Notes: PLEASE READ! Today is the 12th. Nominations for the First Annual Year's End Daughters of the Moon Fanfiction Awards end on the 15th! Get your voice heard! See the Daughters of the Moon Writers forum for more details! Also, keep a lookout on the forum around Feb 1st for a romance oneshot challenge hosted by BatsuSimisu-Chan and I just in time for Valentine's Day!

Circus

Chapter 4

"Jimena, it's your call. This would be a promotion for you," Michelle Richards was saying in her office the next day.

"Michelle, I'm not taking the job; I just wanted to let you know about the offer."

Michelle threw up her hands and shrugged. "If that's what you want." She didn't sound convinced.

"I love my job here." She glanced down at her watch. "I should go: Sarah is waiting."

"Have a good weekend."

"You too, Michelle."

Jimena shook her head as she left the office; that hadn't exactly been the reaction she was hoping to get out of her boss. Had Selene gotten to Michelle too?

"Ready to go?" Sarah fell into step with Jimena as she walked towards the elevator.

The two colleagues and friends made their way down into the street, and just as a cab pulled to the curb at Sarah's call, Jimena felt a sensation that she had not felt in a long time. She was being watched.

She looked towards the origin of the feeling. Her breath caught. No way; it couldn't be possible.

But there he was plain as day, lighting up a cigarette and staring through the new haze of smoke. He had not changed. Not a single hair was different. Tymmie. Selene had mentioned Adamantis, but Lambert too? And here? In New York?

There was only one reason he was here.

"Jimena, you okay?"

Jimena looked at Sarah and a flash of a vision, whether sent from Selene or her old nemesis she had no idea, but suddenly Sarah's bright blue eyes were clouded over with the haze of hopelessness. Jimena shoved her into the cab, yelled an address to the cab driver, slammed the door and took off in the opposite direction. She could feel Tymmie trying to weave his way into her mind, but despite being horribly out of practice blocking mental attacks, she was able to keep him out.

She hated this feeling, the feeling of being on the defense. Twenty years ago, she would have stood her ground, fought him head on. Now, she ran in fear. She wasn't a warrior, not anymore.

He was gaining on her. She could feel his presence, closer and closer. Stupid heels and being out of shape for this kind of activity, namely running for her life. She turned a corner, hoping to escape, and instead finding herself trapped in an ally way. Predictable, but somehow she was caught off guard.

"You run, and not to set a trap. How interesting." Tymmie came into the mouth of the ally, blocking her in.

Jimena looked towards the sky, hoping for a glimpse of the moon. But it was impossible to see through the city lights. Still, she took a deep breath and started to gather her energy to fight him off.

He laughed.

"Jimena, now, now, do you really think I would let you do that?" He sent her a mental shock wave to throw off her preparation. He peered at her perfectly made-up face, where not a glimmer of her past life remained. And laughed again. "You're not a threat. You're not even a mild annoyance. Adamantis will be satisfied with this and I'll have the satisfaction of letting you live this pitiful life. I don't even have to take your soul to see hopelessness."

Jimena ignored the jab at her present state. "Adamantis? What about your loyalty to Lambert?"

He raised a pierced eyebrow. "I'm not called Infidus for anything, dea." And with one last laugh at her plight, he disappeared into shadow.

Jimena wasn't quite sure how she got back to her apartment. She finally woke from her daze, sitting on her couch, as a cup of hot tea was pressed into her hand and a kiss as soft as moonlight touched her forehead. She looked around, but Selene, her mother, had already gone.

On the coffee table was her medallion; after taking a long drink from her tea to calm her nerves, she picked it up and for the first time in twenty years, slid the chain around her neck and let the gorgon head rest just above her wildly beating heart.

Slowly, Jimena stood and walked to her hall closet. From there, in the far corner of the top most shelf, she pulled down a shoe box. The contents rattled as her hand shook.

When she had settle back on the couch, she lifted the lid. Mementos from her past life had been put in that box haphazardly years before in her desperate haste to pack and leave LA. She had not looked at them since.

She removed an old photograph. And there they all were. Vanessa, her blond hair streaming behind her, blue eyes twinkling with a cheerful laugh. Catty, paint-stained clothes, mischievous grin ever present. Tianna, gorgeous without trying, skateboard tucked under her arm. Serena, crazy clothes adorning her body, a far off expression that told Jimena Stanton had been on her mind. And Jimena, herself. Arms crossed across her chest, teardrop tattoos pronounced on her cheek.

Spent hours rifling through and studying her past. At some point in the early hours of the morning she fell asleep, a photograph of her and the Killingsworth's clutched in her hand.

Four girls stood in a terrified circle, looking around them, unable to move, unable to use their powers. Their attackers, all with yellow glints in their eyes eased closer.

*

Four girls again. Now, they rifled through a library full of books on magic and mythology. A door opened and closed somewhere in another room. They looked up, frightened of being caught.

*

Collin now. No different than the last time she saw him. A little older. At home on his board, as he always was. Then a powerful tidal wave came out of nowhere. Crashing down on him. Drowning him.

Jimena woke with a start. What was wrong with her? Those Daughters. They really did need her. And Collin… why was Collin involved?