Pound pound pound! "Ummm, excuse me! Open the door. Sanctuary! I require Sanctuary!" Is most likely what I will be saying at the steps of some great, stone cathedral once you all finish reading this chapter. As it is, hopefully you'll never find me in my comfy home and well, yeah. Let's just leave it at that. Only the most dedicated readers will have an inkling of where I live and quite frankly I'm not so totally sure everyone pays that much attention to my stories. :) Anywho, enjoy this chapter, don't kill me, don't hate me. REVIEW though because that's awesome. Oh, and don't think I don't read each one, I do.
2
Yet Another Resurrection
The pounding in Rini's head made her moan as she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was her father's worried face and within the depths of his eyes she saw something that scared her. "Daddy." She whispered with a weak smile. "What happened?"
His eyes immediately shifted to her mother who was sleeping in a nearby chair, her beautiful face, even in sleep, looked worried. "Rini, the man who forced his way into the house… he beat you, then he…" Rini held her breath as her father faltered in mid sentence for perhaps the first time in her life. "Honey he raped you and left you for dead. If Peruru and I hadn't come…"
Rini took stock of herself as she sat there, shocked. She remembered him forcing his way into the house, she remembered fighting with him then him pulling her to her feet. She remembered him hitting her, muddying her senses then covering her mouth as he pushed her onto the counter. She'd attempted to struggle but her head hurt so terribly she couldn't, she couldn't even make out his face and even as she felt his hands under her skirt, moving up her legs she'd been unable to fight. Fight against him. The moment he had forced himself into her she'd tried to scream, the pain ripping through her entire body as he disgustingly carried on. He'd been violent, her body sliding about the counter top as he had his fun.
She closed her eyes as she remembered feeling him release into her. Oh! He hadn't worn protection! "Daddy…" She sobbed and grabbed onto her father, sinking her nose into his chest and inhaling his scent. It was comforting, feeling his arms about her, his large, powerful hand stroking her hair.
"It's okay Rini, you're okay. We'll get through this, I promise baby." He cooed quietly and rocked her in his arms. "I'll find him and I'll make him pay for this." Darien hesitated then sighed. "What did he look like? Can you remember?"
"He was so… hairy, I, I just, It's hard to remember him. I would know his voice though." She frowned and looked into her father's dark eyes, the same eyes that stared back at her in the mirror. "Does Helios..."
"I tried to call him but only got voice mail. Don't worry, I'll get a hold of him soon enough." Darien couldn't help but sigh and looked back at Serena. History was so cyclical it was sickening. Unlike last time though, Rini's rapist would not be thrown behind bars. If he had anything to say about it this man would be castrated then ripped to shreds.
"I did what momma told me to, I told him to leave but he… he just…" Rini was still sobbing into her father's chest which was now damp. The feeling of wet cloth against him sent a rage through him that he hadn't felt in many years. Such a feeling reminded him of what he'd been through, what they had all been through.
"Rini, this guy made the biggest mistake of his life when he chose you. You know that. We have resources, connections, this guy will not get away with what he did. I promise you" He soothed again then felt his wife stir behind him. She was abnormally quiet and then he realized that she hadn't been sleeping at all. Typical Serena, she knew when he was trying to hide something from her.
"Your father's right. This man will not get away with what he did." Rini cringed at the cruel smile on her mother's face. "I've seen the revenge he's capable of sweetheart." With that Serena reached forward, her arms wrapping around her husband and her daughter.
Darien watched the love of his life as she tenderly hugged their daughter and noticed that something was off. She wasn't acting like the Serena he'd married; she was acting like the Serena who was his sister, the Serena who had been imprisoned by Seiya. "Serena?" He whispered uncertainly which drew Rini's eyes.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine Dare." She released them and stood up tall. "Let's face it though, you won't do what is necessary to bring him to justice and Helios can't. Not if he's to keep his dignity."
"W, what?" Rini blinked and looked back and forth from her mother to her father. "What do you mean momma?"
Serena smiled, her eyes sparkling with untold emotion, the sight scared the girl clinging to her father. "Serena, stop." Darien warned, his blue eyes darkening. "I will do what it takes. You know I will."
"You can't. Have you looked in the mirror lately honey? We're too old for this. If this guy's anything like the creeps and freaks we've seen in the past he might be too much for even you. I love you, but I don't want to burry you again." Rini knitted her brow not understanding what was happening. She'd always known there was some great story that was kept from her, some secret that had been hidden to keep her from knowing some truth.
"I'm not that old Serena." Darien frowned and sighed. He knew the truth, at sixty two he was definitely too old to do what he wanted. He had to leave matters like this to younger, lesser men. He knew she was right, Helios would try but he wouldn't be able to do the job either if he wanted to keep his honor.
"You are too. We both are." She frowned and looked at Rini. "No worries, I know two men who can help us." Serena smiled and walked out of the hospital room with purpose.
"Daddy… what's she talking about?" Rini felt worry envelope her. "What do you mean by doing what's necessary?"
"Don't worry about it sweetie." Darien squeezed his daughter tightly. "Don't worry about it."
Serena shuttered as she stood in front of the house that had haunted her dreams for so long. That damned house had been a curse and yet here she was, standing on the familiar porch her hand shaking as she reached for the doorbell.
As her finger brushed the small white button the door was pulled open revealing icy eyes that chilled her to the bone. "Hello Serena." The teenaged boy smiled at her just as he always had, with his head tilted to the side.
Gasping she stepped backward and observed the teen in his long sleeved sweater and jeans. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, she felt as though she'd stepped back in time. "W… who are you?"
"Seiya? Who's at the door?" She heard Taiki's familiar voice ask from the kitchen. Serena looked at the boy with horror.
"How many fucking times have we told you? When we ask a question…" Yaten came into view with a towel in his hand and paled. "Serena!" He called out and Taiki immediately popped his head around the corner. "I… um… Seiya, room, now!" He shouted as Serena's eyes reconnected with the boy's.
"You got old." Seiya smirked and turned his back to her. "Darien fucked the youth right out of you I see." He then disappeared into the hall at the top of the stairs leaving her empty inside.
"We, weren't expecting you." Taiki smiled as he stepped towards the door. "Please, come in, what can we do for you?"
"What, what was that?" She screamed suddenly, her blue eyes filled with fear and anger. "Who is he?"
"Serena." Taiki sighed and looked at Yaten who was watching the top of the stairs to see if the teen was spying on them. "I understand why you're upset but please, understand something, he's not the original Seiya. I managed to clone him and we had his memory preserved in a digital format."
"You, created another Seiya? A real Seiya?" Serena growled and looked up the staircase. "I thought that, that you two were…" She breathed, feeling herself going into shock. Another Seiya? How could they do this? Create another monster like Seiya?
"Serena, calm down." Taiki moved to her and felt her body sag in his arms. She hadn't fainted, her legs simply gave way. "We have him under control."
"You'll never control him if you've made him like Seiya. Why would you do this?" She looked from one man to the next and finally fixed on Taiki. "He was a monster, I understand that you two admired him for what he was capable of professionally but I saw the rest of him. The real him."
"Why are you here sweetface?" Seiya's voice chilled her, that name made her tremble. "You need some type of favor. Obviously you didn't expect me to be here, I mean, I'm only guessing but since I've been essentially reincarnated as a sixteen year old boy; Darien must have beaten me pretty badly. Must have killed me. Bet you loved that, seeing me dead?"
Serena noticed Taiki and Yaten's shock and gathered that he was not supposed to have that much of his memory. "How the fuck did you get all of your memories back?" Yaten growled and looked at Taiki accusingly.
"Boys, I was a CIA top operative. I trained you. You didn't really think that once you gave me some memories back I wouldn't get the rest did you? I mean, I only have it up to my old self's last upload but, that was right before I was going to kill Darien and abort your abomination of a pregnancy. Nonetheless, here I am, back in the flesh." He held out his hands and circled around. How's my little girl doing?"
"Seriah's… she's dead Seiya." She watched his eyes turn icy again and his face go blank as he descended the stairs and sat in a chair opposite her.
"I knew she wouldn't make it very far. She wasn't strong enough." He shrugged and leaned back in the chair. "Nonetheless, you're here. I'll ask again, why? You were going to ask them a favor. What Darien too old to take care of business?"
"Stop." Serena sighed and looked into his icy eyes. "Seiya, if you really are Seiya… look at me, I'm sixty one years old. So much time has passed, can't you let it go? Please, stop hating him." He seemed to consider her words and grinned.
"I'll never let it go Serena. I'll always hate him. I don't hate you though. What you did to me was wrong but I knew, you were too fragile and damaged to resist his brainwashing. For years, I tried to pull you into reality but you escaped further into your world where he reigned supreme." He smiled. "But hey, I'm sixteen and there are plenty of young girls I can play with you know, now that you don't quite do it for me anymore." He laughed and in a sense she wanted to laugh too. Though he was sitting here, Seiya, the man who had abused and tormented her for years, he was moving on.
"I'm here to ask Taiki and Yaten a favor, I would rather you not be here. Please Seiya?" He raised and eyebrow and shook his head back and forth denying her the request. "Then, I'm sorry I came."
"You're not leaving. I can see it in your eyes Serena. You're out for blood." She froze as she looked at him. "Trust me a little will you?" He asked and leaned forward. "Can't we be friends now? I'm not going to hurt you. I'm bored with it."
"I'm not worried about me. I trust you in that aspect." She offered and stood up. "I'll find someone else."
"Serena, whatever it is, we want to help you." Taiki stood as well and smiled. "You made sure I was healed. We owe you one." She hesitated and looked at the floor. How could she trust Seiya at all. He was the same, slightly different, but the same nonetheless. "He said so, Seiya's not going to hurt you."
"I'm not going to hurt Darien either. Hell, he's sixty two so he'd probably have a heart attack just seeing me. He's an old timer and I thank God these idiots had enough sense to bring me back before I could grow as old as you two are in my one life." Serena looked at him hesitantly then at Taiki and Yaten.
"If I were younger too, say nineteen, would you come after me again?" She looked at Seiya then watched as he thoughtfully mulled it around.
"Would you blame me if I did?" He grinned and laughed. "Of course, you're not nineteen, so it's moot point." She looked at Taiki and Yaten, thankful that they hadn't told him about her carbon copy daughter.
"Look, I'm sorry for barging in on you today. I've got to go though." She walked to the door and looked back at Seiya for a brief moment.
"If you're hiding something, I will find out. Whatever it is, I will find out. I'll be angrier if I have to do it myself rather than you telling me. I suggest you tell me your little secret Serena. When you hide things from me it makes me want to be in your life again."
She paled. He wasn't different at all, he was still the cold bastard he'd always been. "I'll come to your house and find out what you don't want me to know, don't make me do that." He smiled evilly."
"Please leave me alone. Leave my family alone." She felt tears prickling her eyes. "You've hurt us enough, why does it seem like we can never be happy." She suddenly broke down and cried, her body sagging to the ground.
Immediately he was next to her, his hands on her pulling her into his arms. "You can be happy Serena. You have what you've always wanted right? You have Darien, you're together." She pulled back from him a little and saw a gleam of sympathy. "I haven't hurt you in many, many years Serena. Who's hurt you now?"
"That's why I'm here. I want to find out!" She bawled and pressed her hands to her face. Someone rapped my daughter and beat her within an inch of her life. I want him to pay!" She screamed angrily and saw him smile sadistically.
"A daughter. You're worried I'm going to come after your daughter? Darien's daughter? Not likely. But I'm intrigued, is she as beautiful as you were?" Serena nodded and watched his eyes glaze over.
"She's married so don't even…" He held up his hand and smiled.
"I can admire her. She's not you Serena. It was always who you were, not your looks." He stood and put his hands on his hips. "Dearest Darien doesn't know you're here, does he?" She shook her head in denial and watched as he nodded. "Well, you present an interesting case. I've wanted to get back into things like this. I've decided in this life that I'll be a hitman rather than an official. I'll help you Serena. I want to. I promise you I won't hurt you, Darien, your daughter, or anyone else close to you. You have my word. I'm just not interested. I want to sink my teeth into the thrill of the chase, and you're not running."
"I never thought I'd find an ally in you… ever." Serena smiled at her ex husband turned sixteen again. "Thank you."
"Yeah, see, I'm not exactly the same guy as before. I'm going to need to talk to her though. Your daughter; She has information I'll need to do this. I'm assuming this is a race against the police?" She nodded. "Then I need to see her. The sooner the better."
Taiki and Yaten stood in the living room with their jaws to the floor. "Holly fuck, Taiki, you did it. You really brought him back." Yaten breathed.
"Will you two stop gaping at me and get your asses in gear. Thank you for raising me but it hasn't been a walk in the park and I'm the one in charge again, got it?" He snapped at the two men and grinned. "I want my old room back but you guys get the bed. I know what you've done on it."
Serena laughed and hugged him tightly. This was the Seiya he'd loved so many years ago. "Look, we've got to go, I need to talk to Darien before he sees you and kills you on sight."
"Let's see him try, I'm young and spry again and he's old." Seiya winked and walked outside with Serena. When they were outside he stepped over to her car and sighed. "I'm sorry, I really am. When you came in the house I just wanted to scare you, I'm done though, promise. The one thing that Taiki did do differently than before is that I know I was nuts before. What I did was wrong. I'm sorry."
Darien paced back and forth in the hall. The call from his wife had worried him, her voice had been hesitant, and she had asked him to promise he wouldn't get angry when she got there. As if on cue she emerged from the elevator and behind her was a look alike of Seiya and two familiar men, Taiki and Yaten.
"Dare…" She warned as she saw his eyes darken and lock on Seiya. "Let me explain…" She paused as he balled his fists then looked at her in disbelief.
"Have you lost your mind Serena? What is the matter with you!" He shouted, his strong voice drawing the attention of a few people.
"Hot headed as usual I see. Darien, for once, I'm not out to kill you, isn't that a good thing? I'm here to help your daughter." Seiya offered with a smile, which made Darien narrow his eyes and stare accusingly at his wife.
"Who are you? You're not Seiya, I killed him with my own two hands." Darien growled at the young man in front of him. He hadn't forgotten Imit, the misguided soul who had surgically changed himself to be like Seiya in every way. This young man could be the same though the way he acted, the way he stood, his voice, everything was just like Seiya, even the hatred in his eyes.
"I'm not an imitator. Taiki, the brain here, wanted to clone the great Seiya. Imagine, being able to preserve someone, their memories, their personality, and clone a genetic copy then being able to put the person's memory in the new model. Taiki here, did it. So here I am Darien, a younger version of my former self. I remember everything, right up until our last duel, which, I suppose you won. Good job. You finally bettered me, yet, I'm the one standing here with my youth and you, well, you're practically a crippled old man." Darien looked at Seiya in disbelief.
"Who knows, if you're nice to me maybe I can have reincarnated again and we can fight on and on over centuries." Seiya laughed heartily and looked at Serena who suddenly had a sparkle in her eyes. "Of course, if you were young again, I'd have no choice but to come after you again, you know that sweet face." She snapped out of her daydream and bit her lip. "Oh yeah, that would be great." He looked at her hungrily then turned back to Darien who looked like he was going to explode. "Chill Dare. You're liable to keel over."
"You're not getting near my daughter. I would have to be…"
"Crazy enough to want the man who hurt her dead? Yes, you would have to be that vindictive wouldn't you?" Seiya smirked and looked at Serena. "He hasn't changed a bit has he? Darien, you forget, you told me things about yourself far before you told Serena. I know you. We know each other, we're closer friends than you and Andrew. That's what makes us such great rivals. I am standing here though, before you, offering to get this guy. I will make him pay, my style, what's better than that Darien? I'm sane enough now in my old memories, to know that I was a bit, too… obsessed before. I want to make people suffer, people who deserve it and apart from myself, I think the man who rapped your daughter is a perfect candidate to start me off. Come now Darien, join with me for once and we'll get him. I'll torture him, make him beg me to kill him and then, only after he's desperate, I will inject him with some of Diamond's expired serum. I heard it gave my mother quite the shakedown."
"I trust him Darien, and that's a lot for me to say I think. He's being honest." Serena pleaded with her husband. "I want this guy to pay. All you can do is throw him in jail and look at what good that did for Fiore? Helios can't do what's needed if he's going to keep himself and honest man. Derrick is a doctor and has a family, Peruru, well, let's face it he won't do anything himself. He'll find some excuse not to, he'll want to institutionalize him and Seriah is a testament to how well that works. I'll do anything to avenge my baby and Seiya is certainly the most diabolical man we've ever encountered. Who better to do it?"
"Are you listening to yourself? You just said he was the most diabolical and I'll say dangerous, insane, man we've ever seen. How can you take this so lightly? He'll never be over you, he even found a way to come back from the dead! Serena, I just, I can't let him near her. She's too much like you." Darien growled and looked at Seiya once again. "No good can come of him being in our lives."
"You know what your problem is Darien? It's fear." Seiya rolled his eyes. "I have no fear which is what separates us. I will do what it takes, I can and will go the distance and you, you won't. Now let me help you, or will you let this guy go and allow him to hurt others? Maybe he will, maybe he'll come after Serena? Maybe he'll come after other people you love. You said Derrick has a family? What about his wife? Are you really going to let him get away with it when I can do what you won't?" Serena looked at her husband desperately.
"I… fine. I'm trusting you here Seiya. If you double cross me this time, I'll…"
"Kill me? Yeah, I can tell." Seiya laughed and stepped closer to the hospital room door. "You're welcome to watch me work my magic." Seiya smiled and opened the door and felt his breath leave him. Sitting in the bed was a young woman who looked exactly like Serena had save for her dark blue eyes. Darien's eyes. "Hello." He smiled.
"Who are you?" She immediately became defensive. "I… know you, from… somewhere." She remembered being five and a man looking like him holding her prisoner.
"I assure you, you don't." He shook his head barely able to believe his eyes. She was beautiful, like her mother, no wonder the man had attacked her. "I'm here to help get the man who attacked you. I'm a cop." He offered and stood beside the bed. "Now…" He sat on the bead and leaned close to her, he could hear Darien move towards them and glanced over his shoulder. "Let me do my job Mr. Shields." He warned and looked back at her. "Tell me everything you can about him. Don't be embarrassed, any detail at all helps. The way his eyes looked, how he entered the house, how he touched you, everything. Tell me everything."
"I don't trust you." She breathed and looked at her father briefly.
"Young lady, I know secrets, the questions in your eyes? I know the answers. I know everything about your parents." He whispered. "Even their dark past as brother and sister." He added so quietly that only she could hear it. Her eyes widened so far he had to smile to himself. "You tell me what happened to you, tell me about this man, and I'll tell you the truth about your parents and your brothers."
"Who are you?" She whispered again.
"I'm the man who will get the bad guy, and right now, that's all you need to know. Quid pro Quo, you tell me your story, and I'll tell you mine."
