It was the next morning and I was not a happy camper. I had spent most of the night trying to understand Violet. I was now getting ready to meet Raven at the pool.
~~~
�Raven is a what?! And I�m like her?!� I had sputtered this when I finally got around to listening to the strange violet-haired girl.
Violet sighed patiently and explained to me again about the New Moons, Felicity, Bliss, Father Time, and Pluto. Hard to believe any of this coming from someone who claimed to be able to transform into a cat.
After what seemed like years, I gave up trying to fight the truth and let the memories come back. Images of a girl around 16 with long dirty blonde hair streaked with dark blue and silver. Sometimes in a sailor uniform fighting evil, it was Christiana also known as Sailor Elaky. That was me?
�Here,� Violet presented a small charm like the one Raven had showed me on the day of the second attack. �It�s the�� �Ebony Dagger,� I finished for her. Violet smiled, �Do you accept?� I nodded and put on the necklace.
~~~~
A ringing brought me back to reality, the phone. �Hello,� I answered absently. �Hey, where are you?� �Raven,� I thought. �Hey, I�m on my way out now. Violet�s coming okay�� It wasn�t a question and an explanation wasn�t necessary.
�Yeah, Zeus too.� The line went silent for moment and I could see Raven thinking about how to word the question I knew was coming. �Am I alone on this?�
I laughed, �Do you think I would let you do this on your own? Com� on, Ducks, (A/N� actual nickname� lol) I�m surprised you�ve lasted this long with out my superior intelligence.�
�Hey!� Raven mocked anger but she was laughing, �Thanks, Kris. See ya when ya get here,� Raven�s voice lowered into a whisper, �Please hurry, Zeus, Mickey, and Marisa are ganging up on me, I fear for my life.� I heard a deep voice say something I couldn�t understand then Raven laughing. �No, leave me alone! Don�t tickle me! Bye Kris! Zeus! No, stop it!� Then the line was dead. I giggled as I hung up the phone.
�Violet?� I called to my new friend grabbing my bag.
�On my way,� she replied from the bathroom. When she emerged I found her clothed in a black bikini top and leather shorts with her long violet hair in elaborate braids. I wondered how she had done that in the 10 minutes she had been in there and decided not to ask. �Lets go,� she said heading past me toward the door.
I looked at my own reflection where I found short choppy layered dirty blonde hair with pink streaks, pale skin, blue-gray eyes, and a splash of freckles. I was clothed in a tropical string bikini with a sheer wrap around my legs probably a big difference to what Raven would be wearing. Most likely she would be wearing a simple black one piece with a large t-shirt and shorts near-by. I laughed and headed after Violet slipping my sunglasses on.
Technically it was still Summer meaning it was just as hot outside as it had been before school started. It was 98 degrees and rising (lol I loved that cd) with no let up of the heat in sight. Exactly why I and possibly the rest of the town was heading to the pool. Violet and I didn�t talk much on our way, only complaints about the heat and the obvious crowd that was going to be there.
�Kris!� Before I knew it, 2 little monsters posing as five-year-olds Mickey and Marisa attacked me. �Hi, guys.� They were attached to my legs so all I could do was pat them on the head. Violet laughed at me and waved at Raven and Zeus who were coming to greet us and save me.
�Hey guys, �bout time.� Raven grinned pulling out 3 one-dollar bills. Ah, a bribe. �Mickey, Marisa, go get some sodas for us.� The two monsters fell for it and released me, Mickey grabbed the money and fled to the concessions stand with Marisa right on his heals.
�Thanks,� I smiled as we walked to a group of chairs near the extremely crowded pool. �So, where are the other zillion brats?� We laughed while Violet looked confused and Zeus rubbed his temples in annoyance.
�Chase took Brian and Jewel to our mom�s, I was told to take these two out so the Master and Mistress of the house could get peace. The deal was that I wasn�t going to take any of their friends. Janie and Tim decided to take Jesi home early so no more infant around the house.� She grinned triumphantly at not having to deal with more than two kids on a hot Saturday afternoon.
�How many brother�s and sisters do you have?� Violet asked still confused.
�Too many,� Raven and I answered in unison. �Biologically 2 brothers and 2 sisters, step is one bro and one sis with one niece, and in-law is one bro.� Raven explained it like it was the simplest thing in the world.
�Oh.� Raven and I laughed again. Just then Mickey and Marisa came running up to us empty-handed, both looking scared. Must have been some older bully pushing �em around. Now Raven would have to go be sisterly and harass him till he gave up the money.
�Where are the sodas, guys?� Raven asked patiently. �Th-There�s something over there, Ven.� Mickey managed before crying. �What�s over there?� �A monster� like the one you showed us.� Marisa who had already been crying finished for her twin.
Suddenly screams could be heard from the concession and from the pool. We looked at the pool and realized four or five tentacles were slashing about that shouldn�t have been there.
Raven immediately ran for the bathrooms that were near the concession stand yelling over shoulder, �Kris, lets check it out! Zeus, calm them down!� Translation: We�ve got trouble, we�re going over here to transform, keep them away!
�Maliky-Moon,� �Elaky-Moon,� We started our transformations, �LIGHT-UP!� We cried in unison completing it. It was my first time transforming and if you can imagine not existing for but a second than being born again as someone else, that�s the feeling.
�Come on!� Raven or Sailor Maliky sprinted out ahead of me. I admit, she is fast under stress, but again I easily caught up to her.
I was almost sorry for accepting my role when I saw what was behind the concession stand counter. A near 7-foot tall bat like man with burning golden eyes was in one of those dorky looking striped uniforms. At any other time I would have laughed at the sight of this huge monster in that out fit, but at any other time I probably wouldn�t have about to face him in battle.
�Hello,� it growled at us, �how may I serve you? Your head on a platter or mounted?� It jumped over the counter easily and we instinctively stepped back.
�Make it vice versa and you got a deal,� Maliky said twirling her sword casually.
�What did you say?� It narrowed its eyes.
�She said it�s time to kick your ass. FIRE,� my hands engulfed in fire, �BURN!� I aimed at him and the fire shot out to hit him square in the chest leaving a burnt mark. He didn�t even flinch before he started coming towards us.
�LIGHTNING STRIKE!� Beams of lightning shot out to hit the monster and he kept moving toward us.
�Uh oh.�
�What do you mean uh oh?�
�That used to work.�
�You mean we�re in deep shit right here and your attack conveniently stops working?�
Maliky nodded scared.
The thing looked from me to her and back at me. �Enough of this! Lets fight already.� He started to barrel his way straight at me. I flew back a few a feet to land on my butt.
He loomed over me bringing his fist above his head, �This was pleasant�� He was cut short and roared in pain. I looked up to find Maliky behind him with her sword half way into the thing�s back. �Come on, Elaky!� I didn�t have to be told twice, �FIRE BURN!� Whether it was because he was already hurt or if it was the close range, it worked this time. He burst into flame and continued to roar in anguish. Before he could collapse on top of me, he turned to dust.
We ran back to the pool to find it empty of monster and humans alike. We breathed a sigh of relief.
�Lucky us.� I said grateful for Maliky. We turned to find the people who had come to the pool applauding us. There in the front clapping the hardest was Violet and Zeus with Marisa and Mickey next to them.
I bowed and gave a few thank yous as to humor them while Maliky just kind of smiled and waved.