"I'll repeat again," Darien said dangerously, "What are you doing?"
Serena locked her eyes upon his, and said in a sarcastic voice matching his dangerous one,
"Very obviously, I'm hanging onto something that appears to be a cliff leading into a pit of darkness with two choices I can make. One, to let go and be some hungry vampire's meal, or two, to let you make me your vampire meal. Neither very inviting, so I think I'll just dangle here for now."
For a moment Serena was distracted, as Darien's eyes seemed to sparkle with laughter at her contradictiveness, yet when she blinked, it disappeared as quickly as though it had never been there. Serena turned her attention back to more important things. She felt her hand slipping and felt her breath and heartbeats quicken.
"I warned you," Darien told her in a matter of fact voice.
"And I told you, I can't stay hereeeee!" Serena screamed as her hand could not hold on any longer and she felt the air rush past her as she fell.
Darien grabbed her arm, still holding her above the pit where the other vampires lay. Serena was not one to be played with so she commented harshly,
"Well, are you going to help me up or drop me down? I don't want to stay here all day!"
"Weren't you going to dangle on that cliff all day?" Darien said.
"You're not actually supposed to listen what I say!" Serena argued unconvincingly.
Darien frowned slightly from confusion before Serena continued,
"That was different, when I said that I was controlling my own fate, but now the tables have turned and you're deciding since you've got hold of my arm!"
"Doesn't that mean you shouldn't argue with me lest I drop you to your waiting death?" Darien inquired curiously.
"Why are you asking me all these questions! I am not in a position to answer questions!" Serena complained.
To her surprise, Darien lifted her up to stand beside him. She had yelled at him and he had still helped her up? How much patience did this guy have?
"Don't think I'll just let you go breaking my rules without a punishment. I always have a reason. I have some questions to ask you," Darien explained.
Serena moved closer to him and glared at his cold eyes and exclaimed,
"What makes you think I'm going to answer!"
Darien returned her glare and grabbed her wrist, then said,
"Do you have a choice?"
Serena ripped her wrist away and said coldly,
"As a matter of fact, I do. You kill me you get no answers. You don't kill me; you still don't get any answers. Besides, what questions would you want to ask me anyways?"
"Come with me to my study and I'll ask you the questions there. Or would you prefer to visit my other friends in that pit again?" Darien asked her.
Serena reluctantly followed him and was amazed at his study. It was large, well furnished, and had more books than one could read in a lifetime, but then, Darien was a vamp. So naturally, he had a lot of time on his hands.
"Have a seat," Darien said politely, gesturing towards a chair opposite his.
Serena resisted the urge to comment on his sudden politeness after his death threats as she settled into her chair. It was light and bouncy and a deep shade of blue, her favorite color. Just sitting in the chair relaxed her.
"Who are you?" Darien asked quietly.
Serena burst out into a fit of laughter. That was the one question she had never been asked. In the village everyone knew Serena, whether it was from Madame Olga's endless warnings about her or from her proud boasting father, before he had died.
Darien raised an eyebrow and Serena immediately calmed herself down, she would sit through this charade of questions calmly and show no signs of interest. That way, she would show him she was mature and not easily frightened.
"Ah," coughed Serena, "My name is Serenity Adianne Gendratti, daughter of Serenity Serene Gendratti, down a long line of Serenity Gendratti's. People more often refer to me with the shorter version of Serena."
"Where do you come from?" Darien asked, "Before you came to the village."
Serena stiffened, this was not a question she had been expecting. He would most likely laugh at her now. How did she get herself into this!
"Manhatten," Serena said.
"You're lying," Darien said angrily.
"How would you know!" Serena came back, shaking her fists.
"I can read your mind," Darien said, grinning at the change of look on her face.
Serena quickly thought of something and said, "Then why do you have to ask me questions. Why don't you just take it from my mind?"
"I can only read certain parts of your mind," Darien stated, "Usually I can read anything, but for some reason parts of your mind are blocked."
Serena smiled proudly as she said, "That's inherited, I am protected by the moon my mama told me."
Darien seemed a little shaken up at this news.
"The moon..." Darien whispered.
When Serena just continued to blink unaffected, Darien shook his head and asked her another question, "Why did you come here?"
"I didn't come here purposely, I was just finding shelter for the rain," Serena said, getting annoyed.
"Why not go back to the village?" Darien said logically.
"I can never go back there," Serena said, her voice shaking a little, and her cheeks turning red.
"You were to leave for safety reasons of the village," Darien finished.
"How did you-" Serena was cut off.
"I was told the same thing by the same person," Darien said, not looking her in the eye anymore.
Serena thought about this carefully, "That would mean Madame Olga is what-a million years old- not possible!"
"Oh, and vampires was an impossible too, wasn't it?" Darien commented coldly.
Serena ignored him and said, "So-no, you're him? Or are you? Are you Endymion Blanche?"
"Yes," Darien replied, still looking down.
"You were banned from the village a long time ago because you killed someone! You're a murderer! And what do you do in this place, kill even more people-everyday?!" Serena burst out.
Darien got out of his chair and ran worried hands through his hair again. He felt some tears in his eyes and cried out furiously,
"It's not my fault! It's not my fault I have to kill people! It's not my fault I have to stay here, to hide away from the day! It's not my fault I can never go back to that village! And it's not my fault," he paused for breath. "It's Madame Olga's fault."
Serena was shocked. Sure, he had gotten angry but he had never burst out like that. And she saw the tears leaking out of his eyes as he blinked them back. Saw hurt through his cold and angry eyes. Meekly and comfortingly she said,
"I believe you, but how?"
Darien sat down looking towards the ground again, "I fell in love with one of her daughters. She tried to warn me off with a spell but it went wrong. I ended up turning into a creature of the undead and my first victim was her daughter. She would not tell the village about her spell gone wrong, instead she told them that a demon had come to live with me and that I was to be banned from the village."
He looked her into the eyes again, "So I spend my days in this fortress away from the sun and try to figure out what to do. I made other vampires, made my own rules. Those who break the rules go to the pit. I must drink blood to survive so I drink it from those who are unfortunate enough to stumble across my fortress. You're probably wondering why I've not killed you yet and why I'm telling you this."
Serena nodded encouragingly before he continued, "All the blood I have ever taken tastes the same. I don't know why, probably another part of Madame Olga's spell gone wrong, as vampires are supposed to be able to taste different blood. The only blood that has ever tasted different from anyone else's was yours."
He paused again and holding her face gently, said, "There's something about you I can't place. You were also told to leave the village, you're protected by the power of the moon, and your blood tastes different. I know though, that you are afraid of me."
Serena turned away from him, telling him of her own fears, "You like me, don't you? That's why my blood tastes different. That's probably why you seem so interested in me and haven't killed me yet. You have to kill me now or turn me into one of the undead."
"I do. I don't want to, but your blood in me has made me react in some way I cannot explain. Do you like me as well?" Darien asked sadly, already knowing the answer in her mind.
"No. I can never love any boy or man. Every fortune teller who has ever told my fortune has told me that. Out of all the superstitious stuff, its the only thing I've ever believed that a fortune teller has told me," Serena started, "But that doesn't make a difference to you, does it? Go on, kill me, it's the only way!"
Serena stepped forward to him, put her hair to one side and leant her neck out. He came forward and his teeth automatically became fangs again. He ran the fangs up and down her neck. Serena waited for death.
"I can't," He breathed.
"What do you mean!" Serena said bitterly, "Of course you can! You have to! I don't want to stay here with you and you know it. I'm going to try and escape again whether you like it or not, but since you like me you're just going to stop me again and again. And you're obviously not going to let me go! So just kill me now or I'm stuck here anyways!"
Serena shivered, he was so close. His fangs still dragging on her neck. Despite her unwavering voice she was terribly afraid, but she knew she spoke truth.
Darien forced his fangs to back off, picked Serena up and carried her to her room. Neither spoke as he put her in her doorway and he looked at her longingly. He turned away, feeling very rejected and closed her door.
"So you're back, huh?" Rei demanded, "I told you he liked you. So what happened, I want the whole story!"
"Well," Serena began...
________________________________________________________________________
"Darien, you're late?" Jedeite commented. "Someone didn't try to escape again, did they?"
"Yes," Darien said coldly. "The girl."
"Ohhh," Jedeite nodded, giving a laugh, "She's got you hook, line, and sinker, I'll promise you that. That means she won't be eaten or leaving any time soon. Mind you, I'm not complaining. She's good company for my Rei. Rei does get bored sometimes and I don't really help."
Darien laughed back this time, "You really are obsessed with that Rei, aren't you?"
"I love her," Jedeite said wistfully, thinking of Rei again. "I'll wait as long as it takes to get her to love me. I can never stop loving her. And you, you feel the same way about Serena, don't you?"
Darien sat down in his chair. "I don't know. I don't want to love her, what's happening to me ?Jedeite?"
"I don't know. One moment it's just another victim fallen into the clutches of the lord. the next moment, you talk to me endlessly about her."
"Her blood tasted different."
Jedeite said thoughtfully, "Maybe there's something special in her blood?"
"Yes," Darien responded, "I thought about that. I don't know what; however, I may be able to find out. Her line of family is protected by the moon, so some of her thoughts are veiled. It may also have something to do with where she comes from. Either way, I have to find out what it is!"
"Why is that?" Jedeite said, not really paying attention.
"I don't think I really love her, I think it's just her blood. And now that I have it in me, for some reason, I couldn't harm her. Must be another type of protection offered by her moon."
Jedeite payed attention again, "Darien, my friend, you are hopeless. I don't think it's her blood, I think it's just you."
Darien eyed his friend suspiciously.
Jedeite said in an accusing voice, "You haven't been in love for a million years and you've forgotten what it feels like. You're trying to get some other explanation for the feeling." He poked a finger at Darien, "You're afraid."
Darien turned a little red.
"Anyways, I'm off to town again, got to get something for Rei."
"I'm coming with you this time," Darien told him instantly. "I'll get something for Serena."
Jedeite laughed then said more seriously, "But then who will guard the castle at this time of night?"
"Kamgin has been volunteering for the last hundred years, maybe he'll finally get his chance."
Jedeite laughed again and nudged Darien in the shoulder, "That girl really has gotten to you, hasn't she?"
________________________________________________________________________
"So basically you're in the same position as me," Rei sumarized.
"Almost, yea," Serena replied, frustrated. "I don't understand, why doesn't he just kill me?!"
"Because he's in love with you, and-"Rei stopped in mid sentence. "Can you keep a secret?"
Serena nodded and Rei whispered, "I have these powers. Jedeite noticed them too. He said his vampiric senses tell him that I have the power of Mars. He told me while you were gone that he thinks you have the power of the moon. The big boss vamp, you know,"
"Darien," they chorused.
"Doesn't know about this?" Serena had put two and two together.
"Nope, vampires have different abilities. These powers though, permit us to do special things. One thing a vampire can do is put us in a trance and get us to do anything. We two are alike because we both resisted and they can't do whatever they want with us, especially not kill us, so they both noticed us. These powers and resistance run in our blood, so our blood tastes different to the vampires. It's kind of a protection for us," Rei explained.
"If we have all this protection, why can't we leave?" Serena demanded.
Rei looks sadly at her, "We're bonded. they have both drunk our blood, so we're connected, but that connection keeps them from killing us if we really don't want to be killed or turned into one of them even. So that's why he doesn't kill you, because you don't really want to be killed and the bond stops him."
"Is there any way to cut the bond?" Serena asked, understanding everything Rei had said and wanting to ask a million questions.
"I don't know."
"Also, I didn't know Jedeite had taken your blood," Serena remarked.
"When I first tried to run away, Darien came after me, ready to kill. Jedeite got to me first and saved me. I tried to run away again, so to keep me from running away, somehow he knew about bonds and took some of my blood. He didn't want to, he told me, but it was the only way to keep me from getting killed from the other vamps, including big boss vamp who hates my guts."
"I see," Serena muttered. "We're very alike then, almost the same situations."
"It makes me wonder," Rei voiced her thoughts, "I can also read fortunes. Not like a fortune teller, but really read fortune. I knew you would come here, knew that the lord would fall in love with you. I also know that we're not the only ones with these powers. Also, something is supposed to happen in this fortress, that will affect all the people with powers. they'll be drawn to this castle, as will all their enemies."
"So, more people like us and more enemies will be coming here," Serena understood, "When will the next person come?"
Rei looked up, a little scared, "She is already in the fortress."
Serena locked her eyes upon his, and said in a sarcastic voice matching his dangerous one,
"Very obviously, I'm hanging onto something that appears to be a cliff leading into a pit of darkness with two choices I can make. One, to let go and be some hungry vampire's meal, or two, to let you make me your vampire meal. Neither very inviting, so I think I'll just dangle here for now."
For a moment Serena was distracted, as Darien's eyes seemed to sparkle with laughter at her contradictiveness, yet when she blinked, it disappeared as quickly as though it had never been there. Serena turned her attention back to more important things. She felt her hand slipping and felt her breath and heartbeats quicken.
"I warned you," Darien told her in a matter of fact voice.
"And I told you, I can't stay hereeeee!" Serena screamed as her hand could not hold on any longer and she felt the air rush past her as she fell.
Darien grabbed her arm, still holding her above the pit where the other vampires lay. Serena was not one to be played with so she commented harshly,
"Well, are you going to help me up or drop me down? I don't want to stay here all day!"
"Weren't you going to dangle on that cliff all day?" Darien said.
"You're not actually supposed to listen what I say!" Serena argued unconvincingly.
Darien frowned slightly from confusion before Serena continued,
"That was different, when I said that I was controlling my own fate, but now the tables have turned and you're deciding since you've got hold of my arm!"
"Doesn't that mean you shouldn't argue with me lest I drop you to your waiting death?" Darien inquired curiously.
"Why are you asking me all these questions! I am not in a position to answer questions!" Serena complained.
To her surprise, Darien lifted her up to stand beside him. She had yelled at him and he had still helped her up? How much patience did this guy have?
"Don't think I'll just let you go breaking my rules without a punishment. I always have a reason. I have some questions to ask you," Darien explained.
Serena moved closer to him and glared at his cold eyes and exclaimed,
"What makes you think I'm going to answer!"
Darien returned her glare and grabbed her wrist, then said,
"Do you have a choice?"
Serena ripped her wrist away and said coldly,
"As a matter of fact, I do. You kill me you get no answers. You don't kill me; you still don't get any answers. Besides, what questions would you want to ask me anyways?"
"Come with me to my study and I'll ask you the questions there. Or would you prefer to visit my other friends in that pit again?" Darien asked her.
Serena reluctantly followed him and was amazed at his study. It was large, well furnished, and had more books than one could read in a lifetime, but then, Darien was a vamp. So naturally, he had a lot of time on his hands.
"Have a seat," Darien said politely, gesturing towards a chair opposite his.
Serena resisted the urge to comment on his sudden politeness after his death threats as she settled into her chair. It was light and bouncy and a deep shade of blue, her favorite color. Just sitting in the chair relaxed her.
"Who are you?" Darien asked quietly.
Serena burst out into a fit of laughter. That was the one question she had never been asked. In the village everyone knew Serena, whether it was from Madame Olga's endless warnings about her or from her proud boasting father, before he had died.
Darien raised an eyebrow and Serena immediately calmed herself down, she would sit through this charade of questions calmly and show no signs of interest. That way, she would show him she was mature and not easily frightened.
"Ah," coughed Serena, "My name is Serenity Adianne Gendratti, daughter of Serenity Serene Gendratti, down a long line of Serenity Gendratti's. People more often refer to me with the shorter version of Serena."
"Where do you come from?" Darien asked, "Before you came to the village."
Serena stiffened, this was not a question she had been expecting. He would most likely laugh at her now. How did she get herself into this!
"Manhatten," Serena said.
"You're lying," Darien said angrily.
"How would you know!" Serena came back, shaking her fists.
"I can read your mind," Darien said, grinning at the change of look on her face.
Serena quickly thought of something and said, "Then why do you have to ask me questions. Why don't you just take it from my mind?"
"I can only read certain parts of your mind," Darien stated, "Usually I can read anything, but for some reason parts of your mind are blocked."
Serena smiled proudly as she said, "That's inherited, I am protected by the moon my mama told me."
Darien seemed a little shaken up at this news.
"The moon..." Darien whispered.
When Serena just continued to blink unaffected, Darien shook his head and asked her another question, "Why did you come here?"
"I didn't come here purposely, I was just finding shelter for the rain," Serena said, getting annoyed.
"Why not go back to the village?" Darien said logically.
"I can never go back there," Serena said, her voice shaking a little, and her cheeks turning red.
"You were to leave for safety reasons of the village," Darien finished.
"How did you-" Serena was cut off.
"I was told the same thing by the same person," Darien said, not looking her in the eye anymore.
Serena thought about this carefully, "That would mean Madame Olga is what-a million years old- not possible!"
"Oh, and vampires was an impossible too, wasn't it?" Darien commented coldly.
Serena ignored him and said, "So-no, you're him? Or are you? Are you Endymion Blanche?"
"Yes," Darien replied, still looking down.
"You were banned from the village a long time ago because you killed someone! You're a murderer! And what do you do in this place, kill even more people-everyday?!" Serena burst out.
Darien got out of his chair and ran worried hands through his hair again. He felt some tears in his eyes and cried out furiously,
"It's not my fault! It's not my fault I have to kill people! It's not my fault I have to stay here, to hide away from the day! It's not my fault I can never go back to that village! And it's not my fault," he paused for breath. "It's Madame Olga's fault."
Serena was shocked. Sure, he had gotten angry but he had never burst out like that. And she saw the tears leaking out of his eyes as he blinked them back. Saw hurt through his cold and angry eyes. Meekly and comfortingly she said,
"I believe you, but how?"
Darien sat down looking towards the ground again, "I fell in love with one of her daughters. She tried to warn me off with a spell but it went wrong. I ended up turning into a creature of the undead and my first victim was her daughter. She would not tell the village about her spell gone wrong, instead she told them that a demon had come to live with me and that I was to be banned from the village."
He looked her into the eyes again, "So I spend my days in this fortress away from the sun and try to figure out what to do. I made other vampires, made my own rules. Those who break the rules go to the pit. I must drink blood to survive so I drink it from those who are unfortunate enough to stumble across my fortress. You're probably wondering why I've not killed you yet and why I'm telling you this."
Serena nodded encouragingly before he continued, "All the blood I have ever taken tastes the same. I don't know why, probably another part of Madame Olga's spell gone wrong, as vampires are supposed to be able to taste different blood. The only blood that has ever tasted different from anyone else's was yours."
He paused again and holding her face gently, said, "There's something about you I can't place. You were also told to leave the village, you're protected by the power of the moon, and your blood tastes different. I know though, that you are afraid of me."
Serena turned away from him, telling him of her own fears, "You like me, don't you? That's why my blood tastes different. That's probably why you seem so interested in me and haven't killed me yet. You have to kill me now or turn me into one of the undead."
"I do. I don't want to, but your blood in me has made me react in some way I cannot explain. Do you like me as well?" Darien asked sadly, already knowing the answer in her mind.
"No. I can never love any boy or man. Every fortune teller who has ever told my fortune has told me that. Out of all the superstitious stuff, its the only thing I've ever believed that a fortune teller has told me," Serena started, "But that doesn't make a difference to you, does it? Go on, kill me, it's the only way!"
Serena stepped forward to him, put her hair to one side and leant her neck out. He came forward and his teeth automatically became fangs again. He ran the fangs up and down her neck. Serena waited for death.
"I can't," He breathed.
"What do you mean!" Serena said bitterly, "Of course you can! You have to! I don't want to stay here with you and you know it. I'm going to try and escape again whether you like it or not, but since you like me you're just going to stop me again and again. And you're obviously not going to let me go! So just kill me now or I'm stuck here anyways!"
Serena shivered, he was so close. His fangs still dragging on her neck. Despite her unwavering voice she was terribly afraid, but she knew she spoke truth.
Darien forced his fangs to back off, picked Serena up and carried her to her room. Neither spoke as he put her in her doorway and he looked at her longingly. He turned away, feeling very rejected and closed her door.
"So you're back, huh?" Rei demanded, "I told you he liked you. So what happened, I want the whole story!"
"Well," Serena began...
________________________________________________________________________
"Darien, you're late?" Jedeite commented. "Someone didn't try to escape again, did they?"
"Yes," Darien said coldly. "The girl."
"Ohhh," Jedeite nodded, giving a laugh, "She's got you hook, line, and sinker, I'll promise you that. That means she won't be eaten or leaving any time soon. Mind you, I'm not complaining. She's good company for my Rei. Rei does get bored sometimes and I don't really help."
Darien laughed back this time, "You really are obsessed with that Rei, aren't you?"
"I love her," Jedeite said wistfully, thinking of Rei again. "I'll wait as long as it takes to get her to love me. I can never stop loving her. And you, you feel the same way about Serena, don't you?"
Darien sat down in his chair. "I don't know. I don't want to love her, what's happening to me ?Jedeite?"
"I don't know. One moment it's just another victim fallen into the clutches of the lord. the next moment, you talk to me endlessly about her."
"Her blood tasted different."
Jedeite said thoughtfully, "Maybe there's something special in her blood?"
"Yes," Darien responded, "I thought about that. I don't know what; however, I may be able to find out. Her line of family is protected by the moon, so some of her thoughts are veiled. It may also have something to do with where she comes from. Either way, I have to find out what it is!"
"Why is that?" Jedeite said, not really paying attention.
"I don't think I really love her, I think it's just her blood. And now that I have it in me, for some reason, I couldn't harm her. Must be another type of protection offered by her moon."
Jedeite payed attention again, "Darien, my friend, you are hopeless. I don't think it's her blood, I think it's just you."
Darien eyed his friend suspiciously.
Jedeite said in an accusing voice, "You haven't been in love for a million years and you've forgotten what it feels like. You're trying to get some other explanation for the feeling." He poked a finger at Darien, "You're afraid."
Darien turned a little red.
"Anyways, I'm off to town again, got to get something for Rei."
"I'm coming with you this time," Darien told him instantly. "I'll get something for Serena."
Jedeite laughed then said more seriously, "But then who will guard the castle at this time of night?"
"Kamgin has been volunteering for the last hundred years, maybe he'll finally get his chance."
Jedeite laughed again and nudged Darien in the shoulder, "That girl really has gotten to you, hasn't she?"
________________________________________________________________________
"So basically you're in the same position as me," Rei sumarized.
"Almost, yea," Serena replied, frustrated. "I don't understand, why doesn't he just kill me?!"
"Because he's in love with you, and-"Rei stopped in mid sentence. "Can you keep a secret?"
Serena nodded and Rei whispered, "I have these powers. Jedeite noticed them too. He said his vampiric senses tell him that I have the power of Mars. He told me while you were gone that he thinks you have the power of the moon. The big boss vamp, you know,"
"Darien," they chorused.
"Doesn't know about this?" Serena had put two and two together.
"Nope, vampires have different abilities. These powers though, permit us to do special things. One thing a vampire can do is put us in a trance and get us to do anything. We two are alike because we both resisted and they can't do whatever they want with us, especially not kill us, so they both noticed us. These powers and resistance run in our blood, so our blood tastes different to the vampires. It's kind of a protection for us," Rei explained.
"If we have all this protection, why can't we leave?" Serena demanded.
Rei looks sadly at her, "We're bonded. they have both drunk our blood, so we're connected, but that connection keeps them from killing us if we really don't want to be killed or turned into one of them even. So that's why he doesn't kill you, because you don't really want to be killed and the bond stops him."
"Is there any way to cut the bond?" Serena asked, understanding everything Rei had said and wanting to ask a million questions.
"I don't know."
"Also, I didn't know Jedeite had taken your blood," Serena remarked.
"When I first tried to run away, Darien came after me, ready to kill. Jedeite got to me first and saved me. I tried to run away again, so to keep me from running away, somehow he knew about bonds and took some of my blood. He didn't want to, he told me, but it was the only way to keep me from getting killed from the other vamps, including big boss vamp who hates my guts."
"I see," Serena muttered. "We're very alike then, almost the same situations."
"It makes me wonder," Rei voiced her thoughts, "I can also read fortunes. Not like a fortune teller, but really read fortune. I knew you would come here, knew that the lord would fall in love with you. I also know that we're not the only ones with these powers. Also, something is supposed to happen in this fortress, that will affect all the people with powers. they'll be drawn to this castle, as will all their enemies."
"So, more people like us and more enemies will be coming here," Serena understood, "When will the next person come?"
Rei looked up, a little scared, "She is already in the fortress."
