How Much I Hate About You
The Last Straw
Chapter 12
By: ExpressoHyper (Lady_of_Silver on ff.net and Cappuchino_Princezz
at Aria's Ink)
********************************************************************
Standard Disclaimor applies! I do NOT own Sailor Moon or the
characters! But, so as to avoid any confusion....this story most
definitely came from the not so brilliant mind of me.
*******************************************************************
ReCap:
"HeadQuarters for the Line- see cellar door." she whispered
as she read and then mentally smacked herself. 'No way could it be
that easy.' her mind raced with the thought.
'It's obviously a trap.' came the voice that had appeared
when she had hardened her heart. It was the voice of reason.
'But no one was meant to over look these plans but Darien
himself' another voice inside her head argured. Shaking her head
in an effor to make the voices go away, she groaned when they started
to quarrel.
'Hey! This is my mind! Listen up!' she mentally yelled at them,
causing both to stop. 'Good' Flipping over the large piece of paper,
she saw something she never expected. It was what looked like a maze.
Taking a closer look at the writing, she found it to be a map of the
forest that hid the secret headquarters.
***********************************************************************
It was what looked like a maze. Taking a closer look at the
writing, her eyes widened in recognition as she found it to be a map
of the forest that hid the secret headquarters of her husband's large
group. A thought popped into her head. During the their wedding, while
she was standing by the punch being as it was the only place and time
that she had all to herself that night, someone had slipped a piece
of paper into her hand. When she turned to see who it was, there had
been no one there. Finding it only remotely strange, considering the
events that had occured the past six months, she had simply slipped the
piece of paper into her hidden dress pocket and carried on as usual,
when Darien had pulled her out onto the dancefloor for a dance. She
had made sure to step on his foot once, with the heel of her shoe,
and was satisfied when he had flinched. Basking in the pride of that,
she had forgotten completely about the piece of paper that had been
shoved into her hand. Pulling a pen from a holder on the desk, she
wrote down a quick note for herself to remember to retrieve the paper
from her weddingdress pocket. A sudden clatter at the window startled
her from her thoughts. A rainstorm had started, and it wasn't hard
to figure out that thunder and lightening would most likely follow
soon. Shivers ran down her back as her hair stood on end. Quickly
making sure to hide her findings very carefully, she was startled
when the doors were thrown open. It wasn't Darien. Screaming, she
ran behind the desk.
"Serenity, be queit." came the long familiar voice she
recognized all too well. Something blue caught her eye. Immediately,
a voice boomed through the air.
"Serenity?!" it was Darien's. Her eyes rose to the ceiling
and then went back to the figure, but it had disappeared. Frightened
she ran from the room, only to be grabbed by the arm once more as she
flew up the stairs. After being pulled to a firm chest, she released
a shrill scream before a hand covered her mouth.
"Serenity, sweetheart, it's me." the comforting voice of Darien
fell on her ears. Tears of fright fell from her eyes unchecked. She
had never been so scared in her life. The hand was removed slowly
and she sobbed out his name.
"Oh Darien! I was sitting in the study and then this figure
appeared seemingly out of no where when the doors were thrown open.
Atfirst I thought it was you, but then I saw the patch. Oh Darien!
I'm so scared!" she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Sweeping off her feet, he carried her to their room and sat her
on her vanity chair before kneels infront of her and took her hands
into his after he had pryed her arms from his neck. Her heart was
beating wildly.
"Serenity, it's alright. They're gone now. You're alright
now, darling. See, this is exactly why I wanted you to stay with
my parents. They have guards for this exact reason." he admonished.
She glared at him when his hands moved to the ties of her dress.
"Darien, I hardly -" she was silenced with a soft kiss.
"Come to bed, Serenity." he huskily ordered and unbottoned
the collar of her dress before trailing kisses from her collarbone
to her lips.
********************************************************************
She sat beside him in the carriage, her hand held in his
large one. "I'm glad you see it my way now, Serenity. This will be
over soon, and then you can come home." She merely nodded and looked
out the window. Darien was smart enough not to tell her that he really
didn't want her to live anywhere but with him, because he knew she
wouldn't be safe. The killer was obviously someone who worked within
the inner circle of The Line. He was enraged when he found out that the
secret passage from his house to the headquarters had been used,
obviously by the intruder who had gone to attack his wife. He had
ordered her trunks packed first thing the next morning, and now,
only two days since the intruder had visited, they were being
transported by carriage to his parents' protected castle. Yes,
a castle. Serenity, as well as everyone else, had been kept in
the dark as to who the Franklins really were. They were very
wealthy, and were actually decendants of England's royal family.
Serenity's eyes widened noticeably as the carraige bobbed through
the large opening doors of the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly, meaning the great
wealth they possessed. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose there was never a time. Besides, you'll be well
looked after now that my parents have decided to take you in." he
replied. She glared at him.
"TAKE ME IN?! DARIEN ENDYMOIN FRANKLIN! I TOLD YOU I WANTED
TO GO BACK TO LIVE WITH MY PARENTS, but you refused." she replied.
He winced and tried to correct his mistake.
"I'm sorry, Serenity. My mother isn't too fond of sharing
her home, but my father was insistant on you living there with
them instad of going to your parents' home. This way you'll have
guards and will be watched over constantly. This is only temporary,
sweetheart. It's just untill we find out who the killer is, and
bring him to justice." he told her. She pulled away from him when
his hand went to carress her cheek. His hand merely dropped back
to his side and firmly clasped her glaved hand.
"Darien, I'll hate you forever." she replied, her voice
even icier than ever before. 'But I'll love you for longer.' her
mind completed.
"It's better you have you hate me, than to have to dead."
he replied. She continued to look away from him. Her golden blonde
hair was pulled into intricate buns and loops and then her burgandy
bonnet was fastened ontop, it's viel hanging over her face partially.
He took in her appearance. Her burgandy dress with black bodice
complimented her curves wonderfully, and he felt himself having
second thoughts about making her stay with his parents. The carraige
finally slowed to a stop and Darien hopped out before helping his wife
out at well. Black boots, that he knew came up to her knees, flashed
from under her burgandy and black shirts as he helped her down.
Taking a her black gloved hand in his and resting his other on her
opposite hip, he led her into the front foryer. His parents were waiting.
"Good morning Mother, Father." he nodded to them.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Franklin." Serenity replied obediently
when he squeezed her hand slightly. Raising her head from it's angle
at looking at her feet, her face was slightly out of view, yet she could
see them perfectly. Mrs. Franklin, surprising everyone, flung herself
over to Serenity and enveloped her in a tight hug.
"Oh, my precious daughter-in-law. I was terrified to hear of
the events that occurred two nights ago. You must be terribly shaken
up over this whole ordeal. Come, lets go into the tea room to talk and
leave the Franklin men to chat." without skipping a beat, she pulled
Serenity from Darien's hold and dragged her off towards the tea room,
babbling all the way. Darien watched as Serenity was pulled along,
her head slightly bobbing everyother time his mother paused her
endless chatter, obviously agreeing with some comment or other.
Once out of earshot, Darien turned to his father.
"How have the checks been going?" Mr. Franklin asked as he
motioned for them to head into the den.
"I don't know to tell you the truth, father. I've been too busy
keeping track of Serenity and not letting her out of my site for a
moment. I've gone nuts the past two days when I've woken up and found
her gone from our bed."
"Do you have any leads though?" Mr. Franklin pressed as he settled
into his large black chair.
"Well, a few of the men believe it's Robert Roegun and his group.
I have a strange feeling that they are right though. Robert and his
bestfriend Evan Diamond have not been to the past three meetings, claiming
sick family kept them at home. I visited them a week ago, and none of
the family I was greeted by looked sickly at all. Mrs. Roegun was
actually quite excited to see me, and Evan's fiance' Anne Viperia
was kind enough to invite me over to dinner in two days." Darien and
his father shared a long converstion in the den, while Serenity was
being submitted to pure torture with Darien's mother. She kept a
polite smile plastered on her face, but couldn't help become distracted
when Martha Franklin jabbered on and on about the color of the drapes
in her bedroom. Martha never noticed when she crept to a window and
then interrupted her.
"Mrs. Franklin, would tomorrow be a wonderful day for horseback
riding?" she inquired as she watched the black stallion with a trained
rider, gallop across the field. Martha wrinkled her nose but then smiled
slightly back when Serenity turned hopeful eyes towards her.
"If you'd like, since it's supposed to be pleasant weather tomorrow,
I could have the stable boy saddle a horse for you in the morning, and you
can ride around till lunch, if you so desire. Afterall, your stay here
should be a pleasant one." she said as she led Serenity away from the
window.
"Thank you very much. Would it be too much to ask if I could have
a few visitors?"
"Not at all, dear. We have company all the time. Mostly old friends
or small private parties, but there are a few balls hosted from time to
time. Darien was never one to be seen at them, but now that you're staying
here, I'm sure he'll be visiting everyday. Invite as many friends as you
would like, over, and they can have lunch with us at anytime. Just let
the cook know a day in advance so she can prepare the food." with that,
Martha began to give her a small tour of the castle. When she grew
exhausted, she told Serenity to join the men in the den, while she
took a short nap. Serenity parted with her at the grand staircase
and then went off insearch of the den. Low voices stopped her in her
tracks and she leaned against the wall to listen.
"So, what are you going to do about Serenity? You cannot just
dump her here and return to your home. She's your wife." came the
low tone of Darien's father. Her ears perked up when Darien sighed.
"I'll visit every chance I get, but I can't come everyday."
"Shouldn't you atleast check on her every other, I would hate
for her to go crazy living with us, especially Martha. You know how
she feels about Serenity. It wouldn't be good, I'll try to keep her
company and watch out for her, but I have business of my own too,
Darien." Serenity chose this time to enter. Her presence immediately
haulted any further conversation, and she smiled politely.
"Oh, don't my being here bother you. Please, continue to talk
about me." she replied in the nicest, sugary-sweet voice she could muster
and took a seat on the black leather settee. Darien and his father,
George, stared openly at her.
"She's got spunk." George suddenly remarked with a nod.
"I have a mind, if that's what you mean." she shot back.
"Serenity, where is my mother?" Darien asked, hoping to change
the subject.
"She's taking a nap, Darien. Her small walk around this castle
tired her out. Although, she did promise me that I could go horseback
riding tomorrow.
*********************
Martha paced her room, her hand to her forehead as if she was
deep in thought. And indeed, she was.
"How am I going to get that brat out of the castle as fast as
possible? I cannot believe out incompitent that assasin was. She was
staring straight at me not two days later as if without a care in the
world. Damn that man. I'll have to kill her myself, or see that she
has a little 'accident'." a cold smile pulled at her lips and she
sat down at her stationery to begin on her plans.
*********************
Isabella looked around the room that was barely in focus. Her large
green eyes stared at the large family portrait and a tear slid down
her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Serena, my poor Serena. I had no choice. I'm
sorry I wasn't the perfect mother to you. The truth is, I'm not
even really your mother. Your father's first wife, your real mother,
was kidnapped." Isabella's voice was a whisper as she continued to
talk to the face of the young girl in the picture. "Everybody knows
that she was the princess of France, and that one day, you would
become the princess. I was so jealous, but Serena, I couldn't
help it. I'm sorry. I'm paying for my misdeeds and you'll learn
the truth soon enough. I'll tell you, or your father will. When
I die, he'll send you to France to live with your grandparents
in France, no matter that you have Darien. You're a princess,
he's not even royalty." Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked, but
she refused to hold more back.
**********************
Okay.....to me...this chapter did kinda suck...but i'm in a hurry to
get this story finished, so I apologise bunches people. Please be kind
and don't send flames...it's not very nice. And YES! I know I don't
have much sentence variation. I'm not that talented. Oh...and I stayed
up writing this i've been up 21 hours!...so don't mess with me people.
I'm a dangerous writer...
muhahahahahaha ::cough cough:: (insert evil laugh here)
The Last Straw
Chapter 12
By: ExpressoHyper (Lady_of_Silver on ff.net and Cappuchino_Princezz
at Aria's Ink)
********************************************************************
Standard Disclaimor applies! I do NOT own Sailor Moon or the
characters! But, so as to avoid any confusion....this story most
definitely came from the not so brilliant mind of me.
*******************************************************************
ReCap:
"HeadQuarters for the Line- see cellar door." she whispered
as she read and then mentally smacked herself. 'No way could it be
that easy.' her mind raced with the thought.
'It's obviously a trap.' came the voice that had appeared
when she had hardened her heart. It was the voice of reason.
'But no one was meant to over look these plans but Darien
himself' another voice inside her head argured. Shaking her head
in an effor to make the voices go away, she groaned when they started
to quarrel.
'Hey! This is my mind! Listen up!' she mentally yelled at them,
causing both to stop. 'Good' Flipping over the large piece of paper,
she saw something she never expected. It was what looked like a maze.
Taking a closer look at the writing, she found it to be a map of the
forest that hid the secret headquarters.
***********************************************************************
It was what looked like a maze. Taking a closer look at the
writing, her eyes widened in recognition as she found it to be a map
of the forest that hid the secret headquarters of her husband's large
group. A thought popped into her head. During the their wedding, while
she was standing by the punch being as it was the only place and time
that she had all to herself that night, someone had slipped a piece
of paper into her hand. When she turned to see who it was, there had
been no one there. Finding it only remotely strange, considering the
events that had occured the past six months, she had simply slipped the
piece of paper into her hidden dress pocket and carried on as usual,
when Darien had pulled her out onto the dancefloor for a dance. She
had made sure to step on his foot once, with the heel of her shoe,
and was satisfied when he had flinched. Basking in the pride of that,
she had forgotten completely about the piece of paper that had been
shoved into her hand. Pulling a pen from a holder on the desk, she
wrote down a quick note for herself to remember to retrieve the paper
from her weddingdress pocket. A sudden clatter at the window startled
her from her thoughts. A rainstorm had started, and it wasn't hard
to figure out that thunder and lightening would most likely follow
soon. Shivers ran down her back as her hair stood on end. Quickly
making sure to hide her findings very carefully, she was startled
when the doors were thrown open. It wasn't Darien. Screaming, she
ran behind the desk.
"Serenity, be queit." came the long familiar voice she
recognized all too well. Something blue caught her eye. Immediately,
a voice boomed through the air.
"Serenity?!" it was Darien's. Her eyes rose to the ceiling
and then went back to the figure, but it had disappeared. Frightened
she ran from the room, only to be grabbed by the arm once more as she
flew up the stairs. After being pulled to a firm chest, she released
a shrill scream before a hand covered her mouth.
"Serenity, sweetheart, it's me." the comforting voice of Darien
fell on her ears. Tears of fright fell from her eyes unchecked. She
had never been so scared in her life. The hand was removed slowly
and she sobbed out his name.
"Oh Darien! I was sitting in the study and then this figure
appeared seemingly out of no where when the doors were thrown open.
Atfirst I thought it was you, but then I saw the patch. Oh Darien!
I'm so scared!" she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Sweeping off her feet, he carried her to their room and sat her
on her vanity chair before kneels infront of her and took her hands
into his after he had pryed her arms from his neck. Her heart was
beating wildly.
"Serenity, it's alright. They're gone now. You're alright
now, darling. See, this is exactly why I wanted you to stay with
my parents. They have guards for this exact reason." he admonished.
She glared at him when his hands moved to the ties of her dress.
"Darien, I hardly -" she was silenced with a soft kiss.
"Come to bed, Serenity." he huskily ordered and unbottoned
the collar of her dress before trailing kisses from her collarbone
to her lips.
********************************************************************
She sat beside him in the carriage, her hand held in his
large one. "I'm glad you see it my way now, Serenity. This will be
over soon, and then you can come home." She merely nodded and looked
out the window. Darien was smart enough not to tell her that he really
didn't want her to live anywhere but with him, because he knew she
wouldn't be safe. The killer was obviously someone who worked within
the inner circle of The Line. He was enraged when he found out that the
secret passage from his house to the headquarters had been used,
obviously by the intruder who had gone to attack his wife. He had
ordered her trunks packed first thing the next morning, and now,
only two days since the intruder had visited, they were being
transported by carriage to his parents' protected castle. Yes,
a castle. Serenity, as well as everyone else, had been kept in
the dark as to who the Franklins really were. They were very
wealthy, and were actually decendants of England's royal family.
Serenity's eyes widened noticeably as the carraige bobbed through
the large opening doors of the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly, meaning the great
wealth they possessed. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose there was never a time. Besides, you'll be well
looked after now that my parents have decided to take you in." he
replied. She glared at him.
"TAKE ME IN?! DARIEN ENDYMOIN FRANKLIN! I TOLD YOU I WANTED
TO GO BACK TO LIVE WITH MY PARENTS, but you refused." she replied.
He winced and tried to correct his mistake.
"I'm sorry, Serenity. My mother isn't too fond of sharing
her home, but my father was insistant on you living there with
them instad of going to your parents' home. This way you'll have
guards and will be watched over constantly. This is only temporary,
sweetheart. It's just untill we find out who the killer is, and
bring him to justice." he told her. She pulled away from him when
his hand went to carress her cheek. His hand merely dropped back
to his side and firmly clasped her glaved hand.
"Darien, I'll hate you forever." she replied, her voice
even icier than ever before. 'But I'll love you for longer.' her
mind completed.
"It's better you have you hate me, than to have to dead."
he replied. She continued to look away from him. Her golden blonde
hair was pulled into intricate buns and loops and then her burgandy
bonnet was fastened ontop, it's viel hanging over her face partially.
He took in her appearance. Her burgandy dress with black bodice
complimented her curves wonderfully, and he felt himself having
second thoughts about making her stay with his parents. The carraige
finally slowed to a stop and Darien hopped out before helping his wife
out at well. Black boots, that he knew came up to her knees, flashed
from under her burgandy and black shirts as he helped her down.
Taking a her black gloved hand in his and resting his other on her
opposite hip, he led her into the front foryer. His parents were waiting.
"Good morning Mother, Father." he nodded to them.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Franklin." Serenity replied obediently
when he squeezed her hand slightly. Raising her head from it's angle
at looking at her feet, her face was slightly out of view, yet she could
see them perfectly. Mrs. Franklin, surprising everyone, flung herself
over to Serenity and enveloped her in a tight hug.
"Oh, my precious daughter-in-law. I was terrified to hear of
the events that occurred two nights ago. You must be terribly shaken
up over this whole ordeal. Come, lets go into the tea room to talk and
leave the Franklin men to chat." without skipping a beat, she pulled
Serenity from Darien's hold and dragged her off towards the tea room,
babbling all the way. Darien watched as Serenity was pulled along,
her head slightly bobbing everyother time his mother paused her
endless chatter, obviously agreeing with some comment or other.
Once out of earshot, Darien turned to his father.
"How have the checks been going?" Mr. Franklin asked as he
motioned for them to head into the den.
"I don't know to tell you the truth, father. I've been too busy
keeping track of Serenity and not letting her out of my site for a
moment. I've gone nuts the past two days when I've woken up and found
her gone from our bed."
"Do you have any leads though?" Mr. Franklin pressed as he settled
into his large black chair.
"Well, a few of the men believe it's Robert Roegun and his group.
I have a strange feeling that they are right though. Robert and his
bestfriend Evan Diamond have not been to the past three meetings, claiming
sick family kept them at home. I visited them a week ago, and none of
the family I was greeted by looked sickly at all. Mrs. Roegun was
actually quite excited to see me, and Evan's fiance' Anne Viperia
was kind enough to invite me over to dinner in two days." Darien and
his father shared a long converstion in the den, while Serenity was
being submitted to pure torture with Darien's mother. She kept a
polite smile plastered on her face, but couldn't help become distracted
when Martha Franklin jabbered on and on about the color of the drapes
in her bedroom. Martha never noticed when she crept to a window and
then interrupted her.
"Mrs. Franklin, would tomorrow be a wonderful day for horseback
riding?" she inquired as she watched the black stallion with a trained
rider, gallop across the field. Martha wrinkled her nose but then smiled
slightly back when Serenity turned hopeful eyes towards her.
"If you'd like, since it's supposed to be pleasant weather tomorrow,
I could have the stable boy saddle a horse for you in the morning, and you
can ride around till lunch, if you so desire. Afterall, your stay here
should be a pleasant one." she said as she led Serenity away from the
window.
"Thank you very much. Would it be too much to ask if I could have
a few visitors?"
"Not at all, dear. We have company all the time. Mostly old friends
or small private parties, but there are a few balls hosted from time to
time. Darien was never one to be seen at them, but now that you're staying
here, I'm sure he'll be visiting everyday. Invite as many friends as you
would like, over, and they can have lunch with us at anytime. Just let
the cook know a day in advance so she can prepare the food." with that,
Martha began to give her a small tour of the castle. When she grew
exhausted, she told Serenity to join the men in the den, while she
took a short nap. Serenity parted with her at the grand staircase
and then went off insearch of the den. Low voices stopped her in her
tracks and she leaned against the wall to listen.
"So, what are you going to do about Serenity? You cannot just
dump her here and return to your home. She's your wife." came the
low tone of Darien's father. Her ears perked up when Darien sighed.
"I'll visit every chance I get, but I can't come everyday."
"Shouldn't you atleast check on her every other, I would hate
for her to go crazy living with us, especially Martha. You know how
she feels about Serenity. It wouldn't be good, I'll try to keep her
company and watch out for her, but I have business of my own too,
Darien." Serenity chose this time to enter. Her presence immediately
haulted any further conversation, and she smiled politely.
"Oh, don't my being here bother you. Please, continue to talk
about me." she replied in the nicest, sugary-sweet voice she could muster
and took a seat on the black leather settee. Darien and his father,
George, stared openly at her.
"She's got spunk." George suddenly remarked with a nod.
"I have a mind, if that's what you mean." she shot back.
"Serenity, where is my mother?" Darien asked, hoping to change
the subject.
"She's taking a nap, Darien. Her small walk around this castle
tired her out. Although, she did promise me that I could go horseback
riding tomorrow.
*********************
Martha paced her room, her hand to her forehead as if she was
deep in thought. And indeed, she was.
"How am I going to get that brat out of the castle as fast as
possible? I cannot believe out incompitent that assasin was. She was
staring straight at me not two days later as if without a care in the
world. Damn that man. I'll have to kill her myself, or see that she
has a little 'accident'." a cold smile pulled at her lips and she
sat down at her stationery to begin on her plans.
*********************
Isabella looked around the room that was barely in focus. Her large
green eyes stared at the large family portrait and a tear slid down
her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Serena, my poor Serena. I had no choice. I'm
sorry I wasn't the perfect mother to you. The truth is, I'm not
even really your mother. Your father's first wife, your real mother,
was kidnapped." Isabella's voice was a whisper as she continued to
talk to the face of the young girl in the picture. "Everybody knows
that she was the princess of France, and that one day, you would
become the princess. I was so jealous, but Serena, I couldn't
help it. I'm sorry. I'm paying for my misdeeds and you'll learn
the truth soon enough. I'll tell you, or your father will. When
I die, he'll send you to France to live with your grandparents
in France, no matter that you have Darien. You're a princess,
he's not even royalty." Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked, but
she refused to hold more back.
**********************
Okay.....to me...this chapter did kinda suck...but i'm in a hurry to
get this story finished, so I apologise bunches people. Please be kind
and don't send flames...it's not very nice. And YES! I know I don't
have much sentence variation. I'm not that talented. Oh...and I stayed
up writing this i've been up 21 hours!...so don't mess with me people.
I'm a dangerous writer...
muhahahahahaha ::cough cough:: (insert evil laugh here)
