Dana
The Plot Thickens.

"A pervert?" Luke asked surprised.
Corey nodded, "I looked him up on the Internet. and I have sources." He fiddled with his glasses. "Also the queen broke the engagement the night Dana left. Might be revived when Thane goes down."
"Ouch! POOR DANA!!!" Mina looked ready to cry.
"What about her?" That man appeared.
"Apollo right?" Corey observed him.
"Yes. you know me?" Apollo eyed Corey back.
Corey looked downwards; Apollo's stare was unnerving him. "No just put facts together."
"Whatever." He turned to Mika, "Do you know who Dana likes?"
Mika looked like she was in heaven, "Luke. why?"
"ME? Who da bloody hell got tha' idea?" Luke ranted.
Apollo turned, "D'ya know who I am to Dana?"
"Boyfriend? Lover? I dunno" Luke shrugged.
Apollo seemed to wave something off, "I am like a brother to her. and as her 'older brother' I must tell you that she has been through a heartbreak before DON'T break her heart."
"I." Luke couldn't think of what to say. 'Dana can't like me. She IS the princess. She is.' His voice formed the words, "I would never."
"Good." Apollo turned on his heels. He looked at Corey yet spoke to Luke, "Tell Dana to expect the 'Pezes tomorrow."
"Okay."

Dana had finally figured out the security system. She had set the door to respond to her handprint. She walked out into the moonlight from the jungle gym. She noticed a crumbled swing set. The 'Jungle Gym' was really a building. It was a story high and black, it looked remotely new. She remembered hearing that it was built on where a jungle gym had really sat. The roof of the new building was flat to allow aircraft to land although nowadays most used teleportation. It was a well-used radian invention after all. The roof was eight feet off the ground with no regular way up except a ladder inside. She made herself slowly hover up to the roof, a bit rusty on levitation. Landing softly she sat, cross-legged. She closed her eyes quietly meditating. The rules of time slipped away as she betrayed gravity by floating up.
A voice intruded her thoughts after hours, "where da hell is Dana?"
'Hmm?' She opened her eyes landing softly on her feet. Walking up to the edge she noticed Luke was in the doorway. She grabbed the edge of the roof and flipped down. "Hello. Are you looking for me?" He took a step back surprised. They were eye level. Her dark gold eyes met his green ones.
"What! Damn ya scared me. Apollo visited and said the 'Pezes' are comin' tomora'." His face seemed almost flushed in the moonlight.

Dana seemed holy in the moonlight. Her hair blended in with the sky and her eyes were like the stars. Her tanned sky seemed pale and her tattoos and makeup seemed to glow black. From underneath her shirt slid out a locket. He lifted it up slightly, "what is this?"
Dana grabbed it from him slipping it back underneath her shirt. Then took his hand, tugging him up onto the roof. "Mother's locket." She sat cross-legged.
"Oh." She was beautiful in the pale moonlight. Her eyes scanning the ground as shadows played along her face mixing with her makeup. "Why do you always have makeup on like that?"
"Habit mostly." Dana chuckled.
Luke rolled his eyes, "but why did you start in the first place."
"It is to show I am holy." Dana's eyes passed over him then scanned the stars. "I think I should wash it off before everyone knows who I am though."
Luke smirked and looked at her thoughtfully. "I wonder what ya look like unna-neath yar makeup." Before he knew it his hand was on her cheek.
"Uh." Dana blushed.
Luke pulled his hand back slowly. His pride told him to pull back swiftly but his hand wanted to stay on her smooth cheek. "Sorry 'bout tha'."
"Umm." She still didn't move, beet red. 'He. I. WOW!!!'
They remained there silently until they went to bed.

"A dance?" Mina's voice drifted into Dana's slumber.
Desiree replied, "No a masquerade ball. it'll be at Cassie's Club."
"Really. oh I bet Dana and Luke will love this!"
"Wait Mina let Dana sleep a bit-"
Mina ran into Dana's room and shook her, "DANA!!! Wakey-wakey."
"Masquerade sounds fun now sleep." She muttered.
Desiree laughed, "you heard her now Mina let her be."

Luke awoke to Mina's muffled yelling. He turned over on his side, stroking Martin who'd appeared late last night. "Damn banshee." He muttered falling asleep in seconds.
Martin got up and head-butted the door open. He crept to Dana's room successfully. Dana had sat up against the wall. He rubbed into her. Stroking Martin she muttered, "That banshee."

"A masquerade?" Luke asked sipping his coffee. Desiree had visited him in his room.
"Yes." Desiree nodded. "And that reminds me. I want you to tell Dana the truth about the Watcher's Ball"
"Why?" Luke asked.
Desiree started to leave, "Because."

Dana had no makeup on that day. She made her skin a lighter shade to make her eyes come out more and she wore her hair down. She even wore a pair of jeans and a plain red t-shirt and took of her jewelry except her earrings and locket. She walked down the stairs slowly. Martin acting as always like a scarf. She incepted Luke next to the staircase to the bottom floor. "Hello Luke."
"Wow! Ya look." Luke trailed off.
Dana rolled her eyes, "Normal?"
"No. well ya. but ya look-"
"DANA!!! LUKE!!! GHOSTY!!! HURRY UP APOLLO AND THE LOPEZ ARE HERE!!!" Mina hollered.
Jordan floated up, "Ghosty? I'm going to kill her!"
Luke smirked, "Whatever. Ghosty."
A sudden gust of wind knocked him down. Jordan snickered and Dana smiled, "I doubt that was fair. 'Ghosty'." She levitated Luke back up and was about to return him onto his feet.
"Thanks Dana."
"DANNY!!!" Jaron suddenly ran through the hall and leapt onto the unsuspecting girl. She fell down causing Luke to drop back on his stomach.
Jordan chuckled as Dana and Luke got back up. Dana lifted the boy off her back and set him down messing with his hair, "Greetings Jaron."
"Yeah Danny and a funny looking guy wit messy hair and." Jaron suddenly dove behind Dana hiding from Jordan. "AH!!! ITZ A MONSTA!!! MUMMIE!!!"
"Jaron where did you go???" Terra's voice rang out through the halls.
Dana sighed, "Here Aunt Terra. and there is someone here you should greet. you haven't seen him in twenty years."
"Huh?" Terra and Jason walked into the hall. Seeing Jordan Terra suddenly straightened. "J-Jordan?"
"Yep. miss me Terry???" He smiled.
"Terra charged forward hugging into her long lost brother, "JORDAN!!!"
Jason smiled picking Jaron up, "Jaron, this is your Uncle Jordan. remember I told you about him?"
"Uncle Jodie?" Jaron looked at Jordan carefully, "He look scary!"
Luke chuckled, "I like this kid!"
"Greetings Aunt Terra, Uncle Jason. I hope Apollo was not reckless with you." Dana semi-curtsied.
"Dana what is going on? Your mother has been ill since you've left. and Lord Thane is claiming you left to be with your 'lover'." Terra broke off.
"My lover???" Dana's eye twitched, "Thane is bad at lying. or at least in that case. Mother is being controlled by him. I would have been controlled by him too except I overheard him plotting." Dana bowed, "I am truly sorry for not informing you it was my duty to insure your safety and- "
Apollo appeared, "Dana stop the speeches. damn that was the fifteenth time I've heard ya use that speech alone."
Dana straightened, "thank you for your help Apollo."
Luke noticed an odd expression on the Lopez's faces. Apollo nodded, "See ya." He was gone before she could speak.
Terra sighed, "I don't know why you put yourself through that Dana. you could have asked another-"
"He is the best. beside I have to deal with it." Dana seemed older than she really was suddenly. "I think I'll go meditating now."
"Meditating?" Jordan asked.
"It is the only way for me to relax. besides I need to reflect on this all." She picked Martin off her shoulder and laid him on the floor. She started for the stairs.

Suddenly appearing, Desiree bit her lip, "Meditating. more like sulking."
"She acts like a forty year old. she's just a kid."
"Damn she is going to be an old lady in a year at this rate." Terra said softly.
Jason looked downwards, "I think of all people Watchers are the worst off. and plus Dana is so. serious and depressed. Allison was lucky enough to have Blue in the beginning to help her adjust but Dana. she had. She is doomed."
Luke shook his head, "She can last through it all. I believe in her although I dunno know why. she seems so distan' and hopeless but I know she'll last!" He added, "She needs support and friends NOT PITY!"
The older people and ghost looked up surprised. Terra whispered, "He is right."
"You are right. Luke can you get Dana. I need to talk to everyone. about everything." Desiree headed for the door. "Things are more out of hand than we anticipated."

"Hello Dana. Luke." Dana heard Desiree greet them. They had entered the now crowded living room. They were forced to squat on a couch next to Mika and Corey. The other couch seated the Lopez, Jordan and a hooded figure. Desiree and Kade shared a loveseat. Desiree looked at the hooded shape, "you can pull down your hood Harper."
The hood went down to reveal a middle-aged woman. Her hair and eyes were blue contracting against her dark skin. "I am Julia Harper."
"AUNT JULIA!" Dana jumped up hugging the woman. "I have not seen you in years!"
"The last of da four. this can't be good." Luke leaned back.
Dana looked at him questioningly then turned to Julia, "Is he right?" Dana noticed Desiree nod in the corner of her eye.
Julia sighed, "Dana you might want to sit down." Dana sat back down with Luke. "I guess I should tell you it all. The day we fought with the Ta'arararan. Allison and Bluedon were inseparable. Blue planned to marry her once they were done, even had a little silver engagement ring on her finger. they were going to announce it that night. As soon as we entered that cursed place a sphinx attacked us. Allison managed to figure out the answer of its riddle successfully. But the sphinx was angered and she opened a portal into the abyss. Allison almost was sucked in but Jordan pushed her out of the way. While this happened Alfred, Kade and I slew the creature, thus closing the black hole." She paused, "can someone else continue from here. I need a rest."
"That monstrous, cruel pitch black pit of the abyss closed allowing us to continue through that damned place." Jason progressed. "Allison and Terra were both greatly saddened for losing their 'older brother'. Me, Alfred, Kade, Desiree, Julia and blue were the sole reason we even continued. Blue was the most encouraging of us all. He even missed Jordan enough that he forgot to maintain his illusion over his sin making him appear human. Being radian he-"
"Wait father was half-radian and he changed his skin color it was no illusion!" Dana argued. "Did you not notice his eyes."
"Well sort of. hey! That explains why you didn't look more Radian." Jason snapped his fingers. "Anyways so he even let us see his 'true' form. wow was it cool. His skin was a dark blue and he blended in with the shadows. He was busy comforting Allison, and I was dragging Terra along. So Alfred noticed the shadow demons first. He and Julia slew them so fast we didn't even get a chance to draw our blades. One slipped through and slew Blue though. It grabbed the body and engulfed it in flames before we could respond." Jason's voice cut off. "Terra could you continue. you saw the most of it."
Terra nodded, "We all dragged our feet except Desiree. Without Blue few really wanted to go forward. We were attacked again of course. One demon even managed to cut Alfred. At this Allison went ballistic. She did her heart stopping spell. the Ta'arararan were no more." She sighed. "A week later we found out Allison was pregnant. She took the throne immediately, refusing to marry. By the time Dana was born her uncle, Alfred was dead from an infection. for years before his eyes were gorged out with a rusted blade and little medicine."
"Ouch!" Mina whistled.
Dana's eyes widened, "I get it."
"What?" Terra, Jason, Jordan, and Luke chorused.
Dana sighed, "Thane isn't a regular demon, he is a youkai. they are rarer and don't have a heart. Their blood magically circulates. he must have been overlooked."
"Yes," Julia frowned letting out a deep breath, "it never occurred to us to make sure no one was alive." She continued. "That time when you ran away Thane acted oddly. I immediately hired a man to spy on him. He returned after a night to report my suspicions were correct. I automatically placed hidden cameras throughout the palace. I came to this planet to monitor the palace in peace. I couldn't tell the Lopez without them becoming in danger but I freely told Desiree. A few nights before your flight, Dana, I asked her to 'kidnap' you to secure you." She cleared her throat. "Your mother had already fallen under Thane's spell. unfortunately they failed. Luke was going to whisk you off neatly but you cut off the dance." Julia sighed.
"Wait LUKE??? He was the masked man???" Dana looked ready to faint.
Luke rolled his eyes, "is it THAT hard to believe?"
"Anyways." Julia raised an eyebrow. "With the plan failed I decided to alert you. I had an inner spy undo a silencing spell on the council room to allow you to hear Thane's plans and I rigged ~The Martin~ to go to Earth no matter what code you entered."
Dana smiled, "thanks!"
"I thankfully continued to monitor Terra and Jason. I caught wind of an assassin plan. Immediately I hired Apollo to kill the assassin. As payment I told him what was happening and your address." Julia paused, "I'm sorry if his presence saddened you."
The Lopez and Jordan stared shocked, "Julia actually apologized??? We're all going to die."
Dana and Julia rolled their eyes in sync. Jordan fell back in mock horror and shuddered, "Holy shit!!! No wonder! Dana is Julia's copy!!!" Everyone laughed.

Thane sat on the throne distantly. His plans were ruined. 'That damn Julia Harper and.' He reached out a hand as if trying to grab something. 'This urge. craving. now I know what they meant. I want. her.' He sighed sulking until a messenger came in.
The man bowed low shaking, "Milord, there is a woman here, she has news of her majesties whereabouts."
"Send her in." Thane straightened.
A woman walked in. She wore punk clothing and dark makeup. "I know where Princess Dana is."
"Really? And the price for that information?" Thane knew there would be a price.
The woman smirked, "Just want her off my turf."
Thane smiled. He liked that price. "And your name?"
The woman bowed. "Opal."

"Hey Dana! Wait up would ya?" Luke called out. She had been going out to meditate; already they were in the garage. When she didn't respond he cried, "what's with da silent treatmen'?"
She paused hesitantly. Her back stiffened. Her neck turned slowly until she faced her right. He was watched out of the corner of her eye. "You should have told me."
Luke stared at her watching her go. 'Why didn't I?' He turned heading down the stairs. Going through the hall he thought back to the beginning. 'At first I thought she was a spoiled brat and under an order to keep quiet.' As he passed her room he noticed how drab it was. He quickly went to the stairs and walked down to the next hall. 'And then I got to know her and. and I.' He was in his room before he knew it. 'I. love her?' He closed the door by leaning against it. Sliding down until he sat propped against the door. 'I. can't. I. I. I hate this.' His fist balled up until his knuckles were white. 'Why do I have these damn feelings? I. I'm such an ass.'

'Why do I feel so hurt?' Dana sighed trying to focus on her meditating. Her eyes were shut tight to hold back tears. 'He hid that from me. he probly just tolerates me on command too.' Dana mentally slapped herself. "Damn this."
"Damn what?" Julia appeared suddenly and sat next to Dana. "Want to talk about it?"
"No." Dana said looking down. She bit her lip. "Well. yeah."
"So what is it?" Julia asked.
"A." Suddenly a hand clamped over Dana's mouth. Julia was knocked out with a bat as she tried to get up. Dana electrocuted her captor and grabbed Julia. Jumping down she kicked the door. To open the door would bring the men to the others but kicking the door activated an alarm. She carried Julia piggyback towards Cassie's Club. She barely stopped to drop Julia off there and continue.

An alarm went off. Making the lights flicker. Luke shot up, 'Dana is outside.'
He ran up the stairs before Kade came on. "Damn there is at least half- a-dozen men chasing Dana and Julia out there. Julia is out! She's heading north."

Oh No.
Cliffhanger ^-^!!!
I love suspense et j'aime fromage.