It is JULY 4th, 1984, Eric Altman and Diana Carter sit on the beach together watching the fireworks show. “You know, I’m done with this?” Eric says.
“Done with what?” Diana asks lying her head on Eric’s shoulder.
“This whole using my power as a weapon thing, I’m done with it,” Eric replied. “I’ve kissed all the guys I am going to for one lifetime.”
“How about girls?” Diana asked picking her head up from his shoulder. “Do you still want to kiss me?” Eric doesn’t answer he only leans over to kiss her passionately. The young couple lay back on the sand kissing for a time, both of them enjoying every minute of it. When they roll away from each other onto their backs on the beach towel in the sand. Together they look again to the night sky and the fireworks.
“So, are you in love with me yet?” Eric asks.
“No,” Diana giggles rolling over to lay her head on his chest. He moves his arm around her shoulders as she listens to his heart beating in his chest. “Is that something you really want?” she asks.
“No, but I have to wonder why you are making out with me?” he asks curiously.
“Because it is nice, I like doing it,” Diana replies her eyes looking down at his belt buckle. She thinks she spots a swelling a little lower in the dim starlight. She puts her hand on his belly to lift her head to look in his face. “If it is causing a problem for you we can stop.”
“It’s fine, I like being cock teased,” he says chuckling.
Diana abruptly sits us. “We should stop if it is too much for you to handle.”
“No, no, I was just joking,” Eric says springing up in a panic. “I am fine with us not going any further, honest.”
“Looks like he feels differently,” she said pointing at the bulge in the front of his shorts.
“Come on, Diana, I can’t control that, but I can control this,” Eric says covering his hard-on and pointing to his head. “Are you going to tell me you aren’t wet right now?” Diana knows he is right, she was getting wet, that is why she pulled away from him if she wants to admit it or not. She feels like it is wrong to keep teasing themselves like this, but it is too good to stop.
“Maybe it would be best if we stopped doing this,” Diana says against her own desires.
“If that is really what you want,” Eric says in a disappointed tone. “Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know what I want, but it seems wrong to keep doing this if we both no it is going nowhere,” she tells him. “I really like you and you are a great kisser, but I know this is not where I am in my life.” “There is something out there for me that isn’t just being someone’s girlfriend.”
“What if I said this could be more than just what we have now?” Eric suggests.
“Then I would be positive we need to stop this,” Diana replies. “Is that what you want?”
Eric wants to say yes, but he knows that will push her away more. “No, no, I was just putting it out there to test you,” Eric tells her trying to hide his disappointment.
“Just the same, I think we need to stop making out,” Diana says getting up from the beach and heads back toward the house.
“You son of a bitch!” Eric mumbles grabbing the crotch of his shorts. “You ruin everything!”
After the problems at Luis’ house, Bonnie and Brian went home early. It was then that the other managed to get Eric to agree to relax the sleeping arrangements at the beach house. Fox and Tracey now share a room as do Trish and Randy. Both Diana and Eric now have their own rooms.
It is the last day of their stay at the house and the couples have both left on day trips. Trish and Randy have gone to the Atlantic City Aquarium. Fox and Tracey have gone hiking at North Brigantine State Natural Area. Diana was going to go hiking and Eric had planned to go to the Aquarium and then rethought it, since the house was going to be empty he would stay home.
Eric gets up after he has heard his housemates leave. The second floor bathroom had been reserved for the girls to use the whole time they have stayed at the house, leaving the downstairs bathroom for the boys. This morning Eric struts down the hallway in his boxers to the bathroom to shower, something he would have never done if anyone was home. He strips down starting the shower running. He shaves his fine blonde beard in the mirror over the sink. Then he turns to step behind the shower curtain to learn letting the water run was a mistake. Most of the hot water must have been used up by the others. He makes the best of his lukewarm water as he washes.
Unknown to Eric, he is not alone, Diana has also stayed behind. She listens to her music on her Walkman with headphones dancing around her room. She loves to dance, which is something Eric does not. The loud music in her ears drown out the world around her as she comes out into the hallway. She is braless in only a long T-shirt and panties as she dances toward the bathroom. Finding her seat on the toilet she closes her eyes humming as she does her business. Opening her eyes to wipe she notices a moving silhouette behind the shower curtain. Diana’s headphones preventing her from hearing the water all she can think is, no one is supposed to be home.
Before she can do anything the curtain jerks open. Diana sits stunned on the toilet bowl as Eric stands wet and naked in the shower in front of her. She is mesmerized by him. Her eyes move over every inch of his body in seconds. His broad muscled pecs look like they could stop bullets. Her gaze follows from the patch of dark blonde hair between them down the trail landing where the sun doesn’t shine.
“What are you doing here?” Eric shouts pulling the shower curtain back in front of his junk. “You are supposed to be with Fox and Tracey!” Diana can’t hear him as she looks up at his annoyed face. She watches his lips move but doesn’t understand what he is saying. “Take off the stupid headphones!” Diana just looks at him, realizing she has headphones on. She turns off the Walkman and slides the headphones off her head around her neck, but still can’t seem to speak or move. “What are you doing here?” Eric shouts again.
“What am I doing here?” Diana replies. “This is the girls bathroom, that was your rule, wasn’t it?”
“Well yes it was, but I thought everyone was out for the day,” Eric tells her. “Now could you hand me a towel?”
Diana looked around the bathroom but there are no towels. Tracey had taken all the towels to down stairs to wash them before they go home. “Didn’t you bring one with you?”
“No, I figured you girls would have some in here,” Eric says.
“I’ll go get you one,” Diana offers getting up from the toilet pulling up her panties.
“Wait a minute,” Eric calls to her as she tries to leave. “You saw me naked, I want to see your boobs!”
“What?” Diana exclaims. “Are you out of your mind?” “I really didn’t see anything anyway.” Diana is thrown into shock again as Eric steps out of the shower into the middle of the bathroom stark naked.
“Now you have!” he announces, “Let me see them boobies!”
“What happened to Mister Chastity?” Diana asks.
“Seeing your boobs is no more going to take my chastity than you seeing me naked,” Eric tells her. Diana has to admit to herself that she is enjoying seeing Eric naked. She hesitates for a few minutes before pulling off her T-shirt. Diana has no idea why she is doing it but she is standing almost as naked as Eric, except for her blue panties. It is Eric that is speechless at the sight of her smooth white skin. His eyes look over every inch of her form, from her ample breasts to the curve of her hips. “Wow, you are magnificent!” he mumbled.
“Shut up,” Diana says cupping her boobs with her too small hands.
“There is no reason to hide, nudity is our natural state,” Eric says sounding much more liberal than Diana would ever expect. “Adam and Eve were nude in the garden of Eden.” “And believe me you have nothing to be ashamed of!”
“We are not Adam and Eve,” Diana says moving to put her shirt back on. “You don’t need to tell me that I look good, I would guess you liked what you see.” Diana gestures at Eric’s groin. “I’d say you have nothing to be ashamed of either.”
“Hey, I asked for a towel, I can’t help it if you are hot,” Eric says swinging his hips from side to side.
“Wow, this is a side of you I never thought I’d see,” Diana comments still holding her shirt in front of herself without putting it on.
“You and me both,” Eric replies. “I was going to just sit around the house in my underwear today, do you want to join me, wearing a little less?”
“What Adam and Eve Naked Saturday?” Diana suggests. “What would be the point of that?” “I’d say we are even now.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with two friends hanging out for an afternoon nude,” Eric grins.
“Would you be suggesting that if I was Fox or Randy?” she asks smiling.
“Yeah sure, why not, no big deal, we’ve all been in the locker room nude with other guys,” Eric rationalizes.
“What about alone with Brian?” Diana questions as she pulls her shirt back on.
“Well….,” Eric stammers.
“Exactly, get dressed, I’ll make breakfast,” she said turning to leave him alone in the bathroom. She heads downstairs sliding her headphones back to her ears and turning on the Walkman. She can’t believe what Eric suggested. Moreover she can’t believe the way she encouraged him, what was she thinking. It was so like that dream, but this was no dream! She tries to take her mind off of it as she starts fixing breakfast. Duran Duran plays in her ears as she dances at the open refrigerator door.
She doesn’t even hear Eric as he sits down at the table behind her. Bacon, eggs, and toast are the breakfast she prepares. Diana separates the portions onto the plates and turns to carry them to the table. She sees that Eric sits at the table shirtless for the first time, something he would have never done if the others were home. Placing the plates on the table Diana has the urge to look under the table. She is relieved to spy Eric’s tighty whiteys on the seat of the wooden chair. Standing up she pulls her headphones off, “You’re not going to let this go are you?” she comments.
“Nope,” he replied picking up his fork and knife.
“You know that you are in my usual seat,” Diana comments sitting down across from him.
“I’m sorry,” he says pushing back from the table.” “Would you like to sit on my lap?” Eric grins.
“If you think I’m going to do that you are mistaken,” Diana tells him sitting down across the table from him.
“I was thinking I might take my run dressed like this today,” Eric suggests.
“Bullshit!” Diana exclaims. “You always run before you shower.”
“Today is a day of change.” “When I go home I want it to feel like I’m starting a new life,” Eric tells her taking a mouth full of eggs.
“How so?” she asks curiously.
“I want to be the man I was with you this summer and not the boy I was before afraid to get close to people,” Eric tell Diana. “You have taught me so much.”
She is surprised at his words, “How is that?” she asks. “What have I taught you?”
“You’ve taught me to be in control of my power and not to let it control my life,” Eric says holding up a piece of bacon to eat. “To not fear it but be its master.”
“That’s funny because I have never felt that I was in control of my life,” Diana tells him breaking the yolk of her egg with a piece of toast. “Certainly not the master of it.”
“You underestimate yourself,” Eric tells her. “You have never told me anything about your home life.” “How come?”
“Because it sucks,” Diana replies. “When I am away from home I don’t even want to think about it.” “I’m really dreading going home tomorrow but the bright side is that I only have a little over a month before I leave for college.”
“What could be so awful about your home life?” Eric asks going to the refrigerator for a glass of milk. She watches as he picks the white underwear from his butt crack. When he turns he spots her watching him so he grabs the front of his package to assumingly adjust it.
Diana ignores his blatant gesture at her as he takes his seat back at the table. “The fact that my father hates me for one!” she answers bluntly.
“How could your father hate you?” Eric asks sitting his glass down on the table. “What does your have to Mom say about it?”
“My Mom died when I was fourteen,” Diana replies. “Didn’t Tracey ever tell you any of this?” she asks.
“It might surprise you to learn but my cousin really doesn’t like me or tell me anything,” Eric tells her taking a big gulp of milk. “I’m sorry about your Mom thought.”
“It’s not that Tracey doesn’t like you it is just that the two of you have different world outlooks,” she explains wanting to not talk about her home life. “It’s strange for the first couple of years after she died I really missed her, now I kinda feel like she is watching over me,” Diana says after a few minutes of silence before taking a bite of bacon. “Sounds silly doesn’t it?”
“Of course not, you are talking to a guy who goes to church every Sunday,” Eric says finishing up his breakfast. Diana looks at the handsome young man across the table, how is he so wise? The he ruins it by letting the last gulp of milk run from the corner of his mouth down his chin, dripping to his chest.
Diana tosses a paper towel at her breakfast mate as he tries to wipe the milk off with his hand. “So what are you going to do today?” she asks trying to change the subject again.
“Just what I told you, sit around in my underwear,” Eric repeats. “I’ve got a few movies on VHS to watch, ‘What’s up doc?’ and ‘The Terminator.'”
“No run then?” she asks.
“Not today,” Eric replies. “Total couch potato day.” Eric gets up from the table again picking his underwear out of his ass as he walks his plate to the sink. Diana admires his body as he passes. “Why don’t you hang out with me?” he asks.
She is really tempted but replies, “You are doing enough hanging out for the both of us.” “Besides I’ve seen ‘The Terminator’ before.” “I’m just going to get dressed and go for a run.” She gets up to take her dish to the kitchen sink.
Diana knows that they have to get everything clean before they leave tomorrow so she starts washing up as Eric heads for the couch. He smells good too, like after shave or something she notices as he passes by her placing his milk glass on the counter. This past week has been hard now that they have stopped messing around. She has realized how much she really is attracted to him.
Eric put a tape in the VCR and flopped down on the couch as the movie begins to play. From the kitchen Diana can hear Barbra Streisand sing the song for the opening credits and she hums alone. She finishes up the dishes as Eric laughs at a joke about igneous rocks. Then she heads across the living room for the stairs to get dressed. Glancing at the TV she recognizes a familiar actress. “Is that Madeline Kahn?” Diana asks walking over behind the couch to get a better look.
“Yep, this is her first big role as Eunice Burns,” Eric answers.
“I love Madeline Kahn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this movie before,” Diana says watching from behind the couch. Both laugh at Ryan O’Neil’s klutzy performance in the drug store. Diana glances down at Eric on the sofa to notice his hand fumbling inside his underpants. “Got a problem there” she asks.
“Oh, no,” he says as she gestures with her head at his lap. He hadn’t even noticed what he was doing. “Just a guy thing,” he replied, pulling his hand from his drawers. “Come on have a seat and watch with me this is my favorite movie.”
“Go wash your hands and I’ll join you.” Diana says.
“Okay, okay,” Eric complains getting up from the sofa. “For the record my stuff is clean, I just had a shower.” Eric returns in time to see Judy going down the escalator backwards. The couple spend the next hour and a half watching “What’s up doc”, laughing and giggling together.
Just before Howard finds Judy under the sheet on the piano Eric leans over to give Diana a kiss on the cheek. “What was that for?” she asks.
“Thanks for washing the dishes,” Eric says returning to watching the climactic kiss scene in the movie. The movie has been both funny and romantic as Howard Banister and Judy Maxwell fall in love. Diana looks over at the near nude man on the couch next to her, if the situation was different she could fall in love with this young man, she thinks.
When Judy and Howard are reunited at the end of the movie on the plane Diana gets up and climbs onto Eric’s lap. “What’s up doc?” she says before kissing his passionately on the lips.
“What, what is this about?” Eric asks almost pushing her away. “I thought you said no more kissing?”
“We might never see each other again after tomorrow, so I thought one for the road might be nice,” Diana answers.
“Well in that case,” Eric says taking hold of her body and pulling her back to him. The couple begin to make out more passionately than ever before, their young tight bodies rubbing against each other. Eric’s hands slide up under Diana’s shirt and she does nothing to stop him. She moans as they kiss when he begins to massage her breasts with his strong hands.
Pulling away from the kissing she whispers, “Let me help you.” Lost in the moment she leans back pulling her shirt off over her head. Diana presses his face to her boobs as he sighs. Eric begins to kiss her breasts. Diana moans again as she begins to slide her hips up and down his lap.
As Eric’s hands move down her back to her waist they are both lost in the passion and pleasure now as he whispers, “You are going to make me finish if we don’t stop.”
She holds his head to her chest again for a minute as she tries to catch her breath. “Do you want to finish?” she asks shyly looking down at him with her big brown eyes.
“YES, PLEASE!” is his response.
“Then wait right here,” Diana says jumping up from his lap still topless sprinting up the stairs.
Left alone Eric looks down at the bulge in his tighty whiteys. He jumps up casting his underwear to the floor and turns off the TV. Sitting back down completely nude on the couch, he is eager for Diana’s return.
Up stairs Diana searches thru Tracey and Fox’s room. “Condoms, condoms.” she mumbles under her breath as she goes through Tracey’s bags. “I know she had a whole box of them!” She turns the dresser drawers to find that Tracey has already packed them up. “Shit, the one time this girl is packed up early!” Then she turns around to the bed spotting the nightstand. Practically leaping across the room she pulls open the nightstand drawer. “Jackpot!” she exclaims. They will need more than one so she takes a strip of four Trojans.
Pulling off her panties she is back out into the hall she hears Tracey’s voice shout, “Eric what the hell are you doing?”
“SHIT!” Diana says standing at the top of the stairs.
“Not cool dude,” Diana hears Fox say next.
“Where is Diana, while you are doing this?” Tracey asks.
“Shit, shit!” Diana murmurs again as she runs for her room to get dressed faster than she has in her entire life. Not thinking she stuffs the strip of rubbers in the pocket of her jean shorts.
She heads quietly back down the stairs. From the rail she can see Eric underwear on the floor. He sits on the couch his face bright red and her t-shirt crumpled in his lap. Tracey and Fox stand over him. “What’s going on?” she asks from the stairs trying to sound innocent. “Why are you guys back so early?”
“Diana where have you been to not know it is pouring outside?” Tracey asks pointing out the open patio doors.
“In my room, didn’t even know Eric was here,” she says giving him a look of help me.
“My room that is where I should be,” Eric says standing up to back out of the living room to the stairs. He tries to hide his ass from Fox and Tracey but without thinking that he is giving Diana a complete look at his round runner’s butt. He slides against the wall up the stairs behind Diana still holding her shirt over his junk. He pinches her ass hard on the way by.
Tracey glares at her best friend who is trying to look innocent as she comes the rest of the way down the steps. Tracey’s sharp eyes spot something hanging out of Diana’s pocket as she walks toward the kitchen. “Wasn’t that your shirt he was holding his stuff with?” Tracey asks.
Diana knows Tracey is suspicious and when she gets hold of a bone she doesn’t let it go easily. “I don’t know, I didn’t see it,” Diana replies putting away the dishes in the cabinet, not looking at her friend.
“What is this?” Tracey says yanking the condoms from Diana’s pocket and holds them up.
“Holy shit,” Fox says from the living room.
“Shut up Fox!” “I found them in the laundry,” Diana replies to Tracey.
“You have always been a terrible liar,” Tracey says. “You were going to do it with my cousin!”
“Let it go!” Diana tells her grabbing the condoms back. “Haven’t you rained on this day enough?” Diana leaves Tracey standing in the kitchen and gives Fox a dirty look as she heads back up stairs.
Knocking on Eric’s door she asks, “Can I come in?” She doesn’t wait for an answer as she opens the door. Closing the door she leans back against it, Eric is laying on his bed fully clothed. He is wearing more clothing than he has worn all summer. “Are you okay?” she asks. “What happened down there?”
Eric is silent for a moment then he wipes his eyes with his hand. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Eric tells her.
“I am so sorry, I just didn’t know what to do,” Diana replies. “I didn’t mean to throw you under the bus that way.”
“No, it isn’t your fault,” Eric says. “It is mine.” “Even if you weren’t here I would probably got caught on the sofa when they came in.” Eric sits up trying to hold back his tears. “I have been acting foolishly, taking too many risks.”
“Don’t be silly,” Diana says sitting on the edge of the bed taking Eric’s hand. “I think it’s just the universe telling us we were just not meant to be.”
“I guess it is for the best that we didn’t take the risk,” Eric agrees.
Later that night Diana lays alone in her bed. She thinks about how close she came to giving herself to Eric. She thinks about how much she wanted to and how much she wishes she had gone all the way with him. Sure she could sneak down the hall to his room now. That is if not for the last thing he said to her about it being for the best that they didn’t do it.
Diana’s hands move over her body under the sheet. She has never been one for masturbation. Not that she hasn’t masturbated, just that she doesn’t do it a lot. There was a time, after the dream she had about Steve that she did it a lot. As vivid as that dream was, what Diana had with Eric was real and fresh in her mind. Alone in the dark Diana pleasures herself to thoughts of Eric several times before she drifts off to sleep.
It’s late when Diana arrives home. She has spent very little time at home since returning from her vacation in Brigantine. After what happened with Eric she has been shying away from spending time with others. Tracey and Fox have been spending a lot of time together alone leaving Diana plenty of time to herself. She can tell Tracey still feels bad about what happened that last day at the beach house but Diana has reassured Tracey it wasn’t her fault.
Diana has spent most of her time at the library studying to get a head start on college or at the movies. It has been good not to deal with her father, she only has a month to get through before leaving for college. She has been waiting until after he’s passed out to go home and in the morning he is usually struggling to get to work so she hasn’t crossed paths with him in a week. Tonight that changes.
Strolling into the dark living room, she is greeted by her angry drunken father sitting in his chair that he has turned toward the door. “It’s 2 am where the hell have you been?” William Carter launches.
“Out, why should you care?” she yells back. “You drunk!”
“If all of your bags are packed, why do you even come back here? he slurs. “Get the fuck out and stay out!”
“I’ll be gone soon enough to let you wallow here is your miserable lonely life!” Diana shouts at him walking to the center of the room. “Ever since Mom died, all I’ve needed is your love and support, but you never let me get close to you!” “You only pushed me away!” “I was hurting too!” “I HATE YOU for that!” “You just don’t care one bit about me!” “I am eighteen and this is my life now!” “I can make my own decisions!” “My first decision is that when I do leave this house I am never coming back.” “So to hell with you!”
She stands there trembling with anger as he gets up from his chair to stagger toward her. “You are nothing but a filthy whore, just like your mother!” he bellows in her face, the smell of his whiskey breath sickens her as much as his words. Then without warning William Carter backhands his daughter across the face. Filled with disappointment, she could feel the tears building up, as she looked at her father in the eyes. “Fuck you, bitch!” he yells in her shocked face.
Her temper rages, her hands clenched into fists, she wants to strike out at him. “No, Fuck You!” she bellows, as beams of Bio-energy shoot from her eyes. The pink beams hit him square in the chest sends him flying backwards over the chair and onto the floor. Without another thought Diana storms for the door.
In her haste Diana rips the door from its hinges. Crying she runs to the elevator. As the doors close she pushes the top button for the roof, she falls against the back wall. Her hands over her tear filled eyes, she slides down the wall to the floor of the cabin. Her head in her hands she sobs, “Why can’t he treat me with respect?” “He treats my like…a dog, his to command.” The elevator stops and the doors open. Diana exits heading for the locked roof door. The lock has been replaced since the last time she used it, but this doesn’t stop her. Another door falls victim to her rage.
Bounding up the steps, ten at a time she is to the rooftop. The cool night air does little to calm her emotions. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stares to the stars. The low street noises from below escapes her senses quickly. Gazing down the rooftop she ponders. Would he even miss me, what if I never came back? She begins to walk for the ledge, picking up pace, she starts to run. Speeding towards the edge of the roof, she leaps to the next building. Across the next roof and another leap to the next, then the next. As she tires the leaps become harder and harder to make, until she stumbles and collapses to a tar and gravel roof miles from home at the edge of the city.
Tears flow again, “Would he even care if I died tonight?” she sobs.
“Death is never the answer,” A whisper in the dark.
“Who’s there?” Diana calls out in the darkness.
“You must be strong.” “You have so much life ahead of you.”
“Where are you?” Diana questions as she stands up to survey the roof. The voice is somehow familiar to her but she can not place it.
“It is me, Shanna.” the voice tells her.
Diana turns around to see her oddly attired former therapist floating a foot or so over the rooftop, enveloped in an aura of light. “Shanna?” she murmurs wiping her eyes on her shirt.
“Come to me child, there is much you must learn, for your new life that waits.”
Diana’s anger and fear seems to slip away as the strange woman speaks. Shanna’s voice is soothing and Diana walks to embrace her. The aura grows brighter and than black and they are gone.
Diana awakes in her room, she is home in bed. Or is she? Something seems off as she lays there in the silence. That is what is wrong it isn’t silent, she can hear birds singing outside her window. Springing from the bed to the window she throws open the curtains to discover she is not in her New York City high-rise at all. She is somewhere else, someplace much more beautiful. Turning back to the room it is a complete replica of her own right down to her suitcases sitting at the door. Looking to her clothing she can see that she is dressed in a thin flowing nightgown that she has never seen before.
She sits back down on the bed her face in her hands, confused and filled with questions. Diana thinks back to the previous night. She remembers arguing with her father and storming out. She remembers the run across the tops of the buildings and then, and then she remembers meeting up with Shanna. She remembers how oddly her former therapist was dressed and speaking to her in a much more familiar tone then when they were in session.
When she looks back up from her hands, Shanna stands at the door to her not-room. She is still dressed in the strange toga like garb. Shanna smiles at her with love, almost like her mother used to do. Frightened and angry Diana stands up from the bed to shout, “What is going on?” “Where am I?” In her haste she doesn’t give Shanna time to answer. “If this is a kidnapping, I promise you my father will not pay a dime to get me back.
“Oh my dear Diana, this is no kidnapping,” Shanna says sincerely. “I have brought you here to start your new life without that awful man.” “It is time you learned to use your talents to their full potential.”
Diana ignores Shanna’s second sentence for now, “Where is here?” she persists.
“This is my father’s home, a place we call Magic Island,” Shana replies. “I’ve brought you here because you have been chosen because of your unique talents.”
“Oh my god, you are a nut,” Diana says. “I’ve told my deepest secrets to a crazy person.” She plops back down on the bed in dismay at what she is going to do.
“Not at all dear,” Shanna tells her. “I have known all along your deepest secrets, even the ones you did not tell me about in session.” “Not sharing those secrets was a good thing, it meant you knew somewhere inside you that your gifts had a purpose.”
“If you know so much about me than you know you can’t keep me here!” Diana shouts standing back up taking an offensive pose.
“Don’t be silly, I want you to choose to stay not be forced,” Shanna says calmly. “But if you want to attack me go right ahead.”
Diana thinks back to last night and what she did to her father. The eye beams are the same thing that Benue showed her she could do over a year ago. She could never figure out how to use them until last night. It is a strong emotion that triggers the blasts. Strong emotion is definitely what she is feeling right now! The pink beams lash out from her eyes at Shanna, heading for the target Diana imagines on Shanna’s chest. Diana’s aim is true but Shanna holds up her hand creating a magical shield that deflects the beams.
“Feel better?” Shana asks smiling as the shield vanishes with another wave of her hand. “It is good to see how far you’ve come in using your abilities but you are no match for me.” But when your training is done you will be able to use them more effectively against other humans and Zeni-human alike.”
Diana can feel the fatigue from the first true use of her bio-energy eye beams. It is the first time she has heard the term Zeni-human. “What are Zeni-humans?” she asks.
“People like you with gifts,” Shanna answers. “I know you have met others with powers in the past few years.” “I know you have learned much more about the world around you than most normal people ever do.” “You’ve learned that there is life beyond this world and that not everyone with powers has good intentions.”
Diana decides that she will listen to what Shanna has to say for now. Maybe it will give her a chance to figure another way out of this situation. “You said I was chosen, by whom?” Diana asks trying to play along.
“By my father, Mist and I?” Shanna answers.
“Why me?” “Why not Eric, he so needs help with his ‘gift’ more than I do,” Diana suggests.
“Eric Altman has a much different path to follow than you do,” Shana tells the young woman. “Over the years as your powers have developed you have shown great restraint and compassion in using them.” “Two qualities that are rare in Zeni-humans, that is why you are worthy of the training we want to give you.”
“What about my revenge on Boss Jordan?” Diana asks. “Was that as altruistic as you think I am.”
“Did you kill Luis Jordan?” Shanna asks not waiting for the answer. “Even when you believed him dead, you felt regret.” “That was not what you intended to do.” “Seeking him out to murder him as he did to your friend would have been revenge.” “What you sought was justice and that is what he received in the end, was it not?”
Diana had never thought about it like that before Shanna put it that way. Shanna always did have a better way of looking at things than she did. “This training you keep talking about how long will it take?” Diana asks.
“That will depend on you,” Shanna explains. “Someone with your amount of gifts it could take a year or two, maybe even three.”
Diana looks at Shanna in disbelief. “That will not work, I’m going to college in a month, I don’t have three years to spare,” Diana insists.
“I will make you a deal,” Shanna offers, “If you stay here for that month and begin your training, at the end of that time, if you still want to go to college you can.” “But if you want to continue your training we can work out another alternative.”
“What kind of alternative?” Diana quizzes.
“If you stay you will find out when the time is right,” Shanna teases. “Will you stay?”
Diana thinks it through for many minutes as she looks around the replica of her bedroom. What does she have to go home to? More fights with her father for the next month? He probably already called the cops on her about last night. That last thing she wants to do is go back there. She turns to Shanna with one word, “Yes.”
Diana has spent the first week of her training working on her strengths at track and field. By the end of the day Saturday she has one important question for Shanna. “Why am I doing this stuff?” I could have done this stuff at home!”
“It would seem you have not noticed that the weights and distances are much greater than anything you would have been able to do at home without discovery,” Shanna explains. “But on Monday we begins something new to you.” “Self defense and Martial Arts.”
Monday morning was like all of the beautiful mornings Diana has had since arriving in Magic Island. Yesterday morning she actually felt an aching in her joints as she climbs out of bed. It is true what Shanna said about her training with much heavier equipment. This morning is different she feels fine back to perfect shape. She wanted to spend her Sunday exploring the island. But she found that her access to the island was very limited by Shanna. Which is one of the reasons that after the past week here she really has found no reason to stay past the month she had agreed on.
Diana has yet to meet Shanna’s mysterious father, Mist. Although there is one big improvement to the replica of her bedroom and that is the bathroom. It is far more luxurious than her one at home. It includes a steam shower and a Jacuzzi tub, even a bidet, that she is surprised by how much she likes it.
The climate on the island has been a consistent, making her workout attire much different that anything she would wear at home. Getting dressed she heads to the workout arena at the back of the palace that Shanna tries to play down, but it is a palace in Diana’s opinion. As usual Shanna is already there waiting for her, this morning she is not alone. There is someone else with her. As Diana draws closer she begins to think the term something else better fits Shana’s companion.
What appears to be a store mannequin concealed under what looks like bondage gear stands next to her mentor. “Diana I would like you to meet your new sparring partner for the next level of your training,” Shanna says.
“You want me to fight an Adult store manikin?” Diana questions glaring at the strange female form.
“Oh she is much more than a manikin,” Shanna says smiling. “Show her what you can do,” Shanna instructs the motionless automaton. On command the apparently lifeless manikin goes into action. She does several back flips out into the center of the training field, followed by some fighting moves. The performance doesn’t stop there as the android moves effortlessly around the grass doing many more acrobatic and gymnastic moves. “She has been programmed with every known fighting skill to man and she will teach them to you.” Diana is impressed by what she sees the android do.
The first day of training with the android is very frustrating for Diana. She spends what seems like three-quarters of her time on her back looking up at the imposing figure. In the days that follow Diana slowly begins to improve, learning more moves both defensive and offensive. She begins to enjoy her training more now with her new sparring partner. The android remains silent at all times never speaking a word of discouragement or encouragement to Diana as they train together.
It has been a month of hard training on Magic Island for Diana and she has made her decision. This morning she is to finally meet the elusive Mist in the main hall of the palace. Diana must admit she is impressed by Mist. He is nothing like she imagined. For being Shanna’s father he doesn’t look to be much older than she appears to be. It is his mannerisms that make it clear that his is the parent. He shows a loving affection for his daughter that Diana had never felt from her own father.
“Well Diana, have you decided if you are going to stay and finish your training with us?” Shanna asks.
“I must admit you have been clever over the past month to imply you knew about the full potential of my powers, but have never began to train me to use them,” Diana begins.
“Why teach you everything all at once?” Mist says. “Why would you stay if there wasn’t a little mystery to be had.”
“Saving the best for last you might say,” Diana smirks. “Before I give my answer I would like to hear this idea of how I would both go to college and train here.”
“I thought you might,” Shanna says turning to summon Diana’s sparring partner from the wall where she stood silently as always. The android steps forward, up to in front of Diana. “Show her,” Shanna instructs. The androids hands move to unzip the back of the mask that covers her face. In the past three weeks Diana has seen this android from all angles both at a distance and close up, never has she noticed a zipper of any kind on that outfit. She pulls the headgear forward freeing dark black hair out the back from inside it. When mask comes down over the android’s face Diana is in shock.
Not only does the android have a human face under that mask but it is like looking in a mirror for Diana. She can’t believe that this has been true the whole time. Diana knew that as they trained together the android and she had the same body type but this is ridiculous. “What kind of a sick joke is this?” Diana exclaims as the android continues to remove her suit to reveal the rest of her twin body.
“No joke my dear,” Mist says. “We have made the android into your twin for good reason.” “While it is day here on Magic Island it is night in Stanford California.” “The android knows everything about you and she can attend school while you remain here.” “As you sleep everything the android does and learns will be transferred into your sleeping mind.”
Diana stares at the nude android and begins to feel uncomfortable at the fact that she does look identical to her right down to moles and freckles. “So you can talk then?” Diana ask her twin.
“Of course I can talk but the fact that I have the same voice as you made it unwise to do so,” her sparring partners tells her.
“Then put your suit back on, I’m feeling more than a little embarrassed,” Diana tells her. “Funny thing is I had a dream not long ago that I had a twin sister, only to learn that I had a stillborn twin.”
“What was her name?” the android asks.
“Robin,” Diana answers.
“That is a pretty name, perhaps when we train together now you could call me that,” she expresses.
“Wait, you are going to school for me and we are still going to train together?” Diana asks.
“Although she may look total human to you now, she is still an android that doesn’t need to sleep,” Shanna explains. “The difference in time will also allow her to return here when she is not in school.”
When Diana woke up this morning she had decided what she was going to do. Now she feels as if that decision may have not been the right one. Android duplicates and memory transfers, it all sounds so crazy, like science-fiction. Then she has to giggle, she can fire eye beams that knock people unconscious. She is nervous, feeling like she is backed into a corner as the other three stared at her. Taking a deep breath she says, “Okay, I’ll give it a try, but if anything goes wrong, I’m out of here!”
Diana lays in bed that night, looking over at the door. The suitcases that have sat by the door for the past month are gone. The android she now calls Robin has taken them with her to college. Shanna has told Diana that once she goes to sleep there will be a magical bond created between her and her android twin that will go both ways. The activities Robin participates in will be fed into Diana’s conscious mind as she sleeps. Also Diana’s sub-conscious will influence Robin’s actions. The idea is a little frightening to her.
Diana rolls onto her back to look up at the ceiling. To think only a month ago she was wishing she was in bed with Eric. Now it all seems so far away, so unbelievable to her. She hasn’t even thought about Eric in weeks. It makes her wonder if his power was affecting her, just not as fast as it affected normal girls. The way he talked the girls fell in love with him instantly. Maybe they confused lust with love. It took weeks for her but now looking back at it, all she felt for him was sexual desire, she never felt the least bit of love for him. What if they did have sex, would she have fell in love with him? Thank God that didn’t happen!
If she were to compare the two boys in her life she for which she had strong feelings. They were very opposite. Eric was so selfish, he was going to become a doctor to find a solution to his own powers. Steve was always trying to help others, he never seemed to put himself first. That is one of the things she loved about him. The moment the word crosses her mind she questions it. Love? After all this time she still uses the word love to describe a boy she hasn’t seen in over three years. If not for those dreams she had in South America she would have probably forgotten him entirely.
Drifting off to sleep she remembers all the fun she had with Steve when they played soccer on the field behind the clubhouse. When they laid on the ground laughing the word that comes to her mind is love again. Maybe that is why it hurt so much when he rejected her advances.