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Title: Broken

Disclaimer: I do not own Daughters of the Moon or " Rose", by Anna Tsuchiya.

A/N: Thanx 4 reviewing Nymbis! I'm glad u r not lazy! Or maybe u r? Maybe we all r? Maybe we're all just aliens and the aliens we think r the aliens aren't actually the aliens because we're the aliens, and we just can't see it...(:Pause:)...Okaayyyyy, right...Enjoy chapter three!

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Chapter Three

Hard Candy

Cassandra walked down the silent, dark streets of L.A. The sense that someone was following her made her pace quicken, and her stomach turn over with fear and anxiety. She glanced back and could have sworn that she had saw a dark figure hide behind one of the many oak trees, their trunks wide in width. Maybe it was Stanton, and he had spotted her after all? But something in her mind screamed for her to run, pick up the pace. Her steps quickened, and so did the footsteps behind, low and cautious.

She turned her head once more, only to see the same shady figure hide behind another tree. Cassandra grimaced, and turned sharply into an alleyway that she knew didn't contain a dead end. Newspaper fluttered around her legs, while a black cat hissed and scurried away.

Cassandra let out a startled cry, as a hand roughly grasped her shoulder and slammed her against the brick wall. Her gaze, now full of fear, traveled up the arm only to be met with the cold, dead stare of a man, face distorted with longing and unwanted desire.

The man's hand grabbed ahold of both Cassandra's wrists, as she fought wildly, and shoved them above her head. His free hand roamed everywhere, traveling up and down her exposed thigh, across her stomach, and to Cassandra's horror, his cold, harsh lips fell onto the curve of her neck. She felt her body go numb, and her heart stop. His hands grabbed the zipper of her leather skirt, but before he could violate her anymore, she swung her foot out, hitting him in his sensitive spot. He stumbled back, and looked up at her with raw pain.

" You bitch", he spat. She tugged on her skirt, pulling it down, and quickly ran off. Her black, leather boots smacked against the cement as hot, salty tears streamed down her face and fell onto her chest. If I were still a Follower, I'd rip his mind in half! But she wasn't, and the only power she had was phsyical.

" Cassandra?" a voice asked. Serena was standing at the corner of the street, her green eyes full of worry. Cassandra shoved past her, and kept on running. Seeing Serena called forth negative emotions.

" Cassandra!" Serena yelled after her. She ignored her, and kept on runnning back to the apartment. Back to the only home she had left. But she knew, it would be ripped away from her, and she would be forced to live on the street once more, with people like that man. A bitter coldness wrapped around her heart, while her skin grew stiffer. Another memory crept inside her mind.

" Cassandra!" Ashley, her best friend yelled, shoving her playfully. It was a warm, summer day, and the heat from the sun made Cassandra's body sweat. Her and Ashey sat at a table at Pink's, stuffing themselves with hotdogs. Cars zoomed by, while may people crowded the streets.

" What?" Cassandra responded playfully, then, with her water bottle, squeezed more water onto Ashley, who held her hand up in defense. Both girls laughed joyfully. Two other girls stared at them oddly.

" So..." Ashely began, wipping a napkin over her, now damp, shirt. " Do you want to go to this new club I just found?" Cassandra brushed the tears away from her eyes and looked at Ashely. Clubbing, wasn't exactly her thing. She felt awkard while dancing around so many people.

" What club?" Cassandra asked. Ashely smiled slyly.

" The Dungeon... Cool name, right!" Ashely exclaimed. Cassandra nodded, but something in her gut told her that this place was bad. Wait, how could she feel a thing like that? It was only a club.

" Sounds cool. Maybe I'll try it", Cassandra responded, earning a loud squeal from Ashely. Something inside Cassandra told her not to go, but she simply ignored it, and shoved another bite of her hotdog into her mouth.

...Saturday night, Ashelly and Cassandra waited in line for The Dungeon, heart's beating rapidly. The moon was dark now, entering its shadow form. When they reached the front, the guard looked them up and down, then smiled with delight, making Cassandra uncomfortanle. It seemed as if he were choosing them.

" Come on!" Ashely yelled, grabbing Cassandra's hand and pulling her inside. Loud, hardcore music came screaming into her ear, while girls and guys danced around each other. What disgruntled Cassandra, was the amount of piercing and excessive use of black. She glanced down at her own attire. She wore a light, pink corset top, and short denim skirt.

Her eyes fell upon one particular guy, making her heart leap. He had shaggy blond haiir, and he wore all black. But what attracted her to him was his eyes. They were a clear, piercing blue, but something in them looked poetically tortured. A girl with long blond hair placed a hand on his chest and whispered something in his ear. His gaze traveled to her, making her quickly turn away while she blushed. She turned and followed after Ashely, who was now making her way into the sea of dancers.

" Dance!" Ashely yelled, and began to move her hips to the fast beat. Cassandra immitated her movement, and soon, found herself drowning into the music's rytheme, hearing nothing but the bitter song that seemed to bring on a terrible foreshadowing.

When I was darkness at the time

My lips suddenly shivering

I cry in the corner of this room

If I struggle, struggling

Will stab into this wound more

Cassandra's hips glazed across Ashely's, making her boldness grow, but a terrible feeling began to gnaw at her bones, sending off every alarm in her brain. But her body protested.

Nobody can save me

Only God can save me now

It's like you've stopped and torn up my love

Cassandra laughed over the pounding music. Her joy and excitement was growing with each move she did. Her hands waved over her head, and she suddenly felt someone dangerously close near her. Thinking it was Ashely, Cassandra smiled syly and pressed closer.

I need your love. I'm a broken rose

The dancing, falling sadness of your song

My lonely life with no whereabouts

I need your love. I'm a broken rose.

Oh baby, help me from frozen pain

With your smile, your eyes,

and sing me, just for me

" You're a great dancer", someone murmured against her ear. Cassandra stumbled back with a jolt, and stared up at the same dangerously beautiful boy she had seen before. From closer up, she cold tell that he was about seventeen or eighteen, but his eyes told her that he had been alive longer. She blushed even deeper and turned her head away. But, with a shock, his hand grabbed her chin and turned her head toward him. He brushed a slender finger across her cheek. She stared up at him with passionate deisre.

" I am?" she asked, trying to be daring and flirtatious. He smirked and nodded, then guided her toward the corner of the room, where it seemed darker. Her mind said run, but her body said stay. Destiny, she said in her mind.

" I'm Stanton", he whispered into her ear, then grasped her hips. Her heart pounded with adrenaline, and she turned back toward Ashely. Ashely nodded, and mouthed, go, before she disappeared into the throng of dancers. She smiled and gazed up at Stanton.

" I'm Cassandra", she said, then closed her eyes. She should make him work for it. Then her eyes burst open. Work for it! Work for her love? Wait, did she love him? Cassandra pressed closer to him. She did.

" Do you love me?" he asked. The question startled her, but she nodded anyway. Maybe he would wisk her off to some tropical island. Marry her and be with her for eternity. He smiled down at her, and his eyes darkened with savage hunger.

" Will you join me?" he asked. Cassandra nodded, a tear of joy sliding down her cheek. His eyes glowed yellow, causing her to stumble back, but he quickly pulled her closer. She struggled, but a voice began to whisper in mind like a sweet melody.

Join my world. look at what it offers you. It will give you everything you deisre... Even me...

Tears began to run down Cassandra's cheek. " No..." she whimpered, but her voice quickly faded away. A dark, bitter coldness began to sink into Cassandra, making the dark room even darker. The music faded and all she could see right now was herself and Stanton.

... Yes, we could be together... Join the Atrox... A dark shadow screamed inside of her, making her shiver. Sorrow. Pain. Anger. It all sunk into her, and the darkness followed. Her mind went blank, and then became full of ugly emotions. Then she felt nothing...

I wanna need your love...

I was a broken rose

I wanna need you love

Cassandra smiled, stopped and stared up at the moon. That had been the night she had been turned to the Atrox. Its promises were empty, and so were Stanton's lies. Everyone lied to her. Everyone used her. That same night, her , once, best friend, Ashley, had been ripped of her hope. Cassandra gazed up at the moon, and with one more sob, gave out a loud scream. She let out all of her hate. Her anger. Her sorrow. Her love...

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I, personally, loved that update! My own story makes me feel so sorry 4 Cassandra.(:Gives Cassie a hug:).