Mid October. Clouds and piercing winds slowly start to substitute the warm and shining sun. Winter is gradually marching his way in, bringing the first snowflakes with it. Stickpage City is somewhat more active than usual, as some of the gladiators are managing to make some noise around. But aside the little activity, everybody is still minding their own business, whether it’s training or just relaxing with fellow gladiators or acquaintances.

Serena is standing in the bathroom of her newly found home, an apartment that has been given to her by the RHG Association. Apparently they do that for gladiators with economical or social problems. She was lucky enough to get her request accepted by the social services. At least now she had a place that was hers.

Having only a towel covering her sinuous curves, she faced the mirror, deeply staring into her own amber eyes. Even though it was hard for her to admit it, she was scared. In the past she never took head on anybody that was on her tracks, let alone a bounty hunter. She would have tried to outrun them, and cover her tracks; no unnecessary bloodsheds. But time changes people. She wasn’t a naïve woman anymore. She had grown up. She had matured. She had to take a stand for herself now. But as her eyes scanned her own body in the mirror, all she could see was the same young woman that she was 300 years ago. A pure and innocent young bride, waiting for her spouse. For a moment that thought made Serena sick.

Suddenly a sound coming from the living room caught the banshee’s attention. Her head snapped towards the bathroom’s door which was half open. She could have sworn that she closed that door earlier.

After her emotions got suppressed by her cold, logic mindset, Serena slowly made her way towards the door. She was determined to teach whoever broke into her home a lesson that they’ll never forget. And she would have made sure that it would have been their last one. As she took the last couple of steps towards the bathroom’s door, Serena slowly opened her mouth. Slowly, a gentle rush of notes flooded the apartment. They were calm and melodious, almost divine. It was her Melody of Narcissus.

As her foot set into the living room, her eyes scanned her surroundings. At first glance everything seemed normal: the leather couches were empty, the chairs were lined up at the table and the trembling light of the kitchen was throwing a pale beam of light towards the library. She instinctively glanced at the door: it was shut and locked. As her song slowly faded into silence, Serena sighed. She slowly turned around, heading for the bathroom again.
A sudden clapping sound broke the silence.

<>

Serena froze. The voice sounded female and terrifyingly close to her as well. Her mind quickly started elaborating the possibilities. The choices were really basic: kill or be killed. Serena jumped around, turning her body and shouting a powerful note towards the source of the clapping and the voice. A potent Soprano Symphony of Force fired from her vocal chords, flying across the living room and devastating it.

After the dust settled the following moments, Serena scanned the debris for the remains of her attacker. But as her eyes did not pick up any traces of the intruder, she froze again. Her ears managed to pick up a gentle thud from right behind her. Instinctively, Serena spun around; she was ready to unleash another powerful attack, when the intruder covered her mouth with his hand. Even though Serena knew she was more than able to overwhelm that fact and still attack, for some reason she couldn’t. To her it felt like some sort of force was blocking her voice from the vocal chords themselves.

<>

The banshee’s eyes finally focused onto her aggressor. At first she couldn’t believe who it actually was, but the crimson eyes confirmed it: Tanya.

“What the fuck?”

<> The woman replied slowly removing her hand from Serena’s mouth, smiling.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Tanya slowly backed away from Serena, carelessly strolling towards one of the couches that luckily saved itself from the blast. With a small dive, she dropped on it, assuming a very stretched and relaxed position.

<>

“Do you think this is a game or shit? What the actual fuck? And couldn’t you wait for a couple of minutes???”

<>

“BECAUSE I WAS FUCKING BUSY!!!”

<>

“It’s not the first time yo- wait what?”

An awkward silence followed that sentence. Both women were staring at each other, each one having an opposite reaction to the other one. While Serena was as red as a tomato, Tanya on the other side had a big satisfied grin on her face. Filled with embarrassment, Serena angrily turned around and furiously walked into the bathroom, loudly slamming the door behind her.

<> With one swift move, Tanya popped on her feet and started making her way towards the kitchen, carelessly whistling on the way there.


A couple of minutes later Serena finally emerged from the bathroom, carelessly wearing part of her armor mixed with some normal pieces of clothing. As she slowly moved towards the kitchen, her eyes scanned inside the room, trying to spot Tanya. After a second, she popped from around a corner, and Serena managed to glance at the woman. She wasn’t wearing the same clothes that she had during the breakout. She managed to ditch the white top and pants for a gorgeous pair of black jeans and a red blouse covered by a black leather jacket. Her feet wore a splendid pair of black low heel boots that covered her leg almost all the way up to her knee. To top everything off, her hair was made into a magnificent braid, that somewhat resembled the one that usually Serena has. Needless to say she was mesmerized by Tanya’s appearance.

<>

Tanya was standing by the counter of the kitchen, pouring into two cups some of the hot, steamy coffee that she had just prepared. To Serena’s eyes, even that simple action made the woman look sensual and seducing.

<>

That phrase made Serena snap back to reality. She realized what she was doing and that resulted into a violent blush. With her head lowered she quickly made her way next to Tanya and snatched one of the cups. It was very hot, but Serena managed to suppress the pain.

<> Tanya’s hand carefully wrapped itself around the remaining cup of coffee. With a sinuous move she brought the cup to her lips, taking a small sip of the substance.

“Where have you been?”

<>

Serena’s eyes quickly glanced into her living room. Everything was intact: the wall wasn’t cracked anymore; the couched were at their place. The whole room was perfect. She looked back at Tanya, who had a big genuine smile printed on her face.

“How did you? Oh yeah…superpowers and shit. Did you steal the couches?”

<> Tanya childishly giggled, as Serena face palmed.

“Damn it Tanya…” Serena sighed. She took a couple of steps towards the kitchen table and after firmly pulling a chair from under it she sat down, taking a big sip from the cup of coffee.

<>

“Please don’t read my thoughts. It’s personal stuff. Please…” Serena stated, taking another sip.

<>

Serena’s eyes instinctively lifted themselves from the black substance floating into the cup and looked up. Surprisingly she crossed Tanya’s eyes. The two intensively gazed into each other’s pupils for a couple of moments. The banshee felt hypnotized by the woman’s swivel. She was the first one to give in and break the eye contact.

“Some bounty hunter is looking for me. I want to fight back, but I’m scared.” As those words were spilled, Serena stared deeply into her cup, not daring to attempt making eye contact with Tanya again.

<>

“I told you to not read my thoughts!” Serena’s eyes involuntarily bounced up, again crossing with Tanya’s crimson pupils. But this time they had a different glare.

<>

Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Serena lowered her head, looking yet again into the coffee cup. She jumped to conclusions too quickly.

<> Even though Serena did not make eye contact with Tanya, by the tone of her voice she understood that she was honest.

“It’s different. I had to do that job, and they were standing in my way. But now…”

<> her voice was now more determined and authoritarian.

A pause of silence followed those words. They were surprisingly true. She was constantly scared about it, even though she had no reason to be. She had chosen this lifestyle over the wandering around the world. And honestly, this had brought her more good things than bad things. The silence suddenly got broken by the sound of heels mashing onto the kitchen’s tiles. Suddenly Serena felt two warm hands cradle her head, slowly descending from behind her ears towards her cheeks. The motion forced her head to lift up, as she was now facing Tanya in very closed quarters.

<>

Tanya’s words enlightened Serena. They were encouraging and truthful. And most importantly, it showed Serena how much faith Tanya had in her. That filled her with determination. But as her emotions overwhelmed her, the banshee did something that she would have never judge herself capable of. Her eyes slowly closed, as she started leaning in gently towards Tanya. Her heart was rushing, but in her mind the moment was perfect. What happened after was pure magic.
Lips merging, tongues colliding with spit flying all around their mouths. Loud and constant smooches echoed in the kitchen, only interrupted now and then by Tanya’s suppressed giggles. After five minutes of intense make out session, the two women finally separated from each other. They both stared at the one another, without breaking the suspenseful silence that got established. Unconsciously Serena placed her forehead onto Tanya’s, as the two still intensively gazed at each other.

<> Tanya was the first one to break the silence. And as it turned out, also the first one to make a move. She gently stood up, slipping her hands across Serena’s face before releasing it. Serena observed every move that she made, mesmerized. Then, in a blink of an eye, she was gone. Vanished into thin air.