Chapter 11
The Engagement
Day One . . .
Hours later, Serena awoke to the sight of a huge white lace canopy above her. Knowing that couldn't be right, she sat up quickly. Where the hell am I? "Darien?" She whispered in voice filled with anxiety. When there was no answer, a little louder, she repeated, "Darien?" Silence. Serena shook her head and sighed, Great, just great! Now what? Bringing her hand up, she found her locket gone. She gasped and searched the bed, "Where is it?" Scrambling up to search the room, she glanced at her surroundings. Serena paused, the locket temporarily forgotten, "What is this place?" The room was large with black, glossy walls. On further investigation, Serena found that the walls were smooth, like polished glass. Turning back to look at the bed, she saw that it was white and brass, as were the rest of the furnishings. There was a door to the left of a dresser and a set of double doors further away, near a sitting area. All in all, it seemed a pleasant room, ". . . but there's something about this place . . . " Serena hugged her arms over her chest and shuddered involuntarily. Walking over to the dressing table, she passed a brass mirror, and, for the first time, realized what she was wearing. She'd been too preoccupied to notice, but was now shocked at her apparel. It was definitely not Darien's t-shirt, or the clothes she remembered wearing yesterday. Dressed in a knee length white silk negligee, Serena searched the room for something to cover herself with. Finding nothing, she returned to the bed and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. With 'Where am I?' continually screaming in her head, she crushed panic under her heel and began searching the dresser for her locket. The effort proving futile, Serena stepped away from it and, again, looked around. "Well, this certainly isn't the strangest place I've ever waken up." She whispered with a certain amount of irony.
"I'm delighted you think so." A male voice responded to her softly spoken words.
Startled, Serena spun around to see a man standing not three feet behind her. Speechless, she gripped the blanket tighter in renewed panic.
"Looking for this?" Serena's eyes dropped to the hand he held open in front of her. Her locket. "You can take it," he shrugged, "but you can't use it."
She reached out a trembling hand and seized it. A thousand questions flashed through her mind and, feeling a little more confident, her fear lessening somewhat, she rapidly voiced some of them, "Who are you? Where am I? How do you know me? Where are my friends?..."
Holding up a hand to slow her, he replied, "I'm Prince Dimando."
"Prince . . . Dimando . . . ?" Serena repeated slowly, tilting her head slightly. Brows furrowed, she tried to remember where she'd heard that name before. Although she'd recognized the black upside down crescent moon immediately, the face she didn't know.
Seeing her grip the blanket she wore like a lifeline, Dimando smiled and pointed. "You no longer need that." The blanket disappeared, and with it, a little of Serena's resolve. She crossed her arms in front of her and moved to get another one, but was stopped as he gripped her arm. Shaking his head, "You're lovely as you are." He ran his fingers across her cheek lightly. Serena shuddered, but didn't move.
"Where am I?" She whispered again.
"You're in my home. Your home. Our home." Serena, too confused to do more than stare at him, frowned. He stepped back from her, grinned, then bowed formally, elaborating, "I'm Prince Dimando, leader of the Dark Moon Family. This," He waved his hand around, "is Tartarus Castle. We're deep in the core of the 10th planet from the Sun, Nemesis."
Serena laughed a little, "This is some sort of joke, right? I may not be very smart, but even I know there is no such planet as Nemesis."
Dimando raised an eyebrow knowingly, "Could it be because you don't have a Sailor Scout named for it that you don't believe this world may exist?"
That was at least part of the reason, however, Serena wasn't about to tell him that. Then a thought occurred to her, "Rubeus . . . "
"Yes, he's a member as well. I should say, was, but that's a story for later."
"So, what do you want from me?" Serena queried, getting more confused by the moment. It was obvious this man knew her, the question was, how?
Placing his hand at the small of her back, Dimando led her to the sitting area. "Before I tell you that, you need to understand what's going on . . . "
Serena, willing her legs to move, walked slowly. Her one thought being, Run, fool! Run as far and as fast as you can! Yet, she could hardly walk the distance to the couch. Besides, where would she run to? Serena had no idea where she was.
Dimando continued in a low, almost hypnotic, tone, "Like I said, this is Nemesis. The surface, far above us, has been laid to waste by war and destruction. Currently we're many years into the Future from whence you came. Soon, however, you must begin your reign over Earth."
Serena's eyes widened, "I don't understand. Where's Reenie? And Darien? And the others?"
Dimando frowned slightly, realizing just how difficult this was going to be. "Serena, I went to the Past and sent Reenie home where she belongs . . . " Not giving her time to interrupt again, he continued, "To the Future. To our home."
She looked at him skeptically, "Our home? I don't think so!"
Dimando smiled again, "Yes, Serena." He sat back on the couch, waiting her reaction to his next words. "Reenie is my daughter as much as she is yours."
Her eyes widened, shock filling her. How did he know that Reenie was her daughter? Then the rest of what he said sunk in. Reenie? His daughter? "No way!"
Dimando just nodded.
"You're joking, right?" This time when she said it there was almost a hysterical quality in the way her voice cracked. Standing up suddenly, Serena ran for the double doors, finally giving in to the insistence in her head.
Dimando didn't move, he simply said, "Not so fast."
When she reached the doors, Serena found that, no matter how hard she tried and struggled, they wouldn't open. Beginning to cry, she slid to knees, beating the doors lightly with her fists.
Dimando's voice carried easily across the room when he spoke again, "What you need to know is that the Earth is going through a change. All of your friends are gone. At least, for now. However, time here moves differently, and soon, very soon, after we're married, you'll use your Crystal to heal Earth. You and I will begin our reign. Within a year, our love provides us with Reenie."
Serena said nothing. She sat there, in front of the doors on her knees, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't seem to assimilate much of anything. It was as if her brain stopped functioning. Then, she whispered, "Darien . . . "
"You have to forget him. He's gone." Dimando said from where he'd moved to stand in front of her.
Serena looked up at him, then closed her eyes and turned her feelings introspectively, searching for her true lifeline, Darien. Her eyes snapped open when she came to the devastating revelation that she couldn't feel him anymore. He just wasn't there. Was it Time, Space, or Truth in Dimando's words that did it? She didn't know, she didn't care. Still, Serena wouldn't give up, it would take a whole lot more than that for her to give up, "You're lying!" She stood up, refusing the hand that he lent her. "You're lying!" She repeated, stronger this time, actually believing the words, despite how truly empty she felt. A new determination filled her and Serena raised the locket she still had gripped in her hand.
Dimando looked on, slightly amused.
Moon Crystal Power! "It didn't work!" She exclaimed. Moon Crystal Power! She cried out again.
Nothing.
Dimando laughed lightly, "I told you that you can't use it."
Serena slowly sank back to her knees, staring at her locket in shock.
"You're too close to a larger source of power. Negative power." When she didn't move or say anything, he gently lifted her back to her feet. Serena swayed unsteadily with his next words, "You have two weeks to prepare yourself. During this time, I'll show you what has happened in the many hundreds of years that have already passed on Earth. Then, we'll be married."
Taking a firm grasp on her reeling emotions, Serena met his eyes with fire in hers, "I won't do it. I don't believe you. I can never believe you."
Dimando raised an eyebrow, "Really? We'll see . . . " With a knowing grin, he walked Serena over to a huge bare wall. A sweep of his arm caused the wall to glow softly, eerie light emanating around her.
"Reenie . . . " she whispered. An image of the little girl, dressed in the pajamas Serena remembered seeing her in the night before, appeared. She was running toward someone. When the picture focused, Serena gasped:
"Daddy! Daddy! I did it!" Reenie said as she ran into Dimando's arms. He kissed her on the cheek gently.
"Thank you for finding your mommy for me."
"I told you I could!" The little girl beamed.
"Yes, you did. However, now you have to go home."
Reenie looked sad when she asked, "But, won't you come with me?"
"No, I have to go and be with your mommy. The danger is coming and I have to help her with what needs to be done. I do promise, though, that we'll both be there when you return, but you must go now."
Reenie gave Dimando a kiss and hug and reached for her Key. "I love you, Daddy!" She smiled warmly as she waved.
"And I, you, Little Princess." He called before she disappeared.
Watching the scene unfolding in front of her, tears began streaming down her face. "This . . . This can't be . . . " Serena stammered out. When the vision ended, feeling very lightheaded, she buried her face in her hands.
Dimando snapped his fingers and Serena collapsed in his arms. Carrying her to the bed, he said, "That's all for now. Too much at once and you won't live long enough to rewrite history." He traced her facial features lightly with his finger, running his hand down her bare shoulder and arm. "Once, Sweet Lady, you looked at me with anger and fear. I have never forgotten. Now, very slowly, a little at a time, you will be mine! There will be a very different future by the time I'm through with you."
"But you must be careful," interrupted his thoughts.
"Wise Man!" Dimando turned suddenly at the unexpected voice and scowled, "You come when you're not called and when you're not wanted."
"A warning, Prince. Don't overdue or all your plans will be for naught."
He nodded. "Agreed. I've waited this long. I'm patient enough. She," Glancing down at Serena, "however, may not be. Her will is very strong."
"That's why it must be done slowly." Wise Man replied.
He reached out a glowing hand to touch Serena on the forehead, but Dimando stopped him with a shake of his head, "Let's see how long she can hold up my way first."
Wise Man nodded once and backed away.
Musingly, Dimando turned away from the sleeping girl on the bed, "Slowly . . . " He hated that word, although he knew it was a necessity at this point, "True. But we don't have a lot of time." He clenched his fist in frustration, "I'm sure that foolish Prince and the Sailor Scouts will find their way here." Moving back to the bed, Dimando lightly touched Serena's cheek, then looked at Wise Man, "We must be married and the marriage consummated before they arrive. That way, the Future will be inexorably changed . . . Forever." He laughed. A hideous laugh that would have made Serena scream in terror had she been awake.
Day Two . . .
Serena was afraid to look. On a fleeting hope that all she'd seen and felt had been a bad dream, she forced the unavoidable. Opening her eyes, she sighed when she realized she was, indeed, in a nightmare. Only this, Serena knew, was a living nightmare from which she could find no immediate escape. The lightheadedness she'd felt the day before returned as she stood up and walked to the table. Food had been brought, but unlike her 'normal' self, she just glanced at it passively. Moving to the dresser to find something more suitable to wear, she smiled slightly, thinking of Raye's reaction to Serena passing up food. She'd want to check Serena for a fever, or worse, about now. Putting on a white, sleeveless dress, she returned to the bed and leaned back wearily. Serena wondered vaguely how Darien was doing, if Reenie was still with him, and how the Scouts were taking her sudden disappearance. She didn't believe the vision Dimando had shown her. Serena refused to give in . . . Or give up. But she was so tired. Laying back down, she put her hand to her head to quell the dizziness. Her eyes fluttered closed dreamily:
"Princess . . . Princess Serena!"
"Huh . . . What?"
"Princess Serena!"
"Mother?"
"Call him, Serena . . . " Came from the distance.
"Call him? Call who? Mother!"
"Call him . . . " Faded away.
Serena sat up slowly. 'Call him' echoing through her mind. "Who?" She muttered, head aching. "Call who?"
"You spoke?"
Serena turned at the sound of the voice, "Dimando . . . " The lightheadedness giving way to a buzzing in her ears, "What do you want?"
Coming to stand beside her, he asked, "When was the last time you ate?"
Serena waved the question away, "I don't know."
Indicating the table with his hand, "You haven't touched that."
She smiled grimly, "You're right" And with bitter irony, continued, "I guess I'm afraid of being poisoned."
"You're the last person I'd consider poisoning, my dear." Dimando followed her to the table.
Serena picked up a piece of bread and nibbled on it absently. Her stomach rebelled. 'Call him . . . ' again echoed, this time painfully, through her mind. Dropping the food, she gripped her head as the buzzing and words clashed in her brain, seemingly doing battle for superiority.
Dimando put his hand on her shoulder, "Are you all right?"
"Uh . . . I don't know," Serena answered honestly. Moving back to the bed, Serena lay back down, and curled up tightly. Holding the, now useless, Silver Crystal in her hand, she felt the bed give slightly when Dimando sat behind her. She cringed when he put his hand on her shoulder, then whispered, "Why?" Serena paused, looking for the right words, "Why do you hate us so much that you want to destroy everything that we have?" When he didn't answer, she continued, "Violence never solves anything. Only brings more pain."
"You don't believe me, yet, do you?"
Serena simply shook her head.
Dimando shrugged, "I've done what was necessary to find you. I knew no other way. You're the leader of the Sailor Scouts. The best way to find you and bring you home was to draw them out using all the means in my power."
"By hurting or destroying innocent people?" Serena interrupted harshly, "I would never, in any life time, condone that."
His hand tightened on her shoulder, "Enough! I won't be badgered by the likes of you!" Then in a softer tone, "Rest. I'll be back."
Serena hardly even heard him.
Day Three . . .
Wandering the room, though knowing it had only been a matter of hours, Serena felt as if she'd slept for days. "I've got to find a way out of here. To get home . . . But how?" As if sensing the path her thoughts were taking, a figure materialized in front of her.
"Good Morning, Serena. Feeling any better?"
Startled, Serena took a quick step back and shook her head.
"Well, the feelings will pass with time. It's the influence of the Dark Crystal that does it." Serena looked at Dimando questioningly, he just smiled, "No matter, come." He took her hand and approached the wall that Serena was learning, very swiftly, to fear. "Since you're bent on not believing me, it's time to show you more of what has become of your world." Motioning with his hand, it began to glow once again, Serena's eyes clouded over as Dimando began his story . . .
Hundreds of years have passed since you left Earth. In the days after you were found gone, the Sailor Scouts and their companions were confronted with many battles from outside forces. Within about six months, during one of these battles, the Earth was shook to its core by a massive explosion. It moved the Earth slightly off and out of its orbit. Then the days shortened as the Earth's rotation sped up . . .
Serena shook her head, dazed, but with certainty, stated, "I don't believe this. I can't believe this. Darien? The Scouts? Dead? No! I'd know it!"
Dimando was getting furious, "Do you not ken? When the Earth dies, so does its guardian! The Prince is gone!"
"No! Damn you!" Serena retaliated, "It's NOT true! I will not believe Darien is dead until I feel him die!" She smiled softly, she may not be able to feel him, but she knew he was alive, somewhere, "No." She said with unwavering conviction. Serena looked Dimando in his eyes, "They will come for me and when they do, you'll pay for what you've done. I swear it."
When Dimando brought his hand up quickly, Serena flinched, thinking he was going to hit her. Instead, he pointed at the glowing wall. Angrily, he demanded, "Watch, Princess, what happens to your precious Prince!"
Darien, surrounded by the girls and his guard, was in the bed where Serena had spent countless nights with him. He was thrashing uncontrollably in his agony as Amy and Hotaru worked feverishly to keep him alive.
"If Sailor Moon were here," Raye commented bitterly, "she could heal him."
"If Sailor Moon were here," Michiru added, "none of this would have ever happened."
"Where the hell did she go?" Bryce demanded, walking to the head of the bed and looking down at the man he'd only recently learned he was supposed to protect. "We were all here for Christ's sake! She didn't walk out and she certainly didn't transform."
"Who knows?" Jeff answered the question with one of his own. "It doesn't matter, though, does it? Without her, Darien's not going to survive."
"He's got to!" Setsuna whispered.
"The planet is dying," Cameron said quietly, shaking his head. "I can feel it."
"As can I." Ashton agreed.
"When the planet dies, so will he." Nathaniel added.
These three were especially attuned to the Earth, not so much as Darien, but inasmuch as they garnered their powers from its core.
"There's got to be some way to stop this!" Haruka muttered savagely.
"I'm afraid not," Amy said softly.
"Serena . . . " Darien cried out in his delirium.
Dimando, in his anger, allowed the vision to intensify and Serena, crying in emotional pain, staggered in physical pain as the amount of Dark Energy used to create the visions amplified to an unbearable level. "Do you see?" Dimando charged, his temper seething. Serena could do no more than grip her head and nod. He let the vision continue another few moments, then snapped his fingers. Serena hit the floor without another word, silence filling the room once more. Carrying her back to the bed, Dimando was more irritated with himself than her, "Little fool. You push me to hurt you. If I don't learn to control my anger . . . "
"Like you said, she's headstrong. You knew this would be the hardest part of the plan." Wise Man commented when he appeared on the opposite side of the bed.
"Hmm . . . She will be brought around. Have no doubt. Serena will be my wife, and I will rule."
"The amount of Dark Energy you're using will kill her before you have that chance."
Dimando looked at the Wise man sharply, then smiled, almost unconcerned. "Oh no. That won't happen." He looked back at Serena, and, closing his fist in frustration, insisted, "But the visions must continue. If not, she'll never agree. And she has to. Once she is bound to me by vows, whether voluntary or not, the Earth, and the Future, will be mine. "
Although he already knew the answer, Wise Man asked, "What if she never does?"
"Then I'll take her by force." He answered easily. "But, I think, two weeks of what I have in store, should be enough to make her agree to anything I want." Dimando ran his finger along Serena's jaw, then kissed her.
"Serena! Serena!"
"I'm here!" She answered, "Who are you? Where are you?"
"I am here . . . I am you . . . In the Future . . . "
"In the Future? Me? I don't understand."
A figure appeared in the shadows of Serena's dream world. "I can't see you very well."
"I am trying, but the Dark Crystal is too much. You must know that the visions you see are NOT real . . . "
"Not real? I don't understand . . . "
"Dimando is trying to . . . " The voice faded as the tentative link was broken.
"To what! Wait! Please, don't go . . . Who are you?"
Day Four . . .
Sitting up quickly, Serena glanced around. "I can't stay here." Rubbing her temples to ease the, now almost constant, pressure there, Serena wondered if it was Dimando who put her in another, rather revealing, night gown. Trying to figure out how she always ended up in bed and why she was always tired even though all she seemed to do was sleep, Serena made a beeline for the dresser, knowing that it never failed that Dimando would show up once she was awake.
Having gotten dressed and brushed her hair, Serena, locket in hand, walked slowly to the double doors. They opened at her light touch. Running out into the hall, Serena almost immediately lost all sense of where she was and where she was going. Stopping suddenly, "Wh . . . What is this place?" Roaming around for several minutes only got her more lost. "This place is like a maze . . . " There were doors leading nowhere, stairs leading up so high you couldn't see the destination, stairs going down . . . into nothing. "I don't think I'm in the right place," She commented wryly as she opened, yet, another door that had nothing but a wall behind it.
"And why not?" Came from behind her.
Serena spun around, "Damn you! Do you always make it a habit of sneaking up on people?"
Dimando laughed lightly, "Only you, my dear, only you." Pulling her hand through his arm, Dimando led her through Tartarus.
It was large. Maybe bigger than the Palace on the Moon had been. The entire structure had the same glossy black walls as her room. In fact, nearly everything was black. Serena's white dress and Dimando's white suit were a stark contrast to the darkness that permeated the fortress. The floor was mosaic in design and the only color, a royal red runner carpet, could be seen in the length of the main hall. Balconies on every floor were held up by huge columns lining the central chamber. They were so big, Serena guessed, that twenty people, with their arms spread wide, couldn't span them. It made her wonder just how large Tartarus really was. Her rooms were on the third floor overlooking the central chamber, but she was sure there were many more floors above, and perhaps below, the one she was in. Dimando told Serena where she was permitted and not permitted to venture. For the most part, she was allowed free rein where she went as long as she stayed within the confines of the Gates which were just beyond the Black Grove. He then took Serena to, what she considered, a grossly perverted representation of the Throne Room on the Moon.
"This is where we'll be married." Dimando commented after she'd walked around the room for several minutes.
Serena almost groaned with the frustration she felt, and, being so far away from him, she had no fear that he'd hurt her, "I don't want to marry you! Can't you get that through your thick head?" Turning around, Serena walked away, attempting to put as much distance between her and Dimando as possible, "My life is on Earth with Darien, those sent to protect him, and the Sailor Scouts!"
In less than the time it takes to blink, Dimando was in front of her. He jerked her by the shoulders until her head snapped back and Serena looked directly into his eyes. "You have no life there anymore!" He whispered fiercely.
"You've given me no definitive proof of what you say!" Serena retorted. "All I see are images that do more to confuse than anything."
"I will make you mine!"
Dimando gripped her shoulders so tightly, Serena was afraid he was going to break them. Although her eyes darkened, she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her in pain. Instead, she replied, "You can do what you want, but you'll never have me. Not fully. My heart belongs to Darien."
"Do not make me angry, Lady. You'll regret it!"
Serena raised an eyebrow slightly, and proceeded to lie through her teeth. "I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be. I could kill you easily."
"Then have done with it!" Serena returned harshly, speaking more to herself than him and so low he had to strain to hear her. "I'm tired of waking up in strange places, at strange times. Weird dreams and feelings that have no place in my life. If you insistThen do it!"
Releasing her, Dimando tipped his head back and laughed. "Temper, temper, Little Princess."
Serena stared at him, brows knitting in confusion.
"Since you're so determined, I will show you more proof." In her room, Dimando said, "Watch." And the visions started again. A picture appeared. The Earth, spinning on its axis with increasing rapidity. Dimando narrated the obscene story as if it were a child's tale:
Being thrown off its orbit, the days on Earth became shorter. With decreased sunlight, the plants died. Once this happened, the oxygen level decreased and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased by leaps and bounds. The Earth, with its people dying off, slowly began to freeze . . .
Serena watched the visions confronting her with wide eyes. Then the buzzing in her head grew louder. She put her fingers to her temples and begged, "Please . . . Stop, please. This is just too much!"
Walking to her, Dimando touched her forehead lightly and she fell, unconscious, into his arms. "It gets easier and easier every time. Soon you'll come to me, Princess. You can't win this one. Your Crystal can't protect you forever."
"Serena . . . You must call him! Your time is running out!"
"Mother? Where are you?" In the dream scape, Serena sat down and cried, "I'm so alone!" The word loudly reverberated around her.
"You are not alone! Remember, Serena . . . "
Images flashed through the blackness of Serena's mind, having the effect of an atomic bomb blazing on the horizon . . . And having the same effect on her physically as her crescent moon shined brightly in the darkened room where others watched Serena as she slept . . .
Memories . . . The Moon Kingdom, her mother there. Darien . . . her first meeting with him in this life, and Serena smiled softly, another failed test: A thirty? Mom's going to kill me! Crumpling it up, she tossed it over her shoulder . . . Watch it MeatBall Head! A thirty? Admirable. Are you stupid or just incredibly lazy? Then Amy, gentle genius. Raye . . . Raye was the fire and Serena was the water, best friends, best arguers. Lita . . . Not even Serena's mom could cook as well. Mina . . . Serena's hero in both her lifetimes. Reenie . . . Her daughter a lifetime away, always getting into no end of trouble. Darien . . . Taking care of her when she still very much lost and alone as a Princess in the wrong time. His gentle, loving hand. Setsuna . . . Level headed and always there at just the right times. Michiru . . . Gently keeping the peace. Haruka . . . Her temper could fell the most stalwart of enemies. Hotaru . . . Healing all others except herself. Her heart belonged to one she'd never even met. Bryce . . . So much pain . . . Why didn't she relate the two? It took her so long to figure it out . . . The images in her mind faded, leaving a blank dreariness. Her crescent moon dimmed but remained.
"She's dreaming again." Wise Man mused aloud.
"Hmm . . . But what could be so powerful that it would draw out her true self?" Dimando replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"You have to stop her. If she contacts the Prince, all your plans will fail . . . " Wise Man reasoned.
"I don't think she has the ability to contact anyone at this point . . . However she, herself, is being contacted . . . But by whom? No one knows she's here . . . " A thought occurred to him and he smiled slightly. So, the Royalty was willing to play games with him, they would lose, of that, Dimando was assured.
"That's all I have, Mother?" Serena asked bitterly. "Memories?"
"No, Serena. So much more than that . . . "
"What, then? And why can I not see you?"
"I cannot come to you because of the Dark Crystal. It absorbs all light. Including you."
"What? I do not understand!"
Queen Serenity knew that she didn't have much time, already she could feel Serena slipping away because Dimando had obviously figured out what she was up to and tightened his grip on the young girl. Not to mention, increased the amount of Dark Energy surrounding her to prevent others from getting to her... Sighing, she tried again. "You are made from light. You were meant to defend and protect. Your soul is pure, white and that is your light... Serena... I am running out of time. Listen... You are the light. Do not let the darkness that surrounds you devour you . . . "
"What do you mean?"
"Call him . . . " Queen Serenity could hold onto her daughter no longer, the tenuous string had been cut.
Day Five . . .
"Mother!"
"Serena?"
A man's voice. She groaned. "You again! Am I allowed no privacy?"
"No. Someone's with you almost all the time." Walking over to the bed, he helped her up. "Did you sleep well, my Princess?"
Shaking off his hand, Serena complained softly, but with increasing volume, "No! I didn't! I feel like a freight train ran me over, damn it! And every time I wake up, I feel worse!" This she nearly shrieked in his face.
"It'll pass." Dimando assured her.
"No. No, it won't. Not until I get out of here." Again she was whispering. This time, though, she was looking around the room as if seeing it for the first time. Then, Serena stepped back from him, "It's this place. You . . . I feel like . . . "
Stepping close to her, Dimando pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, "Like what?"
"Oh . . . Never mind!" She pushed him away.
Then Dimando, for the first time, spoke the words that terrified her, "You are mine, Serena. It's only a matter of time until you realize it, too."
"Never! I just want to go home!" She retorted, on the verge of tears.
No longer able to control his fury, Dimando forcefully turned her to the wall where the nightmarish images always appeared. "There is no home!" He asserted harshly, "Look!" Serena could almost feel the Dark Energy slam into her as the vision materialized. His words ringing through her mind:
The ice expanded from the poles working north and south in succession. The Sailor Scouts fought to keep it back, to prevent the end, but it was inevitable . . .
The scene continued and Serena fell to her knees, trying to block the apparition he was creating. "Make it stop!" She cried out.
Kneeling beside her, he held her head, forcing her to look at the wall, "Not this time . . . You wanted proof!" The picture changed and Serena screamed, "Darien, God . . . NOOO!"
Darien, on the bed, thrashed uncontrollably. Hotaru cried out, "He's leaving us . . . !"
"Serena . . . " Darien moaned softly, eyes glassy. He looked around the room and whispered, "Protect Serena . . . " He closed his eyes, the thrashing stopped. He drew a deep breath and let it out . . .
The girls and Bryce and his group were standing around Darien's apartment. Amy, Hotaru, Mina, Michiru, and Setsuna were crying, each leaning on whichever man would hold them up, looking for and finding comfort and support from the heartbreak they were feeling. Haruka, Lita, and Raye were angry, pacing the floor.
Bryce was furious. "Impossible . . . " He kept repeating, shaking his head.
"It's time to go." Jeff motioned, carrying a sobbing Hotaru.
Each and every one of them was dressed in black funeral garb . . .
"Make it stop!" Serena sobbed, Dimando was nearly unable to hear her words through the stammering, halting crying. "It's not true! Make it stop!"
Dimando snapped his fingers, catching Serena as she fell the short distance to the floor. Picking her up, he stood up and unceremoniously dumped her on the bed. "Damn you!"
"Though her soul is being ravaged by the Dark Crystal, it's amusing to see her still fight you."
Dimando gave Wise Man a fierce look, "Not so amusing to me . . . At this rate, it may come down to straight force . . . " He began to pace, white cloak billowing behind him in his agitated state. "That damned Prince! He cannot get here in time." Glancing at Wise Man, "What on that end?"
Shaking his head, "They have only just realized she's gone. I can no longer go there without being suspect, so we have to be patient and see that Rubeus does his job."
Dimando stopped by the bed and picked up Serena's locket, eyeing it closely, he asked, "All of Beryl's Generals are gone?"
There was a rustling of cloth as the Wise Man nodded.
Dimando reflected a moment, then, "Send him more Power. He'll need it for what he'll soon be facing."
Day Six . . .
Serena was running through the darkness. Mist gathered around her so thick she could almost taste it. She knew what she was doing. She just hoped it worked. There'd be no second chances.
"Darien . . . " She called out. "Darien . . . Are you there?" Serena gave up. She sat down, concluding that, this time, her call didn't work.
Then she heard it . . . "Serena?"
"Darien?" Serena whispered, thinking she'd just imagined a reply.
"Yes, Serena! Where are you?"
She stood up and ran in the direction of the voice. And slammed into a clear wall. Beating on it with all her might, "DARIEN!" She screamed.
Darien ran through the clear blue skies. He heard and felt Serena the moment she broke through to his dream. Running with a fear born from desperation, he saw her . . . Tears streaming down her face, standing, beating her fists against something. "Serena!"
"Darien! My God . . . Get me outta here!"
He slowed down his pace when he approached Serena and glanced around behind her. It was pitch black. Darker than the deepest moonless night. Around him was brightness. Lighter than the day with the Sun at its zenith. As stupid as the thought was, he knew something wasn't quite right. Then he remembered what Hotaru said when they first found Serena gone, 'surrounded by evil.' "Are you all right?" He asked cautiously.
"Fine! But you have to get me out of here!" She glanced behind her quickly, certain that ghosts had chased her here as well.
"Where are you?" Darien tentatively touched the obstacle separating them.
"I don't know, but I've been here forever, though. Why haven't you tried to come for me?"
"We only found you gone last night, Serena."
"Wh . . . What do you mean?" She whispered, a distraught quality to her tone, "I've been here almost a week! Darien, he wants to marry me! Please, GET ME OUT!"
"Serena, I don't think . . . I can't get to you from here." He replied with a calmness he certainly didn't feel.
"You have to . . . " But when she looked into his eyes, she knew there was no way. She sank to her knees, too drained to even cry.
Following her to the ground, Darien placed his palm against the wall near where she rested her head. Slowly, Serena's hand joined his. Darien could feel the misery in her, helpless to do anything with the barrier between them. "Serena, where are you?"
"I don't know." She sighed. "Some place called Nemesis, I think. I haven't been very coherent over the last week and I think my . . . Umm . . . Host is quite thoroughly disgusted with me." Serena smiled a little. At least she could talk to Darien . . . If only in her dream.
"Who, Serena?"
She shrugged, "Dimando."
Darien frowned, "Dimando . . . Setsuna mentioned him but didn't tell us anything about him."
"All I know is that he's the leader of the Dark Moon Family."
"Nemesis? Is that the Dark Moon?"
Serena shook her head, "I don't know, Darien."
"Serena, think! I know this is hard for you, but if you can't remember, we can't find you!" When she didn't answer, Darien demanded softly, "Look at me."
Again, Serena shook her head, "I'm afraid if I look at you, you'll disappear. I'm afraid everything he's shown me is the truth. I'm afraid, because without you . . . I'd be nothing."
"Serena, look at me." He repeated gently.
Hesitantly, Serena raised her eyes to his. Through the wall she could see Darien's dark blue ones shining into hers. "Are you a dream?"
He smiled, "No. I'm very real. You have to hold on, Serena. We'll be there soon."
"I don't know how anymore. Somehow, he's hurting me. I feel like . . . "
Darien, though knowing he had little time left with her, was quiet while she put into words how she was feeling.
"Well, on the outside, I'm me, but on the inside I'm dying." She looked at him earnestly, "No, not dying . . . My soul is withering . . . Becoming his." Tears pooled in her eyes and she finished in a whisper, "I don't want that, but it seems there's no stopping it, no matter what I say or do. Even the Crystal doesn't work here."
To say Darien was shocked at her words was putting it mildly, but he couldn't let Serena see how terrified he truly was, "I won't let that happen. I promise. Remember what I said . . . 'not even death has kept us apart'." Serena tried valiantly to smile and, at least, partially satisfied, Darien returned to the most important issues at hand, "Now tell me . . . Who have you seen?"
"No one but Dimando." She bit her bottom lip lightly, considering the individual in question, "He's very strange. He shows me things . . . " A small shudder rocked her as she continued, "About the Earth, Reenie . . . And you. Your death."
Darien now knew why Serena was so afraid he'd disappear. He smiled into her eyes and stated, "I'm definitely NOT dead, Serena. Though I've felt like it since your disappearance."
With little prompting from Darien, Serena detailed all she could remember of the visions, Dimando, and Nemesis and, when the subject turned to the impending marriage, Darien's heart constricted in his chest. His voice cracking somewhat, he asked, "When is this supposed to happen?"
"Eight days, I think."
"That doesn't give us much time." Serena was silent as he thought for a moment. "You said you've been there almost a week?" She nodded, confused. "You're in the Future."
Serena nodded again, this time accompanied by a frown and a shrug, "I know he said many hundreds of years had passed."
"That's it! Serena, you're incredible!"
She pursed her lips, "Huh? What'd I say?"
Again, Darien smiled at her, "I know where you are, but more importantly . . . I know when you are. Now, I have to go and tell the others."
"Do you have to leave?"
"Serena, for every minute you hold me here, two things are happening: First, it weakens you more. Second, time is passing faster where you are, which, in essence, gives us very little time to get to you."
"I know." As she watched, Darien turned to leave. After he'd taken about five steps, Serena, needing him for just a few moments more, called out, "I'm so scared, Darien. I don't know if I can go on like this."
He instantly came back to her. Darien could feel her wracking sobs tearing through him. "Serena, know this. I will come for you. Just be strong a little longer." He waited for her to meet his eyes, "I love you." Even before the last word was completely spoken, Darien had vanished.
Serena rested her head against the cold, clear wall as tears rolled unheeded from her eyes, "I love you, too." She whispered.
Day Eight . . .
Serena woke up two days later. It had been a long battle to draw herself out of the darkness, but she'd managed. She had to. For some reason, it seemed important she do so. Why, though? There was more peace in death than here. Although she remembered very little of her dreams these days, Serena wondered offhandedly if the recent things she did remember were true. Darien, here? To her, the thought was as improbable as it was impossible. He was dead. Wasn't he? Dimando said he was.
Setting aside all thoughts of both men, she smothered a yawn with her hand. Serena pulled her hand away quickly and looked at the object that had caught her eye. A ring. A gold ring with an onyx stone inlay. She scowled fiercely, absolutely certain where it had came from. Serena struggled to pull it off, but it wouldn't budge.
Sighing softly, Serena reached for her locket on the bed. Out of curiosity, she opened it and her eyes widened. "What? My Crystal . . . " The Crystal was dull and lifeless. There was no shine. Serena had no idea what it meant and was too tired to even try to reason it out.
"Do you like the ring?"
"No, I don't. Don't you ever knock?"
Dimando smiled and echoed her words, "No, I don't. Besides, everything here belongs to me."
"I beg to differ. I DO NOT 'belong' to you."
"Ahh . . . Still hanging on to false hope?"
"There's no such thing as 'false' hope. Darien's alive and coming for me."
"No! You are mine and in just a few days, it will be my name you call–not his!" Genuine fear crept in her eyes as he walked toward her. "I could easily take you now. Vows be damned! Force or no wouldn't matter to me at this point." He gripped her chin roughly, forcing her to meet his eyes. Eyes burning with an emotion Serena was sure she didn't want to put a name to. When his lips met hers so suddenly, Serena's fear, making her almost catatonic, kept her immobile. A shudder ran through her when he pulled her into his arms and moved his hand along her shoulder and down her back.
When Dimando held her against his shirt, trying to retain some semblance of sanity, Serena softly inquired, "Why do you want me?"
"You? You're all I've ever wanted. From the first time I saw you. You looked at me, and I . . . " Realizing what he almost revealed to her, Dimando shoved her roughly away from him. He turned and walked to the door, slamming it as he left.
Wise Man looked on, slightly amused, as Dimando paced the floor in Throne Room. "That was, indeed, a close call. You almost revealed all to her."
Dimando shook his head in irritation, "True enough. How much longer for her?" Walking to a pedestal in the center of the room, Dimando watched as an image of a sleeping Serena appeared. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"The Dark Crystal absorbs the light within her easily." Wise Man answered, folding his arms inside his sleeves. "But her soul still fights. It should be easier now to overcome that since you've effectively blocked all outside contact from her. The damage, however, may have already been done."
Impatiently, Dimando waved his hand, "I know all this. How long?" He repeated. Wise Man followed him as he walked to the one room only the two had access to. Inside, Dimando watched in satisfaction as the enormous Dark Crystal pulsed, gaining strength from the one thing that could make it the most powerful force in the Galaxy . . .
Wise Man shrugged, "It's difficult to say. The more Energy Serena receives in the visions, the quicker the change, but she can just as easily die from too much. However, her just being near the Dark Crystal is gnawing away at her. Her resistance is low. She's doubting her dreams and beginning to believe you."
Dimando glanced at him dubiously, "I haven't seen that."
"You will. It shouldn't be much longer now. I would venture to say, two, three days and she'll come to you willingly."
The two vanished and reappeared in Serena's room. Wise Man looked to Dimando for consent. He nodded once and Wise Man placed a glowing hand on Serena's forehead. After a moment, he removed his hand and continued, "Yes, she'll come to you. If for nothing more than for protection from the nightmares that will now plague her."
Day Ten . . .
Serena knew the day was getting closer. Too close for her comfort. She didn't want to marry Dimando. He terrified her. Musing on her most current circumstances, Serena had spent the better part of the day wandering the grounds outside Tartarus. She was alone, at least, physically, but she was positive that someone lurked in the shadows, dogging her every move. Serena had abandoned her initial instinct to make a break for the Gates. Mainly because she feared what Dimando would do to her if he caught her again, but also, she didn't know if she had enough energy left to get very far. She was tired all the time, more than ever before. It was worse when Dimando was around. He taxed her strength in a major way. Despite Dimando's rebuttals, Serena wouldn't give up hope of Darien finding her. It was the only thing, that small hope, that kept her sane. Especially in those dark hours, when she'd awaken alone and scared witless, just before dawn.
Dimando hadn't annoyed her with his irritating habit of appearing out of nowhere since he slammed the door to her room two days ago. Serena hoped that he'd taken the hint, "Yeah, right, Serena. No chance of that!" She sighed as she sat down under a tree to rest.
She noticed some of the weirdest things about this place. The Grove, as Dimando had referred to it, was nothing more than burned trees, blackened and rotting. No leaves graced the branches and almost no grass could be found. No flowers could be seen anywhere. There was no Sun at all. Just artificial light from some unknown source. Even that lighting was dull, giving no real warmth. There was a smell in the air. A damp, musty smell of mildew and age. "It's like this place is somehow dying . . . " And now me along with it. Came unbidden in her mind to finish the statement. Serena frowned, "Now where did that thought come from?" She stood up and stretched. "I'm in perfect health!" Her voice echoed through the woods, making her jump. "Well... With the exception of this infernal buzzing in my head." She amended as she shook her head lightly.
"Enjoying your walk?"
"I was. Until you showed up." Serena snapped.
"Ahh . . . I see the last few days haven't sweetened your disposition."
When she didn't reply, he whispered, "Serena, come here."
"No." She turned her back to him.
"Come here." He repeated.
"No."
"Now, Serena." This time she heard the implied threat in his voice and walked over to him slowly. Taking her chin in his hand, he forced her to meet his eyes. "No one has come for you, Little Princess. No one will. You are mine. Like it or not, we'll be married and when I call you, you'll come to me willingly."
Serena shook her head, "You may take the body, but you'll never have any more than that. I swear it."
Eyes darkening in fury, he replied, "Shall I prove my words here and now?" Serena just stood there, glaring at him. Offering no answers. There was only that same look of utter defiance that she'd given him, not so very long ago, when he'd led the first attack on Crystal Tokyo. Releasing her and stepping away to give himself time to regain control of his raging emotions, Dimando chose to test Wise Man's theory about Serena doubting, "Why don't you give in to what you feel?"
At first, Serena refused to say anything. Then, almost haltingly, she explained the turmoil in her soul, "Why should I? That would mean that everything I love is gone. My family, my friends." She shook her head, tears pooling in her eyes. Tears she refused to shed. "Can't you see how that makes me ache? Worse than anything you could or would do to me." Serena turned away from him and, with tortured eyes, continued as if he wasn't even there, "At night, when I sleep, I can't see them anymore. My heart cries out for answers. None come. Then the nightmares, terrifying dreams, haunt me. In them, I see your visions taking everything from me . . . Over and over until the physical pain is unbearable, almost equal to the ache in my heart." Serena shook her head as if to clear it, then looked at him, "It's this place. You. The Dark Moon Family chased an innocent child, my child, through Time and Space, breaking every natural law to take her from us. For what?"
When Dimando would have answered, Serena put her hand up, "You say to draw me out. But was that the real reason?" Her eyes narrowed and she glanced at Dimando sharply, "Last thing I remember, Darien laid me in his bed . . . " Then Serena's eyes widened, "you knew!" He nodded slowly. "You knew who I was all the time . . . What I am and who I am . . . How!"
Dimando shrugged. "Wise Man found you. I did not. Though, yes, I knew who you were the first time I saw you on a rare trip to the Past. I saw you as Sailor Moon and recognized you instantly. Wise Man did the rest."
"But that doesn't make sense . . . You said, well, showed me, that Reenie was sent to find me . . . And Reenie said that it was the Dark Moon Family that attacked Crystal Tokyo." Serena was totally bewildered. She was desperately trying to make sense of everything, but nothing seemed to fit together properly. It was like a puzzle missing half the pieces.
"That's enough questions, Serena." Saying that, he withdrew the same way he'd arrived.
"She's persistent." Wise Man commented when Dimando materialized in the Crystal Chamber.
"I believe she's trying to figure out how you could be married to her and still attack Crystal Tokyo."
"Hmm . . . I agree."
When Dimando began to walk away, Wise Man stated, "They have arrived."
Dimando spun around to him quickly, "Damn them . . . Only four more days . . . "
Day Thirteen . . .
Three days later, Serena hadn't cowed completely.
"She still clings tenaciously to a small glimmer of that worthless feeling humans call hope." Wise Man said from behind him.
Dimando smiled as he stared down at her. He didn't care what hope she had. He had what he wanted. Almost. He thought back to the day before when Serena had, as predicted, came to him willingly for protection from the nightmares. She'd waken up feeling like her body was freezing, like the Earth in one of Dimando's visions. She'd screamed loud enough to wake the proverbial dead.
When he'd appeared next to her, she leapt from the bed into his arms, crying, repeating, "Make it stop. Please! Make it stop."
"Marry me, Serena." He'd stated. "I promise it will all go away if you do. No one will ever hurt you again."
"I can't." She'd answered.
Hearing that, he was gone. Although she didn't sleep the remainder of the night, Dimando had watched her from a dark corner as she fought the weariness. Morning came and went and, finally, exhaustion had taken its toll on her. Pale from lack of food and Sun, weak from lack of sleep, Serena had fallen into a dreamless sleep. Now, Dimando watched her carefully. Over his shoulder he told Wise Man, "This should be the last time." When he stepped aside and Wise Man took his place, Dimando added, "Don't let them get so bad that they wake her up until well after the latest hour. The darkness should grip her when she awakes." Wise Man nodded and placed his hand on her forehead . . .
And it did.
Serena walked around a forest in her dreams. Calling out to anyone that would listen. No one answered. The trees withered before her eyes. She watched Darien's body interred into a nearly frozen Earth. The Sailor Scouts turned to ice then exploded as she touched them. She, herself, consumed in fire. In her dream she screamed. Aloud she screamed. Endlessly. Horror shaking her until she thought she could survive no more. Her eyes snapped open, but she continued to scream as the darkness closed in on her completely. The darkness she hoped was death. She prayed for the end to come quickly. Not to happen.
Dimando turned on a light and Serena took in air as if she'd been choking. He put his hand out to her and, terror-stricken, she came willingly into his arms.
"Marry me, Serena." He whispered, stroking her hair, "I'll keep all this away."
What else could she do? She nodded against his shirt.
"Say the words. I want to hear them."
Serena recoiled at the thought but, with a voice hoarse and cracked from screaming, she said the three simple words that made her feel as if she was signing her own death warrant. "I'll marry you."
"Today, Serena."
"I don't care. Just make it stop, please."
"It's as good as done." Dimando picked her up and carried her to the couch where she instinctively curled away from him. "Sleep." Was all he said.
She nodded and, this time, her sleep was deep and untroubled. It never occurred to her why or even how he could make the nightmares end until it was too late.
It was two hours to the farce of a wedding she'd agreed to. Why? She asked herself again. Out of fear? Desperation? She didn't know. She didn't care. Two weeks was a long time to be alone.
On occasion, Serena had considered suicide as her only option out of the hell she was in. She could hardly believe that thought herself. She reverenced life. It wasn't like her to think that way. But what kind of life would she be living now? Serena walked to the bed, picked up her locket, and opened it. The Crystal was almost totally black now. No shine, no sparkle. Kind of like how she felt. Dead inside. She now knew what it meant. Something her mother had said about the light. She may be made from light, but she was also joined somehow with the Crystal in her hand. "If the darkness takes me, it takes my Crystal as well." Determined not to let that happen, Serena dropped the locket on the bed and went back to the dresser. She rummaged through the drawers until she found the knife she'd hidden there days ago. She'd brought it out several times only to shudder and hide it away again. This time, though, there was no turning back. She couldn't handle what was happening anymore. It was one thing for her to fight an enemy face to face. It was another thing completely to have an invisible one tormenting her every minute. Eyes shining with tears, Serena brought the razor sharp blade to her wrist . . . And a hand grabbed her wrist with enough force to break it. She cried out in pain, dropping the knife. It had barely even made a scratch.
"No, Lady. Not that way." Dimando said fiercely. When Serena raised defiant eyes to him, his narrowed and he warned, "Don't try something that stupid again. It would not bode well for you if you do."
Serena, knowing that he meant every word he said, lowered her eyes and nodded.
"The time is at hand." He pulled her arm through his and led her out of the room.
Serena slowly approached the Throne Room. A sense of dread overwhelming her. She couldn't believe this was happening. She had the wildest notion of fleeing. Into the dark night. She silently prayed for immediate death. Not to happen. The door opened and, as she stepped through it, as if sensing her thoughts, Dimando's arm slid to her waist and held her tightly. At that moment, her hope died. Hope of rescue . . . Hope Darien would come . . . Hope her Crystal would save her . . . There was just nothing left.
Listlessly, she followed through the motions and then it came her turn to speak the vows that would bind her to Dimando for Eternity and beyond. Serena heard from the darkness in front of her, "Do you swear your life and love to this man?"
Life? Love? She silently repeated over and over. She shook her head to clear the feeling that she was going to faint, "I . . . I . . . I . . . " She stumbled out.
"I'm afraid I can't let her do that!" Came a very distinct male voice from the doorway behind them.
