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Title: Broken

Disclaimer: I do not own Daughters of the Moon.

A/N: Yes, another update! Damn, I'm good! oh, and...WHERE IS BOOK 13! I WANT IT! Although Sons of the Dark is coming along pretty good...I finsihed two books in three days! Second book sucked...Book 3 is pretty good so far. Kyle's alittle too uptight...Anyway, enjoy! And thanx Nymbis 4 being the only 1 reviewing:D And now, ivebeen!

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Chapter Five

Solemn Forgiveness

Cassandra slowly opened her eyes, as if sensing someone tapping her. She got up, rubbing her eyes, and stared at the person luming over her. She knew what was coming, and she quickly built up a shield to guard the anger, rage, and tears from spilling out.

" I'm sorry, miss, but you have to go. Maybe your parents will get you", the man said, looking at her with pity. She shrugged him off, and quickly grabbed her bag of clothes and other items, then headed out of the apartment. Now where do I go?

She walked down the alley and began walking down the street, which was crowded with people. To them, she was just another pathetic, homeless person, walking the streets of Los Angeles with no one but her ownself. The loneliness gripped her heart once more. She shoved the her large bag over her shoulder, and walked silently down the streets, wondering where she should go. I can't go home, so where else is there? Cassandra sighed, and continued down the street, no destination in mind. Probably somewhere near MacArthur Park, she told herself.

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An hour later, Cassandra was still roaming down the streets, looking for an area to crash at. She sighed when she knew what she had to do. Turning down an dark alley, Cassandra headed toward a group of homeless people, sheltered by sleeping bags. Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the sight of an old man, digging through a large dumpster. The man pulled out a banana peel, tore it in half, and handed one piece to a small, skimpy boy, who immediately chomped down on it.

The homeless people looked up at her, eyes full of alarm, but then noticed the bag on her shoulder. A old woman smiled kindly, and motioned for Cassandra to sit down next to her. Cassandra hesitated, but agreed, and sat down next to her.

" What's your name?" the old woman asked.

"...Cassandra", she replied. The old woman smiled, and began to rummage through the pocket in her large, brown trench coat. Cassandra watched her, not sure what she was pulling out.

" Here", the old woman said, handing Cassandra a rosary. " You need it more than I do..."

" No, I can't take this..." Cassandra started, but the old woman was stubborn, and she placed the beads along with the cross, on Cassandra's hand, and clasped it shut. Cassandra looked down at her, eyes puzzled.

" But...I'm not catholic?" The old woman smiled again, and shook her head. " And I just met you!"

" All will be explained. And just think of it as a symbol of faith. You seem lost. Don't you have a home, a family?" the woman asked. Cassandra shook her head.

" That's too bad. I have a daughter, you know? She's in her late twenty's... But she acts like she doesn't know me..." the woman tried to smile, but her attempts were in vain. Cassandra felt pity for this woman, but knew that was the only feeling she could show. Once you were a follower, or even an outcast, your feelings for others would never go above pity. Evil didn't have emotions.

Cassandra wrapped the rosary around her neck, and gazed up at the heated sun, then back at the old woman.

" Do you know where I can wash my clothes?" Cassandra asked, wondering where these homeless people washed theres, our at least, she thought they did. The old woman smiled, and nodded.

" When we collect enough money, which isn't very often, we head over to the laundry place." Cassandra nodded, and pinched the rosary's cross in between her index finger and her thumb. Maybe there was a God, or a Saint Mary? Hell, maybe even Allah.

...Maybe they just couldn't see her yet. She had been too occupied with evil... To occupied with herself.

" Oh, I forgot to tell you", the woman continued. "...My name is Hestia."

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Cassandra's eyes fluttered open, as a piercing noise shattered the silent night. She lifted herself off the ground, and examined her surroundinds. The other homeless people also looked around, eyes cautious and weary. She cursed, noticing that is was midnight. Before she could punish herself for falling asleep, something surprised her. Hestia, the old woman, wasn't here. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, as Hestia came tumbling back into the narrow alleyway, face pinched with fear. Why do care so much for this lady?, Cassandra asked herself.

" Take shelter, quick! It's happening again!" Hestia whispered hoarsely to the other homeless people. Their eyes suddenly widened with fear, and each quickly ran toward the back of the alleyway.

" What's happening?" Cassandra asked, rushing up to Hestia.

" Guns..." she whispered. " Violent kids, now a days."

Cassandra's eyes traveled to the street sign, and her heart stopped. It read Wilshire Boulevard. Damn! I was so worried about finding a place to stay, that I traveled into gang infested land! She quickly ran toward the end of the alleyway, but stopped, and touched her chest. The rosary was gone.

Her eyes searched the ground, then she spotted it. The rosary was lying near the wall she had slept. Cassandra quickly walked back toward it, but stopped when she noticed a person run by. The person came back, and glanced at them huddled in the back of the alley. The person, revealed to be a girl, held a gun in her hand.

" Stay back!" she yelled, obviously not wanting them to get hurt, and continued down the street. Cassandra sighed, and picked up the rosary. However, a severe pain shot through her shoulder and was immediately followed by bullets flying everywhere. It was a gang war.

Cassandra fell to the ground, clutching her shoulder, and looked up. More girls had started running down the street, yelling and screaming in Spanish. Cassandra stood up, and shakily walked over to the others.

" Down!" Hestia yelled, diving on top of Cassandra, who fell over, and her vision went black...

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Cassandra blinked, and sat up.

" My head...", she whispered. A yound boy and an older man stood huddled over her. The yound buy clapped, and smiled.

" She's awake!" he cried. Several others glanced at her, then went back to gazing at something else, faces full of sorrow. Cassandra stood up, despite the pain in her shoulder(which was now bandaged), and walked over to what they were crowded over.

" Please, please... Don't let it be-" but her voice had faded. Hestia lay on the ground, blood forming on her stomach. Cassandra broke through the circle, and kneeled down beside her.

Hestia turned, and smiled. " I-I'm glad I go-got to you, be-fore you...were completely brok-broken..." Cassanra blinked, not understanding.

" I-I forgive you, for you'your evil acts. So...does she", Hestia said, staring up at the moon. Cassandra's eyes widened. But before she could ask Hestia if she knew about Moon Goddess Selene, her eyes slowly closed, and her body went limp. Cassandra could have sworn that she saw something glow within Hestia, but instead of studying her, Cassandra sat up and walked toward her black bag. She hauled it over her shoulder, and walked out of the alleyway. Why? Why can't I be normal and cry? But she didn't, she couldn't. The Atrox had also stolen her sense of hope, and sadness...

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I promise, things will get better 4 Cassie! It will! Hehe...Hestia was a Greek Goddess...