xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Title: Broken

Disclaimer: I do not own Daughters of the Moon

A/N: Well, I don't really have anything to say... Oh, wait! I saw the movie: Employee of the Month! It was funny! Man, I love Dane Cook:) I'm still waiting for Open Season, too! Well, enjoy!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter Seven

Unmasked

Cassandra walked pass La Brea High, a sense of hatred burning through her. This is the High School the Daughters atteneded, and at one time, herself, before she finally dropped out. A Follower had no future, no dreams.

As she was walking, black bag in her hands, she knocked into someone, sending their items flying to the ground. Cassandra grunted, and bent over to pick up her bag when she heard the quick panic of the person's speech.

" I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that! I should have been watching were I was..." She ignored the rest, sensing an odd feeling of familiarity of the person and his accent. Her eyes traveled to meet the person's worried eyes. It was Zahi. His shaggy black hair moved swiftly back and forth, as he kept going on with his apologizes, obviously flusttered by running into a beautiful girl.

Zahi used to belong to a group of Followers, him being the leader. He been commited to converting Serena into a witch goddess by pushing her into the Cold Fire, because she was a lecta, a choosen one. After failing, Serena had pushed him back into the fire, making him normal. Now, Cassandra wished he succeeded in turning her.

" Zahi..." she whispered. he looked up, puzzled.

" How did you know my name?" he asked, pressing his books closer to his chest. Scanning around, Cassandra leaned in, whispering into his ear.

" I used to be like you, I was a Follower."

Zahi jerked back, and took a few steps backward, apparently frightened by that word. Unlike her, he was perfectly happy to be freed from the Atrox. She sighed and held her hands up, trying to reasure im.

" Calm down... It's not like I can do anything", she said, rolling her eyes. Zahi just nodded, and quickly turned around, but Cassandra caught up to him. She needed someone to talk to.

" So...", she continued, " Did you just continue on with your normal life? Act like nothing was wrong?" Zahi stared at her, and nodded. His eyes were anxious, and insecure with being in her prescence.

" Well, you've got it easy. I have no where to go, and no one to confide in..."

" That's to bad", he said with false pity, and a foreign accent.

" I was wondering... Why couldn't you get Serena into the Cold Fire the first time?" Zahi stopped, causing her to hault her own pace, and turn around to face him. He was staring at the ground, shifting his feet.

"... I can't really say..." Cassandra cocked an eyebrow.

" And why not?" she asked, her voice becoming like a melody. She was going to get it out of him. He might being fearing for himself, or maybe even someone else? She smirked.

"... Because I don't want her to get hurt. Not after what she did for me." Her? Who was her? Then it hit Cassandra. Zahi didn't want anything to happen to Serena. Maybe she has more secrets than just being a lecta.

" Serena?" Cassandra meant it to be a question, but it came out as a statement.

Zahi nodded.

Then it dawned on her. " Who saved her that night? Was it her friend, like everyone thought? Or, was it someone else?..."

Silence. She groaned with frustration. I guess I'm gonna have to lie...

"Come on... I won't tell anyone. Don't you remember? Since I'm an outcast, no one's aloud to even see me. So I can't exactly get near the Atrox. And besides, I wouldn't want Serena to get hurt, either. She, and her friends, also released me from the Atrox... Sort of. But, I love it!" she lied. He looked up at her. He was sinking into her lie. She was winning, she was finally winning!

" That night", Zahi finally spoke up. " I almost had her into the fire... Then, he saved her."

Cassandra smirked. " Who's he?"

" Stanton..." His words, although he tried to sound calm, were full of malice.

" Stanton? Why would he do that?" she asked. Everyone assumed it had been the Daughter, Jimena, who had rescued not only that time, but also the second time Serena had been pushed into the Cold Fire. But... Stanton?

" Because..." he contiued, anger in his eyes. " He loves her."

With that, Zahi hurried off, his feet moving swiftly through a crowd of tourists, leaving Cassandra staring blankly ahead. All the pain, all of her bitter emotions began to resurface. Anger, pain, sorrow. Her heart seemed to stop, and it felt as if a dagger were piercing its fragile flesh. She felt sick, and all around her, the sounds of people, cars, and everything else, seemed to vanish. Darkness swept over her, and quickly, she steadied herself.

Don't pass out! Don't pass out! Don't pass out! These words repeated in her head over and over again.

He loved a Daughter? But, she, Cassandra, was the one who gave him attention, love, and a sense of touch. It had been her, not that...Goddess... who had given him everything! And how could he love her, his enemy!

Revenge. It kept ringing in her mind. She had longed for it so long, and now, she finally had something to work with. But first, she needed proof.

Quickly, Cassandra grabbed her bag, and walked back toward places Stanton had usually gone. She needed to see him with that Goddess. Cassandra could feel the evil, reawakening inside of her, running through her veins.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cassandra walked down the street, the night sweeping around her. Above her, the moon had been blanketed over with darkness, making the only light besides the broken street lights, vanish. She had already visited three spots, and still, there was no sign of him.

" Need any help?" a cold, harsh voice asked. Cassandra spun around.

A man stood behind her, face concealed by a hood. Cassandra knew in an instant that this man belonged to the Atrox. She could sense the evil radiating off him. And, to her own dismay, she nodded.

" I can see that you are angry. Is it because of what he did to you? Do you really want to take revenge on him? Stanton..." She flinched at the sound of his name, but nodded once more. This man had clearly studied her often, fishing through her mind like it was something that belonged to him.

" We both want something from him. And if you help me get what I want, I'll give you shelter, a home, and the revenge you've wanted." He then held out his hand. Cassandra felt something else, forcing her hand to rest on his. He grasped her cold hand, and pressed her closer.

" And by the way. My name is Lambert Malmaris. But you will call me Darius..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And they all lived happily ever after. Wait, no they didn't! . I don't really want to get into book 5...Yeah...Bye, bye! And thanx Nymbis for reviewing! I guess I'll continue?...