Chapter Twenty-Five
Lie to Me
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
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"You're not human. I know that you have powers." He leaned off the desk and stood in front of her. "Tell me who do you work for or you will not make it out of this room alive." His eyes glowed golden and she could hear the sound of the door locking. Serena gulped.
The temperature in the room dropped. Serena's heart pounded quickly. Her skin started to feel cold but she remained noncompliant as she glared at him refusing to show him any fear. His eyes were cold and hard. He would do anything to protect his family. Right now, he considered her a threat.
Serena had think of something quick before Darien seriously harmed her. She was there to tell Darien about Judgment Day and his long lost family. She said, "I am a representative of the Elysians, Endyimon." His eyes turned back to normal and the room went back to its normal temperature. The door unlocked.
Darien wondered how she knew about the Elysians. She called him Endyimon. She knew who he was. She knew who was taking over his body for the last ten years of his life and driving him near the brink of insanity. "Your world is in its final days. Mother Nature will soon right the wrongs that mankind has committed in destroying this planet. Humankind will be destroyed and the Earth will be covered with water. In order to the save this world, you have to take your rightful place as king once more."
Darien had a million questions to ask. Was this a trick? Was she some type of mystic trying to harm his family? He saw her teaching his children magic. He forbade them from using their powers. He wanted them to be normal. Having powers did nothing but caused his family more harm than good. Look at Serena. She used her powers to save Andrew and now she is dead. The only word that fell from his lips was, "How?"
Serena answered, "Return Elysian to its former glory and unleash the power of the golden crystal once again."
"How do I do that?"
Serena shrugged her shoulders. "That's up to you to figure out. The clock is ticking. Judgment Day is October 22nd of this year."
That date sounded familiar. A month ago Darien and Karen had dinner with Jason and Mina at a local restaurant in town. Mina happily broke the news to Darien and Karen. The girls babbled on about the size of Mina's engagement ring that Jason went to buy for her a few days after they became engaged. Karen smiled in awe as Mina recalled how she woke up to Jason on one knee asking her to be his wife holding an engagement ring in his hand. She happily agreed. He slipped the ring on and it fit her perfectly. Mina asked him how he knew her size. Darien and Karen laughed when Jason embarrassingly admitted that he measured her finger years ago while she was sleeping. He knew a long time ago that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Darien noticed a strange look of sadness crossed Mina's face as Jason said those last few words. She then quickly returned back to her cheerful nature summoning the waiter back to their table and asking the waiter to bring them the best champagne the restaurant had to offer. He wondered if Mina knew that the rest of their lives meant sooner than later. He exclaimed, "Oh my god, that's Mina's wedding date." Serena did not respond. "She's getting married on Judgment Day. I wondered if she knows this."
Serena answered, "She knows this. All of the Sailor Scouts know about it."
Darien snapped distrustfully, "How do you know?"
Serena jumped startled. She said nervously, "Representative of Elysian here. They know everything."
She was right. The Elysians knew everything.
Darien stepped closer to her. She backed away intimidated by his presence. Being too close to him was too much. He admitted unfazed by the nervous gesture, "I don't know how." Serena's smile faded when she felt the sensation of being close to him again. His body felt light when her small hand encircled his.
She spoke quietly staring down at his hand, "Let me show you how." She blushed profusely not wanting him to see the effect he was having on her and desperately trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.
Her thumb lightly brushed against the palm of his hand and his entire body prickled from her simple touch. He observed the girl who was oblivious to the way she was making him feel. He watched her light pink lips move. She was still speaking probably saying something important, but he was not paying attention. He was baffled. Why was his body responding to her? He was not attractive to her and she was definitely not his type. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when he heard a commotion from downstairs.
Karen burst into the room holding onto the door knob for support. She was hysterical and breathless like she had raced up the stairs to fetch him. Her hysterical expression changed when she saw her husband and the nanny holding hands. The act was innocent but the guilty expressions on their faces told another story. She stared at her husband awaiting an explanation. Darien glanced at his wife then back at the nanny. He gazed down at the offending act that he assumed upset his wife. He quickly yanked his hand free from the nanny. He said, "Karen, it's not what it looks like…"
Karen's eyes turned hard. She held up her hand cutting off his pathetic apology. She said coldly in a sharp voice, "You're needed downstairs." Karen stared directly at Serena's guilty features. "You're fired. I want you out of my house by the end of the day." Karen turned to her husband too shaking her head in disappointment and hurt. She turned on her heel and walked off. Darien rushed out of the room after his wife calling her name. Serena stood alone in the office shaking. Serena heard another cry coming from downstairs. She did what she came there to do. Maybe, it was time for her to leave.
She heard someone cried out for help. She knew that voice. She ran out the room.
One week ago…
Back in Tokyo, Raye lied in bliss naked underneath the covers in Chad's embrace. They were alone in the two bedroom apartment that she shared with Serena. Serena was still in Barcelona working as a nanny to Darien's children. The last time she spoke to Serena was two months ago when Serena arrived at Darien's house. Raye scolded her about telling Darien about Judgment Day. Her mother Irene scolded Serena about not telling her children who she really was. When Serena cried she was taking her mother's advice, Irene told that she was supposed to choose to tell her children the truth and be a mother to them, not let another woman take her place as their mother. She lost her man, not her children.
Serena called Raye to tell her that she was getting a job as the nanny and Darien was not home and she needed credentials to keep the job. He had taken the children out of town. Raye informed her that the children were there in Tokyo visiting their grandparents. Raye called Andrew and Lita and told them about Serena being hired as Darien's nanny. After laughing hysterically about Serena's ridiculous predicament, they agreed to fabricate a reference and say that Alex worked for them and was a wonderful nanny to their dear children, Sarah, Joshua, and Zayden.
Raye's head rest on his muscular chest as she caressed his rock hard abs. Their bodies were under the thin red sheets of Raye's bed. This was the first time they ever cuddled after making love. Raye could not hear a heartbeat. She lifted her head to see that he was still alive, the sheets covering her chest. He was smiling at her.
Raye said, "You don't have a heartbeat."
Chad smoothed Raven's messy short hair with hand. He breathed deeply. He answered in a relaxed tone, "Hmm? Oh yes…I have a heart defect from a child. It's nothing."
Raye chuckled lightly still in bliss from their lovemaking. "It's weird." Chad smiled as he caressed her bare back.
They were not supposed to be together. He returned to Japan in January to pay his final respects to Raye Hino, the woman that he loved, and ended up in Raven's bed on the same day. He knew nothing about her, but she intrigued him. It was almost like being with Raye again. She was even friends with Raye's friends. They informed him that Raven and Alex have been their friends for years. Yet, it appeared to the world like Alex and Raven had replaced Serena and Raye in the quintet. The girls had been friends for fourteen years. He found it quite odd that they buried Serena and Raye in January and by March they had already moved on with new friends like nothing had changed.
The sex was out of this world. He was surprised to find out that she was a virgin at age twenty-eight. He had never been with one before. He felt guilty that he was cheating on his wife of two years. They had two little girls, age three and one. He knew this was wrong, but he found himself falling for this woman. His wife trusted him and believed that he was off in the world performing one of his concerts. She never asked him about his whereabouts. She trusted him and he was breaking her trust with this woman. He knew he should end it.
Their relationship quickly became more than sex. He thought oddly, he was dating her. He took her out to dinner, and brought her an entire new wardrobe and jewelry. He took her around the world. She stood backstage as she watched him performed concerts. Sometimes, he found himself forgetting that he had a wife and kids and imagined that he was dating her and Raven was his girlfriend. He never corrected the receptionist at the hotel or waiter at the restaurant when they referred to her as his wife or girlfriend. It did not bother him and he liked the sound of her being his. They argued and they made up. He spent hours on the phone talking to her even when he was at home with his wife and kids. He hung out with her friends. He had no idea what he was doing. He had cheated on his wife a couple times in the past and she threatened to leave him when she found out. Yet, it was just sex with them. He was having a whole relationship and separate life with this woman. But every time he tried to break it off, he found himself kissing her and making love to her afterwards.
He looked up at the ceiling. She looked at the wall in front of her. He said, "I'm married."
Raye said, "I know."
"I love my wife."
"I know."
"I have kids."
"I know."
"This is wrong. I shouldn't be here."
"I know."
Raye lifted up her head. He turned his head to her. She said, "I know this is wrong, but let's enjoy the moment. We could end it whenever you are ready too. Okay?" Chad nodded in agreement. Raye rolled away from him and lied sideways with her arms comfortably tucked underneath her head and pillow. Chad grabbed her and roughly pushed her back on her back. He rolled on top of her. He wasn't done with her yet. She grinned as his head descended and his mouth smothered hers. She lifted her head and slipped her arms around his neck and back. His head descended down her body kissing all over her body, sucking on her breasts, licking her thighs, and tasting her sweet nectar. He lifted his head and lifted up her body with one arm slipped around her back. He manhandled her and pushed her underneath him. Raye cried out when his shoved his groin inside of her. His throbbing groin pounded inside of her as she held on tightly to him. She felt so tight and wet. Her inner walls squeezed against his groin already dripping inside of her. Her hands roamed over his back and chest. He grunted in pleasure and pain when Raye fingernails dug into his skin drawing blood. Raye groaned then pushed him down on the bed surprising him with her strength. She straddled her slender legs across his hips and lowered herself on top of him. She nearly came on the spot when his length filled her to the rim. His hands grabbed her hips and dug his fingers into her skin leaving marks. She rode his groin bouncing up and down on him at a fervent pace he easily matched. The bed squeaked beneath them and the headboard banged against the wall. He thrusted his lean hips forwards meeting her every thrust. Raye arched her head back exposing her slender neck and grabbed her breasts massaging them with her hands. With one fluid thrust, he hit her g-spot. She closed her eyes as she felt a powerful orgasm ripping up her body from the pit of the stomach causing her to hit a high note she didn't know she could reach. He continued to hit her spot until he lost control and shuddered underneath released himself inside of her. Raye removed herself from him and collapsed backwards on the bed hitting the pillow with a thud. She was spent, breathing heavily trying to catch her breath. Chad moved next to her and lied sideways. He pulled her into his arms with her back pressed against his chest. He kissed her sweaty skin. Raye was overwhelmed never having an amazing sexual experience like that before. She chuckled and panted. Her eyes became heavy and she became sleepy.
"I love you Raye." Her eyes widen instantly becoming alert again. She lifted up her head and stared at Chad. He smiled in content as he tucked a loose strand behind her ear.
Thirty minutes later, Chad sat on the end of the bed in his briefs as he watched Raye paced up and down the length of the room in front of him. She still had not spoken since he told her he loved her. He wasn't sure if she was more upset that he told her that he loved her or that he revealed that he knew she was really Raye. She was wearing his shirt from last night that was too big for her and came to her knees. She stopped in the middle of the floor and turned to him. She finally spoke and yelled at him in a frantic tone, "Why did you say that?"
Chad stared at her in disbelief and figured she was referring to him calling her Raye. "Because you are Raye. I know you are. The same feeling I got from Raye. I get it from you. You walk like her. You have her personality. Her friends. Her mannerisms. The only difference is you look and sound like someone else."
Raye turned to him. "I am not Raye Hino. She's dead. You attended her funeral." She started to bite her fingernails nervously.
Chad shook his head. "Raye paced the floor when she is nervous like you are." He zoomed in her biting her fingernails. "She also bites her fingernails too when she is nervous." Raye stopped.
Chad snorted. "You leave the top off the toothpaste like she does. You snore in your sleep like she does. Your favorite bubble bath is milk and honey." He stood up walking towards her as Raye stood there petrified. "You like to dip your Oreo cookies in the milk before you eat them. You slurp the milk after you finished your cereal like she does." He stood from the bed and walked towards her.
Raye stood still and he stood in front of her. They stared at one another for a moment. He smirked. She was determined to keep up the ruse. She gasped when he pulled her into her arms and kissed her hard on the mouth. She moaned against his moaned. Her hands slowly rose settling on his forearms. She found the strength inside of her and pushed him away. He frowned as he stumbled backwards and easily steadied himself. She breathed heavily through her nose in a defiant manner. He charged towards her pushing her hard against the wall causing Raye to grunt and kissed her again. With one hand, he lifted her off feet. She instantly wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She could feel his desire growing for her again. She could feel the heat growing between her legs as their arousals rubbed up against one another. He demanded as his mouth broke away from hers and nibbled on her ear, "Admit it. You are Raye Hino." His lips brushed against his neck. She arched her neck. He whispered emphasizing every word, "You are Raye Hino."
He lifted his head. He stared into her scared and lust-filled violet eyes. He cupped her small face with his hands. He confessed, "I know that you are her because I never loved anyone not even my wife as much as I love you, so I know that you are her or possess her spirit."
Raye replied feebly, "You're crazy."
Chad smirked as he kissed her again. "Crazy begets crazy." She smiled.
Chad whispered, "And I know you are Sailor Mars." Raye's eyes widen. "I enjoyed watching you transform. I know who the other girls are. I've seen you transform before." Raye pushed herself away from him. She turned her back on him and scrolled over to the window. He watched her strut away from him.
"You're crazy."
Chad smirked. "Really."
He scowled at her as he walked over to his duffle bag searching for something. "You've always been a coward Raye. I loved you and you let me walk out of your life." Raye refused to look at him feeling the pain in his words. She pushed back the curtain and stared out the window. "You should have been my wife. We could have been married now if you weren't such a coward. You wasted your life away Raye." He grabbed a dagger out of his bag. The dagger glowed red for a moment. A speck of red flashed in his eyes.
Raye saw police cars pulling up next to her apartment complex and armed officers dressed in black surrounding and entering into her building. She suddenly felt weak. She could not understand why she could not sense them coming. She gasped as she felt something sharp thrust deep into her back. Raye turned around as she became dizzy staring into the eyes of a grinning Chad. She started to see double as her vision became blurry. She collapsed to her knees as the dagger deep in her back. Chad grinned as he watched as Raye slowly fall sideways jerking around as her life essence left her body and the virus he had been giving her for months seeping through her system.
"Mars Crystal Power," she whispered weakly. Nothing happened. She tried again. Nothing happened.
He had been reading her thoughts for months. He was assigned by the New World Regime to investigate the deaths of Serena Tuskino and Raye had the ability to sense what the human Chad felt for Raye Hino. He felt the same way when he met Raven. After getting to know her, he suspected that Raven and Alex were really Serena and Raye in disguise. He could have easily killed her at any moment. Yet he learnt that the more she fell for him, she opened up herself to him. He now knew about Endyimon and Elysian and the day the world ended. Everything he learnt from her. He fed the information to his superiors.
She asked in a low voice, "What happened to Chad?" She coughed. She knew if this clone looked like Chad then the real Chad had died.
The clone of Chad said, "He died in a plane crash two years ago on his honeymoon with his pregnant wife."
Raye said weakly, "The story you told me was a lie."
The clone said as he watched the girl transforming into Raye Hino, "I have his memories. I told you a story of something that happened years ago."
"Why are you doing this? How I could not sense you?" He seemed reluctant to speak to her.
Raye's body grew weaker and her eyes heavier. "You killed me already. It's not like I am going to tell anyone."
The humanoid paused. "You already know the answer, Raye. You sensed Rita was a humanoid right way. Why Raye? Why couldn't you sense me? Why can't you transform?"
Raye glanced across the room and saw her reflection in the mirror. She saw a speck of red in her eyes. Her eyes widen as she breathed frantically and panicked. "I'm already dead."
Raye remembered her death. Two months ago, days after their flight back from Barcelona on the night of Mina's opening show and her engagement to Jason. She was asleep in bed after making love to Chad. Her throat was parched and he offered to hop out of bed to get her a drink out of the kitchen. She thanked him unaware that he drugged her drink. She passed out shortly after. While she was knocked out, Chad searched through her belongings for her transformation stick. He found it inside of her one of her purses. He held the transformation stick in his hands. It started to glow red as Raye transformed back into her normal appearance. He smirked. His suspicions were confirmed she was indeed Raye Hino. He easily crushed the transformation stick into pieces. He slowly walked over to the bed as he watched her breathe softly. She could not defend herself as he straddled her body and grabbed a pillow off the bed and smothered her to death until she took her last breathe of life and her body stilled.
Raye's eyes popped opened. She saw Chad standing in front of her in the apartment. The scene blinked away and she was lying in an all-white room lying on a silver gurney dressed in white scrubs. For a moment, she thought she was heaven until she looked up and saw a group of doctors in white lab coats and clip boards in their hands observing her behind a glass wall. She saw her reflection through the glass wall and saw that she looked like her normal self. She screamed like banshee causing the walls and window to vibrate. From behind the glass wall, the doctors heard no sound since the room was soundproof as they watched her scream.
"She's still asleep." One of the doctors said as they took notes about her status.
One of the doctors, a man with dark, curly hair and cold eyes, glanced up and saw that she was still asleep on the gurney. He glanced at the large monitor above their heads and continued to watch her dreams, nightmares, and memories played before them like a homemade movie.
Barcelona, Spain
Back in her hotel room in Barcelona, Mina snuggled comfortably in Jason's arms. Mina rested her head on Jason's chest. Her leg lazily draped over his leg. His hand rested on her hip. She was dressed comfortably in a tank top and pajama pants while he was dressed in a t-shirt and pajamas.
They had been engaged for two months. Their final show for the musical ended last night, at least, their participation in it. The show was going on for another six months. Mina received rave reviews for her performance. Fans and critics loved her portrayal of Èponine and admired her singing voice. There were rumors that her performance was a Tony award winning performance. Mina no longer cared about the prestige and the awards. She knew that she would never receive that Tony. Everything came into perspective. Her relationship with her mother had drastically improved. She was on good terms with Ariel again. Serena and Raye were still a part of her life. And most importantly, she was getting married to a wonderful man that was perfect for her.
Jason and Mina's mothers had become best friends as they planned their children's wedding. The media was frenzy about their engagement and magazines were constantly calling their publicists offering them six figures to feature the exclusive on their wedding nuptials. Their wedding was four months away. Mina glanced up at her fiancé. She had never seen him as happy as he has been over the last two months. He practically moved in with her flat. He had his assistant move his things into her apartment in London and then put things away for him. He had two drawers with his clothes in them, half of her medicine cabinet was filled with his personal hygiene products, and half of her closet was filled with his clothes and shoes. He asked Mina if it was okay for him to move back into her apartment. Mina knew he already moved in before he asked. She knew he would become upset if she said no and they would have another argument about her commitment phobia again. She told him that it was fine.
Jason asked in a nonchalant voice, "Is your father going to be at the wedding?"
Mina paused. She closed her eyes as his words trigged her to remember an unwanted memory. She remembered being nine-years-old. She was in pink pajamas and her hair was in pigtails. It was nighttime and her room was pitched black beside her glowing star-shaped nightlight. She could hear the whooshing of the wind as the tree branches tapped against her window. Her bedroom door was slightly ajar causing her to hear a commotion downstairs. She crawled out of bed. The floor board squeaked as she tiptoed along the floor barefoot. As she stepped closer to the door, she could hear her parents arguing downstairs. She heard a gunshot. Mina rushed out of the room and down the stairs. She was stunned when she saw her mother in a black dress and heels standing over her father's dead body. Her long blonde hair hung loose down to the middle of her back. Her makeup was flawless. She was holding a gun in one hand and smoking a cigarette with the other hand. She took the cigarette out of her mouth and exhale coolly as smoke came out. Mina looked down at her father's corpse lying on the floor with a puddle of blood coming from his head. There was a large hole in head and his eyes were open and lifeless. Mina looked up to meet her mother's blue eyes. Mina's eyes widen as she looked horrified at her mother. Patricia smiled warmly at her daughter. "Go back to sleep. You're dreaming darling."
"Mina…" Mina's eyes shot opened to the sound of Jason's voice. She groaned as she scanned the room with her eyes and saw no sign of her fiancé. It was daylight in the bright sunlight illuminated the room. She glanced at the clock and saw it was nine o' clock in the morning. She must have fallen asleep on Jason. She rolled over to find Jason's side of the bed made up. Every morning he woke up at the crack of dawn and jogged twenty blocks. He asked her to join him over the years, but she happily declined.
Mina quickly showered and changed into a t-shirt and skinny jeans. She stared at herself in the mirror and brushed her hair into a high ponytail. She slipped on her heels then left a note on bed saying that she was going shopping and would be back later. She knew he would return back to the room any minute. She disappeared.
Jason slid the room key unlocking the door to the hotel room. He called out Mina's name but she did not respond. He was out of breath. His was shirtless sporting a backward baseball cap, black basketball shorts, black socks and black running shoes. His wet dark hair clung to his head. His body glistened covered in sweat that dripped down his eighth pack and ripped body onto the carpet.
Every morning women in Barcelona gathered together over the last two months to admire his half naked body as he jogged down the streets of Barcelona. Everyone was friendly to him. The hotel staff did not mind that he was dripping sweat onto the floor and the manager happily agreed to clean it up. He also had no problems with the maids either.
All he wanted to do was take a nice cold shower. Mina hated when he was sweaty. When he came back to her apartment after a jog, she told him that she was tired of him wetting up her floors and started making him wipe up his sweat. He thought it was comical since he had not touched a mop since he was eighteen. When he was younger, he had his girlfriend tidy up after him. When he could afford it, he paid people to clean up for him. He preferred the latter method since they did not complain as much as girlfriends. But he found himself mopping up his sweat after he came from a run.
Mina did not respond to him. He walked into the bedroom and saw that the bed was made with a note saying that she was going shopping. Something did not feel right to Jason. It was too early for any of the shops to be open. He walked back into the kitchen and saw her purse was still on the kitchen counter. He fumed as he bawled the note up in his hands. She was lying again.
Mina reappeared in her mother's house. It was an hour ahead in London. She stood in the sitting room looking out the window at the garden. She knew her mother was asleep. She was afraid to teleport in her room in case Charles was there.
Half an hour later, Patricia walked into the sitting room wearing a light blue two piece and heels and white scarf backwards up her shoulders.
Patricia looked surprised. "Darling, what are you doing here? I thought Jason and you were still in Barcelona."
Mina answered in apprehensive tone. "Jason asked me about my father last night." Mina turned to her mother. "He wants to know if he is coming to the wedding." Mina said angrily feeling sick to the stomach. "How do I tell him that daddy's not coming because my mother killed him when I was nine-years-old." Patricia's eyes widen. She strutted over to the door as fast as her Prada heels would take her. She closed and locked the door and prayed none of the staff had heard her daughter's confession.
She hurried over to her daughter. Mina was breaking down again. She always did this when something triggered her memory about her father.
Patricia stood in front of her daughter and said forcefully, "Mina, you cannot do this."
Mina cried, "I have to tell him." She walked away from her mother. "I cannot keep living this lie."
Patricia said, "You have to, Mina. We have come too far to let something from the past haunt us."
Mina cried, "Mother, I have to tell him."
Patricia lashed out angrily, "And what about Ariel? He was Ariel's father too. You think the Brandons are going to like finding out that their precious Ariel is not one of theirs. She is as common as you and me."
Mina turned to her mother. "I know why we lied about Ariel's true parentage. I know why we lied about what really happened to papa, but I can't keep living a lie."
Patricia strode over to her daughter. She lifted up Mina's chin with her hand forcing her to look into her mother's icy blue eyes. "You tell Jason this and he would never understand. He would never be able to move on. You will lose him forever." Mina broke away from her mother's hold and turned her back on her mother. Patricia looked at Mina. "You have a better chance at telling him that you're Sailor Venus than telling him the truth about your father."
Mina halted and turned to her mother in shock. It was true that Patricia always knew that her daughter was Sailor Venus. She knew about Artemis and frequently talked to him. It was her mother who allowed Katarina to take temporary guardianship of her daughter. She decided to take advantage of her daughter's newfound fame and milk it all it was worth. By the time she was done with it, her daughter had her own comic books, toys, and video games.
Deacon knew that Patricia's kids were the most important thing in her life and supported her in taking care of her daughters. He loved Mina and Ariel as his own. His only regret was not having children with Patricia when she wanted them too and they were still married. He could no longer father any children since an accident left him sterile. It was a secret that only Patricia knew. He questioned his manhood after he found out the news. It was Patricia that helped him through that dark moment in time and made him feel virile again. Because of his predicament, he knew that Ariel was not his. Yet, he knew that Patricia needed his help. She confessed to him her sins. He claimed Ariel as his own finally pleasing his family by producing an heir that looked like she was born to be a princess. He took Patricia's secret to the grave. She thought all her problems died in the plane crash along with Deacon. He left everything to her when he died making her a wealthy woman once again. The high society lifestyle that she lived was due to Deacon. Now, Mina was standing in front of her threatening everything because she has a guilty conscience.
Mina said, "The end of the world is coming…"
"What?" Patricia spat out.
"The end of the world is coming. My wedding date is Judgment Day. I don't want to leave this world with regret."
Patricia laughed. "Mina, I am sure that you girls will figure out a way to prevent the apocalypse like you always do."
Mina questioned, "What if we don't? I don't want to go to hell knowing what I know. I have to tell him the truth."
Patricia snapped, "Your life will be hell if you do. People constantly talk about the apocalypse and life continues to go on afterwards. This is not about you little girl. It affects all of us. Jason is not going to marry you if he finds out the truth. Ariel loses her title and inheritance. I lose everything and we go back to being poor again. I go to jail for the rest of my life. Your father was a bastard, so do not sanctify him now that he is worm food. This is a secret that you take to the grave. It does more harm than good when let out."
"But mother…"
Patricia exhaled calming down. She cupped her daughter's face in her hands and smiled putting on her maternal role. "Mina, we are going to forget this conversation ever happened. You are going to return back to Barcelona to be with Jason. Then, you are going to return home and help Jason's mother and me plan your wedding. You're going to walk down the aisle. Ariel will be your maid of honor. You are going to say your vows in front of a church full of friends and family. You're going to eat the cake and take pictures. Then you are going to go on your honeymoon and when you return, you are going to live in a house in the country not far from your dear mama." Mina smiled. "Then after you win the Tony for Les Mis, you are going to return to the acting world bigger and better than ever and show those bastards who doubted you how great you are. You are then going to get the Oscar for Best Actress and you are going to thank me for making your life a living hell and pushing you to be the best. Then you are going to give me a bunch of grandbabies." Mina started to become emotional. "And you are going to let me spoiled them rotten. You will watch them grow up and realized that you are more like me than you realize. And you are going to leave this world a great grandmother. You are going to live a full happy life. That is my affirmation for my daughter. Do you understand this?" Mina nodded quickly sniffing her nose.
Mina feeling better reappeared in her hotel room. She smiled feeling happy and at ease. Her mother was right. She could not live in the past. She had a great life. She would be an idiot if she messed that up.
She turned around. She covered her mouth horrified. Dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, Jason sat on the sofa watching her with hard green eyes. He asked in an angry tone that frightened her, "What lie do you have for me this time?"