Justin walked Jessica home after school but she stopped short of letting him take her all the way to her house.

"Why?" Justin asked.

"Because my father will be angry," she lied. Her parents were dead and although Justin didn't know that, she knew he wouldn't press her if he thought her father would get mad.

"Alright then, maybe another time?" he asked.

"Maybe," she mumbled, "thanks." Turning and walking away, Jessica smiled to herself. This was her first real love and while she thought Madam Serena could help her, she felt she could do this on her own. Just as she rounded the corner to her drab little house, a pretty girl approached her seemingly out of nowhere.

"Hi," the girl said. Jessica frowned when she recognized Eve from school.

"What the hell do you want?" Jessica spat out.

"I just want to be friends, is that so wrong?" Eve asked.

"No one wants to be friends with me," Jessica muttered, "now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do," Jessica brushed past Eve. Eve continued to follow her. Jessica stopped and whirled on her heels. The sight of the two girls so opposite in appearance and attitude was somewhat comical in nature.

"Look, I said I don't have friends, now go..a..way.." Jesscia said through gritted teeth. Eve stood firm and responded with, "I'm not going away. I'm going to be your friend and I'm going to help you."

Jessica blinked and her eyes seemed to glaze over, "Okay." With that, Jessica turned and went into her house with Eve close behind. Jessica's house was small and unassuming. She lived with her grandmother who was less than loving and attentive. Most days she was too stoned or drunk to know what Jessica was doing or simply did not care.

"Hi grandma, this is my friend Eve," Jessica pointed. Eve's eyes widened when she saw her grandmother.

The old woman sat in a dilapidated recliner, cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. Her scraggly face was screwed up in a frown and her white hair looked as though it hadn't seen a comb in many years.

"Who the fuck are you?" and she had quite the vernacular to match her lovely appearance.

"I'm Eve, I'm Jessica's new friend," Eve said sweetly. The old woman eyed her and snorted, "Jessica ain't got not friends."

"Well, that's about to change, come on Jessica," Eve pushed her to her room.

Eve was shocked when she entered her room, it didn't match her Goth look at all. This was going to be challenging.

**

Vicki awoke to the sound of her cell phone ringing, "Yeah..? What time is it?" she blinked and rubbed her eyes.

"Damn! Sorry, I'm on my way Coreen.." she paused then added, "oh and we need to talk when I get there, no it' s not about you..It's not bad," then Vicki changed her answer to, "depending on your definition of bad I guess, at any rate, let me jump in the shower and I'll be there within the hour.

Closing her phone, Vicki rolled out of bed and immediately dropped to her knees. She was dizzy and nauseous at the same time.

"And so it begins," she mumbled. She stilled long enough for the dizziness to stop but the nausea was still there although not as bad. She was sweating yet clammy too. She cursed Henry under her breath for not only impregnating her but for not being here. She showered, ate some toast and drank warm tea then threw her wet hair into a ponytail and left. Because her eyesight had gotten better, she purchased a car. It was such a basic thing most didn't realize what a privilege driving was but when she could no longer accomplish the task, Vicki became more than appreciative when her eyesight returned. She bought a small economical car but she wondered now would it be family friendly? So many things to figure out and so little time to do it in, she sighed to herself.

She had a few hours before Henry would be up and she needed to talk to not only Coreen but Mike as well.

"Wonder what the sweet detective will have to say," Vicki said.

Upon arriving at her office, Vicki was greeted by a frazzled Coreen, "What the hell..??"

"Vicki," Coreen grabbed her and shoved her back outside into the hall, "that man in there, he says he's looking for his daughter.

"Great, missing persons, no biggie," Vicki started past her but Coreen held her in place, she was freakishly strong when she wanted to be.

"Coreen, you're startin' to piss me off, I've not had the best of nights," Vicki nearly growled at Coreen.

"Okay, okay, but listen," Coreen was giddy, almost dancing and hopping when she talked," this guy says his daughter is a Muse, and that he's, are you ready?" Coreen's eyes lit up, a wide smile covered her face and she answered only after Vicki nodded yes.

"That dude in there," Coreen pointed, "says he's Zeus." She waited for Vicki's reaction and was disappointed when she got nothing.

"Aw come on, are you tellin' me this isn't big?" Coreen pouted.

Vicki crossed her arms and told Coreen, "I don't know, does being pregnant by a vampire trump that?"

For the first ever, Vicki did believe it was ever, Coreen was totally and utterly speechless…