CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: Confrontation

"I can't tell you what your years of devoted service has meant to the Prince," said Serena, trying once again to engage Lord Jaedite in conversation. Darien had just left her to figure out what was taking her court so long to arrive to the party and he insisted on leaving her with an escort. Serena never much liked Darien's advisors. So stuffy and businesslike. Lord Jaedite was no exception. His mind seemed to be elsewhere and he never quite looked Serena in the eye, which she found quite unnerving from a non-Martian.

"It is my duty," he said, looking just off to her right. Serena sighed. She hoped Darien would hurry up.

"Are you enjoying the party?" Serena tried.

"It is lovely," he said stiffly.

"How about a drink?" said Serena, waving over a roving server. Serena smiled gratefully and selected a champagne flute and offered it to Jaedite.

"I mustn't imbibe in front of the Prince," said Jaedite gruffly.

Serena sighed and sipped from the flute herself. "Of course," she replied. "So, are you enjoying—oh!" She was interrupted by a thunderous crash that startled Serena so much she dropped the champagne flute which smashed unceremoniously against the marble floor sending shards sailing this way and that. Serena was glad for Jaedite's grip for she surely would have stumbled. She looked around and helped a young countess who had fallen to the floor.

"Watch the glass," Serena warned. When Serena had righted herself, she saw that Jaedite's expression had noticeably darkened. "What was that?" she asked, not expecting an answer.

Then Jaedite's grip on her arm tightened. He turned to her then and for the first time looked her directly in the eyes. Serena felt stabbed by a sudden terror as she looked into his eyes, which seemed to burn with fury as he said: "It is the reckoning."

….

"You sent for me, Your Majesty?" said Luna, entering the guest bedroom as a footman held the door open for her. At first Luna did not see Princess Mercury for she was looking at Serenity's face. "Madam, what is wrong?" Serenity gestured toward the bed. Luna approached and all the color drained from her face.

"How…?"

Serenity shook her head. "She was in the Imperial Chamber."

"You don't mean…?"

"I cannot say."

"Does the Princess Serenity know?" Luna shook her head sadly and ran her hand along Princess Mercury's ice cold arm.

"No," said Serenity. "Not yet. We have bigger problems right now." Luna raised an eyebrow. "Distress calls have been pouring in from everywhere in the kingdom. We are under attack."

Luna's eyes grew. "Attack? By whom?"

"We don't know. Artemis is back in the communications hub. Princess Mercury did something in the Imperial Chamber, but what she did I don't know. Whatever it was caused the Crystal to become volatile. We think it knocked out communications. We're running on an old system. The messages are slow."

Just then, the door burst open. It was Artemis. His eyes were wide with shock, but he said nothing. He opened his palm and a piece of parchment sailed effortlessly to the floor next to his boot.

"Artemis, what's happened?" Luna asked, her voice catching in her throat.

"I've killed her," he whispered.

"What? Who?" said Luna. When Artemis didn't answer, Luna crossed the room and reached down and picked up the discarded note. As she read the words printed on the page, her eyes clouded over. "Gods, no," she cried. She could not stop the flood of tears that spilled over her eyes. "Mina!"

"It was my sin," Artemis murmured. "I delivered her into her fate."

"Artemis, no," said Luna, placing a hand on his sleeved forearm. "No one could have predicted this. It wasn't your fault."

He laughed bitterly. "Wasn't it?" He wrenched his arm free from Luna's grasp and walked over to the open window. He looked up into the darkening sky and squinted until he could make out Venus. What was usually brightest orb in the heavens seemed muted on this night, as if awash in the blood of their beautiful Princess. "I will make it up to her," he promised. "I swear it."

The door opened again and in rushed a footman frantically waving a small piece of paper in his hand.

"Lord Artemis!" he cried. In his panic, he did not even acknowledge Serenity.

Artemis didn't want to ask. He closed his eyes briefly and held his hand out. The footman, hands trembling, placed the paper onto Artemis's open palm. Artemis opened his eyes and looked at the boy. Sweat was dripping down his face and his eyes were full of fear. Artemis read the paper. He read it again. And a third time. He felt as though his stomach had fallen out of his body. His breathing became labored. After what seemed like ages, he closed his fist around the paper.

"Gods, what is it, Artemis?" said Serenity, searching his face for answers.

He couldn't meet her eye as he answered: "We're done for."

"Artemis, what is it!" said Luna, the panic rising in her voice.

Artemis spoke low: "Jupiter has fallen!"

Serenity looked as though she hadn't heard him. "What did you say, Artemis?"

"Jupiter has fallen," Artemis repeated. "A dark force has broken through their defenses. The Citadel Kingdom is no more."

Serenity blinked. "Princess Jupiter. Was she able to get out before the invasion?"

Artemis shook his head. "I don't know. We're still sorting through the messages. Majesty, we must ready an escape pod for you and the Princess."

Serenity clutched her heart. "Artemis, if it is true that Jupiter has fallen, where do you think we can go?" she said softly.

Artemis was trembling. "I—I—don't know, Majesty. But there is no hope for us here."

Serenity's face darkened. "Luna, find my daughter. Make sure she is safe. Artemis, radio Mars for help."

"And where are you going, Majesty?"

Serenity locked eyes with Artemis. "To the Imperial Chamber."

….

"The…the what?" Serena asked, blinking rapidly.

"A great reckoning," Jaedite repeated. "Your oppressive regime is coming to an end, Princess."

She instantly longed for the time when Jaedite refused to meet her eyes for now they burned through hers so intensely she had to look away. His grip around her arm tightened. "My Lord," she said softly. "That hurts."

Jaedite sneered. "You don't know what pain is. Not yet."

Serena tried to wrench her arm free, but Jaedite refused to let go. She looked around hoping to catch someone's eye for assistance, but the assembled party had gone eerily silent. Serena looked around frantically. That's when she noticed the woman who had entered the ballroom. Her skin was pale as snow and her eyes glowed red. Her lips were moving as though she were speaking but Serena could hear no sound. Everyone in the ballroom stared, utterly transfixed, at the woman. It was as if she were hypnotizing them with a silent incantation. Serena's heart began to slam against her chest as she realized she was the only one in the room who seemed to be impervious to the spell. Kunzite stood blocking the northeast exit and stared blankly at the woman. On either side of her blocking the southwest and southeast exits, Nephrite and Zoisite were enthralled.

"Let me go!" she shouted, twisting this way and that. But Jaedite's grip was firm. Serena kept struggling, but she was no match for his strength.

Another loud crash came from outside and the ballroom went dark.

A moment later, there was another crash, but this one seemed to stun the crowd awake. The front of the palace was instantly ripped away and Serena was hit with a gust of wind. Large pieces of stone from the crumbled southern wall of the palace flew into the room. Serena flinched, but she seemed to be encased in an invisible shield with Jaedite. The screams began in earnest as guests pushed and shoved and trampled one another to flee out of the front of the palace. Several were crushed by flying rocks. Serena looked to her left to find the young woman she had helped up before was now sprawled on the floor with a large gash in her forehead. A pool of blood crept away from her head. Serena couldn't look away. Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled through the melee. Jaedite was dragging her to the front. She looked for Kunzite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and the mysterious woman but they had disappeared.

….

The castle shook and Darien found himself sprawled in a heap on the floor with jagged pieces of rock tearing through the northern wall of the ballroom. One of the pieces was so large it tore a hole that Darien could crawl into. He made his way back into the ballroom and stared thunderstruck at the carnage that awaited him. Bodies everywhere, broken and bloody. He searched desperately for Serena.

"Darien!"

He looked up and saw Jaedite was pulling Serena out of the front of the ballroom. The southern wall had been ripped clear off the face of the palace. Darien darted and weaved to avoid the hurtling rocks and climbed his way over the dead and dying.

A hand reached out and grabbed a handful of Darien's cloak. "P—p-please help me," she begged. Darien looked down and immediately battled back a wave of nausea. A young courtier with half her face scraped off begged him to help her. Darien was torn.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered as he looked at her pleading eyes. "There's nothing I can do."

"Don't leave me, please!" she whimpered.

A scream coming from the front of the palace made up his mind for him. Darien flew toward Serena's cries. When he reached where the southern wall should have been, he was at the top of the palace steps.

"Welcome, Prince," said an eerily familiar voice. "You are just in time to bear witness to the end of the world."

…

When Serenity arrived at the Imperial Chamber, she was stunned to discover the door was ajar. She gently pushed the door open and gasped. The Crystal was spinning wildly in place and bursts of colored energy were shooting out of it and casting patterns across the wall. It was then that she noticed four peculiar sticks, each emblazoned with the symbol of another world and each laying on a corner of the pedestal. She did not have time to ponder them as several thundering crashes shook the foundation of the palace all around her. She reached out with both hands outstretched over the pedestal. As she got nearer, the Crystal began to slow down and instead of throwing out bursts of colored lights, each energy beam coalesced with the others until the Crystal was encased in a warm pink glow, the color of an Earth sunset. As her outstretched fingertips entered the hallowed space, the negative space around the Crystal began to take the shape of a golden scepter. At the top of the scepter grew a crescent moon which cradled the Crystal and waited for Serenity to claim it.

….

Darien's blood ran cold as he looked upon what his childhood friend had become. Gone were her innocent chestnut eyes which always had a gleam of sadness, but not a hint of malice, and in their place were two orbs of molten fury. Her once soft figure was now emaciated and gnarled and her twisted smile had not even the slightest resemblance to that of the girl he knew.

"Beryl," he said. "What have you done?"

She was standing suspended in the air at least twelve feet above Darien's head and about thirty feet away. "I have taken what is rightfully mine," she replied calmly in a terrifying double tone.

"Darien!" Serena called.

"Let her go, Jaedite!" Darien commanded. Obediently, Jaedite released Serena, who ran immediately to Darien. But he did not move to stand with his Prince. Instead, Jaedite ascended into the air and took his place next to Nephrite, who stood to Beryl's left. It was only then that Darien noticed his advisors were flanking Beryl on either side.

"Knights!" Darien exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"They have a new allegiance now, Prince," said Beryl.

"Who is she, Darien?" Serena whispered from behind his hulking frame.

"It's her," Darien replied, drawing his sword. "The girl from the woods." Serena trembled. "Beryl!" Darien screamed, his grip tight on Serena's wrist. "This is not you! Some evil has warped your mind against me!"

Beryl didn't respond. She outstretched her claw-like hands and then drew them together. When she pulled them apart, a black bolt of lightning charged between them from palm to palm.

Darien's eyes widened in terror. "Beryl! Your fight is with me! Leave her out of this!"

Beryl said nothing, but a wicked smile played at her lips as she raised the energy bolt above her head and took aim. As the bolt came hurtling toward him, Darien pushed Serena away from him and took the full force of deadly charge.

Serena collapsed with Darien to the ground. Blood seeped from a gaping hole in his chest, which rose and fell as he gasped for his last breaths.

"Serena," he managed to choke out, his voice gurgling the blood being expelled violently from his lungs.

"Darien, please," Serena whispered, clutching his hand tight as he lay sprawled across her lap. "Please don't leave me!"

Darien coughed and sputtered. Flecks of dark red blood stained Serena's engagement dress.

"I'm—I'm sorry," he began. He winced in pain and squeezed Serena's hand. "I couldn't protect you."

Serena shook her head. "Darien, don't. Don't go. We haven't had enough time together yet!"

"I'll—I'll find," Darien began. He was interrupted by coughing, more violent this time. "I'll find—find a way…back to you. I promise."

Darien's face sparkled as the tears that now covered his face glinted off the brilliant moonlight of the terrain reflected off the shields of the shadow warriors now descending fast from the sky all around them. But Serena couldn't see them. She was shaking all over. She leaned in and gently brushed her lips across Darien's forehead. Then she felt his body grow slack in her arms. His jacket opened and a single red rose slipped out of the pocket and fell soundlessly to the ground.

"No," she whispered. "No, no, no, please, no!" Serena saw the light of her world going out in his eyes.

Serena couldn't bring herself to look away from Darien. His face was ashen, his cheeks hollow. Tears freely poured down her face and she made no attempt to stop them.

"Afraid to face me, child?" Beryl taunted.

Serena stood, the hem of her gossamer gown brushing lightly against Darien's body. She stared bravely into Beryl's eyes and replied: "You can take our lives, Beryl, but you will never take our love."

"Your lives will do for now," Beryl sneered. She raised her hands to attack again.

….

Lita hastily landed her craft on the surface of the Moon and scrambled from the cockpit. Her boots thudded against the dirt and a lump welled in her throat. Gone was the beautiful Moon palace and in its stead were fiery embers smoldering with the cries of the dying piercing the night. She was too late.

She could hear the shadow armies marching closer.

In the distance, she could see the Moon Princess standing in front of the Earth Prince, who was crumpled on the ground. He didn't move. Lita feared the worst. Serena appeared to be attempting to reason with a wild-eyed woman in a purple cloak who walked on air like some kind of sorceress from children's tales. She must be the leader of the shadow army, Lita thought. Lita's heart began to race as she realized what she had to do. She started to run.

….

Suddenly, Serena found herself on the ground, awkwardly sprawled across Darien's lifeless body. She turned her head back and there, in her place, writhing in agony, was the child princess Jupiter, who had pushed Serena out of the way of Beryl's black energy bolt. Serena's eyes widened in horror as the bolt obliterated Lita's body sending pieces of her flying in all directions.

Serena trembled, but her eyes were dry. She stood up and lifted her head to meet Beryl's eye.

"Something happened to you," Serena whispered.

Beryl narrowed her eyes. "What!"

"It must have been terrible for you," said Serena. "He said you had a difficult life."

"He spoke of me?" she demanded. "To you?" Her rage was electric and the ground shook beneath Serena's feet. The shadow demons had now descended upon the palace. Serena took a few timid steps closer.

"I don't know what happened to you to make you welcome the evil that lives within you, but I am so incredibly sorry!"

"You dare pity me?" Beryl screeched, her fiery eyes burning with hatred. It was the final straw. She raised her arms and let out a powerful cry as she sent a blistering black bolt of energy straight for Serena. It pierced her body straight through her chest and sent her tumbling backward over Darien's body. She was gone.