Chapter Twenty Four: Promises

AN: Sorry it's been so long since I updated; I had a competition last weekend, and then I had to go to a wedding. These days, weekends are supposed to be my R&R times.

Serena woke up the next morning feeling like crap. She moaned; her throat hurt like mad, and there wasn't any part of her body that didn't ache and feel heavy as lead. She just wanted to die. Her alarm went off, but the blonde didn't even try to turn the thing off; she was too tired. Whatever those vampires yesterday had given her, it had some nasty after-effects. The girl lay there quietly, not wanting to get up. Her alarm continued to beep, but she didn't care. All she wanted was sleep, and something to ease the scratchy feeling in her throat. The alarm kept beeping, and no force in the universe was enough to make the girl get up and make it stop. She closed her eyes with a sigh, knowing that it would be a long time before the irritating noise would let up.

A soft noise reached her hearing, and the alarm was turned off. Suddenly worried, the blonde opened her eyes. She smiled as she saw who was there. It was Seiya. "Hey, stranger," she said, her voice husky.

"I'm glad I came," he informed her. "You look wiped out." Gently, he lifted her into his arms, his eyes looking down at her lovingly.

"I feel like death warmed over," the blonde admitted. "Thanks for turning that annoying thing off."

"I knew you'd be wanting to sleep in, and I know how much you hate your alarm."

The girl snuggled more deeply into her love's strong, protective embrace. She rested her cheek on his chest. He tenderly smoothed her hair from her face, and he slipped a finger under her chin and raised her face to the light, and kissed her softly. Serena didn't break the kiss, wanting this moment to last forever. She felt so safe now; nothing else mattered. All of the dangers she faced, all of her problems…they melted away in that moment, replaced by the image of Seiya's face, and thoughts of him and only him.

Seiya eventually forced himself to end the kiss. He still needed to make sure Serena wasn't suffering any late-timed ill effects from the attack on her last night. He examined the cuts and scratches on her back, wincing. He would have to guard Serena much more closely…he'd nearly lost her. He shuddered at the memory of those terrible moments, at the memory of seeing his angel lying there bleeding and naked on that rock. Serena sensed his unease, and looked sweetly up at him. The feel of her in his arms, the sight of her cerulean eyes twinkling up at him, reminded him what he had to lose, and he swore that he would find a way to get rid of Darien once and for all.

"Good morning," he told her softly.

"Good morning," she replied. "Or at least it would be." Her voice was still husky.

"Does your throat hurt?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Does anything help?"

"Yeah…hot salt water."

"That sounds disgusting."

"Not to drink…to gargle."

"I don't get it."

"It doesn't sound right, I know, but my mom made me do it one time. It actually helps."

"Okay, I'll see what I can do."

Seiya returned in minutes, glass of hot salt water in hand. Serena took it, and sipped it, gargling it before letting it go all the way down. She grimaced at the taste, but her voice was less husky when she spoke again.

"Seiya?"

"Yes, Odango?"

"When do you think Darien's going to try and kidnap me?"

Seiya was silent for a minute. Finally, he answered, "I don't know."

"Do you think he'd kill me if I tried to escape?"

"No, I don't. That would defeat his purpose for being here. But he could seriously hurt you, and that's what I'm afraid of."

"I'm an angel, Seiya. I can heal myself."

"I know…but I don't want him to find out about what you can do. There's no telling what would happen then."

"Maybe he'll get so scared he'll run away screaming."

"No…I don't think he knows the meaning of fear. He would find a way to use you." Seiya unconsciously tightened his hold on his angel at the thought. There was no way he'd let that monster hurt her. He would die before he'd let that happen. As long as she existed, he would protect her with his life. She was his everything…if he lost her, he would lose his reason for living.

"Make me a promise."

"What kind of promise?"

"Promise me that no matter what happens, you won't leave me. Promise me that you won't die. That you won't leave me like…before…"

Seiya knew what she was asking. She was asking him to promise not to die protecting her. She was asking him to step aside and let her be harmed to save his own life. He couldn't do that. "Do you know what you're asking me to do?" he asked. "I couldn't do that."

"I couldn't stand it if I lost you. I lost you once, and all I wished for was death. If I lose you now, I know I'll get my wish."

"How about I promise you that I will never leave your side? As long as you are in danger, I will always be there, even if you can't see me?"

"I guess that's okay…"

"I promise that I will never let you out of my sight, that I will always be with you, even in your darkest hour."

"I promise I won't let you die."

Seiya looked at Serena with a stab of fear. She'd just promised to die for him. Did she have any idea what she was saying? "Odango…"

"I know what I'm saying. And I mean it."