Changing

MIA

"You owe me, dad. You said anything I want." Her voice hardened. She was determined to win this round.

 After the successful impromptu elegant dinner, her cousins retired to their respective quarters. A suite of rooms readied at all times for their visits.

MJ was grateful. She didn't need their overprotective asses at the moment while she was trying to negotiate with her father.

"Anything but that. You know I am only concerned about your safety." His face was flushed with a shade of red creeping up his neck and he gulped the white wine on his glass in one go.

Exasperated, she got up. "I am more than eight. In fact, I am an adult. I can do whatever I want and I don't need your permission."

"Mia Jane," he growled in warning.

"I am telling you because I respect you. But enough!" She spat. "I have been closeted sufficiently to last me a lifetime. I need a bit of freedom, dad. Mom, tell him."

"Ron. All our daughter is asking is one night of freedom. I think it's reasonable. She's already twenty." Her mother's gentle voice eased the tension in the room.

"Jane. You in this, too?" Her father asked. A bit disappointed. Then they were both quiet, communicating with their eyes.

MJ stood before them, wringing her hands. Waiting for their verdict. "Please, dad. A day and a night. I will be careful. No drinking. No partying. No drugs. Just exploring the city. On my own."

Her father cradled his head in his big hands. Jane, her mother went to him and whispered to his ear.

She immediately saw the effect her mom had on him. He visibly relaxed and pulled her to his lap and nuzzled her neck, her mother giggled.

"Umm, guys. I am still here. Please don't make me lose my dinner." More than twenty years married and they still act like lovesick teenagers.

Not that she minded. She was actually praying for the same kind of love in her future.

Her dad looked at her, lips twitching. "You will have my answer tomorrow, MJ. Now, excuse me and your mother, she will need a lot of convincing to do."

"Dad! Yucks." Then they left her alone in the library while he carried his mom away, squirming and laughing in his arms.

MJ rolled her eyes. Maybe she will just pick something to read tonight.

Roaming and scanning the selves, she murmured the titles and tried to select something that will prick her interest. E.L. James. Done. Stephanie Laurens. Done. Julia Quinn. Done. Bored with her mom's romance section, she went to her dad's big tomes of history books.

He had recently acquired an antique one. She hoped it was not locked on the vault.

Her eyes caught an object with a deep shade of black cover and the spine and edge made of solid metal burnished in gold. 

-Wow.-

It looked expensive and well preserved.

The Lycan World, Third Edition. Author: The Alphas

Finding the book made her night a little bit exciting. Hefting the precious literary gem with both arms, she went to her favorite lazy chair and curled her legs under her.

Switzerland, 1599

Selene, Moon Goddess

'As the stars aligned in my darkest of night, my heart is filled with grief. I lost a son to a clan of savage beasts, thirsty from blood, their red eyes, fangs glittering in the moonlight, their evilness took my precious from me. I shouldn't have sent him to the earth, where all demons dwell. A mistake that will make me suffer in grief.

I swore on my son's grave to unleash my powers and create the perfect protector, a half-man and a lycan, a wolf to hunt the leeches until they are naught but maggots on the soil, hiding like rodents beneath the earth.

Oh, Constantine, my perfect creation, do me proud, the kingdom will be yours, immortality, riches, and people bowing at your feet....'

MJ was so engrossed, turning page after page of the fictional book. A supernatural world was described in fine detail, it was almost reading a history book but more alive and believable.

-Might as well take this to my room.-  

Her father won't mind. The book was thick so it will take a couple of days to finish reading it.

A mug of warm milk and cookies was not a bad idea as well. Grinning, she exited the library and retired to her suite of rooms.

***

The next day her cousins were gone when she woke up. Her mother told her they have some business to attend to and they needed to move to their penthouses in the city to be nearer to their corporate offices.

She shrugged, accepting their excuses.  She was used to it. They come and go as they pleased. Anyway, her morning was fruitful. Her dad gave her permission to roam the city on her own with a few stern warnings.

Today was Friday. After her last class, she'd be on her own.

MJ was so excited she could dance. Which she did in the kitchen. Making the maids laugh and her mother snort.

"Here, you have new supplements. Just take one for now." Jane handed her a small orangey pill.

-Vitamin C? Since when?- 

She never had colds or a case of flu since she was an infant. Her mother used to tell her it was so easy to take care of her because she never got sick.

"No more nasty tablets, mom?" She jested. Not that she was complaining. She really hated those.

"Nope, baby. You outgrew them." Her mom pecked her cheek before shooing her away.

With a bounce on her steps, greeting their butler cheerfully, she exited their house with a bright smile. Her face lifted towards the sun's rays.

Nothing and no one can faze her day today.

***

Shopping at Beverly Hills without bodyguards and chaperones was bliss.  Her purchases were not for herself though. She planned on donating almost every item to nurses and patients to a local Hospice. Only keeping a pair of casual, and a sexy dress for the club later.

She also contacted an orphanage to collect the boxes of toys and gadgets she bought at the mall. Her father's unlimited black card has a permanent dent on it. She giggled.

By late afternoon, she checked in at a second-class motel near LA's entertainment strip.

Freedom tasted so good. MJ smirked while she jumped on the mattress. McDonald's sounded so enticing at the moment, urging her to indulge before she went out. Maybe she could order the whole menu, her tummy growled in approval suddenly feeling so hungry. Weird. She already snacked on donuts and a large vanilla milkshake.

Who cares? Thirty minutes later, she was stuffing her face with greasy fries and deluxe burgers. Chewing thoughtfully, she considered her options for the evening. There's a local bar, a strip joint, and an exclusive club. Why not all three. No one would stop her. Her father promised freedom for tonight and tomorrow.

There's a local bar nearby located outside of a rival Uni. She'd stop there first. The atmosphere must be raucous enough for her taste.

Dress in a Cavalli black cross open body con faux leather mini skirt, showing her slender tan legs, her blouse a muted gold sleeveless tucked neatly, wearing comfortable silver Manolo heels, she decided to walk in the balmy evening air. Her eyes bounced everywhere. Excited and alert at the same time.

It was only 9 PM, no drunkards on alleyways yet.

She tried the local bar and it was too tame. They even served watered vodka. Not that she tasted it, just smelled the difference from the one her father kept in his liquor cabinet.

She was out after an hour nursing her virgin drink and observing the room. Not one college jock approached her. A pity.

A strip club her next target. And no. She had no interest in women, she wanted to check out how they danced sexily to seduce a man. She would need pointers for her future husband.

The alley between the glittering lights of the joint was dark and it gave her the creeps. Briskly passing through, her suddenly sensitive ears picked up a whimper then male grunts. 

Fuck no!

No one should touch a woman without her consent. -Not on my watch.- Braving the deep dark corner, she saw a slip of a girl barely dress being held down by a drunkard, his companion was groping her breasts. The woman whimpered in pain once more.

Running towards danger, not thinking twice, MJ kicked the man's calf and delivered deathly blows to his torso, one on his kidney the other on his liver, he grunted and doubled over in pain then passed out. The second assailant, stunned, looked at her in fear, he was about to run when she grabbed him by the neck and landed a perfect uppercut. He was out like a light. She kicked his balls for good measure. 

-Fucking morons!-

MJ dusted her hands and picked up her purse.

"Thank you, Bruce Lee." The girl she rescued, about her age, smiled tentatively despite the blood on her lips. "The fuckards thought I was a hooker."

MJ chuckled. "More like MJ from Spiderman. Those men," she pointed in the direction where the villains were sprawled unconscious. "Are pigs."

"Nah. I love Captain America and Ironman more. And yes, vermin they are." She straightened her worn t-shirt and dusted her short shorts. "I'm Toni by the way. And I can't thank you enough."

MJ snorted her disgust at the men sprawled on the ground, unconscious. "My dad's martial arts lessons for me paid off. Imagine the ridiculous amount he had been paying for just a few sessions." She tidied herself as well and studied the girl before her under her thick lashes. Now the moon was out, she could see her clearly. No. Not a hooker but a desperate girl looking tired and starved.

Toni was very thin. Shorter by at least three inches, the girl was petite compared to MJ's 5'7" plus 3 inches more in her stilettos. Her face was covered in thick make-up obviously hiding her true beauty and her head was shrouded in a wig.

"Done scrutinizing me?" She asked. Amused.

It was then and there MJ decided to take her under her wing. "We can clean you up in my motel." She offered.

"I am not a whore. Just a stripper trying to earn money." Toni said defensively.

"And I am not a lesbian who wants to hook up. I am looking for a friend though." She answered with a smirk.

Toni laughed. "I'm in then. Where to?"

Since that night, they were inseparable. She brought her new friend home and introduced her to her parents the next day.

Her mother approved of Toni or Antonia. She was mostly at their house for sleepovers if she was not working.

For the first time in her life, MJ had a genuine friend, a confidant, a partner in crimes, a shopping buddy, and an avid fan of Marvel movies just like her.

There was one thing about Toni that saddens her. She carried a lot on her shoulders for her age. MJ found out her bestie was working at a strip club at night and a waitress by day to support her mom's medical bills. But pride made her refuse to accept help.

So what MJ did was transfer Toni's mother to a hospice, pay her enormous hospital debts, and talk to her father about her friend's predicament.

Antonia was a college degree holder, though no experience in the white-collar world, she graduated top of her class, such a waste if she only worked for pervert, sweaty, and drunkard assholes.

So, MJ did what she had to do, she pulled another IOU card and made sure Toni was hired at Logan's company.

She couldn't wait to tell her best friend the news. No more dancing at polls naked.

"I have a surprise for you," MJ announced. Her eyes glinting in excitement. They were chilling at her favorite Starbucks outlet with her usual Machiatto and a plate of assorted pastries.

"Mia, not again," Toni whined. "You've already spent a lot for mom."

"Hush, stop or I'll burn your Marvel comics. Listen, I don't want you working at the strip club anymore. You will have a job interview at EAP Real Estate Corp. on Friday. Please, Toni. I'll back you up." Antonia could be stubborn at times. But MJ was tenacious.

"Even without experience?" Toni asked. Skeptical.

"Yup. So, please be on time, yeah?"

"Are you sure, Mia?" She asked nervously. Knawing her lip.

"I am sure." She answered with confidence.

Without warning, Toni launched herself in her arms and hugged her tightly. She returned the gesture with a fond chuckle.

"Ouch, MJ. I can't breathe. What are you eating these days? You've gone stronger." Toni grunted and sat back on her chair.

Did she? Odd. Though at times her hearing was so sensitive it irritated her. And there's a terrible headache disturbing her in the early hours of the morning. She also felt a lot of pent-up energy lately.

"You think? I've been eating a lot. Do you think I should go on a diet?" MJ worried her lips.

Toni frowned. "What for? Your figure is to die for. I swear if you work at a strip club, men will be swarming on you. You'd be the delight for the night."

MJ burst out laughing. "I know, right. Maybe I should try it sometimes."

"No can do, princess. Your dad will skin you alive."

"Yeah. There's that." She sipped her drink slowly. Something was happening to her body. Maybe she should ask her mom about it first. She didn't want to freak out Toni if she admitted what was really happening to her these past few days.

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