Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor do I own the song "Storms in Africa." I am borrowing them for entertainment purposes only; no money is being made from the writing or reading of this story.
Pray for a Storm
©2000-2001 by Kei
Chapter 4
Tóg do chroí
Siúl trí na stoirmeacha
By the next morning the entire castle was buzzing about Nephrite and Makoto. Nobody could keep a secret, and when Makoto came out of her bedroom to attend breakfast all the squealing young maids assaulted her, babbling on and on about "Lord Nephrite." Makoto did her best to fend them off and finally escaped them upon arriving at the dining hall. She dashed in and shut the door as fast as possible, leaning against it while wiping light sweat from her brow. She heard a chuckle from the far end of the banquet table in the room and lifted her green gaze to meet Nephrite's laughing russet one.
"So, it seems that you find my hassles amusing, Nephrite," she said, seating herself to his left as he sat at the head of the long table.
"I don't mean to be rude, Makoto. Those prattling maids are so silly, though," he answered apologetically.
"They are," she agreed. "Imagine me telling them how you kiss! The idea is just absurd!"
"Um, just between us, how do I kiss?" he inquired, leaning over to her. She bent over near his ear as if to whisper to him the answer.
"With your lips," she giggled and he frowned at her, but all in fun. Breakfast was served after that and they made pleasant conversation over their delicious meal.
Nephrite excused himself first, having to go sign some legal documents regarding alliances and declarations of war. He kissed Makoto's cheek and took his leave of her; she finished her meal in cold silence, which she hated. When she finished she decided to take a look outside at the damage from the previous night's storm.
The air smelled fresh and wet, a scent that Makoto loved. The plants were still damp and rain droplets slipped off lush, green leaves once in a while. The flat stones on the walkway in the garden were all still soaked, and Makoto walked on them with bare feet, enjoying the cool feeling.
Suddenly, she was grabbed from around a corner and a cloth was placed over her mouth and nose. She took several deep breaths to ease her pounding heart before she realized that the cloth was saturated with chloroform. She tried to retrieve her Jupiter pen, but her hand fell limp at her side as she lost consciousness.
The auburn-haired girl groaned as she opened her eyes and let them adjust to her mostly-dark surroundings. She was able to discern, through blurry vision, a single candle burning low on a table in a corner several yards from where she was.
'Bars?' she thought and shook her head. Taking in her surroundings more clearly, she saw she was lying on some soft golden hay in a barred cell with her wrists and ankles bound. Someone had taken her hair down, she noticed, and wondered why.
"Master, she has woken!" a high-pitched voice announced to its owner's superior. Makoto shoved herself against the wall behind her as a dark shape approached her. The tall figure towered over her, its shadow making the darkness even darker. This "Master" wore a black cloak with a hood so she couldn't see a face, but she could see piercing red eyes that made her shudder.
"Did you have a nice sleep?" the figure questioned, and the deep tone of voice told Makoto that this person with red eyes was a man.
In response, Makoto glared at him and writhed in vain, attempting to free herself, but the bonds simply wouldn't break.
"Those bonds are magic, lady. No matter how much you struggle, they will never break and never come off unless at my command," he informed her.
"What do you want?" she hissed, still glaring.
"Oh, my dear, I want nothing more than you," he said in a smooth voice and her eyes went wide. She pressed herself even harder against the wall, hoping she might go right through it so she could get away from him. She inwardly raged when he laughed at her.
"Why do you try so hard when you know you will never escape?" he asked.
"Get away from me," she said in a low, venomous voice and she gasped sharply when she was abruptly transported from sitting against the wall to the front of the cell on her knees. A cold, white hand grabbed her chin and forced her to look up into the glowing crimson eyes that now glittered with suspended fury.
"Don't anger me, lady," he warned, his once-warm voice changed to one that was nothing but icy and dark. "You are a lovely thing, but I would not hesitate to demonstrate my wrath on you."
With that, he shoved her backwards, turned, and walked away. Makoto stared after him, her mouth hanging open. She closed it and swallowed hard, forcing back the tears pricking at her eyes.
"Come on, lady," a new voice beckoned and Makoto glanced over to see a short little girl with vivid blue eyes and peach-colored hair that hung in corkscrew curls to her shoulders. She wore a lacy baby-doll dress that matched her eyes and Makoto couldn't believe that this evil man had children working for him!
The door of the cell opened and Makoto found herself floating out. She held her breath and prayed she wouldn't fall as she followed the little girl into another chamber of the cave they were in. The windowless room contained a claw-footed ivory tub that was filled with steaming water.
"Do not try to escape, lady; you will find it futile," the little girl said in a mechanical voice. "Bathe and change into the garments that have been provided for you. I will come for you in three-quarters of an hour."
Before Makoto could blink the girl was gone, along with her restraints, which made her even more uneasy than she already was. She slowly undressed and climbed into the water. The heat enveloped her body and she felt the unnatural urge to stay there forever, but knew she needed to get out, dry off, and then change into the clothing that had been given to her.
There was a mirror on the wall, and Makoto stared at her reflection in horror. It wasn't the dress that frightened her; the gown was of pure black silk that draped over her curves and extended to her ankles in front while the back had a short train. Spaghetti straps at the top shot down into a V that exposed a demure bit of her cleavage.
No, the thing that scared her was her physical appearance. Her eyes, once a bright emerald green, had darkened to become a deep forest green that glared back at her from the mirror. And her skin, which had been a healthy tan before, had gone pale and as white as a sheet. She also noticed her brown hair growing darker and darker until it was almost black.
"What's happening to me?" she whispered in terror, extending a colorless hand up to touch her cheek.
Before she could react further, the door opened and her bindings returned. The little girl stood waiting for her outside the door and began strolling away; Makoto had no choice as she was again lifted into the air and floating after the girl.
She was set down in a standing position in the middle of the cave, and when she turned to ask a question of the girl, she had disappeared. Makoto bit her lip and wondered if she was going to die.
"I understand you must have some questions, lady," the man's voice came again, from out of nowhere. "I will answer them to the best of my abilities."
"Where are you?!" she yelled. "Show yourself!"
"I am…everywhere," he replied after some thought. "I am in the darkness. I am one with the darkness."
Makoto could see that he would most likely not give her a direct answer and instead speak in riddles to her.
"Who are you? What's your name?" she called and his laughter came at her from all sides.
"Oh, my dear, sweet lady, you do provide your fair share of amusement," he chuckled and she scowled. "At one time I did have a name, but since making my contract with the darkness and becoming part of it, that name has disappeared. My servants all call me 'Master'; you might as well do the same."
"I will not call anyone that!" she shouted defiantly. "If you won't give me a name, I'll just call you Darkness."
"Fitting," he agreed. "That is fine."
"Where am I?" she asked.
"You are in the realm of Klesvigta," he told her and she gasped.
"Klesvigta?" she repeated. "The realm that wants to take over Ilndena?"
"The same." She could sense the smirk in his voice.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"I saw you the moment you arrived here in this world, lady, and have been watching you ever since. You're so pretty and spirited that I knew I had to have you for my own," he answered.
"Never! You'll never have me! No matter how you change my looks or if you torture me, you'll never ever get me! My heart is still in Ilndena, with one man, and that's where it will stay forever!" she declared.
"Ah, yes, your Nephrite," he said with disdain. "Well, I'm sure that if he should meet an 'untimely end,' your heart will be mine for the taking."
Makoto's darkened eyes grew wide and she cried, "You wouldn't!"
"Oh, wouldn't I?" he laughed evilly.
"Don't hurt him! Please, don't hurt him!" she pleaded.
"And what should keep me from doing so?" he inquired, and she knew what he was getting at. But she loved Nephrite and would willingly sacrifice herself for him.
"Me," she said softly. "If I stay here and do as you ask, you won't hurt him."
"Poor lady, I know how sad you must be at this moment, but do at least try to be happy," he requested as the bonds on her hands vanished and a contract on parchment along with a quill pen appeared in front of her. "Sign that paper and his safety is guaranteed."
Makoto grasped the quill with shaking fingers and scanned the document. It was short and to the point, stating that she, Makoto Kino, would do anything she was told to and Nephrite wouldn't be harmed in any way.
"When does this contract expire?" she asked, and the rolled bottom of the parchment straightened and she almost cried when she saw the date: 1st of NEVER. She felt hot tears trickling down her pale cheeks and wasn't surprised to see crimson droplets fall onto the parchment as her vision was smudged with red.
'Tears of blood,' she thought with a loud sob, signing the contract with a flourish.
Lift your heart
Walk through the storms