****Paradise Sagas:  Book 1: Warriors of Paradise****

 

Chapter 10

 

     Lexa smelled coffee.  Who could have made it?

     "Wakey, wakey."  A voice said and someone nudged her.  She groaned and stuffed her head under a pillow.

     "G'way."  She grumbled.

     "C'mon, Lex.  Time to get up!"  The pillow suddenly disappeared from above her.

     "Kevin!"  She said in a whining voice, before she shot upright, "Kevin!  What are you doing here still?"

     "Daenna and I decided it would probably be best if we all stuck together."  He gave her back her pillow, "So we spent the night here.  She's still sleeping in the other room."  He made a gesture towards the door.  "I hope you don't mind."

     Lexa looked at him, suddenly becoming serious, "Why are we friends?"

     He was caught off guard, but recovered quickly, "Because we need each other.  All of us."  He smiled, "Okay, lazy.  Get up.  I'll be trying to wake Daenna."

~*~*~*~

     She had been sitting, brushing her hair, just like she was now.  Lexa thought as she sorted through memories of her past life.  Just like this...

~*~*~*~

     Lari pulled the brush through her long hair.  It popped with static electricity.  She smiled dreamily to herself as the four bracelets clanked softly.  The door behind her opened and she smiled again.

     The person entered-who was it? Lexa thought-he put his strong hands lightly, familiarly, on her shoulders.  He pulled her back and kissed her on the forehead.

     Such a light kiss, as if she might break.  But there was emotion behind it.  Such strong emotion.  An emotion she returned to him.  True, deep, love.

     "Are you ready?"  He asked, she looked at her reflection again.

     "Yeah."  She whispered, almost sadly.  This was something they had to do, it was only right.  She took his hand as the both left the room.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa dropped her brush on the floor with a sudden jerk.  *Too many memories,* she thought as she leaned over to pick it up, *just too many.*

     She shut off the lamp then went to the living room.  Kevin was sitting on the couch, facing the skyline.  She smiled slightly, before she went down to the kitchen.

     Daenna sat at the table, reading the newspaper.  Lexa said a greeting before she began to dig through the fridge.

     "Can I use your shower?"  Daenna looked cranky as she flipped through the front page, "I'm in dire need of one."

     "Yeah, sure.  It's in there."  Lexa pointed to a door under the stairs, "If you need anything, let me know."

     "Thanks!"  Daenna rushed into the bathroom.  Lexa smiled to herself as she took a drink from the orange juice carton she found.  She cringed and threw the thing into the garbage before continuing her search.

~*~*~*~

     Kevin heard her pause behind him before she moved one and went downstairs.

     Lexa had a beautiful apartment, with a beauty of a view.  They skyline stretched forever.  He could almost see the skyscrapers of some other town.  The front door was on the top floor that the elevator could reach, 26, while the second story of the apartment was above it.

     His eyes moved over the skyline again.  He was worried about David and Kendra.  *What is Lilith doing with them?*

     A scream cleared Kevin's mind as he shot down the stairs.

~*~*~*~

     She dropped the closed carton of milk as the scream erupted from the bathroom.

     "Daenna?"  She yelled as she rushed towards the closed door.  Already half-ways down the stairs, Kevin jumped over the handrail.  Another scream sounded, along with a crash, "Daenna!"  She tried the doorknob.  Locked.

     "Daenna?  Unlock the door!"  Kevin yelled, pounding his fist to the wood.  He took a step back, and then rammed the door with his shoulder.  He stumbled back and hit it again as one last scream came, then was cut short.

     "What the-?" Lexa grabbed the doorknob.  It turned in her grasp.  She looked at Kevin before pushing it open.  The bathroom was empty.

~*~*~*~

     "Where the HELL did she go?!"  Lexa grabbed the white towel off the floor.

     Kevin stayed in the doorway for a moment, before he walked over, reached in, and turned off the shower.  He looked around.  His eyes narrowed on the mirror.

     IT'S ALMOST OVER, LARI was written sloppily across the steamy mirror.  Kevin stared.

     Lexa turned to look at him and her eyes landed on the mirror.  She hissed as she inhaled.  Then she exploded, "LILITH!  I'm going to KILL you!  I've had enough of this.  Do you hear me Lilith?!"  She screamed.

     Kevin stepped towards the mirror, "Lilith wasn't here."  He looked from the mirror to Lexa, and then back again, "That's David's handwriting."