Chapter One

Lily

Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimer applies. (In other words I have no rights to SM or the SS in any way, shape, or form.) However this story line is mine.

Warning: Profane language, violence, sexual content and blood, gore, vampires, werewolves and all the good stuff. M-rated.

Double Warning: Bad writing involved

Serena stared out the large glass windows that overlooked the runway of the airport. It was past midnight, but the light of the full moon showed the hangars, which held the planes that weren't flying, and highlighted the various vehicles that seemed to slumber until awakened by one of the planes landing. She sighed, feeling tired.

Lily's plane was due to arrive at any time, and Serena had stayed up, just to greet her friend the moment she reached the lobby of the airport. The reflection in the window showed Serena that she still looked rather pretty. She had dropped the pigtails so that she could move about in public without being swarmed by people who wanted her autograph.

Her blond hair hung lightly in waves down her back to her thighs, where it ended in a slight curl. Her hair was arranged around her face in such a way that it looked like she was surrounded by a golden aura. She had spent an hour earlier debating over the advantages and disadvantages between a pair of jeans or a skirt, and had finally settled on a pair of dark blue dress slacks. She had decided to wear a white tank top and draped a pale blue dress shirt over it, to hang open to her waist, where she had tied it into a knot. She had liked the result, classy yet comfortable, but at the moment she wondered if it was too much.

Flaring red and white lights drew her attention back to the world beyond the window. Two ambulances and a fire-truck had pulled up next to the runway and sat waiting as a large plane touched down. People in the lobby gathered around Serena to watch as a flurry of movement came from the airplane and a inflatable yellow ramp appeared. Several people slid down it, holding something between them, then hurried to the awaiting ambulances. Finally, other people began to leave the plane in the same fashion, in groups of two or three.

Serena knew that the plane was Lily's and hurried to the escalators that lead to the bottom floor. As she hit the bottom floor, the first people from the plane filed in through the doors, looking pale and drawn. Serena waded through the crowd looking for one face in particular.

She ended up standing at the doors watching the people who entered the airport. After a while, the stream of people flowed to a trickle, then stopped completely. There were greetings shouted and a loud rumble began to rise around her as she went back through the crowd wondering if maybe she had somehow missed her friend.

But Lily wasn't there. Serena frowned and started to cut a path through the people to the front of the building where Raye's new jeep sat waiting. The voices around her were hushed and some people were crying, but Serena feeling slightly angered strode past them without looking.

She glanced around for Raye's jeep when she entered the parking lot and wondered why Lily had duped her. She had been looking forward to Lily's coming since she had gotten Lily's first letter. Though Serena knew that talking to Lily about Nikolai or Korin would have been out of the question. She wasn't sure that Lily would have believed her, and she definitely didn't want to have to prove it to her. That could mean going to Nikolai.

Serena climbed into the jeep and started it. She sat for a moment, her hands on the steering wheel as she stared at the people coming from the building. Then she shifted into gear and pulled out of the parking lot heading for the palace.

Darien watched as Serena strode straight through the great hall and up the grand staircase to the second floor. She was upset, and from the fact that she didn't have anyone with her, Darien was worried. He followed her to her room, where she entered and slammed the door, apparently not aware that he was right behind her.

He paused at the door, listening, but heard no sounds inside and tapped lightly on it. After a few seconds, Serena opened the door. Her face was tinted scarlet, and her soft blue eyes were shining with unshed tears.

"What do you want?" She snapped, frowning at him. Darien, taken aback, said nothing and she started to close her door.

"Wait!" Darien stated, placing a foot in the jam before she could completely close it. Serena stared up at him, her usually smiling face showing nothing but anger. "What happened?" Darien asked, genuinely concerned.

She shook her head and shrugged. "Nothing. She wasn't on the plane." She started to close the door again.

"But she called from the halfway point just before the flight to here. If I remember correctly, she hung up on you to catch the plane." Darien said, not moving his foot.

"Well, apparently she didn't catch it in time." Serena stated coldly.

"Wouldn't she have called to let you know? I mean she did know where the phone booths were." He saw something spark in her face, but before he could name the emotion it was gone.

"Go away, Darien." She growled as her phone rang. She turned and stared into her room with a scowl.

"It might be her." Darien said, feeling relieved.

Serena grabbed her phone. "Hello…" She paused listening intently, tears started to brim in her eyes as she listened to the voice on the other end. She took a deep breath. "I understand… Yeah… I'll be right there… That's fine… Bye." She placed the receiver in its cradle and turned to Darien, who was staring at her, feeling anxious.

She took another deep breath, as if steadying herself. "That was the police chief. They took a body off of Lily's flight. He wants me to come identify it, says that the identification stated that it was Lily Smith." She shuddered slightly, and then her face went blank. "He said not to be too freaked if I see more of the body than I'm supposed to. He said her stomach has been ripped open."

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