Title: Red Moon Rising
Author: Jaku
Email: SailorChibaUsako@aol.com
Part One
"Buh-bye! And thanks again, Himakou-chan!" Usagi waved and called out to her friend as she shut the door and walked down the front steps, her black boots clicking on the cold, hard cement. Himakou's party had been a blast, and since Usagi had been the main planner of the bash, she had dutifully stayed to help her clean it up.
The crisp autumn air whipped around her, and she lengthened her stride. The thin, black shirt about her barely kept the sharp sting out, it was low cut, flared at the wrists, and gathered at the chest. It accented her choice of tight jeans flaring at the bottom, riding low about her hips. Her odangos were up as usual, just an elegant curl added to the streamers. She glanced up, looked around the deserted street, and hurried home.
*
"Is she the one? Do you feel the energy coming from her?" Two demon-like eyes glittered unmercifully.
"I think so. She certainly has a tremendous energy about her." A second pair of cat-like eyes narrowed slightly, a deeper, masculine voice sounding from the creature. Two, silver vampuric fangs flashed in the moonlight. "Either way, she'll certainly be fun."
"...Indeed."
"Come on, Ausani. Give me some credit here. I suck her blood, get some pleasure out of it, she goes unconscious, and then you can have her for your little energy experiment!"
"Very well." Ausani sighed at her partner, Shatou. He smirked and leapt from the bushes.
**
Usagi stopped for a minute and looked over the streets around her. Dark. Deserted. She shivered lightly. Fall was over, but winter had yet to begin. The scent of fall hadn't faded, but the chilly nights had swept in.
With the deadly silence of the night air, it hit. The moonchild barely had time to scream. The force knocked the child to the ground, smashing her lithe body into the cold cement. Three things happened consecutively for the girl. First, the wind was knocked from her, secondly, a sharp, stinging, almost burning pain swept through her neck, followed by the feel of molten lava pouring down her blouse and staining her hair. Third, a howl sounded from the body on top of her, and unconsciously, Usagi was surprised they didn't pursue.
"She's... oh good Lord."
"What's wrong?" Usagi registered a second, feminine voice.
"She's... Lunarian. I thought they were all dead."
"Your kidding... so did I..." Ausani stepped closer to the two; Shatou hunched over Usagi.
"But she is... She has their liquid silver blood..."
"Anyone who drinks their blood is forever cursed. Selene herself cast it over her children to protect them from their only natural enemy; vampires, as their blood had healing elements in it."
'"I knoooow! Uhg."
"Maybe if we help her instead of leaving her out in this bitter coldness, Selene will forgive you and lift the curse."
"What are we going to tell Master?"
"...We won't. She can stay in the guest chamber until she's recovered."
"Alright." Shatou gathered up the now unconscious child and vanished, Ausani following in suit.
**
With a groan, Usagi rolled over. Her body felt achy, and her head was spinning. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she mumbled something. The first thing she became aware of was black. The ceiling above her was pure black marble. Her eyes, following the marble, fell upon an open window.
"Must be night time," she mumbled dryly, observing the darkened skies outside. She yawned, deeply exhausted from whatever had befallen her, which, to her surprise, she oddly did not recall. It was a bit of a blur, as if someone had willed her not to remember, but doing so poorly, as she remembered a tingling up her spine, and then sharp, sharp pain. Nothing more.
She rubbed her neck, finding her body extremely comfortable. She rested on a down mattress, several thick pillows rested beneath her golden head. She gasped at the sheer magnificence of the room. Tall, bronze lamps burned in the corners of the room. The huge bay windows draped with silken sheets and gold-lined tapestries. The poor Odango couldn't figure out where she was, despite the odd, nagging fact she felt as though she had been here before. A long time ago, perhaps, as since then, her beloved Mamo-chan had flown to America only to get himself killed, and later resurrected, along with anyone else who had lost their star seeds, by herself. All was well, and she had settled down to live a halfway normal life.
"I could've sworn whatever mugged me wasn't human... Any veteran senshi like myself would've heard, or at least, *sensed* something... there was nothing... and odd tingling... but I've never felt that before." She stayed quiet, resting a little in the bed, still feeling dreadfully weak.
**
A dark form sat on a throne, a blood red glass nearby.
"She's near..." He murmured softly aloud, to himself. "But... where?" He rose from the throne when the two, double stone doors sprang open, and Ausani and Shatou came bursting in.
"MASTER!" The two fell on their knees before him.
"...yes?"
"Do you have another mission for us?"
"...Not at the moment, no. I would call you if I did."
"Oh.. well..."
"I was just going to go prowling."
"For what?"
"I feel a presence. I'm curious." Panicked looks were exchanged.
"No no! You mustn't!"
"And why not?"
"SIRE!" A third voice came into play. The commander jogged up to 'Master'. "Sire! We need to discuss the Tactics! Classified!" The Admiral dragged Master out before he could get in another word edgewise. Shatou glanced at Ausani.
"We've got a few hours. He'll keep Master busy for a while. We need to get her healed and out of here." Ausani nodded in response, and they jogged out of the room.
**
Usagi stirred slightly. She turned over on her side and slid out of bed. She found a gown laid out of her, of which she changed into it, wrinkling her nose.
"Slut." She called herself a nasty name, looking at her reflection. The gown was black, boat-necked, low cut, gathered at the bosom, and long-sleeved, slits up to her thighs. On the bright side, she got a pair of complimenting black heels to go with it. She slipped the black ribbons into her golden hair, and kicked open the door, annoyed. She was going to find out where she was, no matter what. She poked her head out, and looked around. Seeing no one, she summoned her courage and began boldly wandering the hallways. She poked her head through several rooms, wandered many deserted hallways and many lifeless rooms. Finally, after a few hours, she exhaustedly pushed open one of two gigantic stone doors and peered in.
The life flew out of her. She knew *exactly* where she was, and she was furious.
**
'Master', running his hand through his hair, walked back into his room, exhausted. He hadn't had a chance to look for the Presence, although he was sure it was still here. He raised his eyes from the black marble floor and looked at his throne. He felt the breath flee his lungs, the color drain from his already pale face.
"...You!"
"Yes, me! And YOU! You have some questions to answer!" Usagi wagged her finger at him from where she sat, no, was sprawled in his throne, one of her legs over the side, giving any man quite a view. Her eyes were an icy blue, her lips in a ridged line. "You have some nerve to sick your drones on me... like that… at night. Didn't even get to henshin. Your low."
"I... What are you *doing* here?!"
"Excuse me!? What am *I* doing here?! Your little vampuric drones attacked me!"
Master blinked. "I had no idea you were even here... and I sent no one to harm you, I swear..." He took a few steps toward her, but she hopped up and kept her distance, matching them, slipping behind his throne, using it as a potential shield.
"Then why am I here? And... how did you...?
"How did I what?" She stepped out from behind the throne and walked towards him slowly, bringing her hands up to brush his pale face. He didn't move, he was too afraid if he did, she would pull away.
"You're here, alright. But… how?"
"How what?"
"I'm the senshi of Life, and even I cannot raise the dead... and yet... the living dead stands before me now..." He reached up and held her small hand to his cheek, not answering her question. They were so close… and alone... she wasn't frightened... he could almost... He leaned down to brush his lips gently against hers... closer...
BAM!
"Your hiiiiiighness!" Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum ran in. Shatou tripped and Ausani fell on top of him, both hollering 'Master!' at the top of their lungs. Demando let out an annoyed growl and raised his head from Usagi's. So close. Usagi peeked around Demando and blinked. Shatou blinked.
"Iiee! You're supposed to be in your room, little girl! How did you get out!?"
"…the door was unlocked." Ausani smacked Shatou in the head.
"You dumbass. You forgot to lock it!"
"Hey... that wasn't very nice..." The two went on bickering.
Demando grew more impatient and Usagi stepped away from him. They had been getting along, too!
"Will you two SHUT UP!?" Deadly silence blanketed the room, and the two fighting stopped and faced their master. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Just... leave..."
"But the girl..."
"Leave her to me."
"No! Don't kill her! Pleeease!" Shatou threw himself at Demando's feet. "It was my fault! I was hungry, and I was gonna have some food, and she just happened to be there, and Ididn'tknowshewasalunarianandIthoughtifItookcareofherthecursewouldbelifted!"
"Beg Pardon?"
"I… I thought Selene might forgive me for piercing one of her Children if I took care of her instead of just leaving the poor girl out there..."
"Wait... wait a minute. You I BIT /I her?!" Shatou cowered, and Usagi placed a silencing hand on Demando's arm.
"Don't worry about it..." Her voice was low and soft, it took even Demando by surprise. "As for you..." She looked at Shatou, who looked like he was going to cry. A soft smile spread across her lips, and she held out her hands. A white ring glowed beneath the vampire, and a white mist could be seen lifting from him. Then, the light faded, and her hands dropped to her side.
"You had no right to lift the curse, Usagi." It was Demando's turn to talk quietly.
"Oh, I think I did." They weren't looking at each other, but at Shatou, who was dancing around in circles hugging himself, occasionally falling to his knees and bowing to her, then getting up and dancing around again, and Ausani, who had just sweatdropped and held her face in her hands, shaking her head sadly.
"How so?"
"I was the one that caused it, ne?"
"He bit you. He deserved what he got for it."
"Yes, and Saffir loved you. Did he get what he deserved for it?" Silence. "That's what I thought. I had a feeling I was brought here, and I knew it was only a matter of time."
"How did you know?"
"For one, I felt you when you exploded into existence... a ripple only a body with power could create amongst the senshi."
"For the record, I did not *explode*... I merely... woke up..."
"But your power exploded, and it gave you away to us sensitive to it. I knew it was you, I recognized it. The same spine tingling pain that I felt when you abducted me the first time."
"Indeed... So you knew?" She evaded his question with one of her own.
"Why are you here? You know your more than welcome on Earth." The two royalties had faced each other in the intellectual debate, quiet and controlled, and the two 'inferiors' to Demando had faced them, watching, hopeful.
"What do you mean?"
"Remember that promise you made to me... when you were... you know."
"No, I don't recall. Dying tends to make one tired and forget things. Remind me, Beautiful." Shatou and Ausani exchanged glances, and sat down on the floor with popcorn. Usagi glanced at the audience, and shook her head sadly, rolling her eyes. She smiled sweetly.
"You told me, actually, I made you promise, that, if you lived, you'd spend your days on Earth with the senshi, *peacefully*, living your happy little life."
"Ah yes, now I do recall."
"Will you keep your promise and join us?"
"I'd be honored to..." He glanced at Shatou and Company. "What are you looking at?!" They hopped up, popcorn flying everywhere, a tub landing on Demando's head. Usagi giggled, covering her mouth, and, Shatou, murmuring a chain of words, high-tailed it out of there, Ausani on his heels.
Usagi, still giggling, reached up and pulled the buttery container off of his silver hair. She ran her fingers through it briefly and then studied the butter on her fingers, before looking back up at him, a twinkle in her eyes.
"You might consider washing you hair…before you come to Earth…" He nodded, annoyed. "I'll send you home and join you shortly." She smiled.
"Arigatou..." She got up on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek, before she felt herself falling backwards. When she woke up, flowers surrounded her, and she lay on her back in an open field. "Home, sweet home..."
**
Demando stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Carefully gliding over the tile as not to slip, he dressed himself in his princely garments. He glanced in the mirror, and his brows furrowed in doubt. Too obvious. He quickly stripped out of his royal cape and silken clothes, and conjured a pair of jeans and a white shirt. He smiled. Much better. He vanished in a flash of light.
**
Usagi got up and brushed off her jeans. She smiled softly and wandered around the Juuban Park. She found a pretty white bench and made it her new home. She sat there quietly, waiting for her new friend. Softly, a shadow crept up behind her.
"Hello... princess." Usagi glanced up, grinning, at Demando. The smile dropped from her lips as the color drained from her face. It wasn't Demando. It was a tall man, about his height or so, dark black hair, and dark eyes. He wore a black coat, and thick leather boots. His lips parted widely in acknowledgment to her fear, revealing a set of white teeth, marked on the end with two pairs of incisors. Usagi's brilliantly hued blue eyes widened in realization, and she gasped as she felt him snatch a hold of her.
A sharp sting pierced her neck, and she felt her energy deplete rapidly. She fell off balance, and his arms around her supported her. She didn't feel like she was loosing blood, but she did pass out just the same. He lifted her up princess-styled and vanished on the spot.
**
**
Woohoo. Polished and ready to go. Finally worked out the HTML bugs... I was using Word, and I got tipped off that it was a no-no and had to convert to Notepad. u.u It's here, in all its glory. Part two is complete, but still in the polishing process, seeing as I had typed THAT in Word, too, before getting the handy tip. Ah well, thanks for hangin' in there guys, and I LOVE suggestions and feedback!
***
Author: Jaku
Email: SailorChibaUsako@aol.com
Part One
"Buh-bye! And thanks again, Himakou-chan!" Usagi waved and called out to her friend as she shut the door and walked down the front steps, her black boots clicking on the cold, hard cement. Himakou's party had been a blast, and since Usagi had been the main planner of the bash, she had dutifully stayed to help her clean it up.
The crisp autumn air whipped around her, and she lengthened her stride. The thin, black shirt about her barely kept the sharp sting out, it was low cut, flared at the wrists, and gathered at the chest. It accented her choice of tight jeans flaring at the bottom, riding low about her hips. Her odangos were up as usual, just an elegant curl added to the streamers. She glanced up, looked around the deserted street, and hurried home.
*
"Is she the one? Do you feel the energy coming from her?" Two demon-like eyes glittered unmercifully.
"I think so. She certainly has a tremendous energy about her." A second pair of cat-like eyes narrowed slightly, a deeper, masculine voice sounding from the creature. Two, silver vampuric fangs flashed in the moonlight. "Either way, she'll certainly be fun."
"...Indeed."
"Come on, Ausani. Give me some credit here. I suck her blood, get some pleasure out of it, she goes unconscious, and then you can have her for your little energy experiment!"
"Very well." Ausani sighed at her partner, Shatou. He smirked and leapt from the bushes.
**
Usagi stopped for a minute and looked over the streets around her. Dark. Deserted. She shivered lightly. Fall was over, but winter had yet to begin. The scent of fall hadn't faded, but the chilly nights had swept in.
With the deadly silence of the night air, it hit. The moonchild barely had time to scream. The force knocked the child to the ground, smashing her lithe body into the cold cement. Three things happened consecutively for the girl. First, the wind was knocked from her, secondly, a sharp, stinging, almost burning pain swept through her neck, followed by the feel of molten lava pouring down her blouse and staining her hair. Third, a howl sounded from the body on top of her, and unconsciously, Usagi was surprised they didn't pursue.
"She's... oh good Lord."
"What's wrong?" Usagi registered a second, feminine voice.
"She's... Lunarian. I thought they were all dead."
"Your kidding... so did I..." Ausani stepped closer to the two; Shatou hunched over Usagi.
"But she is... She has their liquid silver blood..."
"Anyone who drinks their blood is forever cursed. Selene herself cast it over her children to protect them from their only natural enemy; vampires, as their blood had healing elements in it."
'"I knoooow! Uhg."
"Maybe if we help her instead of leaving her out in this bitter coldness, Selene will forgive you and lift the curse."
"What are we going to tell Master?"
"...We won't. She can stay in the guest chamber until she's recovered."
"Alright." Shatou gathered up the now unconscious child and vanished, Ausani following in suit.
**
With a groan, Usagi rolled over. Her body felt achy, and her head was spinning. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she mumbled something. The first thing she became aware of was black. The ceiling above her was pure black marble. Her eyes, following the marble, fell upon an open window.
"Must be night time," she mumbled dryly, observing the darkened skies outside. She yawned, deeply exhausted from whatever had befallen her, which, to her surprise, she oddly did not recall. It was a bit of a blur, as if someone had willed her not to remember, but doing so poorly, as she remembered a tingling up her spine, and then sharp, sharp pain. Nothing more.
She rubbed her neck, finding her body extremely comfortable. She rested on a down mattress, several thick pillows rested beneath her golden head. She gasped at the sheer magnificence of the room. Tall, bronze lamps burned in the corners of the room. The huge bay windows draped with silken sheets and gold-lined tapestries. The poor Odango couldn't figure out where she was, despite the odd, nagging fact she felt as though she had been here before. A long time ago, perhaps, as since then, her beloved Mamo-chan had flown to America only to get himself killed, and later resurrected, along with anyone else who had lost their star seeds, by herself. All was well, and she had settled down to live a halfway normal life.
"I could've sworn whatever mugged me wasn't human... Any veteran senshi like myself would've heard, or at least, *sensed* something... there was nothing... and odd tingling... but I've never felt that before." She stayed quiet, resting a little in the bed, still feeling dreadfully weak.
**
A dark form sat on a throne, a blood red glass nearby.
"She's near..." He murmured softly aloud, to himself. "But... where?" He rose from the throne when the two, double stone doors sprang open, and Ausani and Shatou came bursting in.
"MASTER!" The two fell on their knees before him.
"...yes?"
"Do you have another mission for us?"
"...Not at the moment, no. I would call you if I did."
"Oh.. well..."
"I was just going to go prowling."
"For what?"
"I feel a presence. I'm curious." Panicked looks were exchanged.
"No no! You mustn't!"
"And why not?"
"SIRE!" A third voice came into play. The commander jogged up to 'Master'. "Sire! We need to discuss the Tactics! Classified!" The Admiral dragged Master out before he could get in another word edgewise. Shatou glanced at Ausani.
"We've got a few hours. He'll keep Master busy for a while. We need to get her healed and out of here." Ausani nodded in response, and they jogged out of the room.
**
Usagi stirred slightly. She turned over on her side and slid out of bed. She found a gown laid out of her, of which she changed into it, wrinkling her nose.
"Slut." She called herself a nasty name, looking at her reflection. The gown was black, boat-necked, low cut, gathered at the bosom, and long-sleeved, slits up to her thighs. On the bright side, she got a pair of complimenting black heels to go with it. She slipped the black ribbons into her golden hair, and kicked open the door, annoyed. She was going to find out where she was, no matter what. She poked her head out, and looked around. Seeing no one, she summoned her courage and began boldly wandering the hallways. She poked her head through several rooms, wandered many deserted hallways and many lifeless rooms. Finally, after a few hours, she exhaustedly pushed open one of two gigantic stone doors and peered in.
The life flew out of her. She knew *exactly* where she was, and she was furious.
**
'Master', running his hand through his hair, walked back into his room, exhausted. He hadn't had a chance to look for the Presence, although he was sure it was still here. He raised his eyes from the black marble floor and looked at his throne. He felt the breath flee his lungs, the color drain from his already pale face.
"...You!"
"Yes, me! And YOU! You have some questions to answer!" Usagi wagged her finger at him from where she sat, no, was sprawled in his throne, one of her legs over the side, giving any man quite a view. Her eyes were an icy blue, her lips in a ridged line. "You have some nerve to sick your drones on me... like that… at night. Didn't even get to henshin. Your low."
"I... What are you *doing* here?!"
"Excuse me!? What am *I* doing here?! Your little vampuric drones attacked me!"
Master blinked. "I had no idea you were even here... and I sent no one to harm you, I swear..." He took a few steps toward her, but she hopped up and kept her distance, matching them, slipping behind his throne, using it as a potential shield.
"Then why am I here? And... how did you...?
"How did I what?" She stepped out from behind the throne and walked towards him slowly, bringing her hands up to brush his pale face. He didn't move, he was too afraid if he did, she would pull away.
"You're here, alright. But… how?"
"How what?"
"I'm the senshi of Life, and even I cannot raise the dead... and yet... the living dead stands before me now..." He reached up and held her small hand to his cheek, not answering her question. They were so close… and alone... she wasn't frightened... he could almost... He leaned down to brush his lips gently against hers... closer...
BAM!
"Your hiiiiiighness!" Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum ran in. Shatou tripped and Ausani fell on top of him, both hollering 'Master!' at the top of their lungs. Demando let out an annoyed growl and raised his head from Usagi's. So close. Usagi peeked around Demando and blinked. Shatou blinked.
"Iiee! You're supposed to be in your room, little girl! How did you get out!?"
"…the door was unlocked." Ausani smacked Shatou in the head.
"You dumbass. You forgot to lock it!"
"Hey... that wasn't very nice..." The two went on bickering.
Demando grew more impatient and Usagi stepped away from him. They had been getting along, too!
"Will you two SHUT UP!?" Deadly silence blanketed the room, and the two fighting stopped and faced their master. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Just... leave..."
"But the girl..."
"Leave her to me."
"No! Don't kill her! Pleeease!" Shatou threw himself at Demando's feet. "It was my fault! I was hungry, and I was gonna have some food, and she just happened to be there, and Ididn'tknowshewasalunarianandIthoughtifItookcareofherthecursewouldbelifted!"
"Beg Pardon?"
"I… I thought Selene might forgive me for piercing one of her Children if I took care of her instead of just leaving the poor girl out there..."
"Wait... wait a minute. You I BIT /I her?!" Shatou cowered, and Usagi placed a silencing hand on Demando's arm.
"Don't worry about it..." Her voice was low and soft, it took even Demando by surprise. "As for you..." She looked at Shatou, who looked like he was going to cry. A soft smile spread across her lips, and she held out her hands. A white ring glowed beneath the vampire, and a white mist could be seen lifting from him. Then, the light faded, and her hands dropped to her side.
"You had no right to lift the curse, Usagi." It was Demando's turn to talk quietly.
"Oh, I think I did." They weren't looking at each other, but at Shatou, who was dancing around in circles hugging himself, occasionally falling to his knees and bowing to her, then getting up and dancing around again, and Ausani, who had just sweatdropped and held her face in her hands, shaking her head sadly.
"How so?"
"I was the one that caused it, ne?"
"He bit you. He deserved what he got for it."
"Yes, and Saffir loved you. Did he get what he deserved for it?" Silence. "That's what I thought. I had a feeling I was brought here, and I knew it was only a matter of time."
"How did you know?"
"For one, I felt you when you exploded into existence... a ripple only a body with power could create amongst the senshi."
"For the record, I did not *explode*... I merely... woke up..."
"But your power exploded, and it gave you away to us sensitive to it. I knew it was you, I recognized it. The same spine tingling pain that I felt when you abducted me the first time."
"Indeed... So you knew?" She evaded his question with one of her own.
"Why are you here? You know your more than welcome on Earth." The two royalties had faced each other in the intellectual debate, quiet and controlled, and the two 'inferiors' to Demando had faced them, watching, hopeful.
"What do you mean?"
"Remember that promise you made to me... when you were... you know."
"No, I don't recall. Dying tends to make one tired and forget things. Remind me, Beautiful." Shatou and Ausani exchanged glances, and sat down on the floor with popcorn. Usagi glanced at the audience, and shook her head sadly, rolling her eyes. She smiled sweetly.
"You told me, actually, I made you promise, that, if you lived, you'd spend your days on Earth with the senshi, *peacefully*, living your happy little life."
"Ah yes, now I do recall."
"Will you keep your promise and join us?"
"I'd be honored to..." He glanced at Shatou and Company. "What are you looking at?!" They hopped up, popcorn flying everywhere, a tub landing on Demando's head. Usagi giggled, covering her mouth, and, Shatou, murmuring a chain of words, high-tailed it out of there, Ausani on his heels.
Usagi, still giggling, reached up and pulled the buttery container off of his silver hair. She ran her fingers through it briefly and then studied the butter on her fingers, before looking back up at him, a twinkle in her eyes.
"You might consider washing you hair…before you come to Earth…" He nodded, annoyed. "I'll send you home and join you shortly." She smiled.
"Arigatou..." She got up on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek, before she felt herself falling backwards. When she woke up, flowers surrounded her, and she lay on her back in an open field. "Home, sweet home..."
**
Demando stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Carefully gliding over the tile as not to slip, he dressed himself in his princely garments. He glanced in the mirror, and his brows furrowed in doubt. Too obvious. He quickly stripped out of his royal cape and silken clothes, and conjured a pair of jeans and a white shirt. He smiled. Much better. He vanished in a flash of light.
**
Usagi got up and brushed off her jeans. She smiled softly and wandered around the Juuban Park. She found a pretty white bench and made it her new home. She sat there quietly, waiting for her new friend. Softly, a shadow crept up behind her.
"Hello... princess." Usagi glanced up, grinning, at Demando. The smile dropped from her lips as the color drained from her face. It wasn't Demando. It was a tall man, about his height or so, dark black hair, and dark eyes. He wore a black coat, and thick leather boots. His lips parted widely in acknowledgment to her fear, revealing a set of white teeth, marked on the end with two pairs of incisors. Usagi's brilliantly hued blue eyes widened in realization, and she gasped as she felt him snatch a hold of her.
A sharp sting pierced her neck, and she felt her energy deplete rapidly. She fell off balance, and his arms around her supported her. She didn't feel like she was loosing blood, but she did pass out just the same. He lifted her up princess-styled and vanished on the spot.
**
**
Woohoo. Polished and ready to go. Finally worked out the HTML bugs... I was using Word, and I got tipped off that it was a no-no and had to convert to Notepad. u.u It's here, in all its glory. Part two is complete, but still in the polishing process, seeing as I had typed THAT in Word, too, before getting the handy tip. Ah well, thanks for hangin' in there guys, and I LOVE suggestions and feedback!
***
