The door opened, bringing some music into the bathroom. I checked my make-up and hair in the mirror before freezing. Rose was stood behind Jenni and I, a smile playing on her lips.

'Hello Sky.'

'Rose.' I replied with a hiss.

'I didn't know it was hooker night.'

'You've clearly never seen Moulin Rouge.' Jenni growled from beside me.

'Oh, I've seen it. Nicole Kidman looked a lot classier than you two skanks.'

I turned around to face her, trying to stop the anger exploding out of me. 'What do you want Rose?'

'Oh, you already know what I want.' Her lips curved up into a deadly smile. 'What a silly thing to ask. Still so naive, I see.'

'She's not naive.' Jenni shot Rose a death-glare from beside me.

'Frankly, I've had enough of you.' She clicked her fingers and Jenni fell to the floor. My eyes widened in horror; had she killed my best friend?!

'What did you do?!' I cried out, moving to Jenni's limp body.

'Oh relax, she's just unconscious. She'll be awake soon enough.' She got out a nail file and started to file her claw-like silver nails. 'Now, when are you planning on handing Zed over to me?'

'Never!' I shrieked. 'He's my soulfinder! That means he is mine and he always will be! So back the hell up and find your own one.'

Her face fell at that. 'I already had one. But now it's time I find a new one. I can stop your feelings for him, it's hardly difficult.'

'You wouldn't dare.'

'Wouldn't I?'

She grabbed my throat and held me against the bathroom wall. I felt her mind clawing inside mine, trying to scrape away any feelings and any memories of Zed. I felt sick and dizzy, but I had to fight back. The walls of the castle I was putting up were shuddering from the impact and I suddenly wished that I hadn't been drinking. I tried my best to push her back, but I was proving unsuccessful. Blood started coming out of my nose and I knew I had to use all of my power to stop this. With a jolt, my mind pushed Rose back. She fell against the door of a cubicle and whined. That was when everything went black...

When I woke up, I found myself in mine and Zed's apartment. I quickly sat up, giving myself headrush. I laid back down with a moan.

'Zed?' I called out, my voice hoarse.

'He's fine, he just popped out to the grocery store.' Phee's voice said from the doorway.

I squinted, unsure if I was hallucinating. 'Phee? What are you doing here?'

'Zed called me.'

'And me!' Crystal appeared at the door, joining her.

'W...what?'

'He called us all last night after the party. Jenni came back here with you and told him everything that had happened with you and Rose recently. We all flew out to make sure you were okay.' Phee passed me a glass of water, sitting on the bed beside me.

'Is Rose...'

'Still alive, sadly.' Crystal said, bitterly.

'Jenni woke up and said she saw Rose rubbing her head. Rose did a runner and then Jenni found you unconscious.'

'Rose knocked her out. Is she okay?'

'She's fine.' Crystal replied. 'Diamond is with her, keeping an eye out for Rose.'

'I told you this sorority business was stupid.' I sighed, looking at Phee at her rosy cheeks and growing bump.

'I just wanted you to make friends. Instead, you seem to have made enemies.'

'Why does my fiance have to be so damn good-looking? Is there a savant who can make him ugly? It might save me getting attacked by a psycho.'

Phee and Crystal laughed at that and I half-smiled.

'It would be easier.' Crystal nodded in agreement.

'But until we find a savant with that talent, Vick is looking into it and trying to find out a way to get Rose behind bars.' Phee explained, rubbing her belly.

'Behind bars? That's hardly going to hold her!' I cried out, sitting up in my bed.

'Well... her power might have to be drained first.' Phee and Crystal shuddered.

'How? What?'

'It involves lots of injections and tubes and things.' Crystal explained. 'The FBI have done it before when the savants have been too powerful to contain. She might need it.'

'Well I hope I never become that powerful.'

'Don't we all.'

When Zed returned from the grocery store with Xav that afternoon, I learned that The Benedicts were all checked into hotels in town and were planning to stay for at least a week; they had decided that was enough time to bring Rose down. However, the weather was starting to take a turn for the worst, bringing an early winter, and I was sure that there was a good chance they wouldn't get back to their jobs as quick as they had planned. The only time I was allowed out of the house was to go to work at Hollister, and even then I knew that someone would be stood nearby, keeping an eye on things.

'Hey, Sky, what's up?' Joe, a guy I worked with, greeted me when I arrived at work that week.

'Not much.' I replied with a shrug. The shop felt cool today, so I was glad I had opted for Hollister jeans and a white lace cami from the shop. I had the signature Hollister flip-flops on and my hair was straightened (thanks to Diamond).

'Jeans weather already?' He mock-gasped as he passed me, wearing his denim shorts.

'Have you not been outside today?! It feels like snow.'

'Nothing wrong with shorts in the snow! Now get on till, we're getting pretty busy.'

The day was shooting by quickly. That was until I had an unwelcome customer in the store.

'Can I have my break now?' I begged Kelly, the supervisor for the day, as I spotted Rose walking through the entrance.

'Not until Jenna is back.' She replied. 'It's your turn to greet at the door.'

I walked over to the door, my heart hammering against my chest. I knew I shouldn't be afraid of her; I'd been through worse and besides, I had managed to push her away with my shield. Nevertheless, any savant who could control actions and thoughts was a dangerous one to be around and that worried me. Why couldn't I get a break? I'd been through so much since finding out I was a savant. Would I need to move to an island in the middle of nowhere to be safe? Nope, I probably would run into trouble there too.

'Hey, let me know if you need any help.' I greeted a lady and her son as they walked through the door. They returned the smile before walking off to browse.

'I need some help.' A familiar voice called from across the dimly-lit room. I frowned.

Yves, Xav, I know you're in the mall. Can you wander over to Hollister- Rose is here.

Sure. Xav replied.

After calling for back-up, I decided I had better be a good customer sales person. I plastered on my biggest (fake) smile and walked over to Rose and a girl from the sorority that I didn't recognise.

'What can I help you with?'

'I was just wondering if you did these any smaller?' She held up a floral camisole like the one I had reserved in our stockroom.

'I'm afraid extra-small is the smallest we do.' I replied, pretending to be sympathetic.

'That's a shame. You ought to be catering for the smaller-framed girls as being your size is so last year.'

I tried not to flinch at that comment, especially as I was aware that my curves had started to make an appearance. 'Well that's the smallest I'm afraid. But we can send your comments to head office.'

'It's a shame you couldn't be more helpful.'

'Moving along.' Xav's voice was welcome to me.

'Sorry, I was in need of assistance.' Rose fluttered her eyelashes in his direction and he gagged, loudly.

'I think you'd better move on.' Yves replied, pushing his thick-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose.

'Wow, Sky, I didn't realise you needed bodyguards.' She giggled. 'Obviously too small and fat to look after yourself.'

'Hardly.' Xav chuckled. 'Ever had a hamburger in your life? Seeing bones is not sexy.'

'Uh, Sky, it's your break.' Joe appeared at my side. 'I hope we're not causing trouble again Rose.'

She growled and stormed out of the shop, clearly annoyed that everyone could see right through her.

'Thanks guys.' I half-smiled, looking at the three men who had come to my rescue.

If I was honest though, I was tired of people rescuing me. It was time I started learning how to look after myself...

I slammed the door when I got back to the apartment that evening.

'Something wrong, princess?' Zed called from the living room. He was sat with all of his brothers, Diamond, Crystal and Phoenix.

'Don't call me that.'

'What? Why?' He frowned.

'I'm tired of being the Damsel in Distress.' Like a stroppy teenager, I ran to my room and slammed the door shut, before bursting into tears. I was supposed to be a savant; why couldn't I look after myself? Everyone was always saving Sky and it was making me sick and tired of it. There were plenty of women in the world that had fought and died to achieve equality for women, and I was proving to be a pathetic one, living up to the stereotype.

There was a soft knock at the door. I looked up to see Phee, Diamond and Crystal creeping into the room.

'Sky? We heard what happened at work today.' Crystal whispered as they all sat down on my bed.

'What's wrong?' Phee asked, rubbing my back in a soothing motion.

'Why am I so pathetic?'

'Sweetie, you're not pathetic.' Diamond shook her head.

'Yes I am. I'm the damsel in distress. Everyone always has to save me from something. I shouldn't need protecting! I should be able to look after myself. I'm the worst excuse for a savant ever!'

'Don't be silly.' Phee laughed. 'I needed saving, remember? And then you stepped in and saved me.'

'We all need saving sometimes.' Crystal nodded in agreement.

'Oh please, Crystal, you had to rescue all of us back in Venice.' I shook my head.

'But Xav had to rescue me.' She offered. 'I was stuck on that island in the middle of nowhere.'

'But all the time? I just pass out when I need to fight!'

'You know what you need?' Phee smiled, her brain obviously ticking over.

'What?'

'A kick-ass girls night.'

'A what?' Diamond laughed, running a hand through her sleek hair.

'A kick-ass girls night. We can watch empowering films and dress up as superheroes.'

'Are you serious?'

Phoenix was serious. I spent the next day studying in the library and when I got back to the apartment, there was not a single boy insight. Instead, my friends were dressed as superheroes (Jenni was Poison Ivy, Phoenix was Supergirl, Crystal was Wonderwoman, and Diamond was Catwoman), there was various food spread across my kitchen and a large stack of DVDs.

'You were serious.' I said, unsure of what else to say. I put down my book bag and walked into my living room.

'What are you wearing?' Phee asked, looking at my casual library outfit. I looked down at my jeans, black vest top and leather jacket.

'Do I look that bad?'

Crystal passed me a shopping back. 'Go and get yourself changed! Then the fun can begin.'

I walked out of my room ten minutes later in a sexy batwoman outfit; hello black PVC with low neckline and short skirt. I had decided to ditch the mask, as I knew I would regret wearing it later. The girls wolf-whistled at me as I walked out. Then the movie-fest started.

'Are you feeling any better?' Phee asked after we had watched a rubbish version of Wonderwoman's adventures.

'A little.' I lied with a shrug. It was one thing to watch movies and another time to actually be a strong woman, standing up for what she believed in. 'Where are the guys anyway?'

'At one of the fraternity's parties in the Greek sector.' Crystal replied, casually.

'Are you serious?!' I gasped. If it was the Greek sector, Rose and her clones were bound to be there! All over my soulfinder!

'What's wrong?'

'Rose will be there!'

'Does she go to every party?' Phee asked.

'No, but she's bound to be there if she finds out Zed is. Oh my god, we have to go!'

Phee and Crystal smiled knowingly at each other, and I felt as if I had been set up; I was going to a sorority party dressed as a superhero.

'Is this a set up?'

'Perhaps.' Phee grinned.

'Well, whatever, let's go! I can't let her anywhere near Zed.'

'Don't forget your mask, batwoman.'