Circe smiled as she greeted Jess Drake at the door, studying the bedraggled figure of the magician with some concern. "Are you all right?" the blonde asked worriedly, leading her inside the Daughters of Artemis. Jess smiled back wryly, her short black hair falling into her eyes. "Had a hell of a day," she admitted, "but if you need me, I'm ready to help." Dressed in casual jeans, shirt and jacket Jess still looked good, no matter how tired she was. "I'm sorry to call another circle so soon," Circe said as she led Jess into the mostly deserted bar, "but I screwed up one of the enchantments we cast last time, there's a chink in our armor." "The cross-dimensional element," Jess didn't exactly ask. Circe looked at her in surprise, "How did you know?" Jess smiled back tiredly, "First time I've ever heard of somebody pulling something like that. I figure it's new, and the first time I try spells, something almost always goes wrong." Circe had to chuckle, "Fair enough." The circle wasn't a formal group of magicians and wizards, in fact the membership shifted greatly as people came and left town or became known to Diana and Circe. Today there was Circe herself, Jess, a Japanese exchange student named Yamato Tsujimoto, the redheaded Irish scholar Shannon Mcgee, Ema Wilson and Jess' friend Elizabeth all ready and waiting. "It took you long enough," Elizabeth smirked, the slim little blonde eyeing Jess closely. Jess ignored that, taking off her coat and sitting it on a bar stool. "So what, exactly, are we doing?" she asked crisply. "Tha' was what I was wonderin'," Shannon softly agreed, a curl of her red hair touching her rosy cheek. The dress that she wore was a bit snug, but the body beneath it was, in all honesty, rather under-endowed. "I need the circle to call up power for me and to be an anchor," Circe explained simply, "while I repair the bar's shielding spells." A smile, "It shouldn't take long." "Assuming things don't go wrong," Ema spoke up shyly, her long brown hair falling over round glasses, "and they ALWAYS seem to go wrong." "That's why we'll be shielding too," Yamato said thoughtfully. Black hair shimmered in a wave down her back, the white shirt and red pants she wore almost painted on her curvy form. "Any problems?" Circe looked the group over then nodded, "Then let's do this." Circe took the position at the head of the circle, Ema to her right and Shannon to her left, Jess across from her with Yamato and Elizabeth beside her. Each extended their hands to the other, then they settled down into building power in their own various ways. Nearby Diana watched and waited, the co-owner of the bar slightly tense as she leaned up against the counter. From out of the back a skinny, somewhat intense blonde emerged to join her, rather oddly wearing a sword belted at her side. "I'm glad you two decided to tell me this was happening this time," Athena said seriously. "Just being careful," Diana answered, long brown hair tied back smoothly. "Oh?" Athena asked, frowning slightly. "Father may be more aware of us than we had thought," Diana said honestly, "if he does take a shot at the bar, I want you here to back us up." "Marvelous," Athena growled, eyes narrowing. The circle began to glow as the mystical energies that it's members were gathering slowly built, shimmering all around them. Dancing from woman to woman their energies gradually flowed into Circe only to be released into the bar's defenses, strengthening and repairing the flaws that only use could have discovered. The front doors rattled suddenly, cutting over the magicians' murmuring voices then the locked doors slammed open violently. He looked almost normal, the gray bearded man in a trench coat he stood in the doorway, something physically preventing him from entering the room. His eyes glittered an ice blue, his lips drew back in a grimace as he pushed against the invisible barrier. "What the HELL is that," Elizabeth growled as the entire circle was stressed to the max, the power suddenly opposing them immense. "Let's go," Athena led the charge around the circle to the doorway, drawing her blade smoothly. The vary air rippled and she seemed to shirt, casual clothes fading to roman style armor as she fully took on her aspect of Goddess of War. Diana held a simple bow in her hands but as she drew the string back, energy flickered to life I the shape of a arrow. Her clothes blurred replaced by the rough garb of a huntress, fur cloak casually flung over her shoulders. "Zeus," Diana met his eyes fiercely as they faced each other, "get the hell away from my bar." "You've fallen so far, little bitch," the old man's voice rumbled as Zeus continued, "and how would you stop me?" "I don't see you crossing the doorway, pops," Athena shot back, Zeus' lips drawing back in a snarl of sudden rage. "DONE!" Circe called out as a wave of power pulsed out, the very air around the bar lightening as the defenses around them firmed up even more. With a anguished cry Zeus was thrown backwards by the mystic defenses around the bar, his clothes and beard literally smoking as he collapsed to the ground. Pulling himself up on the sidewalk he howled, "You'll pay for that, whores!" "No," Diana answered calmly. "you're too far from your sources of power, father and you face far more than two little goddesses." Zeus looked almost incoherent with rage, eyes flashing as he managed to get out, "Your little sanctuary won't protect you forever." With a crack of thunder and burst of lightning he was gone, leaving no sign he was ever there. Into the silence Jess murmured, "When Hunter told me you needed me for a circle tonight I joked that you were trying to stave off the wrath of god." A wry smile, "Didn't expect to be right." Circe and the other magic users were getting up, all of them feeling more than a bit exhausted by what had just happened. "Is that a problem?" Circe asked curiously. "Sounds like a hell of a fight," Jess said with a slight smile, "you need me, I'm in." "Thanks," Diana said as she put the bow away, Athena shedding her armor mystically. The magicians chimed in their support, the circle breaking up as they tiredly scattered around the room. "First round is on me, everyone," Circe laughed, stepping up to the bar to help her lover pass around the foam topped mugs of beer. "I was a little surprised at how well they took that," Athena noted, even as the main doors were opened and some of the more regular customers came in. "Wait until we actually need them to help," Diana noted cynically as they passed a second round of drinks around, soon to be followed by a third. Her expression softened a little, "Though I suppose we can count on Jess' help...." Circe looked amused as she nodded towards a corner table where Jess was sitting, several empty mugs of beer in front of her. "I think she's a bit busy, too," she smiled as a woman approached. "Hello, lover," Elizabeth purred, the slim blonde snuggling up to Jess' back. Jess coldly shrugged her off, "Watch the hands." She turned slightly to look at her, again struck by how lovely and yet how shallow the woman seemed. "Don't you have someone else to bother tonight?" she asked her wryly. "No one as exciting as you," Elizabeth smirked. With a little laugh she perched on Jess lap, wrapping her arms around the taller woman to snuggle close. "I don't want to do this today," Jess reflexedly steadied the girl with her hand as she continued, "I've had a real shitty day today and I'm not in the mood." "But Jess....." Elizabeth started to say then trailed off as she looked over Jess' shoulder and murmured, "uh oh." Jess turned around slightly only to freeze in surprise. Alice Sinclaire stood there, the black haired beauty looking at the two of them with a face made pale by shock and other emotions. Hunter stood behind her with an apologetic look and Jess instantly realized that she had brought Alice here, probably to give the two of them a chance to make up. "You... you..." Alice shook a moment then stepped forward as Elizabeth scampered away and slapped Jess across the face, then turned and fled. "Shit," Jess cursed softly as she tried to get up, the beer that she had drank making her too wobbly to pursue Alice. Hunter reached out to steady her and Jess was surprised to see a tear in the other woman's eyes. "I never meant...." Hunter said weakly. Jess shrugged off Hunter's hand and bolted from the bar, vainly trying to pursue Alice. "Oh hell," Circe sighed, leaving the others to watch the bar and following Jess outside. Jess had collapsed out in the parking lot, keeling on the concrete all alone. Tears streaked the dark haired woman's face even as her cheek went flaming red, her voice coming pout in choking sobs as she gasped, "I'm so stupid!" Circe didn't really know what was going on, but there was really only one thing she could do. Kneeling beside Jess she drew her close and let the other woman cry.
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