The Darkest Secret
Act Twenty Eight: Dark Dream…and a Decision
Serena: Okay…it's official. I have no idea what this crazy authoress is up to.
Katherine: I do…(shudders)
Serena: Tell me!
Katherine: You don't wanna know.
Serena wondered exactly how she was going to explain the whole thing with Katherine to everyone else. It was a crazy story, but it was also true. But still…how could she tell them the full truth without them calling the men in the white coats? She knew she had to say something to Seiya…he looked so worried and sad. She needed to come up with a truthful but believable explanation. The truth was a little too weird…even for the Sailor Scouts. Besides, they might try to exorcise Katherine or something, like she was an evil spirit. Katherine wasn't evil…she just had some serious daddy issues and happened to be sharing a body with her. But how could she convince them of that? She'd managed to evade Seiya's questions because her mom had intervened, but Luna was another story. The cat gave her no peace.
"Serena, tell me what's going on…please!" Luna pleaded. "You're killing yourself…"
"Believe me…it's not something I can really control. I can only fight it."
"You starve yourself and you never sleep…what's wrong?"
"I'll explain at some point…just not now." Serena tuned out Luna and dozed off, taking Katherine into sleep with her. Both were utterly exhausted. The girls' consciousness' merged, and they shared one of the worst nightmares either of them had ever experienced.
It was dark…and hot. Flames burned all around her, but did nothing to illuminate the darkness. Worse, there was a palpable feeling of despair, hopelessness, and agony that you breathed in each time you took a breath. The worst part, though, were the screams of the tortured souls that sounded in the distance. Both blondes shied from the horror of it, sickened by the sounds and sights. It was difficult to breathe, and the girls coughed, trying to flush their lungs of the toxin that threatened to utterly destroy them. Serena let out a faint whimper. Katherine shuddered. Even she was unnerved and frightened by this place. Neither of them wanted to say where they were, but they knew…it was Hell.
"I see you're still holding on, Serenity. You're stronger than I thought." Lucifer spoke from the shadows, but revealed himself quickly. He was a terrible sight. No longer an angel, but a terrible creature. It was impossible to describe how terrible the sight was…but it sent waves of terror through both girls. Both resisted the urge to scream.
Lucifer advanced. "Come to me, my daughter."
For once, both were in agreement. "Not bloody likely," they hissed.
"Serenity, it is far better for you to let go than to hold on like you've been doing. Give in to the urge to close your eyes and let yourself separate entirely from my daughter."
"Why? I'll die no matter what happens. Besides, I don't take orders from you. I barely behave for my own mother. Why on earth would I listen to you?"
"It would be so much easier on you, though…no more pain and overwhelming despair…"
"Yeah, and when I find you, I'll kick your ass," Katherine snarled.
"Serenity is a bad influence on you, my daughter. Love and justice mean nothing in the long run. Those never last. But power does, if you're willing to fight to keep it."
"You're wrong!" Serena burst out.
"No kidding," Katherine agreed with her.
Suddenly, the two were pinned against a wall by the Prince of Darkness himself, both hands wrapped around their neck. "I've tried to be reasonable," he hissed. "I've tried to use the gentler methods. I had no desire to bruise you or cause you harm, but you had to make this difficult. Serenity, you are a greater thought than I realized. Katherine, you have been led astray by this little twit. Yes, dear, I know your name. I am your father, after all. It seems I will have to cut you into shape myself, daughter. Serenity, I shall come for you, and I will personally reduce you to little more than a flickering presence."
"How are you gonna do that if you're stuck in Hell, dumbass?" Katherine taunted.
"There are…loopholes. Tomorrow night is a new moon, when the barriers holding me back grow moth-wing thin. It is so with every new moon. For there is no light in the sky, and evil runs rampant on those nights. I have gathered enough strength to break free. By the time the night is over, Katherine, that will of yours will be utterly shattered. Serenity, you will suffer a loneliness and pain that you have never before experienced…and it will last for all eternity."
Why did that have the ring of truth to it? Both felt chilled, and frightened. Lucifer disappeared, laughing softly. Katherine trembled, and so did Serena. It was so hot, but inside, the girls felt cold as ice. Fear rushed through their veins, and the terrible scene around them began to fade into dark oblivion…it slowly crept over them, threatening to consume everything…
Serena awoke with a sound halfway between a gasp and a scream. Luna awoke, and looked at the blonde. The girl was pale and wide-eyed with terror, and shook like a leaf. The cat padded up and rubbed against her, purring in an effort to calm her. Serena lightly scratched her behind the ears, staring out the window. 'Why do I have a feeling this won't end well?' she thought. 'Why do I feel like Lucifer will make good on his threat?' The blonde breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.
'We'll have to stay alert,' Katherine declared.
'Agreed. Should I tell the others?'
'No…I have this feeling…'
'Me, too. I don't want them to get in any deeper in this mess.'
'I think…I think it's up to me now. You're fading out like mad, and you can't use the Silver Crystal without dying.'
'But I think Lucifer's going to kill me anyway.'
'No…you're immortal, or at least, your soul is. But to be safe, when he splits us—he will—run. You'll be a spirit, but Arriane will be able to help. It's better that way. I'll fight him, and I'll win. Hopefully, I can still thwart Fate. When I get back, I'll find you and bring you back…I don't know how, but I will.'
'But what about Seiya…my friends, Luna, Mom…my family? I don't want them to suffer and worry…'
"You know what you need to do.'
Serena knew what Katherine was getting at. 'I don't know how.'
'You do…all you need to do is focus, and will your power to do what you need it to do.'
'Are you sure that will work?'
'I hope so…'
Serena sighed, and Luna looked up at her. "Mrow?"
"It's all right, Luna," Serena whispered. 'Oh, God…please let this work,' she prayed.
The rest of the night passed quietly, but the dreams were still immensely troubling. They were dark, and it was a struggle for both girls to think about the following day. The pain Serena felt at what she had to do was dreadful, but she knew it was for the best. 'In the words of Christina Rossetti… 'Better by far for you to forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad',' Serena thought. 'Please forgive me, Seiya…'
