Lonely Moon

Chapter Seven

Serena returned to her quarters on the moon. She changed out of her dress and put her earth clothes back on, as she pulled her shirt over her head a tear slid down her cheek. What her mother said had shocked and hurt her but now she could finish her mission with no interference from the moon. She looked around her room and sighed. "Good bye mother."

Serena picked up her locket from her dressing table and closed her eyes. In a flash of silver she was gone. When Serena opened her eyes she was in her apartment on earth, she sat down and sighed but then sat up. Darien had been hurt in the attack. She decided to go see him. After a shower and changing into a light yellow sundress and yellow sandals, when she reached into her jewelry box she realized the crescent moon bracelet her mother had given her was gone. She sighed "I must have left on the moon."

She looked in the mirror to make sure her crescent moon had faded and decided to let her hair down. If the Negaverse hadn't made the connection she was from the moon maybe a change in hairstyle would fool them too. She put her locket in her purse and was off to the hospital. The sun was shining brightly; a quick look at a paper as she walked by told her it was 11 AM the next day. Maybe Darien was still in the hospital. She quickly walked there and through the main entrance doors.

She approached a receptionist with dark auburn hair. She smiled as she greeted her. "Hello, may I help you?"

Serena smiled back. "Yes I am looking for a man that was in the attack at the fair ground yesterday. His name is Darien."

The receptionist typed into her computer. "Last name?"

Serena sighed she had never been told his last name or at least she didn't remember. "I am not sure. He's tall with raven hair; he was wearing a light blue t-shirt and jeans…"

The receptionist looked up. "Are you Serena?"

Serena looked at her curiously. "I am. Why?"

The receptionist laughed. "You're looking for Darien Shields. He kept asking everyone if you were hurt and where you were. We almost had to restrain him to make him stay for treatment. He is in room 322. Here let me get someone to show you. Miss Mizuno, could you come here please?"

A woman with short blue hair approached the desk and smiled at Serena. She was about her height with light blue eyes. She faced the receptionist "What can I do for you?"

"This young woman is looking for Darien Shields. Could you take her to his room?"

Miss Mizuno smiled "Sure thing. Follow me Miss…"

Serena smiled "Oh call me Serena."

She extended her hand. As soon as the blue haired woman shook it the symbol of mercury flashed across Serena's mind. She starred at Miss Mizuno for a moment, who didn't seem to notice and let go of her hand. "I'm Amy nice to meet you."

Serena shook her head and smiled deciding to dismiss what had happened. "Nice to meet you."

Serena followed Amy and quickly came to Darien's room. "Here you are."

Serena was about to open the door but turned to Amy. "Is he ok?"

Amy nodded "He'll be fine. He had a slight concussion and some bruised ribs. He should be fine in a few days. I have to get back to work. Nice to meet you."

Serena smiled. "You too and thank you."

Amy nodded and turned to return to work. Serena turned towards the door and slowly opened it. She walked in and tried to close the door as quietly as possible. Darien was asleep and she didn't want to wake him. As she approached his bed she noticed something shining in his hand from the sunlight. As she got closer she realized what it was. "My bracelet."

Darien slowly turned in his sleep and seemed to clutch the bracelet tighter. Satisfied that he was alright Serena turned to leave. As her hand was about to reach for the door knob she turned and looked at him. She remembered how much fun she was having before the attack and how happy she felt. She turned around and moved the only chair in the room next to his bed. It was comfier than she thought and when she sat back to meditate she fell asleep.

Four hours had passed and Darien rolled over and opened his eyes. The sun was bright and his head still ached but he felt better than when he first came in. He stretched as best he could and around the room. He stopped at the sight of Serena sleeping a chair next to his bed. He smiled and then looked down at his left hand. The bracelet, her bracelet. He figured she lost in the attack and hoped she had made it somewhere safe. Everything after he ran back to find her was fuzzy. He thought he had seen a woman fighting with the monster but chalked it up to a hallucination from the concussion. He tried to shift quietly in his bed, he did not want to wake her. She looked so peaceful when he slept. He moved again and she began to stir.

Serena opened her eyes and saw Darien smiling at her. She smiled back. "Hi."

Darien leaned back and yawned "Hi yourself. Are you ok? I have been trying to find you since the attack. I think this belongs to you."

Serena held out her wrist and he clasped it for her. "Thank you. I was told you were looking for me. I'm ok. After we got separated I ran and tripped over a root. I guess I was out of it and next thing I knew I was at a hospital across town. They let me out today and I wanted to make sure you were ok as well. How are you feeling?"

Darien grinned "If I could avoid getting knocked unconscious for a couple days I'll be ok."

He expected a laugh but did not get one. Instead he noticed tears come to Serena's eyes. "Serena what's wrong?"

Serena wiped her eyes and stood knocking the chair back. "Nothing. I'm glad you're ok, I have to go now."

Serena turned to leave but Darien grabbed her and pulled her so she was sitting on the bed facing him. Serena tried to pull away but he tightened his grip. "Darien let me go."

Darien released her after seeing the serious look in her eyes. "I'm sorry. You know you are a real mystery to me. You try to be so cold and distant but I can sense that's not you. Even now you are trying to get away so fast but the tears in your eyes give you away."

Serena looked him in the eye and he was surprised to see guilt and sadness in them. "Darien I can't do this. I can't get close to someone just to lose them."

Darien put his hand over hers "I'm not going anywhere. It sounds like you have spent a lot of time alone. Maybe you should let someone in."

Serena stood pacing the room for a minute and then turned her eyes shining with unexpressed emotions. "Darien why the hell do you care so much? You have met me twice, maybe three times. You have no idea the life I have lead. Always running learning to get away and defeating the threats around me. Training…trying to outrun the loss…"

She could no longer take it; Darien's last statement had sounded just like her mother and it her like a ton of bricks. She collapsed to her knees right there and began to cry. Sobs racked her body as she let it all out, centuries of repressed feelings. Darien looked at her and felt sorry for her. He got out of bed as best he could and kneeled down beside her. He wasn't going to let her push him away this time. He put his arms around her and held her. After what seemed like hours Serena turned and looked at him with sad eyes. "Darien, if you stay around me you could be killed. I can't…"

Serena never got to finish her sentence as Darien pressed his finger of her lips. He wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and this time he looked in her eyes. They were such a deep blue he felt like he could drown in them. He could see the sadness. "Serena I know I don't know you and I know it is illogical but I feel a connection to you. It sounds like you need someone, why not me?"

Darien looked at her and wiped away more stray tears. As he did their eyes locked. Darien closed his eyes and Serena did the same. They slowly closed the gap between them and kissed. A lone tear slipped from Serena's eye but this one was not a tear of sadness. She was happy, and could feel in her heart the pain slowly beginning to heal.