Chapter 10

I turned the handle and the bike sped to life. I cranked it up to full speed and Venus shouted as her limp body rattled about. I'd bound her wrist and ankles together and wrapped her around me to keep her on the bike, but there was nothing to support her head. I held her against my chest as best I could, but most of the time I needed both hands to steer the bike. We tore through the moonscapes and I braced myself as we drove through the curtain of light and reemerged in the civilized world. People screamed and swore and we barreled past, dodging traffic instead of yielding but I didn't want to slow down. I wasn't even sure I knew how.

After what seemed like forever, the palace came into view. I decided to take a shortcut across the ice rink.

Venus whispered softly in my ear. "Stop. Idiot. Not the ice. You'll kill us both."

I swerved at the last second, tearing through rose bushes and other small plants lining the frozen pond. As soon as I reached the steps of the palace I brought the bike squealing to an abrupt stop and leapt off, scooping Venus's legs up and running with her in my arms.

Mars came out in a short red silk robe, worn open. She put her fists on her hips and stared at the ropes binding Venus. "What in the demon realms did you do to her?"

I didn't even slow down so she ran to catch up with me. "She got blasted by something out there. She's alive right now but we need to get her to a healer."

"Out where? The dark side? She took you to the dark side, didn't she? Oh, that dumbass!"

"Are you going spend all day berating people, or are you going to find a healer?"

"I'll go get the Queen." She ran off.

On the way to Jupiter's room I passed Endymion and the princess. They were walking hand in hand, but when they saw me run past, they broke off and chased after me. I set Venus on the bed and the others crept over to have a look while I untied the ropes from her wrists and ankles.

"It's ok," Venus said. "I'm just tired. Very, very tired."

She wasn't okay. She hadn't moved at all since she'd been blasted and her skin looked gray behind the mask she wore.

The princess pushed us away and rested her hand on Venus's chest. A white light appeared. Venus remained limp. The princess's eyes filled with tears and her voice took on a hysterical tone. "It's not working. I can't heal her. It's not working."

"Kunzite, what's going on? Who is that?" Endymion said, edging closer.

"That's Sailor Venus," I said.

"No it isn't," he said. "I know what Sailor Venus looks like and that's not her."

Jupiter reached down and tore the mask from Venus' face.

Endymion jumped back in shock. He took the mask and examined it in his hand. Then we all turned as the queen appeared in her white dress, followed by Mars.

The princess wiped the tears from her eyes. "Mommy, I don't know what's wrong with her. She's not getting better."

The Queen placed her hands on Venus's chest and a strong white light appeared.

Venus raised one hand examined her fingers, and then let her hand drop. "I think I'm fine now."

"You are far from fine. You've been drained of all your energy," the queen informed her coldly. "I've lent you some of my own, but you need to rest for several months. Your magic is gone, as is almost all of your life-force. You may recover some of your strength, probably enough to walk again, but you will never recover your powers."

"What?" Venus' eyes were large with horror.

"Who did this to you?" The queen asked.

"I don't know. I did not get a look at it. Kunzite saw more than I did."

The queen looked at me. "Kunzite, what happened here is very dark magic. Venus is not in any immediate danger, but if we're to have any hope of restoring her to what she was, you must tell me exactly what you saw."

I explained everything I remember that occurred beyond the fence. The others listened in silence until I finished.

"I knew it, they went to the dark side," Mars shouted and the others shushed her.

"You should pay more attention to what goes on there," I said. "It appears that the House of No Return is either a tower of necromancy, or an active temple that practices human sacrifice. Neither bodes well for your kingdom."

"Do you know what did this, Mommy?" the princess asked.

The queen shook her head. "There are rumors of ancient artifacts. Some which rival the power of the Silver Crystal, but this does not sound like any of those artifacts. More likely it's just a shard of some evil relic. This is not much of a concern but it bears further investigation. I will consult with my advisors on how to proceed in this matter. In the meanwhile you all need to get some sleep."

"Not much of a concern?" Mars stamped her foot. "Venus has lost all of her powers! You even said she might never walk again. You should wake all your soldiers and proceed to this place immediately!"

The queen gave her a regal look. "I also said she is in no immediate danger. She will need to rest for a few days in any case. My power is more than great enough to deal with any amount of black magic, in due time, so see no point in behaving rashly."

"I do." The others looked at me. "There is a sun orb at the top of this place. That leads me to believe whatever evil exists there is stronger in the daytime. And it has no effect on me. We should strike now, before we lose these advantages."

The queen shook her head. "We haven't determined what this crystal is or what it is capable of. The relationship between our kingdoms has always been strained. Until we investigate, I do not dare risk danger to an Earthman."

"Two Earthmen," Endymion said, taking his place at my side. "I'm going with him."

"Absolutely not," the queen said. "You will both go to your suite and remain there until I am certain there is no danger."

"Fine," Endymion said and stomped off.

I wasn't willing to give up so quickly. "With all due respect, Your Grace, you have no authority over me. I am the Earth king's warlord. I risk my life as a matter of course. To restore Venus, I vow to smash this crystal this very night, and there is nothing anyone can say that will convince me to do otherwise."

Venus rolled on her side and gave me a weak smile. "Thank you," she murmured, almost too quiet to hear.

The queen sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that. Girls, arrest him."

None of them made a move except to gasp.

"On what charges?" Jupiter asked.

"On charges of endangering the life of a diplomat. You and the prince are to spend the night under house arrest. The doors to your suite will be locked. I will summon ten armed guards to be posted outside them at all times." She walked away. "Do not worry, you will be pardoned in the morning."

I submitted to the arrest, of course. Like the queen said, this was a diplomatic mission.