5

The next days were filled with the training of Kerissa's powers. Marissa had had control over her power for years, and the other Daughters had had plenty of practice, so Kerissa was the only one who was truly training. She spent the most time with Serena or Marissa, considering that those were the powers that she could already work with. She especially enjoyed the lessons with Serena. Occasionally, Stanton would join them, and coach her in how to control the Follower powers she had picked up. He seemed concerned, which was sweet, but not necessary. The Follower powers were very similar to Serena's, which, after a day or two, she had honed nearly as well as Serena herself. She seemed to naturally gravitate to mind powers. She had more trouble with Marissa's ability. Since she had begun practicing, plants had begun to, at the oddest times, begin to move towards her. Once, she had been eating at Johnny Rockets, near a potted plant. Halfway through her burger, she had practically strangled by the plant, as it attempted to "hug her". Thankfully, Marissa had been nearby and had reached her a matter of seconds after her frantic mind-call. Kerissa's school life was the same as always. The one thing missing from her life was Alex. She hadn't seen him since that night outside of Tianna's apartment. She had received a hastily scrawled note explaining that he'd had to leave LA for awhile, and that he'd see her soon, but there had been no return address or postage stamp of any kind.

One day, while practicing with Stanton in Serena's living room (Serena had disappeared into the kitchen to bake chocolate chip cookies) Kerissa began to feel slightly odd. Actually, more than slightly. The world grew blurry before her eyes. She felt the sudden urge to let go. Not like Vanessa, becoming invisible, this was a foreign impulse, and yet her gut told her, with every fiber of her being, that she wouldn't, couldn't give in.

She swayed on her feet, and Stanton caught her before she hit the floor. His piercing blue eyes searched her face, and his mind threaded into hers, searching.

What is it? Are you okay? She sensed an edge of worry in his voice.

Yeah… fine… she mumbled. He tried searching her memory, to find out what had happened, but she blocked him.

You're getting too good at this. He frowned, are you sure you're okay?

Yeah… I'm fine… she repeated.

He helped her to her feet, and they continued the lesson. However, after only ten minutes, she felt the pressure back, stronger than ever, forcing her to the floor. She recoiled, and managed to stay upright, while shielding herself from Stanton.

The pressure began to ease up, and she breathed easily. Suddenly, it was back, slamming into her, knocking the breath from her body. Her body crumpled, and her mind, invaded by something alien, surrendered. Before Stanton could catch her, or she could regain control, she slipped into shadow. She barely managed a terrified scream, before she lost control of her voice. She was shadow.

Serena ran into the room at the sound of her scream. She couldn't see Kerissa, she could only see Stanton. "What happened? Where's Kerissa?" panicked Serena.

Kerissa tried to open her mouth, to tell Serena that she was fine, but nothing came out. Her vocal chords were no longer under her control. Her body squirmed, gliding over the light, stretching. Her shadowy form whisked around Stanton. Stop it! She told herself, stop!

Her body didn't listen, but instead continued its shadowy caress around Stanton, who pushed her away, and formed some sort of barrier around her. He was breathing heavily.

"Where's Kerissa?" Serena screamed, unaware of this silent exchange. "Have you done something to her?"

"No," Stanton answered, "she's here."

"Where?"

"Right there." Stanton pointed at the shadow that was Kerissa. "She's right there. Look closely."

Serena squinted, then her eyes widened. "She's in shadow form?" she asked Stanton, before remembering that Kerissa was in the room.

You're in shadow form? Serena sounded disbelieving. How?

I don't know… I was practicing with Stanton… it was like this overwhelming force, demanding me to give in. I didn't know what it was.

And you gave in? Demanded Serena and Stanton in unison.

No. I fought it and it eased up. I thought everything was returning to normal, and suddenly it was back, five times stronger, and it invaded my mind and body before I could fight back.

What does this mean? Serena asked Stanton. The silence was long and deep.

I don't know, Stanton said, finally. Only immortals can take shadow form. I guess its possible that you 'mimicked' my power, but I'd have thought that you'd know… didn't you say that you knew when you were 'mimicking' a power? The last question was directed towards Kerissa.

Yes, she bristled, indignantly, I do know. And I wasn't mimicking. That was something completely foreign. Something with a mind of its own.

That can get inside your mind. Therefore, someone you know. Who have you communicated telepathically with besides Serena or me? Stanton asked.

Kerissa thought a minute. No one, she said, finally.

Serena sighed. We'll figure this out later. In the meantime, she turned to Stanton, can you force her out of shadow form and put a block on her mind?

I think so. I can definitely do the mind-block, but she won't be able to practice.

That's fine. Kerissa's plenty good anyways.

Stanton concentrated. Stay still, he told Kerissa, this might hurt a little.

Kerissa obliged, and didn't even move a muscle as the agony built.

Suddenly, she was back in her human form. She ran her hands over her face, relieved to find that her nose was still there. Actually, relieved to be solid at all. She wouldn't have cared if she hadn't had a nose. Well, she wouldn't have cared much.

"Thank you!" Kerissa yelled, giving Stanton a hug. Suddenly she realized that hugging another girl's boyfriend wasn't polite. "Sorry, Serena."

"It's okay," Serena said, relieved. "Group hug!"

Kerissa soon found herself the Kerissa in the middle of the Kerissa-Sandwich created.

Several days elapsed. This time, she was with Stanton and Serena again. And Wally, the raccoon, who was seated in her lap, munching on his much-loved grapes.

They were discussing powers in general, for, although they were both mind-readers, both knew much about other's powers from reading minds, or, in Stanton's case, fighting Daughters for centuries. It was kind of like an advice-lesson thing. And it gave Serena and Stanton an extra excuse to see each other, so Kerissa would slip out of the room every hour for fifteen minute periods, and re-enter, making very loud noises, so as to warn them of her approach.

Right now, they were discussing Natural Magic, the word given to the power that controls nature, such as Marissa's magic. Marissa's magic, Tianna guessed, would extend to animals, once she had fully harnessed the use of her plant magic. Which, according to Tianna, could be any day now.

Suddenly, that peculiar feeling returned. The feeling of someone wanting her mind and body. It was as if seeing her body from afar, and watching someone else struggle into her body and mind.

This time, she prepared for an assault on her body. She was not going to change into a shadow again. She was not.

The attack, unlike the last one, descended down upon her mind. Shoving images into her head, forcing her to watch.

She blacked out.

Images swam before her eyelids. Swirling, streaming, creating a whirl-pool. One image was clear above the others. She stood in front of a fire, the flames whipping blue and black and orange. A circle of people stood around her, but she couldn't see them clearly. She saw only the fire, and the people standing beyond.

One was Alex. Save us, he whispered, pitifully. You must step through the fire to free us.

NO! Stanton yelled, from beyond Alex. You mustn't!

No, don't! Don't Kerissa! screamed her sister, Serena, and the Daughters.

Save us… save us… step through the fire and save us…

Lecta, Lecta, Lecta… chanted the onlookers.

Kerissa stepped into the frozen fire, intent on freeing her friends. At the center of the fire, she stood, as if rooted to the spot. The fire licked at her skin, creating frosty patterns, and ancient designs. It felt so good, so wicked….

Kerissa jerked awake, sitting up quickly, which made her head pound, and sent Wally scurrying off her lap. As her head came up, it met Stanton's and Serena's, who were bending over her anxiously.

"What was it?" Serena asked.

Kerissa repeated her vision.

"The Cold Fire." Stanton whispered.

"O, Mater Luna, Regina Nocis, Audivo me nunc." Serena prayed.

"What is a Cold Fire?" Kerissa wondered aloud.

"The Cold Fire bestows Immortality on the Followers," Stanton answered, "but you must pay a price: your soul. Your goodness."

"You are a Lecta, Kerissa. The Atrox wants you. You must fight…"

"Or?"

"Or the world as we know it will perish." Serena stated flatly.