Blood on the Moon

By Lydiby

Chapter VII

Haruka was adamant about any of us Senshi leaving the building without two others. All I wanted was a moment to myself. Makoto and Mina had become irritations. They were always laughing and talking as if they hadn't a care in the world when the world as we knew it could end at almost anytime. Michiru was a superb violinist, but her haunting melodies were depriving me of sleep. They'd get stuck in my head and ricochet through my attempts to sleep for half the night. Haruka would stand out on the east balcony for hours on end. When asked what the hell she was doing she said she was talking to the wind. I didn't understand her at all. One minute she was kindness herself, the next she was cold as death. Luna and Artemis came and went as they pleased and I was never more jealous of a cat. I hadn't even gone to see my family.

Our training had wound down; there was little left to master. Keeping our skills at peak only required regular use. I turned instead to investigating the enemy. The world considered vampires a myth and so where else would the truth lie but within mythology? Of course this meant they'd been warped for the joy of the telling, but the truth was underneath it all.

I threaded my fingers across my scalp and then clenched my hand to hold my head up by my hair. Dozens of packages from the world's leading expert on existing vampire mythology had arrived by post this afternoon and it was now approaching midnight. Professor Tomoe was so in-depth I could hardly follow. Beyond the scripts of the original documents and translations he had classified and essayed each separate legend. The logic was so thorough I could hardly keep up. Professor Tomoe was a treasure, such a treasure that I was surprised not to find vampire aurora all over the documents. He had to have intimate knowledge of vampires; you couldn't hit the nail on the head every single time. Everything I knew about vampires was in these documents, everything and more.

I hadn't come across the reasoning that the more kills they made the less sunlight they could stand. Another legend dismissed the bat transformation as 'foreign rubbish.' Some cultures even viewed vampires as a supernatural justice system. Others considered them primal evil. Superstition ran amuck and without Prof. Tomoe's persistent piecework I'd never have gotten through to find what was useful. He indicated the superstitions that appeared most commonly, rather than addressing one culture's view. The European vampire was more known, thanks to Bram Stoker, than say the Aborigine vampire. He dealt with each version in a scientific fashion. Nothing in his approach suggested he believed any of it, but the way he came off correct stated this was more than a study of story telling.

"The earliest legend has indications," Prof. Tomoe wrote, "of Mesopotamian origin. It is an old Hindu tale with a modern counterpart, but the wording of this particular version suggests it is much older than was first surmised. The language also takes cues from Mesopotamia."

He went on to say, "There are insinuations that the vampire in subject was originally a slave. With his mind solely bent upon vengeance his transformation into a vampire is attributed to a crazed lust for his master's blood. From this humble beginning of a slave rises a being of such darkness that it has spawned legends and myths in every nation around the world."

The legend itself was dark, brutal, and extreme. There was no consideration that their descriptions would millenniums later be considered grotesquely gory. It brought the Roman gladiatorial games to mind, just another example of people enjoying carnage. The story described the vampire's rise to domination and its defeat at long last and great coast.

This was the face of my foe.

We waited. The longer we waited the more I felt my insides twisting. The harsher I was on Mina and Makoto. The less I smiled. The more time I spent alone in my stark white room, sitting on the west balcony and staring at the sky. Or pouring over Professor Tomoe's papers for something I had missed the first fifty times I'd read through them. Eventually, I became so saturated in vampire culture I couldn't take anymore of it.

When I ceased talking, Mina and Makoto became introverted. They would break off their conversations whenever I entered the room and they would watch me with worry in their eyes. I would likely have stopped eating if Michiru hadn't stood menacingly over me for every bite.

It was then Haruka told me we must wait for our Princess to give the command.

We must wait.

Those words would to be my death sentence. I nodded to show her I had heard and retreated to my room. We would die by the hands of the Black One before she arrived.

It was then I decided to leave. Changing into all black I concealed my favorite weapons on me. I had come a long way since Topaz's knife (though I loved it best) and the gun in the dumpster. My transformation pen tucked in my sleeve where I could reach it instantly; I walked out of the penthouse unchecked by anyone. I would find our Princess or I would find the Black One, either way, the game was up.

Dark clouds had rolled in as I had prowled through Tokyo, blotting out any stars that might have shone bright enough to get through the city lights. The would-be night populace could've cared less. A group laughed and sung drunkenly as they made their way home just in time for work tomorrow. I was glad it was not the weekend, lest my simmering anger be wasted on a slovenly pickup artist.

My wandering feet took me through the old Azabu district. Looking at the Crown I was surprised to see someone other than Motoki behind the bar. At the same time I wasn't; life was change after all.

After that, I passed through my surroundings in oblivion. I needed to decide where to attempt a summoning. A temple would reinforce me just a little from the dedication of the grounds. But would it be worth depriving people of a safer place to take shelter?

"Usagi?"

Jerking my head up, I stared.

"Shingo? Shingo!"

My 'little' brother had shot up while I was gone and was more than a head taller than me. I discovered this as he crushed me in a hug.

"Usa, I missed you," he said.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Ah, this is ridiculous!" I said as I stretched on my toes just to ruffle his hair.

"A complete outrage! How am I supposed to pick on my little brother when he's taller than me?"

He just laughed while I pretended to fume.

"It hasn't been the same without you. What are you doing here without even calling us anyway?" He scolded.

"I took a summer internship with a ballet company," I hastily cover myself.

"That's great Usa! We have to take you out to celebrate!"

"Not tonight Shingo. They've really got me on my toes," he burst out laughing, "No pun intended," I added.

"You can't even come home tonight?" he pleaded, "Not for your little brother?"

"I really can't," I shifted uncomfortably. I hated lying to him! "It's going to be hard to find a chance to get away. They're performing every night we're here and we'll be leaving soon. I will call you tomorrow, alright?"

"Promise, Usa?"

"I promise." I lied. "Ashiteru, Shingo," I impulsively blurt.

"Ashiteru, Usa," he returned, looking a little surprised.

We parted and my heart ached for the normal life that radiated from my brother. He was well dressed; did he have a job? A book bag was slung over his shoulder; what school was he attending now?

A 'don't walk' sign left me waiting at the curb and in the momentary stillness before the cars began to move again I felt a covert tug I'd missed before. In one smooth motion I looked up and the cars moved past me creating a breeze that blew my hair in my eyes. When I could see again it was gone.

I stifled a feral growl. It was keeping back just far enough that I couldn't read an aurora. Slipping through the shadows, though whoever it was didn't need them to conceal him or her self. I could still feel it, in the more remote corners of my mind. A tugging questioning presence that waited. Had waited and would wait; wait for what?

It felt similar to Topaz, but Topaz was no longer my friend; she was a vampire. With her death I had lost most of my humanity, and all of my sanity. My life as I knew it had shattered.

The light changed and I moved on. A teashop beckoned, glowing warmly, but I ignored it. A single midnight rose fluttered down to land before my feet. 'How ludicrous,' I thought, carefully stepping over it.

And into nothing.

"My darling Serena, how charming of you to drop in." My hand was raised to chill lips.

I spun away, erecting mental barriers to defend my mind.

It was midnight in the Garden of Death.

This had been in the memoirs Topaz had given me. These were their sacred grounds; here they held more power than anywhere. This was the birthplace of their race. More cursed than sacred it seemed to me. Dead rose bushes lined the path. Dried up, a desert of eerie twilight.

There was a slight prick and my walls shattered. I bit back a gasp of horror; Devin hadn't been this strong, not even The Garden could have given him this much power

His cold hand brushed the hair on the back of my neck; I stiffened.

"Where is your sense of fair play, Devin? Have you abandoned the chivalry of cat and mouse?" I murmured in my now trademark dispassionate tone. Discreetly I felt for my morphing pen, but it was gone alone with every other weapon I'd had.

'I've nothing to protect myself with; one blow and I am down. Hell, it wouldn't even take a blow, one look into those obsidian eyes and he has me here!'

My fists clenched driving my nails to bite into my hands. My breathing was ragged with fear and anger so I smoothed it; not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing how terrified I was.

"Cat and mouse; chivalry?" He laughed, what might once have been honest, now warped cruelty. I shuddered feeling his breath on my exposed neck.

'Petty fool thinks he's a creature of the hunt when he doesn't even understand the rules of nature. The honor of the cat is that it gives its prey every possible chance to escape. To let it live if it can win it's life back. How can he not know that, when even I do? How can he be so powerful if he is so ignorant? He must have aligned with the Black One'

I braced my knees, and summoned my strength.

"What do you want?"

"You, only you."

I tore away in absolute revulsion.

"You're beautiful Serena, frosted, I can't let you melt, my dear. Your frozen passion will be mine forever." As he spoke he walked down the path to stand beneath the black skeleton of a monstrous tree. I would have laughed, that is, if I hadn't been so utterly terrified.

"No."

In a dizzying blur he stood inches before me.

"I'm sorry my love, what did you say?" His voice was pure of any innuendo of anger, sweet, virtuous, and immaculate. That scared me more than rage would. It betrayed a precise control, detached of all emotion. While he could claim to want me, he'd have just as little trouble…

These thoughts were far from pleasant.

"I will not," I growled sharply. I choked at the prick of fangs on the back of my neck. He had moved faster than I could see.

"Oh, I do believe you will."

I spun around to backhanded him. Before I could move an inch he had broken my leg and my wrist again. He took my lower lip between his fangs, applying light pressure before he flew back and slammed into the earth. I sank to the ground trying to hold the pain at bay with my mind. An avenging figure stood between my tormentor and me. Gibbering pain filled my mind precluding all rational thought. I watched Devin rise into the air again and again to slam into the soil. In slow motion I felt a build of his power rise with a supernatural rush and, leaving no time to react, he lashed out.

I screamed. Choking in shame at my display of pain to an unworthy adversary. Tears streamed down my face and I rolled in agony.

'My shields, if only he had left my shields alone.'

The sensation of water spilled across me in a soothing spread, washing away the pain.

"Hush, you're safe now."

I knew nothing.

Soft cotton sheets smelt like sunshine. I sighed and wistfully rolled over. Knives shot up my arm and leg; I nearly asphyxiated at the unexpected pain.

"Hold still, now that you are awake I can finish healing you."

'Where have I heard that voice?'

Darien held my wrist and warmth flooded it. Even more shocking was seeing Rei and Ami standing behind him.

"I told you," Rei said in a singsong voice and grinned. Once again displaying her dazzling vicious fangs.

'Told me…? Told me she'd see me again?'

"Serena, what possessed you to leave them?" Ami demanded.

Blankly, I stared at her; when had she ever called me Serena before? My wrist cracked loudly and I gasped aloud in pain. Darien stared at me with haunting dark eyes while my brain tried to catch up to what they were saying and why they were here and where was here anyway?

"We are at my mansion," he said.

"Bruce Wayne," I hissed, mocking him. His mansion. I had the sneaking suspicion that he could have made healing my wrist quite painless. I glared at him and tried to erect mind barriers while he watched me with impassive eyes. They wouldn't work.

"What! What has he? What have you done to me?" I demanded.

"I had a link to you and I don't regret it. If I hadn't you would have started everything too soon," he replied frostily. At the same time he pull back the blankets and placed his hands on my broken leg.

"You have a link?" I snarled, " you have no right, I—I," I faltered as I realized all of what he'd said, "Ami, I told you I'd ruin it all!" I wailed and buried my face in the sheets. Enough of my former iciness was left however that I couldn't cry. She wrapped her arms around me.

"Serena," again she used my American name, "it will be alright. Now there's a bathroom through that door, wash up, change and come have dinner with Rei and I."

Numbly, I nodded and did as she said, except when I opened the closet it was filled with dark men's clothes. Mortified, I looked around at the room I was in; it was Darien's. But my clothes had disappeared. I had no choice unless I wanted to wander the halls of this place in a towel. So I neatly rolled up the pants so I wouldn't trip on them and the sleeves of cobalt dress shirt. The pants were all right but the shirt made me look ridiculous so I found a black sweater and threw it on overtop. The result was an odd combination of prep school, gothic, and girl-stealing-guy's-fashion. Nervously, I stuck my head out into the hall. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever. The whole place was done in what appeared to be classical baroque if I had my architecture straight. I probably didn't.

Light was flickering underneath the door across the hall. I knocked and slowly entered. Rei looked up at me from her chair and sniggered.

"Oh, dear. I didn't think about clothing, I'm sorry," Ami apologized.

"I did," laughed Rei, "and I think it looks great on you!"

I wondered if she was mad.

Darien, I noted with relief, was not present. It was then a horrifying thought struck me; I'd been invited to dinner by two vampires.

"Serena," Ami scolded, "sit down and eat!"

Giddy relief at my own inanity struck me in a weird mood all of the sudden.

"I can't stay here," I irrelevantly replied.

"No you can't."

Three heads moved at once to see Darien standing on the fringe of a shadow.

"And I suppose you're just going to chuck her out the door this very minute, are you?" Ami snapped. He met her glare with a detached stare and something passed between them before she broke away. This was certainly not my Ami.

"Serena, just sit down and eat, don't mind them," Rei's whisper seemed more within the confines of my mind than audible. Watching her, while I tried to do as she said discreetly, Rei seemed oddly subdued.

"You are a fool!" Ami shouted and slammed out the door. Ami never shouted and never slammed doors.

Darien merely dissolved into shadow again. Rei sighed loudly in the sudden silence.

"She's right, but what use is there in telling him so?" She shook her head, "He knows it in his heart."

"He has a heart?" I bit out. She flinched and caught my gaze with a brilliant flash of violet from midnight eyes.

"Yes, he does and it's been put through more than it's share of agony in life and death. I grew up with parents and knowing—even looking forward—to what I was to become. He had none of that. You could do a lot worse than to have some compassion for him." Her voice carried the searing coldness of dry ice.

"He never had any compassion for me." I dully stated. A chilling numbness swept through me leaving only a sense of void within myself.

"That's not true," Rei insisted, heatedly. "He thinks I never saw, but it's been eating him from the inside until the servants can tell—" she broke off sharply, "but it is not my place." She gestured gracefully towards the small table set in front of me. The light gleaming off her claret nails invited me to look at the silverware and dome covering the plate. As well as the white rose in a crystal vase identical to one I had recently come into tenure of.

"You're food has grown cold."

The words barely registered. My mind was flying with pieces that fit together, but still didn't make any sense.

"Where do these roses come from?" I heard myself ask.

"My brother's private garden."

"The vase?"

"The Terran collection, I suppose. Why do you ask?"

"I have one exactly like it."

"How is that possible? Our collection is centuries old. The craftsman of this vase has been dead and forgotten for eons."

"I've received five white roses no different from this one and the last was in this vase's twin."

I could feel her gaze stripping away my outer layers like chipped paint and stared at the richly hued rug; if I looked her in the eyes she'd see my soul and know all of me she wanted. The wooden legs of the chair were carved with meticulous detail, the arms smooth with wear and polish beneath my skin. This place had seen ages past my reckoning; the baroque was just a new face. Wriggling my toes into the carpet, I risked a glance up; she was gone and so was the rose.

Despite it all, I was hungry so I ate the foreign cuisine and stepped into the hall. Taking a wild guess, I turned right following the carpet runner towards a paned window at the end out the hall that stretched almost from floor to ceiling. Outside was a bleak landscape that didn't look like Japan, or America. The sky was dull grey overcast that seemed to wash out any colour from the fall landscape of rolling grassy hills with scattered clusters of trees and dark broken lines that seemed to be remains of stone fences. Turning, I cast about for a staircase to use, but there was only wood paneling, tapestries, and a lonely suit of armor about a hundred yards back the way I'd come. All the doors were locked.

"What is the point of having so many rooms if no one uses any of them?" I muttered in my frustration, but no one heard or saw fit to answer. So I set off the other way. I'd left the door of the room I'd come out ajar so I could find my way back, but it was still empty.

As I walked, I tried to figure out what it all meant, but I only concluded that Darien had been leaving me roses and his intentions were pure, which made no sense whatsoever. He'd made it quite clear, both alive and dead, that he abhorred my presence.

Ami's story was that a Terran had changed her as she lay dying by Beryl's hand. Which Terran? Darien was a Terran vampire, but he was Rei's brother, which made her a Terran vampire as well. I assumed at least.

At an intersection I turned right and soon came to a balcony overlooking a vast open room. A freestanding grand staircase started on either end of the balcony and arched around unsupported by visible means to meet at a small landing before continuing down in two directions. Between hung an unlit chandelier too far away to behold as more than a faintly glittering mass suspended from the arching ceiling. The vast room held a sense of disturbed spirits.

Quickly, I followed the curving staircase down to the landing and paused. Windows graced the wall behind the landing giving a different view of the same landscape I'd seen earlier from two stories higher, now framed by two wings of the mansion. Glass doors would open into a garden, but not, by the looks of it, the rose garden. Turning the other way was the immense room—probably intended for dancing—I'd viewed from above on the balcony. Between a few elegant pillars supporting the balcony was clearly the main entryway to the building. About to make a dash across the chill marble floor to the front door I remembered I didn't have any shoes. From what I'd seen the outside terrain wasn't exactly inviting. Only now did I recall my transformation pen and that it was missing.

Swearing profusely, I sat down on the steps. Devin had taken it and I couldn't exactly ask him to give it back. It had taken Luna more than a month to make it and if they were even still alive...

How long had I been here? Not long, but long enough for the Dark One to attack the others in my absence. I had to get back to them even if I couldn't morph.

Beneath the chandelier was a round mosaic of the earth overlaid with a compass rose. Halls went out to the east and west. I had come out of the west wing so I turned east and followed the broad corridor lined with paintings. On the right were females sharing face shape and noses, to the left men with similar jaw lines. All shared midnight hair and dark eyes that occasionally were portrayed as an actual colour when caught in the right lighting. The clothing progressed through what was probably a millennium, but the quality of art never wavered. Some of the subjects smiled, some glared, others openly bared vicious fangs like Rei's. The long line of vampires ended on the male side with a forbidding Darien across from an arrogant, grinning Rei.

Here was another crack in the sidewalk; vampires were made not born. This hall was evidence of a long line of hereditary vampires. How was that possible? Were all of them turned after the next generation was born? It was the only thing that made any sense, but if the line stopped with Darien and Rei? Rei appeared too young to have been a mother when she was changed. Physically she appeared around nineteen, it was possible of course, but seemed unlikely. The thought of Darien being a father merely made me recall that it was none of my business…