Selene: Her Best Friend

"Just updating Selene on her *responsibilities*," Harry emphasizes the word. "I will take my leave. Oh, and Selene," Harry turns to the female. "Be ready for the coronation on Friday." Selene is seething. How could the sweet, gentle Harry be so conniving? Had she been blind to his manipulations? She curls her fist around the cup. She lifts the drink to her lips, enjoying the colors sparkle as they touch her lips. A sweet, burning taste flows down her throat. Soon, the drink takes effect, numbing her complicated feelings.

"You, okay?" Morgan watches the liquid in his cup glow and swirls an iridescent white. A sarcastic laugh escapes her lips. "Do I look okay?"

"No. Lena, I don't like it either." Morgan wearily sighs. He had spent the afternoon arguing with the Elders, refusing to be king.

"Then let's not! Listen, Nathaniel wants to help me escape. Come with me- you and Heather."

"What if we can't, Selene? You have no idea what they are capable of!" The female can detect resignation in his voice. "Mo, why are you saying those things? They want us to mate! What about Heather?" Selene tries to reason with her distraught friend. Morgan grabs his head. "I don't know, Lena!"

Selene grabs his hands. "Morgan, they are manipulating you!" Selene's words break him from an invisible trance. He meets her gold eyes."You're right. Let's regroup at my place."

Selene feels dizzy. Her body dulls as a weird trance falls over her. "I'll meet you outside." The room spins as her inhibitions lower. She giggles at her clumsiness, zigzagging through the space. Selene's aura sparks as she greets the black night. She chuckles at her aura, enjoying the dancing lights. Then, distracted by her own antics, she flies into a tree, the cool leaves soothing her aching body. Wait, when did she start to fly? Oh well, it doesn't matter, and Morgan won't snitch to Nathaniel. She sighs in happiness, rolling her body in the foliage. Suddenly, the weak branches give way, dropping Selene to the hard ground below. "Selene?" Morgan calls. "Where did you go?" "Here!" Selene lifts an arm. How did she end up on the ground?

Morgan smirks at her as he hoists her. "How much of that drink did you have?" "I knocked it back."She hiccups and squints her eyes, willing the spinning to stop. "Am I dirty? Ahh, Nathaniel is going to kill me if my dress is dusty!" Selene begins wiping the satin fabric around her hips.

Morgan looks at her incredulously. "That's odd. I thought it was nonalcoholic."

"Goddess Morgan, how could you serve me alcohol!?" Selene chides. She goes back to fumbling with her disheveled dress. "Selene, I just told you it was nonalcoholic!" A sudden noise interrupts them. Two male voices are coming closer to them. Cursing under his breath, Morgan wraps his arm around her and covers her mouth. She screams, but Morgan clamps down, pointing to the moving shadows. "Harry said she would be 'ere." Finally, one of the men spoke. "Well, she isn't, is she?" The second one chimed in. "Why are the Elders makin' this complicated? Just hit 'em over the head and drag them to the tunnels until the ceremony!" The men move closer to the bush where the friends hid. "It's that witch! She needs them for some enchantment! Says the girl has some special power or somethin'?" The second man waggles his fingers in a mocking gesture.

"Well, she ain't here! Let's check on the road. The drug will wear off soon." The men's voices fade. Selene pushes away. "What the hell Morgan? What gave you the right to manhandle me?" Morgan holds his hands out. "Apologies, Selene, I thought you noticed the creepy males approaching us!"

Selene stomps her feet. "I am an adult Morgan! I don't need your protection like some helpless girl!" Morgan grits his teeth. "My instinct is to protect you! You're careless when you're drunk, Selene!" Selene rolls her eyes and beats her wings, trying to get away. But, instead, she falls backward into the prickly bush. "Where did this bush come from?"

Morgan sighs, cupping her body to lift her to his chest. " You're not supposed to fly, remember? I'm taking you to my place. So you can sober up." Morgan flies up a large tree to a cottage sitting between thick branches. He lands on the thin wood porch, kicking the door open and walking to a bedroom. He gently places a sleeping Selene on the bed. Well, it looks like their escape plans would have to wait. He walks to the sitting area where Heather is watching a movie. "Hey, you! Busy day?" Heather runs her hand on Morgan's cheek. Morgan pulls her legs on his lap. "Selene is staying. She got drunk."

"Is she okay?" Heather glances toward the guest room. Heather cared greatly for her mate's friend; Selene is a part of their small family.

Morgan's hands run up Heather's smooth legs. "I don't know. Something is wrong, babe..." Morgan recounts the day's events to Heather, from discovering the temple to the night's activities. Heather's mouth was on the floor. "What? No, that is not happening! Don't even consider it, angel! "

"Selene wants to escape and wants us to come. She said Nathaniel has a plan." "Yes, let's go! It would be cruel to subject her to this! What if she has a mate?" Heather knew that there was someone out there for her dear friend. "Nothing is going to happen tonight." Morgan stands and offers his hand to her." Let's go to bed."

Selene enters a dark room with mirrors. She is surrounded by her image reflected back. In the reflections, her eyes are black and void of emotion. Then, the mirror she faces changes, showing a man with red eyes. He opens his mouth and bares his fangs. Selene screams, stumbling into the mirror behind her. She whirls around to see two men with sapphire eyes. "You're ours, Selene."

"You're mine." Red- eyes growls. His eyes shift to emerald and then to hazel. What is the goddess's name happening? Selene feels desire from the men. "Come home, my angel." The mirror next to the man portrays a distraught couple crying over a crib.

"A peace will be formed with the arrival of the hybrid, with ties to the three factions. Your time is coming, Selene." An ominous voice rings.

Loud voices wake her. Opening her eyes, she groans at the noise. The hall of mirrors had been a dream. It had felt real, and she felt an inexplicable draw to the people. She sits up slowly. What had she drunk last night? Two male voices grow louder. Curious, Selene slides off the bed and daintily walks toward the shouting. In a small entryway, Morgan and Elder Harry are screaming harsh words. Off to the side, Heather clutches a robe around her. Heather notices Selene, opening her arms for an embrace.

"Selene! How are you feeling today? We were quite worried when you left the hall drunk." Harry's voice is laced with thick sweetness. "I'm great, Elder. Thanks." Selene's irritation grows. "I'm here to talk to you about your nuptials and coronation, but Morgan is difficult," Harry begins to explain, only to be cut off. "The answer is no, Elder." Selene flinches at the blinding light from the kitchen window.

"It's not optional." Harry frowns. "Yes, it is. We have free will, and if we don't want to mate, you can't force it. Now leave" Selene stands straight, a silent challenge to the older male faerie. Harry laughs. "You're quite a spitfire, Selene! Challenging an Elder? You indeed have royal blood!"

"GET OUT!" Morgan screams, pointing at the door. Harry's smile remains plastered as he turns to Heather. "My dear, you are merely an obstacle in the way of their union. They are meant to be. It is inevitable they will fall in love." Harry's words have their intended effect. Heather's face is brimming with tears. Morgan growls, grabbing the Elder. "I said get out! Don't you ever talk to my mate or best friend again!"

He turns toward Heather, his face softening at her tears. "Babe, he is lying." "Heather, I promise that I don't have feelings for Morgan. I would never hurt you in that regard." Selene pulls Heather into a hug. The petite brunnette pulls away and shrugs. "I know. Let's just eat breakfast and talk about this escape plan."

"Oh! I need to call Nathaniel!" Selene pulls out her phone. Morgan sits next to her while Heather begins boiling water. Selene and Morgan become engrossed in the escape plan that they don't notice Heather's humming has stopped. When Selene looks up, her eyes widen. Panicked, she looks around the room. "Morgan, where's Heather?"

Morgan stares at the kettle. "Heather?" no answer. "Heather?" he walks into their room to check. A sinking feeling forms in Selene's heart as her friend frantically searches around.

"HEATHER!" Morgan's voice booms. He looks around the quiet forest. "She's gone!"