They were frightned of dying. And most of them would die…at least during the ritual, the others would meet the same fate…only a bit latter. In the end they would all be united. Saint, apprentice or not.

That was what Morrigan told them.

The time had come to be chosen by the masks that would bind them. The masks, Morrigan said, were living, breathing things. They chose you, you didn’t chose them. Like the cloths….

Gabrille was terrified and Melissa apprehensive. They had a right to be But for her, it wasn’t so. She had become better than that. It was not the fear that drove her, although that was palpable in the air wherever she went, but the challenge.

And she wanted it badly enough.

They were thriteen years old now, another year and their training would be over and the new Ophiuchus saint chosen.

She had been seven when she arriived…so that would be seven years of training…

She wondered how Ophiuchus chose. Some cloths, specially the gold, chose their new wielder at the death of the last…but what of silver cloths? Must the old saint die for the new one to reign?

More importantly what of the children who did not suceed?

She was worried. Worried for Melissa and even that borish Gabrielle. For so long they had been almost her family it would be…sad to watch them go.

But they had to go because there could only be one.

And she must be that one.

*****

Hestia knelt before the statue and whispered a prayer to her lady, Athena. Visions of a dark eyed beauty unfurled before her. She let her spirit go to the girl, relishing in the feeling of flying as she bent time and space to her will and placed herself in the room of the child.

The child, a creature of ten, sat by a little anitque tea table, playing with porcelein dolls, unaware of being watched. Sometimes Hestia would allow the child to see her and sometimes they would talk and drink tea together. Hestia would hide her presence and to onlookers it would seem as if the child were speaking to herself. Therefore Hestia’s precense could be dissmissed as nothing more than the fanciful working of the child’s imagination.

The servents would laugh then, gossiping among one another about the sanity of the child’s mind. Even the most devoted of the servents was startled by the clarity of the conversations the child carried on, seemingly by herself. After all, the child was nine, no longer of an age for such games of pretend.

The old man understood. And when he came around Hestia was always uncomfortable, nervous and distressed in his presence. A wolf in sheeps skin. The statement rang so true for him. She avoided being too close to him, the man was not human but as to what his true identity was she was not certain. He posed no threat to the child, rather he was her protector, and for now that was enough to settle Hestia’s mind. Even if she could not fully trust him.

Today she was here simply to bless, she had no time for conversations. She moved to the little girl’s side, placing a hand upon her head.

"A cup of tea for Miss Beth." The child was saying as she poured actual tea into an old-fashioned english teacup and brought it to the lips of a prettily dimpled doll. Hestia smiled. The old man went through great leengths to make sure that this child would always have the best there was to have in this world.

And not enough humility in all of her body to fill the smallest thimble. She had been raised to be proud and haughty while the goddess slept on.

She was dressed like one of her inanimate friends and when the servent came to fetch her she pouted and shrieked in defiance.

Yet, Hestia saw her goddess in those dark pool-like eyes as well as the goodness of that little girl’s soul despite the pride. And saw the indomiable streength that slept there.

The streength that called itself Athena.

These visions would have had her killed by the man who called himself Kyoko, it was a dangerous truth.

Still, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to visit this little child with her mind much less than she could stop water from flowing or time from passing. Hestia needed to protect her as much as was possible, for in her heart she knew that this was the child. Mehdi’s daughter. In her heart, Hestia kissed the child goodnight in the place of the young mother that would never have the chance. In the quiet of the night, Hestia whispered "My goddess" and knew it to be true.

May the little girl have the streength to let the Goddess thread the path before her, may she be wise to know what was right, what was true. And may her justice never faulter.

A cosmo nudged her. An intrudor. Hestia snapped the link between herself and the precious child, she came crashing through space, collecting her shields around her. She flared her own cosmo, bringing life to the shrine.

She closed her eyes and indentified the woman.

"Ophiuchus Morrigan. How pleasant to see you…" The priestess ‘saw’ with her mind’s eye the Ophiuchus saint enter Athena’s shrine.

"Hestia, likewise."

Of course it was anything but likewise, Hestia knew and, carefully lighting a candle before the statue, she hid a smile from the tall woman. Morrigan was not a woman she would ever wish as an enemy.

"It has been long since you’ve last visited me, Morrigan." Hestia searched the other’s cosmo with her own. Her visitor was not one she enjoyed searching through, too many unsettling thoughts, but she needed to understand the nature of this meeting. She found nothing and frowned a bit bitting her lower lip thoughtfully. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Hestia looked over her shoulder at the other. Ophiuchus Morrigan shifted her feet, putting her weight on her left foot, she crossed her arms over her chest. She looked…nervous. How strange.

"I will get to the point then." the woman announced, again Hestia was forced to fight back a smile.

"Please do."

"You are a seeress. I…" Morrigan paused obviously unsure of how to express herself, "am worried for my children."

Ah. Now that little piece of information was fascinating. Morrigan declaring herself worried was already enough to give Hestia gossip for the week but for the children. Now that was priceless.

"Will they all die?" the voice was it’s usual cold monotone.

Hestia rose to her feet carefully dusting her white robes, she pushed back her lavender hair with one hand and with the other shielded her eyes to see Morrigan.

"I will never get used to so much sun so early in the morning." She murmured.

"Ireland was oftern gray." The other countered, leaving Hestia to decide if this was an agreeable or not piece of information.. "What do you see for them? Who will survive the ritual?"

Hestia frowned, Morrigan was more than worried for her students, she was cautious for her pride. Pity, she didn’t have gossip after all.

"Does it matter who will die or live?" she questioned, tilting her head. "One of them will be you sucessor, is that not enough?"

Morrigan’s head bobbed once but there was otherwise no further change.

"Will she be worthy?"

This time Hestia allowed herself to smile, a big toothy cat-like grin.

"Only time will tell."

*****

The field was lush and green, well tended but nothing out of the ordinary, save that this field was part of the haven within Sanctuary that was sacred to the women that had entrusted their lives to Athena. A place where any man who stepped foot would be killed with no mercy shown.

A place where Athena’s female warriors called home.

It had a different feel to it than the public part of Sanctuary, something like she imagined the great twelve temples to have…the feel of something sacred to the goddess. But no wars had been fought here, no blood shed.

When she was very, very small her family would go on Sunday’s to watch mass, that was, of course, before her father’s drunkness and their family’s poverty got in the way. This place had the feel of that church.

Was this then a nunnery?

She and the others had never been here before, the Amazon compound was forbidden to those women who had not yet pledged their lives to Athena.

Melissa stood quietly beside her, as always, Gabrielle a few feet away. There were another 30 or so girls gathered today. For the ritual. Morrigan had dissapeared almost as soon as she had taken them there, the other masters dispatched their charges in the same fashion.

Some of the girls were hunched together weeping openly, others stood bravely apart but most sniffled and looked unsure and lost. Shaina was glad for Melissa, the american looked about herself cautiously but gave no indication of fear, Gabrielle, poor thing, attempted the same without much success. In the corner of her eye she spotted Marin, trying to soothe a hysterical girl.

Melissa poked her in the ribs with her elbow and nodded towards Marin, "Look who’s there, should we go say hello?"

"We wait together like Morrigan told us to." Shaina shook her head impatiently, searching the field with wary eyes. "Someone will come for us soon enough." Besides she didn’t really wish for the ‘superior’ presence of the aquilla trainee.

"My, my, my aren’t you cold! She trained with us for three years and now not even a civil hello. When I beat the living daylights out of you and take Ophiuchus for myself I pray hope that you will maintain the decency to say hello to me before I make you lick my feet." The blonde put her hands on her hips and nodded for emphasis.

"Lick your feet?"

Melissa winked, "I’m trying to be kind, see."

"Well," Shaina stressed the word while rolling her eyes, "that makes all the difference in the world then, hm?" But she wasn’t really paying attention for now a woman in white robes followed by three others approached.

"They don’t look to be warriors." Melissa squinted. "At least, the first doesn’t."

Shaina had to agree, specially of the first. She had the elegant swaying walk of well-bred women, she was tall, with long lavender hair that swung well past her knees. The other three wore their hair up with no ornaments. But it was the first, obviously the leader, who had arrested Shaina’s interest.

The woman was close now. She inspected the group curiously, the three attendendts, as Shaina had decided to call them, stood directly behind her. Like they were guarding the first woman. Perhaps they were warriors after all.

"Welcome children." The woman’s voice was deep, husky and flowing all at once. "I am Hestia, High Priestess to Athena."

A murmur passed through the crowd of girls. Hestia, they had all heard of her although none had seen her. Traditionally, the high priestess answered to none but the goddess herself. Although she had no say in the leading of Saints, it was she, who in times of peace brought faith and order to the inhabitants of Sanctuary. Consort to the Kyoko.

"This," and she spread her arms before her, "has been home to the generations of women who have served Athena selflessly, with their bodies, hearts and souls. Women who have sacrificed everything for the benefit of something far greater."

Shaina looked about her and prayed fervently that there was more to this than she could see, at least for the woman’s sake. Otherwise…pretty dysmal looking place to call home.

Shaina realised the woman was looking straight at her a tiny smile on the priestess’eyes and Shaina found herself flushing mercilessly. Damn.

To say that Hestia was beautiful would be an understatement. She had a long, fine nose, full exotic lips and porcelein, unblemished skin. Her eyes were strange, no doubt, a startling cat-like slanted shape and of a deep yellow-gold color. But it was her eyebrows, or rather lack of, that decided Shaina. Beautiful but strange, startling creature. Instead of eyebrows the woman bore two dots. But she bore them with such elegance that Shaina felt anyone to mock them would be a deep, true fool.

"All of you are here today because of a decision you have made. A life’s pledge to the Goddess Athena." Hestia was now saying.

Beside her, Melissa nodded confidently.

"So I welcome you and pray you are worthy of the lives of these women and of the pledge that binds you to our goddess. You believe you have come to chose a mask to wear and a ritual will unfold afterwards. No. The mask will chose you, if you prove to be worthy of wearing it. That is the ritual and the challenge."

One of the women stepped forward, not quite beside Hestia but enough to be of importance. "Before you step into these lands you must purify yourselves in the water of life. As is the wisdom of Athena."

Hestia was smiling then she turned and walked away. So simply. The other woman was shouting orders now.

"You will follow me to the bathing room."

She caught Melissa’s eye and her friend shrugged.

Five minutes latter Shaina was tossing her clothing to one side of the bathing room shivering against the feel of only air against her skin. She flushed faintly, it didn’t much help that she was in the same room as 30 other naked girls.

The bathing tub, pool would be a better word, was of gigantic porportions. And room was deep irony, there were no walls only pillars. Shaina wondered how many noble warrior women had gotten themselves some nice colds bathing in the open.

"You’re such a prude." Someone whispered in her ear.

Shaina sighed miserably….Melissa. The blonde winked when Shaina turned to look at her over her shoulder.

"C’mon, Gabrielle is already in, see?" True, Gabrielle was already in and trying desperatly not to look in any direction but down.

"I see." Shaina drawled then sighed and slipped into the water.

*****

The woman walked in elegantly, a calm, detached look on her face. "You called me?" She whispered, voice husky.

"You came fast." He was struggling to remove his robe and getting terribly wound up in it, she noticed. The woman nodded as she moved to untangle him from his bonds nimble fingers working the knots fast. Silly man.

"I was finished with my work. For now, anyhow." She moved to kiss him quickly, a sisterly kiss. She smiled slightly, her noble face quickly becoming serious again so that the man might wonder if she had smiled or if it had been product of an over worked mind. She helped pull him out of the robe.

"I’ll be needed in the morning." She said finally watching him out of cloudy eyes as he stretched well-defined muscles casually.

He awarded her with a ravenous smile in return and pulled her roughly to him, crushing her mouth under his. Hands slipping around her to caress her body, she trembled slightly at his touch, she surrendered to him as she had many times before. He pulled away for a moment, smiling and led her to his bed.

"Tonight then."

*****

He was the most beautiful creature the boy had ever seen. An eagle, a thing of majesty, grace and deadly beauty. The beast was like no creature he had ever seen, it’s size was much too large, it’s feathers of a molted gold color, the eyes were human violet orbed and knowing.

Dear god, what had he been smoking. He glanced at his trembling hand and put out the tight roled cigarette there.

But there it was, perched casually on a balcony rail, looking out of it’s human eyes into the boy’s room. Calling him forth. He stood on shaky legs, using the elegant mahagony desk for support. An ill lamp shone alone on top of the desk. It provided the only light in his room and the balcony before him.

The beast cocked it’s head, watching the boy intently.

Prey.

The curtains swirled, wind-blown, looking like wisps of smoke. They framed the glass-paned doors that led to the balcony.

The boy moved forward until he could stare at the eagle.

This was a trance, a spell, his poor mother would call it evil. And maybe she’d be right. Or maybe it was just a bad trip. He had had some of those. Yes, a trip. Only the animal wasn’t going away. And there was the chill. And the waves. He couldn’t hear the waves. There had always been waves…always.

Even before there had been sight he had been able to distinguish the sound of the ocean. It’s presence stirred his blood and pulsed his soul. The sea had been his merchant family’s domain. But for him things were diferent. For him the ocean was alive and he couldn’t quite grasp why.

The ocean waves spoke to him. A gentle lullaby, a song in the night. Something so extraordinary his that others failed to understand. Or perhaps he refused to explain it. It didn’t matter he had nothing else. Just the ocean and a batallian of servants to cater to his every whim. Even the slliest, most absurd ones.

And what did the waves sing for him today?

Nothing.

Only the eagle.

The creature with human eyes. The boy approached it now, until he was a few feet away, ranked by the open doors on each side, across the cliffs and below the sea reigned. He smiled, tossing blue locks from his face casually. The eagle, if it was an eagle, watched him out of predatory eyes.

Yeap, he needed sleep and tons of it.

"Are you going to stare at me all night, Julian Solo. If so, I rather believe I’ll rip you to shreds and throw you below to the waves you hold so dear." The Eagle spoke with a chilingly calm voice, a silken smooth baritone.

His first thought was to run and he would have had it not been for the Eagle’s quiet warning.

"Do that and escape is the last thing you’ll find. Now, come to me, Julian Solo. I chose to look upon you.:"

The boy, Julian Solo, smirked. "A beast that speaks. Or is it squeaks? I’m sorry, I’m unfamiliar with bird language."

"Leave your vices out of this. You know who I am as I know who you are…or rather were." The Eagle screamed. "Come, Lord of the Ocean, I speak to my brother!"

The boy laughed, throwing his hands up, an offering to the sea. But when he looked upon the Eagle, his eyes were changed, startling blue eyes were clear of any foreign substance and when he spoke, he did it with the voice the Eagle would recognize. "What is it you want my darling brother?"

"The agreement. You remember?"

The man who was more than Julian Solo smiled and nodded.

"War."

Somewhere in Sanctuary a woman named Hestia awoke with a start. Something had occurred, the wheel had been set in motion, a meeting between Lords of Power. It had started for he had deigned it so.

Carefully as not to wake her lover, she slipped out of the bed, padding barefoot on the cold stone. The Lady was calling. Her hair offered the only protection from the night, thick strands clinging to wrists, breasts and back.

She walked until she found Her.

A statue of tremendous size, a beautifully crafted thing, adorned with gold and ivory…and crying tears of blood.

Athena.

Hestia made a promisse long ago, an oath she now remembered. When the time came Athena would be ready. Athena would rule…with war.

And the blood tears were pronounced a miracle..

*****

Melissa shifted in her chair, almost dropping her plate. "All they talk about are the tears." The girl was saying excitedly. "It’s been proclaimed a miracle, they say. They said the maids found her this morning, can you imagine?" Melissa frowned at her plate. "I still don’t like garlic. Shaina, do you want my pie?"

Tears. Yes, Shaina knew. Rumor had it the priest and priestess’ had found Athena’s Holy statue that very morning weeping tears of blood. A spectacle that had not occurred in ten years.

"Can’t you just eat?" Roughly said. The blonde flushed and dropped her head, reminding Shaina of a whipped pup.

"Don’t shoot the messenger." Shaina forced a smile at that, poor girl, she was probably nervous about the ritual and had seeked haven with Shaina and gossip.

"Sorry. Only you ought to be more wary of the trial than of the Goddess’ tears." Melissa caught her eyes for a moment, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. Poor creature, Shaina felt the pang of remorse, to win Ophiuchus sorrow would come to this one. Over the years Melissa had become oddly attached to her, far more so than the gullible and easily frightned Gabrielle. More surprisingly still, Shaina felt a strong mutual liking to the girl, something she hadn’t trully expected. Well, they were the last. And probably lonely, when you had no one, nothing you suddenly realised the importance of the lightest friendship.

"No more talk of tears." She orederd and…her friend nodded in answer quietly chewing on her food.

Tears were far from Shaina’s first and foremost wories. The ritual was to be held this night and all the idiot girls could gossip about were the damn tears. As if it were proof of the goddess’ existance. If they needed proof to believe then why were they here?

"Don’t be so hard on them," a warm voice spoke over her shoulder, Shaina turned in her chair and met warm chestnut brown eyes framed by dark red hair. Marin. "Not many have your faith, Shaina."

Was she mocking her? Shaina would have asked but Melissa interviened.

"Marin, long time no see. Sit with us! Shaina and I were just discussing the whole Tear affair."

Marin took her seat in a fluid motion as the girl beside pouted at the american and protested. "We were discussing nothing. You were ranting on and on while I sat here minding my own business. Which is, if you ask me-"

"We don’t. Really. Ne, Marin-chan?"

"What you should be doing too."

Melissa sighed and threw her hands up, turning to Marin in exasperation. "See this is what I have to put up with! Grumpy, grumpy, grumpy!"

Shaina snickerd, "Grumpy is a chracter from a Disney cartoon."

"Yes indeed," Melissa winked, "our dear Shaina is Grumpy and yours trully is…Lusty."

"You know," Marin smiled as she picked at her food listlessly, "Lust is no Taboo, only love is."

"Oh," Melissa leaned closer, arms stretched across the table " and why is that?"

"You speak too much of love for future saints of Athena." Shaina frowned, green eyes scanning the refectory for Gabrielle.

"Not at all, " countered Marin, "after all that is what the masks mean. To be completely devoted to the Goddess, forsaking all others."

Melissa laughed, "So, Athena is a freaking Lesbian? No, seriously, Shaina don’t look at me that way!" She cried lifting up her hands to ward off her badly-tempered friend. "All I’m saying is that we are sworn to protect love, ne?"

"Fraternity." The word rolled from her tongue thickly, Shaina smiled "and Justice."

"Yes but Love too." Marin frowned at Shaina’s dark look, "but for the goddess. We are comitted totally to her from this point on. We are hers. If she so chooses."

"Whatever." Shaina rose from the table, "I’m going to see if I can find Gabrielle." Marin watched in silence as she turned and stalked away, boots pounding away self-assuredly.

"She does not care much for me, huh?" She sighed softly turning to her remaining companion. Melissa wore a dissapointed look.

"She does not care much for anyone." Melissa lifted an eyebrow, a bitter smirk on her full lips

"She likes you." The blonde laughed ruefully and took a sip of her water watching Marin over the rim of the glass.

"She tolorates me. She envies you for power.That makes your situation far preferable to mine." She considered her own words, head cocked to one side while rolling the glass cup carefully between her palms.

"Ah. You think so?" Marin put her fork down. The food wasn’t all that good to begin with, she would have prefered noodles and Melissa’s dark mood was by far more interesting. The other smiled sardonically.

"There can only be one Ophiuchus Saint and that will be Shaina."

"Hm." Marin studied her, the blonde didn’t seem overly dissapointed, "and you are fine with that?"

"Of course, she is Shaina.." Simply said.

"Then why are you still here?" She had underestimated this one, now she wanted to know although there really was no reason. She knew Shaina was better, perhaps better than all of them. Marin was only one training to be Aquilla, Ophiuchus had once had six to claim it. It must have been frustrating for Melissa to acknowledge it so…unless…

"And where would I go, Marin? What would I do? No, to Shaina I am not a rival, therefore she can afford to like me and I can…" The girl trembled then seemed to regain her composure smiling at Marin defiantly. She looked so vulnurable, so stuck in a moment, in a vice. " But you?" Melissa chuckled and bent her head to hide her eyes. "She wants to crush you. Like I said, far preferable."

"Why?" Marin frowned, there was something here, if only she could put her finger on it. If she wanted to see…Did she want to see?

"Because she cares. Enough to want to crush you." And Marin finally saw it and understanding came and she wished it hadn’t. Wished she couldn’t see the other’s pain or her eyes…

Tears in her eyes.

*****

Marin thought she was superior, didn’t she? What was it about her anyway that made Shaina want to scream and draw blood? It would be nice, wouldn’t it? To stand over the almighty redhead and crush her slowly. She let out a long disgusted sigh, stompindg the earth beneath her feet to vent out some of her frustration. She heard a low chuckle.

"Is it truly that bad?" A throaty voice, like water moving through stone. Shaina twisted violently towards the sound. Anger clouding her lovely features as a snarl was borne from her lips.

"Who’s there? You should make your presence known!" She fisted her hands tightly.

"I apologize, dear. I had no idea I was in any way hiding…" The voice sounded ironical. Shaina spun on her left and finally saw her. A woman with long lavender hair, a smirking smile and large amber eyes. A feline creature.

Hestia. She found herself blushing in abashed emberassment.

The woman was sprawled on a bench in a maner far from elegant, her long limbs stretched casually. She was eating some plump apricots in a dish, she offered the dish to Shaina.

"Care for some? Not my favorite, I admit. But still quite good and better than what Cook has for today…" The pirestess stopped to lick at the juice dripping from her fingers, eyeng Shaina amusedly.

"Lady Hestia…I – " What do you say to your Goddess’ priestess when you had just about attacked her? She cursed inwardly and stammered, "forgive me, I didn’t know it was you." Shaina sighed and found herself studying her booted toes, she was certain she was putting some rather ripe tomatoes to shame. Crap. Exactly what she needed in life, insult a high priestess…as if Morrigan wasn’t enough. Damn, damn, damn!

"Hm, repetitive, aren’t we?" Shaina’s head shot up and green eyes met amber.. A slow smile spread across Hestia’s face as she nonchantly tossed a lock of hair back. "Your secrets will always be safe with me. Come, sit."

Strangely enough, she did. Moving almost in a hazed hurry to sit on the small wooden bench. It creaked slightly as she eased her weight upon it, the thing had definatly seen better days. Days with paint and no splinters. Shaina frowned, a breeze drifted over them and she shivered.

"Worried about the Test?" The woman’s tone was casual and she took another bite of her apricot, firmly placing another of the juicy fruits in Shaina’s hand. The girl stared at orange delicacy blankly.

"No."And it was the truth.

"Hm. Well, you need not."

"What?" Shaina blinked back at the woman’s sudden smile. Was this intimidation? Morrigan used fear…Hestia provoked awe and something else. Shaina let the fruit in her left hand drop to her lap, she bit her lower lip.

It was mid evenining. The sunset cast an orange errie light through the branches of the trees that surrounded them in the clearing and the wind was picking up. She hated this time of day, it left her with a bland stillness. She hated to be still.

"Why?" The throaty voice of the priestess caught her, she glanced at the woman and found only concern reflected in the amber gaze.

"Do you read all my thoughts?" And a nagging feeling told her she ought to be upset, outraged…but she wasn’t. She felt almost safe. Safe…the presence of a mother?

"Not all, certainly. I would not invade. So, only that whichlays on the surface." The woman smiled again, a kind smile. She had since finished her fruit and now awarded the girl with her full attention. "Do you trust me, Shaina?"

"I didn’t think you knew me…" Why did this one make her feel dizzy? So lightheaded and so…comfortable.

"I am a priestess of the Goddess, of course I would know her warriors." Reaching out a hand Hestia ran her fingers casually over Shaina’s hair. The girl looked up startled but the woman smiled in reasurance. "And I would not want you to be uncomfortable."

"Oh" Why was she stumbling? She wasn’t and would never be submissive!. "But I am not a warrior, just a trainee. I am not important enough to be known." She squeezed the fruit in her lap tenderly. Hestia nodded.

"Not yet." The woman’s eyes glazed. Tears? Certainly not. Probably just a trick of the light…errie light. The girl shivered again then strained to listen to the woman."…. soon. Didn’t you want the apricot?"

"I…er…" she was blushing and making an idiot out of herself…Melissa was right she did have the mannes of an ogre. Aw…damn. Hestia waved her off.

"Bugger the aprictos, I am not here to talk of apricots. Sillier fruits have yet to be seen. Well, maybe not…" She smiled slightly her head cocked to the left. A wave of lavender hair fell in silky waves in response to her movement. In a brisk move she flung it out, breathing in deeply. "You will have to be going soon, child."

"Yes, my lady." And she was about to do just that when a hand caught her.

"I didn’t say now. I said soon." And no matter how gently it was spoken Shaina understood it to be a command. She slumped on the bench, pulling her knee’s up and closing her arms over them casually.

"There is something I’d like to know. Something you should answer in truth. Would you do me that great favor, child? Anser me in truth?" Such irony in her voice but also sadness. It was the sadness that Shaina payed attention to…the creeping sadness. Because she felt too much at peace to be next to this woman, because the feeling washed over her and left her helpless and so dizzy. And the amber eyes that smiled, smiled through grief.

"I would always answer in truth." She heard herself utter the promise before she could register it for fact. Yet, it was the truth...and she knew this woman so little. Why? it was a feeling she couldn’t shake. So she closed her eyes against the amber gaze and nodded. "Anything."

She couldn’t see the woman’s expression but she heard her shift and the bench creacked.

"Would you live," such a beautiful voice, Shaina concentrated on that voice, just the voice. "Would you live for Athena?" Two firm, cold hands took hold of her head, forcing her to look into Hestia’s eyes. Deeply rooted pain but the girl couldn’t look away. She didn’t even want to. That touch, that marvelous touch. Pain and compassion and…love.

She, Shaina was such a strong, powerful girl. So worthy of love and being loved. So smart, so quick, so very wonderful. She was the greatest of all and so clever! She would never from this day on fear for she was loved. That was what was transmitted in that amber gaze. Such perfect, unblemished love. She thought she might die if only to take the sadness away…It was a heady, cloudy feeling. She found she was holding her breath and dared not move a muscle.

"Yes. I’d live for Athena." And she felt a pang of guilt. It wasn’t fair…she was lying for she trully had no other-

"Reason to live." Shaina flushed at the woman’s deep voice. Then the priestess smiled and it hardly bothered the girl that the smile should never reach her eyes. "I know. It was why I wanted you."

She would have wanted to know what that meant. Would have questioned it, would have demanded an answer if only Hestia’s arms hadn’t winded about her. If only she hadn’t been pressed against the priestess. If only her soul had not been claimed there and then.

But so it was. And as she was enfolded in her warmth…she felt the blinding light. Divine. Powerful. A mother. So much love…such peace. She could have died and not regretted it. Divine…like Athena?

The nagging, rational bit of her mind screamed that she, Shaina, the angry trainee, amazon-would-be was in deep embrace with a strange female creature she didn’t exactly know…

But another part felt, soft full lips move against her ear as hot breath clouded her thoughts, confusing her mind.

"Words made flesh."

And soft, cold hands cradling her body, their touch soothing and burning all at once.

"Gods turned mortal."

She ought to be listning to the words. They sounded as if they might have been important but all she cared about was the feel of silky hair against her cheek.

"And he knew the path was too dark for the girl to walk. He knew what she would suffer. So he cast her away…and set her guards upon her heels."

Shaina breathed in the woman’s scent, the blinding light shone in her eyes…

"You see? The girl was made flesh. The prophecy denied for he would forever keep her at bay."

But all she wanted was the love…she didn’t care for the blinding light. Divine light. Was this the power of Athena’s priestess?

"Once made flesh she became weak for she would never allow herself to fully be mortal. She could not understand a world of feelings, a world so savage…so beautiful. Even if she were divine she would not understand for she was all that was reason. So she was, as he had planned, ensnared. Forever trapped."

The arms about her tightned almost painfully, the lips that moved against her ear sent shivers down the girl’s spine. Yet she welcomed it all and closed her eyes in abandoment.

"But we love her. And we know that he was wrong. So we will teach her…because we honor her. And she will take that knowledge and will be made flesh. Once that happens she will destroy the flesh and will be as she was always meant to be."

And the woman pulled away from the embrace leaving Shaina to moan a protest. Shame. But it was greeted with a smile, a beautifuk smile. Mother.

And the smile turned to tears. And the lips, full and flushed met hers in a maidenly kiss. Chaste and pure. The kiss of a mother to her child. Soft and binding. Burning but always…divine.

"Will you help me?"

And it was never really a question, was it?

"Yes."

*****

The boy looked away in pain. Platinium-blonde locks fell over tanned shoulders as he stared hard at the groud trying not to scream…or to cry. He would never show weakness to them. And the man sitting upon Athena’s throne was dangerous to him, this man would know how to hurt him.

But the pain might even be welcome…it certainly wouldn’t be as bad as, say, crossing the other…

The boy shut his eyes as the Kyoko judged him. The silver-haired man seemed puzzled over the boy’s arrival, glancing sullenly to the dead body beside the boy. The body of a man who should have been the boy’s master. A man killed by the boy’s hand. An accident the boy claimed and there seemed to be honesty in that…

The boy smiled as he felt the others thoughts, they were not as protected as the Kyoko’s after all…they were eight other small priests beside the Kyoko. None of them seemingly important enough to have a sitting place of their own. They stood four on each side of the Kyoko scrutinizing the boy as if he were a puzzle…a game to be solved.

And the boy was so beautiful…angelic even, with his almost feminine features, the large thickly-lashed eyes, a long fine nose and soft almost womanish-lips. At least five of them wished to bed him. They who were chaste priests of a goddess. The other three seemed content on running their eyes over the boy’s naked well-muscled torso.

The boy knew what to do to turn this game around. One telepathic insinuation…no, he corrected himself…one measly suggestion and he could go free. Yet a part of him was scared, the part of his soul that knew himself to be nothing but a boy the other part trumpted it’s rage at the very thought of being judged by pawns.

But he ignored the voice the same way he ignored the stench of dead flesh of a man who was neither good nor evil. His teacher…a saint. And that was a funny word, the boy thought as he dared search the face of those before him, men in their early-late 30’s, he avoided looking too closely at the masked figure. The malavolance in that one was almost palpable, it was a wonder the other did not feel it.

But then they couldn’t even comprehand what he was and so they stared at him to determine the punishment fit for his crime. If there was such a crime.

Saints. It couldn’t be more of an irony, men doomed to kill and die.

The boy turned cobalt blue eyes to the fascinating pasttime of reading the intricate designs upon the red carpet that ran to the Kyoko’s throne So strange to feel this way, both enraged and frightned.

Fear seized his heart. It was not fair, he had never wanted any of this. He was only a…

Yes. He was that and it wasn’t fair! He never asked for it, it was too much. Injustice.

He tried to think through that…there was one who at least still claimed fairness. Some who had honor….

The boy shut his eyes against the tears. Oh, god, let him go home, let him live his life in poverty and die a miserable man. It would have been a better life. Better than this constant tugging at his conscience. He had been weak.

Damnation. Why did they keep the body next to him? The lifeless eyes, open as they were, foverever burnt that way. It disgusted him, shamed him. He had to stop this, now! He had to…he couldn’t stand it longer.

One of the priests edged forward, rocking on his fat soles. The man licked his fat lips and the boy had a grimace. He could very well see what had occurred behind Sanctuary’s walls, corrupting it in the name of it’s unwilling Goddess..

Greed.

Yet they didn’t want to condemn him, fact was they didn’t even know what to condamn him for…and he was so lovely. Surely anyone as innocent-looking could not be all that bad?

No they would not condamn him. Not even the robed demon but for reasons he kept to his own. The boy would not dare prye into that one’s mind. When they sent him to wait outside, he did so mechanically, bowing the robed ones with an expression that was all bold innocent youth. So he turned and moved with the easy athletic grace to the waiting room outside the Kyoko’s audience chamber. There the guards eyes him warily and the maids watched him through lust-rimmed eyes. He would have laughed if he had been alone.

If the fear had not still been pounding in his heart, echoing in his ears. He shivered despite the intense heat and wrappped his arms about himself.

He was ushered back in almost immeadeatly. It took one glance at the painted expressions of wisdom in those self-serving faces to determine the outcome. The boy padded the metres to the Kyoko’s throne more briskly than before and kneeled before the throne.

The kyoko cleared his throat.

"In Her great wisdom our Lady Athena understands that in the path to her worship one might find tremendous hardships. In overcoming these hardships great losses must dealt with. Your teacher’s death was a loss to the Goddess. Still in Her bnevolence of she has found you innocent. It is her wish and ours combined that you should continue with your training so that you one day might serve her as loyally as your teacher before you."

That was it? Such a pretty little meaningless speech. Well, he knew this would be how it would play out. All that remained now was where to place him. They were obviously impressed by his cosmo. He should have hidden more efficiently. They were undecided…one fully inteded to place him at Virgo.

That wouldn’t do at all…

It would take one word, whispered stealthly into the mind of the man who thought himself equal to the gods. A single word and he would be set free. Free to follow the path that He had placed before him. Free to be a spawn. Just a single word. The boy’s eyes narrowed he bit his bottom lip in concentration. Then, with the bending of his own mind, the bending of reality he placed himself neatly into the outskirts of the mind of the man who was Kyoko. He smiled in triumph, take me to:

And met a wall.

Before he could manuever and flee he was seized. The boy’s heart sank, panic setting him cold.

Then just as suddenly he was released. He blinked back in wonder as he slid back into his own shell. Soul’s Jail. And stared into the mask of the Kyoko and when the man finally spoke up he knew there was a mocking cynicism in his words.

"Ophiuchus. He will be taken to end his training with Ophiuchus Morrigan."

The boy turned and took the lifeless hand of his master to his lips, kissing it in reverance.

He might be a pawn but he still had his honor.

*****

Shaina shook the water from her fresh-scrubbed scalp. Combing the hair quickly with her fingers. An advantage to never allowing her hair to grow below shoulder length.

She wore a plain white sleveless robe. It was loose fitting and she found that it easily accomodated all her movements. But it was far from a thing of beauty.

"I look like a sack of potatoes." She murmured under her breath. Pushing erratic green hair behind her ears, she padded barefoot across the marble floor to where Melissa and Gabrielle had changed. She manuevered her way past other girls, ignoring their hysterical sounding chatter.

Melissa stood by the lip of the Cleansing pool, water still dripping from her hair, she glanced briefly at Shaina as she was fastening her robe and smiled brightly, large violet eyes filled with hope and encouragement. Shaina wondered what it would be like to never see that face again…that smile that meant a companion in a world far from safe.

She frowned when she found Gabrille, her large frame hunched in a corner bench alone and messy with her wet hair disheveled and her robe looking strangely messy. She was, apparently ready and waiting. Shaina sighed and left Melissa to tend her hair. As she approached Gabrielle she sensed the tormoil in the other’s soul. The girl’s eyes confirmed it all too easily, bloodshot and puffy, her crooked nose runny. Funny that she, who was so tall and strong could be the weakest of them all…and so spineless.

If Shaina had been worried for Melissa her heart beat awkwardly when thinking of Gabrielle. In the years that had passed she had become powerful and found rooted in her the desire to protect the weaker. She smiled gently…a rare occurrence for her.

"It’ll be all right. You’ll see." She squatted before the girl to look into her smallish, deep set eyes.

The girl’s face shone with panic, looking down at Shaina in distraught she seized the smaller girl’s had urgently.

"Please, Shaina, I’m so scared, I have to get out. I have to leave." Shaina paled but squeezed the hand that held her softly.

"It’ll be okay." Gabrielle shook her head wildly, eyes spilling their tears.

"No!" She sobbed, "it won’t be bloody okay! It’ll never be okay because I’m not like you! I won’t pass, Athena won’t want me!"

"You do not know that. How can any of us claim to know the minds of the gods?" Shaina spoke firmly her voice a bit harsher than she had originally wished. "Now, come or we will be late."

"I’ll die!" Shaina cursed softly and stood up quickly pulling Gabrielle up with her.

"No you won’t. I won’t allow it." She smiled reassuringly.

"You won’t?"The girl sniffled, brown eyes opened wide and trusting or hoping to believe. Shaina grinned broadly. Gabrielle was like the young of an animal.

"I would never allow it. Can’t loose my friends, ne?" And she promised to herself she would always protect this one…because she needed it more than anyone Shaina knew.

And then just as suddenly the voice of a priestess was heard and they were told to follow. She squeezed Gabrielle’s hand once more then released her and walked over to where Melissa was so they could go the three together.

She ignored the redheaded girl who looked at them so hopefully. As if, at this moment she too wished to be with someone. And Shaina felt a strange sense of accomplishment in that, no matter how ugly such a feeling was, that Marin for all her greatness was all alone. But she put it behind her as she followed the prietess to a temple she had somehow missed when first coming to the Amazon grounds…funny that…specially when considering the temple’s sheer size.

It was an oval temple surrounded by large, forbidding collums it’s architecture reminded Shaina strongly of the Twelve Temples only devoid of any battle stains, the temple looked freshly built There were no walls and she could se they were on top of a cliff…the night air moved in great gusts through the hall, lifting up her robes and making her hug herself against the cold.

As she came closer to center a stange feeling of foreboding overcame her…as if a thousand voices scremed at once. Women had died here.

And in the middle of this great temple stood, or rather floated, a yard above the ground a marble statue. Athena, dressed in her full armor, the aegis warpped about her shoulders a spear ready in her hands.. The statue seemed crouched, in her battle stance. What drew the eye was the attention to detail, the life like qualitis…a face that looked astonishingly human, hair blowing wildly and lips twisted in a snarl. A girl turned to stone. And so menacing, it was different from anything she had ever seen.. Disturbing…too lifelike.

She turned to Melissa searching her friend’s eyes anxiously, Melissa too was engroussed in the statue she turned when sensing her companion and shot a trembling grin.

"How do you like Athena, the warrior?" A cool, mocking voice resounded and Hestia walked slowly to the center, coming to stand to the left of the statue. The woman spread her arms out before her. "Come now, spread yourselves nicely, in an oval, if you will."

The girls were quick to obey the Priestess, finding that no matter how big their number was…the temple was still somehow bigger. Shaina, glancing to her right saw Gabrielle almost 5 metres away. Hestia smiled.

"Much better." The woman purred. Six priestessess’entered the temple, two heavy looking boxes carried between them. The boxes were ornament, with gilded golden designs. The seemed to have a drawing design on their sides, Shaina strained her eyes but as the women walked to stand slightly behind Hestia she realized it was futile. Too damn far. The priestess’ all were simple white robes like those of the girls. Only Hestia’s had changed. The tall woman wore flowing black robes that hang loose from her thin frame and shimered when she moved, her naked arms encircled by silver bracelets that bore some sort of design…like runes. Her strange beauty was far more enhanced by the darkness of such robes than by the plain white she usually prefered. Shaina smirked, a costume fit for gothic fantasy.

The priestesses gathered by her side like loving dogs, their dedication and composure to the goddess was almost mindless so…mechanically was it accomplished.

The High priestess smiled and paced the ground before them favoring the girls with a deep scrutinizing glance. "This, is Athena the warrior."She tossed her head towards the statue. "This is the ideal, what you strive for. Athena in her purest form, free of Father, duty and reason. Athena born through her rage and ready for war.." She caught Shaina’s eye and winked. "To be chosen by Athena this is what you must become…a legion of warriors." She smirked. "Of course you all know that and if you don’t I pity your gray matter."she turned to the women who held the boxes, "you may start."

The priestesses came alive, carying the heavy boxes towards the entrance, and moving in opposite sides of the oval made of girls, on each girl they deposited a mask. Laying it at their feet with the quiet warning of not to touch. When they came to Shaina she glanced down at her feet at the aline object, frowning, it looked different in Morrigan’s face…somehow more important. Hers had designs that resembled claw tears crossing the face from left to right The others’masks too were unpainted.

She sighed, she felt restlessly. Why couldn’t it just start? Before worries set in…and these stupid looking masks, how in Athena’s name did people breathe out of them…

"The masks the amazon wear are greatly different than the ones you see before you." Shaina’s head shot up…was Hestia speaking directly to her? She wasn’t…It seemed as if the woman was looking directly at Marin…"They are alive. These,"and she pointed to the ground in disdain, "are simply hunks of silver. Nice, but not very practical. And we do so like practical! Once alive these masks are powerful allys. Through them you will see wiith perfect vision, mirages will be nothing to you…you will breathe safely without fear of intoxication by poison or drowning at sea. Nice gadgets for a soldier, wouldn’t you agree?" She turned her back on them then, facing the statue, her hands clasped behind her. "But for this…the masks must gain life. We must bring them to life with sacrifice Blood sacrifice." A compassionate smile. "Your blood."

There were general squeals at that, the girls were badly frightned.

"Oh, I won’t lie to you, there’s a chance for death…there always is. But you have been given the tools to survive by your teachers, this is what you have trained these years for, to survive the Trial. My people long ago were given the divine power of bringing life to the lifeless by Athena. You will do your part and I will make sure those masks are ready for you."

A sudden scream resounded throught the temples, it was echoed by some girls, it was a high-pitched, pain-inflicted beastiel scream, Shaina turned towards the sound and saw at the entrance of the temple many goats being led in by women garbed in white. She finally saw the source of the screams…a goat being massacred by four girls who looked as if they couldn’t be any older than she, they chopped at the animal mercilessly with giant butcher knives, gnawing at the bloody animal. The beast, inflicted with it’s pain, thrashed insanely against those who had bound and tortured him so cruelly. The treatment started being apllied to the other goats then and the screams filled the great temple.

Shaina looked about her, wondering if the entire world had gone mad. The girls were sobbing helpelessly, some even having gone far enough to cling to one another. Her comapnions she searched instinctively for them and saw Gabrielle…holding both hands to her ears, like a small child in pain. Disgust filled the green-haired girl’s entire being, she would put a stop to this evil! She was better then they were for her they would stop…she would protect the animals!

She flared her cosmo and darted forwards, letting her feet become her wings, dodging the weeping girls as she closed the space between herself and the murderers in no time.. As she reached one of the killers and caught her wrist just as she was about to drop the blow. The girl turned brown eyes wide but not directed at her. Shaina looked behind her but it was too late, the blow that came from behind caught her completely and she was smashed the ground among the carnage. A dismembered head, a goat’s head, it’s unblinking eyes staring straight at her. She stumbled to her feet, holding back the vomit and the cries hadn’t stop, they were still being killed. She turned towards her attacker and saw a silver mask with seven blood tainted slash marks starting at the left eye that finished in a downward movement to the right cheek.

"Morrigan."It was a growl and no way to greet her Maestra. To hell with it, she would rip her Maestra’s head off and give it to the goats.

"Would you deny your goddess her sacrifices?" The voice was cold and untouched…but it cut through her like a hot knife trough cheese. Athena’s sacrifice? It was insane. She clenched her fists ans stepped towards Morrigan. In the corner of her eye she saw Hestia. The woman’s eyes were calm, soothing and she saw her mouth the word "stop."

"Get back." Morrigan hissed. Shaina felt bitter tears sting her eyes but she would not cry. She would not give her the satisfaction and she could see the woman she trusted smile lovingly and shake her head, lavender hair spilling like waves.

"Only acts of war, darling heart." The throaty voice called. "Come, we must start There is nothing you can do and the gods must be appeased."It was irony she heard, wasn’t it? Surely.."you would not wish to be left out." That was true, she needed to succeed. The animals were dead now, the last of their screaming had ended somewhere between the blow and confrontation. She felt her rage rise when she saw the flesh. She needed to win or be approved or whatever the hell it was when you went through the ritual and was accepted. If only to get revenge on Morrigan…there were other amazons among them she finally saw and they were doing something to the girls because the weaping had intensified among them.

Her eyes met the gaze of a loving one…amber eyes and she knew something else…she wanted to live even if her eason for life was to find a meaning to her existance. She needed to live. She walked towards the statue, looking at the ferocious countanance of the goddess and wondered who she was that she could bring forth both suffering and happiness.

"Shaina when you remember this day know that you did not stand alone." She looked at the priestess quietly, sizing up the taller woman. "There were two others who tried to stand by you." The girl shook her head.

"Lot of good that did." Hestia pulled out a knife, an ornamental thing but sharp bladed. In a movement too fast for Shaina to see the woman had slit her wrists. She gasped in surprise then felt the impact hit her. She clutched at the wound done to her right wrist with her left hand.

"Why?" It was all she could manage.

"Let the blood flow onto the mask like the others are doing. It’s part of the ritual…you’ll be fine, I know." The woman pushed her gently towards her own mask. And as she walked back to place she saw that what Hestia said was true…and the source of the weeping. Blood everywhere. She thought she saw Gabrielle covered in it like a child vampire and crying but she couldn’t care anymore. It took too much energy…so she let her blood fall onto the mask until the dead thing was covered in it then she watched , mesmerized as it continued to drip to the ground. Beautiful blood. Red blood.

She looked up at the ceiling as saw a fresco…she blinked back her tears. A painting? Images of a Christian temple in Italy came to her. But this was different…sad, hopeless. Gods lost in their battles, fire and chaos everywhere, blood and flesh, children in a corner, women being ravaged…and one single woman in the midst of it all crying blood tears. Athena, in her armor, aegis wrapped around her shoulders a spear in her hands. The same girl as the statue…the same human being turned tos tone but this wasn’t the ferocious warrior…

It was simply a woman. In pain. Injustified. Alone. Crying tears of blood.

*****

He was a healer. The best there ever was. Powerful and beautiful. A god. He was brought forth from the womb of a faithless, self-serving woman and reared by a King…his father to lord of light.

She could see him well and it puzzled her greatly. His features…

He was kind, warm, loving but also arrogant. He had a gift unlike any other. The gift of life. To him was entrusted the poison of death by a goddess that was one of the twelve.

Medicine was his life. Nothing else could give so much pleasure. Not women, not god-given-powers…not even his beautiful father. He enjoyed his gift and took great pains in cultivating them. He was a scholar, the lasting student because there would always be something else to learn, to know…he was insatiable for knowledge.

The girl witnessed it all…his failures and his sucessess. With time the failures became less in number till one day…

Arrogant.

He could bring forht the dead…it started with a wounded warrior but as soon as he had had the taste of that life he could no longer stop.

He fell victim to his vices. He cured and when he could no longer do that he would bring back to life…

He was enraging the gods.

But he was so proud,

The others warned him…he was upsetting the nature of life. He was reversing the flow of water from a waterfall. Chaos.

He would not listen.

The girl could feel his pride, glee at being the very best. She could feel it in her own heart. She understood his drive, his hunger. She was compassionate for she was almost like him…in a way. She would never have gone so far. It was wrong. But he would not see the truth for what it was.

She saw the goddess as soon as he did and felt his pride that she, on of the twelve would have need of his help.

A woman shrouded in darkness and sheer power. The Huntress, Artemis.

And the girl felt she could understand because she could see the pain in the goddess…she was so desperately beautiful and so heartbroken. Grief shook through her like waves in the endless ocean.

She craddled in her arms the body of a broken, beautiful boy. She had come to plead for his life. It had all been a terrible accident…amd she wept as she had never in her entire existance.

And so ancient was she…

The girl felt that he genuinely wanted to help this goddess because he admired her…and because it would be a challenge.

A challenge he was not meant to win. He had gone too far. He was punished by loosing that to which he had dedicated his life to saving.

His life.

She, the girl, could not be certain what was the greater pain…the wrath of the King of Heaven or the fact that he would never practice again that which he had loved…

His intellect was wasted…all his pains…for nothing.

And before he was set among the stars once and fore all she saw his face…and the answer that had evaded her for so long became astonashingly clear.

Green, unruly hair. Wide, passion-filled green eyes. A firm and strong mouth that could easily turn tender and feminine. An oval face…soft skin.

Her face. Asclepious. She screamed.

*****

"There! It’s okay, stop trashing and I’ll get the damn towel of your head!" The voice told her as she clawed the air. The voice was familiar…

"Melissa?" And the thing that had blocked her vision was removed and she wished it hadn’t been. She yelped and tried to shield her eyes from the brilliance of the light.

"Opps, sorry." Sheepish voice, she had he urge to hit her. Shaina shielded her eyes and waited to adjust. Sheblinked rappidly.

"Where are we?" The she saw Melissa…or rather didn’t. A mask with fangs. The ritual! Her hands fumbled to her face. She felt cold metal and gasped. She heard her friend’s laughter clearly.

"Did you think you wouldn’t be chosen? Oh, brave Shaina." Mockery.

"Why can I see you? Shouldn’t…you look funny." With the fangs…she would never have chosen fangs for Melissa. Sunny Melissa with a sinister mask. "Why the fangs?" She watched as Melissa shrugged, marvelling how the mask felt so light on her face.

"Don’t know. Don’t care. Hestia said they were chosen specially for us…by us. Some crap about them being alive." a bitter laugh followed, "yeah, they certainly are that. Aren’t they? You okay?"

"Fine. How long have I been…"

"Passed out?" Melissa was getting some sick pleasure out of this? No, it was something else…maybe she was the one who should be asking Melissa if she was alright.

"Long. But they said that the harder the test is for you the longer you go through it…Marin is still deep in it. I was one of the first up. Guess I’m not that great after all." She shifted in her seat uncomfortably her right hand went up to move a lock of hair back. The wrist was thickly bandaged.

"Where’s Gabrielle?" In her minds eye she could see Gabrielle as she had last seen her, on her knees blood covering her robes, tears running down the big plain face as her chest rocked with her sobs. "Where is she?" Melissa looked away.

"I don’t know where they took her." Shaina heard the strange finality in her words.

"She’s still in the test?"

"No, I wouldn’t say that." It was all she could do to keep from screaming at Melissa. Why did she have to pick this day to be infuriating? Why the hell not tomottow or some other frigging day…she pushed to covers from the bed she lay in aside, tossing her legs over the side…she swooned and fell. Melissa made no effort to move from the chair where she sat.

"Careful, you’ve lost a lot of blood." Shaina pulled herself to her knees and staggered against the bed.

"What the hell is the matter with you?!" She demanded, voice filled with anger.

"I just know a useless battle when I see one…" again the finality. Shaina felt a coldness clutch her heart.

"Where is she? Is she still in the trance?"No answer, just a mask with fangs. "Athena damn you! Where the hell is she? You answer me or I’ll…!"

"You will what, Shaina? Break me? Tear me to little bits? Or chop me like a goat?" A silent laugh, she could see the girl’s shoulders shake with mirth. "Hestia said…that the ritual would heighten all that you are to great extents. I guess all that Gabrielle was was an idiot. A mindless beast. Tell me, precious Shaina, what did you see?"

Shaina closed her eeys, stiffling the anger, bitting her lips to keep from screaming. "What are you saying?" She pronounced each word to perfection with the oive one ueses when talking to a mental case. Melissa shrugged.

"She’s an idiot! A drooling, stupid fool! She won’t speak to anyone! She drools and drools and drools some more!" Melissa laughed, an ugly gleefull laugh. Shaina called upon reserved streength and drew herself up, crossing the room to the closed door. They must be in an infirmary…she tuned one last time to Melissa and saw the girl hunched over in the chair clutching her belly as she laughed, her shoulders shaking sparodically.

"I don’t know what your problem is…I’ll find out but I need to do this first." Outside the room she had been sleeping was a hall and Shaina saw someone down the hall some metres away from her. The person was sitting in a wheelchair, facing a window. A large body, a girl with short brown hair! Melissa lied! Gabrielle!

"Gabrielle, thank Athena! Melissa’s gone crazy on us…how are you? How was your test?"No response not even the twitch of a muscle, Gabrille set still, hands crossed over her lap. "Gabrielle?" Nothing. A feeling of foreboding urged her towards the girl. She paused, standing right behind the bigger girl. "Gabrielle? She heard a moan, sort of a rumbling and smiled. It wasn’t all that bad, she was probably just hurt. She saw something glistening on the girls chin. She placed herself directly in front of Gabrielle.

But it wasn’t Gabrielle, it was a parody of what Gabrielle had once been.. A face that had somehow lost all color and became gray, brown eyes stared straight ahead, unblinking. A girl turned to stone.

Except for the drooling, falling mindlessly from her mouth, forming a wet puddle on her thighs.

Shaina felt tears fill her eyes. Sha had promissed, this was too horrible. No, Atena, please no…not this sacrifice. Not when her only crime was being herself. No, please no.

"DAMN IT!"

A curse followed by laughter. She turned slowly to the room’s door. Melissa leaned against the frame. Menacing.

"Opps, I guess I lied." Opps? She sounded far from apologetic. Damn this. Her mind raced, she clenched her fists.

"Why is she like this?" It was all she could manage, all she could say or do that did not involve in ripping Melissan’s head right off.

"Hestia said that the ritual was a test…but not by Athena. It was a test against ourselves…Athena." A new wave of alughter crashed through the girl. "She has nothing…nothing…the test is meant to enhance what we are. And bind us to our fate."

"Where is Hestia."Anger, sorrow, rage. She would have her revenge.

"She said you had best not see her for a while." Melissa moved towards her and Shaina could feel the menace and the loneliness.

"I asked you back in there…what did you see? Tell me, please?" Loneliness and sorrow too…

"I saw a man, who was arrogant and kind. A man who died for his passion." She looked back down at Gabrielle ignoring the angry one at her side. Gently she wiped the drool away with the back of her hand. More laughter. Athena damn her! If she didn’t stop she would beat her till she could laugh no more.

A look at the fangs stopped her…beneath the fangs…under the mask the tears were falling. Oh…Melissa.

Laughter and tears and insanity.

"Do you know what I saw? I saw ghosts, everywhere! Vaguing everywhere, cluthcihg to others…seeking warmth that is not theirs to have. Lusting for it as if they too wereonce human! But I’ll tell you a secret!"The voice was high-pitched bordering on the hysterical "These ghosts were never human. I am one of them. I am not human…I survive on the soul of others. Your soul! Don’t you see?"

She didn’t want to see. It was too much pain.

*****

He sat on the large boulder outside of the small hut. It was midday sun …the sort of time most Greeks hid inside. he took no such precautions. He relished in the heat of it all...welcomed it with open arms...the light...his light.

And he wanted to wait for her. Wanted to be the first to see her…wanted her to be the first thing he would see. Because he was all alone and she would be his one comapion. If only they hadn’t hardened her to a stone.

He waited eagerly. There was a happiness in him that he had not felt since he was a small child. The woman who was his new instructor ignored him, she wasn’t in the hut…she often dissapeared without a trace. Not that he really gave a damn. He was glad actually because when she came he could see her on his own.

He waited for an hour but did not wait in vain. Shadowns cast upon the ground he followed with his eyes until he saw the two of them. And one was her. Two masks, one whose features enhacened the eyes and the other bearing fangs.

He grinned broadly and rose to greet them. But the words never left his mouth for in that single moment she had chosen to attack. Breaking into her battle stance and screaming furiously her attack. A moment latter he was on the ground, his lips split . He didn’t need to see her face to know what had happened.

He stood up and took his battle stance.

End of Chapter II: October 15, 2001.

*deep millerna sighs* Hey folks. Ophiuchus was originally written for the Ophiuchus Shaina club…that belongs to messa’s Mama, Altair Lisa. But in this chapter it spins out of control to touch more than Shaina…forgive me and please believe she is still the subject of this fanfiction. ^_~ This chapter is dedicated to three kewl and wise ladies, Derrewyn, Irina and Lisa! Mwahahaha – may the apocalypse ride on!