Hey everyone, chapter twelve now up and so sorry for the delay, I've been a bit busy. Anyway please enjoy and if you have any questions, queries or criticisms, please don't hesitate to ask or review.
Thanks everyone.
daisyboo xx
Chapter Twelve
The cool night's breeze blasted its way forward as its force reached its maximum and shot its way towards a petite blonde dressed in an exquisite pale pink gown that moulded her perfect figure flawlessly. Her long golden hair that was once bound was now loose and free and it cascaded down her slender back like a luxurious golden waterfall. Her sparkling blue eyes twinkled with joy and contentment as she flung her sword in the air expertly, waltzing a dance that few could master. She flung and thrashed her sword harshly but also elegantly at the same time, completely unaware of the dangers that could be lurking within the shadows. The girl twirled and her skirt twirled with her as she did. Also, little water droplets were beginning to appear on her forehead as she continued with her dance and then she lunged her blade forward for the last time. She smiled then in contentment as she completed her secession and she felt refreshed after her vigorous workout. She walked around the training circle then proudly in her bare feet and then she dropped the battered sword next to the other beaten equipment that she had used earlier. She smiled triumphantly and she jumped for joy a little because she realised as she was practising with her weapons, how much she had missed her exercise. Serena casually glanced at her appearance then and smiled again at her less than appropriate attire. Her hair was loose, there was sweat on her forehead, her feet were bare and her gown became a little frayed along the edges of her skirt as she had trained.
She thought of Diamond at that moment and chuckled a little to herself as she though of his reaction to her relaxed attire but her mother's reaction would have been worse. She moved then over to her elegant sandals that she had so readily discarded before and went to strap them back securely to her small feet. However, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye and with her sandals still clutched in her hands, she wondered at what had caught her attention for a second. The something only caught her attention for a moment and then she turned her head to gain a better perception view. She thought about what it looked like and for an instant she thought she had heard the swish of a cloak. She suddenly became a little anxious and wondered if someone was watching her. It was possible that someone could have been watching her, as there was thick woodland that covered the one side of the training ring and the equipment shed on the other. She turned again suddenly as she heard the swishy sound again and looked in that direction. However, this time she saw a dark shadow appear just beyond the trees and she gasped loudly. She stumbled a little as the shadow had caught her by surprise and this time she saw the swish of its cloak.
Serena stared at the shadow as it slowly began to approach her but she stayed in her position, rooted to the spot, full of fear as the shadow continued to approach her. It moved steadily towards her and then Serena awakened from her fearful trance. However, with every step now that the shadow took towards Serena, she took a step back as to keep the distance between them, until Serena had reached her destination. The shadow stopped moving then as its eyes fixed on Serena. She lowered her body then and picked up the battered blade that she had discarded earlier, rather slowly. She gradually rose then to her full height with the sword clutched tightly in her hand. However, then Serena heard the shadow slowly release their sword from its sheath and then Serena lunged her sword forward. She screamed a little as her blade met her enemy's and with the metal on metal, the swords clanged. They fought skilfully for a long while and both became fatigued by the other's movements. Serena threw her sword expertly at the shadowed figure then, hoping to capture it off guard, until her skirt that was tied to her bodice became loose again and she lost her footing due to the long length of the skirt. She stumbled suddenly, her blade falling from her hand with a loud thud on the ground and Serena waited for the impact in which her head and body would also come into contact with it suddenly.
However, the impact never came and Serena had shut her eyes waiting for it. She waited and waited and then she felt a pair of strong arms encircle her waist and they grasped her tightly, before she hit the ground. Then she felt the arms pull her up from the ground and they pulled her tightly to their body. Serena felt the warmth of the body and the powerful arms surround her, giving her comfort and she felt protected within their hold. However, then for some unknown reason to her and the stranger, she let all her emotions loose and she cried. She cried and cried allowing her tears to fall and the tears made her eyes look more beautiful than ever. They glistened brightly and Serena buried her head deep into the chest of the stranger. However, the shadowed stranger just held Serena in its strong embrace and then Serena removed her head from the stranger's chest to gaze up at her violator and comforter. She gasped suddenly as she gazed at the stranger and how familiar the features were to her. She realised that the stranger was a young man and she gazed deeply and intently up at him. She noticed his familiar dark wavy hair and this time instead of a dark blue mask, a white one was donned on his perfect facial features that obscured his eyes that Serena longed to see. Also, he was wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath his jacket and he gazed down absorbedly at Serena. He was looking into her sparkling pale blue eyes and Serena noticed that he was watching her intently from his great height. She had to admit that this man intrigued her and then she finally realised that this man, was the captivating stranger that had asked her for a dance last week. She gasped again as she realised who he was and then she spoke to him.
"I know you," Serena said softly as the young man enjoyed the sound of her voice.
"Oh, really. Where from?" the young man asked.
"From last week, if I remember correctly, you asked me to dance at one of the balls."
The young man nodded his head in answer to her statement.
"I did, yes."
"And, who are you?" Serena yelled a little to loudly suddenly getting nervous at the thought that she did not know this man, "and why did you just attack me?"
"I didn't attack you," the man argued back.
"What so using your sword against me isn't an attack?" Serena stated.
"Well, technically, yes it is," the man said, "but you used yours first."
"Yes, but only in self-defence because I thought you were going to hurt me."
"I would never hurt you," the young man stated sentimentally as he took a step towards Serena.
"What?" Serena asked looking confused.
"I said, I would never hurt you," the man repeated as he looked at Serena meaningfully.
Serena studied the man and returned his gaze. She took a step towards him then and their lips were so close. Their sweet moist lips almost met for a stolen kiss but it was broken when Serena spoke.
"So, you never actually told me your name," she said sweetly as they both continued to stare at each other.
A smile crept onto the man's gorgeous lips and Serena found herself instantly captivated by it. She smiled too as he did and he too became captivated by her beauty and smile. He looked her over casually with his gaze from behind his mask and he was so taken with her loveliness. Her bright blonde hair that was loose and liberated hung down her back like a flowing golden waterfall and her sparkling eyes were still glistening from the tears that fell before. Also, he admired her gown that moulded her figure perfectly and the paleness of it complemented her complexion flawlessly.
"What is your name?" Serena repeated for a third time.
"My…my name is…Mark," the young man stammered a little uncomfortably.
"Mark?" Serena repeated cordially, "it's nice to meet you, besides the sword thing."
Mark looked uncomfortable then as Serena slightly chuckled.
"My name is Serenity or Serena," she introduced politely as she elegantly curtsied whist dressed in her casual dress.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you properly, Serena," Mark complimented as Serena blushed a little and Mark kissed the back of her delicate hand.
"Likewise."
Serena smiled at Mark then and he at her. They felt drawn to each other and they connected magically through the contact that they held with their eyes. However, Serena suddenly heard someone calling her name and she looked away from Mark for a moment. She looked at the small stony path that was just by the equipment shed and in the distance, she saw three figures, one human and two feline. She turned to face Mark again but he just casually shrugged his shoulders as Serena then returned her gaze to the approaching figures. Serena finally recognised that the human figure was Princess Lita who was wearing a dark green simple gown with flat shoes with her hair tied in a loose bond. She was running at high speed and following just behind her were Queen Serenity's cat advisors, Luna and Artemis. Luna was the dark-furred female cat with the yellow crescent moon on her forehead while Artemis was a white-furred male cat with blue eyes that also had a crescent moon upon his forehead too. They were all running energetically and then they finally reached their destination. Lita and Artemis looked relieved as they reached Serena but Luna had a frustrated look upon her dark feline face.
"What's the matter, guys?" Serena asked worriedly as all three newcomers started breathing deeply after their sprint.
"Diamond,… awoke… and… found you… gone. He was… worried about you…Serena," Lita spoke between breaths.
"You really need to train more, Lita," Serena giggled girlishly as she watched her three tired friends.
"This is no time for games, Serena," Luna scolded as she watched Serena with a fire in her brown eyes, "Diamond and your mother were extremely worried, so they sent a search party to look for you and what are you wearing."
Serena looked at her dress then and her bare feet. A small grin formed on her face and Lita chuckled a little behind Luna.
"I'm wearing my gown, Luna," Serena stated simply.
"Yes, well, its not the correct attire for training now is it, princess."
"I know it's not, Luna," Serena sighed softly, "but I awoke earlier and I could not return to my slumber. I didn't want to wake Diamond, so I decided to take a walk and spontaneously then decided to complete a bit of training."
"Well, just don't be that spontaneous again, okay," Luna completely smartly, "not without telling anyone."
Serena gracefully nodded her head then and Lita walked up to her.
"Are you ready to return?"
Serena again just nodded her head.
"But give me a moment to ready myself."
Luna, Lita and Artemis mumbled okays and then Serena turned around to face Mark again but she was stunned to see that there was no one there. Where Mark had stood only a few moments ago, there was no one now and Serena looked deeply confused. She casually picked up her sandals then and quickly strapped them back to her feet. Serena's three companions then looked expectantly at her then as Serena put away her training equipment and followed them all back up to the palace quarters, confused as to where Mark had gone.
