Vol. 4
Chapter 15
I'm Selina Chase, 18 years old, My birth metal is silver. I'm in the first year of college under the Managing Program, hoping to manage a hotel or a apartment building. I'm just a little clumsy and a bit of a complainer. That's about it. One day, a strange woman in black named Luna Lupo showed up and turned me into Guardian of the Moon. But she wants me to fight bad guys. That makes me really nervous. Oh well, I guess everything will be okay. Hopefully.
At location in the dark cold cave, Lady Pandora and Argo: Jason were discussing the next insane plan. "The country's children are pressured into studying all the time." he mentioned.
"I've heard of mothers who are more fierce than most monsters when educating their children." She speaks as she sits upon her throne.
"They try to get their children into top rated daycares, first class elementary schools, first class Jr. high schools, the best secondary schools and eventually the top rated universities."
"And once they graduate from the top rated universities. What do they do then?"
"I don't know." Jason found himself dumbstruck by the question.
"Proceed with this plan and we'll see from here."
"Yes, my Lady." Jason bowed.
At the Crystal Tokyo apartments, Selina was passing time on her couch by reading her collection of comics, this reading comedy. She laughed so hard that she couldn't keep herself up, so she instead lay down on the couch. Luna walked into Selina's apartment and saw her laughing her guts out in the living room. "Selina." Luna grabbed her attention shockingly.
"Oh, hey Luna." Selina stopped laughing when she heard Luna. "I'm reading this new issue. It's really hilarious." Selina showed Luna the comic. Luna started to sarcastically but Selina didn't notice.
"You don't have time for this. How did you do on the practice exam?" Selina flipped that smile upside-down.
"Oh that? We don't receive our marks until tomorrow. Come on." Selina picked up her pile of comics and walked to her room.
"Selina." Luna stopped Selina at her heels. "I'm not asking for something impossible. Just don't do poorly on your studies." Luna was almost begging for Selina's attention. Selina turn to face Luna and gave her a look that reads 'Can you leave me alone?'.
"'When there's a first place, there's always a last place too.' Just because my grades aren't that brilliant, you shouldn't get mad at the vulnerable me." Selina put on a puppy face.
"Oh, stop your whining. I wish I could complain too." Luna gave Selina her study books and left Selina alone with her studying. Later that night, much later, Selina settle down on her desk and studied through her text books, one after the other. Luna walked into her room to see how she's doing, she saw her face expression reflecting the turning gears in her head. "Don't think to hard, you might over work that brain of yours." Luna teased. Selina looked up to Luna in response not liking the joke. "I think you need to take a break, Selina."
"You're lucky that werewolves or deities don't have to study."
"What are you saying?"
"I wish I was something other than a student."
"Listen Selina, I have a lot to do, like finding the Moonstone."
"I thought you said before it was called the Silver Crystal or Magic Pearl, something like that."
"I just found out that the object I'm looking for is called the Moonstone. Talk about being original." Luna noticed Selina was getting fatigue from the school work. "It's getting late, shouldn't you go to bed? Tomorrow I need your help to find that stone." Selina got up from her chair and stretched out her legs.
"But I'm already doing the physical part, beating up monsters!"
"It's your destiny also to find the Moonstone and to fight the enemy."
"Can we just split jobs? I do the fighting and you do the paper work, I already have enough paper work from school! Who is the enemy anyway?"
"Well they're obviously not human, they are made out of pure evil."
"Oh my God, this is starting to sound like one of my fantasy comics."
"Well I don't know much about them I need to do more research." Selina fell back on to her bed and got to sleep quickly considering how tired she is and how late it was. Luna left Selina's apartment and went down to her office to continue her work. She switch on her laptop and search where the enemy might hit next. In the moment her golden moon pendant started to glow with such brightness, then a bluish glow appeared and slowly turning into a man wearing a toga of white, a helmet and sandals with wings on them.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is for a messenger to find someone who is in their mortal form?" the man yelled at Luna.
"Nice to see you too, Mercury. Any packages in the mail today?" Luna is enjoying her sarcasm.
"Actually yes." Mercury snapped his fingers, a blue glow erupted on Luna's desk and appear to be a necklace. "This is the pendent of the Mercury metal as you can see from the symbol." Luna lifted the necklace and examine it. A silver chain holding the symbol of Mercury. "The pendant is made of pure Mercury or Quick Silver as some people like to call it. I wouldn't touch it so much if I were you." he warned her. Luna immediately drop the necklace back on the desk.
"Why are you giving me a poisonous necklace? You know I have no immunity to this."
"I want to you to give this to the person who is immune to this metal, a Guardian."
"Why don't you give it to her or him, I have no clue who it is! I'm only taking care of the Guardian of the Moon under Lady Diana's orders. And since when the God Messenger can order a servant of the Moon?"
"Since Lady Diana told me to. She's the one who told me that you were down on Earth already babysitting her Guardian. She also gave me a message."
"Oh really, what does the Queen Hunter have to say?"
"Her message was that you must cooperate with the Gods of Olympus in order to help us find the rest of the Guardians. Like it or not."
"Your telling me that I have to look for every Gods' Guardians? I don't even know who they are?"
"Like I, each God will come down to help you to find these Guardians. Now I don't know who is my Guardian but I do since their aura, it's near by. Now don't be upset, you know what they, 'Don't shoot the Messenger.'"
"Mercury, how do I know who's the Guardian? I have no sense of direction of their aura!"
"You'll know, you are a wolf remember? Use your nose."
"Oh, your funny."
"Have you found what you're looking for?"
"The Moonstone? No."
"I see."
"Selina is not very helpful when it comes to 'paperwork'."
"Well, she can't do all the work. She has a point about splitting jobs."
"Were you eaves dropping into our conversation?" Luna got up in rage.
"Of course I was, I'm a God remember? Are you sure your not getting amnesia? I'm starting to see the symptoms."
"You are one cocky bastard you know that?"
"That's how I do business my dear. Heck, I'm the God of Business and Commerce." Luna sat back down on her chair not even going to try to win a argument with this man. "Look, anything else you want to tell me before I head back to the Heavens?"
Yes, I've been sensing a strange energy from the enemy and I can't pinpoint where's the origin. Do you know what's going on?"
"As a Messenger, words can spread faster than a bullet. From what I heard from the Heavens, a deity on Earth has awaken and started to collect energy from mortals in order to grow it's 'evil aura' and rule this world. But that's just a rumor, I can't say if it's true or not. The Gods of Olympus are not even sure what's going on either. You can say that we're in the same boat as you."
"In that case I'll keep investigating and keep that in mind."
"Well I have to head back to Mont Olympus to spread the news."
"What are you going to say to Lady Di?"
"That you are a helpful and thoughtful woman, and that you would do anything to help out Mont Olympus." Luna grabbed an apple from her desk and threw it at him in rage.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" Mercury manage to catch the apple.
"You shouldn't waste any food, Luna." Mercury faded and disappeared leaving Luna alone in her office with the Mercury Pendant which she can't touch.
"Why me?"
The next day at the college, everyone in the college went to the main hall to see who made to the honor roll list. "It's Hermione Driscoll from the Managing Program." "She's a genius and the future magnate." The students were at awe from the results.
"So, Driscoll is first in our program?" Ellie was leaning against the wall in the hall beside Selina, talking to a classmate.
"Actually no, she's first in the state." their classmate corrected.
"First in the state?" Both and Ellie and Selina responded. Manny popped out of nowhere and joined the conversation.
"I heard a rumor, that girl has an IQ of 300." he said with pride.
"So she's a real genius." Selina added.
"Stop being so weird and popping up like that!" Ellie raised her hand and slapped Manny at the back of his head, almost removing his glasses off his face. Selina looked down the hallway.
"It's Driscoll." she said. Her group turned to see the girl. Driscoll walked up to a window and stared out, she had black hair with a hint of blue in a crop cut with honey coloured eyes. She wore a white dress shirt with a royal blue blazer and dress pants and a touch of black leather pumps court shoes.
"She's attending the Gold Seminar." mentioned Manny.
"That' the new cram school, right? Luna told me it's really expensive." added Selina.
"Driscoll's parents are doctors from England also owning Europe's top medical offices. I think she's got plenty of money to through around." said the classmate.
"But since she's so gifted her tuition is free." Manny said it with such envy. Selina looked at him as if he was obsess.
"For an English girl and all that money, she's a snob. Since she's smart she thinks she's better than we are." continue the classmate.
"Ugh, I can't stand those!" Ellie commented. Selina looked back at Driscoll in wonder doubting of what her follow classmates are saying. Driscoll turned in their direction staring right at them. Selina froze and recover quick by making up a random conversation with her classmates.
"What a nice day isn't it?" Selina and the rest of them tried to look as natural as they can. Driscoll just walked away. After class, Selina was walking home during the clear blue sky. "I envy smart people. It only means I have to work even harder in order to reach to their level. Luna is probably going to force me into cram school." Selina continue to walk on when she saw the English girl up ahead. "Hmm, Driscoll." Selina said to herself and then she notice Luna walking into Driscoll's direction. "Oh crap! Luna's coming." Selina positioned herself to not to be seen. As Driscoll and Luna cross paths with each other, the two felt an instant static charge between the two. The both of them turn and face each other.
"Um, excuse me? Have we met somewhere before?" Driscoll asked being suspicious of the woman in black.
"No I don't think we have." I sense a strange energy from this girl. Luna was also being suspicious. Driscoll brought out her hand in offer.
"My name is Hermione Driscoll, I'm new to the city and hoping of finding Crystal Tokyo Apartments. Maybe you can help me out in search of this place?" Hermione's accent was as sweet as a songbirds tweet to Luna's ears. Luna shook her hand feeling the same static shock from before.
"Interesting."
"What's so interesting?"
"Your name means Hermes Messenger, in that order."
"How did you know that?"
"I read a lot, about the apartments, I'm Luna Lupo the landlord of the building. How can I help you?"
"Well I'm in search for an apartment while I'm staying and studying for a couple of years."
"No problem, I have plenty of space for my dear." Selina couldn't help but to butt in to see what the two were talking about.
"Hey Luna!" Selina called out. Luna turned knowing it's Selina. "I'm sorry to interrupted your chat but I overheard that your staying at her building. I live there." Selina said to Hermione. But she only just stared.
"Is this your landlord?" Hermione asked Selina pointing at Luna.
"Unfortunately." Selina answered causing Luna to slump.
" I thought for a minute she was some sort of stalker with all that knowledge of hers"
"Luna a stalker? Well that explains what she does in that office of hers." Selina joked. She's funny. Selina thought to herself. When they reached to the building, Luna invited Hermione into her office to sign her up for her space, Selina followed. "You're Hermione Driscoll from our Managing Program, right? I'm Selina Chase i'm also in the same program. Nice to meet you." she brought out her hand for a shake. Hermione accepts greatly.
"The same here. Your name means Selene Hunt in that order. " Hermione responded.
This young lady took my line! I wonder if she has any relation to Mercury, it wouldn't surprise me if she is! Luna thought to herself as she try to calm herself.
"You sure are a genius. Your the first person to know that right away." If I'm her friend I can get help on the tests. Selina was thinking real hard of her plan.
"Selina. May I have a word with you in private, please?" Luna asked politly.
"Okay." Selina walked up to Luna.
"I feel a strange energy from this woman, she could be another Guardian. Or she could another enemy I'm not sure." Luna whispered. Selina laughed finding hard to believe.
"Stop joking around."
"What is it?" Hermione wondered.
"Oh, Luna is just saying crazy things." Luna walked up to her desk, pulled out a form and and a small blue velvet box.
"What is your birthday?" Luna asked.
"September 10." Hermione responded.
"What's your sign?"
"That's a strange question to ask? Virgo." Hermione looked at Luna strangely. Luna seem confidant from the information, she gave Hermione the blue velvet box.
"I found this interesting jewelry during my walk. I thought a bright person like you can wear it. It seems appropriate." Luna winked at her. Hermione opened it. Selina saw the necklace with the strange shape on it but immediately try to touch. Luna slapped her hand before she gets near it. Selina grabbed her hand in pain.
Shit! That hurt! Selina held her pain inside to herself trying to with stand it.
"Oh, this is the symbol for Mercury." Hermione mentioned, she took the necklace out of the box and put it on around her neck. "What do you think, Selina?"
"Looks fabulous!" Selina still trying to recover from the slap. "Hey do you want to grab a coffee at a cafe and talk some more?"
"Sure I will love to." Hermione smiled.
"Can you wait for me outside while I drop my stuff into my apartment?"
"No problem." Hermione went out the door and waited in front of the building.
"Why did you do that for?" Selina was enrage.
"That necklace is made out of pure Mercury. If you touch it you'll get poisoned and turn insane." Luna explain quickly.
"You gave her a necklace that can KILL HER? WHAT'S MATTER WITH YOU?" Selina freaked.
"Can you calm down? I gave her that necklace because she can be the next Guardian meaning she will be immune to the poison, but if she's not a Guardian than slowly she'll get crazy." Luna felt some what guilty of what just happen not knowing if the girl can handle the metal.
"I hope your right! If anything happens to her I'm putting all the blame on you, capiche?" Selina warned Luna.
"I totally agree."
"As for punishment for your crazy ideas, bring my stuff to my room." Selina ordered Luna.
"Yes, mam." Luna took her stuff and went up as Selina went out to see Hermione. When the two ladies made it to the Arcade Cafe, they both sat at the cafe bar waiting for someone to take their order. Wilbur saw Selina from afar with someone and went to see how they're doing.
"Hello Selina. Who's your friend?" Wilbur asked Selina.
"Wilbur this is Hermione Driscoll. Hermione this my friend Wilbur Jager." Selina introduce the two.
"It's pleasure to welcome any of Selina's friends. Whould you like to drink the new iced mocha?" he asked with such suave.
"Oh, I don't drink coffee. How about an English Breakfast instead?" Hermione insited.
"Tea it is, how about you Selina?"
"Give me whatever you got."
"No problem, coming right up!" Wilbur went to do their drinks, Selina looked at Hermiones new necklace feeling uneasy of the situation.
"Do you feel anything anything irritating around your neck?" Selina had to asked.
"No, I don't think so. Why you ask?" Hermione gave her strange look.
"In case of any allergies, we don't know what the necklace is made of and we're assuming is nickel."
"Well you don't have to worry about that. I don't have any allergies, but I do have to agree this metal does feels strange to the touch as if it was made out of liquid of some sort. I doubt it's nickel or silver." Hermione grabbed the pendant and feel the texture trying to figure out what it is. All that Selina can do is sit there and watch this woman fool around with poison around her neck and wanting to yank it off of her neck. Wilbur came back with their drinks.
"A mocha for Selina..." Wilbur handed her the mocha.
"Thank you." Selina gestured.
"...and a English Breakfast for Ms. Driscoll. The sugar and milk is on your right."
"Oh, thank you and please call me Hermione."
"It will be my honor, Hermione." Wilbur was flirting making Hermione blush. Selina noticed what he was doing.
"How much for the drinks, Wilbur?" Selina asked.
"Oh, don't worry the drinks are on me." he continue to gaze on Hermione getting her real uncomforable.
"Oh no, not this time! I'm paying for the drinks like it or not. I seriously don't know how you manage to keep this business going if you continue to keep giving free service to every cute girl you see cross the door. Your unbelievable!" Selina made Hermione blush even more and even made Wilbur blush to the bone.
"Fine, $3." Wilbur recovered. Selina gave him a $5 dollar bill.
"You can keep the change, you might need it." Selina teased and Wilbur walked away to do something else looking embarrassed.
"Your friend is quite funny." Hermione commented.
"You have no idea." Selina responded. Hermione checked her business like watch and her face expression changed instantaneously.
"Bullocks! It's late!" Hermione got up from her seat and took her notebook case almost running for the door. "I'm sorry Ms. Chase. I have to go to cram school."
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know you had cram school today." Selina was helping her to get ready.
"I go every day." Selina almost spit out her coffee for what she heard.
"Every day?" Selina looked shock.
"Studying and attending at business meetings is what I do best. I'll see you later than. Thanks a lot for the company." Hermione ran out the and disappeared in such speed.
"Later." Selina waved goodbye wondering how the girl does it. "She sounds like she's from another world."
"Um, Selina." called out Wilbur.
"What is it now, Wilbur?"
"Well..."
"Yes. What is it?"
"I think this belonged to that friend of yours." He held up a USB key that he found on the floor. Selina seemed a little disappointed.
"Is that all? Oh well I'll give it to her." She took the USB from Wilbur and examine it. She than put in her pocket.
At the building of the cram school, Gold Seminar, the students were walking in like zombies. Inside a silhouette of a man was standing by the window looking down upon them through the semi-open blinds. "Foolish humans. Study hard and surrender your mental energy." he than closed them shut.