Ties That Bind
Chapter 50
Missing
Author's Note: I would like to thank everyone that is following along with the story so far and I hope you are all enjoying the chapters. For anyone that is being effected by the Corona Virus I hope everyone stays well and safe. Thanks for following along with the story so far and as always I love to hear your feedback on the story so please send your thoughts and reviews. Thanks Mars Light
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will Thank you!
Darien stood there extremely quiet for a moment as he heard Ami fumbling around for an explanation as he demanded again "where is she?"
Ami took a step back hearing his anger rising up by the second and tried to explain again knowing with each word she spoke it would only make things worse while she told him "we are not sure my lord, the last anyone had seen of her was when she announced she was going out for a walk earlier today, but no one knows of her returning"
Darien looked to her his voice was cold and menacing as he laid down his order showing no dispute telling her "she is to be found now. Search ever room every wing. No one is to rest until she is found and what are you doing just standing there start looking now"
Ami nodded her head knowing she would not get him to listen in his current state as she told him reluctantly "we have searched everywhere my lord, she is nowhere within the grounds of the manor" as she turned around and looked towards the doors leading to the outside telling him quietly "we do not believe she has returned to the grounds since this earlier morning"
Darien turned around to look where her attention went towards as he heard the wind whistling from inside the manor and thought of Serena being out there alone in that storm as he heard Ami stating "we sent out others to search for her, but once the storm picked up it soon became too dangerous to have anyone outside searching for her"
Darien paid no attention to her comment and was not willing to hear any of her excuses then demanded loudly "why would they have stopped, they need to look harder"
Ami shook her head knowing of the severe weather conditions outside that were described to her with the men's return as being dangerous and horrific then shook her head telling him "no my lord, the storm has picked up far too much and it is too dangerous to go anywhere right now. You have said so yourself the roads are flooding and there are trees falling everywhere which make it all the more reason to stay indoors where it is safer"
Darien shook his head hearing her reasoning, which only made it that much more imperative for him to go out and find Serena, to keep her safe as he shook his head surprised at where his own thoughts went to and responded back telling her "no if she is out there somewhere, there will be no rest for anyone until she is found"
Ami stood there looking to him perplexed on what to do, knowing she couldn't defy a direct order, but that he was willing to put others at risk to go out there and find Serena in this storm as she lowered her head guiltily telling him "I can check the manor once more, if that is what you wish my lord"
Darien looked to her feeling more aggravated by the second, that this was still being argued, while time was only being wasted after he was assured that Serena was no longer within these walls as he screamed out "get a search party prepared, we leave at once"
Ami nodded her head respectfully knowing she had run out of options and she could no longer go against his wishes, but let out a deep sigh knowing by following his orders she was putting others at risk when she heard another voice from the top of the steps call out "I don't think that is the best idea"
Darien and Ami both turned around to see Andy come waking down the steps slowly towards them as he looked to Darien telling him calmly "the storm is really raging on, listen to Ami she speaks the truth. It would be best to wait for morning"
Darien held in his rage hearing all others who worked for him telling him what he can or cannot be doing in his home as he ordered out loudly "am I not the one in charge here who makes all the decisions"
Andy came down the rest of the steps and stood up in front of him shaking his head telling him firmly "only when you're actions are being reasonable"
Darien shook his head unsure how in the few short hours of his absence things went completely out of control here as Andy continued on explaining "you would be putting many others at risk, just to find one person. It is not safe out there just listen to the wind howling outside"
Darien stood there aggravated he did here the strong winds and somewhere Serena was outside in that storm, which only made his commitment to find her that much stronger and if he must go out to find her himself then so be it.
He grabbed his wet cape again to the shocked faces looking upon him and turned back to Andy telling him "very well, if you won't go with me then I'll find her on my own"
Andy quickly reached out and grabbed onto the cape from Darien's hand before he could put it on and looked to him sharply telling him concerned "you would have to be mad to journey out into this storm now"
Darien showed little concern to his protest with his mind made up and told him coldly "I am leaving to find her, the only thing I need to know from you is if you are coming with me or not"
Andy looked to him seeing the determined look in his eyes and nodded his head knowing that there would be no way of talking him out of this and reached up for his own cape telling him "if you insist on doing this then, yes I'm going too someone has to make sure you stay alive"
Darien nodded his head knowing he was taking a risk in doing so, but somehow he would find her this night and when he does he would make sure she would not be leaving the room for many night falls to come then told Andy "very well" as he placed his hand on the doorknob feeing the strong wind protesting against his exit and turned back to Ami stating "gather a small group of men and have them join us to search for her, we will be taking the path down through the woods"
Ami nodded her head knowing the path he spoke of would be dark and most likely flooded away adding additional challenges and hoped wherever Serena was that she had some where found shelter from this dangerous storm as she nodded her head telling him " I will do so right away my lord"
Darien turned around to look outside the door seeing the heavy down pour coming down making visibility less as they all stopped in place and heard a loud crash of thunder overhead and then a dangerous bolt of lightning light up the sky.
Ami and Andy shared a knowing look that this was not a good idea proceeding out in this storm, while Darien looked to them stating firmly "we leave now"
Andy took a deep breath knowing better then to take his chances venturing out into this weather, but would do as expected of him and nodded his head stating "after you"
Darien took hold of his hood and pulled it down further over his face and stepped outside immediately feeling a large gust of wind blowing him backwards as he held tighter onto the hood of his cape. The only thing a piece of material to protect him against this storm as he pushed forward into the rain while Andy looked back to see Ami's worried expression telling her "wish us luck"
Ami nodded her head while nervously ringing her hands together hoping for a safe return telling him "be well" and then stood there in the doorway for a moment longer waving goodbye, and saying a silent prayer for there return, while watching the two men rush out towards the barn in the heavy rains that awaited them.
Ami let out a breath she didn't know she had been still holding while watching the heavy down pour coming down and then closed the door behind her with a heavy sigh knowing she had to do the impossible and convince others to venture out into this storm also, when she heard Constance walking down the steps asking curiously "did I just hear Lord Montgomery's voice"
Ami turned around and looked at her with a scornful expression knowing how Constance felt about Serena and taking the time out earlier when she had first asked before the weather started to take a real turn for the worse and send even one person out looking out for friend which she received a solid no in reply.
She had tried numerous times throughout the day knowing her friend was out there, but always received the same answer in response from her that there were far more other important things to be seen to within the manor.
While she waited the storm outside grew steadily worse as she heard the winds picking up and the sky growing darker making it harder for anyone to pass through and finally gave up with asking Constance and went to find Andy
At Andy's quick insistence they sent a search part out for her, but by then it was too late to find anyone as the storm had gotten much worse and the guards returned reporting back that the visibility made finding anyone in this weather impossible.
Ami turned around to look at Constance showing her clear aggravation with her actions from earlier and nodded her head telling her "yes he was here"
Constance came the rest of the way down the steps, keeping her head up high in a commanding manor and looked to Ami seeing she was standing there alone and questioned back "was? Well where is he now"
Ami shook her head regretfully knowing if Constance had given the order and sent others out earlier to look for Serena as she had requested from her, then this might not be an issue now as she told her worried "he and Andy just left"
Constance looked to her doubtful at her words and with a shake of her head she questioned "left in this storm what would make him do such a thing"
Ami stood her ground knowing exactly what Lord Montgomery had on his mind when he left with Andy following behind and told her confidently "finding Serena"
Constance seemed taken back for a moment and then looked towards the door with a shake of her head and commented back coldly telling her "I knew that girl would bring nothing, but trouble"
Ami shook her head hearing Constance's cruel demeanor knowing she cared nothing of Serena's well- being and told her "I just hope that they find her safe"
Constance shook her head hearing Ami's comment once again on Serena's behalf, and partially hoped that they wouldn't find her that Serena would stay gone for good and told her back coldly "well if he does find her alive. I am sure she will be in for one good punishment for her actions today, do tell me the instant he returns" and then turned around and walked back up the stairs.
Ami stood there shaking her head watching Constance walk away as though she were the lady of the manor, knowing she was getting far too much pleasure from whatever punishment Serena would receive for her actions tonight. While knowing it was Constance that was the one to blame for driving her out into this storm to begin with.
Darien and Andy rode through the heavy winds around them while they pushed their horses harder to keep going as they heard a loud clap of thunder from above followed by a bolt of lightning that came to close and hit a tree nearby causing a limb to fall to the ground in front of them.
Both horses reared up underneath them protesting against going any further while Darien eased the horse back down and looked seeing the path they traveled was no longer passible and pointed off to the side yelling out "the path is blocked this way we will have to go around"
Andy got his horse back under his control again and rode up beside Darien as he looked around and could only see limited view in front of him with the rain coming down pelting him in the face, but saw the narrow path that Darien was pointing towards seeing it was already mostly drowned out and would most likely end up with them getting lost in the woods
He shook his head knowing it was suicide to still be out here in this weather and to take an additional risk on a lesser known path, then shouted out hoping Darien would actually listen to reason "I can't even see what is in front of me. Let's turn back we'll continue the search again at first light tomorrow I promise"
Darien shook his head not willing to listen to any talk of giving up or going back to the manor without her and told him firmly "if she is out here somewhere I will find her"
Andy looked to him while trying to stay the calm voice of reason asking "how do you even know she's still out here, maybe she went and found shelter somewhere else, somewhere safe when the storm picked up, which is exactly what we should be doing right now"
Darien simply shook his head visioning her out here somewhere freezing with the rain washing her further away form him and shook his head screaming out "no" as he blindly rode forward down the smaller narrower path while Andy argued from behind "Come on you're going to get yourself injured or both of us killed out here"
Darien slowed his pace down seeing the path he traveled was indeed riskier as Midnight pushed through the large mud holes and he could see the low falling branches around them, as they went further into the dark.
He thought about what Andy asked of him for a moment about coming back went it was more lighter outside and then shook the thought away from his head telling him "no I'm going to find her"
Andy let out a loud sneeze in response feeling every inch of him soaked though with water and wanted desperately to turn back around and return where it was warm and dry, but nodded his head telling him "lead the way"
They pressed the horses on down the flooded paths with neither of them saying a word, but both having the same thoughts in their minds. How could anyone survive for any long extended time in this storm? Could they find her at all and if they did what condition would she be in, if she were still alive at all as they continued moving forward seeing the bolts of lightning and heard the loud bolts of thunder echoing around them.
Darien stopped suddenly pulling on his horses reigns to a sudden jerk stop as Andy quickly rode up seeing why they stopped and found another tree that was knocked down by the storm blocking there path from travel as Darien looked around for a different path to follow while Andy yelled out to him frustrated "this is madness we shouldn't even be out here"
Darien let out a deep breath knowing he was right, but the further they went and there still remained no sign of her had his concern growing deeper and his will to find her expanding further as he shook his head telling him "we are getting closer I am sure of it"
Andy shook his head knowing he heard those words from him before, but still they traveled on and saw no sign of her as he pushed his horse further and witnessed in front of him a tree branch falling down from a high tree as he screamed out "watch out" watching the branch fall narrowly missing Darien's horse.
Andy took a deep breath relieved to see nothing happened, but knowing it came to close to going the other way by less than a foot and pulled on his horses reigns to come to a full stop and shouted out to Darien "we need to head back this storm is only getting worse"
Darien stopped Midnight with a sudden movement and looked down seeing the branch in front of them knowing how close it came to ending their search.
He took a deep breath hating the idea of leaving her out here alone, but it was dark and Andy was right the storm had gotten much worse and far more dangerous to travel as he nodded his head telling him solemnly "alright, but we will continue again at first light"
Andy nodded his head relieved that Darien had agreed with him and they would be heading back to the manor and out of this storm where it would be safer as he turned his horse around, but turned to see Darien didn't do the same. Instead he quickly dismounted his horse and ran forward to the side of what appeared to be a washed out road up ahead.
Andy let out a deep breath knowing they wouldn't be heading back to the manor as soon as he thought and quickly dismounted from his own horse to follow Darien seeing him standing there getting drowned in the rain asking him confused "what are you doing?"
Daren reached down where he stood and picked up a bouquet of brightly colored wild flowers that caught his attention in the dark as he turned around and told Andy confidently "she was here"
Andy shook his head knowing most likely he was right, but let his cold wet brain take over knowing they were far from the manor now and there was still no sign of her besides these flowers and told him back harshly "that doesn't mean anything, anyone could have picked these flowers the wind could have just blown them here for all we know"
Darien shook his head knowing the truth as he untied the ribbon at the bottom of the flowers and held it tight in his hand, remembering the same ribbon he used last evening to bind her hands together while he put his mouth down on her warm skin and told Andy back "it's hers"
Andy nodded his head knowing that their chances of going back now were growing slimmer as he looked around them seeing nothing, but heavy rain and trees branches blowing around like twigs asking him "ok so where is she?"
Darien looked around himself to see what Andy spoke of that there was no other trace of her around here as he called out loudly "Serena" but heard nothing in response.
Andy waited in the rain with him as he heard Darien yelling out for an answer that would not come and slowly walked over to where Darien had found the flowers lying and did some investigating of his own as he looked down on what would be another day a road before it had been completely flooded out.
He looked around and found a small trace of what appeared to be tracks of a carriage wheel coming off road then reached down and saw a small trace of something gold covered in mud.
He picked it up and brushed some of the mud away to discover what appeared to be a broken pin for a carriage wheel and knew it was a far off chance that Serena happened to come along at the same time as this carriage, but it was all they had to go on as he looked over to Darien yelling out to him "a carriage was here"
Darien stood up straight hearing what Andy wasn't saying that Serena may have gotten into a carriage with someone else and looked over to him expectantly for answers knowing Andy was the best tracker around asking him "can you tell which way they went"
Andy shook his head knowing it would be impossible to try to follow any tracks now that everything was washed away from the storm, while trying to clear the rain out of his own eyes he told him "it will be difficult the rain has flooded the road making it impossible to travel and the tracks are almost completely washed away"
Darien nodded his head hearing Andy's answer, but knew within him somehow this carriage had to do with her disappearance and felt his blood heating up inside as he told him back firmly "it doesn't matter, if someone thinks they can take what is mine they will surely pay"
Andy looked to him trying to find reason in this madness and shook his head stating the obvious "it could be just a coincidence"
Darien went back to his horse with his mind clearly made up and quickly mounted onto Midnight's back again as he took a deep breath not letting anything or anyone get in his way of finding her and told Andy back "this was obviously a road if we follow this down it may lead us to her"
Andy nodded his head and slowly walked back to his own horse knowing they were no longer headed to the manor that their journey had just extended as he mounted on top his own horse and took off after Darien while they tried to follow what was left of the flooded road.
They followed the road through the deep mud until they were past the borders of Montgomery lands, Andy looked around seeing the road completely was washed away and no longer possible to follow and the skies had only grown darker making it impossible to see.
Darien looked around seeing the same as Andy, but refused to give in to defeat as he pointed ahead into the darkness stating "I think we go this way" but in truth he had no idea which way was the right one.
Andy stopped his horse refusing to go any further and yelling out to him "enough, there is nowhere further to travel the road is gone. I say we find the first inn we come up to and we stop and get shelter for the evening"
Darien shook his head yelling back sternly "no" Andy looked to him growing more aggravated and impatient by the moment telling him "think about this, what you're doing, your life is more important. You can't risk your own health being out here looking for you're..."
Andy stopped speaking as Darien turned back to look at him sharply questioning "my what?"
Andy felt cold, tired, wet, and very aggravated knowing Darien would not listen to any of his warnings as he screamed back at him "your sex toy"
Darien turned his horse around and quickly rode up closer to Andy's horse as he grabbed the reigns of the other horse and told him seriously "do you really think I would be out here risking my own life to find her if all it was, was about the sex"
Andy sat there stunned for a moment hearing the truth in his words, but shook his head regretfully telling his friend "I'm sorry, but I just can't go on any further. Let's try to seek shelter for the night and start again in a few hours, maybe by then the storm will lessen and we will find her easier, but we won't be able to if we are sick or dead"
Darien looked towards Andy's tired and wet face knowing he wasn't going any further this night if he proceeded to do so he was going it alone, as he nodded his head conceding telling him "fine, we will find somewhere to stop, but only until the storm passes"
Andy felt a sense of relief knowing they would at least finder shelter somewhere, but the question still remained of where they were and how far they had traveled.
They rode for another mile through the wind, rain and muddy tracks until they came across a small inn that looked from the size of it could only hold two or three travelers at a time, but hoped they could at least get a warm meal and some place warm and dry for now
They quickly dismounted their horses and walked against the heavy winds, soaked from head to toe as they disregarded the pleasantries and walked inside the small inn.
An older woman quickly turned to see them walk inside wearing heavy wet cloaks and tracking mud inside on their boots as she walked over in a friendly manner telling them "please come in and warm yourselves by the fire gentlemen"
Darien and Andy both took off their soaking wet capes as the woman took them from them as Darien spoke telling her kindly "my apologies madam for our abrupt entrance my associate and I have been traveling a long way in this storm"
The woman obviously having no idea who they were only showed concern to their appearance telling them both kindly "of course gentleman it is terrible weather outside tonight, not safe for traveling. You are welcome to stay and I will go get some broth for you both, it will warm you right up
Andy looked to her appreciative saying "thank you" before Darien could object to the woman's gesture as he told Darien "come" as he walked over to the warm fire to dry off.
Darien looked around the small inn wanting to spend as little time here as possible here so they could continue their search for Serena, but heard his own stomach growling after skipping his last meal to travel home to Serena only to find her gone and then went to stand with Andy by the fire to try to warm himself up.
Andy looked over seeing by Darien's mannerisms he was very distracted thinking about all the possible dangers Serena could be in as he put a comforting hand to his shoulder telling him "we'll find her"
Darien nodded his head not wanting to voice his concerns aloud and said back simply "I hope your right"
Andy nodded his head knowing the longer she stayed missing the more difficult it would be to find her, but would not voice his concerns to Darien and be forced back into the raging storm again and told him back "we will"
The innkeeper walked over holding two large bowls of broth as she turned to them warmly stating "here you are gentlemen this ought to warm you both right up"
Andy took the extended bowls from her hands with a nod of his head saying "thank you"
The woman smiled back warmly in response as she told them "certainly, but I am afraid I am running out of guests rooms this evening, but I do have one room left. You and your companion can share for the evening"
Darien turned to look at her about to dispute that they wouldn't not be staying the night when Andy spoke up first telling her "that will be fine thank you"
The woman smiled warmly telling them "I will go get it prepared for you both" as she began to walk away from them.
Andy could see Darien's disgruntled face in disagreement of spending the night as he called out to the woman hoping to maybe get some luck on their side this night asking her "by any chance have you seen a young woman pass by today, average height, with long blonde hair, answers by the name of Serena"
The woman turned back and told him pleasantly "why yes actually I believe I have"
Darien looked up surprised at the knowledge that Serena had been here and quickly asked the woman demanding of answers "well where is she?"
Before the woman could answer him they heard another voice in response from the back corner of the room as they turned around to see a well-dressed gentlemen sitting in the back corner of the room asking suspiciously "what do you want with the girl?"
