OMG!! I'm so sorry this took so long to get out! Thia has been such a
busy month. I had finals in mid-June then I had to move out of the dorms
and back home. Then I went on vacation with my parents and the writing
didn't have time to come out of my brain. I apologize for the late post
and I hope I didn't lose any readers. I promise I'll try to get the
chapters out faster. There actually shouldn't be that much more. I hope
you enjoy this chapter. Please read and review. If you have any
questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you! ~Lady Hino
* * *
Endymion was the first to speak when the initial shock had run its course through everyone. He was the prince after all, was he not? It was his job to deal with these matters first hand, to give solutions to problems and allow the person to depend solely on him. "Do not take it to heart, Jadeite. We will figure out how to beat this and everything will be as well as it once was."
Jadeite shook his head and turned to glance at Rei who was stood as still as stone just to the side of her tent. She was staring directly at him, her violet eyes full of an emotion he could not name. He could feel it engulfing him, could feel her gaze seeping into his bones and wrapping itself around them until he was immobile. He didn't want to look at her in those few seconds. He didn't want to look at her knowing that it was possible she would leave him. He didn't want to look at her knowing that there was a possibility that she would be taken away from him. He didn't want to admit how strong he felt for her. How much he simply wanted to take her by the hand and whisk her away to a foreign land where no one would dare set a finger on either of their lives. He was too scared to look into those violet depths and come to terms with the feelings that he had just realized he had. He couldn't let that cloud his mind.
He turned away abruptly and strode purposefully toward his tent. He kept his eyes averted from the raven-haired beauty all the while. He fully understood why someone would want her. She was beautiful, so beautiful it hurt to look at her. She outshone the sun, she could wear the light of the moon as a gown, she could weave all the stars in the sky into a crown for her hair for none of those wondrous things would surpass her loveliness. She was intelligent and witty and incredibly powerful. He could still feel the heat of the fire from the cave. He could still smell the magic when she had conjured clothing for him. She was an amazing creature and he was not surprised that people sought her out. "Let me alone to think," he called over his shoulder to Endymion.
Endymion had no choice but to let him go. He turned slowly to Nephrite when he saw Jadeite glide into his tent and pull the flaps down to hide everything from view. "We must do something," he said softly.
Nephrite nodded and looked around the camp for a place to sit. They chose to sit outside near Endymion's tent for neither prince trusted the blonde Lily who stood suspiciously close to Rei's tent.
"You don't deserve him," Rei heard someone whisper closely to her.
"Don't deserve who?" she replied.
Lily slithered closer and looked at the camp spread out before her. "You don't deserve Jadeite," she said.
Rei felt the flame of anger spurt to life and wanted desperately to injure the woman beside her. However, she was a senshi and senshi never did damage to someone who could not protect themselves. "I don't understand you. . ." she said softly, keeping her eyes averted.
Lily only moved closer to her and sneered in her ear. Why did this little raven-haired child grab Jadeite's attention so? "He is a man and you are nothing but a silly girl. Why not leave him to deal with the adults?" she whispered vehemently.
Rei couldn't stand any more of her annoyance and proved her irritation to Lily by stepping away from her and toward Jadeite's tent. She had a right to go to Jadeite, didn't she? After all, they were. . .married.
Just thinking of the phrase made Rei want to spit and scream, kick and hit anyone within reach. She knew that Jadeite was in a terrible situation at the moment, but she would do anything to be right beside him with her fist aflame and his eyes worried. Oh how she'd love to be able to harm him.
She entered his tent with the most superior look she could muster up and stalked up to him. He had his hands on either side of a large trunk that held, she imagined nothing but weapons and armor of all kinds. His head was limp between his shoulders and he made no move to acknowledge her presence as she made her way into the tent. She thought that the best way for her to start her tirade was by announcing her appearance, but when she opened her mouth, nothing of the sort came out.
"Why, Jadeite?" she asked softly.
He didn't respond.
"I don't understand. Why in the universe would you marry me? This makes no sense whatsoever! I hardly come to terms with the idea of you being daft. You knew perfectly well what you were doing! How could you do this to me? Why in heaven's name didn't you say anything to me? Why keep me locked in some sort of dark and obscenely dank cave? And how in Kami's sake did you get me to consent to the marriage? You are nothing but a conniving, inconsiderate, vain, conceited braggart!" she screamed at him.
Jadeite took all the insults with a nod. He didn't turn around to face her, but gave his agreement by the small nod he made with his head. Rei saw the lolling motion, but refused to take pity on him. Certainly there was a part of her that wanted to comfort him and whisper promises of a good future, but she couldn't allow that to come out now. Not when she was so angry at his betrayal. He spent the entire time sulking over her betrayal to him, now she would do the same. "I hate you for what you did!"
"You do not hate me," he finally replied.
Rei could feel the flames of fury slipping and sliding through her blood. She wanted to throw something, wanted to kick his feet from under him and demand that he explain everything to her. "Of course I hate you," she said, "Do not presume to tell me what I think."
Jed sniggered slightly at her remark then finally turned to look at her. He was once again struck dumb by her beauty. He could feel her eyes-twin orbs of violet fire-pouring anger into him and he wanted suddenly to seek comfort in her silken, white arms. He wanted to cry his pain onto her shoulder and let her absorb the hurt he felt deep in his chest for he knew that she would cure him. He knew it even as he stared at her growing irritation with him. He could feel the heat flowing off of her in waves, could smell her rage and taste her wrath. He knew she wanted to harm him in that moment. Knew it like he knew his own mind. He could sense the power she exuded to keep her fire at bay.
He could feel a mixture of emotions clawing at him and one important thought raced through his head as he watched her tap her foot in annoyance. He would never let a single person harm her. He would rather die than let anyone harm one lush hair on her head. There was absolutely no way he would give her to the demon who stole his children. He would find some other way to bring his children to him and keep her by his side for the rest of his life. She was his wife. And in those few seconds of staring at her, he knew in his heart what his brain had been denying.
He was madly and deeply in love with the Princess of Mars, Rei.
As soon as he came to grips with the startling discovery, he reeled back in despair. This was all wrong. He was not supposed to fall in love with her. He was not supposed to let himself be lured by her dark, mysterious beauty and her amusing wit. Nor was he to adore her smile, he wasn't supposed to crave her laugh or pray for a glimpse of her to ensure that he was still alive. But somehow, through all the horrors that had passed in the last few months, he had fallen in love with her and he could no longer deny it. The warmth he felt when she appeared in a room or within his senses made him want to leap high into the air and proclaim to all that he was in love. "No. . ." he whispered. He didn't want to be in love with this angel. He couldn't afford to be weak in this time when strength was so important.
Rei raised an eyebrow at his word. He had been silent for several minutes before the word slipped out of his mouth. "No? What do you mean no? Of course I am allowed to think for myself. I did not give you permission to be my mind! You tricked me into marrying you! How did you do it? How in the universe did you manage for me to say yes?"
Jadeite turned back from her and raised a hand to his forehead. This was nonsense. . .he couldn't love her! His children were trapped in the hands of some evil demon and he needed to save them and keep the princess locked in his care at the same time. How was he to pay attention and keep his mind hard and clear when the lovely girl flashed before his eyes and her voice whispered through his mind? He realized after several precious seconds of worrying that she was staring daggers into his back. He didn't bother to turn around when he gave her his half-hearted answer. "I got you to reply to the priest with a 'yes' because I knew you wanted to marry me."
She made an angry sound in the back of her throat and he was vaguely aware that it sounded like an irate phoenix crying out in frustration. "You are insufferable!" she cried.
Jadeite shook his head and rested his hand on a trunk that someone had placed in his tent. He could feel beads of sweat slipping down his neck. Could feel his fingers tingle with the thought of touching her again; could feel his heart pound with its newfound love. "I suggest you go back to your tent and let me alone to think," he said coldly to her. He needed to put distance between them. If he didn't, there was a chance he would lose his mind and run head first into the demon's lair without any protection of his own and only thoughts of protecting two innocent lives and one life that was so valuable to him he would give up all his power and live in seclusion for the rest of his days if he knew she would be safe.
He could hear her breathe out a harsh sigh then whip away from his tent; the bearskin flap thrashing behind her. He sat heavily down onto the pile of furs that someone had dumped onto the floor. He tucked the thought into the back of his mind for the person who cared for his things would have to be spoken to. He also didn't understand why there was a pile of furs in the middle of his tent when it was hotter than Mars's deserts out in the forest.
With a groan, he placed his head in his hands and braced his elbows on his knees. What was he going to do? His children were in grave danger. His wife hated him and he knew that his friends were lurking behind that tent flap, waiting to fight their way in and attempt to help him. He hated this feeling of not knowing what to do.
* * *
Rei paced the inside of her tent, furious with herself and with Jadeite. He tricked her, damn him! She was married! The thoughts were ridiculous. She was only nineteen summers! She had made a vow to her brother that she would never marry without love; never marry until she was absolutely ready. She didn't want to be forced into a life with someone she didn't know or someone she didn't love. And she didn't love Jadeite. . .
She shook her head when her thoughts paused and slowed her pacing. There was no love between them. . .was there? He obviously didn't care about her. He had forced her into something she didn't want to do and now that she knew she was livid! But not terribly upset. . .
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She wasn't making any sense at all. Her mind was in a jumble because of all the news she had just received.
She was a married woman. She was married to a selfish yet compassionate cad. She had two children. Two children who were in such danger she felt a fist clench around her heart. Where was Eurus?
While she stood in the center of her tent, her mind stretched far in search of her loyal phoenix, another figure slipped behind her and stared at the back of her head; at the beautiful strands of raven hair that shimmered and flickered in the light from the candles that sat on the top of a small wooden table near the back of the tent. What did the prince see in her?
Rei turned sharply to find herself staring into cold brown eyes that shone with malice. "Ms. Lily," Rei said in a voice to match the ice in the woman's eyes.
"Princess," Lily replied.
"What do you in my tent?"
Lily grinned slightly and then blinked at the young woman. This girl was over a score years younger than her and she could see the beauty that would only blossom further as she grew older. The eyes were innocent and dark with mystery, her skin smooth and silken and her body lithe and firm as a young girl's should be. She could sense that as this lovely girl grew into womanhood, she would become even more beautiful than she was. Smile lines would crease around her eyes and mouth and her skin would begin to shine like the sun. Yes, this amazing creature would only become more amazing and she could not accept that. She wanted to be rid of the princess and keep the princess' soon-to-be widower husband. "I have come to speak with you," she said.
Rei raised her chin and stared down at the woman. She did not care for the woman's tone, but anything to keep her thoughts from her marriage to Jadeite was a gift sent from Kami. "Make your business quick," she said in her most regal voice. She hated to use it, but if it would make this woman leave her presence, then she would use it until she lost her voice.
Lily forced a smile for the girl then moved away from her to stand near one of the tent walls. She raised her hands and covered her face for a brief moment then took her hands away and opened her eyes. Rei was surprised to see them shining brightly with unshed tears. "I'm sure Jadeite hasn't told you. . .why would he? It's such a terrible story and one that would greatly shame him and his family."
Lily saw Rei stand a little straighter and raise her chin a little higher. She was striking a chord in the princess' heart. She rose a hand to her eyes again and deftly flicked a fingernail at the corner of her eyes without Rei noticing. The tears looked ready to fall onto her cheeks now. "You see. . .Jadeite's children are not all they seem."
"I do not understand," Rei said softly.
Lily sniffed delicately and withdrew a handkerchief from inside her sleeve to dab gently at her eyes. "Jadeite told you that the children had been mothered by the princess of France, did he not?"
Rei inclined her head slightly.
"Well. . .he lied to you, I'm afraid. Your dear general and prince wanted you to believe that the children were both legitimate, but what he did not mention to you was that the youngest. . .little Isabelle. . .is mine."
Rei felt the small tent spin around her and fling her around like a rag doll before what the woman said sank deep into her bones. It wasn't possible. . .
"You see. . .Jadeite and I thought it would be best if we raised the sweet child as a princess rather than a common bastard. The only excuse we could come up with was that the princess of France birthed a little girl after being shipped away. It seemed the perfect story. She was born shortly after he sent her away and found by one of Jadeite's most trusted servants. So you see, princess. . .I want to help you and my prince. . .I am not here to harm, only help."
Rei didn't know what to do. How could Jadeite lie to her. . .again? He had lied about so many things that she wasn't certain what to trust or who to trust any longer. Why did this have to be so difficult? "What would you help me with?"
Lily hid the grin that threatened to surface and frowned beautifully for the innocent princess. "I know who you are. You are one of the powerful and esteemed senshi and I know the honor and loyalty that lies within you. I know that you would help anyone in need, even if that person lied to you. I understand that nothing can defeat you for you are one of the most powerful women in the universe."
"Get on with it," she snapped. She was angry and hurt. Jadeite had fathered a child with this. . .this. . .evil? He had lied to her and the truth of that lie stung so deeply that she knew she would be curled into a ball and sobbing if the woman standing before was not here.
"All I am suggesting is that you rescue prince Jadeite's children. He is madly in love with them. He is a wonderful father and if you brought his children back to him. . .perhaps he would change."
Something about that suggestion made Rei pause. He was in love with his children. She remembered holding him after he had woken from his nightmare. He had been shaking and though he did not tell her, she knew very well what that dream had been about. He had lost his children in that dream and the memory of him clutching her to him as if she were his only link to life had her shuddering herself. She didn't want him living with that fear hovering over his head. She wanted him smiling and happy, as he had been only hours before. She could still feel the heat of his body as he came to her and her anger at him vanished as quickly as it came. "You may leave," she said to Lily.
Lily merely nodded and turned to leave. As she did, a smile so bright and wicked flitted across her lovely face and Rei frowned. Surely she wasn't happy. Rei had no choice but to push the thought aside and turned to stare at the dancing flames of the candles. She was not helping Jadeite for the reasons that Lily had suggested. She was helping him because she could not bear to see the pain in Jadeite's eyes. She could not live with herself if she knew that she had not tried to help him in anyway. Despite the fact that he had lied and tricked her into marriage, she found she could not hurt him.
She made up her mind then and there that she would bring Jadeite his children and watch the smile that swept across his face when he gazed upon them. Yes, she would give him hope where there was none. He did not deserve to be hurt like this. Certainly he deserved to be lectured and yelled at for the trick he played, but he did not deserve to live in grief. She would leave tonight.
Just as she was getting her plan set straight in her mind, Endymion called to her through the tent flap. "Rei-chan! Dinner has been removed from the flames and we are all about to enjoy it."
Rei nodded to herself and called back, "A moment, please." When she heard his footsteps retreat, she looked back at the candles and the small stick she held in her hand. When the moon shone brightly over her tent and the shadows danced around her, she would leave.
With a wave over a flame, she stood and made her way to the large fire burning and cracking in the center of the camp. She glanced around quickly and noticed that Jadeite was no where to be seen. "Where is Jadeite?" she asked Nephrite as she knelt beside him.
Nephrite smiled sadly at the beauty and pointed in the direction of Jadeite's tent, the bearskin flap tightly tied into place. "He will not come out. He said he is devising a plan."
"You are not?"
"We all are, princess. We have all decided that you are going no where and that whoever it is who has Jadeite's children will have us to contend with. You're not to worry, princess, you will be safe."
Rei nodded and accepted the plate of roasted rabbit from a thin boy with a nervous smile. "Thank you," she said softly. The boy seemed to beam at hearing her speak and turned to gather more plates of rabbit to hand to the other princes.
Rei ate her rabbit in silence. Nephrite didn't understand that the plan he and Endymion and the others had devised would not work. The man wanted her, not them. "Endy. . ." she called sweetly.
Endymion turned and gave her a small smile. "Yes, Rei-chan?"
"May I be excused, please?"
"Is there something troubling you?" he asked her, concern laced in his words.
Rei shook her head slightly and pressed a hand to her temple, "I must plead a headache. . ."
Endymion nodded slowly and reached forward to take the plate from her lap. He had only seen her take two bites. "It has been a long day. . .and you are right. . .sleep is best at the moment."
Rei smiled in thanks and rose. She made it to her tent without running and sat shakily down on the cot. She was beginning to have worries. Nephrite and Endymion looked as though they had a few more hours of planning to do. How would she be able to slip away with them conversing all night?
* * *
Jadeite paced back and forth in his tent, his eyes unfocused and his mind racing wildly. He would not lose her. He had just discovered her and he would be damned if he lost her now.
But how was he going to rescue his children and keep her safely under his tent roof? He would have to move quickly for he knew that men who sought something would not rest until it was theirs. He knew that whoever this person was, they wanted Rei so badly that they had taken two innocent lives without a care as so what would happen to them. He wanted to wrap his bare hands around the fiend's neck and strangle him to ensure that he would never harm another soul again, especially his beautiful firebird.
He refused dinner, refused the drink of brandy Endymion had brought to him, he had even refused the urge to race into Rei's room and bury his head in her hair and cry out that he would not lose her. He needed to be alone, to think, to plan, yet no matter how hard he wracked his brain, no thoughts came to play. He would come across one solution, then realize that it was impossible then try another tactic. Nothing seemed to be going over well in his mind. Where were Ares and Tyche when he needed them? They had disappeared and he hadn't heard from them in such a long time. He stretched his senses out to try and find them, but came back with nothing. It was as if they had flown to another universe and were snuggled tightly under a pool of magic he was not tuned to. He felt empty without them; as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff alone. He could not imagine where they had gotten to, but all he knew was that he would have to find them as well.
He stopped pacing long enough to stare at the white walls of his tent. They were thin and allowed the space inside to breathe. He could feel small breezes slip through the bottom of the tent, could see the fire from the center of camp jump and smooth over itself, trying to reach the starlit sky. He could see the silhouette of the men as they ate their food and conversed with each other. He could not see the slender figure of his firebird. He knew she had gone to her tent. He could feel her beside him. She was going to sleep which was exactly what he wanted. He wanted her to sleep away the night and wake in the morning to find him beside her. He wanted her to open her eyes after a long night's rest and gaze into his eyes and feel the same emotions he was feeling.
With a sigh he turned his attention away from the white walls and continued to pace. He was running out of time and running out of ideas. Where were those birds?
* * *
She lay down on the cot and curled up into a tight ball, watching the shadows cast from the fire move across her tent walls. She could hear the low murmur of men's voices and if she strained her ear, she could hear the impatient pacing of the man in the tent beside her own. She wanted to reach a hand out and smooth it over his brow, wanted him beside her on this cot, stroking her back and hair and whispering how much he loved-
She closed her eyes at the thought then turned onto her back. She would wait until the moon had risen to its fullest. Would wait until she could feel the beams pushing at the fabric walls she was enclosed in, demanding to be let in. Only Queen Serenity would send moon beams to protect the ones she loved.
She pictured them wrapping around her waist and slipping in and around her hair. She wanted their cool touch to guide her in the dark and knew that if Queen Serenity was awake when she set out on her mission then the light would not steer her wrong. She wanted to be able to see Mars shining down on her as she climbed over and through forest to get to where the children lay. Even as she concentrated on the moon and Mars, she could feel the children sleeping, could feel them reaching out for their father, praying he would come for them soon. She could feel Jadeite pacing his tent. Could feel him beating himself with idea after idea, could sense his anger, hurt and sorrow. He didn't want to lose anyone.
And then she felt him. Felt him reach down and run a hand over each child's head, an evil grin crossing his face. She saw him raise his cloaked head and stare up at the moon and reach into the folds of his long black cloak. And as she watched him, horror coursing through her, she saw him remove a shining dagger, its blade twisted and sharp, gleaming in the moonlight. He raised it high above the children's head and turned to look at her. He looked at her! And as she looked down at her body, she understood why he was able to see her. She was standing in the room staring helplessly at the scene before her. "Stop!" she cried trying to move forward. But no matter how hard she tried to get to the two children, she could not move from that spot, she could not reach the shadowed figure who cackled silently with the raised knife inching slowly toward the sleeping innocents.
"Stop! I'll do anything you want! Just stop!" she cried.
She woke panting; breathing so hard one would have thought she had run up and down a mountain. Cold sweat dripped down her neck and in between her breasts and the she could not lose the image that was so real. She knew what it meant and she was going to make sure she stopped it from happening. It would not happen. She wouldn't let it.
She looked around her at the dark tent. The moon had finally rose high over the top of the forest and was casting shadows in her small tent that made her heart jump. She wondered if any one of those shadows had traveled from the room where those children were being held. She could still see the white teeth gleaming at her from under that cloak.
Shaking her head, she swung her legs off the side of the cot and headed toward the opening of her tent. With a swift flick her wrist, she conjured up a gown that she could wear to cloak herself in the night.
All was silent as she emerged. There were two men sleeping by the fire and as she looked out past the tents, she saw the others littering the clearing. She wondered how many of them were awake and guarding the grounds. It didn't matter, she would slip by them easily, but she wanted to be sure.
With movements as graceful as a cat and as smooth as a phoenix, she carried herself toward the patch of ground she knew Lily was occupying. She had made a note of where Endymion and Nephrite kept shooting glances time and again while she ate with them and remembered that the woman was sleeping near the large ash tree by the river. When she made it to the woman's side, she knelt down and prodded her rudely with her finger. "Wake, I have need of your help," she said softly.
Lily woke with a loud yawn and glared up at the raven-haired beauty. How she hated the girl. She was too beautiful for her own good and didn't know it. She hated her. "What do you want?"
"I want to know where the children are being held."
"What makes you so sure I know the answer?" she asked softly.
Rei raised a delicate arched brow, "You brought the missive and I would assume you were told the location, otherwise all hope would be lost. How would prince Jadeite take me to him?"
Lily groaned and sat up. The girl was a bother. "I will take you there, but why am I doing this? Have you finally realized that giving yourself to someone else to save lives is important? Have you discovered this will change Jadeite's mind?"
Rei stood without answering and tapped her foot. Lily noted it was wrapped in an elegant black riding boot. She also noted that the princess had outfitted herself in a simple black riding gown with shortened sleeves and a full skirt. There was a small phoenix shining brightly to the right of her waist and made of the most lovely rubies and diamonds Lily had ever seen. The black fabric was thin gossamer linen that flowed as gracefully as the girl. Curse her lovely body, she filled out the dress perfectly and her thin waist was only accented by that gemmed bird.
With a muffled curse, she rose from her makeshift bed and began walking away from camp. Rei knew that she could have found the man who wanted her easily, but she didn't want to take the chance of him focusing on her power and using it against her. If what she saw in Rodney's mind was correct, this was one evil she had never faced before, a strong and powerful being with no mercy. He wanted her, but why?
Rei followed Lily silently, though somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered why Lily was taking her without argument. She hadn't said a single word since she started away from camp. She hadn't muttered a curse or a sigh, much less a squeal when a small mouse passed them. She hadn't argued nor made any suggestions as to how they proceed. Instead, she led them through brush and forest and gave Rei pause. How did she know her way without any maps or any familiar trees, rocks, or land patterns? She noticed that Lily never once stopped as she led the way through denser and denser forest. She knew perfectly well where she was going.
They walked for hours and before she could utter a comment or mention the abnormality, Lily stopped walking and waited for Rei to take her place beside her. They were standing in front of an old hunting home. The windows were all broken and the shutters hanging on by sheer will to remain in place. The small porch that hugged the front had caved in on the right and Rei could swear she saw red eyes glaring at her from beneath the damage. There was an eerie quiet that had settled around the clearing and home, almost as if all animals were afraid to approach it. There was an old wagon that had been swallowed by the ground and now sported a small fir tree in its center. She also took note that there were two horses tethered to a rotting post of the house. "This is the place?" Rei asked with as much bravado as she could muster.
Lily glanced in Rei's direction and for a brief moment she felt the urge to grab her hand and run. She didn't like the way things were going and didn't think the princess should be involved in such scenes. Remembering the blonde prince that could be hers, she nodded stiffly and turned to look back at the ruined building. "Yes, this is where I was told to take you."
Rei nodded once herself and then turned to look at the blonde woman. "Go back to the camp. . ." she whispered. She wasn't sure why the words that fell out of her mouth did, but when they had been said, she didn't regret them. She didn't want anyone else hurt.
Lily shook her head and was surprised at herself. She wanted to stay and wait for the princess to return and she said just that.
Rei cocked her head to the side and shook her head in disbelief. Well, if the woman wanted to wait out in the cold, quiet clearing, then she wouldn't stop her.
Squaring her shoulders, Rei slowly approached the hunting lodge. It was even more terrible to look at as she got closer. The blackened wood let off cold waves and the smell of rotting carcasses filled her nose as she got nearer and nearer. She could feel the air tighten around her and could feel the magic flow off the building and seep into her soul. It was black magic that turned this lodge into the terribly haunted, black hole she was about to enter. She could feel the tendrils of blackness crawl across her skin, felt it riffle through her hair and stroke her cheek. She slammed the feelings away quickly and raised her chin into the air. She would rescue these children and release Jadeite from the torment of his heart. She wanted him unharmed, healthy, and beautiful so that when she looked upon him embracing his children, he would look up and smile at her.
Very quickly and very quietly she pushed the door open and was surprised to see it smoothly fall back to reveal a dark corridor lit only by several candles hanging from the wall. Taking a deep breath and running a finger over the jeweled wings of the phoenix at her waist, she walked into the darkness.
The door slammed shut as soon as she stepped over the threshold and something inside her told her to run and wait for Jadeite and Endymion to help her, but she couldn't move. The house was not ruined and rotting inside. It was beautifully furnished and smelled of fresh flowers. She narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. She was smarter than that to believe that the home was not as she pictured it. She knew perfectly well that home was enchanted.
Closing her eyes and reaching out her mind she tried desperately to seek the children's minds. She needed to feel them in the home before she sought them out. She could feel the tingling in the back of her mind where her sense cried out softly for her to run; something was not right about this place. There was too much magic. But she toned out the voice and stretched her mind to its limits. She could feel them. They were crouched in a corner near the back of the house.
With a gasp, she flew backward back into her body and immediately looked to her left. She broke into a run that echoed through the halls. Her booted heels clicked lightly as she ran through the house on a path only her senses could follow. She heard a whisper of sound caress her ear, but pushed it back and ran for the closed door at the end of the hall. It was black, everything was black.
She could feel her heart racing, could feel her breath coming out in short gasps. She felt terror at her back and fear to her right. She slammed against the door without pausing and tumbled into a dusty room with nothing in it but a small table and one chair. Looking to the right she found two blonde children clutching each other in the corner, their clothing torn and dirty.
She rushed to them and smoothed the hair away from the boy's forehead. "Garrick. . ." she whispered to the sleeping child. But he didn't wake. He was cold to the touch, but she pressed her hand to his chest and felt his heart beating, slow and faint, but it was still there and she reveled in that. She turned to the small girl and stroked the blonde, dirty curls. "Isabelle," she said gently. The little girl did not wake. They were both sleeping deeply and that worried Rei to the tips of her toes. "Why won't you children wake?" she cried softly.
"Because the spell they are under will only wear away when I allow it."
Rei stiffened at the sound of that voice. She knew it too well. She had thought to find a friend in that voice, thought to find release from imprisonment from that voice, but she could not believe who it was. She slowly turned her head to meet the eyes of the form behind her, but she met only the cloaked figure from her dreams. The cloak hid him clearly from her eyes, but she knew who that voice belonged to. Knew it because she had yelled and screamed and fought that voice when she first saw him. "Sora. . ." she said forcefully.
The figure laughed maliciously. There was no feeling in his voice, there was nothing. He was laughing without emotion, simply laughing because he could, because she had figured out who he was. "Aren't you the smart little bird?" he said with a smile.
Rei mentally backed away from that smile and tried to make out his eyes from beneath the shadow of his hood. She could see nothing but darkness. "Why, Sora?" she asked.
Sora's smile turned into a grimace and he strode forward. He had forgotten how beautiful she was, had forgotten the way her hair fell down her back and molded to her body. He had forgotten her pale skin, which was only accentuated by the black gown she wore. But he remembered feeling lost when Jadeite had taken her back. He felt empty and soulless without her. "Because they were crying and screaming and that damned little boy was vowing that his father would come and kill me for kidnapping him."
"No. . .why did you do all this?" Rei asked standing slowly.
Sora watched the gown flit around her figure and fall gracefully around her. He wanted to be that gown, hugging her lush body to his and moving deeply inside her. "Why did I do all this? Ha! Don't be ridiculous. It's all so easy to understand."
Rei swept a hand behind her back and conjured up a ball of fire as she stared at his hood where his eyes should have been. She could feel the waves of anger flowing off him and engulfing her. "I don't understand," she said.
"If you don't understand, it's because you are not to know. And I would advise you put that fireball back into the magical mists before you hurt yourself."
Rei felt a fury consume her. She flung her arm out and the ball went soaring through the small room. She then raised her left arm and used her right to pull back an arrow from the newly fabricated bow that sprang from her wrists. It gleamed and shone in the dark room and she fired arrow after arrow at his black heart. She could feel the fire raging inside her and felt it roar out of her arrows.
Sora merely dodged the fireball and caught each arrow as it flew at him. He smiled devilishly at her then jumped up and over her head. He raised a leg and tried to catch her behind the ear in a blow that would have her sprawled on the ground unconscious, but she spun around quickly and blocked him with her forearm. She then threw herself to the ground and tried knocking him to the ground using her booted foot, but he caught her in the belly with his own booted toe and she cringed with pain. Rei wouldn't give up that easily, she threw a blast of at him then rolled away and gathered herself to her feet.
Sora could not dodge that ball fast enough and was sent several feet back before he recovered and saw Rei standing to the side, poised for a fight.
He laughed that empty laugh of his and ran at her. The cry that tore from his throat made her ears ring and she raised her arms to block the heavy blows that he threw at her. His fist flew faster than her arms could block and he caught her several times when she wasn't aware. She attempted to kick, to scratch and punch, but he was too fast. He had to have trained with the best.
She struck out when she felt a burst of energy consume her and managed to land a punch to his cheek. His head snapped back and he growled in fury when he raised a hand and saw the blood that came away with it. He threw his weight at her and she hit the wall with a loud thud. A cry escaped her mouth when he conjured up a ball of black energy and thrust it into her abdomen. She felt the lightening coil around her ribs and down her spine. It felt like millions of needles sinking deeply into her flesh. She grasped the back of his hood when he blow hit and as the hood fell off his head she caught another cry in her throat.
Sora didn't look the same. His face was gaunt and hollow. His eyes, which were once a beautiful brown, were full of naked rage and burning with hatred. His pale skin glowed in the moonlight that streaked in at his back and the evil grin he gave her made her mind reel. This was not the same Sora.
"So, you see me. . .face to face, do you, princess?" he asked. He felt her shivering and shuddering in pain. Pain that he caused and he smiled at that fact. "You will be mine," he said hoarsely.
Rei made a final attempt at throwing a weak fireball at him, but he had pinned her to the wall with his thighs and she could not move. The pain of the black lightening was coursing through her and she couldn't resist the urge to close her eyes and drift into the blackness she could see hovering nearby. "No. . ." she whispered before she felt the pain take over. She was vaguely aware of Sora slamming his first into her jaw before the black void completely took the place of his sunken image.
* * *
Jadeite woke to the sound of birds chirping, the sun shining brightly overhead and a terror unlike any he felt pounding at his sense. He felt half empty. He felt as though half his soul had perished. "Rei. . ." he breathed. He pushed back the terror and fear that hung in front of his eyes like a thick blanket of snow and burst out of his tent like a whale breaking the surface of the water. He didn't answer when Endymion called out to him and ran toward the tent that stood beside his own. It couldn't be true. There was no way it could be true.
He tore the flap of opening away from Rei's tent and stood there staring at the empty cot. He felt his knees give and felt the icy dread consume him.
She was gone. . .
"Jadeite! What has you running like a madman?" Endymion called out. He looked over Jadeite's shoulder and the empty tent took him by surprise. "No. . ." he said softly. He dropped the piece of parchment he was holding and turned away with a growl. "Who took her?" he yelled.
Jadeite shook his head and turned to look at Endymion. When Endymion glanced at those blue eyes his own fury fell away and fear slid into place. "Jadeite. . ." he said softly.
His eyes were dark and bright with worry. He clenched and unclenched his fists and stared coldly at the spot where Lily had taken her bed the night before. "Rei. . .she left. . .to protect me. . .to rescue my children. . .Lily took her to that madman," he said through clenched teeth. He was going to kill Rei when he got her back. He would kiss her first and explore her body, examine every inch of her to ensure that she was not harmed, then he would kill her. He felt stronger than he had ever felt. He wanted her back and he wouldn't rest until she was safe in his arms again, his children at their side. "Leave the tents; forget to clear camp. . .we ride now."
"Jadeite. . .we don't know where to go. . ." Endymion said gently. He didn't want to go into something they weren't prepared for.
"I know where to go," Jadeite said. He could feel her pain in his own blood; could feel her crying within herself. He would not need a map to get to where she was. He would follow his heart.
* * *
Endymion was the first to speak when the initial shock had run its course through everyone. He was the prince after all, was he not? It was his job to deal with these matters first hand, to give solutions to problems and allow the person to depend solely on him. "Do not take it to heart, Jadeite. We will figure out how to beat this and everything will be as well as it once was."
Jadeite shook his head and turned to glance at Rei who was stood as still as stone just to the side of her tent. She was staring directly at him, her violet eyes full of an emotion he could not name. He could feel it engulfing him, could feel her gaze seeping into his bones and wrapping itself around them until he was immobile. He didn't want to look at her in those few seconds. He didn't want to look at her knowing that it was possible she would leave him. He didn't want to look at her knowing that there was a possibility that she would be taken away from him. He didn't want to admit how strong he felt for her. How much he simply wanted to take her by the hand and whisk her away to a foreign land where no one would dare set a finger on either of their lives. He was too scared to look into those violet depths and come to terms with the feelings that he had just realized he had. He couldn't let that cloud his mind.
He turned away abruptly and strode purposefully toward his tent. He kept his eyes averted from the raven-haired beauty all the while. He fully understood why someone would want her. She was beautiful, so beautiful it hurt to look at her. She outshone the sun, she could wear the light of the moon as a gown, she could weave all the stars in the sky into a crown for her hair for none of those wondrous things would surpass her loveliness. She was intelligent and witty and incredibly powerful. He could still feel the heat of the fire from the cave. He could still smell the magic when she had conjured clothing for him. She was an amazing creature and he was not surprised that people sought her out. "Let me alone to think," he called over his shoulder to Endymion.
Endymion had no choice but to let him go. He turned slowly to Nephrite when he saw Jadeite glide into his tent and pull the flaps down to hide everything from view. "We must do something," he said softly.
Nephrite nodded and looked around the camp for a place to sit. They chose to sit outside near Endymion's tent for neither prince trusted the blonde Lily who stood suspiciously close to Rei's tent.
"You don't deserve him," Rei heard someone whisper closely to her.
"Don't deserve who?" she replied.
Lily slithered closer and looked at the camp spread out before her. "You don't deserve Jadeite," she said.
Rei felt the flame of anger spurt to life and wanted desperately to injure the woman beside her. However, she was a senshi and senshi never did damage to someone who could not protect themselves. "I don't understand you. . ." she said softly, keeping her eyes averted.
Lily only moved closer to her and sneered in her ear. Why did this little raven-haired child grab Jadeite's attention so? "He is a man and you are nothing but a silly girl. Why not leave him to deal with the adults?" she whispered vehemently.
Rei couldn't stand any more of her annoyance and proved her irritation to Lily by stepping away from her and toward Jadeite's tent. She had a right to go to Jadeite, didn't she? After all, they were. . .married.
Just thinking of the phrase made Rei want to spit and scream, kick and hit anyone within reach. She knew that Jadeite was in a terrible situation at the moment, but she would do anything to be right beside him with her fist aflame and his eyes worried. Oh how she'd love to be able to harm him.
She entered his tent with the most superior look she could muster up and stalked up to him. He had his hands on either side of a large trunk that held, she imagined nothing but weapons and armor of all kinds. His head was limp between his shoulders and he made no move to acknowledge her presence as she made her way into the tent. She thought that the best way for her to start her tirade was by announcing her appearance, but when she opened her mouth, nothing of the sort came out.
"Why, Jadeite?" she asked softly.
He didn't respond.
"I don't understand. Why in the universe would you marry me? This makes no sense whatsoever! I hardly come to terms with the idea of you being daft. You knew perfectly well what you were doing! How could you do this to me? Why in heaven's name didn't you say anything to me? Why keep me locked in some sort of dark and obscenely dank cave? And how in Kami's sake did you get me to consent to the marriage? You are nothing but a conniving, inconsiderate, vain, conceited braggart!" she screamed at him.
Jadeite took all the insults with a nod. He didn't turn around to face her, but gave his agreement by the small nod he made with his head. Rei saw the lolling motion, but refused to take pity on him. Certainly there was a part of her that wanted to comfort him and whisper promises of a good future, but she couldn't allow that to come out now. Not when she was so angry at his betrayal. He spent the entire time sulking over her betrayal to him, now she would do the same. "I hate you for what you did!"
"You do not hate me," he finally replied.
Rei could feel the flames of fury slipping and sliding through her blood. She wanted to throw something, wanted to kick his feet from under him and demand that he explain everything to her. "Of course I hate you," she said, "Do not presume to tell me what I think."
Jed sniggered slightly at her remark then finally turned to look at her. He was once again struck dumb by her beauty. He could feel her eyes-twin orbs of violet fire-pouring anger into him and he wanted suddenly to seek comfort in her silken, white arms. He wanted to cry his pain onto her shoulder and let her absorb the hurt he felt deep in his chest for he knew that she would cure him. He knew it even as he stared at her growing irritation with him. He could feel the heat flowing off of her in waves, could smell her rage and taste her wrath. He knew she wanted to harm him in that moment. Knew it like he knew his own mind. He could sense the power she exuded to keep her fire at bay.
He could feel a mixture of emotions clawing at him and one important thought raced through his head as he watched her tap her foot in annoyance. He would never let a single person harm her. He would rather die than let anyone harm one lush hair on her head. There was absolutely no way he would give her to the demon who stole his children. He would find some other way to bring his children to him and keep her by his side for the rest of his life. She was his wife. And in those few seconds of staring at her, he knew in his heart what his brain had been denying.
He was madly and deeply in love with the Princess of Mars, Rei.
As soon as he came to grips with the startling discovery, he reeled back in despair. This was all wrong. He was not supposed to fall in love with her. He was not supposed to let himself be lured by her dark, mysterious beauty and her amusing wit. Nor was he to adore her smile, he wasn't supposed to crave her laugh or pray for a glimpse of her to ensure that he was still alive. But somehow, through all the horrors that had passed in the last few months, he had fallen in love with her and he could no longer deny it. The warmth he felt when she appeared in a room or within his senses made him want to leap high into the air and proclaim to all that he was in love. "No. . ." he whispered. He didn't want to be in love with this angel. He couldn't afford to be weak in this time when strength was so important.
Rei raised an eyebrow at his word. He had been silent for several minutes before the word slipped out of his mouth. "No? What do you mean no? Of course I am allowed to think for myself. I did not give you permission to be my mind! You tricked me into marrying you! How did you do it? How in the universe did you manage for me to say yes?"
Jadeite turned back from her and raised a hand to his forehead. This was nonsense. . .he couldn't love her! His children were trapped in the hands of some evil demon and he needed to save them and keep the princess locked in his care at the same time. How was he to pay attention and keep his mind hard and clear when the lovely girl flashed before his eyes and her voice whispered through his mind? He realized after several precious seconds of worrying that she was staring daggers into his back. He didn't bother to turn around when he gave her his half-hearted answer. "I got you to reply to the priest with a 'yes' because I knew you wanted to marry me."
She made an angry sound in the back of her throat and he was vaguely aware that it sounded like an irate phoenix crying out in frustration. "You are insufferable!" she cried.
Jadeite shook his head and rested his hand on a trunk that someone had placed in his tent. He could feel beads of sweat slipping down his neck. Could feel his fingers tingle with the thought of touching her again; could feel his heart pound with its newfound love. "I suggest you go back to your tent and let me alone to think," he said coldly to her. He needed to put distance between them. If he didn't, there was a chance he would lose his mind and run head first into the demon's lair without any protection of his own and only thoughts of protecting two innocent lives and one life that was so valuable to him he would give up all his power and live in seclusion for the rest of his days if he knew she would be safe.
He could hear her breathe out a harsh sigh then whip away from his tent; the bearskin flap thrashing behind her. He sat heavily down onto the pile of furs that someone had dumped onto the floor. He tucked the thought into the back of his mind for the person who cared for his things would have to be spoken to. He also didn't understand why there was a pile of furs in the middle of his tent when it was hotter than Mars's deserts out in the forest.
With a groan, he placed his head in his hands and braced his elbows on his knees. What was he going to do? His children were in grave danger. His wife hated him and he knew that his friends were lurking behind that tent flap, waiting to fight their way in and attempt to help him. He hated this feeling of not knowing what to do.
* * *
Rei paced the inside of her tent, furious with herself and with Jadeite. He tricked her, damn him! She was married! The thoughts were ridiculous. She was only nineteen summers! She had made a vow to her brother that she would never marry without love; never marry until she was absolutely ready. She didn't want to be forced into a life with someone she didn't know or someone she didn't love. And she didn't love Jadeite. . .
She shook her head when her thoughts paused and slowed her pacing. There was no love between them. . .was there? He obviously didn't care about her. He had forced her into something she didn't want to do and now that she knew she was livid! But not terribly upset. . .
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She wasn't making any sense at all. Her mind was in a jumble because of all the news she had just received.
She was a married woman. She was married to a selfish yet compassionate cad. She had two children. Two children who were in such danger she felt a fist clench around her heart. Where was Eurus?
While she stood in the center of her tent, her mind stretched far in search of her loyal phoenix, another figure slipped behind her and stared at the back of her head; at the beautiful strands of raven hair that shimmered and flickered in the light from the candles that sat on the top of a small wooden table near the back of the tent. What did the prince see in her?
Rei turned sharply to find herself staring into cold brown eyes that shone with malice. "Ms. Lily," Rei said in a voice to match the ice in the woman's eyes.
"Princess," Lily replied.
"What do you in my tent?"
Lily grinned slightly and then blinked at the young woman. This girl was over a score years younger than her and she could see the beauty that would only blossom further as she grew older. The eyes were innocent and dark with mystery, her skin smooth and silken and her body lithe and firm as a young girl's should be. She could sense that as this lovely girl grew into womanhood, she would become even more beautiful than she was. Smile lines would crease around her eyes and mouth and her skin would begin to shine like the sun. Yes, this amazing creature would only become more amazing and she could not accept that. She wanted to be rid of the princess and keep the princess' soon-to-be widower husband. "I have come to speak with you," she said.
Rei raised her chin and stared down at the woman. She did not care for the woman's tone, but anything to keep her thoughts from her marriage to Jadeite was a gift sent from Kami. "Make your business quick," she said in her most regal voice. She hated to use it, but if it would make this woman leave her presence, then she would use it until she lost her voice.
Lily forced a smile for the girl then moved away from her to stand near one of the tent walls. She raised her hands and covered her face for a brief moment then took her hands away and opened her eyes. Rei was surprised to see them shining brightly with unshed tears. "I'm sure Jadeite hasn't told you. . .why would he? It's such a terrible story and one that would greatly shame him and his family."
Lily saw Rei stand a little straighter and raise her chin a little higher. She was striking a chord in the princess' heart. She rose a hand to her eyes again and deftly flicked a fingernail at the corner of her eyes without Rei noticing. The tears looked ready to fall onto her cheeks now. "You see. . .Jadeite's children are not all they seem."
"I do not understand," Rei said softly.
Lily sniffed delicately and withdrew a handkerchief from inside her sleeve to dab gently at her eyes. "Jadeite told you that the children had been mothered by the princess of France, did he not?"
Rei inclined her head slightly.
"Well. . .he lied to you, I'm afraid. Your dear general and prince wanted you to believe that the children were both legitimate, but what he did not mention to you was that the youngest. . .little Isabelle. . .is mine."
Rei felt the small tent spin around her and fling her around like a rag doll before what the woman said sank deep into her bones. It wasn't possible. . .
"You see. . .Jadeite and I thought it would be best if we raised the sweet child as a princess rather than a common bastard. The only excuse we could come up with was that the princess of France birthed a little girl after being shipped away. It seemed the perfect story. She was born shortly after he sent her away and found by one of Jadeite's most trusted servants. So you see, princess. . .I want to help you and my prince. . .I am not here to harm, only help."
Rei didn't know what to do. How could Jadeite lie to her. . .again? He had lied about so many things that she wasn't certain what to trust or who to trust any longer. Why did this have to be so difficult? "What would you help me with?"
Lily hid the grin that threatened to surface and frowned beautifully for the innocent princess. "I know who you are. You are one of the powerful and esteemed senshi and I know the honor and loyalty that lies within you. I know that you would help anyone in need, even if that person lied to you. I understand that nothing can defeat you for you are one of the most powerful women in the universe."
"Get on with it," she snapped. She was angry and hurt. Jadeite had fathered a child with this. . .this. . .evil? He had lied to her and the truth of that lie stung so deeply that she knew she would be curled into a ball and sobbing if the woman standing before was not here.
"All I am suggesting is that you rescue prince Jadeite's children. He is madly in love with them. He is a wonderful father and if you brought his children back to him. . .perhaps he would change."
Something about that suggestion made Rei pause. He was in love with his children. She remembered holding him after he had woken from his nightmare. He had been shaking and though he did not tell her, she knew very well what that dream had been about. He had lost his children in that dream and the memory of him clutching her to him as if she were his only link to life had her shuddering herself. She didn't want him living with that fear hovering over his head. She wanted him smiling and happy, as he had been only hours before. She could still feel the heat of his body as he came to her and her anger at him vanished as quickly as it came. "You may leave," she said to Lily.
Lily merely nodded and turned to leave. As she did, a smile so bright and wicked flitted across her lovely face and Rei frowned. Surely she wasn't happy. Rei had no choice but to push the thought aside and turned to stare at the dancing flames of the candles. She was not helping Jadeite for the reasons that Lily had suggested. She was helping him because she could not bear to see the pain in Jadeite's eyes. She could not live with herself if she knew that she had not tried to help him in anyway. Despite the fact that he had lied and tricked her into marriage, she found she could not hurt him.
She made up her mind then and there that she would bring Jadeite his children and watch the smile that swept across his face when he gazed upon them. Yes, she would give him hope where there was none. He did not deserve to be hurt like this. Certainly he deserved to be lectured and yelled at for the trick he played, but he did not deserve to live in grief. She would leave tonight.
Just as she was getting her plan set straight in her mind, Endymion called to her through the tent flap. "Rei-chan! Dinner has been removed from the flames and we are all about to enjoy it."
Rei nodded to herself and called back, "A moment, please." When she heard his footsteps retreat, she looked back at the candles and the small stick she held in her hand. When the moon shone brightly over her tent and the shadows danced around her, she would leave.
With a wave over a flame, she stood and made her way to the large fire burning and cracking in the center of the camp. She glanced around quickly and noticed that Jadeite was no where to be seen. "Where is Jadeite?" she asked Nephrite as she knelt beside him.
Nephrite smiled sadly at the beauty and pointed in the direction of Jadeite's tent, the bearskin flap tightly tied into place. "He will not come out. He said he is devising a plan."
"You are not?"
"We all are, princess. We have all decided that you are going no where and that whoever it is who has Jadeite's children will have us to contend with. You're not to worry, princess, you will be safe."
Rei nodded and accepted the plate of roasted rabbit from a thin boy with a nervous smile. "Thank you," she said softly. The boy seemed to beam at hearing her speak and turned to gather more plates of rabbit to hand to the other princes.
Rei ate her rabbit in silence. Nephrite didn't understand that the plan he and Endymion and the others had devised would not work. The man wanted her, not them. "Endy. . ." she called sweetly.
Endymion turned and gave her a small smile. "Yes, Rei-chan?"
"May I be excused, please?"
"Is there something troubling you?" he asked her, concern laced in his words.
Rei shook her head slightly and pressed a hand to her temple, "I must plead a headache. . ."
Endymion nodded slowly and reached forward to take the plate from her lap. He had only seen her take two bites. "It has been a long day. . .and you are right. . .sleep is best at the moment."
Rei smiled in thanks and rose. She made it to her tent without running and sat shakily down on the cot. She was beginning to have worries. Nephrite and Endymion looked as though they had a few more hours of planning to do. How would she be able to slip away with them conversing all night?
* * *
Jadeite paced back and forth in his tent, his eyes unfocused and his mind racing wildly. He would not lose her. He had just discovered her and he would be damned if he lost her now.
But how was he going to rescue his children and keep her safely under his tent roof? He would have to move quickly for he knew that men who sought something would not rest until it was theirs. He knew that whoever this person was, they wanted Rei so badly that they had taken two innocent lives without a care as so what would happen to them. He wanted to wrap his bare hands around the fiend's neck and strangle him to ensure that he would never harm another soul again, especially his beautiful firebird.
He refused dinner, refused the drink of brandy Endymion had brought to him, he had even refused the urge to race into Rei's room and bury his head in her hair and cry out that he would not lose her. He needed to be alone, to think, to plan, yet no matter how hard he wracked his brain, no thoughts came to play. He would come across one solution, then realize that it was impossible then try another tactic. Nothing seemed to be going over well in his mind. Where were Ares and Tyche when he needed them? They had disappeared and he hadn't heard from them in such a long time. He stretched his senses out to try and find them, but came back with nothing. It was as if they had flown to another universe and were snuggled tightly under a pool of magic he was not tuned to. He felt empty without them; as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff alone. He could not imagine where they had gotten to, but all he knew was that he would have to find them as well.
He stopped pacing long enough to stare at the white walls of his tent. They were thin and allowed the space inside to breathe. He could feel small breezes slip through the bottom of the tent, could see the fire from the center of camp jump and smooth over itself, trying to reach the starlit sky. He could see the silhouette of the men as they ate their food and conversed with each other. He could not see the slender figure of his firebird. He knew she had gone to her tent. He could feel her beside him. She was going to sleep which was exactly what he wanted. He wanted her to sleep away the night and wake in the morning to find him beside her. He wanted her to open her eyes after a long night's rest and gaze into his eyes and feel the same emotions he was feeling.
With a sigh he turned his attention away from the white walls and continued to pace. He was running out of time and running out of ideas. Where were those birds?
* * *
She lay down on the cot and curled up into a tight ball, watching the shadows cast from the fire move across her tent walls. She could hear the low murmur of men's voices and if she strained her ear, she could hear the impatient pacing of the man in the tent beside her own. She wanted to reach a hand out and smooth it over his brow, wanted him beside her on this cot, stroking her back and hair and whispering how much he loved-
She closed her eyes at the thought then turned onto her back. She would wait until the moon had risen to its fullest. Would wait until she could feel the beams pushing at the fabric walls she was enclosed in, demanding to be let in. Only Queen Serenity would send moon beams to protect the ones she loved.
She pictured them wrapping around her waist and slipping in and around her hair. She wanted their cool touch to guide her in the dark and knew that if Queen Serenity was awake when she set out on her mission then the light would not steer her wrong. She wanted to be able to see Mars shining down on her as she climbed over and through forest to get to where the children lay. Even as she concentrated on the moon and Mars, she could feel the children sleeping, could feel them reaching out for their father, praying he would come for them soon. She could feel Jadeite pacing his tent. Could feel him beating himself with idea after idea, could sense his anger, hurt and sorrow. He didn't want to lose anyone.
And then she felt him. Felt him reach down and run a hand over each child's head, an evil grin crossing his face. She saw him raise his cloaked head and stare up at the moon and reach into the folds of his long black cloak. And as she watched him, horror coursing through her, she saw him remove a shining dagger, its blade twisted and sharp, gleaming in the moonlight. He raised it high above the children's head and turned to look at her. He looked at her! And as she looked down at her body, she understood why he was able to see her. She was standing in the room staring helplessly at the scene before her. "Stop!" she cried trying to move forward. But no matter how hard she tried to get to the two children, she could not move from that spot, she could not reach the shadowed figure who cackled silently with the raised knife inching slowly toward the sleeping innocents.
"Stop! I'll do anything you want! Just stop!" she cried.
She woke panting; breathing so hard one would have thought she had run up and down a mountain. Cold sweat dripped down her neck and in between her breasts and the she could not lose the image that was so real. She knew what it meant and she was going to make sure she stopped it from happening. It would not happen. She wouldn't let it.
She looked around her at the dark tent. The moon had finally rose high over the top of the forest and was casting shadows in her small tent that made her heart jump. She wondered if any one of those shadows had traveled from the room where those children were being held. She could still see the white teeth gleaming at her from under that cloak.
Shaking her head, she swung her legs off the side of the cot and headed toward the opening of her tent. With a swift flick her wrist, she conjured up a gown that she could wear to cloak herself in the night.
All was silent as she emerged. There were two men sleeping by the fire and as she looked out past the tents, she saw the others littering the clearing. She wondered how many of them were awake and guarding the grounds. It didn't matter, she would slip by them easily, but she wanted to be sure.
With movements as graceful as a cat and as smooth as a phoenix, she carried herself toward the patch of ground she knew Lily was occupying. She had made a note of where Endymion and Nephrite kept shooting glances time and again while she ate with them and remembered that the woman was sleeping near the large ash tree by the river. When she made it to the woman's side, she knelt down and prodded her rudely with her finger. "Wake, I have need of your help," she said softly.
Lily woke with a loud yawn and glared up at the raven-haired beauty. How she hated the girl. She was too beautiful for her own good and didn't know it. She hated her. "What do you want?"
"I want to know where the children are being held."
"What makes you so sure I know the answer?" she asked softly.
Rei raised a delicate arched brow, "You brought the missive and I would assume you were told the location, otherwise all hope would be lost. How would prince Jadeite take me to him?"
Lily groaned and sat up. The girl was a bother. "I will take you there, but why am I doing this? Have you finally realized that giving yourself to someone else to save lives is important? Have you discovered this will change Jadeite's mind?"
Rei stood without answering and tapped her foot. Lily noted it was wrapped in an elegant black riding boot. She also noted that the princess had outfitted herself in a simple black riding gown with shortened sleeves and a full skirt. There was a small phoenix shining brightly to the right of her waist and made of the most lovely rubies and diamonds Lily had ever seen. The black fabric was thin gossamer linen that flowed as gracefully as the girl. Curse her lovely body, she filled out the dress perfectly and her thin waist was only accented by that gemmed bird.
With a muffled curse, she rose from her makeshift bed and began walking away from camp. Rei knew that she could have found the man who wanted her easily, but she didn't want to take the chance of him focusing on her power and using it against her. If what she saw in Rodney's mind was correct, this was one evil she had never faced before, a strong and powerful being with no mercy. He wanted her, but why?
Rei followed Lily silently, though somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered why Lily was taking her without argument. She hadn't said a single word since she started away from camp. She hadn't muttered a curse or a sigh, much less a squeal when a small mouse passed them. She hadn't argued nor made any suggestions as to how they proceed. Instead, she led them through brush and forest and gave Rei pause. How did she know her way without any maps or any familiar trees, rocks, or land patterns? She noticed that Lily never once stopped as she led the way through denser and denser forest. She knew perfectly well where she was going.
They walked for hours and before she could utter a comment or mention the abnormality, Lily stopped walking and waited for Rei to take her place beside her. They were standing in front of an old hunting home. The windows were all broken and the shutters hanging on by sheer will to remain in place. The small porch that hugged the front had caved in on the right and Rei could swear she saw red eyes glaring at her from beneath the damage. There was an eerie quiet that had settled around the clearing and home, almost as if all animals were afraid to approach it. There was an old wagon that had been swallowed by the ground and now sported a small fir tree in its center. She also took note that there were two horses tethered to a rotting post of the house. "This is the place?" Rei asked with as much bravado as she could muster.
Lily glanced in Rei's direction and for a brief moment she felt the urge to grab her hand and run. She didn't like the way things were going and didn't think the princess should be involved in such scenes. Remembering the blonde prince that could be hers, she nodded stiffly and turned to look back at the ruined building. "Yes, this is where I was told to take you."
Rei nodded once herself and then turned to look at the blonde woman. "Go back to the camp. . ." she whispered. She wasn't sure why the words that fell out of her mouth did, but when they had been said, she didn't regret them. She didn't want anyone else hurt.
Lily shook her head and was surprised at herself. She wanted to stay and wait for the princess to return and she said just that.
Rei cocked her head to the side and shook her head in disbelief. Well, if the woman wanted to wait out in the cold, quiet clearing, then she wouldn't stop her.
Squaring her shoulders, Rei slowly approached the hunting lodge. It was even more terrible to look at as she got closer. The blackened wood let off cold waves and the smell of rotting carcasses filled her nose as she got nearer and nearer. She could feel the air tighten around her and could feel the magic flow off the building and seep into her soul. It was black magic that turned this lodge into the terribly haunted, black hole she was about to enter. She could feel the tendrils of blackness crawl across her skin, felt it riffle through her hair and stroke her cheek. She slammed the feelings away quickly and raised her chin into the air. She would rescue these children and release Jadeite from the torment of his heart. She wanted him unharmed, healthy, and beautiful so that when she looked upon him embracing his children, he would look up and smile at her.
Very quickly and very quietly she pushed the door open and was surprised to see it smoothly fall back to reveal a dark corridor lit only by several candles hanging from the wall. Taking a deep breath and running a finger over the jeweled wings of the phoenix at her waist, she walked into the darkness.
The door slammed shut as soon as she stepped over the threshold and something inside her told her to run and wait for Jadeite and Endymion to help her, but she couldn't move. The house was not ruined and rotting inside. It was beautifully furnished and smelled of fresh flowers. She narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. She was smarter than that to believe that the home was not as she pictured it. She knew perfectly well that home was enchanted.
Closing her eyes and reaching out her mind she tried desperately to seek the children's minds. She needed to feel them in the home before she sought them out. She could feel the tingling in the back of her mind where her sense cried out softly for her to run; something was not right about this place. There was too much magic. But she toned out the voice and stretched her mind to its limits. She could feel them. They were crouched in a corner near the back of the house.
With a gasp, she flew backward back into her body and immediately looked to her left. She broke into a run that echoed through the halls. Her booted heels clicked lightly as she ran through the house on a path only her senses could follow. She heard a whisper of sound caress her ear, but pushed it back and ran for the closed door at the end of the hall. It was black, everything was black.
She could feel her heart racing, could feel her breath coming out in short gasps. She felt terror at her back and fear to her right. She slammed against the door without pausing and tumbled into a dusty room with nothing in it but a small table and one chair. Looking to the right she found two blonde children clutching each other in the corner, their clothing torn and dirty.
She rushed to them and smoothed the hair away from the boy's forehead. "Garrick. . ." she whispered to the sleeping child. But he didn't wake. He was cold to the touch, but she pressed her hand to his chest and felt his heart beating, slow and faint, but it was still there and she reveled in that. She turned to the small girl and stroked the blonde, dirty curls. "Isabelle," she said gently. The little girl did not wake. They were both sleeping deeply and that worried Rei to the tips of her toes. "Why won't you children wake?" she cried softly.
"Because the spell they are under will only wear away when I allow it."
Rei stiffened at the sound of that voice. She knew it too well. She had thought to find a friend in that voice, thought to find release from imprisonment from that voice, but she could not believe who it was. She slowly turned her head to meet the eyes of the form behind her, but she met only the cloaked figure from her dreams. The cloak hid him clearly from her eyes, but she knew who that voice belonged to. Knew it because she had yelled and screamed and fought that voice when she first saw him. "Sora. . ." she said forcefully.
The figure laughed maliciously. There was no feeling in his voice, there was nothing. He was laughing without emotion, simply laughing because he could, because she had figured out who he was. "Aren't you the smart little bird?" he said with a smile.
Rei mentally backed away from that smile and tried to make out his eyes from beneath the shadow of his hood. She could see nothing but darkness. "Why, Sora?" she asked.
Sora's smile turned into a grimace and he strode forward. He had forgotten how beautiful she was, had forgotten the way her hair fell down her back and molded to her body. He had forgotten her pale skin, which was only accentuated by the black gown she wore. But he remembered feeling lost when Jadeite had taken her back. He felt empty and soulless without her. "Because they were crying and screaming and that damned little boy was vowing that his father would come and kill me for kidnapping him."
"No. . .why did you do all this?" Rei asked standing slowly.
Sora watched the gown flit around her figure and fall gracefully around her. He wanted to be that gown, hugging her lush body to his and moving deeply inside her. "Why did I do all this? Ha! Don't be ridiculous. It's all so easy to understand."
Rei swept a hand behind her back and conjured up a ball of fire as she stared at his hood where his eyes should have been. She could feel the waves of anger flowing off him and engulfing her. "I don't understand," she said.
"If you don't understand, it's because you are not to know. And I would advise you put that fireball back into the magical mists before you hurt yourself."
Rei felt a fury consume her. She flung her arm out and the ball went soaring through the small room. She then raised her left arm and used her right to pull back an arrow from the newly fabricated bow that sprang from her wrists. It gleamed and shone in the dark room and she fired arrow after arrow at his black heart. She could feel the fire raging inside her and felt it roar out of her arrows.
Sora merely dodged the fireball and caught each arrow as it flew at him. He smiled devilishly at her then jumped up and over her head. He raised a leg and tried to catch her behind the ear in a blow that would have her sprawled on the ground unconscious, but she spun around quickly and blocked him with her forearm. She then threw herself to the ground and tried knocking him to the ground using her booted foot, but he caught her in the belly with his own booted toe and she cringed with pain. Rei wouldn't give up that easily, she threw a blast of at him then rolled away and gathered herself to her feet.
Sora could not dodge that ball fast enough and was sent several feet back before he recovered and saw Rei standing to the side, poised for a fight.
He laughed that empty laugh of his and ran at her. The cry that tore from his throat made her ears ring and she raised her arms to block the heavy blows that he threw at her. His fist flew faster than her arms could block and he caught her several times when she wasn't aware. She attempted to kick, to scratch and punch, but he was too fast. He had to have trained with the best.
She struck out when she felt a burst of energy consume her and managed to land a punch to his cheek. His head snapped back and he growled in fury when he raised a hand and saw the blood that came away with it. He threw his weight at her and she hit the wall with a loud thud. A cry escaped her mouth when he conjured up a ball of black energy and thrust it into her abdomen. She felt the lightening coil around her ribs and down her spine. It felt like millions of needles sinking deeply into her flesh. She grasped the back of his hood when he blow hit and as the hood fell off his head she caught another cry in her throat.
Sora didn't look the same. His face was gaunt and hollow. His eyes, which were once a beautiful brown, were full of naked rage and burning with hatred. His pale skin glowed in the moonlight that streaked in at his back and the evil grin he gave her made her mind reel. This was not the same Sora.
"So, you see me. . .face to face, do you, princess?" he asked. He felt her shivering and shuddering in pain. Pain that he caused and he smiled at that fact. "You will be mine," he said hoarsely.
Rei made a final attempt at throwing a weak fireball at him, but he had pinned her to the wall with his thighs and she could not move. The pain of the black lightening was coursing through her and she couldn't resist the urge to close her eyes and drift into the blackness she could see hovering nearby. "No. . ." she whispered before she felt the pain take over. She was vaguely aware of Sora slamming his first into her jaw before the black void completely took the place of his sunken image.
* * *
Jadeite woke to the sound of birds chirping, the sun shining brightly overhead and a terror unlike any he felt pounding at his sense. He felt half empty. He felt as though half his soul had perished. "Rei. . ." he breathed. He pushed back the terror and fear that hung in front of his eyes like a thick blanket of snow and burst out of his tent like a whale breaking the surface of the water. He didn't answer when Endymion called out to him and ran toward the tent that stood beside his own. It couldn't be true. There was no way it could be true.
He tore the flap of opening away from Rei's tent and stood there staring at the empty cot. He felt his knees give and felt the icy dread consume him.
She was gone. . .
"Jadeite! What has you running like a madman?" Endymion called out. He looked over Jadeite's shoulder and the empty tent took him by surprise. "No. . ." he said softly. He dropped the piece of parchment he was holding and turned away with a growl. "Who took her?" he yelled.
Jadeite shook his head and turned to look at Endymion. When Endymion glanced at those blue eyes his own fury fell away and fear slid into place. "Jadeite. . ." he said softly.
His eyes were dark and bright with worry. He clenched and unclenched his fists and stared coldly at the spot where Lily had taken her bed the night before. "Rei. . .she left. . .to protect me. . .to rescue my children. . .Lily took her to that madman," he said through clenched teeth. He was going to kill Rei when he got her back. He would kiss her first and explore her body, examine every inch of her to ensure that she was not harmed, then he would kill her. He felt stronger than he had ever felt. He wanted her back and he wouldn't rest until she was safe in his arms again, his children at their side. "Leave the tents; forget to clear camp. . .we ride now."
"Jadeite. . .we don't know where to go. . ." Endymion said gently. He didn't want to go into something they weren't prepared for.
"I know where to go," Jadeite said. He could feel her pain in his own blood; could feel her crying within herself. He would not need a map to get to where she was. He would follow his heart.