Spoils Of War
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and I am in no way making nay profit in this.
Chapter 12: All In A Day – Part 1
The rain made rhythmic noises as they fell on the ground outside. Jadeite can faintly hear them from his room. He turned to his side facing the door when he heard noises. He pulled on some trousers and investigated outside. It was coming form Rei's room.
"Leave me be! Leave me be!" Rei mumbled in her sleep. She was moving side to side in her bed, twisting and turning that her breathing hastened from her movements.
"Rei. Rei." Jadeite gently shook her awake.
Slowly her eyes opened and a sense of relief entered her as she stared at his eyes. The relief was short-lived as she realized that she was sitting there in her flimsy white nightgown, a flash of lightning illuminated the room, and Jadeite was holding her close while he was half-naked. She pushed him away and pulled the blanket to completely cover her.
"Are you alright?" Jadeite asked, reaching out to her. His hand pushed back a lock of hair that fell at her face.
Rei turned away. "I'm fine." She muttered. "Just a dream." She shivered unconsciously from the aftermath of her dream.
Jadeite pulled her to him from behind. She stiffened at his initial touch then subtly relaxed as he ran his hand soothingly over her arm repeatedly.
"What did you dream about?" Jadeite asked almost hesitantly.
Rei stood up the blanket around her as she approached the window. The rain fell harder. "I dreamt about fire, a blazing inferno. People were shouting, running. But they were trapped. It was just like that day when they attacked my city…"
Jadeite approached her a guilty look on his face.
Rei turned towards him and spoke sharply. "Don't. Don't come near me." She softened her harsh words with a small sympathetic smile. Then she paused, "Only…the place that was burning was, Elessar." Rei closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, he was standing in front of her. His hands were cupping her face, a gentle look in his eyes, almost loving. Rei felt her breath leave her as she looked up at him. She was nervous, but it was a different kind of nervousness this time. Within a blink, she felt his lips, deliciously on her own, and this time she was going to be brave. He held her lightly giving her the choice of stepping away.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to be held, to be touch, to be kissed. With a subtle nudge from him, she opened her mouth, accepting him. She heard him murmur her name repeatedly. Rei sighed, wishing that things were different, allowing herself the illusion that she was still an innocent girl experiencing her first kiss. That she was cherished completely and above all loved.
When his hand began to caress her left breast, his lips moving downwards to her neck, Rei made a protesting sound and stepped away. She crossed her arms over her breast and shivered slightly. His breath was still warm on her skin and the places he kissed tingled. An unwanted yearning blossomed inside her.
"I'm sorry. I just wish things could have been different. After what happened…I don't think I can trust another man again. Until you." She added under her breath.
A hope rose inside him.
"But, I don't think I can love another man." She finished.
Jadeite stood up an unreadable look in his face. He crossed towards her murmuring softly. "We'll take it as slow as you like." He hugged her to him kissing the top of her head. "I want to erase all pain you feel, all sorrow… I want to show you how beautiful it can be." He looked at her seriously. "I want to protect you this time."
Another part of her dream flashed before her. "She was crying." Rei mumbled. "Apollo was angry because she was crying. He also said that she was wrong. If Elessar won't release the prisoners and help reconstruct Elysian…Elessar will burn!" Rei spoke eyes wide as she saw it all happening in her mind. "I need to talk to the King and Queen."
Jadeit cursed. "Elessar has temples in honor to the gods, but only because the people believe in the old ways. The King and Queen however do not."
"I still need to talk to them." Rei said stubbornly.
He sighed and nodded. "I'll help."
The early rays of dawn shined.
Darien watched as the castle began to buzz with the anticipation of the wedding, half amused, half nothing. Last night, Mina came to him with tears in her eyes. He could not fault her for loving another but he could nearly hate her for the things she said to Serena.
He gave them his consent and bluntly told them that they would never get out of the castle undetected at night. It would be safer to leave in the morning where everyone would be so busy to notice them slip away.
He passed by the throne room on his way to the library.
"General Jadeite where did you pick up this crazed girl?" Darien heard his father's incredulous voice.
Darien opened the doors and found his best general with the girl Deamando had wanted.
"Darien." Jadeite gave him a nod and turned his attention back to the king. "She is a visionary, you Highness. She's trying to prevent a disaster."
King Derek snorted. "Outrageous. Guards! Imprison her."
Jadeite took a protective step in front of Rei.
"Leave them be." Darien's voice rang with authority. "They are guests for my wedding."
The guards looked torn looking at the King and then back at the Prince. The King finally gave a consenting nod. "Yes, yes of course. They are welcome to stay."
"Jadeite, I need to speak with you." Darien gave him a meaningful look and led the way outside towards the library.
"If I'd known that Deamando was dead, I would've come straight to you." Jadeite began.
Darien waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. Now, what were you telling my father?"
"It's not me. It's Rei." Jadeite nodded at Rei.
Rei nodded back and began to speak. "Apollo is angry m'lord. He will burn this city down unless you release the prisoners from Elysian and help us rebuild our city." Then Rei frowned. "I remember a piece of a dream I didn't remember before…" She confessed. "Apollo blames you." She spoke emphasizing.
Darien looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure how much of this I believe." He admitted. He looked at his friend and asked. "Jadeite, tell me honestly. Do you believe any of this?" Darien asked without malice or scorn.
Jadeite looked torn as Rei gazed defiantly at him. He ducked his head and answered without meeting her gaze. "I don't believe in gods." He looked up. "But I do believe in her."
"You contradict yourself my friend. Very well, we shall just see what happens." Darien decided with a nod.
Rei opened her mouth in disbelief and his jaw trembled with indignation. "You're not going to do anything then? When will you act? When Elessar is burning?!"
Darien looked at her pointedly. "Today is my wedding day. The whole kingdom is present, along with Mina's kingdom. What do you expect me to do?"
It was Jadeite's turn to be surprised. "You're getting married to Princess Mina? What happened to Serena?"
"There is no wedding. As for Serena, she's gone." Darien spoke bitterly. "Mina was nasty to her when she thought her lover Kunzite directed his feelings towards Serena." Darien scowled. "As though I would ever let that happen." He muttered.
Jadeite laughed. "Kunzite and the Princess? Kunzite… Kunzite?!" Jadeite thought about his old friend smiling wanly. "Thus, he betrays a kingdom for her." He acknowledge with some admiration.
"I say he did us a favor." Darien commented dryly.
"Then why allow this farce? The chapel would be full by noon."
"I spoke to Mina's parents and they were adamant that this wedding follows through. Better for them to realize that there daughter has something to say to them. Even if…it's silence, when they announce the bride. Thus this prevents a war, his advisors would said that I spited their daughter by not showing up." Darien spoke criticizing.
"The goddess is coming back but something else is coming." Rei spoke surprising them. She had earlier retreated into a silence. Her mouth moved and she spoke, but there was no life in it. Her eyes were blank as they usually were when she was having a vision.
"Rei…Rei…" Jadeite murmured taking her into his arms. She snapped out of her trance seconds later. This time, she didn't shy away from his touch and allowed herself to be comforted. It was such a good feeling and she did trust him. She pulled away slightly and smiled at him. Then she turned to Darien and spoke a warning. "The darkness will arrive."
The first notes of the symphony played. Everybody stood up waiting for the bride to arrive. Darien looked magnificent in his wedding attire. He looked nonchalant and even bored with whole affair. He glanced at his watch musing when they'd realize and accept that the bride wasn't going to show.
Mina's parents were looking worried shooting glances at each other. Darien's parents were beginning to get concerned as well. Much to everyone's relief and Darien's disbelief the huge chapel doors opened and a silhouette of a person was seen. But it wasn't Mina.
Deamando!
"Deamando."
"It's Prince Deamando!"
"I thought he was dead."
"Where's Princess Mina?"
The whispers arose and soon everyone was talking at once.
"Silence!" King Derek shouted. He gestured towards his eldest son with a bit of amazement. "Son, Welcome home." He opened his arms and approached him.
But Deamando was a stranger with his son's face.
"Thank you, father." Deamando spoke softly, but his eyes turned wicked as he took a sword out of nowhere and plunged it into his father's gut.
"Father!" Darien yelled grabbing a sword from one of the guards. Everybody else was too dumbfounded to move.
Deamndo had already turned to him and a small dagger was thrown aimed at his heart. Darien moved to the side and the dagger missed its mark. Still, it managed to wound him at his left shoulder.
"Deamando what's gotten into you?" Darien demanded as his brother began attacking him.
The chapel doors opened again.
"Darien!" A female voice screamed out his name.
Darien recognized that voice and for a moment he was distracted. Deamando's sword sliced through his clothing wounding the flesh beneath. There was a red gash on his stomach.
Deamando with superhuman strength wound his arms around Darien's neck choking the life out of him.
"Watch Prince. Looks like your whore was no ordinary whore." The voice was foreign and feminine and it cackled with malicious laughter.
The entire place had already erupted into chaos. People were all screaming, rushing to get out while sidestepping the girl in the middle in the plain white dress who looked almost godly despite her plain dress.
Darien struggled against his brother's hold, choking on a singe word. "Serena." The person standing in front of him was indeed Serena, but there was something different. She was glowing…just like that night in the tent… or was he merely an illusion of heaven before he died?
"azzuma deig oh lluna este crones ahto ilema" Serena chanted.
Eris laughed confident. Humans were always powerless against gods.
to be continued…
Author's notes: The ending is coming soon, cheers. So forgive the short chapters, but I did update a bit earlier. ;)
Patricia16: I sent you an email, since you told me you had some questions and maybe some ideas? I don't know if you received it.
SilverMo: I'm sorry if you found this chapter even shorter. But we're nearing the end. grins
Bunny Bunz: It would help, lol. Thanks if you did so.
Thank you to the rest who reviewed.