"Trying to find all your secrets," I say, trying to be chipper. I hold up the black dress. "What do you think this would look like on me?"

"What's this about?" She throws her purse on her bed and starts pulling her top over her head. I can't help but admire the black lacey bra she is wearing.

I wonder if they have anything cute in my size. I'm sure it is too expensive for someone who seems to grow a cup size every year. "They're having a semi-formal next month. Fall break is the weekend of the twenty-second; we get off Friday and Monday. Caleb thinks his dad will give us his frequent flier points to get Beth a flight to visit us." I used Jersey's real name because mom thinks it's a silly nickname. I hold my breath, hoping she'll agree.

She takes off her scrub bottoms, revealing the matching panties. I avert my gaze, embarra.s.sed to have her see me watching her. "Jess, I'm okay with it, but you need to make sure grandma doesn't have anything planned. Try it on," she says and points at the dress I'm still holding.

The dress slips over my head easy enough. The black chiffon sleeves have a dainty silk cuff that should end at the wrist. On me, the sleeves are too short. I wiggle around until I get everything adjusted. I look in the mirror and try to keep from crying.

"Black is such a pretty color on you. Your dirty blonde hair looks so pretty against the black. Even with your tan, the black is set off your hair and your eyes."

I let out the breath I'd been holding, still trying to keep my composure. "I can't wear this. Look at the sleeves, they're too short. I'm sure it's because I have this giant unib.o.o.b in the front." I fumble around with the side zipper and take it off.

"Baby, the dress is too small. We'll go shopping this weekend."

"I don't want you to spend all your money on me. Maybe we can find something cheap at a thrift store."

"I want to dress shop with you, my love. You're looking at a newly promoted supervisor, and I was given a sign on bonus. When I applied, they were offering an incentive that if I stay at least sixty days; I'd get a three thousand dollar bonus. If that doesn't make you happy, your dad sold some of his artwork and sent some money for you." She says as she puts on her booty' jeans and a black tank top.

"That's awesome mom! I need a job that does a sign on bonus like that!"

"Go to nursing school."

"Yeah, I don't think I could empty a bedpan. Why did dad send money for me?"

"He's your dad, and he should send money for you. With that said, how about Sat.u.r.day morning, we take a drive to Greenville and look at dresses?"

"Sounds like a plan." I throw my uniform on haphazardly so I can run and call Jersey. "You want to do just you and I, or invite grandma and Amber?"

"I'm happy whichever way you want."

"Okay, I'll ask grandma tonight." She won't say no, I know her too well. I better check with Caleb and see if he has asked his dad yet. I don't think my feet even hit the floor as I ran into my room.

Chapter 9. Dream.

The river is so beautiful in my secret hiding spot. In the past, I've become so entranced with the beauty of the river, I've almost dropped my journal in the water. The bees dance and hum in the trees behind the bench. I keep my distance, hoping that if I don't bother them, they won't bother me. My reaction to a bee getting too close ends with me flailing around and throwing whatever is in my hand at it.

"Jessie?"

I jump at the sound of my name. "Mrs. Ward?" Her dress looks out of place, being that we're on a canoe dock.

"I need to warn you about Nyx. I put out some feelers and came back with a positive sighting. As I've said before, I don't have any influence over Underworld escapees. "

"Can you explain to me, why all of this is happening? I don't know what my role is, and what makes me so unique." I pull my hair away from my sweaty neck.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" I nod my head. "Jessie, you're unique because of your bloodline. There's a sense of power that radiates off of you. I know it's all new, and this is a big surprise...it is what it is. Your power, the light that you have in you is powerful Jessie. It is like no other in the last five centuries. You and Caleb together are astonishing. As soon as you both know how to control your inner light, your light absorption will be needed less frequently."

"Since you're Fate, why can't you control my path?" I close my journal and turn sideways on the bench, tucking one leg under me.

"I can guide you; I can't weave your life though. I may cause a distraction or add a person that will show you the path to take. It's much like writing a story...you can control the scenario, but your mind and freewill chooses the words." Her voice soft-spoken, but her power radiates through her words.

"So what do I do?" I ask. I look at her, taking in the beauty of her face, how her pale blue eyes sparkle, so beautiful and regal, yet she emotes power. "I don't know how to make potions or martial arts to fight her. Caleb has shown me some moves, but nothing that I'd feel comfortable using on another person."

"That is where you're wrong Jessie Lucente, Nyx is not another person, she is a deity. I'm going to arm you with the human skills you'll need. When the time comes, you'll be called upon to join forces with others...you must choose wisely. There will be enemies who will fight on the same side as you. There will be a time when the only person you can trust is yourself. That isn't to say Caleb will betray you, but the potential will arise. Someday, light will bend to your will and power will attempt to sway you to the dark. Keep your wits about you Jessie Lucente, the queen of your land. This will hurt a little bit," she says and takes my hand into hers.

That doesn't sound good, I think to myself.

Fear, then anguish ripped through me like a forest fire, burning, searing, through every pore and muscle in my body. My head fell back in pain, tears slipping from my eyes, it's too intense to scream. Internally my brain is screaking in misery.

"Jessie, wake up!" Mom yelled as she shakes my shoulders.

I look around the room and realize I'm on the couch, the television is tuned to Wizards of Waverly Place, and there isn't any sign of Mrs. Ward. "I must have fallen asleep, I'm sorry. Give me five minutes and I'll be ready for dinner." I touch my arms and legs, the pain is gone, but I feel different somehow.

"You were screaming in pain, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was dreaming about school, nothing major." I check my phone to see what time it is. "It's 6:45, five minutes, okay?"

She leans in and hugs me. "Maybe you'll tell me about it at dinner. I'll see you in a few minutes."

My room is bright, the sun is peeking through the blinds leaving striped shadows on the wall. I grab a tie-dye sundress, it's the least wrinkled quick thing I have to wear. I'd already taken off most of my uniform, everything except my shirt. I pull it off, and for reasons I can't begin to explain, standing there in only my bra and panties, I kick my leg straight up. Standing there, in a perfect split, with incredible balance, I gasp. Without stumbling, I shift and relax my leg to stand upright. It reminds me of one of Caleb's memories that I got from one of our first kisses. I've seen a picture of Caleb in his Gi doing the same pose when he got his black-belt. He was embarra.s.sed that his mom put it up on the fireplace mantle for the world to see.

I'm athletic, but I'm not limber. Well, I wasn't limber, not until now. I wonder what else I can do.

"TWO MINUTES!" Mom yells from the other side of the house.

I send a quick text to Caleb asking if he can come over in an hour or so.

8:15 p.m.

Like clockwork, the doorbell rings. Caleb is the most punctual person I've ever known. Growing up, my dad had a ritual he did every time he left the house. His OCD was always an issue with my mom. We were late to almost everything, especially things that made him nervous. If his art was up at a gallery and he was doing a show, that was the worst. He'd triple check everything, every lock, every light, the oven and his keys. We traveled mostly by subway, which does run on time.

"It's for me!" I yell out.

As I open the door, I get waft of his cologne, it's spicy with a hint of musk. I always think crisp when I smell it. "Hey gorgeous, are you ready to play?"

I love the way his eyebrow goes up when he grins at me. "You stole my line. I'm ready to play, but are you ready to lose?"

"Oh no you didn't. Come on Miss Toughguy, let's rumble," he says.

I lean in and give him a quick kiss on the lips. He lets out a small groan. "Can we go to the park, the Frisbee park?"

"We can go anywhere you want. What's your curfew?" He holds the car door open for me.

I wait to answer until he gets in the car. "Mom said I have to be home at ten. We don't have to stop and get sodas; I brought us drinks in my backpack."

"You know the kids around here don't call it a backpack. It's a bookbag. Your purse is a pocketbook. You're in the South little lady," Caleb teases me.

I sit back, and he cranks up his Beastie Boys License to Ill CD. Oddly enough, my dad always played the CD too, so I know all the words. Our favorite song to sing together is Bra.s.s Monkey. I've no idea what that is, but it's funny.

The park is desolate of people. A few squirrels are mid-climb on a tree, tails twitching, waiting to move, probably thinking they are blended in with the tree. I always wonder if their brain works the way they move, arbitrarily.

We take the giant blue checkered blanket, his portable dvd player, and go set up to watch a movie. The first time we did this, it was so romantic...well, semi-romantic. We watched a scary movie, it scared the c.r.a.p out of me. The trees were casting shadows all around us, my imagination got the best of me and scared me to death. Now, it's our secret place to be together. The weather has been too hot for parents to bring their kids out to play so we are usually the only ones here.

"This is going to sound crazy, I need you to trust me though. Do I have your word?" I ask.

"I trust you, so yes, you have my word."

"I want you to attack me, with everything in you."

"When you say, attack me...do you mean in a boyfriend makes out with his hot girlfriend? Or do you mean, you're a bad guy and I'm taking you down?"

"You think I'm hot?" I grin from ear to ear. I love it when he says I'm hot. Eeep, my inner voice squeals.

He puts his hand on my waist and pulls me in until we're chest to chest. "Blazing." His cinnamon gum breath, teases my nose.

I rub my hands on his biceps, loving the way they're defined. "Take me down," I whisper seductively.

His eyebrow arches at my boldness.

"Not like that lover-boy...like this," I say as I whip my leg around, knocking him to the ground.

"You've been holding out on me." He springs up to standing. He takes my arm and pulls it up behind me. His chin on my shoulder as he stands behind me. "Like this?" He whispers in my ear.

I smile to myself before saying, "Exactly like this."

"You want to play dirty, do you, we'll see how that works out for you. I am a black-belt afterall," Caleb says.

"Who me? Never," I say between breaths. He tries to do some type of sweep with his leg and knock me off my feet. It doesn't work.

We go back and forth bantering and play fight. He loses his concentration as I press my body closer to him, and I knock us both to the ground. He is on his back, and I'm sitting on his abdomen, I lean forward and kiss him. He puts his arms around my back and flips me over onto my back.

"You've been holding out on me Miss Lucente." Caleb says.

"No, I'd never do that," I flirt back. "If you'll let me get up, I'll tell you about it."

"You're not going to try and go all ninja on me again, are you? You know I'm a black belt."

"I cross my heart."

"That's a beautiful heart." He says and holds out his hand to help me up.

I take two Dixie-cups out of my bag and fill them with lemonade. Caleb turns on two battery powered lanterns and leans back on one arm.

"Did the ninja-faerie stop by after school and pump you up with ninja skills?" His eyes bore through me, giving me gooseb.u.mps all over.

"Sooooo, after school, I fell asleep on the couch. I had a crazy dream about Mrs. Ward. She told me about Nyx being spotted and how we have to be careful. She said her usual stuff about not having any control of the Underworld escapees. The only help she offered is giving me the knowledge that I can physically take her on. She did her hocus pocus thing and gave me the ability to fight."

"Did she say we have to fight her literally?" He flicks a beetle off the blanket before my brain registers it's a bug. "We'll go to her tomorrow and have her send us to that school she told us about. I can't risk you getting hurt Jess."

The concern in his voice causes my heart to skip a beat. "I'm not running. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. If we left the only family we have, and run off to another school, we'll be wondering when it will happen until we're crazy. Literally crazy. I don't think we can truly hide from something like this anyway. Erebus found us without a problem. How do we know he won't be by her side and fight us too? No, we have to be smart and absorb the lessons from school and practice."

Caleb leans forward and says, "I'll love you until my last breath." He inches closer and my heart starts to beat so loud in my ears, it's like a symphony of drums. Resting his hand on the curve of my waist; I put my arm around him. The antic.i.p.ation of his kiss is killing me.

After seventy seven beats of my heart, his lips touch mine. His tongue is soft and silky as our mouths explore each other. He pulls away and in the glow of the lamp I can't distinguish the brown of his eyes, from his pupils.

"You don't need to be scared Jess, we'll figure this all out."

"I know, but it's hard when three months ago, my life was semi-normal. Yes, I miss having my dad around, but it isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I can tell my mom is happier since we've moved to North Carolina. She's made friends, and she's not down my throat every five minutes like she was in New York. At first, I didn't want to live in a boring town," I laugh at the thought. "I've learned to be careful about what I wish for. New Bern is anything but boring."

"I'm glad you're here and sooooon...Jersey will be here to."

"What? You're dad is going to get the ticket? I can't wait to tell her. Awesome!" I kiss him so fast that our teeth smack together. It doesn't divert us from carrying on with our kiss. I lean back, "I almost forgot to tell you something. I was in my mom's closet today, and I found an old box I've never seen before. It's big enough to hold a book. I tried to open it, but it's locked. She came home so I didn't get a proper chance to pick it."

"I thought your mom didn't know anything about us."

I shrug my shoulders. "Caleb, at this point, I don't know who knows what. I'm not trying to be ugly, but how would my mom not know. How can two people that love each other have such an enormous secret between them? Maybe my dad was lying. Ugh, I'm so confused. You and your dad, figured out what you are, in a fairly short amount of time. My mom was around it for fifteen years."

Caleb tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. "Those are valid points. Maybe your mom does know more. The next time you see the box take a picture and text it to me. I'll see if I can find some information on how to pick the lock."

"You're good. I didn't even think to do that. I'm thinking I'll keep you," I snuggle closer to him.

"As much as I'd like to stay here, it's dark, and you have to be home soon. We have enough time to go to Sonic for ice-cream."

Chapter 10. Guardian's Call.

"Good to see you've made it home safe and sound," Grandma says as I walk in five minutes late.

"I'm sorry, we stopped to get some ice-cream, and they took forever." I lean over and hand her one of her favorite treats of all time.

"A mocha-java drink? I'm easily bribable," she says smiling at me. Grandma looks ten or more years younger than she is. Living in the south, we call everyone Miss or Mister plus their first name. Grandma insists that I call her Miss Gayle, as she's in denial that she can be old enough to fit the t.i.tle of grandma. We've always had a unique bond, either from me coming to North Carolina every summer or because we're a lot alike. "Let's go in my room, your mom conked out on the couch. She has been working so much, she is missing out on living."

The hall to grandma's room is filled with pictures of my mom when she was young, and pictures of me. There were photos of grandma and grandpa's wedding and family I've never met. I don't have any memories of my grandfather; I was young when he died. He was thrown from a horse and another horse stomped on him. His internal injuries were too severe, and he died two weeks later. Grandma still has a hard time talking about him; she tears up and leaves the room until she composes herself. Mom always said they had the perfect marriage, and she wants the same for me one day. Caleb and I'll be that way...I hope.

Her room screams Hollywood drama with its crystal chandeliers and white furniture that pop against the powder blue walls. I kick off my sandals and hop up on her king sized bed. We've always watched TV via the comfort of her bed. During The Wizard of Oz, I'd huddle up under the comforter, any time the witch was on. She and I'd eat popcorn and talk about plants and recipes. I love our time together.

"Mr Gabe said he'd let Jersey use his frequent flyer miles to come visit over fall break. Would it be okay with you if she stayed here?"