Author's Note: Like I said, I'd update the story once I recieved five reviews. So, here it is, the next chapter! Thanks so much for those that reviewed me...you don't know how much it means to me. Especially those that encouraged the story~much thanks!

No, I do not own Sailor Moon.

Enjoy~

Whispered Secrets in the Night

Chapter One:

The hour was late when Simon Mar, first mate aboard the Lightening, shoved through the swinging doors with some of his men. Serena had been up since before dawn. Her feet hurt, her eyes burned, and a dull ache stabbed into her lower back. Now Simon Mar was here and she wonder if her night could possibly grow any worse.

Hoping he'd take a table on Mina's side of the taproom, she slipped quietly into the kitchen and peered through a crack in the door.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Damon scowled. "There's plenty of help in this here kitchen. Get back out there were you're needed. There's customers waiting! Get yourself back to work, or I'll take a switch to you're fanny."

She started to argue, but knew there was no hope in avoiding Simon Mar and his too-friendly hands. Damon was a strict disciplinarian and to him the customer was always came first. She was only a woman. A little mauling never hurt her and it was good for business. At times, Serena wondered how far her father would actually go to ensure the success and business of the Sterling Tavern.

"I'm going, Papa," she replied as she walked back into the room, heading straight for the table in the corner, occupied by Simon, a place he had purposely selected on her side of the taproom.

"Good eveing, Mr. Mar." She forced her to smile, being careful to stand just out of his reach. "What will it be for you and your men tonight?"

"Well, now, look what we have here, mates." His eyes raked downward from the top of her head to the soles of her brown shoes. they lingered for a moment on her ankles, then crept up to settle on her breasts. "What do you say, mates? Isn't she the prettiest female this side of the Atlanti?"

She colored a little and her chin went up. Compliments for women-hungry men were hardly new, but Simon's where always slightly crude. And none of them looked at her with the same nakedlust teh big first mate always did.

"I asked what would you like to have."

He laughed. "Did you hear that The lady wants to now what it is that we'd like to have." A hand snaked out and grabbed her waist. She stried to pull way, but it was no use, he was more than twice her size. With little effort, he dragged her down on his lab and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What we'd like, little dove, is a piece of you."

"Let me go-I have work to do." Serena started to struggle, but it was no use, only causing him to laugh.

"I cant' think of anything that would be more pleasant than spreading those pretty thighs of yours and burying my big, hard-"

"That's enough, Mar." Serena's eyes slashed upward to a tall, dark figure with the deep, forbidding voice, "Let her go."

He cheeks were flaming. She had never felt mor embarrassed and humilated in all her life, yet never so relieved as she was to see Darien Delanie.

"She just asked me a question. I was only giving her my answer. So, I'd advise you, Captain, to stay te hellout of this."

"I told you to let her go. I won't say it again," Darien said as she watched Serena struggle to break free.

Serena bit her lip. If she were the cause of a fight in the tavern, her father would be furious. She forced herself to look into the captain's face. "It's alright, Captain Delaine. Mr. Mar was only teasing. Weren't you, Simon?"

He craked a lustful smile, "Of course, that's right, Captain. We were just being friendly-like. Nothing to get worked up about."

Eyes an intene midnight blue speared into her. "Then I shall have to beg your pardon." He made a slight bow and started to turn away.

Fury swelled up in her like a gale-force wind and all her good intentions flew out the window. With a shriek, Serena leaped to her feet, moving so swiftly Simon lost his hold. Grappig a tankard of ale, she swung it against the side of his face. "You are the most despicable, foulest creature I have every had the misfortune to meet. If you ever touch me that way again I swear I'll find a pistol and shoot you!"

She whirled away from him and smack into Darien Delaine's broad chest. A corner of his mouth quirked upward in the barest hint of a smile. "I thought he was just being friendly."

Serena flushed and backed a step away. "Simon Mar wouldn't know the first thing about being friendly. I just didn't want to cause any trouble."

"The fault was hardly yours."

"My father wouldn't see it that way though."

How much longer could she put up with all this? Not much, Serena vowed. Not much long at all.

Her chance came far sooner than she had imagined.

~*~Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm in the progress of writing the next chapter, so I may just update another chapter later on today. Don't forget~review me! After I submit this chapter, I won't update it until I gain five more reviews. See a pattern? Every five reviews earn another chapter. Take care~