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Katina, Darcy Parker, and Ace are copyright Terry Moore, used without permission (don't sue me, Mr. Moore!). Story is mine; do not copy.
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The dawn crept over the hills, danced on the palm trees and mingled with the early morning breeze in an intoxicatingly peaceful blend.

As it slowly rose further, the sun's light gently invaded the plush mansion's large master bedroom suite through the clear glass of the French doors.

The young woman in the queen-sized bed shifted slightly, sighing at the thought of waking. After a moment, she sat up slowly, her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders. She looked around the room, the sleep still heavy in her eyes. She didn't recognize the room, but she knew where she was. She vaguely remembered it from last night. Last night? What had she done last night? The massive amount of vodka screwdrivers she'd drank clouded her memory like San Francisco fog. She shifted herself and dangled her legs off the bed. She tested them slowly, unsure if they could support her. She took the light pink satin sheet and wrapped it around herself. She stood, and walked slowly to the window, looking down on the hills of the Hollywood homes below. It was like a dream. Was it a dream?

She pressed her hand against the glass, cool to the touch, but warming slightly from the sun. Her reflection, so pale, contrasted the darkened room behind her. If she looked closely enough, she could have made out the rest of the room. Her gaze went back to the hills and homes below. So beautiful. They were literally at her feet.

"Like the view, Katina?"

She gasped and turned, searching for whomever had spoken.

"Over here," the husky voice chuckled. It came from the bed.

"What?" she asked, tightening the grip on the sheet as she cautiously stepped towards the bed. As Katina neared, she could see the figure. She could see the features. Darcy Parker. "Wh...what happened?" she stammered, feeling like her heart was being thrown into a box inside another box.

"My. Alcohol is like amnesia for you, isn't it?" Darcy laughed. "Or perhaps I should be insulted?" she raised an eyebrow and smiled coyly.

"No... I-I just... don't remember," Katina stuttered, suddenly aware that she wore only a sheet. She blushed. Just what had she done?

"Well, my dear," Darcy began, "you've proven that you will be a most valuable ally." Darcy smiled at the blank look on Katina's face. "Come, get dressed. The maid will have breakfast in the kitchen for you," Darcy said soothingly but firmly as she rose from the bed, wearing nothing but the lily tattooed on her ankle. Katina's face went white as she finally realized just what had transpired the night before.

"I... want to take a shower first, then I'll join you... downstairs in the kitchen," she said trying not to sound like she felt.

Darcy nodded and dressed herself in a beautiful red silk robe. "There will be clothes waiting for you, and the shower is to the left," Darcy smoothly pointed. She opened the bedroom door, then turned and gave Katina a look she couldn't quite identify. "Don't be long," she smiled.

For a long moment after Darcy had left, Katina sat on the edge of the bed, her sheet not quite covering her well enough for her taste at the moment. She gathered herself and stood, reluctantly dropping the sheet, still trying to make sense of it all. When she entered the large master bathroom, she noticed everything was marble. And silver. Darcy had expensive taste. Katina turned the water on and stepped in, closing the glass door behind her. She stood, shivering from the combination of cool air, hot water, and hangover. Her head pounded as she reached for the soap. As she lathered the soap across her skin, a thousand thoughts ran through her mind. Why? How could I have done this?! She started to sob quietly, and fell back against the shower wall and slid down to the floor, damning herself over and over. Dammit, Katchoo! Get yourself together! You have to pull through this. Just plan your next moves.

Once she got out of the shower, she found a black silk shirt and jeans waiting for her on the bed, folded neatly. She got dressed and tried to remember where the kitchen was. Eventually, she found it.

"Good morning, miss. What would you like to eat?" the maid asked.

"Uhm, scrambled eggs and toast, please. With something to drink?"

The maid smiled and nodded, and went about cooking. Katchoo looked around the room, even the kitchen looked expensive.

Darcy chuckled. "You need more refined tastes, baby," she smiled over her newspaper. "Don't worry, you'll know all the finest of French dishes by name in no time," she said reassuringly as she sat her paper down and took a drink from an ornately carved goblet. She noticed that Katina looked quizzically at the drink. "Cognac," she said. "I find it a bit strong for mornings, but it's smoother than coffee," she smiled.

Katina nodded slowly. Suddenly, a plate of scrambled eggs and two slices of toast sat before her, followed by a glass of orange juice, all smelling like Heaven and looking like they'd just come from there. She thanked the maid and dug in. Her troubles could wait until after breakfast. While she was eating, Darcy rested her head daintily on the topside of her hand, smiling. "Glad you enjoy it. So, what do you want to do today?"

Katina looked at Darcy, half-stunned at the idea that Darcy was going to keep her around for the time being. "Well, I..." she thought for a moment, but couldn't think of anything.

"I'll tell you what..." Darcy said slowly. "Don't feel overwhelmed by choices. Man hasn't had enough hours in a day for thousands of years. Take your time, baby. Come with me, I want to show you something."

Darcy stood and exited the kitchen, Katina close behind. She followed Darcy down a few large halls, and remembered some vaguely from the night before. The sculptures and paintings hanging in each of them would shame a museum. Darcy stopped at large, dark-wood double doors. She pushed them open to reveal an Olympic sized pool, with ferns and other exotic plants, beautiful blue water, and a stained glass dome ceiling, making the room look absolutely ethereal. It was one of the most beautiful things Katina had ever seen.

"You see all this?" Darcy smiled at Katina's bug-eyed stare. "It didn't happen over night," she said, taking Katina by the arm and walking around the pool with her.

"How long did it take, then?" Katina asked. She looked into Darcy's deep brown, Asian eyes. World weary eyes.

"With the right contractors and workers, two months. In the end, you could say it's all about connections," she grinned.

They continued to wax philosophical as they strolled, Katina's neck craning around to see everything, trying not to be obvious about it.

"That's the short of it," said Darcy. "Would you like to stay to learn the long of it?" Darcy rolled several questions into one query.

Katina thought for a moment, still sickened, amazed, and awed by all that had transpired thus far. "I..." she whispered.

Darcy made a tart face behind Katina, not pleased with her hesitation. She grinned evilly as she suddenly pushed Katina into the pool, eliciting a small yelp from the girl.

"Katina, Katina! The world is your oyster! There for the taking!" Darcy threw her arms up in a dramatic way. She reveled in it for a moment, then knelt down to Katina. She said in a low, seductive, powerful tone, "Do you want to take the world, Katina? Do you want the power to crush your enemies?" she narrowed her eyes.

Katina searched Darcy's eyes. A thought of Ace burned a trail through her mind. Her stepfather. The man who raped her. The scum who could never replace her real father. The man who finally split she and her mother apart. The bastard. "Yes..." she grimaced.

Darcy offered her hand, "Then let me help you, baby. Let's take the world."