Disclaimer: I don't own Daughters of the Moon

Authors note: For those who don't understand, this story is after book 5. This is as if book 6-12 never took place. In book 5, a Regulator found out about Serena and Stanton and he shot two bolts of lightning at Catty. She dodged one but the other struck her and all that remained was nothing.

Forever

Chapter 2

Vanessa sat in her room, peeling the dull paint off the wall. Her world was nothing, her life felt as if it were nothing. How could she not be here? How could she not? Catty was her best friend, her best friend. She was, whether she knew it or not, the glue that held Vanessa together. She smiled a little remembering their friendship; everyone would probably agree Catty was always getting her into trouble, making her surpass her fears and go the step beyond.

"Vanessa!" the voice screamed out to her from somewhere in the pits of darkness. "Catty?" Vanessa screamed back, her friend was dying and she could feel it, she had to save her. She was answered by an ear-shattering scream. Vanessa's heartbeat was thumping against her chest, she wanted to move, save Catty but her legs felt like weights. Her throat was dry and creaky, soon she was gasping for air. Catty was gone. She couldn't tell how she knew, but suddenly she knew. The darkness tumbled around her, reaching, slithering towards her. "No!" she wanted to scream but nothing came out, she wanted to faint. Icy sweat broke out on her forehead, no. She forced herself to think, no, you're strong. She felt her prayer leave her lips, "Tu es dea, filia lunae". But it was useless, she was useless. Catty was gone, because of her. And now she would die, die…

Strong hands ripped her into reality, her hair was drenched in sweat and she was shaking uncontrollably. Cold eyes were glaring at her, "What we're you thinking?" the person said in a shaky voice, obviously trying to control their anger. She knew that voice. "Stanton?" she asked, he tightened his already iron grip.

"You we're giving in, into the Atrox," he sneered

"I-I, dreaming?" she mumbled nonsense but he seemed to understand

"You we're being attacked in your dream, and you were giving up," he stressed

"I didn't mean to," she whispered, "I just, Catty…" she didn't have to finish; she knew he was also feeling responsible. He hadn't really cared about Catty but when the regulator zapped her and killed her, Serena, Stanton's love, blamed him.

"You thought because you couldn't save Catty you were weak, useless," he finished and she nodded, he let go of her but his voice then grew angry, "Well if you keep with that attitude you will be"

"Oh come on," Vanessa moaned and stood up, tears welling up in her eyes, she paced and then stopped at her window. The moon was out, barely. "Like I don't know what they're saying about me? What everyone thinks?" Stanton cocked an eyebrow and she felt a twinge of anger at him for acting as if he didn't know. She pointed off at nothing then mimicked people's voices, "Oh, there goes Vanessa, you want a sure-in to defeat the daughters? Well, easy, talk to her! She trusts everybody!" she went on pleadingly, "I'm so stupid, from day one all the others have had to save my butt!"

He rolled his eyes, "Puh-lease, you're overreacting"

"Really? Okay let's count," she started naming people with her fingers, "When I first met Serena and Jimena they had to save me from Cassandra, Tymmie, and Karyl, oh yeah you saved me that night, too. When Catty found the scroll, who was her worst enemy? Oh yeah! Toby, my boyfriend"

"Now that doesn't count," Stanton crossed his arms, "You we're under mind control"

"Only partly," Vanessa reminded him.

"Okay so we had to save you once and a half, so what? Look, I wouldn't be telling you this-"

"That's another point!" she interrupted, "I shouldn't even be listening to you! But no, I'm always willing to trust, always willing to be nice, manipulated. I always trusted you, even with Serena even though…" she trailed off

"I'm a shadow," he finished for her

"No, a member of the inner circle, not just a shadow"

"That's because I can't betray you," he shrugged, "the reason you trust me is because I can't betray you"

"No, it's because I trust everyone," she shook her head, "I would have given in to the Atrox tonight, if you hadn't stopped me, saved me once again"

"So what?"

"So what is everyone is always saving me, and when they need me, I can't manage to save them," she shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes

"You are a goddess," he said with no hint of comfort, not that she was expecting any from him, "Use it"

"Use it?" she repeated confused, was he referring to her power to turn invisible?

"Use it," he repeated once again with more force, "Use it to fight. Remember her death; don't let it be in vein. She died, she was murdered. Another victim to fall to the hands of the Atrox, don't let another be taken"

"Use it," she nodded finally understanding but she was struck by a thought, "Why are you helping me? Why did you save me? You're in the inner circle".

He didn't answer instead he picked up her red velvet pillow, the one that said goddess in gold letters, the one he gave her. Had it really only been 6 months ago? She didn't need him to answer her question of why he was helping her, she knew the answer. They had a connection, they understood each other, and he had shown her that with the pillow. He couldn't betray her because when he tried to kill her by trapping her in his memories, she had tried to save him. Her act of kindness was a seal, a promise, now he was in debt to her, forever. But the connection she was referring to wasn't the debt. In Stanton's odd way, she believed, she was his friend. They just knew each other. It wasn't like what him and Serena had or what her and Michael had, it was simply a friendship. She knew he knew it too.

There was a light knock on the door and her mothers voice called out from behind it, "Vanessa sweaty? Are you okay?"

"Yes mom," Vanessa looked back to her bed but it was empty. Stanton was gone again and all that was left was her pillow.

Authors note: Okay any other Vanessa and Stanton fans besides me? If your not reread the first book, I want them to get together but if y'all are going to bash it I won't so tell me what y'all think in reviews.