Chapter Two- Surprise and Mistake
The ball was beautiful, themed around a silvery white rose. Goblets were raised for toasts, speeches were made, even the queen of the Moon Kingdom made an appearance. Everyone was having fun.
Then why wasn't Mina?
Princess Mina sighed slightly, turning her head and searching for an escape to a nearby balcony. The uncomfortable weight of her buns caused her a bit of discomfort, but she quickly ignored them. She was dressed as Princess Serenity, her acting body double. Usually such measures were unnecessary, but men of the desert, the Bashieds, had been seen in the outskirts of the city. Many suspected an attempt on the Moon Family tonight.
Mina took a deep breath, slipping onto the balcony. The night air was chill, causing her to hug her arms in an attempt to stay warm. Inside couples danced, everyone seeking to carry their favor further. The young princess closed her eyes, leaning forward on the stone balcony. She wanted none of this.
Her life should be her own. She wanted adventure, the chance to lead her own path for awhile. That could never be possible, however. She was the heir to a planet, a great kingdom. She was the leader of the guardian senshi. She was not her own master.
The others had found lives at court. People to love. How was this so hard for Mina? She fought tears of frustration as she clenched the rail, her knuckles going white.
She turned her gaze to the scape below. The desert, always so calming to her. Just outside the city below, was the desert.
She furrowed her brow as she spotted something moving just below her in the gardens. "Who would be out there at this time, especially with the ball going on?" she mumbled. With little thought of finding the others, she turned and removed herself from the ball. No one noticed her exit as she slipped down the courtyard stairs and into the gardens.
The tall walls of roses made the imposing heights frightening by the scarce light of the crescent moon above. She slipped cautiously around each wall.
Something rough grabbed her arm, pulling her close and clamping a hand across her mouth. Immediately her hand flew to the topaz in her pocket.
"No, princess. I am Prince Darien's messenger. Calm yourself." the man spoke. Mina stopped her arm, intent. He thought she was Serenity. She stopped squirming. He removed his hand from her mouth and spun her around. Violet blue met ocean blue as he searched her face. "I have come to bring you to him." he added.
Mina found it hard to form words as she opened her mouth. "What is your name?" she managed.
"I am Malachite. We have no more time for words. Come." he spoke, turning and pulling her along with him. Her mind flew. Darien was the prince of the Bashieds' name. Why did this man want Serenity? Was this a kidnaping? She spoke nothing at first, but finally stopped. "Something wrong, princess?" he asked, turning to face her. Something in the set of her body, the glow of her eyes intrigued him.
"No." she spoke. "I cannot. I cannot go. Leave me." she managed, trying to sound convincing. He looked at her, brow furrowed.
"Princess? Please... you know what is at stake... I don't want to be forceful." he pleaded. She suddenly took on a look of fear.
"Let me go." she insisted. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry." he spoke, eyes glazed and distant. Mina had her hand wrapped around the topaz should she need to transform.
"That wasn't a request." she clipped, eyes afire. He refused. The two fought each other silently, not moving.
"What's going on out here?" came a worried voice, one Mina vaguely remembered, though she didn't know from where.
Malachite locked his gaze with Mina, his eyes pleading with her not to yell. She closed her mouth, her scream dying before it left her.
"Come with me..." he whispered, grasping both of her shoulders. She nodded slightly and followed him.
Author Note: A short chapter, I know. Next time around we'll see where he's taking her. ^_^
The ball was beautiful, themed around a silvery white rose. Goblets were raised for toasts, speeches were made, even the queen of the Moon Kingdom made an appearance. Everyone was having fun.
Then why wasn't Mina?
Princess Mina sighed slightly, turning her head and searching for an escape to a nearby balcony. The uncomfortable weight of her buns caused her a bit of discomfort, but she quickly ignored them. She was dressed as Princess Serenity, her acting body double. Usually such measures were unnecessary, but men of the desert, the Bashieds, had been seen in the outskirts of the city. Many suspected an attempt on the Moon Family tonight.
Mina took a deep breath, slipping onto the balcony. The night air was chill, causing her to hug her arms in an attempt to stay warm. Inside couples danced, everyone seeking to carry their favor further. The young princess closed her eyes, leaning forward on the stone balcony. She wanted none of this.
Her life should be her own. She wanted adventure, the chance to lead her own path for awhile. That could never be possible, however. She was the heir to a planet, a great kingdom. She was the leader of the guardian senshi. She was not her own master.
The others had found lives at court. People to love. How was this so hard for Mina? She fought tears of frustration as she clenched the rail, her knuckles going white.
She turned her gaze to the scape below. The desert, always so calming to her. Just outside the city below, was the desert.
She furrowed her brow as she spotted something moving just below her in the gardens. "Who would be out there at this time, especially with the ball going on?" she mumbled. With little thought of finding the others, she turned and removed herself from the ball. No one noticed her exit as she slipped down the courtyard stairs and into the gardens.
The tall walls of roses made the imposing heights frightening by the scarce light of the crescent moon above. She slipped cautiously around each wall.
Something rough grabbed her arm, pulling her close and clamping a hand across her mouth. Immediately her hand flew to the topaz in her pocket.
"No, princess. I am Prince Darien's messenger. Calm yourself." the man spoke. Mina stopped her arm, intent. He thought she was Serenity. She stopped squirming. He removed his hand from her mouth and spun her around. Violet blue met ocean blue as he searched her face. "I have come to bring you to him." he added.
Mina found it hard to form words as she opened her mouth. "What is your name?" she managed.
"I am Malachite. We have no more time for words. Come." he spoke, turning and pulling her along with him. Her mind flew. Darien was the prince of the Bashieds' name. Why did this man want Serenity? Was this a kidnaping? She spoke nothing at first, but finally stopped. "Something wrong, princess?" he asked, turning to face her. Something in the set of her body, the glow of her eyes intrigued him.
"No." she spoke. "I cannot. I cannot go. Leave me." she managed, trying to sound convincing. He looked at her, brow furrowed.
"Princess? Please... you know what is at stake... I don't want to be forceful." he pleaded. She suddenly took on a look of fear.
"Let me go." she insisted. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry." he spoke, eyes glazed and distant. Mina had her hand wrapped around the topaz should she need to transform.
"That wasn't a request." she clipped, eyes afire. He refused. The two fought each other silently, not moving.
"What's going on out here?" came a worried voice, one Mina vaguely remembered, though she didn't know from where.
Malachite locked his gaze with Mina, his eyes pleading with her not to yell. She closed her mouth, her scream dying before it left her.
"Come with me..." he whispered, grasping both of her shoulders. She nodded slightly and followed him.
Author Note: A short chapter, I know. Next time around we'll see where he's taking her. ^_^