The Sadian Chronicles: Book 2: From Mercury To Venus

My Lover, My Enemy: Part 1

Chapter Four: My Lover, My Enemy

Marianna woke early the next morning feeling somewhat relieved. She truly believed the night before to be nothing but a silly dream. When she walked into the living room and saw Cynthia sleeping peacefully on the sofa, she realized that it wasn't a dream at all.

As Cynthia started to wake sounds of yawning came from her. Marianna plopped down into a chair pretending her friend wasn't there.

"Good morning. M.J.," Cynthia yawned joyfully. Marianna wore a sour look on her face, signaling Cynthia to speak. "Hey, why so glum?"

"No reason," she said but knew it was a lie. "I just hate mornings."

Cynthia looked over at the clock. "It's 12:30 P.M. The morning is gone."

"This is morning for me. Remember," Marianna said with a friendly a smirk. "I'm a night owl."

"Yeah right, and I'm the morning lark," Cynthia said sarcastically "What's with you? Never since I've known you, you've had this vendetta against the sun."

"You're paranoid," Marianna said, while trailing to the bathroom.

After about thirty seconds after closing the door Cynthia's voice added with a rapping behind the door that could be heard from the inside of the bathroom.

"Hey, I'm not paranoid," she called out. "Don't blame your phobia on me."

"I don't blame you," Marianna called back through the door. "Besides, it's not a phobia. It's a medical condition."

"With you everything's a medical condition," Cynthia said sarcastically.

Twenty minutes later she emerged from the bathroom and grabbed her bag. She looked over at her friend reclining lazily on the couch. "Look, Cin. I have to leave, but you can stay if you want, just lock up before you go."

"Sure, M.J.," she said and happily took a seat on the couch with her favorite fashion magazine. "Don't work too hard."

Marianna merely smiled ironically her words. "See you later," she said and walked out the door.

*She stopped for breakfast at the local deli and headed straight for the lab. She found that two of the other interns were there, but there was no sign of Brenda.

"Good afternoon, M.J.," Charlie Crowler said, observing her physical state. "Looks like you had a rough night."

"Shut up, Charlie!" Edie Michaels snapped. "Can't you be nice to Marianna just once?"

"Hey, I'm always nice, zit face," he fired back.

Marianna had no intention of enduring this stupid argument. "People, please," Marianna said, trying to break up a potential fight. "Don't argue over me... not when there is work to do."

"Yes, Mother," Charlie snapped back sarcastically while rolling his eyes.

Marianna ignored him. Instead, she shuffled her way into the inner office. Still, there was no sign of Brenda. Edie Brooks was sitting at her desk working diligently at her computer. She peeked over, seeing the anxious look on Marianna's face.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked as Marianna approached her desk.

"Where's Brenda?" Marianna asked looking around.

"I don't know," Edie said after she contemplated the question for a moment. "No one's seen her all morning."

"Did you try her at home? Maybe she's there." Marianna picked up the phone dialed. "This isn't like her to go missing." She let the phone ring until the dial tone went dead. She tried again, but it yielded the same results. It must have rung two dozen times before Marianna gave up and slowly hung up the receiver. She stared at the phone for the longest time.

Edie, who was standing behind her, finally said, "She's not there?"

Marianna shook her head as a bad feeling came to her. "Something's wrong," she said, turning to face Edie. "I just know it." Marianna darted for the door.

"Where are you going?" Edie asked her looking a little nervous.

"Simple, I'm going to find Brenda," Marianna answered her. She had a worried look in her eye that sent chills down Edie's spine. "Something strange is going on, and I'm going to find out what it is."

In truth, Marianna didn't know where to start looking. Brenda was one of the very few people she confided in about her past. She didn't have a choice where Brenda was concerned. Dare was a spotter, not born with evident differences as Ty and herself, but she could detect it when a Sadian crossed her path. She also retained memories of the ancient Sadians from which they had descended.

Marianna was both terrified and relieved at the prospect of making her talents known, but Brenda had been a good friend and mentor to her. She made Marianna realize that she had a choice. Bitterness could consume her and make her lash out in anger, or she could turn it around and use it to her advantage.

In life, tests were given, one after another, but Marianna was tired of tests. All she wanted was to be happy, but the evils of mortal living crept in to destroy her little world and those that crossed her path good or bad within her destiny.

"Brenda," she said, walking down Ladd Street where Brenda's home was located. "Where the hell are you?"