Episode Six: The Black Eighth, Visions of Impossible
Disclaimer: All previous apply, except someone stole Darien from my closet. *Sniff* Oh well. *sigh*
No matter how fast she ran, Celeste couldn't reach the tower before the ray of energy hit it and it crumbled before her eyes.
The tears the stained her cheeks when she'd awaken from this dream were too real, too pained for this to just be a bad dream, she knew. This was real, too real.
She slipped from her bed, careful not to wake Aria, as she tiptoed to the window. She sat on the bench there and looked out at the night sky. Her window was open. It was early spring, and the air was cool, but she didn't care. She didn't notice.
Her silken nightgown was no protection against the wind, but her gaze was too taken with the sky full of stars to notice. Her long ebony hair, with it's rich auburn undertones, was cast to almost a silver under the half moon's surprisingly strong light. Her eyes shone far away thoughts.
This was the third time she'd awoken in the middle of the night this week to this same dream. Each time, she'd been out of breath and gasping for air. Tired as if she'd been running and crying. Someone had been in the tower, she knew. But who?
Aria might be able to tell her, she thought, glancing at the small calico across the room. The cat's back rose gently and fell again as she breathed. Her dreams were peaceful, at least, Celeste thought. It was best not to ask Aria. The poor guardian would feel terrible if she couldn't answer her.
It had been almost two weeks since Kirai had joined the ranks of the Zodiac Senshi, bringing their numbers to a resounding two. Kirai was Sailor Gemini, and Celeste herself was the Black Eighth, Sailor Scorpio.
Nothing had happened since Kirai had joined, though, and instead of feeling calmed, Celeste was worried sick. She knew something terrible was going to happen. She just knew it. She couldn't explain what, either, so she kept her fears to herself, telling neither Kirai or Aria.
In fact, the only person she'd thought much of telling had been Luke Arthur. No one could tell her who he was, and where he'd disappeared to. She'd gone to his school, but no one had heard from him or his little sister. Some had assumed they'd moved.
She was worried about him, too, she realized.
She used the excuse to Aria and Kirai that she wanted to know why he'd helped her. She really wanted to see him again.
This thought brought a faint blush to her cheeks.
She closed her eyes.
She tilted her head back a bit and surveyed those much farther down the sidewalk than her. Her eyes widened. Was that Luke?
She took off a dead run towards where she'd seen the man, hopefully Luke. Shoving through crowds of people, her hair flew behind her like a cloak of pure black silk.
Some people glared as she passed, others wondered where she was off to so quickly.
She was where she'd seen him last a moment later, at the corner of an alley. She slid in. He had to be here. He couldn't have gotten out any other way.
But the alley was empty. Only a deep red rose lay on a pile of crates at the back. She hesitantly took the rose and a voice filled her ears.
'I need your help, Celeste... meet me in the park just before midnight and come alone. Please...'
The voice was gone then. She looked down at the rose and took a careful breath. The voice had been Luke's, that she was sure of. She took the rose with her when she left the alley and headed towards the mall where she was supposed to meet Kirai in near an hour.
Celeste was ready to give up any hope of seeing home again when Kirai finally decided that it was getting late. Glancing at the clock, Celeste agreed. It was almost seven, and they'd been there since before noon.
"Want to go catch some dinner, Celeste? Or a movie?" Kirai offered as they walked to the bus stop nearest the mall.
"No, I'm tired. I didn't sleep well last night." she explained. 'And I doubt I will tonight either.' she added in her own mind. Kirai backed down a bit.
"Oh. Ok then. I'll see you later I guess." Kirai asked. Celeste grinned.
"Of course. Maybe we'll get together tomorrow or something." she stated. Kirai got on the bus a few minutes later and Celeste turned to head towards her house.
She was finally left with time to think. She wore the rose in her hair now. It accented her undertones so well, it was haunting. She walked silently forward, hands in her pockets.
She was still worried about Luke, that was for sure. He needed her help? He'd seemed so strong, even when he was so badly injured. Like he could take on the world and come out fine.
And here she was worried about him. Him and the tower in her dreams. It hung with her where ever she went. Someone was in there, and she had to help them. She just had no clue how.
She took a careful breath and decided it was best if she headed home, maybe try to get some sleep before she met Luke tonight.
She had the sinking feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong.
'Celeste, dear, I've gone out with the girls tonight. It's bingo night over at city hall, so I might be out late. There's some dinner on the stove for you and some ice cream and fresh baked cookies around there somewhere. Why don't you call your one friend... what's her name? Kirai, and ask her over. Whatever you do, have fun Celeste.'
Celeste smiled at the note. She wasn't hungry, all thoughts of Luke had pushed food from her mind, but she knew that her grandmother would worry if she didn't eat. So she sat down and ate the dinner, which tasted surprisingly good. Not that her grandmother wasn't a good cook, because she was. Celeste usually didn't think things tasted good when she was worried about something.
Finishing she washed her dinner dishes and walked into the living room. The clock over the tv said it was almost nine o'clock. Three more hours.
"I have time for a short nap... I wonder where Aria is?" she thought aloud. She looked around the lower floor and then climbed upstairs to look. Aria was no where to be found. Celeste shrugged.
She set her alarm to wake her up at 11:30 and laid down for some sleep.
She was asleep in minutes, and running towards the tower just as quick.
This time everything seemed more tense. The scene was heavy, and she was sure that the weight was going to knock her from her feet.
She was getting closer than she'd ever been. She was sure she was going to make it, when lightening struck right before her. She shrieked and flew backwards a step. She could feel the impact of the ground where she fell.
She struggled to a position, leaning on her elbows, and lightening struck again. A figure was outlined mere feet from her.
Male, about her age. Thinner shoulders, but tall and gangly. He seemed to be surrounded by a pale blue light.
That's when she was shocked awake by her alarm clock.
She was disoriented at first, sliding to her feet and out from under her blankets. She was on her feet, hands running through her hair nervously, before she realized why she was awakened by her clock at eleven at night.
She quickly dressed in a pleaded white skirt and dark blue denim shirt that buttoned up the front. She pulled on a pair of white tennis shoes, as well, and slipped out of her room. Her grandmother wasn't home, she noticed, but Aria was asleep on the couch downstairs.
Celeste was careful not to wake the snoozing feline as she slipped to the front door and out into the deep night. She checked her watch. 11:30. She'd have just enough time to get to the park and meet Luke.
Maybe along the way she could shake the feeling that something horrible was going to happen.
Too many thoughts, and not enough nerves to tackle each one.
"Where is she?" he muttered.
"If the she you're referring to is me, she's right here."
Luke spun around to see Celeste Taylor staring at him. She was obviously as nervous as he was, and she didn't even know why he'd asked her to come yet. "Hi." he stated, more like an order than anything.
Celeste glared a second, then stepped closer. "How are you?" she tried to begin, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. He held up his hand to stop her.
"This isn't a personal visit." he snapped. She stopped and looked down, taken aback a bit. "Look, Scorpio, I need you're help. No questions." he added a bit stricter. She stood stock still.
"Help with what?" she began, but he didn't answer. With a wave of his hand, a black portal opened. Celeste's heart skipped a beat but she swallowed the idea of running. She looked at Luke. "What's that?" she asked dumbly.
He looked at her a long moment. "A portal to the black realm. Listen, I'm not the enemy, but I'm not you're friend either. I'm asking this out of mutual interest." he added. She took a careful breath.
"Alright, I'll help you." she finally said. He nodded, appearing as if he'd expected as much, but his inside sigh of relief was large. He took an amulet from his pocket. It appeared to be a six sided star, with an ebony at each point. In the dark, it was hard to make out, but Luke knew it without looking at it.
"Guardian Lion Disguise." he muttered. A bright golden yellow flash later and he stood in a caped outfit. A mask fit across his eyes. "Let's go." he added to her.
She fumbled in her pocket for her brooch and clenched it for a moment. "Scorpion Eternal Power." she said herself. A crimson swirl and she was Sailor Scorpio.
And into the portal they went.
