A/N: Hey guys, thanks to all the favouriters, followers, and reviewers! You guys are awesome!
P.S. the title of this chapters is pronounced "kur-sed" souls! :)
The Masquerade Chapter 29 – Cursèd Souls
The wind was biting that dawn. The sun was peeking out over the horizon yet it provided no warmth, no light. The sky was a mass of grey and colourless clouds, draining the world of his vibrancy.
Kunzite reached the house he'd been looking for. It was more of a manor really – a looming black structure, with various balconies and creepers on the walls that crawled over the windows. The gloom of the day further increased the shadows cast by the fountains and statues in the courtyard over the front of the house. The fountains were dried up; angels spewed rotten plantation from their mouths and cherubs were not rosy pink but a foul green. The bricks of the house itself were worn by weather and lack of upkeep. It appeared as if the house had not been attended to as it had in years before.
Kunzite approached the door impassively. He ignored the black brass knocker on the door and rapped with the knuckles of his right hand twice. A thin, spindly man answered the door. He had a permanent scowl on his face and spider-like fingers that held a white cleaning cloth. He wore a black vest over a white-shirt that was very nearly brown now. Kunzite assumed he must've been the butler.
"What do you want?" the man nearly screeched at Kunzite.
If Jadeite were here he'd have made some joke about the man sounding like bird – to his face.
"Is the Senator Crow present at his residence?" Kunzite asked.
"The Senator's not here! Not here! Be gone!" the old man rattled away, pushing the door closed.
Kunzite stuck his foot inside before the man could close it. "May I wait inside for His Honour?"
Kunzite did not think the butler's scowl could deepen, but it did. It twisted into a grotesque sort of mess. "Certainly not!" the man shrieked and this time Kunzite allowed the door to shut.
Kunzite surveyed his options. The windows at the sides and front of the house were all too high to climb up to and sneak in. He resolved to examine the reverse side of the manor. He was pleased to find two options before him: a window on the first floor with cobwebs on its doors, and a heavy, steel cellar door on the ground amid a crowd of wild flowers, long dead. The cellar door no doubt led to the servants' quarters as well.
He chose the window.
He dispelled the webs with a branch off the ground next to the wild flowers and swiftly broke the latch on the window door. He swung his body through the small opening and landing without a sound in what appeared to be a family parlor. A fireplace was tucked into the corner of the room; its red bricks had become dull with time, no longer holding their welcoming and warm impression. A pair of high-backed armchairs sat opposite each other across a small coffee table covered in dust with a single picture frame on its surface. Kunzite picked up the dusty frame, wiping the glass with an abandoned cleaning rag on top of the fireplace.
The dust revealed to him a photo of a stern family photo. Senator Crow sat in chair even grander than the ones in this very parlor, his body relaxed into the leather, his hand ever present on his black knife beard. A lazy smirk rested on his mouth. A woman with extremely pale complexion like that of a dead body stood on the right of Crow's chair. She wore a practised smile – a mere curve of her lips that suggested on the surface that she was utterly pleased to be in your presence, but beneath that it carried a warning that you'd better sleep with your eyes open, for one could not know what would happen in the night. The final member of the family that was in the photo was a boy – nearly a man really, he was tall like his father, a wicked crease to his forehead and a lazy smirk played upon his lips. He wore a clean cut grey suit and white, silk pocket kerchief. His eyes were a sputtering grey like that of the damper clouds outside and his hair was the same coal black as his father's.
The Prince Diamond in this family photo – the son of Senator Crow – was not the same Prince Diamond from the balls. The Prince Diamond that was about to marry the Queen of the Moon did not look like the boy in the photo.
So then who was he?
"Diamond, Prince of Nemesis. How does it feel to be so close to your revenge?" The impermeable darkness whispered enticingly in Diamond's ear.
"I do not feel anything," Diamond's own impassive, rigid voice responded. He faced whatever he presumed to be forward as he lent his ear to the dark devil in his midst.
"Yes, yes, that's right," the voice rasped, a harsh yet alluring noise that tempted one to commit the greatest sins. "But you must at least feel some rage. Do you not young Prince?"
"I do not feel anymore. My rage is merely etched with my soul. It shall be sated once this is over," Diamond said. In the presence of its creator, the control mark on his chest flared red beneath his shirt.
"As it is meant to," the voice circled around him, never remaining in one direction too long. "Once you channel my power to kill the pathetic Queen on your wedding night, all will be right again. Chaos will reign once more." The voice cackled. A repeating dissonance.
Diamond remained silent. Wiseman was not pleased with this reaction.
"Speak," the darkness commanded, forming spectral hand around the Prince's neck.
"Why waste time with the wedding and waiting until after to kill the Queen? Why not poison her this instance?" Diamond stated blankly.
The darkness released the Prince's neck. Diamond let his chin fall back into its normal position. Wiseman's voice seemed to hit Diamond like a tidal wave of force. "DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE GIRL. A royal child of the Moon cannot be harmed so easily. Her mother would have died much sooner if a simple poison were potent enough." The darkness swirled before Diamond. "No. Physical harm my kill her body, but her soul – that is a tricky thing. It would take a curse, one that you can only siphon on to her once you have been connected through marriage. Such a petty thing it is – marriage, but to the mortal beings of the Moon it is a union strong enough to allow miraculous enchantments. You will be joined to that wretch in two days' time, Diamond, and then you will channel the darkness and we will see the end of the Moon and the Silver Millennium."
"Yes, Master," said Diamond, bowing his head as he blackness in his eyes flickered white.
He had a neat room. No pictures or ornamentation on the walls. Everything in the room served some sort of purpose. The walls were steel grey, and the bed was covered in black, silk sheets. His coffee table and chair that faced the bright window were of the finest mahogany. The only significant colour in the room was a miniature, studded red rose that rested on his windowsill.
It was that same little object that caught Rei's eye when she woke the next morning wrapped in Jadeite's embrace. One eye peeked over the silky bed sheets at the rose, enraptured by the sight. She turned around in Jadeite's arms, the collar of her blouse nearly catching on the blue ring he wore on his right hand. She nuzzled into his black shirt, the buttons marking her skin, but she didn't mind. "You stole that from my dress," she mumbled.
Jadeite kept his eyes closed, tightening his arms around her. "I only took what was mine," he whispered, pressing a kiss into her hair.
Rei opened her eyes and lifted her chin to look at him. Jadeite opened his eyes as well and gave her a questioning look. "I know I'm attractive but you're staring, Rei," he teased while brushing his nose next to hers.
"Am not," she giggled, tickled by his touch. She flung the sheets off of them in a desperate attempt to escape.
Jadeite immediately caught onto her tighter. He nuzzled into her more, tormenting her with the slightest of touches, mere whispers of contact on her neck and on her waist. "Cold," he muttered.
She curled a finger around a strand of his blond hair. "I should go. I've got to get back to the castle."
Jadeite shook his head, still half asleep, pressing faint kisses on her shoulder as he gently pulled aside neck of her blouse. "First, you make us sleep next to each other will all our clothes on and now you're refusing me the pleasure of your company in the early hours of the day? How cruel must you be?" he pestered, being dramatic as ever.
"Cruel enough for you to love me?" she asked. She hesitated a moment, gauging his expression at the newfound use of this word love.
Jadeite broke out into a grin.
Rei left his embrace, jumping off the bed, leaning over him to kiss him once, long and slow. She let go after an extended moment feeling more tethered to him than she had ever felt to anyone. As if an actual thread connected her heart to his and any attempt at unravelling would result in the cord snapping, leaving Rei with broken pieces that were too sharp to pick up.
She wasn't used to this feeling. This feeling that she could not live without him. That every inch of her skin needed to be touched by him, and every inch of her heart needed to be loved by him. That without him, she'd be lost. She had never given anyone so much power – so much control – over her, and yet with Jadeite, it hadn't been hers to give, it was his from the beginning, and that notion terrified her.
That's why when she looked into his blue blue eyes, those cerulean pools that reflected only love as he looked into her eyes and told her, "I love you," she could not help but feel the guilt harden in the pit of her stomach as those eyes dimmed with disappointment. She had yet to say the words back to him.
She wasn't sure she could.
"You look absolutely divine, Mina!" Georgia gushed.
"You think so?" Mina asked, carefully watching her reflection. She examined the dress that Georgia had made for her. It was a bronze and gold shimmery dress: floor length, with sleeves that rolled off the shoulders. The long sleeves were made of a thin sheer lace fabric that hugged her skin and the bodice was covered in the same material. Mina's thoughts roamed to a similar dress she'd worn before. "Georgia," she began cautiously, "where did you get the design for this dress?"
Georgia had a sly smile on as if she were pleased to be keeping a secret that no one else knew about. She was about to reply when the bell above the shop door rang out to them on the second floor. Georgia jumped up and spoke in mock-marvel, "I wonder who that could be!"
Mina smiled as the old seamstress shuffled down the stairs. She stared once more at the dress. It was not just similar it was almost exactly the same. It was the dress from the ball that she and Kunzite had attended on her last day on Earth. This was the dress that she had walked away in, the one that Kunzite had let her go in.
Well… It wasn't the exact same dress. The original dress, Mina had left with Jenna on Earth that night after coming home crying; there was no way it could've gotten here to the Moon. Besides, the dress she wore now was slightly different. The bodice was tighter and it seemed as if there were a few minor changes. The neckline was no longer a scoop but a high neckline that rested across her collarbone. The fabric of the dress itself made Mina look like a fairy or some from the stars. She shimmered like every star in the sky was blinking down at ground below.
She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard the steady thud of boots on the wood step up to the second floor. It was strange that Georgia was bringing them up while Mina was trying something on at the moment…
Her thoughts and worries just faded away when she realized the person coming up the stairs was Kunzite. His silver hair was pulled back in a tail and he had a nervous hand rubbing the back of his neck. She'd forgotten how innocent he looked when he was nervous or shy.
"You came," she said slightly starstruck by his pale purple-grey eyes that wandered over her body in the dress, drinking in the image, committing it to memory. She regained some composure to pick up the skirt of her dress and walk towards him. "I thought we were meeting at the castle."
"I was nearby," he answered characteristically short.
"Right. Well, I sent you that note because I'm actually quite worried, Kunzite. Diamond is erratic and unbalanced. He is calm one moment and the next he's blown out in a rage. Anyway I think about it seems dangerous for Serena – why, just the other day I was testing his patience here at the shop because he needed his wedding suit made, and he pushed me into the glass cabinet behind me and I–"
Kunzite was immediately by her side, "Did he hurt you?" he demanded, searching her body for wounds.
Mina blushed at his touch, grabbing his hands in hers to stop them. "I'm fine. I really am. It was only a few cuts on my arms," she reassured him, but he was still tense.
"What else did he do?"
Mina sighed, "I asked him about his family, whether he had siblings or any other family. But he was angry again that I was prying and was very clear that I should stop."
Kunzite's face read as calculating. He was thinking hard about something. "What is it, Kunzite? What have you learned?"
Kunzite clasped his hands together seating himself in the couch next to the mirror. "I went to Senator Crow's house, because I had some suspicions. But when I got there the house seemed like it hadn't been lived in for months, maybe even years. Crow wasn't home and I know from the records that his wife died five years ago. The butler insisted that I couldn't wait inside for the Senator, so I broke in through the back window. But, Mina, I found a family photo of Crow and his wife and his son. His son looked nothing like the Prince Diamond we know."
"What?"
"It appears that Crow and Diamond are putting on a charade that they are father-son. I asked around and it seems no one in the neighbourhood has seen the real Prince Diamond, son of Senator Crow in months. He vanished into thin air as soon as the balls started and the Diamond we know showed up," Kunzite explained.
"So what does that mean? Diamond kidnapped Crow's real son and is now making the Senator act like he's his son? All so he can get to the Queen?" Mina guessed.
"I think so. Either that or Crow's doing this voluntarily and has hid away his son, but I think the former theory is more likely. Crow would not pass up the opportunity to get his own son on the throne unless someone was threatening or controlling him," Kunzite said.
Mina's brow furrowed in contemplation. "But then, who exactly is the Prince Diamond that's about to marry Serena? And what does he want with her?"
Kunzite nodded. "That's where my suspicions originally started. You see, five years ago, I met another boy named Prince Diamond. He was fifteen at the time and I was twenty. I'd been on the Moon to discuss improving the communications between our planets, because at the time our planets had barely any contact since the late Earthen King and Queen's deaths. But when I got there the dark planet of Nemesis was holding a massive revolt against the Moon."
Kunzite gave her a careful glance to make sure she was alright. Nemesis after all had been the planet to attach Venus, keeping her from her parents for most of her life.
He continued, "The Earth hadn't known about the attack because of the poor communications and there wasn't anything we could've done to help since Darien had yet to officially take the throne let alone provide any support the Moon."
"So, who was this Prince Diamond?" Mina asked.
"He was the Prince of Nemesis. He had a younger brother as well, his name was Saphir. The two of them were only remaining monarchs left from Nemesis; their parents had died in one of the many riots, revolts and wars that went on in Nemesis. Their planet had been building back up after the war with Venus and they decided that the Moon was their next target.
"I remember speaking with late Queen Serenity once. She said that Prince Diamond blamed her for all the adversity his planet had suffered and that's why he led this revolt. She'd had no choice but banish the evil of Nemesis with the power of the Silver Crystal. However, she offered solace on the Moon to any of its people who chose to take it. Diamond and his brother, however, did not."
"Does this mean that the Prince Diamond that's about to marry Serena is actually the Prince of Nemesis? If I recall, Nemesis deteriorated three or four years ago. Anyone who lived there was forced to relocate. Did he come to the Moon then?" Mina asked.
Kunzite nodded. "I assume he's been hiding out for the past three years, waiting for his chance to strike at the Moon."
"But, how did he even manage to do all of this? Bending Crow – a powerful Senator – to his will, as you say, and getting into these balls? And his behaviour, you'd think he would act a little more pleasant to get everyone to trust him so he can exact his revenge later, but he almost seems as if he's fighting against himself. Unable to control himself. Do you think he has a guilty conscience?"
Kunzite looked pensive. "I don't know, Mina."
"Kunzite, this is dangerous! I was scared when I saw his anger but this is even worse! He could try to kill Serena at any moment!" Mina cried.
Kunzite got up immediately and took her hands in his. "Hey, don't worry. If he was going to try something, he would've done it already. I'm positive that if he wants her dead it'll be after the wedding. We can figure this out, Mina. We will stop him at any costs."
Mina bit her lip and nodded. "But I should still warn Serena! She doesn't even know what's going on!"
Kunzite held on tighter. "No. Don't. I'm afraid Serena already has enough to worry about."
"What do you mean?"
Kunzite let go of her hands and brushed a hand along the neck of her dress. "You look beautiful."
Mina's thoughts dispersed with his words. She looked at him curiously. "You had a hand in this didn't you?"
Kunzite smiled a sad smile. "I had Jenna send the original over and Georgia worked her magic and tailored it to make it more you."
"Why?" Mina whispered.
"Because I thought this dress deserved a second chance. Just like I'd like one with you."
"Kunzite," Mina breathed.
He interjected, "I'm leaving tonight."
"What?"
"The Shitennou, Darien, and I have to leave for Earth tonight. The Parliament's demanding that we mobilize the divisions for war against the Moon. Darien has no way of stopping it. We – I won't be back until the night before the wedding," Kunzite said, while drawing his hand along her jaw, over her chin and a whisper of a touch over her lips.
Mina shook her head. "You never tell me earlier when you're leaving."
Kunzite's eyes were cast down. She put a hand under his chin and lifted it to look him in the eyes. "When all else fails, I will always find my home in the reaches of your heart."
A look of recognition crossed Kunzite's face. His eyes filled with pain and love and apology. "You never break your promises," he whispered.
Mina barely got to shake her head before he pressed his lips against hers, stealing a last kiss before disappearing down the stairs and out the door.
"I must speak with the Queen, please!"
"Sir, please don't make us call the guards! You cannot see the Queen right now!" The maid repeated for the tenth time.
The sandy-haired man was desperate. "Please! I must speak with her! The Moon is in danger!"
"I said you cannot speak to her!" The maid nearly shrieked, her patience wearing thin.
Luna had been passing by, on her regular prowl around the castle, ensuring that everything was running smoothly. "What is going on here?" she called out from the ground to the maid at the gate.
"Luna!" the maid bowed immediately. She gestured to the man behind the gate who'd been making the ruckus. "This man insists he knew the late Queen and that he must see her daughter to deliver some very important news. He's totally off his rocker!" she exclaimed.
The man was oblivious to the maid's remark. He looked to Luna turning his bright green eyes on her. "Please, I must see the Queen."
Luna regarded the man. He looked to be in his early-forties, yet his face carried lines that suggested he'd been through more adversity than most. He was tall yet stocky, thick around the neck and arms, with big meaty hands. He appeared big, but his eyes betrayed his gentleness. His sandy coloured hair was an unusual colour for someone who lived on the Moon. Luna felt as if she'd seen this man before somewhere…
"Sir, what is your name? How do you claim to know the late Queen?" she asked.
The man clutched the iron bars of the gate tightly with his hands. "My name is Gerard. I was the late Queen Serenity's informant."
Sophie was not doing her job. She had just come back from speaking with the royal healer and she hadn't known what to do with what she'd learned. Serena was still asleep and there was no one she could possibly tell who was still in the castle. Therefore, instead doing her job, she was hiding behind the same staircase Diamond had found her under a few days ago. Her palms were sweaty and they made her red, unruly hair stick to her forehead when she tried to push strands out of her eyes. She looked over her shoulder at the front entrance. There had been loud voices at the gate, arguing. From Sophie had gathered, there was a man outside trying to get in to see the Queen, but the maid at the door refused to let him in.
Sophie straightened when the massive front doors opened, light streaming in, and Luna, walking perched on her black toes, led a man inside. Sophie could not see much but his silhouette against the sunlight, he had a tall, stocky frame, thick limbs and unruly hair. They walked out of the light, and turned towards the east wing, and Serena's rooms. Sophie got up to stop them when she finally glimpsed the man's sandy coloured hair and green green eyes.
They were the exact same shade as hers.
Sophie felt her throat constrict with tears, her body froze like the statues in the courtyard. A thousand thoughts flew threw her mind, but none of them made any sense. None of them could explain why her father was here. Why he was alive.
Sophie opened her mouth, "Wait–"
A cold hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her words and the scream that followed. She struggled against the arm, but the person dragged her down behind the staircase again.
A face appeared before her, angular features, and silver-blue hair falling over eyes that had until recently been the colour of pure darkness. His hand dropped from Sophie's mouth as she stared at him in shock. She reached out a hand to touch his eyelids. Diamond's eyes were no longer black; they were the most serene light purple she'd ever seen.
"It's you, it's really you," she whispered between tears. She held his head tight next to hers, hugging him.
"Yes, it's me, Sophie. It's me, Diamond. But I don't have much time, Sophie. You have to listen to me." He pulled away from her embrace, grabbing her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. His grip was gentle and soft; this was the Diamond she knew, not the shadow that had claimed her for his own.
"What do you mean you don't have much time?" Sophie demanded, a wave of panic rising in her chest. She brushed her fingers at the paler hair by his ears. "I thought this meant you were saved, that you'd come back from Wiseman's control, is it not?"
Diamond shook his head solemnly. "No. I managed to fight against his power hard enough to get these few moments with you, but Sophie, he's pressing his control on me right now. You need to listen to me now."
Sophie nodded still clutching on to him tightly as if he'd disappear in a cloud of smoke any moment.
"Wiseman's wants me to kill the Queen, Soph," Diamond said. Even now Sophie could see the control wavering in him as he divulged more information. "He says that once we're married some kind of bond will form between us that will allow me to siphon his power to place a curse on the Queen that will surely kill her."
"Then you have to fight his control again! Diamond, Serena does not deserve to die," Sophie said. She glanced at her feet. "I know you had a hand in her mother's death, but that was under Wiseman's control and vengeful blindness. But if you kill Serena, there's no coming back from that. You'd be imprisoned, or even executed."
"I know, Soph," Diamond gave her a sad smile, holding her cheek in his hand. "That's why I'm here now: to warn you. I won't even be able to remember my own name in two days' time; his control will be too strong and I won't be able to break it. That's why I need you to warn the Queen of the threat to her life. You have to make sure that they succeed in saving Serena's life, do you understand me?"
Sophie choked back tears and nodded.
"That's my girl," Diamond smiled and pulled her close for a hug, burrowing his face in her red braid. "There's one more thing, Soph."
"What is it?"
"Wiseman's not only planning to take down the Queen. He wants the Moon destroyed. He has a hoard of mind-controlled soldiers – previous citizens of Nemesis – armed on Saturn, ready to attack the Moon the night of the wedding."
"No. That's not possible. I thought all of Nemesis was destroyed!" Sophie cried.
Diamond shook his head. "Wiseman lied to us. To me and to Saphir. He led us to believe that all our people were dead and gone, while he silently enslaved them on Saturn far out of our reach." Diamond hands clenched into fists, his eyes brimmed with tears. "Soph, I fear that he's lied about everything."
"What do you mean?" Sophie asked carefully, afraid of what the answer might be.
"Soph, I don't think the late Queen Serenity killed my brother at all. I think Wiseman lied to me, so that he could use me to take her down," Diamond told her, but his voice cracked at the end and he buried his head on her lap, tears covering her smock. "I believed him like a fool, Soph! But he murdered my brother!"
Sophie supressed her own tears, hugging on to him tightly.
It was after a long moment that Diamond finally lifted his head. The guilt was clear in his eyes and the anguish at the realization of what he'd done was crushing him. However, when he spoke again his voice was clear and determined. "Soph, Wiseman must be stopped. At whatever cost."
"What do you mean?" Sophie asked but she already knew the answer. "No!"
Diamond shook his head and put a finger over his mouth in a shushing gesture. "Soph, promise me that you will make sure that Serena survives and Wiseman is stopped no matter the danger to me. Promise me that if the choice came down to stopping Wiseman or saving me, you won't choose me. Promise me."
Sophie shook her head. "I won't. You can't make me promise something so ridiculous."
Diamond smiled, raising a hand to ruffle her unruly bangs. "Soph, you're the one who's always telling me not to take the love my brother had for you upon myself. So, I'm telling you: don't take the care you have for me as love. You will be happier without me as the dark cloud in your life."
Sophie eyes flashed with disbelief. She grabbed his chin and forced him to face her. "I know what I feel, and it is not simple care, Diamond, this is love. I believe that each person has a soulmate that they are destined to be with. For you brother, Saphir, his love was me. But for you and I, it has always been each other. I am not only your brother's girl, Diamond. I am yours. You are not my dark cloud; you are the brightest thing that has ever entered my life. Never believe otherwise.
"So, I'll promise you. I'll promise you that if it comes down to saving you or stopping him, I'll choose the latter. Not because I do not love you; but because you and I know more than anyone that some things are more important than us. Just know that if you are gone, I will follow. I won't let you meet your brother without me, Diamond."
Diamond said nothing. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips before getting up and disappearing from her sight as the darkness took over him once again.
"Serena! Serena, wake up!"
Serena jolted awake, her hands clutching on her stomach in pain as she sat up.
Mina and Rei sat on the bed in front of her with shock clearly written on their faces.
Mina put a hand forth. "Serena, what happened? Are you okay? You look paler than a ghost."
Serena rubbed at her eyes and blinked repeatedly. "I – I don't know. Sophie came to see me last night and she brought…" Serena flashed them a stunned look, grabbing both of them by the hands. "She found the betrothal records, girls! She found them!"
"Where did she find them?" Rei asked immediately.
Serena thought back to the murky thoughts of the night before. "In my mother's room, behind a painting of me."
"That explains why you couldn't find it, Rei. You were only looking in official archives." Mina said. Rei nodded. "But, Serena, what are you going to do now? We have the records, but the wedding is in two days. You have to make a decision: whether to disobey the Senate's law and risk being deposed or to go through with this accursed marriage."
Serena stared at her, but her gaze was lost in something she could only see in her mind. "I need to see Darien. Now." She began to fling off the covers and attempt getting off the bed, but Rei stopped her.
"Serena, you're not well. You can't be going out right now. What happened last night?" she demanded.
Serena clenched her hands; they were trembling too hard. "I got off the bed to go see Darien, but I – I fainted. I don't know why. Sophie was with me, but I don't know where she's gone."
Mina gave Rei a glance. "Serena, try to get some more rest. We'll look for Sophie."
"No–" Serena began but she was cut off by a knock on the door of her chambers.
"Queen Serenity? There is someone to see you," the maid stationed outside called.
Rei responded for her. "Tell them to come back later, the Queen isn't feeling well at the moment."
There was a pause. This time it was not the maid who spoke but Luna. "Serena, this is something very urgent."
The three of them exchanged a glance.
Mina walked to the door and opened it. Luna prowled in with a man following closely behind her. He had sandy coloured hair. He was tall with a stocky build. He strangely reminded Serena of someone she knew.
"Queen Serenity, this man here is Gerard Baker. He is a former informant of your mother's, and also happens to be Sophie's father." Luna said.
"Hello, Your Majesty. I'm afraid on our first meeting I am the bearer of bad news," Gerard said in his gentle voice. "Nemesis soldiers led by the tyrannical Wiseman are on route to the Moon. They intend to attack on the night of the wedding."
"Sophie! Where were you?" Serena exclaimed from the bed as Sophie let herself inside the room.
Mina and Rei glanced between Serena and Sophie. Luna had left with Gerard to settle him in one of the guest rooms in the castle for the time being. His information had been crucial to them.
Sophie bowed to her Queen, she had a look of stunned fear. "Serena, there is something important I must tell you." She glanced at Rei and Mina.
Serena turned to her friends with a smile, noting Sophie's apprehension and worry, "Girls, I'd like to speak with Sophie alone for a moment."
Mina put a hand on Serena shoulder. "We understand. We'll be outside."
Sophie remained in her spot a metre from Serena even after the door clanged shut.
"Sophie, are you alright?" Serena asked concerned.
Sophie was biting back tears. "Please do not show me such concern. I fear I do not deserve it."
"What do you mean, Sophie? I could never just choose not to worry about you. Tell what's wrong," Serena coaxed, holding out a hand for Sophie to come to sit by her.
Sophie stayed where she was. She took in a deep breath, resolved to say something important. "I'm here to warn you about the threat to your life, Queen Serenity. The Prince Diamond you are about to marry is not who you think he is."
"Sophie…"
Sophie met her Queen's eyes. "He is the actually the Prince of Nemesis and he is being controlled by Wiseman, the very embodiment of chaos. And he is my love."
Serena's eyes widened. "Sophie what are you saying?"
Sophie sniffed, her tears drying up. "He came to me three years ago after his planet fell to ruin. His brother, Prince Saphir had been in love with me. So when he died, Diamond approached me saying that his brother wouldn't have died if he hadn't stayed here for me. I learned afterwards that it was merely his way of grieving, being connected with me. I learned over the years that when Diamond found his brother's dead body, Wiseman had come to him and told him that your mother, Serena, had put out the command to murder Saphir. And Diamond and I had believed it with all our hearts.
"Diamond became obsessed with revenge for his brother, whom he'd loved more than anything in this universe. Wiseman took advantage of that anger and fear, and he bent Diamond to his will by siphoning part of his power into him to create a mark of control on his chest. It was Wiseman's orders that brought Diamond, dressed unlike himself, to the balls where he was to try and earn your trust. As he slowly began to fail, Wiseman became angry and impatient – he decided to take full-control of Diamond's mind and body, forcing him to do unspeakable things."
Serena read the solemn look on Sophie face. "What kinds of things, Sophie?" she demanded.
"He made Diamond extend Wiseman's power onto one of the maids in the castle so that she could poison your mother. He wanted to speed up the inevitable end your mother's illness would finally bring. I – I am sorry, Serena. For whatever part I had in knowing this after the fact and whatever part Diamond was forced to play."
Serena could feel her hands trembling further. An icy shiver ran down her spine and her heart felt as if it had plummeted into an endless abyss. "Tell me the rest," she managed to whisper.
Sophie continued. Her heart had been hardened the moment Diamond had left again. "After your mother's death, Diamond was to next extend some control on Senator Crow. He used him to secure his fake identity, while Crow's real son is being held by Wiseman. Crow didn't need much persuading to pass that law though. Wiseman needed it in place so that you were forced to marry Diamond under all costs."
"Why did he need Diamond to marry me? What is the purpose if he could just control all my senators and therefore, my kingdom?" Serena inquired.
"Because. There is something in the bond of marriage that connects two people in ways unknown to the mind. Wiseman said that he needed Diamond to use that bond to siphon the darkness into you to cast a curse that would kill you. He said it was not enough to physically harm you. Your whole soul needed to be crushed to remove all threat to his chaotic world."
Serena slumped against her headboard. "Sophie, why didn't you ever tell me this sooner?"
Sophie glanced at the ground. "Some of it I did not know until less than a few hours ago. The rest was my own cowardice and because–" Sophie choked on her words. She stepped forward and reached for Serena's hand. Her voice was tight with tears when she spoke again. "I told you at the beginning just now. I love him. And I thought that by not telling anyone of his treason that he could be safe and that he could be saved. But I fear that had I just been honest then maybe we could've prevented this, Maybe I could've saved him."
"Sophie," Serena breathed, pulling Sophie close and hugging her tight. Despite everything she had just told her. Serena knew deep in her heart that Sophie never meant anyone harm and that she carried a guilty weight on her shoulders heavier than someone at such a young age should've had to carry.
"Sophie, there's someone you should meet afterwards tonight," Serena said.
Sophie looked up at her with surprise which then turned to recognition and then to the smallest happiness in this broken girl's heart. "It's my father, isn't it?"
Serena's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
Sophie sniffed. "I caught a glimpse of him before when Diamond came to warn me. I had been on the way back from the healers after they'd come to see you."
Serena raised a brow. "Does that mean you know why I fainted last night? I'm sure it was just the stress and recent exhaustion. I haven't been eating or sleeping very well."
Sophie took both of Serena's hands in hers. "Serena, it's not stress or your recent change in eating habits. It's been nearly two months now; you're about seven weeks in."
"Sophie, what are you trying to say?"
"Serena, you're pregnant."
Darien was on a plane. It was not often that he had to travel across Earth's many countries; usually his work was focused on diplomacy with other planets or galaxies. The Parliament and the generals were in charge of their own divisions. However, today was a day that Darien had seriously hoped would not arrive.
"How long until we reach the Far Eastern Division?" Darien radioed the pilot.
"We'll be landing in three minutes, Your Highness. Take a look out the window, the view is impeccable," the pilot replied.
Darien pulled up the shade covering the window beside him. The pilot was indeed right. Thousands of feet below him Darien could glimpse the shingled hip-and-gable roofs of the Asian empires. Vast arrays of red and yellow lanterns were sprinkled amongst the aerial view. It must have been festival season. Darien recalled that festival season had always been Jadeite's favorite time of the year to visit his division. It saddened Darien that his friend would be marching out to war with his soldiers rather than enjoying himself at the street fairs, lighting lanterns of his own.
Just as the pilot had said they arrived in the Far Eastern Division's military base within three minutes. A group of guards formed a semi-circle around Darien. The easterners valued their King's safety to a suffocating point, despite Jadeite's easy-going attitude about the way he ran things at the base. Darien and his guards approached the raised platform at the center of the base. Upon the dais, stood Jadeite, who was finely dressed in his state commissioned general's uniform. It had much more flare than the regular soldier's uniform, with its golden filigree around the collar and cuffs, golden stud buttons, and the crimson stripe that ran down the side of his right sleeve and right pant leg of his black uniform.
"Jadeite!" Darien called out as he stepped onto the dais. The soldiers who had until then been listening carefully, and expressionlessly to Jadeite, now bowed low after recognizing their King. Jadeite threw them a confused glance before spinning around to find Darien.
Jadeite waved Darien away with a nonchalant hand and mock-irritated smile. "Go away! You're stealing my spotlight here, Darien!"
Darien gave a low chuckle. "I wouldn't dare undermine the authority of my most dedicated general, now would I?"
Jadeite glared.
Darien held out a hand, his smile disappearing.
Jadeite looked down at his soldiers, clicking his boots together, shouted an order in a clear and firm voice, "Dismissed."
The soldiers filed away just as Jadeite grabbed Darien's hand and they pulled each other in for a firm one-arm embrace.
"How were the others?" Jadeite asked. His fingers fiddled with the wrists of his white military gloves but his eyes were focused on Darien.
"Nephrite seemed tense but he was working as hard as ever when I visited him at the North American base. His division will be heading out first on the day of the wedding. Zoisite's division will be heading out second. Though, I haven't an idea of how he's got all those men in Europe, who dwarf him easily, to listen to him so well."
Jadeite nodded. "And Kunzite?"
"Distracted."
"While on duty?" Jadeite asked worriedly.
"Not while he was mobilizing his division, no. The Middle Easterners listen to him so well because he's always alert and on point with his orders. No, I was at his base the longest out of the four, and I merely noticed that whenever he had the slightest moment to himself he looked apprehensive."
"Well, that's Kunzite for you. Always keeping everything buried under that steely look. The man wouldn't know how to have fun even if he tried. But I hate to admit that I'm a little worried that things have gotten so bad that his worry is showing on his face," Jadeite confessed.
"I'm afraid things will only be getting worse once the wedding day arrives," Darien said. "We'll be at war with the Moon again after five hundred years of peace. I never imagined I'd the one on the throne when something like this happened. I always wanted a peaceful reign."
"You were never an ambitious one, Darien. Conquering and fighting was never your thing. But, I know how much this is killing you right now to see our planet go to war. It sickens me too, but there isn't much we can do at this point. We've got to wait for the right moment."
A moment of silence passed between them as the scope of the next few days settled in their minds. Of all the things that they might accomplish, and all the things that could go wrong.
When they finally broke the silence they were speaking over each other.
"I'm worried about Serena–"
"–I'm worried about Rei."
Darien shot Jadeite a surprised look. "Do my ears deceive me or did you just outright confess that you're worried about Rei?"
"You heard me," Jadeite said calmly.
Darien was ready to tease more but the look on Jadeite face made him catch his words.
Jadeite was not one to usually possess any emotions that needed hiding; he was rarely ever greatly upset, or sad, and anger was not something he cared to conceal. However, the look he wore in his eyes right now spoke of the slightest shard of anguish embedded in his consciousness.
"What is it?" Darien pressed.
"I told Rei the way I feel about her. And for once she didn't push me away…" he said.
"But?" Darien asked, waiting for the catch.
"But, what do you do when you tell your girl you love her, and she doesn't say it back?"
Darien was silent for a moment and then in an attempt to cheer Jadeite up he said, "Well, I'm guessing it's not knocking on her door with an army division behind you."
Jadeite's lips curved into a smile. "Yeah, I guess not."
The sands of Saturn were beat down by the constant footfalls of the body of mindless soldiers. Black smoke inched between their ranks, unacknowledged by the black-eyed men as they marched on. They finally came to a halt before the loading stations, where the spaceships were lined up and ready for departure.
Fifty feet above them, standing – no, hovering – over the floor of the dais atop the watch tower, was their commander and controller, Wiseman.
He needed no amplification device for his raspy voice to be heard in the empty minds of the soldiers as they filed into the spaceships. His speech was short yet it haunted every broken soul below him. "The time has come. After years banished to these barren sands on Saturn, unable to return to our ruined home of Nemesis, we are finally able to take our revenge! The petty Queen and her silver kingdom will fall and CHAOS will rule once more! I WILL RULE."
The soldiers stopped shuffling, snapped their boots together and beat their spears on the barren land once, twice, three times. Their voice echoed in the vacuous air as a lifeless chant.
"CHAOS SHALL RULE AGAIN."
A/N: So to those of you who guessed it, YOU WERE RIGHT! :P that was in the plan from the beginning stages of outlining this story so yeah! Hope you liked the chapter! There are now only TWO CHAPTERS LEFT.
Questions of the Chapter:
I'm changing things up for this chapter. Instead of a question about this chapter, I'd just like you to answer this:
Which chapter/scene/moment has been your favourite over the course of this story up until this point?
