Serena stared thoughtfully out of the car window as they zoomed down an abandoned street. Dawn was still young and the sun had yet to grace the clear, azure skies. She shifted her white and red gym shoes nervously, her hands clutching the knees of her jeans. The leather interior was coarse and uncomfortable, and the hood of the car barricaded her.
"Can we let the hood down?"
"Yeah", Adonis agreed from the rear. "Can we let the hood down?"
Stanton's forehead creased from the driver's seat in exhaustion. She had apparently brought up an all too familiar argument. "Maybe later"
She and the children groaned and fell back against their seats in unison. Stanton gave a slight chuckle at this obvious display of restiveness and boredom. "Serena, do me a favor and at least try to act your age".
"I'm fourteen", she smirked at him, elated at his agitation. She blew a rather large pink bubble in his direction. He popped it with his finger and the gum exploded in her face. As the car busted with contagious fits of laughter, she groaned and started to pick at the sticky substance. Her fingers ran over her hair. She would never get it all out…
"It'll wash out", Stanton grinned.
"Whatever". She muttered, still annoyed at him for his deception the night before. A low moan arose from the back.
"I'm tired", Heaven complained.
"Well", Stanton reminded her. "That's what happens when you stay up all night".
"I went to sleep"
"For a good thirty minutes"
"Do I have to go to school?"
"Uh huh"
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"I'm tired"
"And this is where we started", Stanton sighed dryly and pulled into the school parking lot, stopped the car, and turned to face the back seat. "Here's your stop"
Heaven pouted and turned to her mother. "Mommy?"
Serena, still picking at the gum, just shrugged seeing that she had no experience in mothering a child. She hardly remembered her own mother. "I'll, er… buy you a sundae after school!"
Their eyes immediately lit up. "Okay!" Adonis closed the deal and grabbing his sister, they crawled out of the car. Stanton held up two folders.
"Don't forget your-"
SLAM
"… homework", he finished.
Serena couldn't help but to laugh at his obvious exasperation.
"Thanks, Serena", Stanton mumbled in a tone that expressed anything but gratitude.
She groaned and played with her fingernails. "What is it now?"
"They'll be asking for Dairy Queen every morning now. You can't spoil them"
"And why not? They're so cute!"
"You spend a week with them and tell me how cute they are"
She shrugged it off and brushed at the last bits of gum with a handkerchief. Pulling at the sleeves of her crayola red blouse, she turned to him. "So what are we gonna do now?"
He smirked and put the car back into drive. "We're going for a ride".
"WOO HOO!" Serena cried from the passenger seat as they raced down the highway, the hood down, wind in her crimson tresses. The sun was shining now, luminous and bright. It gave the feathery clouds a silver lining.
"Having fun?" he called from beside her. She was too busy enjoying the L. A breeze to answer. She felt wild and free having never done anything like this before. The traffic had started to get heavy and Stanton frowned.
"Put your seatbelt on"
"What?"
"I said put your seatbelt on"
"Why?" She furrowed her eyebrows. He didn't seem to be the most rule- abiding guy.
"Just do it"
"Okay", she mumbled, pulling the belt from its catch. "But I don't understa- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She gripped the seats tightly with her hands, her fingernails biting into the leather as Stanton went whizzing in and out of traffic. Frustrated screams and angry horns rose from the highway to form a raging chaos. He finally slowed down when he reached a less heavy road stretch. She was still screaming.
"AGH!" She finished before shoving him roughly in the shoulder. "ARE YOU CRAZY?"
"Maybe a little", he grinned impishly. "I take it you haven't met Jimena yet"
"You mean in the past?" Her expression grew melancholy. "No, I don't think so".
"We have to talk". Solemnity overtook playfulness and he averted his eyes to glance at her.
She nodded.
"How did you get here?"
She shrugged and crossed her arms. "I'm not sure. The woman from my dream-" She cut off in mid- sentence, remembering her last episode with Maggie.
He's a demon. A prince of the night.
She gasped. How could she have possibly forgotten something as significant as that? Did he have some type of mind control over her? Had he broken Maggie's spell? Was he really that strong?
"The woman from your dream? You mean Maggie?"
She swallowed hard. "Y- yeah"
"She sent you here?"
"Not purposely". She went on, more nervous than ever. "She made some mistake or something"
"Was she with anyone?"
"Jimena"
"Oh joy"
Why was she telling him all this? "Look", she began, unsure of just how to escape. "I have to go". He cocked an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, you have to go?"
"Exactly what it sounds like"
"So I'll go with you", he offered.
"No!" she exclaimed. "I mean, I want to be by myself"
"There's time for that later"
Panic started to build rapidly in her chest. She had to get out of this car. "Don't I have to work at my firm or something?"
"We work together", he grinned. "Getting tired of me?"
She smiled nervously. "A little"
"Too bad"
Her eyes darted from side to side. She could open the door and jump out. No. Stupid idea. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She had to stop thinking about what a stupid idea it was. Okay. New topic. She looked around her. Street signs. Trees. Taxi. Limo. Stanton. Sexy. Sexy Stanton. Doh!
"Deep in thought?"
She snapped out of her daze. "Um… yeah". An idea finally popped into her head. "I'm hungry"
He groaned. "You just had a muffin for breakfast"
She gave a forced smile. "You know me. Big appetite".
"Actually, you don't eat much. What are you up to?"
Her eyes widened. "Up to? Why would you say that?"
"Because", he started. "Whenever you're up to something your eyes glow a shade darker and you start to scratch your palms", he turned to her. "And you tap at your right temple".
"No, I don't", she glared back at him and dropped her right hand from her head immediately. Then before realizing what she was doing, she had attacked her palms with her fingernails.
"What did I tell you?"
She stopped to narrow her eyes at him. Damn… She couldn't help it if she had an itch…
"But if you're so hungry…"
"You'll do it?" She asked, shock in her voice.
He shrugged. "It must have been those dark emerald eyes".
She sat strumming her fingers nervously upon the pink and cream McDonald's table, a huge picture of Ronald smiling down on her. She sighed at his new black jacket and silver bling in place of his red and yellow jumper. Things sure had changed since the 00's. She looked up as Stanton sat a kids meal bag down on the counter.
"Welcome back", she beamed up at him and gave a wave, her elbows perched on the table top.
"There's your kids meal".
She nodded, satisfied and stuffed the bag hurriedly into her purse. This would last her for a day or so. She noticed him staring at her strangely.
"I have to go to the bathroom", she rose from the table. "Be right back"
He nodded, suspicion in his eyes. She felt them boring into her back as she strolled over the glossy McDonald's floor. "I'll be watching you".
She grimaced. Stalker… Walking to the bathroom area, she twisted the knob and pushed it open to meet a little less than happy Maggie and Jimena. Her eyes widened and she immediately slammed against the door.
"Maggie! Jimena! What are you doing here?"
Jimena's expression warped into a loathing glare. "What the hell do you think? I thought we told you to stay away from him"
"I forgot", Serena mumbled. "I mean, I am! I was trying to get away just now! That's why I came here!" She groaned realizing that she was making no sense whatsoever. Maggie crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.
"It's not that easy", she breathed. "Stanton's no idiot. If you escape, he's bound to find you". She took her by the sleeve. "Come on. If we play our cards right, we can drop you off somewhere else in this time". The portal started to open.
"Hold it!" Serena spun around to see Stanton strolling into the restroom, his eyes blazing. He tossed a Ronald toy up and down in his palm. "You forgot this". Serena gulped.
"Thanks…"
Maggie immediately switched from her usual calm demeanor into a battle stance. Jimena stepped forward, her fists ready, her eyes challenging. Stanton let the toy fall to the ground, his expression dark and menacing. Serena cocked an eyebrow. Just what the hell was going on?
"Stanton". Maggie addressed him. "What business do you have with her? Has she not completed her duty as a daughter of the moon?"
Stanton shook his head and gave her a dangerous smirk. "She's a dark goddess".
Maggie gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth. "It can't be"
Jimena came at Serena, fire in her eyes. "We can't let her do this". Maggie held her back.
"You're ten years too late", Stanton's smirk widened. He was enjoying this too much.
"Serena" Maggie turned to her. "Is this true?"
Confusion flooded her eyes. "No… I mean yes… I mean…" The hell would she know. She wasn't even sure of what a Dark Goddess was or a Goddess of the Moon for that matter.
"The key", Maggie whispered, her eyes entranced.
Stanton shook his head. "No, you don't understand. The Atrox has been defeated".
"What?" Maggie's head snapped up. "Then why are you still here?"
"I helped defeat it".
"Bullshit", Jimena cursed. The look in Maggie's eyes betrayed a similar emotion.
Stanton, ignoring her, went on. "Serena is a Dark Goddess, but she is not evil. She's discovered the beauty of the night".
"But", Maggie put a hand to her temples. "Why?"
"She wanted to remain with me and to keep our memories together. The other two choices didn't leave her that option".
Jimena scoffed. "Why would she want to be with a demonio like you?"
Maggie nodded. "According to the ancient scriptures, you are destined to be the Prince of Night".
"And I was"
"Serena-"
"Don't ask me"
Jimena started towards Stanton, her fists clenched. "I could take you"
An annoyed glint sparked through his eyes and the withheld rage from a decade long quarrel. "You wanna try?"
"Me siento afortunado. I'm feelin lucky"
Maggie's eyes widened. "Jimena, no!" she wrenched the girl away, but it was too late. A sheet of barren darkness fell over her eyes, her expression stiff and nonchalant.
"Jimena?" Maggie screamed and shook her about.
"What happened to her?" Serena stared in astonishment.
"She's too reckless" Stanton muttered. "She deserved it".
"Is she…" Serena trailed off, her eyes quivering.
"She's not dead", Stanton soothed her, his fingers entangled in her hair. She pushed him away. What was he? Some type of monster? Warlock? A vampire? The Prince of Night. It all made sense now.
"Stay away from me!"
"She's not dead", he begged again.
"Oh, then what is she? Alive?" She ran a hand in front of Jimena's unblinking eyes. "Because she's definitely not breathing, Stanton!"
"You're overreacting" He took her by the arms and she wrenched away.
"No" She was tired of his constant trickery and deceit. She was tired of the way he toyed with her as if she were nothing more than a pawn in his sick, twisted game. "Now this might be overreacting". With that said, she slapped him clear across the face and turned away.
"Come on!" Maggie pulled her and Jimena towards the opposite side of the bathroom. Leaving Serena to hold Jimena, she drew the feathery white wand from her pouch and scripted the same rune that she had the day before. A bright portal immediately formed in the center of the room.
"Serena!" Stanton pleaded. She turned back to him, a heavy emotion clawing at her chest. Guilt? After all, she wasn't exactly normal either. Having seen her read and manipulate others minds, wouldn't others think the same of her? She stared at the still Jimena. No. She didn't use her gift for evil.
"Serena", he begged again. She glanced at him for a split second and then with a toss of her red hair, she dove into the portal after Maggie and Jimena.
"Dammit!" Stanton cursed and stomped the Ronald toy to bits. It made a crunching sound as it smashed into the hard, damp floor. Sighing, he reached for the doorknob, pulled it open, and stormed out of the bathroom. When he was gone, a low chuckle arose from the last stall, a huge "OUT OF ORDER" sign marked upon the door in the darkest corner. Cold piercing eyes stared out from below its reaches. "Serena", a low voice hissed hungrily. "What a pleasant surprise".
HEY! This must be the longest I've taken to update! O.o I kind of rushed this chappy. Sorry if its obvious. This story is so hard. There are so many potholes that I have to watch out for its mind boggling O.o Anyhow, moving on:
REVIEW CORNER:
Demon Dea: Glad you thought they were funny lol I try to keep it that way…
Mini Sparky: Glad you love it! Sorry they aren't getting along so well anymore! But they will SOON! So its kewl!
Elephantsrocmysox: Yea, dude. Ur penname rocks! Someone made Serena forget that she wasn't supposed to see Stanton. They make her forget a lot of things. Can't tell you who yet!
Rainchild: (happily takes smiley face) THANKS! Lol Don't send dem fairy things after me! I'm updating now!
Shadowings: Glad you love it! I wouldn't hesitate either, Shado… but the dude on the book is kinda weird looking in my opinion. (covers her head as flames come sailing her way) SORRY! SORRY! SORRY!
Depressed- and- bored: Crazy? O.o Shes not goin crazy! Shes only responding as a lot of people would respond to her situation.
Keiko: KEIKO YOU PARTY POOPER! Have you read far enough to know about Pandia and the Dark Goddess thing? If not, sorry I just ruined it for you. If so, then what the hell are you talking about? Lol
Obsidianangel6: Thank you, me. For clearing Keiko's review up. (gives herself a pat on the back)
JinxedEver: Glad it could entertain you! You didn't want to read it at first? Was the summary THAT BAD? Damn jinxed ur making me look bad! (stabs her with the keyboard and looks around to make sure no one sees) Lol JK