Pyre
Chapter 4
by Kayla Chavi
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Email: kaylachavi@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.envy.nu/kaylachavi/index.htm

* * *

I stood there in complete silence while my body quaked. The car gleamed brightly in the sunlight, yet it did not break the staring contest that Jedeite and I were having. His eyes never left mine and I was starting to have trouble breathing.

People continued to pass us on the street. Cars zoomed and still there was no change. I gave a visible jump when I heard the car door lock click. It swung open of its own accord and gently knocked me in the stomach.

"Get in the car, Pyre."

I didn't answer him. I was rooted in my position and could not move. Only when a familiar voice broke through the noisy silence, were my eyes able to leave his.

"Hey Rei, are you coming or are you just going to stand there like an idiot?" Serena was standing in front of the Crown, just a few feet away. The tinted windshield hid the clear view of Jedeite from her, so she had no idea who I was not talking to.

I looked at her, but found that the comment about being an idiot hit me about four seconds too late.

Score one for the dumb blonde.

"Stand here like an idiot of course," I finally said. I forced my normal level of abrasiveness into my voice, but even then it was strained. I turned to walk away from the beautiful red car, and as I turned, I let my school bag close the door. I did it all very subtlety.

I walked away.

Empowered, I walked into the Arcade with Serena and sat down at the table where Ami and Darien were already waiting for us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jedeite drive the red convertible away. He didn't look too happy with me.

But that didn't matter. I was safe; for now I was safe.

"Rei's an idiot," Serena announced to Darien and Ami. "She even admitted it as she stood looking like she was blonder than me on the curb next to that to-die-for car."

"Takes one to know one," I grinned at her brightly.

Empowerment, I found, takes a little while to wear off. I had said no to him and made him leave. I hadn't done anything that I hadn't wanted to. I was elated.

Serena stuck her tongue out at me and our other two friends laughed at us.

"I thought that my motorcycle and car were enough for you, Meatball Head," Darien drawled in a dry tone.

Serena giggled and rolled her eyes, "It was red," she said simply, "and if the guy hadn't been a blonde, then I would have thought the whole ensemble was perfect. You may have had to find a new girlfriend," she added, grinning up at the resident male hero. I nearly gagged.

Some couples are too sweet for words. Trust me, there are no words in the Japanese language to describe their relationship.

Believe me. I've tried. Really, I have.

Even kawaii doesn't really work.

"Weren't you talking to him, Rei?" she turned her big innocent blue-because-I'm-too-wonderful-for-words-but-you'll-never-get-annoyed-with-me-ever eyes on me and I gulped.

It was audible in Newfoundland.

"T-talking t-to him?" I stuttered.

Serena nodded, "Why else would you have that panicked look on your face? The only other time I've seen that look on your face was when you were talking to that blonde American guy with the long hair. You know, the one who could have been an angel in another life?"

With the word "panicked," Darien's attention shifted immediately to me. Why on earth had I ever wished for an older brother when I was seven? They are more trouble than they are worth. To avoid his piercing eyes, I looked down at the shiny tabletop.

"He wasn't bothering you, was he?"

I shook my head but still didn't look up at him.

"He was looking for his dog."

A lie; a blatant one at that. It wasn't even a very good one. I knew it. Darien knew it. He just sighed heavily, his disappointment with me quite clear.

Serena caught the sigh and I could practically feel her gaze shift between the two of us. I heard her sigh as well. "Rei," she began.

It was then I knew that Darien had told her. I knew he would, of course, she was my best friend and we were almost always together, except when we were in school. I guess a part of me still hoped that she wouldn't ever find out about it. The only person who was still clueless was Ami, but I bet that would change before long.

"I have to go," I stood up and pretended not to see the hurt on her face, "Gramps needs me at the temple."

I ran home.

* * *

That night, I dreamed.

That's the only thing it could have been, for I found that I could not control any of the action that took place. All my words had been written for me, and I was to act them out. It was almost like watching a movie. I was a part of it, yet still distant from it.

Don't mistake it for lucid dreaming, where you can control the action once you recognize it as a dream. This was different. No control, but still a dream.

I was standing in the middle of a large red desert. There were sandstone cliffs in the distance and a few very nearby as well. My back was to them, but somehow I knew they were there. Instead of being hot like most deserts would be, it was pleasantly cool. On the horizon I could see the sun. It was smaller and seemed more distant that I recalled it being.

The wind whipped through my hair. I noticed then that it was intricately braided but small wisps had escaped from their confines. As the wind blew past my body, I could feel the cool air against the skin of my arms and shoulders.

I looked down to find that I was wearing a simple silk dress of white and violet. It had been wrapped tightly around my body and the skirt had a long slit in the side, allowing movement.

Around my neck was a ruby pendent in the shape of a flame. I could feel the tiara that sat upon my head and wondered if it bore the same symbol. I don't think it did, for the pendent seemed to be something that I was rather fond of. A gift maybe, from someone I cared about.

By this time, I was terribly confused. My dreamself however, didn't seem to share that confusion. It was as if I was two people in one body, yet I was the dominant mind, but she controlled what I said and did.

It was a very odd feeling.

"My Lady," a quiet, yet commanding tone caught my attention. I turned to find that I was not alone. "This sun is setting." Two girls stood there. Both were dressed in identical dresses that also mirrored my own. One was in a deep red, the other in a pale orange-pink. It was the girl in red who had spoken to me.

"I know, Phoebos," I answered her quietly.

"Your father will worry if we do not return to the palace," the other girl said. It finally struck me that these two girls were twins. The only difference between them was their eyes. The one in red had dark and startling blue eyes. The one in the paler orange-pink had bright red eyes.

"Let him worry then, Demos." The twins exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Even I could tell they were not pleased with me. My dreamself, however, was used to this. Apparently, the girls were not pleased with her a lot of the time.

The sun continued to set and the two moons became even more visible in the darkening sky.

I was obviously waiting for something to happen or for someone to come. Maybe it was a secret lover, or maybe I was waiting to see a phoenix rise from the sunset. Either explanation seemed possible at this point. I wished my dreamself would tell me what the hell I was doing here. I was starting to get impatient. How in the world could she manage to stand still for so long?

The sun finally set and the last rays of light drifted away. There was a faint feeling of disappointment in the pit of my stomach.

Sighing dejectedly, I turned back to my guardians. Their expressions were kind and sympathetic. I felt coolness on my cheek and the wind blew my tears away. Demos came up to me and with light fingertips, she brushed the remaining wetness away. Like a sister, she held me gently as I silently sobbed into her shoulder.

Phoebos, joined us a moment later. "I'm sorry, My Lady."

I forced myself to stop my sobs and pulled away. I took a deep ragged breath and closed my eyes. Regaining my composure, I opened them once more. "Let's go--"

I was cut off by the sound of a neighing horse. I looked up to see a scarlet horse with large black wings flying towards us. It was carrying a rider who looked to be injured, although he hadn't been tied to the saddle.

The Pegasus landed right next to me. I moved quickly to help the rider and caught him before he tumbled to the ground.

"Demos! Phoebos! Help me!" They rushed to my side and we moved him into a small cave that was cut into the cliffside. A bed had already been prepared and the cave was furnished rather well. I didn't get to dwell on this thought for very long, before the oil lamps all magically burst into flame, illuminating it even more.

We laid the man down onto the bed and I quickly appraised his appearance. He was shirtless and his pants were in tatters. One boot was missing completely and he was bruised in several places along his rather well sculpted body.

The three of us did our best to make sure he was comfortable. He must have been partially unconscious for there were no cries of pain during the occasional jostle. He made no sound except for his gentle breathing. I couldn't contain the desire to gently touch him all over to make sure that my eyes weren't deceiving me.

It wasn't until my hands had made their way to his face that I saw who it was that was laying here with me.

The man had blonde hair that was shaggy and long overdue for a haircut. It fell almost to his shoulders. He had delicate features that were very familiar to me.

A rift appeared between me and my dreamself. I felt a quickening sense of fear and panic at seeing him in my dreams. There was no mistaking the love and caring she had for him.

She even chided me for daring to be hateful.

"Ares," I heard myself murmur. I had been kneeling by his side but I moved so that I could cradle his head to my chest. As I did this, the only other sound in the cave was that of my two guardians leaving him and I in peace.

Again I felt alarmed, but that was quickly stamped out by my dreamself. She was starting to loose patience with me and my inability to be worried about him.

All of my thoughts were conveniently squished when he opened his eyes.

They were even bluer than I recalled.

They were filled with the same emotion that I had seen in Darien's eyes when he looked at Serena.

Love. Unconditional Love.

Gods. Wake me up now! I don't want this. I can't handle this. Not now. Please, not now.

I'm seriously considering giving up prayer. It doesn't seem to be working properly, for I had no choice but to live in the dream and to be a part of it.

He smiled up at me and cupped my face in the warm palm of his hand. It was trembling slightly from what appeared to be relief.

I kissed his palm and looked deeply into those beautiful and caring eyes. I too, held his face and he pulled me to lie down with him. He cradled me and placed light and feathery kisses over my jaw and forehead.

"Ares," I gently tried to get his attention. It was getting increasingly difficult to do so, as his hands began to pull parts of my dress away. I breathed in sharply when I felt them against the skin of my belly. "Jedeite, stop for a moment."

I felt a wetness on my face and realized that he was crying. This greatly worried my dreamself, but perplexed me. Why would he be crying?

He pulled far enough away from me, so he could look down into my face. I reached up and wiped away his tears and kissed each of his eyelids.

"Tell me what's wrong, Ares," I ordered softly. The lamplight flickered around us, highlighting the chiseled contours of his body and strong arms; the same arms that were holding onto me tightly, as if I would leave him.

"She nearly stopped me from coming to you," he whispered. His voice was hoarse and raw. Perhaps he had been screaming for so long that it hurt to speak, or perhaps he had cried so hard that his throat was still constricted; I didn't know which or why.

The idea caused me to shiver. Now my dreamself was frightened.

"Who?" I made him look at me by talking his head firmly into my hands.

His mouth moved but no sound came out of him. His throat worked but it was all in vain. Soon he was sweating from the effort. Tears once more came to his eyes and he finally stopped with a strangled gasp.

"I can't," he whimpered painfully and it hurt my dreamself to see him in so much agony.

I, however, remained perplexed.

He buried his face into my stomach and wrapped his arms around my waist. I held him gently and ran my fingers soothingly through his long hair. He continued to sob quietly, wetting my dress to the skin. His sobs eventually became less and his grip lessened slightly, but I did not cease stroking his hair and back.

"It'll be all right," I said into his hair and began to rock him gently. "You're here with me now. You're safe. I promise."

He violently shook his head and practically tore out of my arms. Confused by the sudden movement, I released him.

"You don't understand, Calypso! I could have hurt you! I can't let myself do that to you." His eyes were rimmed in red and he looked ready to start crying again.

"You could never hurt me." She knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her. I tried to tell her that she was wrong, but she wouldn't hear of it. Again, she was irritated with me.

"But--"

I stopped him with a gentle kiss. Which surprised me to no end, I certainly had never initiated a kiss in my entire life. She was used to it, I guess.

He pulled away and a stunned look came over him. I smiled down at him and delicately traced my fingers over his features. His hand caught my own and we looked at each other for a long moment.

"Gods, I love you," he murmured and then took me back into his arms. One of his hands buried itself into my hair and undid the braids, letting them fall free. He laid us back down onto the bed and kissed me. His other hand worked quickly to rid me of the rest of my dress.

It occurred to me what this cave was used for and if I could have, I would have blushed. However, I was much too busy returning the deep kiss and touches to do so.

Part of me wanted to stop what was happening, to wake up. The other part of me was curious and there was no mistaking the feel of his skin on mine. It thrilled me and he pulled me over him, causing our kiss to break. Breathless I looked down at him and he kissed me once more, short and tender.

"I love you."

I awoke with a start and even cried out. I sat up and blinked several times. Trembling, I raised a hand to my face.

It was damp.

* * *

I had to go to school the next day. Thankfully, it was a Friday and that made it a little better. The weekend would be taken up by homework and temple duties, but it would be a welcome distraction from life.

During the day, I had problems focusing through all of my classes. It hardly mattered for most of them because I was doing well in everything.

The stupid dream was starting to haunt me and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I didn't even notice when the final bell had rung and Mr. d'Stormui had dismissed us. That was how distracted and unfocused I was. I didn't even know that school was over. Reality and I didn't meet until someone politely cleared their throat. I blinked and was very startled to see that a young woman was standing there. Her hair was a dark auburn and she seemed overly pale.

She was short too. I think that Serena was taller than she was. Which is funny 'cause Serena isn't much taller than five feet, four inches.

"I'm looking for Jonathon," she said with a friendly smile, "He told me this was his room. Did he actually give someone detention?" she spoke so quickly that I blinked again. I was starting to feel quite stupid.

Then I turned bright red.

"Actually," I was still blushing, "I kinda lost track of time."

She chuckled quietly and then I noticed that she wasn't wearing a school uniform, although she didn't look too much older than me. Maybe around seventeen or eighteen. But, then again, she had called Mr. d'Stormui, Jonathon, so she had to be a friend.

"I understand how that can happen," she said as she easily hopped up to sit on the teacher's desk. "Lemme guess," she smiled warmly, "You were thinking about a guy. Probably a blonde one."

My jaw dropped. Immediately I was suspicious. I searched her with my holy powers, but felt nothing. There was a Void where she was, so she must have more power than I did, or just be one of the few people in the world who are neither good nor evil, but completely balanced.

"How did--"

"I know?" she finished for me. Again she chuckled, "It's always a man," she said simply, "and then it's almost always a blonde. They tend to be more trouble then they're worth." There was a faint note of bitterness to her voice that convinced me that she knew what she was talking about.

I continued to look at her like a stunned horse.

"Blondes are the worst," she continued, "They look all innocent and sweet, but sometimes they are the most possessive men of all. They don't like to share."

I oggled at her for a few moments and then smiled slightly, "Personal experience?"

She nodded vigorously, "The worst. You really have no idea," she suddenly looked down at a book that was on the desk, "Then again, maybe you do."

Before I could react to this confusing and somewhat revealing statement, Mr. d'Stormui came back into the room. He saw the red head and walked over to her.

He completely dwarfed her; he was so tall.

They exchanged a hug and a brief kiss before he pulled her off the desk and into his arms. She settled there easily and both smiled at me.

It was like they had been made for each other.

I blinked and nervously looked down. I felt like I was intruding on something sacred, something special, but it was obvious from their smile that I hadn't been.

"Hello Rei," he said, "I see you and," he paused and looked down at her. He asked her something in an unfamiliar language. It didn't sound anything like English or French, the two languages I was currently working on in other classes. She murmured something back, "Katrine have met. Although it seems I will have to make the introductions. You must excuse her for her lack in manners."

She rolled her eyes, "Someone's not going to get dinner tonight," she muttered in a sing song voice.

He just grinned, "Hino Rei, this is Katrine Valentine. Kaya, this is Rei, one of my best students."

I blushed. I normally didn't get that kind of comment from a teacher, and well. ..Mr. d'Stormui is really hot.

Katrine smiled and winked at me. "Rei and I were talking about blondes," she said idly.

"They're nothing but trouble," he said immediately. "Worse then red heads."

I managed a weak laugh and began to gather my things. A moment later my more responsible and scholastic side got the better of me. I cleared my throat, preparing to prove Mr. d'Stormui wrong in front of his girlfriend.

"Sir? What. . . what chapters did we cover in class today? I . . . I kinda spaced out."

"Thirteen and fourteen," he said easily. This made me feel guilty. He had noticed my little break from reality. "This weekends essay is on um…" he flushed slightly.

Katrine raised an eyebrow. "On what, Jon? Have it out, the girl wants to get on with her weekend."

There was something going on here that I just wasn't getting. I could almost feel the undertones. Again, I was reminded of Serena and Darien. Half the time when I was around them they would say things that obviously had meaning, but I just didn't get it.

Then again, I don't think I was meant to.

"I'm really not going to get l-dinner," he sighed, "An explanation and discussion of the undercurrents of Kalkaylakia and her partner's fight during the final training session."

"I can't believe you," she muttered, "There weren't any undercurrents and you know it. Whoever wrote your little book was either biased or stupid. It was very obvious what was going on. You are, I might add, obsessed."

I giggled and once more she winked at me. Mr. d'Stormui rolled his eyes this time. "I think my weekend is sufficiently destroyed now," he muttered.

Then, by some random cosmic cue, Darien poked his head into the room. "There you are, Rei," he said easily and I knew he had been looking for me. I hope that I remembered to keep my communicator on and there hadn't been any trouble. He looked over at the couple near the desk and smiled, "Hey, Jon."

I swear some God is up there laughing at me. Hearing him say it made me at a loss for words.

It's really annoying when that keeps happening.

Darien just grinned at my astonishment. "Jon and I grew up in the same orphanage. He was a little older than me, but he was one of my only friends."

"People thought we were brothers until I was adopted," Jonathon added as he and Darien firmly shook hands. "My parents needed an heir and we moved to America. Oh, Dare, this is the girl I told you about." Katrine was gently pushed in front of him and she just smiled at Darien.

"I'm pleased to meet you," he said politely and then gallantly kissed her hand. "I'm Chiba Darien."

"Katrine Valentine," she smiled at him and then looked over at me as the two men caught up. She made a funny face and I almost giggled. Darien heard me and swore quietly.

"Jon, it's been great, but I promised Serena that I'd bring Rei home and she wants to do some temple stuff anyway."

"Serena?"

I grinned at my teacher's expression. Amazingly, Serena hadn't come up in their short conversation. "Yeah," I grinned over my shoulder, "She's a blonde too."

Katrine's laughter followed us out the door.

* * *

Darien and I argued all the way back to the temple. It continued up the temple steps, and up to the rice paper door of the outer grounds. I was furious with him for the whole picking-me-up fiasco. It had been embarrassing for him to treat me like a child.

I even told him so.

"Stop treating me as if I'm two!"

"Damnit, Rei!" he snapped, "This is serious. Why won't you tell me who this bastard is?" We were back to that again for probably the fourth or fifth time.

"Because it changes absolutely nothing!"

I had told him this over and over but he never listened. I guess there was something in my voice this time that made him stop and pause. He looked at me completely stunned for a brief instant. Then he sighed rather heavily.

"Rei, was it that guy in the car?" We had stopped walking and were now on the elaborate porch. He stood in front of me and took me firmly by the shoulders. This gave me no chance to run away from him.

"Darien," I tried to look away.

I think that I hated him at this moment. I didn't want to deal with this on top of the dream. That's what it came down to. I hadn't told him about it, and wasn't planning to anytime soon. I just wanted to disappear. I wanted everything to just leave me alone.

Nothing I wanted ever happened when I wanted it to happen. Damn Gods.

"Was it?" he demanded again.

I closed my eyes and nodded. I heard him breathe in deeply and the hands on my shoulders clenched just a hair.

"What's his name?"

"Jedeite Sinclair."

That definitely wasn't me. First off, I don't even know his last name. I didn't even know he had a last name. Secondly, I wanted to be left alone, giving Darien his name wouldn't do that for me.

I pulled out of Darien's hold and whirled around to face the source of the voice that was sending chills through me. He was force to let go of me and turn towards the speaker as well.

Take a wild guess as to who it was.

"Not him again," the gravelly voice of my grandfather muttered. He had come out onto the porch and was glaring at Jedeite. Serena was with him as well, hand on his shoulder, and the other holding a teacup. They had been having tea. Too bad it was ruined.

Darien and I both looked at grandfather in surprise. "You know him, Sir?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"He owns the deed to the temple, the demon." His eyes didn't leave Jedeite for an instant, not even to speak to Darien. "Ever since Rei came to live with me." He spat on the ground. That was odd for him, to disgrace the sacredness of the temple like that. It showed me how much my charming and sweet grandfather was angry at Jedeite.

Bastard.

Fear as I had never felt before ran through me. He had been watching me even before I became Sailor Mars.

I wanted to heave. I felt sick. I wanted to shower compulsively. I felt dirty.

Jedeite continued to walk up to us. The black pants and blood red silk shirt flowed and moved with him, and had this been some sort of movie, he would have qualified as a very sexy vampire.

All he needed was the black leather jacket and it would be perfect.

Serena bit her lower lip nervously and she clutched her transformation brooch nervously, "That's--"

"I know."

"Good evening High Priest," he said calmly to my grandfather. "Darien," he nodded at him, "Darien's bitch." He looked over at Serena.

Both Serena and I had to stop Darien from mutilating him simply because attacking him without our powers was brainless.

And I didn't want my grandfather to get hurt in any of the fighting.

Jedeite smirked and pulled off his sunglasses. "I want to speak with Hino Rei alone," he said quietly, "She and I need to discuss the deed to the temple."

I could see what he was doing and at this sudden and horrifying realization I knew I went pale.

Grandfather and Darien realized it the moment after I, and began to noisily protest. Jedeite just looked at me and wordlessly held out his hand.

The men fell silent when I took a step forward, but it was Serena who stopped me.

"Rei, you can't." She looked at me pleadingly. "Please don't go. We need you. I need you."

I gave her a quick hug and kissed her cheek. All of this felt surreal. "I'm coming back, don't worry. We're just going to talk."

"And I'm the Czar of Greece," Darien muttered dryly.

I didn't look at him. I just gave Grandfather a hug. He kissed my cheek while he continued to glare at the blonde man.

"She's fifteen," he tried again, "She doesn't know how this works."

In front of everyone there, Jedeite looked me over, violating me with his eyes. I refused to blush. Let my wonderful grandfather think I was still naïve, maybe it would change things.

"She'll learn."

Then again, I should have known it wouldn't. Wishful thinking on my part. Damn.

"Come with me, Rei. We need to," he paused and smirked at Darien once more, "talk."

"Is that what they're calling it these days?" said Serena acidly.

Another point for the dumb blonde. Go Serena.

"I want to be back before midnight," I said suddenly.

I was playing at something incredibly dangerous. I was trying to see how much control I could retain over all of this.

"Of course," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. It was still outstretched. He was humoring me. I knew it and so did he.

I took another step forward and felt Serena's friendly embrace slip away.

Meeting his eyes, I reached out my hand to his.

Then, in silence, I took it.