Alice pushed the door open, and Susan moved into the room. She dropped
Lara on the small bed that was graced with leather cuffs on each post.

“Is there anywhere you don’t PLAY?” Alice asked, pulling out her cell
phone and Susan snatched it away. She threw it against the wall and it
shattered, Alice clutching her chest as if shot. Dana and Tonya rushed
into the room.

“You and I have to talk!” Dana began, and Susan gave her a look that
silenced her. Susan stood, pointing to the door. “Get out, all of you!”
She physically pushed Alice to the door, slamming her into Tonya and
Dana.

“Get the ***** out!” Susan growled and she slammed the door on them as
she turned and went back to Lara, pushing her hair from her eyes.

“Don’t die on me, whatever is going on. I’m going to figure it out.”

~*~*~*~*~*

Windwalker watched as the Rogue rubbed her hands together, a pained
look on her face as she rocked back and forth on the stool. She rested
a hand on the Rogue’s shoulder and the tomboy nodded.

“I know I had to do it.” She whispered, her voice shaking as hard as her hands were. She snapped her hands shut.

“It had to be done.” Windwalker said reassuringly. JadedRogue looked up, meeting her green gaze with her own blue one.

“I know.” Rogue said, licking her lips and looking up at the ceiling of
Petruccio’s. There was no laptop, no backpack filled with tricks. This
was just old fashioned witchery.

“Where did you learn it?” Windwalker asked, trying to sooth the tomboy.

“Around.” She muttered, her eyes darting to Dana, Tonya and Alice who
were walking from the back of the room slowly, casting backward glances
at where they’d come from.

“Death has its place.” Windwalker cooed and Jaded gritted her teeth,
playing with the small bottle in her hands. The green glowing liquid
half gone, half a dose of death. She put it back into her pocket,
buttoning the pocket of her shirt and said in her French laced voice.

“Is she strong enough to” Jaded began, and Windwalker nodded.

“Yes, she is.” Jaded nodded, she stood and walked out of the club. The
Windwalker sat for a long while, letting the Rogue digest the deed
she’d done.

“You can do it, Susan; you can leave the shadow of you behind.”

~*~*~*~*~*

Changed
2.11.05
Janet Marie

I’ll never feel that darkness again
Don’t forget
We are here to play
Time to enjoy the life we’ve finally built for ourselves