"Sailor Moon!"
"Right! Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" If any of the Senshi noticed that Moon's attack was tinged with black, they were too weary to comment. As the latest vampire went up in flames, Moon dropped to her knees. "Dusted." she gasped.
There were five days left until the Sanguine Moon, and vampires ran rampant through the dark alleyways of Tokyo. It had been one week since the night Usagi had leapt out into the night. When she had regained her nerves upon reawakening, she called the others on her wrist comm. Within minutes, everyone had converged upon her apartment. Usagi was horrified to discover that, wrapped inside her dream, she had knocked Mamoru unconscious. Still, she had insisted it was a case of sleep . . . flying, and that she'd done it before. Suspicious, both Saturn and Mercury ran diagnostic analyses on her, but found nothing. They had to accept her explanation.
"Well, that's it, guys." Moon mumbled, afraid to open her mouth too wide. "I've got a major craving for brownies. See ya later!" With that, Sailor Moon rushed away before anyone could protest. She was shortly back at her apartment.
I hate lying to them like this, but what can I do? I know that, if I told everyone the truth, they'd hate me, even try to kill me. Even Mamoru couldn't forgive what I've done. Peering into her bathroom mirror, Usagi powered down. Sailor Moon's choker concealed the black, vicious-looking bite mark on her neck. Usagi's makeup colored her skin from its current pallor to a more natural tan. Unfortunately, nothing could hide the two glistening white fangs that had replaced her incisors. I can't even use the Transformation Pen, because they'd feel the energy and want to know why I've used it!
I'm a monster. My outside has started to match my inside; what's worse, there's no point for some of it! I don't drink blood like the other vampire youmas; I drain energy.
The phone rang. "Usako? Are you all right?"
"Ma . . . Mamochan! Of course I'm all right. . . Why do you ask?" Usagi refused to look at her reflection.
"We're all worried about you, Usako. You've locked yourself away in your home, you never talk to us, not even to me! And-"
"I'm fine." Usagi stalled, trying to think of an excuse. "These vampires are so strong; the fights take a lot out of me, so I'm just eating and sleeping! Actually, you just woke me up! Heh, you know me. . ."
An awkward silence reigned.
"Oh. I'm sorry for bothering you, Usako. Would . . .you like me to come over?" On his end of the line, Mamoru fingered the little ring that was always on his person now. "I love you."
Tears threatened to fall. "I . . . bye, Mamochan. I'll see you later," and she hung up. Would you still love me if you knew what I've become? I doubt it.
Mamoru stared at the cell phone in his hand, then turned his gaze to the windows above him. Usagi's curtains were all drawn; he imagined that no light would be able to gain entry. Again, that was very unlike his Usako; she loved light of all kinds, unless it meant waking up.
"Well?" Lita came up behind him. "Will she talk to you?"
Mamoru shook his head. "I don't know how to get through to her! The only time we ever see her now is as Sailor Moon."
Rei pushed through the rest of the group. "Well, I for one am sick of it! Usagi's at the middle of all this, and we've got to figure out how! Come on; I've got an idea. . . "
* * *
Usagi clenched her hands and resolutely turned away from the window. I'm so hungry . . . No! I won't take any more lives. Not as long as I control my body. But therein lay the problem; at night, she lost control. I've even tried tying myself up, handcuffing myself and putting the key out of reach . . . nothing works. That voice calls to me. Once I've . . . fed, I can usually resist him for a night or two, but then I become too hungry to deny these hideous urges. And now . . . it's been three days since I last fed. Nothing else fills me, not brownies, ice cream . . . anything.
A wave of dizziness rolled over her, forcing Usagi to her knees. It would be so easy to give in to the blackness, but then the dark forces would gain control of her again.
The communicator beeped, and she turned, grateful for the brief distraction, to answer it. Mars' face appeared in the small screen.
"Usagi, we need Sailor Moon! There's a vampire in the park!"
She frowned. "How can there be? I didn't feel-" She closed her mouth. The others didn't know how closely attuned Usagi was to their opponents. Yet, she could always feel exactly where each was, and knew what it was doing. But . . . but she was exhausted, and drained of so much energy . . . maybe she was simply too tired to feel it.
"I'm coming. Just hold it off until I can get there." Get there and destroy it. Maybe I can't control my own body, can't stop what's happening to me, but I'll be damned if I allow them to hurt others.
"Moon Eternal Makeup!" Now, she always transformed where the other Senshi could not see her. Instead of pure white light, she was covered in shadow. The wings that appeared at her back were of deepest black, as was her fuko. Here, however, she could use the pen, and no one would be able to read the extra energy. Holding the pen high, she disguised herself in her old image. But how much longer would it last? Brushing such thoughts aside, Moon crossed to the window-
And found herself held by two very strong arms. "What?!" Looking up, she gazed into Tuxedo Kamen's horrified blue eyes. It only took one swift tug to pull away from him, but then she was able to see the other Senshi standing behind her, identical looks in their faces.
They had all seen.
They knew.
She turned to run.
* * *
"Draco." The one-word command was all that Daemon needed to call his most powerful minion.
"I come, my Lord." The dark one appeared as he always did, stepping from the shadows into the dim light cast by Daemon's orb. "The Senshi that I captured is unconscious. I doubt she'll last much longer."
"I've no time for that, right now. I believe the other Moon warriors have finally caught on. You'll need to act now."
Draco's eyes widened. "But it's too early-"
"Never mind that. We have no choice. You are to force the final transformation and bring the Chosen One to me. Now."
"I hear and obey, Sire."
* * *
It was Rei's idea to hide outside Usagi's window and watch her transformation. Sure enough, everyone had been shocked and horrified by what they had seen. Now, Mercury saw no choice but one. "Venus, hold her please. Gently."
"Venus Love Chain, Encircle!" The golden whip lashed out and wrapped around Sailor Moon, holding her securely. Too surprised to resist, Moon stood unmoving where she was.
Accompanied by Saturn and Jupiter, Mercury walked forward. "Sailor Moon, what happened?" The golden-haired young woman only turned away. Mercury reached out and gently grasped her friend's chin, forcing her face up. "Tell us, please? We aren't here to hurt you. Just tell us how this happened."
Sailor Moon closed her eyes, and a painful spasm crossed her face. When she looked back up at Mercury, the emptiness present in her gaze tore at Mercury's heart. What . . . who did this to you, Usagi? Where is the joy and love I have always seen in your eyes?
Venus loosened her chain, and Moon reached up to grasp her locket. With a dull shimmer, her fuko disappeared, leaving only a pale- too pale- young woman with despair and acceptance in her face.
"You can let me go, Venus. I won't run. I . . . just want it over." With a glance at Mercury, Venus dismissed the Love Chain and stepped back. Tuxedo Kamen moved forward, toward his beloved, but Mercury gestured him away. I'm sorry, Mamoru, but we discussed this. I know how much you want to comfort her, but this isn't our Usagi right now.
Usagi flopped onto the floor with a lack of grace she hadn't shown in years. "I don't know where to begin. I don't know what's happened, and I don't know why. I just . . ." A tear ran down her cheek. "I want it over," she whispered. Her mouth open, she looked up, and silence reigned as Mercury finally saw what her friend had been hiding from them.
Neptune finally broke the silence. "A vampire."
Usagi nodded. "I don't drink blood, like the others. Instead, I drain energy. I try to fight it!" Her beautiful blue eyes pleaded for her Senshi to believe her. "Please trust me when I say that. But then . . . then I get so hungry, and so weak, and he takes control."
"He?" Saturn asked.
"I believe she means me," a stranger's voice cut in.
As the Senshi stared around the room for the voice's owner, a look of utter terror appeared over Usagi's face. "It's him. No, please. Not now."
"It is time, my Queen."
* * *