Whoa! Got this up pretty fast!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Serena released a blood curling scream as she and Catty fell out of the swirling tunnel and landed smack against hard, grimy concrete. Serena's head shot up immediately to determine her surroundings. She knew enough now not to trust Catty's landings, as she had already made five mistakes. Her eyes traveled over shoddy brick apartments and huddles of gang bangers lining the streets. The sharp sounds of gunfire rang through out the night and she was sure that Catty had once again made the wrong stop. She turned to her, expecting to see the tunnel take form, but Catty only flashed a relieved smile.
"We made it!" she whooped. Serena shot her a scowl of confusion and watched as one of the thugs glanced up from his group to give her a peculiar look. She held her stare for a few seconds before turning back to Catty, her emerald eyes skeptical.
"Are you sure this is the right place? You didn't land us in South Central again did you?"
"Positive", Catty shook her head. "But you have to admit, that bullet freezing in midair like that was so cool".
Serena trembled at the frightening recollection before giving Catty a concealed smirk. It was cool now, but it hadn't been so "cool" when they both were screaming for dear life. "So where are we?"
"Jimena's" Catty muttered casually and led her over a dirt ridden welcome mat and into the shadows of an old apartment building. "You can stay here until we find your future self. Jimena is the most determined and experienced out of all of us. She won't let anyone hurt you, human or immortal".
Serena nodded as they halted in front of a dingy old elevator that looked as if it had been out of service for years. She sighed, leaning back against the walls. The charm that Stanton had given her, slithered over her neck like a silver serpent and she turned it towards her face to examine its beauty. The smooth, dark element felt warm and seemed to pulse underneath her fingertips. She squeezed it longingly and then slowly looked up to see Catty staring at her intently from inside the lift.
"Oh", Serena began. Letting the necklace slide back over her neck, she raced into the tiny space. "I was just-"
"It's okay", Catty assured her, but the look in her dark eyes revealed that something was obviously troubling her. They sat in dull silence, watching as the doors closed.
"Er", Serena started. "I'm sorry about what happened back there"
Catty just laughed. It sounded forced. "You mean at the house?"
Serena nodded and took hold of the wall bar as the lift started to travel up.
"You don't have to be", she explained. "It happens everyday. I just hope you used protection!" Her words were meant as a joke, but Serena couldn't help but to sense the tension in them.
"You know what I mean"
Catty turned to her, trying to mask her repulsion with a look of understanding. "Maggie told us how he withdrew from the dark side. It's all good". It was obviously not "all good" with her. She shifted nervously from one foot to another, her fingers pulling anxiously at the waist of her capris.
"Are you sure-"
"Totally", the brunette clarified, biting at her thumbnail. "I guess it's kind of cool in that Buffy/ Angel sort of way". She was staring pleadingly at the doors now as if begging them to open. When they did, she let out a deep breath and turned to Serena. Was it just her imagination or was there sympathy in her eyes? Guilt maybe? Well, whatever it was, it had vanished. They walked over to metal bars, blocking their way and Catty hastily pressed a button on the wall.
"Jimena!" she called into the speaker.
As Serena had expected, angry Spanish exploded in return and finally the sound of footsteps. Jimena eventually came into view and at the sight of them, her expression softened. She pulled open the bars and let them in before leading them down a dark hallway. "What took you so long?"
Catty shot Serena a secret smirk. "I made one too many mistakes I guess"
"Whatever", Jimena muttered before pulling them into a small dim lit apartment. There on a brown couch, sat Vanessa and an old woman playing cards. Vanessa grinned as soon as she saw Catty and jumped up from her spot, knocking the cards from the cushions. The old woman just smiled and turned to Serena. Jimena walked around the couch and gave her a hug.
"This is mi abuelita. My grandmother". She gestured towards Serena. "Mami, Esta es Serena".
The woman smiled warmly at her. "Usted es una señora joven hermosa"
Jimena grinned at Serena. "She says you're beautiful".
The woman's stare lowered to her neck and her eyes widened. "Usted usa el encanto antiguo"
Jimena followed her gaze and upon reaching Serena's neck, her eyes narrowed. "Did I give you that?"
Serena started to respond "No", but Catty, while still looking at her, whispered something in Jimena's ear. The girl's eyes widened, still captivated by the charm's silver glow. Serena couldn't help but to feel a pang of anger in her chest. What were they keeping from her? Jimena finally spoke up.
"Maybe we should take that"
"No", Serena immediately responded, her fingers grasping the band tightly. Silver sparks jolted from its inscription in Jimena's direction. They all gasped. The rune was more powerful than she'd expected…
"It's not safe, chica!" her tone grew more threatening.
"You can't have it!" Serena countered.
"Serena, I'm warning you"
"Dejada ella ser". The old woman spoke boldly, her words unwavering. Jimena winced.
"Mami!"
"Parada!"
Jimena groaned and snarled at Serena. "Fine", she muttered. "You can keep it".
Serena sighed in relief, her fingers massaging the soft silver. She wouldn't let anyone seize it from her. It was her last connection to the only guy who could make her laugh, cry, and dance around in her birthday suit in one day.
Serena leaned against the back wall with the loners and druggies at Planet Bang, watching as the band thrashed about wildly on stage, music reverberating through the speakers and pulsing through their bodies. Threads of red, blue, and green lights twirled over the dance floor and smoke poured out from the walls. Girls whooped and let their bodies flow with the beat while guys watched from the sidelines wondering how to make their first move. She groaned when she spotted Jimena headed her way, her raven tresses in tight braids flying loosely behind her. Her black tube top and low riding jeans accented her perfect waist, a diamond belly ring resting in her skin. She brushed a hand through her braids and smiled deviously at a group of guys that had all stopped to stare at her. Serena grinned. She was something else.
"What's up, chica!" Jimena averted her attentions back to her.
"Nothing", Serena replied, her hands flying over the necklace. "What's up with you? Trying to steal my charm again?"
Jimena shook her head. "No", she gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I just find it hard to trust something that lives off nothing but the fear in other's hearts and doesn't die".
Serena scowled.
"Sorry", Jimena grinned. "I'll tolerate him, but I just don't like him"
"Obviously", Serena crossed her arms and looked the other way. Well, at least she was being honest. Unlike Catty… The band stopped and hip hop music started to pound through the speakers. Jimena waved her hands in the air, her hips moving from side to side.
"What are you doing back here with these losers? Dance with me!" Jimena sang and pulled her onto the dance floor.
"I can't-"
"You haven't danced until you've danced with me"
"Fine", Serena smiled. She could have fun for a few minutes. After all, she needed something to take her mind off of Stanton. Letting out a cry of excitement, she ran her fingers through her diamond studded hair and let her body sway with the music. Her waist moved and the motion echoed through her hips and back in a snake- like movement. Soon they had attracted a crowd. Serena grinned, recognizing a few people from school. Guys winked and stared at her in admiration while girls crossed their arms and shot envious glances her way. Catty raced out onto the dance floor and gave her a high five.
"I didn't know you could dance like that!"
She laughed. Neither did she. She had always been naturally graceful, but never so daring. She thought of Stanton. Had desire made her bold? A teenager walked out onto the dance floor, his arms wrapped around Vanessa's waist. The blonde was smiling like an idiot.
"This is Michael!" she announced happily. He waved, his dark eyes twinkling. He wore his black hair in a long ponytail and his smile was youthful, yet charming. It was easy to see why Vanessa had fallen for him. She realized him as the lead guitarist in the band that had been playing only a half hour ago.
"You were really good up there!" she complimented him.
He laughed. "You weren't so bad down here either".
"You look just like your son"
They all shot her panicked looks.
"I mean", she cursed inwardly. Dammit. "That is to say if you… had a son. Which you don't…"
"Right", he muttered, confused.
Vanessa shot her a warning look and dragged Michael away. "Let's get something to drink!"
Serena sighed. "That was close".
"What was close?" a voice asked from behind her. Stanton? She turned around anxiously only to see a tall boy standing there, red hair falling over his blue eyes.
"Er", she searched for an excuse to leave, her eyes scanning the room for Catty and Jimena. She finally caught them waving at her from the refreshment stand and giving her a thumbs up. She groaned. Did they really hate Stanton so much that they would try to hook her up with someone else?
"Are you okay?" the redhead asked.
"Yeah", she nodded sheepishly.
"I'm Derek. And your name is?"
"Serena", she forced a cheerful smile. "Hi, Derek"
"You can really dance"
"Thanks"
"I've never seen you around here before. Do you go to La Brea High?"
"Nope", she responded. She would be going there when her family moved. If she ever returned anyway. She swallowed hard.
"Are you a senior?"
She laughed. "No way!" Usually people guessed her age right on target. "Why would you think-" Her sentence immediately cut off as she remembered her new body. Because she was a Dark Goddess, it aged slower, but she definitely couldn't pass for a freshman any longer.
"Yeah", she laughed. "I'm a senior!" She groaned inwardly. How was she going to explain this to him when she returned to her normal body? Maybe she could just avoid him…
"That's cool. You know, I don't know why I'm hitting on you. You probably have a boyfriend".
Damn straight. "Um…" Why did she have to be so sympathetic towards people? "Well, kind of".
He seemed crushed. "I thought so. Well, I'll see you around Serena".
"Oka-" she started to respond, when a piercing agony shot through her mind as if someone was trying to annihilate her barrier. She clenched her forehead, voices invading her thoughts. A thousand whispers mounted and mounted, overlapping each other until she was trapped in an oral chaos. Eventually the voices started to die down, leaving one last painful whisper. Well a groan. A vaguely familiar groan. "Stanton", her head shot up, knocking Derek upside the head. "I'm sorry", she muttered, without any remorse and jumped up from her spot on the ground. Jimena, Catty, and Vanessa were already racing her way.
"What happened?" Jimena demanded.
"It's Stanton! I think he's in trouble!"
They all exchanged strange glances.
"Trouble?" Catty finally asked. "What kind of trouble?"
"I don't know", she moaned. "I heard these voices in my head and-" She looked around to see all of the daughters raising an eyebrow at her. Derek was staring at her from the ground as if she were mad. Okay. So that wasn't the smartest thing to say…
Jimena took her by the arm. "I'm taking you home".
"No!" she argued. "We have to find him! He could be d-" She trailed off, not wanting to finish.
Jimena tilted her head. "You think you're gonna find him here? In the past?"
"Maybe", Serena challenged, her eyes narrowed.
Jimena just laughed as she rushed her out of the building, pass the security guards, and into the bright lit street towards her brother's Oldsmobile. "You're cute, chica, but it's, obviously, way pass your bedtime".
She unlocked the car and wheeled Serena in, but she only pulled away, almost getting ran over by a speeding car. She ignored the honking and angry screams. "I know what I heard!"
"And I know you better get your ass in this car before you become road kill!"
Serena nodded and climbed into the passengers seat. She waited until Jimena climbed in before continuing. "We have to help him!"
"Serena-"
"If you won't I will! I don't have to stay here, you know!"
"Fine!" Jimena surrendered. "When I come back, I'll go looking for him. I promise"
"Prove it"
"If I find him, I swear on my life, I won't let him die", she seethed. "Good enough for you?"
"Can I come?"
"Now you're pushing it"
"Jimena-"
"Don't "Jimena" me", she argued, pulling roughly around a corner and through traffic. Serena's stomach jumped as her fingers clawed into the dashboard. She remembered Stanton's words.
I take it you haven't met Jimena yet.
Now she saw what he meant. Jimena's fingers found the radio dial and soon rap music was blasting through speakers. "So", she started, her eyes growing thoughtful. "What was wrong with Catty when you got back?"
"What do you mean?" Serena asked, in an attempt to act innocent. Jimena already didn't like Stanton. This was the last thing she needed to hear.
"Come on. We both know she was trippin"
"Me and Stanton", she started, scratching nervously at her head. "He was… we were-"
Jimena let out a bitter laugh. "You let him hit that?"
"Huh?"
She just laughed again. "How was it?"
What? Serena glowed bright red. She couldn't believe they were having this conversation. "We didn't-"
"Don't go easy on him just because you looooove him. Did it suck?"
She gulped and turned to the window for air.
"You're still a virgin", Jimena laughed. "I remember my first time".
Serena's eyes widened. "How old are you again?"
She just sighed, glumly. "I've done a lot of shit that girls my age don't even live to see". Without warning her expression grew angry. "And don't get all sympathetic on me either"
"I wasn't" Serena gave her a half smile. But she secretly felt respect towards the girl. She had done and seen too much to be phony like more than half the girls she knew. Jimena didn't bother with games and she admired that. They finally pulled onto the street next to her apartment building and Jimena put the car into park. She opened the car door and turned back around to look at Serena.
"Hey, chica?"
"Yeah?" Serena asked, wondering what she could want now.
"I just want you to know that whatever happens... just be careful, okay?"
"What?"
"Nothing". Jimena muttered and pulling her keys from her pocket, she ran up to the door, beckoned for her, and disappeared into the dark hallways.
Serena lay upon Jimena's bed slowly running a brush through her hair. Thoughts of Stanton cluttered her head and she couldn't help but to wonder if he was okay. Jimena had bet her life on freeing him and that was a bet that she couldn't undermine, but she still had her doubts. She had tried to sleep but the explosions of gunfire and screaming kept her wide awake. She ran the brush through her hair a few more times before sitting up. Her eyes ran over the small room. A light bulb hung from the ceiling shining light upon the cracked walls. The windows were dingy and webbed, spots still lingering on them from an evanescent rain. All hope seemed lost with the exception of a full moon spilling pale white light over her form. It gave her strength. Rising up from the bed, she pulled one of Jimena's black robes over her white blouse and pajama bottoms before striding into the living area where Jimena's grandmother set watching television. She walked around the couch and sat beside her.
"Hey", she waved. The old woman only stared at her with sorrowful eyes.
"Okay…" Serena shrugged and leaned back against the cushions, her eyes staring into the television screen. She watched what seemed to be a talk show, as a man was arguing with a woman. Another woman intervened and smacked him across the face, all of them bursting into hysterical fits of Spanish. Serena frowned. There was always something interesting on the channel, but she could never figure out what they were saying. Maybe she could take up a Spanish class… Suddenly cold fingers grasped her wrists and she jumped out of her dream world.
"Wh- what is it?" Serena turned to Jimena's grandmother to see that the sorrow in her eyes had deepened.
"Jimena", the old woman spoke.
"Is she in trouble?" Serena's eyes widened.
"Ella le ha traicionado"
"What?" Serena groaned. Why couldn't she just speak English?
The old woman lowered her gaze and ran her fingers over the charm. Then they traveled up to Serena's chin.
"Una chica tan hermosa"
Such a beautiful girl. Serena knew enough Spanish to translate that. She started to thank her, but then she noticed the look in the woman's eyes. The same phrase incessantly flowed from her lips, flattering and kind, but she said them as if she were gazing over Serena's casket at her funeral, staring into dead, vacant eyes.
"A- ya- leh- ha- tra- ee- cee- on-a- do! A- ya- leh- ha- tra- ee- cee- on-a- do! A- ya- leh- ha- tra- ee- cee- on-a- do!" Serena screamed to herself as she dashed into Jimena's room searching for any thing she could find on Spanish Translation.
Yes! She found a carton stacked with books. Turning it over, she let the books sprawl out over the ground, searching rapidly. Gossip Girl. Fly Girl. Judy Blume. Shattered Mirror. Nothing! She cursed and shoved the books to the side. Why would someone who spoke Spanish have anything on Spanish translation anyway? Then, turning to her side, she caught something shiny in the back of the room. Scrambling over the rug, she picked it up to see black, shiny laptop. It looked as if it were new. She brushed a spider off of it and opened the screen to see a luminous white light. It was on! Yes! She used the built in mouse to go to Internet Explorer and clicked it. Come on, she prompted it and finally typed "Spanish Translation" into the search box. It took her to the page and she immediately tried to sound out what the old woman had said. "Ella" meant she. She remembered it from her eighth grade Spanish class.
Ella le ha
She swallowed hard, unsure of how to spell the last word. Eventually, she got it right and pressed enter on the keyboard. Her eyes widened at the new words appearing.
She has betrayed to him
That made no sense. But she knew enough about the Spanish language to know their true meaning.
She has betrayed you.
"Serena!" a voice called from the room door. She looked up to see Jimena and Vanessa staring down at her. She abruptly rose from her seated position and glared daggers at both of them. "You lied to me!"
"It was for your own good" Jimena sighed. Vanessa stood behind her, her eyes wide.
"You're going to murder my husband! In what way is this good for me?"
"You don't even know him!"
"I know him well enough to tell you that he's innocent".
"I'm sorry, Serena", she gave her an apologetic look before slamming the door. Serena ran at it to jam her house shoe through, but it was too late. She had locked it.
"Dammit!" she cursed before heading towards the window. She tried to lift it, but it wouldn't budge. Her eyes ran over the sill. Nails. "Figures…" She let out a hopeless cry and fell onto the bed, her eyes watering. "There must be some other way out of here…" Her eyes scaled the cracked walls. They were darkening as ominous clouds had begun to set over the moon.
"There is", a small voice encouraged her from a closet in the corner of the room. The doors slowly opened and something stepped out. A demon perhaps? It couldn't have been more than three feet tall. It spun around, shadows refraining from its face.
Her head snapped up and she stared in wide eyed disbelief. "Adonis?"
Ahhhhhh... My first chappy with out Stanton! Not to worry! He'll be back very soon! Well one of him anyway lol
REVIEW CORNER-
MiniSparky- O.O Was the fight really all that funny? They'll be back and arguing soon! One of them anyway like I said.
Elephantsrocmysox- Outdone myself? Kewlz!
Moraq- Yeah! You would definitly understand it better
DarkGoddess57- Another fight was funny? lol She'll be back soon.
AmazonAngel87- Wow that is really a compliment to me! Thanks!
Christine Marquez- Well this is what happens when she returns lol
TayTay09- I wish I COULD publish it but these arent my characters! Id be seriously sued Lol
Moonlightchild4- Updatin now
ShadoWings- Glad ya liked it.
Jinxed4Ever- Yeah I was wondering where u were lol I read like half the first chappy of ur POTO story. Had 2 go afterwards but Im gonna finish it! It seemed realleh good so far and you're a good writer!
DemonDea- Wow! So if I just like wrote 2 words for a chapter u would still like it ? Oooooooh! Lol Glad you thought it was perfect!