's voice sounded outraged. "Serena, are you crazy?"

"Crazy in lo-ove!" Vanessa's voice rang. It was a relief to Serena how much more affectionate she sounded.

"Catty, he wouldn't dare hurt you when I'm here."

"When you're there. Other times it's okay, though." Her voice was filled with cold sarcasm. It sent guilt through her body in the form of a chill.

What if something did happen to them on account of her love for Stanton? In spite of that, Serena knew he wouldn't hurt them. She just didn't know why. "Catty-"

"We'll be over in a while but only for two seconds." she said, then hung up the phone.

Tears caught in Serena's throat. Soon, they'll see. Deep down, he had a lot of love in his heart. Stanton just had to learn to trust that love and suppress his darkness. If that was possible. The gods, she hoped so. A sigh escaped her lips. Maybe the others saw it so differently they couldn't be swayed. But, could she blame them? He was their enemy.

The back of her hand flew to her head as she thought. She was sure she'd faint if she didn't have the proper motivation not to. She had to see to Vanessa and Catty and make sure Stanton was going to be okay.

She spun around and walked back over to the couch. When she got there, she realized Stanton's eyes were open, his arms sprawled above his head, clinging very close as if it suppressed his pain.

"Stanton, honey?" she called softly.

His eyes appeared lost and confused. They shifted toward her as if trying to study her features in order to find out who she was and for a moment, he appeared scared.

"I…" he stumbled over his words. His eyes shut again and he looked away.

She knelt by his side, eyes frantically searching for a way to ease his pain or even what was causing it. What was going on with his mind? How come he didn't seem to recognize her? The eyes that were normally filled with vibrant love and strength were now filled with dull fear and appeared very frail. He looked to her once more as she grabbed his hands. To her delight he gave her hand a squeeze, symbolic to let her know he was comfortable around her. It was one of his habits that he might not have noticed he had.

"Serena…?" His eyes were slowly returning back to something resembling normal. "When did you get here?"

Serena jerked her head slightly back. Was he…playing with her? "Stanton…" she said, trying to force a smile. "Come on." she said as if he were teasing. Still, he gave her a blank look. She frowned. "You came here, remember?"

Stanton shook his head. "Yeah…" He seemed to have really remembered. Perhaps he was just having a dream? "Sorry…" he semi-whispered, smiling weakly.

Serena smiled back weakly. Yes, that was it. He had a dream. One of those dreams where you wake up convinced it was reality. "Vanessa…and Catty are coming over for a few minutes. They need a couple of things."

"Vanessa and Catty?"

"Stanton…you have got to be kidding me…"

"Why would I do such a thing?"

Serena drew in a breath and bit her bottom lip. Was he…losing his memory? "Stanton…what do you remember?"

Stanton narrowed his eyes and gazed down at the floor.

"The Atrox?"

He simply perked his head up and looked at her questioningly.

"Regulators?"

He shook his head.

"Tianna? Cassandra? Morgan? Tymmie? Carl?"

Stanton shrugged and his eyes appeared to remember nobody.

Yet, he'd said her name before. Did that mean he remembered her? "Weird…" she trailed, shaking her head back into reality. What was she going to do? "Stanton…I need you to stay with me…please…just, trust me."

"Why, Serena?"

Serena clicked her tongue ring nervously against her teeth and came up with a truthful answer. "Because…things just don't seem right."

He looked like he was about to speak when the doorbell rang. Serena offered him a smile and slowly rose to answer the door. Stanton swung his legs over to the front of the couch and sat up. He stood up, straightening his black shirt and straying towards the door as Serena opened it.

There stood Catty and Vanessa. By the look on Catty's face, she wasn't to happy and Vanessa was trying her best not to let this ruin the mood of the day.

"Hey girls…" Serena was just trying to figure out how they got there so fast.

"Salve." Vanessa greeted in Latin with a vibrance in her voice. Catty simply waved, offering a weak smile. At least she was trying to trust Serena's better judgment. "We called from Catty's cell phone around the corner." Vanessa held up the pink-faced cell phone. "We were on our way to the movies." she explained, answering Serena's question. "Hey Stanton." Vanessa stood on her tippy-toes to see him and waved. Stanton waved back almost uneasily. Vanessa narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"So, you going to invite us in?" Catty asked, tone showing worry.

Serena shook herself back into reality. "Of course." she said, stepping aside for the two girls to enter. They did so and Serena closed the door behind them.

"Is everything okay Serena?" Catty asked, stopping by Serena's side.

Serena hesitated for a moment, weighing to good and the bad about telling the others. Finally, she shook her head. Maybe this was something all of them had to handle together. It couldn't be a medical thing. Stanton was immortal. For all they knew the Atrox could be involved.

She walked over to Stanton and grabbed his hand, then she nudged her head towards the stairs. "We can go up to my room. You two can gather everything you need and I'll tell you."

Catty tilted her head slightly. Vanessa had already started towards the stairs, her blonde curls bouncing as she made her way up.

Stanton seemed very confused, yet he followed curiously and willingly.

Moments later they were all in Serena's room. Catty walked right to the vanity and grabbed Serena's henna paint. Vanessa sat on the bed and Serena led Stanton to her chair, urging him to sit.

"Okay…so, what's up?" Vanessa asked attentively as Catty began drawing a butterfly on her ankle.

"Stanton's lost his memory." she stated blatantly.

Vanessa narrowed her eyes and Catty soon followed her gaze.

Serena's fell on Stanton. He looked up at her in a perplexed state.

"He…remembers me…and I think that's it…"

Stanton parted his lips to speak and did so, though leisurely. "That's not true." He paused and it seemed as if he were trying to recall. "I remember…a castle? And a goddess…"

Vanessa's attention was caught. She gasped lightly. Of all things for Stanton to recall… "Do you remember the goddess' name?" Stanton simply shook his head. Vanessa relaxed her muscles.

"You remember your past, Stanton?" Catty asked, eyes never detaching from her work.
"Vaguely."

Serena sighed. "I don't know…this happened so suddenly…"

"What exactly…am I?"

Catty jumped slightly at the question as if afraid it would come.

"You…are the Prince of Night…" Serena choked out. Stanton simply gave her a questioning look.

"That sounds like a powerful title." he said with curiosity.

"Y-yes…"

"Special powers really do exist then…"

Serena nodded leisurely.

Stanton's gaze drew to the many clocks aligned near Serena's wall. They didn't seemed to bother him, they just brought curiousness to his eyes.

Vanessa shook her head, trying to grasp the whole situation. "When did this start?"

Thank the heavens for Vanessa's timing. Had she waited any longer, Stanton would have spoken about the clocks. "This morning." she said promptly before Stanton could speak. She didn't know if she could bare to answer the question he concocted in his mind. "He got a headache and he said it was the first time it'd happened. And then he fell asleep…he woke up. I thought he was joking at first when he didn't remember he even came here this morning for breakfast." Serena paused, taking a moment. She recalled the beautiful morning they shared. And now…he seemed different. Like an endless void or a lost puppy even. He was normally so strong…his disposition was usually one to admire. Not that she loved him any less.

"You think maybe the Atrox got to him? Found you out? Now they're trying to erase his memory with you?" Catty suggested, rubbing a bit of solution over her work.

"The thought didn't even cross my mind." Serena admitted. "I think it's because that just doesn't make sense."

"Because then why would he only have memories of you and his past?" Vanessa understood.

"Exactly."

"What about probing his mind?" Vanessa suggested.

Serena reflected on the idea. "I haven't thought of that, actually…"

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

Serena concentrated, attempting to push into Stanton's mind. His barriers were up. Something was blocking it. And it was the work of what seemed like magic.

Serena pulled out, shaking her head. "His thoughts are heavily guarded by something." she explained. The thought of asking Stanton if he had any barriers up seemed silly. They were definitely not his. She could tell.

Catty finished and studied her design. She gazed up to Vanessa for her opinions.

Vanessa nodded curtly. "Perfect."

Serena sighed, slipping her arms around Stanton's neck from behind. He'd surprised her when his hands strayed up to her forearms, stroking the length of them lovingly. He'd remembered their love… it was almost overwhelming.

Catty's eyes seemed to soften when she passed them to set the paint back on Serena's vanity. A new look of perception crossed her features as her and Serena shared a glance. What was once unease was now nearly complete understanding.

"So…" Serena started, trying to break the silence caused by what seemed like everybody in thought. "Is that all you guys needed?"

Catty shook her head. She pointed to Serena's boots. Serena looked up at Catty's brown shorts and shirt with a gray fuzz collar. They matched perfectly. "May I borrow?"

Serena smiled mock-reluctantly. She slipped them off and kicked them in Catty's direction. Catty removed her black sandals. And slipped them on.

Stanton appeared in thought. "I…love you, Serena." He said as more of a suggestion. Serena nodded. "And…I've said so?" She nodded again. "Good." he finished, still pensive as if he were trying to solve this himself without knowledge of the situation. Serena's heart skipped a beat at the words. Something in him still knew everything. The part of him he'd always wanted to show more seemed to be doing so. Serena truly admired his courage and determination. Even in such a state.

Vanessa smiled as if she were seeing just what Serena had seen in him. Though that was probably one of the only times she would do so, Serena savored the moment. Her friends' full support was what she'd always wanted and now she seemed to have it.

Catty appeared as if she were coming on to something. She seemed to be looking for words to describe just what she was thinking. "What…does everything he remembers have in common?" she asked, trying to get suggestions.

Serena thought. "Me…and his past with Vanessa and his castle?"

"They're…" Stanton seemed to be searching for words. But his memory seemed to blank out again. His breath seemed lost to him as he struggled in an debate that seemed inward. The three goddesses watched him intently and cautiously, awaiting the rest of his thought. Serena stepped around him and kneeled in front of him. Suddenly, though, Stanton fell forward. Serena caught him and he went limp in her arms.

Catty and Vanessa rushed to her side and Serena struggled slightly with his weight. She three of them managed hold of him long enough to get him to lay down on Serena's bed.

"This isn't safe, we can't leave you two alone." Catty began with the shake of her head. "Vanessa, forget about seeing that movie with the guys."

Vanessa nodded. "I figured as much."

"I'm sorry girls…" Serena apologized. She hated feeling as if she'd intruded on their plans. Yet, they seemed like they had their minds made up.

"Serena…you know we wouldn't leave you hanging. Not even Stanton." Catty insisted with the rub of Serena's shoulder. Serena smiled sincerely in thanks.

"In omnia paratus." Vanessa insisted. In Latin, Serena recognized it as meaning 'Ready for anything'.

Serena's eyes shifted to Vanessa who simply smiled at her. "In perpetuum" she said, meaning 'forever'. Her hand trailed to Stanton's. She grabbed it and squeezed it lightly. "I can't thank you guys enough."

"Hey." Catty teased. "If you won't take it for an answer that we did this out of friendship I'm just gonna say it's our job to protect the innocent. Even if it is Stanton…and he's not so innocent." she said, shaking her head playfully at Serena. Serena rolled her eyes back, just as good-naturedly.

Vanessa picked up the phone and punched in her own number. Serena could tell by the rhythm of the beeps. "Hey, mom? Yeah…remember when you said if I ever needed you, call? You'd come pick me up, no questions asked?"

Serena waited. Vanessa and Catty walked? She guessed they were all about to spend the night at Vanessa's. She was right, though. It would be a lot easier. Catty beamed happily.

"M hm…we're all at Serena's house…"