The Lost Prince

Chapter 2

The weeks after the wedding were hectic for the new couple. Although both wished they could have taken the time to have a proper honeymoon, they decided that it would be much better to postpone any vacation, and instead concentrate at home and work. Especially since Serena had only just started work at the hospital as an aide and Darien's company had just finished with a new merger that caused him to work many late nights. They barely saw each other at night during the week, and the weekend was spent remodeling the small house they were renting until they could afford the down payment on the mortgage.

Darien still had been unable to speak about his dream to Serena. Serena knew something was wrong and was worried that she had some how already managed to screw up her marriage. Logic told her that she had not, but her heart was worried. That is how she ended up standing in the middle of the living room trying to paint and feeling totally alone.

"You missed a spot, meatball head."

Serena, currently covered in pale blue paint, turned to face the accuser. Instead of her loveable husband, it was her sometime friend other time pain the butt, Raye. "I have no idea what you are talking about." She continued rolling the paint onto her new living room wall. She would not let Raye get her riled up.

Raye wore simple shorts and a t-shirt, but walked the way one would envision a temple priestess. Although her succession to taking over her late-grandfather's temple was far from official, no one doubts that she would be the new priest of the property. She carefully walked over to the wall, avoiding Serena's many paint splatters, and pointed not so politely at a white spot literally in front of Serena's nose. "See, a half blind person could see that you missed it."

Serena quickly painted over the blunder. "Why am I honored with your presence? As you can see, I am much to busy being a housewife to put up with your nonsense anymore Raye."

Raye looked around, "Where is Dar.. Your husband?" It was still weird for her to think of the boy she had thought she loved once together with one of her dearest friends. Yes, destiny seemed to play a part in their union, but it didn't mean that she couldn't still feel uneasy when thinking about it.

"Somewhere around here… probably building another bookshelf…" Serena glanced down at her wedding ring, still not shaking off the funny feeling that had been on her mind since her wedding night. She had caught Darien standing outside in the middle of the night staring out at the moon as if he was lost. He told her not to worry, but she did. How could she not when he looked at the sky more longingly than he looked at her?

Raye stood there for a second, not wanting to tell her what she knew. Her friend looked bewildered, and Raye did not want to upset her anymore. Less than a month ago, Raye had been dressed in red and watched her two dear friends marry. They looked untouchable. She did not want to see the façade crack. So doing what Raye did best she picked up another roller. "Come on stupid, I will show you how this is really done. Maybe we can get more paint on the walls instead of on you?"

Serena pretended to grimace. "Thanks a lot." And then smiled.

So far the green woman had appeared in his dreams every night. Never was her purpose clear. Always she just whispered in his ear, begging him to recognize her. Her face was so familiar. Her eyes were someone he knew, but he just couldn't put a name to the face. During the day he just stared at everyone he saw, looking for those eyes. But the answer never came to him.

This night was no different. He knew Serena was acting more agreeable lately. She let him choose what they watched on TV two nights in a row, and actually attempted to cook a meal that did not have chocolate or fried foods as the main ingredients. She even touched him different, as if she was afraid that he was going to fall apart.

But he didn't know how to tell her that he feared again. How could he tell her that he dreamed of a woman that could change everything? How could he tell her he dreaded that something, like it always has, would go wrong with them together?

If only he could figure out what the dreams meant. Who this woman was? Why did she want him now? If only he knew, he could tell Serena without guilt. He could protect her.

She must have heard is desires.

Once again he was among the rose bushes. Once again she stood behind him. Once again she warned him of doom. But why was he here?

"My dear, why don't you voice your concerns out loud? Bottling up your emotions will only let them explode…"

He turned around, feeling heavy. "Why am I here?"

She smiled deep. "Because it is time."

"Time for what?"

"Time for you to know the truth."

He was frustrated. "The truth about what?"

"You!"

"What? What are you talking about? I know who I am!"

She approached him and placed her heavily jeweled adorned hands onto his shoulders. "Do you dear? But you can't remember your past."

He could not find the energy to make her take her hands off him. All he could do was stare at those deep sapphire eyes. He tried to fight it. "I was in a car accident… I lost my memory… But my past does not shape who I am… Only I do…" His voice trailed off.

"Oh dear boy, you really don't know! All these years, I thought she would tell you. She told her daughter her story… she gave you back some of your memories. Why did she not give you them all back?" She questioned herself.

"Wh.. who… no one gave me back my memories."

She stared deeper into his eyes. "You aren't ready for those, I am sure. I would not want to hurt you. I guess I must just tell you a story tonight."

Instantly, they were inside a house of some sort. The walls were stone again, and they both sat next to a large fireplace. She laughed softly at his dumbfoundnes. "Oh dear, you know this place, you do. Soon you will remember, but now let me tell you a story."

His head was in her lap, something he felt uncomfortable with, but the way she stroked his hair and murmured in a language he did not understand, the more he stopped questioning the circumstances and just listened.

"Once," she began, "there was a confederation between the nine planets of the solar system. Each planet held an equal power. Each planet ruled itself. No one quite remembers when it started, but for as long as oral history can be traced, each of the nine planets had a woman to guard the power of the planet. Only she alone can control the temptation that pure power could contain. Each planet appointed this woman, along with her successors, as the rulers of the planet. The times were usually just, but sometimes the power corrupted, and there was nothing the other planets could do. You see the power could only be wielded on the host planet, since all the planets needed this special gift to maintain life. If any of the queens tried to challenge another planet, her kingdom would have to be destroyed first."

"That doesn't seem very practical. How did they fight corruption?"

She smiled as she stroked his hair, "You always were intelligent. That is a very good question. For centuries the planet of Saturn grew stronger and stronger with corruption, that is worried her neighboring planets. Saturn is located in the center of the galaxy. She could cut off trade routes if she destroyed herself, as well as possibly destroy Jupiter and Neptune."

"The queens of that generation came together in council. They knew that they needed a ruler who could keep the planets in check. Unfortunately, they were unable to appoint one among them to serve as ruler, since all were accustomed to each as equals."

"But on one night, the queen from Mars had a vision. Ares was able to see the future, and instructed the group what to do. Each, using their gifts, imagined the perfect characteristic of a fair ruler. Mercury: wisdom. Mars: foresight. Earth: nurturing. Venus: passion. Jupiter: courage. Neptune: cleverness. Uranus: fortitude. Pluto: decisiveness. As I am sure you could understand, Saturn was not allowed to cast a vote since the Queen Persephone was corrupt with manipulation with dark forces, but it is rumored that she would have wished for judgment as her attribute, but I digress."

"Each woman used her power and created a new species of beings. Among them, their ruler was born. Her eyes held the secret of the gods, they reported. And in her hands she held the silver crystal, which was forged, from each part of their powers. With time it was understood that she had all the attributes that were wished upon her. She moved from planet to planet, using her skills to cultivate her charge:

"Unfortunately, there was something missing. Because unlike all the planets, the high ruler did not have a home. The queens saw her loose some of the spectacular magic with which she was born, and they were willing to do anything to preserve the gift that had brought peace back into their lives. So, the one called Terra from Earth engineered a solution. When she stared up at her night sky, she noticed a shape that reminded her of her rulers mark. A crescent shape marked the supreme ruler's forehead along with the foreheads of her people. Terra asked her sister queens if she could offer up her moon to the highness. The location was ideal, because it was far away from the rebellious Saturn, but it was also close enough to the majority of the planets. But the other queens worried that Terra just wanted the ruler close to her in order to form a new pact with her. So in an act of good faith, Terra sacrificed almost all of her gift to her sister queens and offered it to maintain the atmosphere on the Moon. She only kept enough to maintain her atmosphere, and with time, Earth learned how to become self sufficient."

"She was able to make such a sacrifice?" Darien opened his dark blue eyes.

The woman in green smiled gently, "Yes she was. She knew what the price of maintaining order was. But, she felt it was worth it. In honor of her sacrifice, her sister queens allowed her to keep her title as Terra of Earth and would allow her daughter and her daughter's daughter to inherit the title."

"Why only her daughter and her daughter's daughter?" Darien asked.

"Because up to that point, there had only been one female child born from each queen, even the high ruler herself. It was as if they were phoenixes, maintain rebirth. No sons had existed, and they had not thought that that would ever happen. A male child would just be odd."

"Was there ever a male born of any of the queens?"

The woman in green looked sad. She removed her hands from his head and sighed, "Oh, my lost one, I am sorry, but that is another night's story. It is time to wake up, go be with your princess."

Darien opened his eyes to find himself in the arms of Serena, who in her sleep was stroking his hair. And once again, he was very much afraid.