Author's Note: I have a dilemma that I would like to present to all my wonderful reviewers. Do not worry; I am not thinking about discontinuing this story or anything like that. I love writing this story, it flows for me, but I still have quite a few chapters to put out and I do not know how long that will take. Here's the thing, the other night I got inspired to do a fanfic based on the Harry Potter books and I'm really excited about it, the whole story just plopped in my head one night and I wrote down what I was thinking. Now we get to the dilemma. I want to continue doing Viper, obviously, but I also want to start working on the HP story. The thing is, if I do both at once, it will slow down my output of Viper; you probably will not get updates as much because I will be switching between the two. On the other hand, if I do not start writing HP, I am afraid the idea and story will slip away from me. I mean, I have the scenes literally running in my head and I am afraid I will not be able to see them anymore if I wait too long to write them. I put a prelude to the HP story at the end of this chapter, please read it and tell me what you think I should do. I have my loyalty to you readers first for Viper since my other one is not out and if you say no way, I'll wait for HP. Please review with your answers. Oh yeah, I also have a prologue written, but I'm hesitant to post it because I know that people might read it and get interested, which is what I want to know, if they are interested in it or not, but if I just do the prologue and you guys decide to keep my focus on Viper, they will be disappointed when I don't follow through with the story. AHHH! I really want to know if people would like it! BLAH, I am dying, please tell me what you think…if you can even process this ranting of mine. I guess I could post the prologue at the end of the next chapter and you can read it through Viper without attracting too much attention to it. Does that sound good? You guys can read it, tell me what you think and then review.
A Viper's Poison
.:Angelgrl185:.
DarkParis: Sorry to say that Michael is not Kunzite, I happen to like Kunzite a lot, but that's not Michael. I'm glad I was able to fool you about the Silent One, makes me feel accomplished that you couldn't guess it. Thanks for your awesome review!
AsianBubble: I'm glad that you think my story is so good! I promise that I will always be updating my story as much as I possibly can!
IamSelf-centered: Thanks for the flavorful review, my sister thinks I'm weird too!
starzstruck-1: I'll definitely check out your story, thanks for the review!
Thanks to: Jasana, sexylucifer, shan, zilla girl, and lil-bit-gish for their awesome reviews!
Thank you for the wonderful reviews of Chapter Eight!
((I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its components))
Previously on A Viper's Poison:
"Yes, I want you to contact Dr. Shields and propose to him the idea of working for us again and if he refuses, threaten him with the brutal death of his sister until he complies." The man said a sinister look in his eyes.
"Yes Sir." Michael said as he rose to leave. He walked once again out of the office, but this time, he was more optimistic as he set out on his newest mission.
Chapter Nine: Reunion
Serena and Raye stood in the middle of the abandoned park, drifting over various thoughts in their heads until Serena spoke up.
"Raye, I think it's time we head out." Serena pointed out.
"You're right, and I am going with you to the Den. No more hiding, no more secrets. We are a team and we are meant to be together." Raye decided.
"A team." Serena said, mulling around the word in her head and she grinned. "I like that."
Serena pulled a grimy, blood-encrusted hand from her side and stuck it out towards Raye. Surprised at Serena's gesture, Raye nevertheless grabbed Serena's hand with her own and shook it willingly.
"To new friendships and teammates." Serena announced.
"Here here!" Raye grinned as they released hands. She lifted her left arm to put away her weapon when it caught Serena's eye.
"That is beautiful." Serena said in awe, staring at the crossbow reverently. Raye grinned and patted it lovingly.
"It's my baby, I've been training with it all my life, and it's my favorite." Raye admitted. Serena whistled as she took in the smooth wooden contour and silver workings of the crossbow. She now noticed the black leather quiver hanging down Raye's back filled with the same long arrows that had killed the last man.
"That was excellent work by the way." Serena said, praising Raye's skill.
"Thanks, it was nothing."
"Don't be modest, I've used a crossbow before and it's not easy. You definitely have a way with that thing, you had a really clean shot, silent too." Serena complemented.
"Thanks, now let's go before you make me blush, it would ruin my deadly reputation." Raye joked as she led Serena to her car.
They hopped into Raye's red Lamborghini Gallardo as Serena drooled appreciatively at its beauty. Raye sped down the highway, pulling into the Den in record timing and together, the two walked inside. Lower class operatives, Den scientists and weapon specialists were milling around, and all stopped and stared as they walked in. Sure they knew Serena, she just had not been around since she took her last case, but what they really were in awe of was the woman she brought with her. Serena grabbed Raye's arm and led her down a series of hallways before reaching Seiya's office. When they reach the door, Serena puts her hand on the knob, but it opened from the inside.
Serena could only stare at the woman who walked out of the room, the same woman who had walked out of her life years before. She looked exactly the same, same wavy, thick chestnut hair, same bright emerald eyes, same lean, muscular frame that towered over everyone.
"Lita." Serena whispered, just staring, unable to do put together any coherent thoughts.
Startled, Lita looked back at Serena and her eyes widened as she recognized her old friend.
"Serena!" she shrieked happily, grabbing the blond roughly and pulling her in a tight embrace. However, when she received no reaction from Serena, she immediately let go and backed away.
Serena was stunned, Lita was alive, after all this time she was alive, living, breathing, and walking on the earth. It was too much; Lita's death had tormented her every night since her apparent death. Serena blamed herself for what happened and Lita's death haunted her dreams. Sure Raye had told her earlier that Lita was still alive, Serena had saw Lita herself only a few days before, but her mind had never really registered the fact until now. She felt hurt, betrayed as well as relief and joy. Serena was so mixed up, emotions pulling her in different directions.
Should she be mad that she had been tricked? That every night she could not sleep because of something she thought she could have prevented, but never really happened? On the other hand, should she be overjoyed? Overjoyed that one of her best friends was not dead, but alive and standing in front of her? It was too much, Serena felt her resolve slip away and she cried, cried for the pain she had felt all those years, cried for the joy that had consumed her at the sight of Lita's face and she fell to her knees, Lita dropping right beside her and drawing Serena in her arms, rocking her, comforting her. Serena clung to Lita's shirt and buried her head in her shoulders.
"It's ok Serena, everything is ok now." Lita whispered, trying to soothe her stricken friend. Serena wiped her eyes and smiled at her old friend.
"I'm just so happy, but, I'm also hurt Lita, hurt that you could trick me like this." Serena said softly.
"Oh Serena, I didn't want to do it, but I had to. I was ordered to. I promise I'll explain later, but right now is not the time for it." Lita said, her eyes silently pleading with Serena to forgive her.
"Your right, not now, I just lost my composure, it won't happen again." Serena said, standing up. "We need to gather Venom together, we have some things to discuss. I will make the announcement, you two head down to the briefing room, I'll have someone show you down." Serena said, dishing out orders.
"Spoken like a true leader." Raye sighed in mock reverence. Serena swatted at her before pointing out someone to take them down. She herself went to an intercom and paged the rest of their team.
Ten minutes later, they were gathered and you could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Mina and Amy were staring at disbelief at Lita who was looking sheepish and awkward. On the other hand, they were casting dubious glances at Raye, who was lounging in a chair nearby. Serena was the last one to walk into the room and when she did, the air around her was heightened with authority.
"Good evening ladies, before we get started I just wanted to remind you that this is a Venom meeting, we will be using the proper names. First order of business, I want to introduce to you our fifth Venom member, Coral. Coral's real name however is Raye Shields." Serena explained, as Mina's eyebrows rose at the mention of Raye's last name.
"Next we have Python, I'm sure Copperhead and Cobra both remember Python, Coral, I'm sure you've worked with her while in Crystal Empires." Serena said looking at each of them in turn.
"I'm going to hand the floor to Coral right now, she is going to explain where she has been these past few years and why we have had no prior contact since this week." Serena added, turning to Raye before taking a seat in the swiveling black leather chairs.
"Thank you Viper." Raye said, standing up in the process. She looked around the room at the four other women before continuing. "As now know, I am in Venom, codenamed Coral. What you don't know however is why I am in Venom and why I have been kept hidden all these years."
Raye captured their attention as she began to reiterate to her teammates what she had told Serena in the park that very night. Mina twirled her hair absentmindedly as she listened, her blue eyes wide and interested. Amy sat properly in her chair, perfect posture as she fiddled with the pens on the table although her interest was also adeptly captured. Lita and Serena however were not as interested in what Raye had to say because they had each heard it before, but at separate times. When she was finished, Raye sat down and Serena once again rose.
"Now I would like to give the floor to Python." Serena said, and then added, "She has a lot of explaining to do." Her voice was a little bit bitter as she glanced at Lita before sitting down again. Lita stood up, shifted her green eyes nervously before regaining her confidence, and began to talk.
"I know that you must be confused about what has happened. Confused to see me here alive. I just wanted to begin by saying I had absolutely no control over what happened." Lita said first, peeking over at Serena.
"Serena, Mina and I were sent on our first operational mission a few years back. We were to gather information from a communist base stationed in China. We did not know at the time what the information was for although I do know now, but I will get to that later. While we were at the base, we made a mistake, we calculated the alarm wires wrong and Serena accidentally tripped it was we were making our getaway.
Unfortunately, the base was covered with guards and they immediately responded to our intrusion. We almost all got away, but as we were running through the last room before the exit, and a man appeared in front of me and shot me." Lita said her voice grave.
"I was stunned, the pain was horrendous. I felt as if my bones had shattered and the air sucked out of me. I could not move, could not react, I just stood there, my hand holding my chest as blood seeped through the cracks. Serena had tried to save me, she tried to shoot the man before he could shoot me, but she was a fraction of a second to late. The thing is, although I got shot, Serena still saved me because if his aim had been on, I would have been shot through the chest at the heart on the left side, but I was shot on the right." Lita said, throwing a grateful look at Serena who sat silently in her chair. I vaguely remember hearing Serena screaming at me to get up, too keep running, but I couldn't force my body to respond, the pain was just too great. I told her to run, to leave me to die because I was certain that death was coming for me, I wanted her to finish the mission, there was nothing else she could do for me. That was the last thing I remembered about that day, because I went unconscious."
"You were hit by the butt of a gun and knocked unconscious." Serena said, looking solemnly at Lita who just nodded at the information.
"When I woke up I was in a strange room, it was made of all metal and I was lying on a metal table." Lita started.
FLASHBACKLita regained consciousness and opened her green eyes. Her head was throbbing and her vision was hazy. She closed her eyes hoping to stop the spinning in front of her before opening them again. Lita stared straight up at the wall; all she could see was a metal roof. She turned her head slowly to the sides and again, only metal walls greeted her. She tried to sit up, but a pain in her chest prevented her, causing her to fall back to the table she was lying on, it was cold and seeping through her clothing. Lita breathed heavily, waiting for the pain to subside when she heard a hissing as a door opened to her right.
"She is awake sir." Came the cold masculine voice, but he said it in Chinese. Lita was momentarily thankful for the Den schooling her in various languages she was fluent in Chinese.
"Yes, I see, how is her wound?" another man questioned the first.
"We have removed the bullet from the right side of her chest a couple months ago when you first left, she's quite lucky, and Hyon's bullet missed the shoulder bone and any ribs. The bullet only penetrated some muscle tissue, but it has already been regenerating in the time that she has been asleep." The first man answered.
Lita's eyes went wide at what the man had said.
'Months, time that I have been sleeping?' Lita repeated in her head, questioning the accuracy of the statement. 'Have I been in a coma?'
"Has the drug done any permanent damage to any of her systems? More importantly, her brain?" the second man inquired.
"None that we are aware of right now Sir. The drug was only to keep her in submission until we were ready to question her. We did not know that it would take this long for her wound to heal and it is not all the way healed either, I think that can be attributed to the drug. Since her body has been in a dormant state, it has not healed as fast as it normally would if it was just in a coma. Since she has awoken, she should be experimenting pain still in the wounded area, though, since she is awake now, it will only take a couple days for the wound to be fully healed."
"Excellent work Hung, I want her dressed and placed in the containment center as soon as possible. I want some answers and she will give it to me." The man said coldly as Hung nodded, and then he left the room.
Hung walked over to where Lita was on the table and began talking to her in English.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her gruffly. Lita turned her head away from him and stared at the opposite wall. Hung growled and placed his hand on her bullet wound before pressing down hard. Lita screamed as the pain engulfed her and she frantically struggled to get away, falling off the table in her attempt. Lita winced as she hit the cold metal floor and struggled to stand up, her muscles weak and unresponsive.
"Stupid girl, you have been asleep for many months, you body has forgotten how to work, your muscles are weak, they will not remember their full strength until they are worked again and that will take months." Hung hissed a hint of mocking laughter laced in his voice.
He walked around the table and grabbed Lita by the arm, hoisting her roughly up and placing his other arm around her waist to support her. Lita turned to look at him and spit in his face, a look of repulsion on her face. Hung colder stared at her before slapping her hard across the face. Lita held back her wince of pain as a large red handprint spread across her face, stinging wildly. Hung walked out of the room, dragging Lita with him who did not fight him anymore. He brought her down the hallway and took her to another room, this one a little nicer.
The walls were still made of metal, but a small metal cot with a lumpy mattress sat in one corner, two metal chairs and a small metal table was in the middle of the room. He threw her on the bed and walked out, pausing for a moment to speak.
"I will send someone in to get you dressed, then you will be taken in for questioning." Then Hung disappeared.
Lita laid helplessly sprawled on the bed, her muscles were tired and she could barely wiggle her fingers and toes without submitting to exhaustion. Ten minutes later, a short Chinese woman walked in carrying clothes. She helped Lita sit up and leaned her back against the metal wall before sliding off the cream robe Lita was wearing. She fished a large white tee shirt from her pile and threw it over Lita's head before reaching for a pair of sweats and helping Lita put them on. She gave Lita an old worn pair of gray socks and worn black boots then grasped Lita around her waist and pulled her off the bed.
Lita let the woman take her out of the room and down the hallway. A few minutes later they arrived in front of the door, both women were panting loudly. The small Chinese woman was tired because she had to bear the large body and weight of Lita and Lita because she was trying to work her legs to help the woman as much as possible. The silver metal door opened loudly, scraping against the metal floor and a man appeared, taking Lita away from the woman, bringing her into the room and setting her in a cold metal chair. The man who had been asking about her in the first room stood in front of her. He looked at her when he sat down and came close to her to speak.
"I'm going to get right to the point. Four months ago, you and some companions broke into this establishment. Two of them got away, but you were shot and detained." He started, walking around her.
"Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way, the choice is up to you. You can tell me the things I want to know will no harm coming to you, or you can make us force it out of you, the choice is yours." He said, continuing to circle her. Lita gave no response, just stared straight ahead. He came to a halt in front of her and sat in the chair directly across from hers.
"Who are you? What organization are you with? What were you looking for and what did you find when you came here?" The man asked firing questions at Lita. Lita just stared blankly at him, refusing to answer. The man reached out, grabbed Lita's jaw with his hand, and pulled her head towards him.
"Look, I want this to be easy on both of us, now answer my questions!" The man said forcefully. Lita stared into his narrowed brown eyes with her own green ones and spit hard in his face. He reeled back in shock before cuffing her face with his fist.
"Do not do that again." He said vehemently, emphasizing each word. "I guess this means you are not going to cooperate with us, such a shame." He remarked, standing up and walking towards the door. "You are going to regret your decision."
Lita proudly held up her head and glared at the two men guarding her when the came over to grab her and escort her back to her room.
It was a couple of weeks before they decided to do any type of probing to get information out of Lita; they wanted her at full health before they broke her. During that time, locked in her room, stuck on her bed, Lita could barely move. Meals were taken to her three times a day, stale bread, water and runny chicken broth. In the beginning, the same Chinese woman fed her until Lita had gained back enough strength and tried working her muscles enough to be able to feed herself.
Every day Lita flexed all her muscles and tried to stretch them as far as she could. Eventually she could rotate her arms and wiggle her fingers and toes. Before long, she could lift up her hands to eat, kick her legs and turn her head to all capacities. At the end of her solitary weeks, Lita could walk and use all motor functions in her body. Her body was not as strong as it had first been, when she was in her peak physical condition, but she had her natural body strength, and that was already stronger than an average person was.
When they came to get her, they had to use electric cattle prods to keep her from revolting and getting free. Lita could not fight when they were using those against her it made her weak. They brought her to the first metal room she had been in, but the table was absent, in its place was a metallic dentist's chair. They placed her in it and strapped her feet and wrists down.
The man who tried to question her came in followed by Hung. He walked over to her chair and smiled mockingly at her. Lita's eyes narrowed in anger and she hissed at him, refusing to talk.
"Let's try this again shall we. I will introduce myself first, and then you can." He said. "My name is Brian Thriarfield, now it's your turn." He said pointing to Lita. Lita turned away her head and refused to answer him.
"Well, if you want it that way. Hung, if you would be so kind." Brian said, motioning Hung to enact the first method. Hung took a plastic scuba diving mask off of a metal table and placed it over Lita's head as she thrashed about, trying to prevent him from putting it on. The mask connected to a long tube, which in turn connected to a waterspout embedded in the wall. Brian walked over to the spout and paused with his hand on the handle.
"I'll give you one last try to feel no pain, what is your name?" he asked, waiting, but Lita just turned her head away. Brian shook his head and began to turn the knob. Water rushed out of the facet and sped through the tube, blasting out into the mask full forcing, pounding Lita's face with water. Lita twisted her head as if to fling the mask of, but it would not budge. Water relentlessly hit her face, filling up the mask so she could not breath. After an agonizing minute under the water, the pressure released and the mask lifted off, the water spilling onto her white shirt and wetting her brown hair as she breathed in deeply.
"Do you want to tell me your name now?" Brian asked her. Lita growled in response. "Fine, be that way. Hung, continue." Brian said. Hung continued to barrage her with water and everytime the mask was taken off, Lita would not respond to their questions. After hours of water torture, they led Lita back to her room, haggard and soaked.
Over the next month, Lita was put through a series of torture treatments to break her resolve and gain information, but she never cracked. After the water they tried fire, they placed her in a room, bound to a wooden chair and placed ten circles of gasoline around her chair, each ring bigger than the next, moving outward from the chair. Lita herself was drenched in gasoline as well as the chair. Brian lit a match and tossed it on the first ring, demanding that Lita give him information. Lita refused to talk as the first ring blazed high in the air, sparks from it catching the second ring on fire. One by one the ten rings blazed brightly with orange and red flame, but Lita still would not talk. The heat from the first five rings elicited a sweat from her pours, her body dousing itself as the flames and the heat grew more intense. By the time the seventh ring was on fire, Lita began to feel the burn and when it had reached the tenth ring, she could smell the horrifying scent of burning flesh. Slowly the flames began to lick her chair and gradually consumed it and began to catch her clothes on fire.
Lita squirmed in the chair, and closed her eyes tightly, biting her tongue hard to keep the screams from escaping. She would not give them the satisfaction of knowing her pain. Blood began to fill her mouth from the wound she was inflicting on her tongue, pressing so hard against it with her teeth. Lita coughed and spat out the blood, as it sprayed her clothes. Her legs burned intensely and her eyes began to water from the pain. Just when she was submitting to the idea that she was going to die, Lita heard the sprinklers come on and cold, refreshing water poured onto her, dousing every flame in sight. Lita sighed as she felt the rains cooling, but as it continually beat against her burns, Lita felt her body grow numb and her eyes began to roll back against her head. Her body then began to spasm and shake uncontrollably as she was strapped in the chair. Her shakes becoming so savage, she tipped the chair over and both crashed to the floor, which was searing hot.
Men ran across the room and quickly grabbed the chair with metal rods and dragged it across the floor to the entrance with Lita still shaking in it.
"She has gone into shock." Hung said, as he looked at her.
"She cannot die, I will not let her die until I know who is behind this. This is futile to Crystal Empires, the Lord will have all our heads if we do not comply." Brian said fiercely. "Get her to the medical room now. Treat her shock and burns." He ordered. The men
They treated Lita, who came out of shock eventually, but the burns took time to heal and her legs were scarred because of it. Lita was submitted to suffocation, more drowning techniques, whippings, cutting of the flesh and brutally beaten many times over, but she never once uttered a word or a scream, her resolve was fierce. Although they healed her after her burnings, they never took care of her bruises and cuts. Lita was sore all over, dry blood caked her skin around old wounds and puss squirted out of new ones whenever she moved. Although Lita was in the enemies grasp, the young Chinese woman who was assigned to her had took pity on her and always cared for Lita whenever she could. Cleansing the wounds, making sure they were not infected.
Lita had been looking for ways to escape for a long time now, but she had always been too beaten up to try anything. Brian had gotten frustrated with her and had gone away to find new measures to get her to talk. She knew he would never kill her; she was the only key to him finding out who had Crystal Empires information. One night however, she got lucky. The guards who were in front of her doorway had been overworked and starting to doze off. Lita took her chance and slowly opened the door, making sure not to wake them. She slipped a hand to their pants and pulled both their guns before hitting them on the back of the head knocking them out cold.
Lita walked briskly, yet stealthily down the hallway, she had memorized the interior of the building a long time ago. When she was near the entrance, the alarm went off and bright red lights flashed quickly above her. Lita cursed under her breath and began to run down the hallway when she heard shouts and running feet around the corner. As she ran, a hand reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into another passage way. Lita whipped around prepared to fight, but came face to face with the short Chinese woman. She pressed fingers to her lips motioning for Lita to be quiet then led her down the hallway, through security locked doors until they were away from the chase. The woman led Lita to a discreet exit on the opposite side of the building and motioned her that she should leave that way. Lita smiled at the woman.
"Thank you." She said in Chinese, her voice full of gratitude. The only words she had ever uttered there. Lita bent down and gave the woman a long hug before darting out the door into the woods and away from her prison.
END FLASHBACKWhen Lita finished, the room was silent. All four women stared at Lita in pain and in awe of what she had been through. Lita looked at Serena, whose aqua eyes were filled with pain and regret. She pleaded silently with Lita to forgive her stupidity and Lita smiled reassuringly in return.
"Brian Thriarfield." Serena said suddenly, "That is the name of the man who was in charge correct?" she asked Lita.
"Yes." Lita affirmed.
"He's dead." Serena said blatantly. Lita glanced at her in surprise.
"How?" she asked.
"I killed him." Serena answered.
"I'm glad it was one of us." Lita said, "He deserved to die."
When Serena was about to stand up, the door opened and Darien Shields walked in. Lita sat down slowly and watched.
"Darien, what are you doing here?" Serena said her voice a little cold.
"I need to talk to you." He said urgently.
"Darien you just interrupted and important meeting, go outside." She said evenly.
"But I need to hire you to be my bodyguard, I need you to protect me." He blurted out.
"What?" Serena said incredulously.
"Seiya suggested that I hire you to protect me from Crystal Empires. He said you are the best." Darien explained quickly.
"How much are you offering?" Serena asked.
"How much?" Darien said confused.
"Yeah, I said how much money are you going to pay me? I left a hefty sum of money by not completing my last job, five million to be exact and you are the reason, so how much." Serena restated coldly.
"He's not going to pay you." Seiya announced, joining them in the room.
"Why not?" Serena questioned.
"Because I said so. This is going to be an assignment given to you by me and you do not get paid for them." Seiya said evenly, giving Serena a pointed look.
"Now I don't know what your problem is Serena, but I suggest you get over it right now. Darien is important to the Silver Snakes; he is our biggest connection to Crystal Empires. I thought he was important to a few others, but I guess I should think otherwise." Seiya warned.
"I'm sorry." Serena said bluntly before resuming.
"Let's get down to business. I am sure you have all heard by now in someway of what Crystal Empires is. Darien here was an employee until recently when I was supposed to perform a hit on him. Darien has vital information about a nuclear weapon that Crystal Empires is designing. We still do not know their intent or how advanced the weapon is since Darien's departure." Serena started. She turned towards Raye and Lita.
"Python and Coral, I need you to go with Seiya in a few moments. He will debrief you and gather all the information you have about your work in Crystal Empires." Serena assigned them, as they both nodded in response.
"Cobra, I need you to begin working on every way possible to disable a nuclear weapon, get creative, I'm sure Crystal Empires has. Use Darien, Python and Coral's information to get a general idea. This is vital, I have faith in you." Serena said, looking towards Amy who also nodded her head.
"Mina, you job is to retrieve Andrew." Serena started and glared at Mina when she balked in response. "Andrew knows about the weapon and must be detained and kept safe. He also may provide later assistance." Mina grumbled but agreed nonetheless.
"I will be protecting Darien and keeping tabs on everything that is going about. If you have, any problems come to me. If you have any suggestions, questions, anything at all, come to me. We are a team now, we work together." Serena said looking at each of them momentarily.
"Crystal Empires needs to be stopped and it is up to us to do it, many lives may depend on it, maybe even the survival of the world." Serena said gravely. "I will contact you all for our next meeting. Before you all leave to begin your assignments, meet downstairs in electronics, Amy has some equipment to give us. You are dismissed." Serena finished as the women rose and filed out of the room. Seiya stopped Serena, but both stepped aside as Darien walked out, flashing Serena a confused look.
"Do you need something Seiya?" Serena asked her old friend.
"Be gentle with him Serena, please for my sake." Seiya pleaded with him.
"Who Seiya?" Serena said, playing dumb.
"Darien Serena, don't give me that. I know there is something between you two, don't ruin it and don't let it get in the way of your job." Seiya warned her.
"I am the Viper, Seiya, no one gets in my way." Serena said coldly.
"He did once Serena, fortunately that was a good thing, the next time however, it could ruin the mission. Do not let that happen. Darien would willingly sacrifice his life to save the world." Seiya said. Serena looked at him coolly.
"You don't have to worry about that." She said before brushing past him and out of the room.
"Do I Serena?" Seiya said to himself, "I think I do."
Well that is the end of Chapter Nine, it did not start so hot in my opinion, and I apologize for that! I hope you liked it nonetheless. Next chapter is going to be a blossoming of Serena and Darien's romance. Serena is acting cold towards him because she is unsure of what is happening and feels threatened by the fact that he can affect her this way. Things will change next chapter though! In addition, Michael will be in it as well. Please review!!
.:Angelgrl185:.
Here is the Prelude to my HP story. The working title is Friends Close, Enemies Closer. I also just went ahead and put the prologue in too! (It is a Draco/Ginny pairing with some others I have not yet figured out.)
Prelude: Ginny's life is in danger for the secrets she willingly obtained during her time in the Chamber of Secrets and the only way to keep her hidden and safe is to change her entire identity. Dumbledore proposes that Ginny changes her identity and then enroll back into Hogwarts to finish her schooling. The only catch is that she is no longer allowed to be in Gryffindor, but must enter a new house. Dumbledore feels the safest house for Ginny to be in is the one where her enemies came from, Slytherin. This brings a completely new meaning to the quote: "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
Friends Close, Enemies Closer
Prologue: Dark DreamsIt was dark, pitch black with no stars hanging in the sky, she was only surrounded by intense blackness, but she kept running, forcing her legs to pump as if her life depended on it, because it did. Ginny Weasely's breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps as she sprinted willing with all her might that they blood coursing through her veins would wield more oxygen and energy to her weakening muscles.
Ginny felt her energy dying, her body giving out on her as well as it should, it had done far more then she should be asking it too. Her golden amber hair had been pulled into a tight ponytail, but multiple tendrils had gained freedom as she ran, clinging to the sweat covering her face and she knew it was a matted wreck, but for the first time in her life, Ginny could care less what she looked like. She only thought about her survival.
Ginny's green tee shirt was caked in mud and ripped in several places while the rest of it was either soaked in sweat or stained with blood. She became increasingly dehydrated, her body using all her liquids as she sweated profusely, cloaked in thick layers from her head to her feet. Ginny's body head flared, her face flushed bright red from the exertion, and her head was even steaming as her body released its heat into the cold air. Ginny could not feel the frostiness of the night though; she could only feel the heat of her skin and the burning in her lungs and muscles.
Ginny knew as she dashed blindly through the streets of London that her body was going to collapse soon, but she forced her mind to push the thoughts away because she could not afford her body giving out, they were hunting her and she could not afford to stop. The wind whipped icily around her, but Ginny could not fee it, her body had started to grow numb. She darted down a back alley, somehow hoping to lose her predators. Ginny, with little she could make out in the dark, dodged trashcans as her feet pounded heavily against the crushed gravel and dried leaves.
Suddenly, Ginny felt herself plow into a brick wall, her head giving a resounding smack as it met the wall and she bounced off, thrown from the force. A dead end, Ginny's head was pounding in rhythm with her heart as her body collapsed to the ground, her knees sinking to the earth, her hands pressed to the floor, she was broken.
She felt them before she heard them, they had caught up to her and she was trapped, nowhere to go and no strength to fight, not that she could beat them even if she did. They stood at the entrance of the alley, black robed bringers of death, then glided effortlessly towards her bringing a chill that even she couldn't escape, a chill that froze her body, that filled her mind, her heart and her soul.
They were swarming her now, touching her with their ghastly, scaly hands. Ginny lifted her head up weakly, her dull green eyes staring at the one standing in front of her, its black cloak billowing in the night's frosty wind. It reached out with both hands and grabbed Ginny's shoulders, hauling her to her feet, her body protesting earnestly. Ginny stared, powerless to do anything as the dementor brought its face close to hers and Ginny closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable, waiting for it to suck out her soul, but it never came. Peeking through her eyelids, Ginny was alarmed and surprised to find herself no longer in the grasp of a dementor, but in Ron's and she was no longer in the alley, but dangling over a cliff.
"Ron! Ron! What are you doing?" Ginny choked out to the person grasping her tightly around her neck. She received no reply, only an icy cold stare of hatred.
"Please! Please I beg you Ron, do not drop me! Don't do this to me!" Ginny pleaded with her brother, tears filling her green eyes. This time he smirked coldly then released his fingers from their hold around her neck and Ginny fell.
"NOOOOO!" she screamed, arms flailing wildly.
Ginny felt as if she was moving in slow motion. Her body jerked around wildly, yet slowly as her lips parted emitting a ghastly scream. Her stomach was queasy, her heart felt as if it had plummeted to the pit of it and she was shaking uncontrollably as she fell. Fear encased her heart and mind as she tumbled endlessly through the air with incredible force, gaining speed as she fell.
Ginny prayed that her life would be taken away from her, but to no avail. After what seemed like ages of falling, Ginny crashed through the glassy surface of a lake, the frozen water chilling her to the bone. What little clothing that was still clinging to her worn body felt like a load of bricks, weighing her down. Ginny struggled against the water, swimming towards the surface and broke through, breathing in the air. She looked towards the shore and started to swim over when she felt sharp nails digging into her skin as bony fingers grabbed her legs.
Horrified, Ginny tried to kick the creature off her, but it would not relinquish its grip and started to drag her back under the water. She did not have much strength and the Grindylow was pulling her down, the lake swallowing her again. Ginny's air was running out, she had no more air to hold Her lungs felt as if they were shriveling, her head bursting with pain as black circles dotted her vision, her consciousness growing faint. Ginny barely consciously felt the Grindylow pull her to the ground. Desperately, she fumbled around and found a large rock. Straining to pick it up, Ginny threw it at her leg, hitting the Grindylow making it release its hold also slicing through her jeans and skin. Blood mixed with the lake water and floated in a cloud. Ginny frantically swam to the surface and broke through with a gasp, drinking in the air as if it were gold. She immediately began swimming hard and swift towards the shore.
When she reached the sandy beach, Ginny collapsed on it exhausted, drained, and empty. She lay there in silence until the sound of footsteps reached her ear. Ginny opened her heavy eyelids to reveal emerald eyes and nearly fainted from joy when she spotted Harry and Hermoine.
"Harry help me!" she croaked out weakly, pulling herself to her feet. The duo stared at her with evident distaste and hatred. Two sets of eyes glared at her fiercely, and they walked away leaving her alone and dying. Ginny broke down in tears, her shoulders quaking with sobs. The people she loved had abandoned her.
"Tsk, tsk Angelina. You are normally not one to show weakness." A familiar voice broke through her grief scolding.
Ginny looked up and discovered she was not in the Slytherin chambers, surrounded by the whole lot.
"Don't let them get to you Angelina, they're just pricks." Blaise said soothingly, helping Ginny unsteadily to her feet.
Confused, Ginny looked around wildly and tried to back away, but her legs gave out and she had to lean on Blaise to keep her balance.
"Maybe you should get some rest girl, you look horrible, deathly pale and everything." Blaise suggested as she pointed out Ginny's complexion.
Ginny was dumbfounded, what was she doing in Slytherin's common room and why were they being so nice to her? Who is Angelina? Is that her? Ginny closed her eyes and shook her head to clear her thoughts. When she opened them again however, they widened in fear. She was no longer at Hogwarts.
She was in what appeared to be a rather large cave, damp and it smelled like rotting wood. A slight fog covered the air, which was thick and hard to breathe. Ginny blinked rapidly, hoping the sight in front of her would go away if she did, but alas, it did not. Standing in front of her in a half circle was a group of death eaters, their figures casting ghostly shadows against the dimly lit cave. Ginny pressed herself hard against to the wall as if willing it to open and swallow her up. She had nowhere to run. Ginny shivered as the death eaters grew near, their steps soft against the dirt ground, their beady eyes glaring at her behind black robes.
They taunted her; she heard whispers all around her, even inside her head, baiting her, laughing at her. She clutched her head with her fingers and squeezed her eyes shut trying to block them out, but it did not work.
"Crucio!" a low baritone voice boomed through out the cave.
A wand pointed at her emitted a bright flash of light and Ginny screamed as the curse hit her. The pain was mind blowing, her head bursting with pain and white-hot light. She crumpled to the floor, her body searing with pain and she squirmed in the dirt like a pathetic dog. The pain lifted but its effects stayed with her as Ginny whimpered on the ground. The death eaters laughed coldly at her pain, satisfaction filling them as they watched her.
"Thought you could hide from us forever did you?" a feminine voice spoke, laced with venom. "You cannot hide from the Dark Lord forever, he always finds what he is looking for."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Ginny choked out between spasms of pain. The death eaters laughed mockingly.
"Oh really? Tell me Ginny Weasely, do you really think we are going to fall for that?" the woman hissed. "CRUCIO!" she shouted vehemently, brandishing her wand and hitting Ginny full force with her spell. Ginny let out a blood curdling scream and fell back to the ground, squirming with the intense pain.
"Enough!" a man yelled, causing the woman to stop her torment. Ginny gasped in air, her body still twitching. She had had enough, there was nothing left in her to keep going. Ginny wished that they would kill her and end this nightmare of a life.
"She has caused enough damage, there is no reason to let her live any longer."
"But she needs to suffer!" the woman protested earnestly.
"Her life has been one of suffering." The man said softly. The woman looked at him in disbelief. "Kill her now, end it." He ordered.
The front most death eater brought his hand out from under his cloak and pointed it at Ginny. "Avada Kedavra." He hissed as bright green sparks shot out and the blinding green light raced towards her.
"GINNY NOOO!" a familiar voice shouted and Ginny felt a body slamming into hers knocking her out of the path of the lethal curse and flattening them both to the dusty ground. They rolled several feet before coming to a halt, her savior on top. Ginny felt a rush of foreign emotions fill her directed towards the person and she became tingly inside. Ginny turned her gaze to the face trying to see who it was that risked their life for her, but her vision burst into white light and Ginny woke up.
Panting, Ginny sat straight up in her bed, the thing wool sheets sliding down her body. Dried tears stained her face and her body was damp with sweat. Slowly Ginny calmed down, recognizing her own room and realizing that it had all been a dream.
"A dream that was only a dream." Ginny whispered in relief as well as disbelief.
"But if felt so real."
Shaken by what she had seen, Ginny got up and went downstairs to the Burrow's kitchen to make herself hot chocolate. She picked up the rusty blue kettle and poured in some milk, placing it on low heat on the burner in order to heat up the milk and avoid burning it. She opened a pack of chocolate and broke it into tiny slabs before placing them one by one in the hot milk as they melted and then stirred the concoction with a wooden spoon. She added a little sugar to the mix and then poured the hot chocolate into a chipped Quidditch mug sporting the Chudley Cannons.
Settling herself at the table, she sipped her steaming mug and wondered whom it was that had saved her and why she could not see the face. Why did she feel strange emotions for this person?
"It wasn't real, wasn't real." Ginny repeated over aloud to herself, her rational mind taking over. In her heart however, Ginny could not brush the foreboding feeling off and she wondered if it was more than just a dream. Shivering, Ginny sipped her hot chocolate and stared out the kitchen window, her emerald green eyes meeting total darkness, a black starless night.
That is my prologue and stuff, please review what you think about it as well!
.:Angelgrl185:.