First it was all darkness, and Serena thought for a moment that she might get lost in it, but like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, she found the beginning of his mind, and tore her way out of the dark and toward that light. Once there she systematically broke through the shields and walls searching for the core. Then she took a breather. This is where it gets hard. She thought to herself while she regained her strength. Darien heard her.
Serena, what are you doing? He asked only then realizing what was going on. She tried to assure him with feelings of safety. What you asked me to do. Just be patient and let me do this. Stalling any further objections, she plunged into the core of his mind, and let the feelings, emotions, and memories wash over her. She kept moving until she felt a change in his perception. A change that meant she had reached her goal. A memory and a painful one at that. When he became a vampire.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Warm thoughts filled his mind as the sun came up warming his body. Having spent the night out under the stars, he awoke refreshed and ready to face the day. His hair on the other hand, was another matter. He dove into the biting cold stream and washed his entire body with a sweet smelling soap, then dried himself off. Sun warmed clothes waited by the streamside, and he donned them with relish. The birds, startled into flight, warned him of someone's approach, and he quickly hid himself behind a tree to wait. Soon a young woman appeared and he couldn't help but smile.
Her long sunlight hair waved behind her in the wind as she strode toward their meeting place by the river. The quick walk had painted a rosy stain on her cheeks. Her unearthly pale coloring made her seem like an angel, and in truth she was his angel. He snuck up behind her and, tapping her on the shoulder, made her squeak. She turned, her hair moving with her, and hit him playfully in the shoulder. He cowered away from her, and pretended to be hurt, then collapsed on the ground. She bet over him to see what was wrong, and as she did, he pulled her down, and kissed her deeply.
"Hey!" She exclaimed once she could. The fire in her eyes was kindled. "Oh Darien…." She stretched out on the ground next to him, and placed her head on his chest closing her eyes. The unexpected mildness startled him, and he wrapped his arms around her running fingers through her silky blond hair.
"What's wrong Serenity?" He used her formal name making her look up at him. Lines of worry ringed her eyes, and lack of sleep placed bags under then. Now he was really worried. "Serena, what is it?" She looked away.
"Something has been attacking people… something evil. Their bodies disappear a few days after they are buried, and the earth around their graves is usually disturbed. I can sense the evil, I feel it every night, but I don't know what to do, or what it is. Mother can't seem to do anything either. Our people….Our Queendom… I fear that all are done for. Darien, what are we going to do?" Tears filled her eyes, and sitting up, Darien wiped them away gently with his thumb.
"We'll think of something Serena. Why now? I wonder…" His thoughts were disturbing, and something was nagging at the back of his mind.
"You don't think that this is happening because of your visit do you?" Her thoughts echoed his. The idea wasn't a pleasant one. "But why not before? You have visited many times, and this hasn't happened then. I've never even heard of something like this, it is almost story book." She was close to panic so he stopped her talking with a finger.
"Theorizing about this isn't going to do us any good until we can find out what is going on. Try to get some sleep tonight and my generals will scout around…. Besides there is a party tonight. You can't think about this stuff during a party." He consoled her tracing a finger up and down her arm. Serena nodded dumbly but didn't move.
She did not want to leave him and go back to the palace where her friends and family acted as though nothing were wrong. Only her mother felt the presence, but she wouldn't say anything around Serena. No one would. She wasn't to be exposed to do anything except go to parties and frivolous activities. How was she supposed to learn how to be a Princess let alone Queen if she did not know what was out there? Darien was the only person who told her the truth, and did not try to protect her mind from it. For that she was grateful.
Standing up, he pulled her up with him, and together they began to head back to the palace. Once there they parted ways and Serena, finally comforted, went back to her quarters to sleep while Darien went off to find his generals. They were as worried as Serena, and with good cause. They each took a section of the city and planned to spend the next weeks, if it took that long, finding the source. Then, quite sure that the area was safe, he went to see to the final preparations for tonight's party.
Making sure that everything was set, he tried to make things perfect for Serena, his Serenity. The thought brought a small smile to his lips, and when one of the servants looked at him, his grin broadened. The servant, one of Serena's own, grinned back.
"We love her to you know." She told him happily. Together they finished the settings their mutual feelings making the evening bright. When all was done he left the room, and went to go awaken Serena. She was already awake, and sitting in her solarium looking forlorn. Darien could guess her reason, and quickly went to her a look of concern covering his face. She could feel him come up behind her, but she said nothing as she looked over the garden through her windows. Sighing she looked at her hands.
"It's still there, and it's getting angrier and stronger by the minute. I can feel its hatred in my very being, and it is so malicious that it almost seethes." She had to face him when he sat in front of her, and he could she that she hadn't been sleeping. Serena had strengthened the shields for the complex, and the palace itself. She had also placed a shield around Darien. Her mother had her own, as did her guardians.
"I don't think that we can defeat whatever it is with what we have Darien. It's too strong, and we don't have anything to compete with that sort of force. I don't know what we can do Darien, I'm scared." Her cerulean eyes shimmered with something she couldn't really express yet they both felt it. Darien gathered her up into his arms.
"We'll do what we have to Serena when the time comes. For now let my Generals handle it, and we'll see what happens then. Please have fun at the party, for me?" He knew she would try if he asked her to, and he was rewarded with a smile.
"Alright Darien. I don't think my guardians would be too happy if I ruined the evening for them. I wouldn't want to do that." She reasoned with herself trying to shove the feeling of evil down so that she could no longer feel it in the back of her throat. A servant came in just then to get Serena and help her with her gown. Darien let her go, and when she left, he himself looked out the windows over the gardens. She was right. He could feel the same dark energy at the back of this throat that seemed to taint his very being and he could feel the anger and menace behind it.
Someone or something was mad at the royal line, and even the people of the Queendom in general. That someone might possibly have a valid reason for being so upset, but until they found the source no one would know who it was, or why they were doing this. Darien shook his head as though to free his head from such dismal thoughts, but the thoughts remained and as Serena had done, he pushed them to the back of his mind as he went to go prepare himself for the party.
One of the generals passed him on his way to his room looking trim and sharp. Darien grinned knowingly at Jed and hurried on to his room. A servant had laid out his formal tuxedo along with his staff. He hadn't thought about it, but just having the weapon his father had left him made things seem just a bit better. If worse came to worse he could always reactivate the power stored inside even at the consequence he knew he would have face.
Well I'll face that if it happens. First things first, and Serena is what I have to think about now. He made himself focus on the task and that was her. Once his tuxedo was on to his satisfaction he left the room staff in hand and walked to the already filling ballroom. Carefully testing the atmosphere he sensed the tense atmosphere and general anxiety of the people there. He circulated the room giving a kind word here and putting and end to a couple rumors that would do Serena no good. He was careful to broadcast telepathically a general feeling of well-being and relief and after a few minutes there was a noticeable difference. Satisfied he nodded to one of the attendants who went to get the Princess and Queen and the guardians of both himself and Serena. He left the room as unnoticeable has he had entered and went to meet his love.
Serena walked into the room just as he did and they met in the middle exchanging a chaste kiss. She wore a beautiful white silk gown hemmed with the pink she despised but she was beautiful just the same. Her hair was up in her characteristic buns golden hair just trailing the floor. He smiled down at her with an awe he always felt when she was near. Both Serena's and his guardians soon came in and the couples joined hands as their leaders had. They all looked happy and cheerful but being a telepaths both Serena and he a could feel the undercurrent of tension. She joined him in trying to calm them down and made a marginal success. Then the Queen herself came in.
She wore the same hairstyle as her daughter Serenity although her hair was a pale silver. Her dress was also white silk minus the pink or any color for that matter. Her light blue almost silver eyes shown with more than excitement and again both Serena and he could sense the worry. It seemed that whoever this menace was had more of an effect on them than they knew. One of the Queen's attendants held out a black velvet box to the Queen who took it and motioned for both Serena and Darien to approach.
Princess Serenity, Prince Endymon I now give you the sum of my Queendom and all I have held and half of what you two will hold once I'm gone. Inside this box is both my gift and that of all the Queens before me. Take it with care and love for it may one day serve you as it has in the past although I hope the day when such a device is needed will never come." She opened the box. Inside lay the most perfect crystal either of them had ever seen. Gingerly Serena picked it up out of the box and cradled it in her hand. The gem warmed and pulsed with a soft light and Serena could feel its strength in her very bones. The gem had its own wants and needs. It wanted goodness to reign and it needed a wielder. Through her Darien felt this and gently he placed a hand over hers covering the gem and between them they let the power recognize them as it's future keepers.
"As in the past I have had made a pendent in which the Silver Crystal can be held without fear of it being lost or broken." The Queen's attendant produced another velvet box and out of this one came a gold locket type pendant. Inside was a hole just large enough for the crystal. Serena set it inside and the crystal molded the metal around it. Then the chain was placed over Serena's head and the locket fell just above her breast.
"It's perfect." She whispered. Darien draped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. She fit perfectly against him and they stood together while the Queen went on. She had turned to the guardians and yet again her attendant was pulling out more velvet boxes. Each one was in the respective color and design of their recipients homes.
"Your parents would have been here to give these to you if they could, but I am glad I have the opportunity. Ami and Greg step forward." Serena's blue haired, blue eyed, blue everything friend stepped forward with her fiancé. Greg had tousled brown hair and brown eyes. The Queen handed them pendants with stones similar to Serena's but also their respective colors. Ami and Greg placed them over each other's heads then stepped back.
"Mina and Malachite." Mina was almost as tall as her fiancé with waist length blond hair and blue eyes matching Serena's own. Malachite had white hair as long as hers although there was no mistaking him for a girl. They accepted their pendants and as Ami and Greg had done, placed them around each other's necks.
"Lita and Ken." Somehow Lita had managed to get her mass of brown hair back into a presentable hairstyle although her eyes flashed defiance at the dress. Steady Ken stood beside her the exact opposite of her usually violent nature. They received their pendants and went back to the others.
"Ray and Chad." Then there was the fiery natured Ray with her jet-black hair and dark eyes. Chad stood besides her looking almost scared of her as they received their pendants. They went back to the others and stood before the Queen waiting.
"You now have the power of your homes and families to support you and those gifts are great indeed. When you need to know how to use them you will. Take care of them with your lives and cherish them as you would each other." She said formally then she went into the ballroom. Darien looked over the solemn couples and knew they would do as the Queen had told them. One by one they filed out of the room and went to join the ball.
After much dancing and lots of fun the party wound down past midnight and the male guardians including Darien left to begin their search of the city. Serena was apprehensive as were her friends, but they all knew it had to be done. Darien his guardians changed quickly then headed out. They each took a segment of the city and street-by-street tried to sense out the evil. Darien could faintly feel it as he got to the edge of the city so he went further without reporting in. He knew he should have but if this was his chance to get rid of the evil once and for all he wouldn't give up the chance. He was on the edge of a dark side alley when a blow caught him from behind.
"Wahh…" He couldn't talk. His tongue seemed glued to the roof of his mouth and he was hungry… so hungry. Faint daylight shown in through cracks in the wall. It was almost night. Time for dinner. Dinner! The thought made his mouth water and he ran his dry tongue over dry and cracked lips. Something did not seem quite right with his mouth, but now wasn't the time to think about it. Dinner! That was all he could think about although in the back of his mind he knew he shouldn't be like this but the hunger blocked off any rational thought. Food! He smelled it somewhere close. His temples pounded with the need to eat and suddenly that pounding took on a rhythm. It was scattered and erratic but it was there just the same. That was the food. That…that pulse. Yes that was the word. Pulse. He smelled something else besides food. It was distinctly acidic almost nauseating. Fear. The hunger pushed that thought away too.
The door to his cell opened and something was pushed through. FOOD! The smell of fear worsened but the hunger was too much for him and with the object of his craving before him he could no more control it than he could stop the world from turning. He grabbed it… her… and pushing a strand of hair out of the way he finally assuaged his hunger and the sweet taste of blood filled his mouth. The pleasure of it filled his mind.
Later he woke up with one of the worst headaches he had the misfortune to remember having. His back was stiff from sleeping on the stone floor of the cell. What am I doing in a cell? He stood up groaning and went to the door. It was locked and the small window not large enough for him to get his arm though. He turned to examine his cell and that was when he noticed the sunlight gleaming on something a nice golden color. It was a body and the gold it's hair. Large masses of it covered the body and an odd pain pulled at his heart. No! Goddess please no. The body looked familiar and throwing himself to his knees he gently pulled it into his lap.
"Serenity… Serena… no…" He cried out in anguish as he looked down at his beloved's limp body in his arms. Serena's neck had two puncture wounds of the artery and a large bruise surrounding the area. Her skin had a white almost ghostly quality from the lack of blood. Tears streamed down the princes face as he leaned over his Serenity. Like white lightning the memory of the night before flashed through his mind along with a blinding pain. I did this to her… I killed my Serenity. I killed her. What kind of monster am I? The thought ran through his head over and over like a child's rhyme one can't get out of their head. He looked as his hands knowing that they had taken his darlings life… no he had done it.
"What kind of monster am I." With a strength he hadn't previously had he ripped the door off its hinges and stormed out into the hall. It was empty of life and blindly he fought his way to open air. He could barely breathe let alone think. With nothing but sorrow and hatred at himself in his heart he threw himself into the sunlight and out into the world.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
With a fierce yank, Darien pulled his mind from Serena's grasp. They were both left gasping and Serena felt slightly sick. Their kiss had broken long ago and if it hadn't it would have now. Darien threw himself from her with such violence he could have hurt himself and her. They were both shaking. Serena from exertion, Darien with repulsion. Serena's eyes held no fear and no accusations only the truth. Darien both feared and hated himself for what he had done so long ago to the woman he loved. His dark blue eyes were filled with an emotion Serena wished he didn't feel. Self-loathing.
After they had caught their breath Serena tried to talk but Darien stopped her.
"Now you know the horror of what I did. I murdered you Serena in cold blood. I made you the vampire you are now and the vampire you hate being. Oh God…" He cried out in mental anguish. He had never entirely faced himself with what he had done to her. Now that he had relived the experience it made it all the more worse.
"No. Darien you didn't." She spoke softly not to startle him. At the sound of her voice he jumped. "Darien listen to me! Whoever it was that made you into a vampire wanted you to kill me so that they could do away with me and never get caught. They knew you weren't about go turn yourself in when you couldn't even face yourself in the mirror. All it was is a carefully place and enacted scheme."
"They didn't realize that you hadn't killed me, but turned me. When I woke up the next day I was alone, the building empty. Only the fact that I had been royalty and the magic in my blood kept me from being a normal vampire. When I came out the first thing I heard was that I was dead as well as the rest of the royal family. I snuck unto the palace to see for myself but the bodies were gone. I was so lost in despair that instead of going and finding a safe place to hide that I did what you did and ran. I forgot all that had happened and lived off the streets for I don't know how long." He listened to her with horror in his eyes.
"But I killed you Serena. I took away the life you should have had, the life you deserved and loved. All the rest of them were lost for ages because of what I did. I murdered you." He said it, and he believed it. Serena could barely see him in the dark but his eyes glowed with a faint luminescence. She could feel his emotions as though they were her own and she knew she had to stop him from thinking like this.
"No you didn't. They did. They locked you up until you were so hungry that you could no longer control your emotions or anything else. You did NOT kill me Darien. You love me." That was the basis of this argument. Both of them stopped cold.
"Yes Serena. I do." Then he was gone. Serena hadn't caught the movement or seen him leave but she was sure he was gone and she was more alone that she had been for a very long time.
Serena, what are you doing? He asked only then realizing what was going on. She tried to assure him with feelings of safety. What you asked me to do. Just be patient and let me do this. Stalling any further objections, she plunged into the core of his mind, and let the feelings, emotions, and memories wash over her. She kept moving until she felt a change in his perception. A change that meant she had reached her goal. A memory and a painful one at that. When he became a vampire.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Warm thoughts filled his mind as the sun came up warming his body. Having spent the night out under the stars, he awoke refreshed and ready to face the day. His hair on the other hand, was another matter. He dove into the biting cold stream and washed his entire body with a sweet smelling soap, then dried himself off. Sun warmed clothes waited by the streamside, and he donned them with relish. The birds, startled into flight, warned him of someone's approach, and he quickly hid himself behind a tree to wait. Soon a young woman appeared and he couldn't help but smile.
Her long sunlight hair waved behind her in the wind as she strode toward their meeting place by the river. The quick walk had painted a rosy stain on her cheeks. Her unearthly pale coloring made her seem like an angel, and in truth she was his angel. He snuck up behind her and, tapping her on the shoulder, made her squeak. She turned, her hair moving with her, and hit him playfully in the shoulder. He cowered away from her, and pretended to be hurt, then collapsed on the ground. She bet over him to see what was wrong, and as she did, he pulled her down, and kissed her deeply.
"Hey!" She exclaimed once she could. The fire in her eyes was kindled. "Oh Darien…." She stretched out on the ground next to him, and placed her head on his chest closing her eyes. The unexpected mildness startled him, and he wrapped his arms around her running fingers through her silky blond hair.
"What's wrong Serenity?" He used her formal name making her look up at him. Lines of worry ringed her eyes, and lack of sleep placed bags under then. Now he was really worried. "Serena, what is it?" She looked away.
"Something has been attacking people… something evil. Their bodies disappear a few days after they are buried, and the earth around their graves is usually disturbed. I can sense the evil, I feel it every night, but I don't know what to do, or what it is. Mother can't seem to do anything either. Our people….Our Queendom… I fear that all are done for. Darien, what are we going to do?" Tears filled her eyes, and sitting up, Darien wiped them away gently with his thumb.
"We'll think of something Serena. Why now? I wonder…" His thoughts were disturbing, and something was nagging at the back of his mind.
"You don't think that this is happening because of your visit do you?" Her thoughts echoed his. The idea wasn't a pleasant one. "But why not before? You have visited many times, and this hasn't happened then. I've never even heard of something like this, it is almost story book." She was close to panic so he stopped her talking with a finger.
"Theorizing about this isn't going to do us any good until we can find out what is going on. Try to get some sleep tonight and my generals will scout around…. Besides there is a party tonight. You can't think about this stuff during a party." He consoled her tracing a finger up and down her arm. Serena nodded dumbly but didn't move.
She did not want to leave him and go back to the palace where her friends and family acted as though nothing were wrong. Only her mother felt the presence, but she wouldn't say anything around Serena. No one would. She wasn't to be exposed to do anything except go to parties and frivolous activities. How was she supposed to learn how to be a Princess let alone Queen if she did not know what was out there? Darien was the only person who told her the truth, and did not try to protect her mind from it. For that she was grateful.
Standing up, he pulled her up with him, and together they began to head back to the palace. Once there they parted ways and Serena, finally comforted, went back to her quarters to sleep while Darien went off to find his generals. They were as worried as Serena, and with good cause. They each took a section of the city and planned to spend the next weeks, if it took that long, finding the source. Then, quite sure that the area was safe, he went to see to the final preparations for tonight's party.
Making sure that everything was set, he tried to make things perfect for Serena, his Serenity. The thought brought a small smile to his lips, and when one of the servants looked at him, his grin broadened. The servant, one of Serena's own, grinned back.
"We love her to you know." She told him happily. Together they finished the settings their mutual feelings making the evening bright. When all was done he left the room, and went to go awaken Serena. She was already awake, and sitting in her solarium looking forlorn. Darien could guess her reason, and quickly went to her a look of concern covering his face. She could feel him come up behind her, but she said nothing as she looked over the garden through her windows. Sighing she looked at her hands.
"It's still there, and it's getting angrier and stronger by the minute. I can feel its hatred in my very being, and it is so malicious that it almost seethes." She had to face him when he sat in front of her, and he could she that she hadn't been sleeping. Serena had strengthened the shields for the complex, and the palace itself. She had also placed a shield around Darien. Her mother had her own, as did her guardians.
"I don't think that we can defeat whatever it is with what we have Darien. It's too strong, and we don't have anything to compete with that sort of force. I don't know what we can do Darien, I'm scared." Her cerulean eyes shimmered with something she couldn't really express yet they both felt it. Darien gathered her up into his arms.
"We'll do what we have to Serena when the time comes. For now let my Generals handle it, and we'll see what happens then. Please have fun at the party, for me?" He knew she would try if he asked her to, and he was rewarded with a smile.
"Alright Darien. I don't think my guardians would be too happy if I ruined the evening for them. I wouldn't want to do that." She reasoned with herself trying to shove the feeling of evil down so that she could no longer feel it in the back of her throat. A servant came in just then to get Serena and help her with her gown. Darien let her go, and when she left, he himself looked out the windows over the gardens. She was right. He could feel the same dark energy at the back of this throat that seemed to taint his very being and he could feel the anger and menace behind it.
Someone or something was mad at the royal line, and even the people of the Queendom in general. That someone might possibly have a valid reason for being so upset, but until they found the source no one would know who it was, or why they were doing this. Darien shook his head as though to free his head from such dismal thoughts, but the thoughts remained and as Serena had done, he pushed them to the back of his mind as he went to go prepare himself for the party.
One of the generals passed him on his way to his room looking trim and sharp. Darien grinned knowingly at Jed and hurried on to his room. A servant had laid out his formal tuxedo along with his staff. He hadn't thought about it, but just having the weapon his father had left him made things seem just a bit better. If worse came to worse he could always reactivate the power stored inside even at the consequence he knew he would have face.
Well I'll face that if it happens. First things first, and Serena is what I have to think about now. He made himself focus on the task and that was her. Once his tuxedo was on to his satisfaction he left the room staff in hand and walked to the already filling ballroom. Carefully testing the atmosphere he sensed the tense atmosphere and general anxiety of the people there. He circulated the room giving a kind word here and putting and end to a couple rumors that would do Serena no good. He was careful to broadcast telepathically a general feeling of well-being and relief and after a few minutes there was a noticeable difference. Satisfied he nodded to one of the attendants who went to get the Princess and Queen and the guardians of both himself and Serena. He left the room as unnoticeable has he had entered and went to meet his love.
Serena walked into the room just as he did and they met in the middle exchanging a chaste kiss. She wore a beautiful white silk gown hemmed with the pink she despised but she was beautiful just the same. Her hair was up in her characteristic buns golden hair just trailing the floor. He smiled down at her with an awe he always felt when she was near. Both Serena's and his guardians soon came in and the couples joined hands as their leaders had. They all looked happy and cheerful but being a telepaths both Serena and he a could feel the undercurrent of tension. She joined him in trying to calm them down and made a marginal success. Then the Queen herself came in.
She wore the same hairstyle as her daughter Serenity although her hair was a pale silver. Her dress was also white silk minus the pink or any color for that matter. Her light blue almost silver eyes shown with more than excitement and again both Serena and he could sense the worry. It seemed that whoever this menace was had more of an effect on them than they knew. One of the Queen's attendants held out a black velvet box to the Queen who took it and motioned for both Serena and Darien to approach.
Princess Serenity, Prince Endymon I now give you the sum of my Queendom and all I have held and half of what you two will hold once I'm gone. Inside this box is both my gift and that of all the Queens before me. Take it with care and love for it may one day serve you as it has in the past although I hope the day when such a device is needed will never come." She opened the box. Inside lay the most perfect crystal either of them had ever seen. Gingerly Serena picked it up out of the box and cradled it in her hand. The gem warmed and pulsed with a soft light and Serena could feel its strength in her very bones. The gem had its own wants and needs. It wanted goodness to reign and it needed a wielder. Through her Darien felt this and gently he placed a hand over hers covering the gem and between them they let the power recognize them as it's future keepers.
"As in the past I have had made a pendent in which the Silver Crystal can be held without fear of it being lost or broken." The Queen's attendant produced another velvet box and out of this one came a gold locket type pendant. Inside was a hole just large enough for the crystal. Serena set it inside and the crystal molded the metal around it. Then the chain was placed over Serena's head and the locket fell just above her breast.
"It's perfect." She whispered. Darien draped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. She fit perfectly against him and they stood together while the Queen went on. She had turned to the guardians and yet again her attendant was pulling out more velvet boxes. Each one was in the respective color and design of their recipients homes.
"Your parents would have been here to give these to you if they could, but I am glad I have the opportunity. Ami and Greg step forward." Serena's blue haired, blue eyed, blue everything friend stepped forward with her fiancé. Greg had tousled brown hair and brown eyes. The Queen handed them pendants with stones similar to Serena's but also their respective colors. Ami and Greg placed them over each other's heads then stepped back.
"Mina and Malachite." Mina was almost as tall as her fiancé with waist length blond hair and blue eyes matching Serena's own. Malachite had white hair as long as hers although there was no mistaking him for a girl. They accepted their pendants and as Ami and Greg had done, placed them around each other's necks.
"Lita and Ken." Somehow Lita had managed to get her mass of brown hair back into a presentable hairstyle although her eyes flashed defiance at the dress. Steady Ken stood beside her the exact opposite of her usually violent nature. They received their pendants and went back to the others.
"Ray and Chad." Then there was the fiery natured Ray with her jet-black hair and dark eyes. Chad stood besides her looking almost scared of her as they received their pendants. They went back to the others and stood before the Queen waiting.
"You now have the power of your homes and families to support you and those gifts are great indeed. When you need to know how to use them you will. Take care of them with your lives and cherish them as you would each other." She said formally then she went into the ballroom. Darien looked over the solemn couples and knew they would do as the Queen had told them. One by one they filed out of the room and went to join the ball.
After much dancing and lots of fun the party wound down past midnight and the male guardians including Darien left to begin their search of the city. Serena was apprehensive as were her friends, but they all knew it had to be done. Darien his guardians changed quickly then headed out. They each took a segment of the city and street-by-street tried to sense out the evil. Darien could faintly feel it as he got to the edge of the city so he went further without reporting in. He knew he should have but if this was his chance to get rid of the evil once and for all he wouldn't give up the chance. He was on the edge of a dark side alley when a blow caught him from behind.
"Wahh…" He couldn't talk. His tongue seemed glued to the roof of his mouth and he was hungry… so hungry. Faint daylight shown in through cracks in the wall. It was almost night. Time for dinner. Dinner! The thought made his mouth water and he ran his dry tongue over dry and cracked lips. Something did not seem quite right with his mouth, but now wasn't the time to think about it. Dinner! That was all he could think about although in the back of his mind he knew he shouldn't be like this but the hunger blocked off any rational thought. Food! He smelled it somewhere close. His temples pounded with the need to eat and suddenly that pounding took on a rhythm. It was scattered and erratic but it was there just the same. That was the food. That…that pulse. Yes that was the word. Pulse. He smelled something else besides food. It was distinctly acidic almost nauseating. Fear. The hunger pushed that thought away too.
The door to his cell opened and something was pushed through. FOOD! The smell of fear worsened but the hunger was too much for him and with the object of his craving before him he could no more control it than he could stop the world from turning. He grabbed it… her… and pushing a strand of hair out of the way he finally assuaged his hunger and the sweet taste of blood filled his mouth. The pleasure of it filled his mind.
Later he woke up with one of the worst headaches he had the misfortune to remember having. His back was stiff from sleeping on the stone floor of the cell. What am I doing in a cell? He stood up groaning and went to the door. It was locked and the small window not large enough for him to get his arm though. He turned to examine his cell and that was when he noticed the sunlight gleaming on something a nice golden color. It was a body and the gold it's hair. Large masses of it covered the body and an odd pain pulled at his heart. No! Goddess please no. The body looked familiar and throwing himself to his knees he gently pulled it into his lap.
"Serenity… Serena… no…" He cried out in anguish as he looked down at his beloved's limp body in his arms. Serena's neck had two puncture wounds of the artery and a large bruise surrounding the area. Her skin had a white almost ghostly quality from the lack of blood. Tears streamed down the princes face as he leaned over his Serenity. Like white lightning the memory of the night before flashed through his mind along with a blinding pain. I did this to her… I killed my Serenity. I killed her. What kind of monster am I? The thought ran through his head over and over like a child's rhyme one can't get out of their head. He looked as his hands knowing that they had taken his darlings life… no he had done it.
"What kind of monster am I." With a strength he hadn't previously had he ripped the door off its hinges and stormed out into the hall. It was empty of life and blindly he fought his way to open air. He could barely breathe let alone think. With nothing but sorrow and hatred at himself in his heart he threw himself into the sunlight and out into the world.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
With a fierce yank, Darien pulled his mind from Serena's grasp. They were both left gasping and Serena felt slightly sick. Their kiss had broken long ago and if it hadn't it would have now. Darien threw himself from her with such violence he could have hurt himself and her. They were both shaking. Serena from exertion, Darien with repulsion. Serena's eyes held no fear and no accusations only the truth. Darien both feared and hated himself for what he had done so long ago to the woman he loved. His dark blue eyes were filled with an emotion Serena wished he didn't feel. Self-loathing.
After they had caught their breath Serena tried to talk but Darien stopped her.
"Now you know the horror of what I did. I murdered you Serena in cold blood. I made you the vampire you are now and the vampire you hate being. Oh God…" He cried out in mental anguish. He had never entirely faced himself with what he had done to her. Now that he had relived the experience it made it all the more worse.
"No. Darien you didn't." She spoke softly not to startle him. At the sound of her voice he jumped. "Darien listen to me! Whoever it was that made you into a vampire wanted you to kill me so that they could do away with me and never get caught. They knew you weren't about go turn yourself in when you couldn't even face yourself in the mirror. All it was is a carefully place and enacted scheme."
"They didn't realize that you hadn't killed me, but turned me. When I woke up the next day I was alone, the building empty. Only the fact that I had been royalty and the magic in my blood kept me from being a normal vampire. When I came out the first thing I heard was that I was dead as well as the rest of the royal family. I snuck unto the palace to see for myself but the bodies were gone. I was so lost in despair that instead of going and finding a safe place to hide that I did what you did and ran. I forgot all that had happened and lived off the streets for I don't know how long." He listened to her with horror in his eyes.
"But I killed you Serena. I took away the life you should have had, the life you deserved and loved. All the rest of them were lost for ages because of what I did. I murdered you." He said it, and he believed it. Serena could barely see him in the dark but his eyes glowed with a faint luminescence. She could feel his emotions as though they were her own and she knew she had to stop him from thinking like this.
"No you didn't. They did. They locked you up until you were so hungry that you could no longer control your emotions or anything else. You did NOT kill me Darien. You love me." That was the basis of this argument. Both of them stopped cold.
"Yes Serena. I do." Then he was gone. Serena hadn't caught the movement or seen him leave but she was sure he was gone and she was more alone that she had been for a very long time.