Author's Notes~IMPORTANT: First off, I didn't upload chapter 8 yet.....not until now. ~_~ I don't know how that got there, but I'll be uploading the real chapter 8 right now. Second, the chapters were delayed for days because I had to fly to L.A. My great uncle died. :( I only that found out a few hours before I actually left which is why I didn't get the chance to tell anyone. Anyhow, now that I'm back, I'd like to apologize for that and please continue reading this fic. Here's the realy chapter 8 to "When Midnight Comes".

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When Midnight Comes - Chapter 8 By: Hell's Huntress (R)
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The sun's rays spilled across the entire bedroom. It was actually only six in the morning, but the sun was up. Darien was as well. The man had just taken a shower and was searching one of his drawers for the top that he was suppose to wear. He stood with black pants and his top off beside his bed in which Serena was still sleeping in. Only a towel placed around his neck covered his muscular chest.

Serena turned around in bed so that she faced him even though she was still asleep. Her back rose with her shallow breathing while her eyes remained closed the whole time. Her hair covered the pillow she was using. It seemed to blend it with the sun's rays.

Her arms slowly extended upwards as she absently stretched. Darien, who had just bathed, carried a fresh scent wherever he went. Being beside her, Serena could smell him all the way from where she was causing her eyes to flutter open.

At first, her eyes roamed around the room in search for the origin of his scent. Once they finally landed upon Darien, she watched him with a blank expression for a few seconds before she bolted up in bed upon realizing that he didn't have his top on.

Darien turned around to face her and grinned. " Good morning dear, " he mocked. " Looks like you slept well. "

Serena only stared at him while trying desperately to look his face instead of his chest. " Um...yeah, I did. Looks like you just took a shower, " she stated finally managing to look into his eyes.

" Yes I did. Hope I'm not scandalizing you.....with no shirt and everything, " he chuckled.

A faint reddish hue rose to her cheeks but she managed to hide it. " I'm not scandalized, " she bit back upon regaining her composure.

" Alright then. Hope you weren't too cold last night. It wasn't exactly as warm as usual. "

" I wasn't. "

At her last reply, Darien inwardly smiled to himself as the memory of him wrapping her in his embrace flashed back. " That's good. You didn't look like you were cold actually. It was as if someone was embracing you, " he grinned to himself in an attempt to get something out of her.

Serena stared at him absently for a moment before frowning. Her brows knitted together, but her mouth remained closed.

" Ok fine, so I was embracing you, " she finally replied after a long moment of silence.

Darien raised his brows as if he didn't expect her to admit it. A small grin rose to his lips and he was about to reply, but he only found Serena quickly exiting the room and walking outside in an attempt to avoid the topic. Darien only smiled.

Outside, Serena paced around with a blush resting upon her cheeks before freezing in place. Her eyes almost went wide upon seeing the numerous people walking around below in the halls. Maids carried silver platters around while the other servants walked in with flowers and white curtains. Two of them were setting down a red carpet while others were busily dusting all the furniture.

Numerous bottles of wine were carried in along with at least fifteen dozen roses. There was even a dove that sat patiently on a chair as if all the humans didn't scare it.

Serena knitted her brows together in confusion. A million questions ran through her head. " Darien, what is this..... " her sentence trailed off upon seeing him.

Darien walked out of his room in an elegant suit and wrapped his arms around her waist. " This, my dear, is the preparation of our wedding. "

Serena stared at him with confusion written all over her features, regardless of the fact that he was embracing her. " But the wedding is...... "

" Today, " he finished off for her.

Serena looked at him as if he had gone mad. Her eyes trailed back towards all the servants who were constantly working below them before going wide upon the realization. " The wedding's today?, " she questioned sounding scandalized.

" Yes, your majesty, today's your special day, " a maid replied upon climbing up the steps.

Serena turned to face her with eyes that seemed to ask it all.

The maid bowed down before finally replying. " Your majesty, my name is Jezebelle and I will be assisting you with your gown and everything else you need to get ready for your marriage. His highness has given me specific orders, and I can assure you that you will be getting the treatment a queen deserves starting from today. "

Serena looked at Darien with a questioning expression. He only grinned at her.

" Enjoy it while you can. Remember that we're only going to be married for a while, " he whispered in her ear before Jezebelle lead her off into a different room.

Serena stared at him with a blank expression as she was gently pulled away. His last sentence seemed to strike a cord in her body. An emotion of regret, sadness, and a sudden craving rose within her. It was something she couldn't explain. Why she felt it, she didn't know. It was as if she didn't even want to leave. She felt as if she wanted to make this last forever, but nothing inside her could make her admit that. She could only stare at him with a small hint of depression written in her eyes. Her gaze never parted from Darien's until the door closed behind her.

Darien sighed inwardly once she was inside. He only stared at the closed door while regret seemed to soar through him. It was as if he didn't want her to leave so soon. He looked as if he wanted her to stay for good, and he could've sworn Serena had that same look on her face. Her expression.....the way she looked at him when he told her to enjoy this while it lasts.....all these made him wish he hadn't said that. They all stood out in his mind.

Pushing his thoughts away for a moment, he walked downstairs to oversee how things were going. There were already a few guests outside waiting to be greeted......waiting for him to marry her. The question is, was this marriage really working to save Serena from marrying Robert only?

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" All the guests are there, " Jonathan wheezed upon walking into his home. He looked as if he had ran a few miles.

" All of them? Every single one, " Robert questioned while standing by the doorway with a gun in his hand.

" Yes....everyone single one of them. The ceremony will be starting in a few minutes. The problem is only specific people were invited. "

Robert frowned while walking towards his horse. " I think I know that already. I really don't need to hear about that again, " he cringed with the knowledge that he was one of the last people the king or Serena wanted to arrive.

" Heavy security, " Jonathan warned.

" I'll just greet them with my presence anyway. I don't want to be rude, " Robert grinned. Sarcasm and a hint of mockery seemed to drip from his voice as he rode off towards the castle.

-----

The castle was filled with the whispering voices of certain guests that were chosen to attend. All of them gathered around the red carpet in which Serena would walk across to meet her husband-to-be. Isabelle, on the other hand, stood behind Darien at the very end of the carpet where he would greet Serena.

" She didn't protest this time, " Isabelle whispred while shifting her child from one arm to the other.

" No, " Darien replied with nervousness written all over him. He seemed to breathe deeply every now and then while waiting for Serena.

" You know, you better enjoy this wedding because it could actually last forever. Didn't you say she embraced you last night, " she questioned in an attempt to lessen his anxiety.

" Isabelle.....stop trying to distract me. It's not going to work. "

" Hey, I'm only trying to help. "

At that, the crowd of guests calmed down. Silence fell upon all of them as all eyes diverted toward the end of the stairway where Serena was standing. Darien's breath was caught in his throat as his eyes fell upon her. No one dared to move except for Isabelle who grinned inwardly and walked away into the crowd.

Serena took a deep breath as she slowly walked down the carpet toward Darien who looked mesmerized by her beauty. The gown her mother had made was simple yet very elegant, attracting everyone's attention. It hugged her waist tightly while straps fell off her creamy shoulders. A small pearl necklace embraced her swan-like neck which was exposed by her hair which had been gathered up in her vail. A few golden ringlets framed her cheekbones while about two others caressed her collarbone.

She was almost too frozen to move. She knew her family was there watching her, along with about a hundred other eyes that were all focused on her. This wedding seemed a little too big despite the fact that it was only "just right" as Darien had described it. She couldn't expect anything different seeing that he was the king. That only scared her more.

He was the king. She is about to marry the king because he wanted to save her. A king wanted to save her. Now, she's about to become a queen. Serena seemed to have lost her breath upon this knowledge. It seemed too good to be true. It seemed like a dream. It was if this wasn't even real. However, a small voice at the back of her mind constantly screamed the word "reality" in her ears which only increased her heart's rapid beating.

Outside stood Robert who had been standing behind a tree for quite a while. Numerous times he was nearly caught especially since the guards that stood all around the castle were rather plenty. He had to make his move quickly. It would only be a few seconds before he would be caught. He only had one chance to kill someone and run away. If he didn't move fast enough then he would end up being executed.

Grabbing the pistol tightly in his hand, he slipped towards a window and cringed upon seeing Serena walk towards Darien. Lust rose within his body and almost distracted him......almost. The shadow of a guard walking towards him brought his mind back.

No one had seen him yet, except for Serena who suddenly froze in her tracks upon catching a quick glimpse of him. It only took her a few seconds to realize what he was planning to do, but those seconds weren't fast enough for her to stop it. In a split second, the sound of a gun shot filled everyone's ears. In that same second, an agonizing scream ripped through the air.

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Author's Notes: O_O Who was shot? You'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. I am really sorry about the typos. I think I have quite a few in this chapter, and note that if you didn't read the Author's Notes at the top of the page then please do. Thanks to all the readers and once again, please forgive the typos.