Author's Notes: Here's chapter seven. Thanks to all the readers.
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When Midnight Comes - Chapter 7 By: Hell's Huntress (R)
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" Get your bloody hands of me, " Serena hissed once they had arrived at Darien's castle.
" Is this the way to speak to your husband, " he teased.
" Husband?! I'm not even married to you! "
" Yet, " he stated flattly while pulling her into his room. " Now I can see why your parents think that you won't end up marrying anyone. You spit fire. "
At that, Serena did spit at him.....except that it wasn't fire. Darien stopped and frowned at her for a long moment while wiping her spit off his cheek. " Let me correct that.....you just spit. Hasn't your mother taught you any manners? I can have you hanged for this and you can forget about me saving you. "
" I don't care if you hang me. I'll be saved anyway because I'll be dead. I won't have to marry Robert or pretend to marry you. "
Darien frowned at her. " Yes, and thank god I'm only pretending to marry you. Now we can actually agree on something. "
Serena turned away and looked out one of his room's windows. Her eyes had a lost look in them for a moment that even Darien noticed.
" Look.....I didn't mean that. I was just - "
" I don't care if you meant it or not. It's about time we had some kind of similar opinion anyway, " she bit back not wanting to hear his apology.
" Alright then. Hopefully you'll agree with me on this one too, " he commented while tossing an extra pillow. " You'll sleep on the right side of the bed. I'll take the left. "
" I'm not sleeping beside you! "
" That's why I gave you that pillow to block us. Happy now? " There was a tone of impatience in his voice.
Serena only remained silent before crawling over to her side of the bed. With the pillow placed between them, she settled down and turned to her right so that her back was facing him.
Darien looked at her with a hopeless expression on his face before lying back down on his own side of the bed. It was big enough for them to fit five people in it, but both of them stayed on the far corner of their sides. Serena's hand could fall over the edge, while Darien's was already off. Flashing her another look, he absently watched her back rise and fall with her shallow breathing. It wasn't long before his own eyes closed.
-----
" Isabelle, I'm telling you she's too hard headed. Too naughty.....she practically spit at me. "
Isabelle looked at him with a disgusted yet skeptical expression, only to end up laughing. " She hates you that much? "
" She hates any man that much. I'm starting to think that she's a - "
" Good heavens Darien, of course she isn't! Maybe she just doesn't show her interest in men that much. "
" Perhaps, " he frowned.
The two continued eating breakfast in silence before Serena appeared at the bottom of the stairway. At first they hadn't noticed her presence seeing that she almost made no sound in coming down. It wasn't until she had reached the table when they noticed her.
" Oh good morning Serena, " Isabelle greeted upon seeing her.
" Good morning, " Serena nodded at her with a small smile.
" I'm Isabelle.....Darien's cousin. Care to join us for breakfast? "
Serena nodded and was about to sit down when Darien stood up and pulled the chair out for her. She looked up at him with confused look mixed with impatience before smiling at him with gratitude.....or at least gratitude she thought she had. " Thank you, " she muttered silently.
" You're welcome, " Darien smiled at her upon knowing that she wasn't expecting him to hear her.
" So....when are you two getting married, " Isabelle questioned once Serena was seated.
" Wednesday, " Darien replied while consuming a bite of eggs.
Serena looked at that the food in front of her and almost felt sick. There were two slices of toasted bread with grilled cheese on top, ham, scrambled eggs, and grapes set on a silver platter in front of her. Her cup had been filled with steaming cappuchino while a glass filled with fresh orange juice stood proudly on the other side. She was beginning to doubt she could finish everything.
Darien looked at her. " You don't have to finish everything if you don't want to, " he stated as if he were reading her mind.
Serena smiled at him feeling uncomfortable. It wasn't until that morning when she really thought about who she was eating with. The king of her land and his cousin.....not every young woman could experience something like that. It would've been an honor for her if only she didn't have too much pride.
" So, are you going to have a big wedding or a small one, " Isabelle questioned them again.
" Nothing too fancy, " Darien replied. " I can't say it's going to be small either. We were planning just to have you and a few people come.....a big celebration without inviting the whole town. That's good enough."
" Yes it is. I can't wait to see you wearing a wedding gown Serena, " she grinned. " Have you picked one out yet? "
" I'm using the wedding gown my mother wanted me to wear, " Serena stated while finally slipping some scrambled eggs on her fork. " She made it. "
" She must be very talented then. "
" She is. "
No one else said anything after that. Serena quickly ate what she could finish while Darien and Isabelle exchanged a few glances. The rest of breakfast followed in silence.
-----
" He's the king, Jonathan! I can't object to what a king wants, " Robert complained while pacing around with his brother in the room.
" I know, but why would a king want someone like her? "
Robert frowned upon hearing Jonathan's reply. " What's that suppose to mean? I liked her. That's why I wanted to marry her. "
" Well obviously she didn't want to marry you, " Jonathan replied flattly while polishing his gun. " She didn't tell you about her affair with his highness. "
" Shut up, " Robert bit back. " What's there not to like about me? I'm handsome, I'm rich, I'm charming - "
" The king is handsome as well, he's richer, and he's had more ladies fall at his feet with his charm. Of course Serena would want to marry him. He's got everything you have and more. "
" So what are you saying then? You think Serena will actually marry him? "
" I heard that they're getting married on Wednesday. "
Robert glared at his brother for long moment as if he he were searching him for an answer.....and he did find an answer. Robert's eyes took one look at Jonathan's gun and grinned.
" What are smiling for, " Jonathan cocked a brow at him.
" Serena can't marry him. "
" What do you mean? "
" With the king gone she'll go for me. "
" And how do you plan to make something like that happen? The king gone and everything, " Jonathan chuckled. " Hey, what do you think you're doing, " he growled once Robert snatched the gun from his hand despite his protests and aimed it at a mirror.
" Like this. " At that, he fired the gun causing the bullet to shoot out and smash against the mirror right in the center.
-----
The moon was high against the sky once again. Darien settled down in his bed. It was past midnight and she hasn't arrived. Serena had insisted on going to bed early.
Turning to face her, Darien watched her with sudden curiosity. The moon's silver rays shone through his windows and fell upon Serena's sleeping form. She looked like a goddess. It was almost impossible for him to imagine how she could be the Midnight Prowler.
He continued watching her for a few minutes before finally noticing that her body was shaking. He sat up and leaned over to her side. Reaching out for the blankets, he pulled them up higher so that they reached Serena's neck. He was about to settle down at his side of the bed when Serena slipped her hand over his chest and placed her head on his shoulder. Once again, her breathing was shallow. She was asleep the whole time.
Darien wanted to smile, but he only settled down beside her and wrapped his arms around her slim body. He couldn't smile. She was sleeping when she had embraced him. Perhaps it was automatic for her to do that seeing that she needed warmth. His body warmth was something she needed. She only embraced him because of that. If she had been awake and embraced him on her own will, only then would he smile.
Letting out a small sigh of exhaustion, Darien settled down with Serena in his arms. Memories of what had happened that day flooded back. The way she had protested when he offered her his mother's clothes which had been locked up in his mother's former bedroom.....the way she frowned at him when he tried getting her to fight.....and the way she had almost smiled when she saw the numerous books he kept in his library. All these memories rocked him to sleep. His eyes were closing, but they only opened again upon hearing Serena's voice.
" Thank you Darien, " she whispered.
It took him a few seconds to realize what she said. Maybe she wasn't completely asleep. All the exhaustion he had seemed to disappear once his eyes closed. Finally, a small smile formed on his lips.
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Author's Notes: Delayed again because I went to Fisherman's Warf yesterday to see the Fourth of July fireworks. =P (I live in CA and to even find a parking, you have to be there early.) It was worth it I suppose.....if only there weren't too many people. x_x The next chapter might be delayed again on Saturday because I'm going to Lake Tahoe.....sometime this weekend or the next.
Anyway, thank you to all the readers. Please pardon the typos and hopefully you liked this chapter. :)
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When Midnight Comes - Chapter 7 By: Hell's Huntress (R)
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" Get your bloody hands of me, " Serena hissed once they had arrived at Darien's castle.
" Is this the way to speak to your husband, " he teased.
" Husband?! I'm not even married to you! "
" Yet, " he stated flattly while pulling her into his room. " Now I can see why your parents think that you won't end up marrying anyone. You spit fire. "
At that, Serena did spit at him.....except that it wasn't fire. Darien stopped and frowned at her for a long moment while wiping her spit off his cheek. " Let me correct that.....you just spit. Hasn't your mother taught you any manners? I can have you hanged for this and you can forget about me saving you. "
" I don't care if you hang me. I'll be saved anyway because I'll be dead. I won't have to marry Robert or pretend to marry you. "
Darien frowned at her. " Yes, and thank god I'm only pretending to marry you. Now we can actually agree on something. "
Serena turned away and looked out one of his room's windows. Her eyes had a lost look in them for a moment that even Darien noticed.
" Look.....I didn't mean that. I was just - "
" I don't care if you meant it or not. It's about time we had some kind of similar opinion anyway, " she bit back not wanting to hear his apology.
" Alright then. Hopefully you'll agree with me on this one too, " he commented while tossing an extra pillow. " You'll sleep on the right side of the bed. I'll take the left. "
" I'm not sleeping beside you! "
" That's why I gave you that pillow to block us. Happy now? " There was a tone of impatience in his voice.
Serena only remained silent before crawling over to her side of the bed. With the pillow placed between them, she settled down and turned to her right so that her back was facing him.
Darien looked at her with a hopeless expression on his face before lying back down on his own side of the bed. It was big enough for them to fit five people in it, but both of them stayed on the far corner of their sides. Serena's hand could fall over the edge, while Darien's was already off. Flashing her another look, he absently watched her back rise and fall with her shallow breathing. It wasn't long before his own eyes closed.
-----
" Isabelle, I'm telling you she's too hard headed. Too naughty.....she practically spit at me. "
Isabelle looked at him with a disgusted yet skeptical expression, only to end up laughing. " She hates you that much? "
" She hates any man that much. I'm starting to think that she's a - "
" Good heavens Darien, of course she isn't! Maybe she just doesn't show her interest in men that much. "
" Perhaps, " he frowned.
The two continued eating breakfast in silence before Serena appeared at the bottom of the stairway. At first they hadn't noticed her presence seeing that she almost made no sound in coming down. It wasn't until she had reached the table when they noticed her.
" Oh good morning Serena, " Isabelle greeted upon seeing her.
" Good morning, " Serena nodded at her with a small smile.
" I'm Isabelle.....Darien's cousin. Care to join us for breakfast? "
Serena nodded and was about to sit down when Darien stood up and pulled the chair out for her. She looked up at him with confused look mixed with impatience before smiling at him with gratitude.....or at least gratitude she thought she had. " Thank you, " she muttered silently.
" You're welcome, " Darien smiled at her upon knowing that she wasn't expecting him to hear her.
" So....when are you two getting married, " Isabelle questioned once Serena was seated.
" Wednesday, " Darien replied while consuming a bite of eggs.
Serena looked at that the food in front of her and almost felt sick. There were two slices of toasted bread with grilled cheese on top, ham, scrambled eggs, and grapes set on a silver platter in front of her. Her cup had been filled with steaming cappuchino while a glass filled with fresh orange juice stood proudly on the other side. She was beginning to doubt she could finish everything.
Darien looked at her. " You don't have to finish everything if you don't want to, " he stated as if he were reading her mind.
Serena smiled at him feeling uncomfortable. It wasn't until that morning when she really thought about who she was eating with. The king of her land and his cousin.....not every young woman could experience something like that. It would've been an honor for her if only she didn't have too much pride.
" So, are you going to have a big wedding or a small one, " Isabelle questioned them again.
" Nothing too fancy, " Darien replied. " I can't say it's going to be small either. We were planning just to have you and a few people come.....a big celebration without inviting the whole town. That's good enough."
" Yes it is. I can't wait to see you wearing a wedding gown Serena, " she grinned. " Have you picked one out yet? "
" I'm using the wedding gown my mother wanted me to wear, " Serena stated while finally slipping some scrambled eggs on her fork. " She made it. "
" She must be very talented then. "
" She is. "
No one else said anything after that. Serena quickly ate what she could finish while Darien and Isabelle exchanged a few glances. The rest of breakfast followed in silence.
-----
" He's the king, Jonathan! I can't object to what a king wants, " Robert complained while pacing around with his brother in the room.
" I know, but why would a king want someone like her? "
Robert frowned upon hearing Jonathan's reply. " What's that suppose to mean? I liked her. That's why I wanted to marry her. "
" Well obviously she didn't want to marry you, " Jonathan replied flattly while polishing his gun. " She didn't tell you about her affair with his highness. "
" Shut up, " Robert bit back. " What's there not to like about me? I'm handsome, I'm rich, I'm charming - "
" The king is handsome as well, he's richer, and he's had more ladies fall at his feet with his charm. Of course Serena would want to marry him. He's got everything you have and more. "
" So what are you saying then? You think Serena will actually marry him? "
" I heard that they're getting married on Wednesday. "
Robert glared at his brother for long moment as if he he were searching him for an answer.....and he did find an answer. Robert's eyes took one look at Jonathan's gun and grinned.
" What are smiling for, " Jonathan cocked a brow at him.
" Serena can't marry him. "
" What do you mean? "
" With the king gone she'll go for me. "
" And how do you plan to make something like that happen? The king gone and everything, " Jonathan chuckled. " Hey, what do you think you're doing, " he growled once Robert snatched the gun from his hand despite his protests and aimed it at a mirror.
" Like this. " At that, he fired the gun causing the bullet to shoot out and smash against the mirror right in the center.
-----
The moon was high against the sky once again. Darien settled down in his bed. It was past midnight and she hasn't arrived. Serena had insisted on going to bed early.
Turning to face her, Darien watched her with sudden curiosity. The moon's silver rays shone through his windows and fell upon Serena's sleeping form. She looked like a goddess. It was almost impossible for him to imagine how she could be the Midnight Prowler.
He continued watching her for a few minutes before finally noticing that her body was shaking. He sat up and leaned over to her side. Reaching out for the blankets, he pulled them up higher so that they reached Serena's neck. He was about to settle down at his side of the bed when Serena slipped her hand over his chest and placed her head on his shoulder. Once again, her breathing was shallow. She was asleep the whole time.
Darien wanted to smile, but he only settled down beside her and wrapped his arms around her slim body. He couldn't smile. She was sleeping when she had embraced him. Perhaps it was automatic for her to do that seeing that she needed warmth. His body warmth was something she needed. She only embraced him because of that. If she had been awake and embraced him on her own will, only then would he smile.
Letting out a small sigh of exhaustion, Darien settled down with Serena in his arms. Memories of what had happened that day flooded back. The way she had protested when he offered her his mother's clothes which had been locked up in his mother's former bedroom.....the way she frowned at him when he tried getting her to fight.....and the way she had almost smiled when she saw the numerous books he kept in his library. All these memories rocked him to sleep. His eyes were closing, but they only opened again upon hearing Serena's voice.
" Thank you Darien, " she whispered.
It took him a few seconds to realize what she said. Maybe she wasn't completely asleep. All the exhaustion he had seemed to disappear once his eyes closed. Finally, a small smile formed on his lips.
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Author's Notes: Delayed again because I went to Fisherman's Warf yesterday to see the Fourth of July fireworks. =P (I live in CA and to even find a parking, you have to be there early.) It was worth it I suppose.....if only there weren't too many people. x_x The next chapter might be delayed again on Saturday because I'm going to Lake Tahoe.....sometime this weekend or the next.
Anyway, thank you to all the readers. Please pardon the typos and hopefully you liked this chapter. :)