Chapter 2: New Evil



As Serena walked down stairs to the door, she couldn't help thinking about the night before.

"Serena? Is that you, honey?" her mother asked from the kitchen. She had a worried and confused look on her face.

"Yeah, its me, mom."

"What are you doing up so early, dear?" Serena's mother asked.

"I just didn't want to be late today. That's all." Serena looked over at her as her mother approached her. She put her hand on Serena's forehead.

"No, you don't have a fever."

"I'm fine, mom," she said with a sigh.

"Woah! Serena, are you sick or something? Why are you up so early?!" Sammy was coming down now and right behind him was their father.

"Serena you ok, sweetheart?" asked her father.

Serena was now annoyed.

"Yes, I'm fine! Why is everyone asking me that?!" With that Serena stormed out the door.

"What about your breakfast, honey?!" her mother yelled after her.

"I'm not hungry!!"

"Serena?! Not hungry?! Oh man! What makes her think this diet will work if the last one didn't?!" Sammy laughed.

"Sammy!" He shut up after taking one good look at his mom.

Serena walked to the bus stop and had seen Molly and Amy waiting for the bus.

"Hello, Serena," they both greeted her. Just like her family who had all asked if she was sick. She answered them by shaking her head.

Throughout the day it was the same thing. People had asked Serena if she was sick. They had all noticed a change in both her attitude and mood. She didn't paying much attention to what her teachers were saying. She just kept thinking about Darien.

After school Serena, Amy, and Lita headed off to Rei's temple. Once they were all there, they all sat in the 'meeting room'.

Rei began the conversation. "Where were you, Serena? You were supposed to be here yesterday! We're all behind schedule now!! You should've been here-," Rei was cut off by Serena.

"Listen, Rei this is the last thing I need from you or anyone else right now! Why don't you just give me a chance to talk for once?! You're always yelling at me like I'm some stupid little girl! I've had enough!" She was shaking all over and she was beginning to cry. Rei was feeling guilty and she looked stunned. Stunned at how Serena was yelling at her. This was no normal "Serena tantrum" from their everyday fights. It was different, there was real pain and sorrow in her words. "I know you hate me, Rei, but you don't have to constantly show it every single day! I get it!" She yelled.

"Serena, Rei didn't mean to hurt you, she was just mad at you for not showing that's all it really is." Lita patted her back.

"Rei . . . ," Mina gave a little warning in her voice. She sighed. She didn't finish her sentence, but Rei knew what she wanted her to do by the look on her face. Mina had given Rei a look that told her that she should apologize before things got any worse.

"I'm sorry, Serena. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. And I don't hate you." Rei slowly sat down next to Serena.

"Something else is bothering you isn't it, Serena?" Amy asked. Serena nodded. She told them all about the night before.

"I had gone to Darien's apartment to talk. He had called and said it was important and that he really needed to talk to me and it just couldn't wait. So I got worried and got to his apartment as fast as I could. When I got there Darien looked so tired and so upset. He was exhausted. He hadn't gotten much sleep and I feared the worst. He had greeted me as usual, but this time he did not kiss me like he would normally. He then began to talk about our relationship and how it wasn't going anywhere. I told him I'd stop being jealous and I'd give him a lot more space if that was the problem, but he didn't take me up on my offer." Serena paused for a while as if remembering had been to much for her to bear. And then she began again, "Well, that's when he said he couldn't be with me anymore. He said he just couldn't stand me anymore. He just couldn't stand being around be either. He also said our relationship wasn't going to get any better. He also had said that he didn't...," She stopped. Tears began to form in her saddened blue eyes.

"It's alright, Serena," Mina reassured her. "Take your time."

"He said he didn't love me anymore and he just wishes he could, but he just didn't have those feelings for me anymore!" Serena, unable to hold back her tears, cried. Cried like there was no hope in the world.

"Things will get better, Serena. Just you watch," Amy said.

"You think?" Serena asked as she wiped her tears away.

"Yes," Amy said with a sweet smile.

Then suddenly, Lita got up.

"What a jerk!" Lita said angrily. She made a fist. "I'll make him pay for hurting you, Serena. He shouldn't have done what he did. Who does he think he is?"

"No, please, Lita, don't do that. Please don't. Darien probably will never ever talk to me again if something like that were to happen and then I wouldn't stand a chance with him," Serena pleaded. Lita quietly sat back down. And nodded agreeably.

"I don't want to be rude, but we have to begin the meeting girls," Luna finally spoke. "I mean, I'm sorry about you and the Prince, Serena. I truly am. And I'm worried about his reasoning. The last I remembered the Prince of Earth was completely head over heals in love with the Princess of the moon and vis versa."

"Yeah, me too. I remember that," Artemis said. And then pretty soon Luna filled Serena in on what she had missed the day before. There was a new evil in town.

"Someone had come to us through the fire with a message. Now I'm extremely worried about Darien's reasoning for breaking up with you," Luna added.

Just then the fire in the middle of the room exploded, throwing all of them back up against the wall. And a face of a woman was formed in the fire . . .