Someone
tapping on her shoulder suddenly brought her back to the present. She was
vaguely aware that anyone had entered the place balcony.
"So,
did you tell him?" She turned to face a Minako, a somber look on her face.
"No
I didn't." She replied.
"Look,
I'm sorry, I didn't realize that he would be the king." She paused again.
"But you should tell him anyway."
"Look
Minako, he doesn't need me anymore, he's got his Princess." She replied.
"Besides, look at me, I'm nothing compared to her! I could never compete
for his love." She turned the ballroom to see him dancing with the
Princess yet again.
"Serena,
you look great
"Oh
really, well not compared to her I don't." She paused. "Let's compare
shall we, She's beautiful, I'm not, she's wealthy, I'm comfortable, and let's
not begin with her perfect body." Mina arched her brow to her friend.
"Serena,
you know that isn't true."
"Look
Mina, if you don't mind, I want to be alone for a while; why don't you go guard
her mighty highness like you're supposed to. Someone might wonder about your
whereabouts if you stay out here with me." She turned her back as Mina
walked back to the ballroom not saying a word.
She
looked upon the forms of Darien and Serenity dancing; he was seemingly smiling
about something, and it made her ache to know that his smile wasn't directed at
her.
He looks so happy. She couldn't take it anymore. She ran through the ballroom,
brushing right by Darien and Serenity, and went out the door.
I wonder where she went. He stood immobile, his eyes vacant, as he searched the room
for Serena. She disappeared into thin
air.
"Endymion."
Malachite called out to his friend as he walked over to him.
"What?"
"You
better ask Serenity to dance, she looks like she's getting bored…"
"Duty
calls." He replied blankly before leaving Malachite and walking over to
where Serenity stood amongst the other princesses. "Excuse me your
highness, may I have this dance." He bowed before her and let out his
hand, the other girls giggled.
"It
would be my pleasure." She replied, placing her hand in his own. When they
were out of earshot, Mina spoke up.
"You
guys I think I see Serena, I'm going to go talk to her OK?" She walked
away briskly, not even waiting for a response.
"I
think we're going to have an exciting time together Endymion." Serenity
said to him.
"Do
you?" His voice was empty, seeing Serena for the first time in three
months was taking its toll on him.
"Yes,
you intrigue me, you know that?"
"I
intrigue you?" He arched his brow, finally giving her his full attention.
"You
seem almost as if you hide something." She replied.
"You're
right when you say I hide something, because I have decided not to speak my
mind for fear of being just cut down for my opinion." He replied
sarcastically.
"You
are different, I give you that." She giggled. " You're not seriously
afraid of me, are you Endymion?"
"My
lady, not in the slightest. You couldn't harm a fly."
.
"Well,
Endymion, beware, cause my bark is worse than my bite."
"Yes,
those are mere words Serenity, but you are no surprise to me, in fact, nothing
surprises me." As soon as he had spoken the words, he remembered at time
when a certain someone had indefinitely surprised him.
"Hey,
give that back!" He exclaimed angrily as she waved his swimming trunks
over her head.
"Fight
me for it." She replied.
"Excuse
me, you must be joking."
"I
am so serious, fight me." She looked at him daringly, as if provoking him
in every way to do what she asked.
"Why
are you smiling?" He heard Serenity inquire.
"It's
no-nothing, I was just, I can't remember." He replied quickly.
"Must
not have been important." She replied. That's when he felt it. It passed
quickly and he wasn't sure what it was, all he knew was that he felt a warm
brush of wind pass by both him and Serenity and it felt familiar somehow.
"Did you feel that cold chill, what was that?"
She
brought her arms around her body as the cool breeze settled around her; she
never felt so alone. Her eyes became filled as they looked to the moon, she
wondered for the fifteenth time, would he ever find her? She was startled from
her revere when she heard soft footsteps behind her.
"Do
you not think it rude to leave your guests unattended? Why are you here?"
Serena murmured softly into the night.
"I
was worried about you." She turned around in shock as she joined her on
the stone bench next to her in the midst of the garden, if anything, she was
not whom she was expecting.
"Excuse
me your highness, I was not expecting you." Her voice assumed a respective
tone, as she turned to look at the moon once more.
"Who
were you expecting?" She inquired.
"No
one…" She nearly choked on the words, a bitter taste rising in her throat.
"Perhaps
If you speak of your problems-"
"It's
a little too late for that, if I may say so myself." She whispered as she
turned tearied eyes to her guardian. "You knew that this was happening all
along…didn't you?" She accused.
"Serena,
I had no knowledge." Her voice sounded so sincere, but Serena wasn't in
the mood for sincerity; she wanted the truth.
"Permission
to speak freely." She requested as she rocked back and forth, her arms
extended behind her and supporting the movement.
"Permission
granted." She sighed.
"I
do not believe what you say about not knowing! You've been watching me for
damned long; I know Minako and the others report to you about everything that I
do! I am from your home; I know of those computer screens that you use to watch
over the Earth Royalty and other dignitaries! I am not in the dark!" With
every word she trembled, her anger boiling. "Tell me your highness...you
see everything on your high technology systems do you not?" Her eyes
burned as she looked towards her. "Tell me...did you see us? Did the
scientists...did they see us? Did they enjoy watching me make a fool of myself?
Did you enjoy watching him screw m-"
"Watch
your language young lady!" She stated firmly, taking on a hard face.
"I may have given you permission to speak freely, but that does not mean
you can speak to me in anyway that pleases you. I am your Queen and you will
still treat me as such!"
"Certainly,
you highness." Her voice was bitter, as she looked back at her with
equally hard eyes. Silence loomed over them before the Queen finally relented.
"Perhaps,
I had some knowledge that you had felt this way, but by the time I had known,
it was too late." She watched as Serena stood up suddenly and began pacing
back and forth. "The council decided that it was time that we brought
Earth into the Millennium of Silver, you well know that my daughter's time to
reign as the Queen of the new Crystal Millennium comes soon...she must find a
suitor..." She trailed off.
"Fuck
the council and their stupid decisions. They are the ones who have ruined my
life!" Her voice became soft near the end of her speech as she bowed her
head into her hands, and began to sob. "Just tell me one thing...why
him?"
"He
is the Kind of Earth Serena, protocol requests that-"
"Well
fuck protocol!" She passed her fingers agitatedly through her long golden
strands; she didn't know how much more of this she could take.
"You have been on Earth too long, I can see that your language is beginning to be affected by it." Serena ignored her comment, and continued with her tangent.
"I
know there is another reason why he was chosen...please, tell me." She
wiped the falling tears from her eyes, before staring straight into the eyes of
the woman before her. It was silent for a moment before she spoke once more.
"The
council recognizes him as being the Senshi of Earth."
"A
man...the last guardian of the princess." She replied in sudden dawning.
"He
has powers that surpass that of a senshi, though we have not alarmed him of
this yet. " Serena sat quietly for a moment before she finally just broke
down; warm arms encircled her as she cried.
"It
isn't fair!" Serenity felt so bad for her charge, he wanted to help her
out, but there was only so much she could say.
"What
isn't fair child?" She asked as she cupped her chin in the palm of her hand and
brought puffy red eyes to face her own. "That you had one night of passion and
lost your chance to come home, and possibly your love? Or that you had one
night of passion and maybe love, and now the one you may love is in the arms of
another?"
"I
don't know…I just…I don't know." She held Serena tightly within her arms,
allowing her to release all pent up feelings. Serena pulled back somewhat after
sometime and looked up into her eyes, excepting of her fate, suddenly coming to
terms with it.
"I can not go back now, can I?" She looked down to the ground; she didn't need the Queen to answer for her to know the truth in her own words.
"No
child, you can not..." She brought her hand up to wipe the tears from
Serena's eyes before continuing. "I know what you are thinking, but you
can not request a petition now for extension...the council has come to the
conclusion that four years is enough for him to find you...and that perhaps it
wasn't what we had all thought."
"It
took us sixteen years to find each other the first time...what is four years in
comparison?" She looked away distantly, a vacuous look in her eyes.
"I
agree...but unfortunately, the council is firm about this one..."
"And
if he were to ever find me?"
"I'm
sorry...you still could not come back."
"I
traded my freedom for one night of passion, for something that may have
been...but I guess it does not matter does it?" She paused. "It is
not like I had family or friends to return to...so what if I never get to
return back to the moon...I have everything I need here...Justin...oh god, he
doesn't deserve me for a mother." She sobbed, turning back into the arms
of the Queen.
"No
Serena, you have been the best mother for him...and I can tell that he loves
you very much...my child, do not worry, I feel that in the end...that things
will come together." Serena looked up and was surprised to find tears
falling from the Queen's eyes.
"Why
do you cry?"
"Because...I
am worried about you." Serena knew that she was being sincere, but she
couldn't help but feel as if her sincerity was directed at something in
particular, and then she knew.
"You
know…you know about France…you know what I have not told them…" She withdrew
from her embrace, hugging her arms around her body as if to protect herself
from scrutiny. "Please, leave me." She
spoke softly.
Though
she would never tell her, Serenity knew much more about her charge than she
thought; something that she knew her charge didn't remember. Inwardly, she was
very grateful that Endymion had been there. She wanted to comfort further, but
knew that to be alone right now was what Serena needed; without further words,
she left Serena sitting alone, eyes staring up to the moon.
It
had been a week since Serenity and Darien had gotten together, and he felt the
woman was being as stubborn as a rock. He flirted with her, charmed her, and
yet she did not show any favor in any direction towards him. Frankly, he was
getting rather bored of the whole scenario. He began to wonder if she would ever
come around. Rumor had it that this woman had been through over hundred of
suitors.
He sighed with happiness as they had just finished a negotiation successfully, a piece of cake for him as he had done this before many a times. He was really looking forward to meeting that bed of his head on and not even Serenity's coldness was going to get to him.
The delegation meeting they had just completed was on one of the moons of Jupiter, so they had to stay in two separate suites at one of the Royal Inns. Afterward the meeting, he opted to escort her to her room, and then walked to his own, which was across the hall and a little down the way. When he reached his door, he called out to her.
"Good
night Serenity…see you in the morning."
"Endymion."
She called out sweetly.
"What?"
He was half in and half out of his door; he was not in the mood for orders.
"Could
you come here for a minute?" He walked sluggishly to her door.
What
the hell does this woman want now? When he reached her door he was surprised at
what she did next. She placed her hand on the back of his neck, pulled his face
to hers and kissed him hard, then she quickly released. "Surprised?"
"Ummm…well…"
"No?
Well how about now." She kissed him again and pulled him into the room.
"So
it was that great huh?" Malachite asked when Darien entered his and the
general's private lounge at the moon palace.
"Excuse
me?" He arched his brow as he retrieved a fresh loaf of warm bread from
the table and sat down, engulfing it nonchalantly.
"My
word can you pack it in!" Jedite scoffed as he glanced at the almost finished
loaf.
"What
are you talking about?" He picked a few fruit from the bowl in front of him and
began to pop them in his mouth, Jedite and Nephlite dropping their cards on the
table to stare at him as he continued.
"You've
been prancing around here all happy go lucky. I know something had to happen
Darien, I'm not stupid you know." Malachite smiled.
"And
by what can you make such an accusation?" He smirked.
"Well,
Endymion, judging by your rapid food intake, too put it lightly." Zoycite
analyzed with a wide grin as he placed his book down on the table. "Oh forget
the data, just admit it, you just had sex."
"All
right, all right." He submitted. "All that I will say is, I'm pretty
sure that Serenity had as good a time as Princess Minalle." He ended,
shooting accusing looks at Malachite. Zoycite, Nephlite, and Jedite all
chuckled as the tables suddenly turned on their accusing friend.
"You
don't miss a beat do you?" Malachite inquired.
"Nope."
He laughed wholeheartedly.
"So,
has she said the big words yet?" Jedite questioned as he continued the
game.
"No."
"I
see." Zoycite observed.
"I
don't get it, what's not to love?"
"How
bout the arrogant, egotistical, son of a bitch attitude?" Jedite stated.
"At
times like this…I just want to reach out and mutilate someone." He replied
pointedly to Jedite, causing him to laugh.
"Do
you love her?" Nephlite inquired.
"No,
but the deal was for her to love me, not the other way around."
"Well,
maybe she's just like you, but a little more ruthless." Jedite added
triumphantly as he threw a couple of gold coins in the center of the table.
"Scary
concept." Darien replied.
"Yes,
very scary." Malachite retorted.
Serena sighed as she sat a bench, staring into nothingness; she felt like her whole world had turned upside down. Her eyes focused on where her son sat in the sandbox with other kids, playing with toy cars, pails and small plastic shovels. She smiled. It made her happy to know that her son, at least, was sheltered from everything around him. She was surprised that he had never asked why he had no father, after all, all the other kids he played with probably told him that they had one. Or maybe it was because they spent to so much time moving from place to place that he wasn't able to come to terms with the fact that it was odd.
Moving from place to place. She hated it. She needed to break free from this kind of life; it wasn't good for Justin. He had been so loving through it all, but she knew better; he needed a father figure in his life. In just that week or so he had spent with Darien, she saw a new light in Justin's eyes that she had never seen before when it was just the two of them. The occasional 'when's Darien going to visit' questions didn't help the situation any better either. Every time he asked that it made her heart ache; she had opted to tell her son that Darien simply had a big job to do and although he really wanted to see him, he really didn't have time now. Of course, Justin would only badger her and ask her questions that all started with the word 'when'.
Sometimes she would sit there and watch Justin, surprised at the fact that he had picked up some of the bad habits Darien had that she had loved to hate. She couldn't believe his response when she had got him a present the other day from the toy store. She had assumed he hadn't seen it, but when he asked her what she got and she said it was nothing, he actually smirked! She couldn't believe it…and she was even sure that she had caught him rolling his eyes when playing with one of the kids at the playground the other day!
She
slumped back in the bench, stretching her arms with her head pointed to the
sky, before deciding that it was time to go home. She looked straightforward
and was caught slightly off guard when she noticed a man off in the distance
staring right at her. To be sure, she looked behind her to see if there could
be anything else he was looking at…nothing. She became slightly apprehensive
when he started walking towards her. Her eyes at once searched Justin out,
attempting to see how quickly she could pick him up and leave. Unfortunately,
he noticed her line of vision and followed it to her son.
She
watched unsure as a look of shock appeared on his face as he looked between her
and Justin several times before passing by him and coming closer. She let out
the breath she had been holding, happy that he at least was not out to hurt her
child.
He
stopped about five feet away from her and just starred at her with soft eyes,
his breath coming out in soft puffs; it was during this time that she finally
had the chance to take a look at him in full: black strands falling over his
brown eyes, as he continued to stand their immobile before speaking.
"Serena…I've finally found you."
He breathed; and then she fainted.