Chapter 21: Buzzing Excitement
A few minutes passed before Serena finally got tired of thinking of Mr. Alva's body guards as Mr. Big scary one and Mr. Big scary two, so she cleared her throat to clear the tense air between them...
" So... What are your names?" Serena asked.
"My name is Damion." Damion said smiling.
Damion had blond hair, but she couldn't see his or his partners eyes because they wore thick black sunglasses.
" My name is Nathan." Nathan said with a warm smile.
Nathan had black hair.
" Damion and Nathan. It's nice to officially meet both of you." Serena said smiling.
Both smiled in turn before putting thier tough guy masks on and escorting Serena and Hotstreak I to the boutique. Hotstreak was beyond uncomfortable looking at all the penguin suits but Serena couldn't be more excited, some of the gowns looked like they had real gold woven into the fabrics! But the prices were outrageous! Distraught, Serena turned flustered and shook her head at Damion, who was currently eyeing the gowns to see which ones would be most flattering on her patite figure. Nathan was having fun dragging Hotstreak from shelf to shelf, gathering tuxedos for him to try on, obviously enjoying his discomfort.
" I can't expect Mr. Alva to spend this much on me!" Serena exclaimed, "These are way too exspensive!"
" Mr. Alva insisted... And you don't throw his extravagant gifts in his face... It's not polite." Damion said kindly, " Besides, if you can restore his son to him, it's worth ten times your weight in gold "
" I'm nervous though..." Serena said softly, " I was in a trance when I healed everyone the day that gas was set off... I don't know how I did it... I wasn't even aware that I had those abilities!"
"Calm down..." Damion said, placing a calming hand on her shoulder, " I saw you on the news that day, it was like some dormant instinct took over you... Your clothes even changed to something otherworldly that day, so you may be from somewhere else entirely... Could that be possible?"
" I don't know..." Serena said worriedly, " I know someone tried to kill me in the past... But I don't know why...
The two walked in silence for a while as they continued to casually browse the selection of ball gowns... In the end, they picked a turquoise blue one with silver threads going all through the shear silk material. It had see through bell sleeves and came with a pair of matching leather sandals. They also chose one in burgundy with black roses and a light green chiffon dress with a velvet bodice that flared out at the bottom and silk bell sleeves with a cape pooling down the back. They were about to check out, when Damion spotted a gorgeous white gown with gold roses and silver threads going through out the fabric. He quickly picked it up and placed it in Serena's arms...
" I figured you'd love this one..." Damion said warmly, " And who knows... Maybe one day soon you'll be wearing it for you and Hot head's wedding day... He adores you, you realize that, right?"
Serena's blush was plenty answer enough and he grinned as they silently made thier way to the checkout counter. After Damion paid for Serena's purchases, he gave her a gentle push towards the changing rooms, suggesting she wear the white gown now... Serena blushed as she walked towards the changing rooms, wondering what Hotstreak would think of her new gowns, especially the one that could pass as a wedding dress... She decided on the pretty dark red gown with the gold roses and threads through it for tonight instead... The white one, she would save for the ball... Meanwhile, Hotstreak was the first one out of the changing rooms in a white tuxedo with a wine red silk shirt underneath. He had to admit, the red went nicely with the stark white silk suit. It was very comfortable to wear as well.
" Hey, Nathan, what do you think?!" Hotstreak said grinning, " Pretty cool huh?!"
But Nathan was quite tongue tied at the moment. Frustrated because he didn't answer him, Hotstreak cleared his throat in agitation, but once again failed to gain the bodyguards attention...
" Hey, what's with you man?" Hotstreak asked angrily.
All Nathan could do was point in the direction of the women's changing rooms, and it didn't take long for Hotstreak to notice exactly what... Or in this case, who Nathan was staring at... Serena was a vision in a dark red gown of satin, shimmering gold roses woven across the bodice, the Vines and tiny leaves spiraling down the gown's full skirt... God she was gorgeous! And Hotstreak was beyond speechless... The sales woman had also insuinsion throwing in several different shades of corals, pinks and red shades of sheer lipsticks and eyeshadow pallettes to compliment all the gowns Serena had picked out. She had a pretty shade of garnet red lipstick on, just enough to give her lips a red tint and had shimmering gold eyeshadow on... With the light touch of makeup, her natural beauty shone ten fold as she elegantly glided across the rich black lenolium floor of the boutique...
" Um..." Serena said blushing nervously, " Do I look alright?"
After Nathan came to his senses, he slapped Hotstreak in the head to snap him out of his stupor and cleared his throat impatiently.
" Wow..." Hotstreak breathed, unable to say anything else...
Serena blushed a lovely natural rose in return as they were both escorted back to the waiting limo and finished the rest of thier journey to Mr. Alva's mansion... When they got there, Damion got out and went around the car to open Serena's door for her, thankful that she was too awestruck by Alva's mansion to open the door herself. You see, since Mr. Alva had taken an interest in her healing powers, Serena was now exponentially a target for ransom by Mr. Alva's many enemies. Especially for ransom... She was literally worth billions of dollars, which is why Mr. Alva had already paid her so much money, because of the serious risks there were to being an employee of such extreme importance. Damion and his brother Nathan were both quite enraged when Mr. Alva demanded they be Serena's bodyguards in secret and didn't want to disclose the potential danger she would be in by excepting his job proposition.
So now, he and Nathan were both her bodyguards in a blood oath. Meaning that if they were forced to make a decision between thier lives and hers, it would be thier lives forfeit...
" Thank you." Serena said softly as she got out and stretched her slim figure gracefully.
" My pleasure." Damion said warmly, " I must inform you though, that Mr. Alva is not at all happy with our extra surprise guest mind you..."
" Tough shit!" Hotstreak ground out from his side angrily, " I'm the only one she even knows in this place... I'm not going to just sit back and let her waltz into a room full of strangers!"
" Fine..." Damion growled in a warning tone, " But please mind your manners!"
The threat was obvious in Damion's dark tone of voice. Hotstreak grudgingly agreed for Serena's sake and the all made thier way up the grand staircase to the front of the dark, foreboding structure that was Mr. Alva's home and entered, Serena and Hotstreak first with Nathan and Damion close behind...
" Our guest of honor has arrived." Damion announced in a loud booming voice, " Ms. Serena..."
Damion and Nathan both blocked Hotstreak's way so that Serena could make her way down the stairs as the whispers of many many people filled the humungus Ball room...
' I wonder if this is what the ball will be like as well..." Serena thought to herself as she gulped nervously.
" Ah, my dear..." Mr. Alva said as he stood and glided smoothly across the room to her, " Welcome. You'll be sitting at the head of the dinner table as my guest of honor."
Hotstreak watched with rising anger as he was pointedly ignored as Alva swept Serena to her destined seat, and began introducing her to everyone. He was just about to throw a fireball at him when Damion's big hand landed like an anvil on his shoulder...
" Don't even think about it, Hotstreak..." Damion warned, " You don't want to scare your girlfriend, do you?"
Hotstreak sighed in defeat as Damion and Nathan half dragged him all the way to the other end of the twenty five foot long dining table and pushed him into his chair before each took thier seat beside him, blocking him in... Hotstreak continued to grumble under his breath as Mr. Alva began his introductions.
" Serena, these two young men are in charge of my son's return... Mr. Specks and Mr. Trapper... I expect with your kindness and generosity, you three should get along splindedly together..." Mr. Alva said smiling, " They are my most prized scientists..."
" It's very nice to meet you both..." Serena said as she shook thier hands," But Mr. Alva, I'm not a scientist! I'm terrible at science..."
" Oh my dear..." Mr. Trapper said placing his arm smoothly around Serena's shoulders and inhaling her unique scent, "There's no need to worry... My partner and I will be thrilled to teach you a thing or two..."
Serena blushed and shot a worried look to Hotstreak, who was visibly becoming angry enough to set something... Or someone on fire...
" It'd be interesting to learn how scientists work..." Serena said softly.
"You certainly are lovely..." Mr. Specks said as took her hand and kissed it, making Serena blushed even redder, " So, what unique abilities do you have to gain our boss's attention?"
" Um... I suppose I have unique healing abilities..." Serena said softly.
" Wow! That is incredible!" Mr. Specks said smiling warmly, " We could use your abilities..."
Serena blushed as she was pulled into thier conversation and Mr. Alva allowed them to sit on each side of Serena, but he was still in close proximity as well. Dinner was definitely delicious... They had an apitizer of cheese and lobster stuffed mushrooms, followed by ceasar salad with homemade dressing and fresh parmasan cheese and white cheddar crusted chicken breasts for the main course. For desert, Mr. Alva had had his chefs prepare an array of deserts, from cakes and pastries to pies and other confections such as homemade candies and cookies... There were chocolates of every flavor as well... Despite being horribly nervous around the two young men that insisted on escorting her wherever she went, Serena began to relax a little bit and slowly began letting her guard down... Other than Mr. Specks and Mr. Trapper, which were very unusual names, Serena wasn't really having a good time... Most of the people Mr. Alva was introducing her to, weren't very polite and seemed quite snobbish as they looked down they're noses at her... On more then one occasion, Serena was asked about her family and friends and every time, she politely told them of the few friends she'd made since Ms. Hawkins had invited her to come home with her when she still lived in Tokyo, Japan.
" My my..." Ms. Natasha said snobbily, " Why on earth would a lovely little lady such as yourself, wish to socialize with people like them?! It just doesn't seem decent!"
" I beg your pardon?!" Serena demanded calmly, " Like what exactly? How can I possibly stand to invited in as one of their family? I'm very thankful to Ms. Hawkins and her family for all that they have done for me! Despite what you and basically everyone else here thinks, money isn't everything! The only reason I'm even here right now, is to do whatever I possibly can to help Mr. Alva's son recover! I've already tried everything to get him to take back the money and the gifts, but he refuses!"
Serena was on her feet right now, her aura and bright shining silvery gold shining around her, that, along with the flush of her anger and outrage, was enough to make appear as if she were a goddess... Even in her anger though, her power was a warm caress, subconsciously healing some of the people present who had aches and pains such as arthritis or bruises from being careless...
One woman had been in a terrible car accident a few weeks ago and suffered from two broken legs and three shattered disks in her spine, she was told she'd never walk again... She, in particular, began glowing brighter and brighter, while Serena raged on, nearly on the verge of tears because of how Natasha had said such mean things about her new family... Natasha was completely awestruck, as by now, Serena's power was an incredible vortex of healing, reaching out and engulfing any and all within range that had any ailments or afflictions... Serena, herself, was in a trance like state, now eerily silent, as her normally stormy blue eyes, glowed an irredecent silvery blue...
Then suddenly, in another burst of blinding light, Serena was gone, and everyone with a ten mile radius, who was injured or in pain, was completely healed...
The channel twelve news was there documenting the entire event, so everything was captured on live video...