Chapter 14
Questions
Hotaru's terrified scream pierced the air the dining room like a sharpened sword. A cry sprang to Queen Serenity's lips, but she bit it back. White-hot fear flooded her body as she gripped the sides of her chair until her knuckles whitened, desperate to stop the tremors racing through her willowy body. Her blue-violet eyes scanned her company nervously, unconsciously searching for some reaction to her secret daughter's scream. No trace of surprise or fear darkened the faces of the reigning princess or her guardians, although they all stared at the High Queen with genuine concern.
"Mother!" Princess Serenity exclaimed. "You are as white as death itself! Whatever is the matter?" The Queen gaped at her daughter in blatant shock. Had she not just heard the child's terrible cry? No. Of course she hadn't. Hotaru was calling out to her through a link established by the Silver Crystal. It had been specifically spelled so that even Young Serenity, possessing her own affinity with the crystal, would not be able to sense anything amiss. The High Queen sighed, quickly considering how to best handle the explanation of her obvious fear.
"I suppose I must have dozed off," she said. "I believe some dream startled me into wakefulness. Please excuse me for a moment." Without even waiting for an answer, she rose from the table and glided gracefully into the hall. Once there, she teleported into the Crystal Tower; she did not wish to take any more time than was absolutely necessary. Instantly, she was behind Selene's shrine, kneeling beside the sobbing, screaming Hotaru.
"Hotaru!" Serenity exclaimed, helping the child sit up and stroking her hot, tear-stained cheeks. "Hotaru, what is it? What's wrong?"
"She was here!" the girl screamed, throwing her arms around Serenity's neck. "She was hurting me! I told her to stop, but she wouldn't! And there was someone else! Someone else inside me! She wanted to come out! And she wanted...she wanted..."
"Who?" Serenity demanded suddenly, her voice firm. She pulled back to look Hotaru in the eye. "Who was hurting you?" Hotaru gulped and sniffled, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her white nightdress.
"It was..."
Don't speak. Metallia's voice was a low hiss in Hotaru's mind. The girl trembled and scanned the tower nervously, whimpering as she searched for the source of the voice. Of course, she could not find it, but she searched anyway, momentarily forgetting that the High Queen was standing before her.
"Hotaru?" Serenity prompted, her tone gentler than before, but no less fearful. "Who was it?"
If you breathe a word of me to her, Metallia snarled, I will kill her while she sleeps. Tears of helpless rage flooded Hotaru's violet eyes.
GO AWAY! She mentally screamed at the dark goddess. Just leave me alone, Metallia!
Is that what you want? Metallia asked, sounding amused. To be left alone in this silver prison? You know I can do it. I can trap you inside here, without your precious Queen Serenity. I can separate you from her for all eternity if you wish it.
No...Hotaru cried softly. Don't.
Then be a good girl and stay silent. And don't think the danger is passed once I leave you. I have eyes everywhere. Even inside your mind. Am I right? The last question, Hotaru knew, was not directed at her, but at the older, crueler version of herself that hid inside her. This other self answered.
Yes, Mistress, the older Hotaru purred.
If she tries anything, have her slit the Queen's throat. Hotaru shuddered violently. Metallia was speaking to her cruel self, but she knew that the real Hotaru was listening. Her voice was cold and triumphant, daring Hotaru to defy her even as she knew the girl would back down.
Your will is my honor, Mistress, the elder Hotaru answered smugly; she, too, knew that her younger self would pale at the challenge of the goddess. With that, the goddess severed the link between her and the Promise Child.
Hotaru jumped. For a moment her memory darkened, abandoning all recall of the dark goddess, or the cruel one living within the child's body.
"Hotaru." The Queen's voice was firm again. "Who was here?" Hotaru blinked dully at the Queen for a moment.
"No one," she answered somewhat tonelessly. "It was only a nightmare." Serenity arched an eyebrow disbelievingly.
"Are you sure?" Hotaru nodded. It was not a lie. Although the effects of this meeting between the Promise Child and the dark sister remained upon her body and soul, Metallia had taken all memory of it with her when she left. All that remained in those respects was a looming sense of danger, a dark cloud of fear hanging over the child, warning her to be aware.
"I think," she murmured, her certainty wavering. Her lips quivered violently, and she threw herself into the Queen's arms, sobbing. "I'm so afraid!" Serenity held her secret daughter tightly, clasping her dark head to her breast.
"There, there, Hotaru," she cooed comfortingly, petting her hair with a tender hand. "Everything is alright now. Mother is here." Hotaru's sobs died down suddenly. A heavy sort of silence embraced the pair for a moment.
"Your Majesty," Hotaru said softly, never letting go of the Queen, "You do not have to pretend to be my mother anymore. I know who you really are. And who I really am." Serenity's heart sank like a stone.
"You do," she stated. She knew her unhappiness was evident in her voice, but she could not help it. If Hotaru knew of her power, it meant that she had failed in her mission to ensure that Hotaru grew up safe from that ever-present danger. Hotaru nodded against her breast.
"Yes. You are Serenity V, High Queen of the White Moon Kingdom. I am Hotaru of Saturn." She hesitated a moment before adding, "I am the daughter of the goddess Lady Saturn, who betrayed her sacred promise and was punished with mortality." Serenity sighed heavily. She did know. Not that it truly surprised her. She supposed Hotaru was bound to find out somehow.
"How did you learn this?" she asked.
"Selene told me."
"Selene!" Serenity tightened her grip on the girl. "Selene spoke to you?!"
"Yes! She told me all about how my mother betrayed her, and how you saved my life, even though my grandfather advised you against it." Privately, she noted how loud the Queen's heart had begun to beat behind her breast.
"Did she say she was angry with me for rescuing you?" the woman asked, sounding as meek as a child caught stealing her baby sister's doll.
"Why, no!" Hotaru exclaimed, surprised. Curious, she craned her neck to look Serenity in the face. "Why would she have been angry with you?" Serenity closed her eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath.
"Your mother committed a grave sin in betraying her sacred promise. Oath-breaking in a sin surpassed only by the murder of an innocent, and breaking an oath to Selene, who is the Queen of the gods, is one thousand times worse. From your grandfather, I got the impression that because you were conceived in that sin you would bear the stain of it forever, thus making you unworthy of life in the eyes of the gods. I thought you an innocent. I could not bear to leave you to your mother's fate, so I brought you here, against what I believed to be the will of the gods." She turned her head, shamefaced. "I suppose that was foolish of me, to go against the will of the gods. But I could not have lived with myself if I did not save you."
"Selene was very kind to me. She said nothing about me being unworthy of life, only that my power has the potential to be dangerous. Besides," she frowned, furrowing her brow in thought. "I cannot help but feel that she is protecting me from darkness." Serenity sighed, relaxing, and kissed the crown of the girl's dark head. Selene had not abandoned her for saving a traitor's child. In fact, she was helping her to keep the girl safe. Hotaru knew of her power, but she also knew the danger it presented, and knew that it could be avoided. And with Selene's help, it would be avoided.
"Selene's name be blessed," Serenity murmured.
"Majesty?" Hotaru asked.
"Yes, child?" Hotaru opened her mouth, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. How could she express all that she wanted to say? How did she say how happy she was that the Queen had saved her? How could she let her know that it pained her to think that her mother had done something so horrible to the mother of Serenity's bloodline, and Serenity's own kingdom? How did she convey sorrow great enough that she would rather she had never been born than share blood with the goddess who had caused the Queen such pain. How did she express how much she loved Queen Serenity?
"Majesty," she whispered, snuggling her head against the good Queen's bosom, "may I call you Mother?"
"Of course," Serenity whispered back. And in Hotaru's eyes, there had never been a greater gift bestowed upon a more unworthy receiver.
Questions
Hotaru's terrified scream pierced the air the dining room like a sharpened sword. A cry sprang to Queen Serenity's lips, but she bit it back. White-hot fear flooded her body as she gripped the sides of her chair until her knuckles whitened, desperate to stop the tremors racing through her willowy body. Her blue-violet eyes scanned her company nervously, unconsciously searching for some reaction to her secret daughter's scream. No trace of surprise or fear darkened the faces of the reigning princess or her guardians, although they all stared at the High Queen with genuine concern.
"Mother!" Princess Serenity exclaimed. "You are as white as death itself! Whatever is the matter?" The Queen gaped at her daughter in blatant shock. Had she not just heard the child's terrible cry? No. Of course she hadn't. Hotaru was calling out to her through a link established by the Silver Crystal. It had been specifically spelled so that even Young Serenity, possessing her own affinity with the crystal, would not be able to sense anything amiss. The High Queen sighed, quickly considering how to best handle the explanation of her obvious fear.
"I suppose I must have dozed off," she said. "I believe some dream startled me into wakefulness. Please excuse me for a moment." Without even waiting for an answer, she rose from the table and glided gracefully into the hall. Once there, she teleported into the Crystal Tower; she did not wish to take any more time than was absolutely necessary. Instantly, she was behind Selene's shrine, kneeling beside the sobbing, screaming Hotaru.
"Hotaru!" Serenity exclaimed, helping the child sit up and stroking her hot, tear-stained cheeks. "Hotaru, what is it? What's wrong?"
"She was here!" the girl screamed, throwing her arms around Serenity's neck. "She was hurting me! I told her to stop, but she wouldn't! And there was someone else! Someone else inside me! She wanted to come out! And she wanted...she wanted..."
"Who?" Serenity demanded suddenly, her voice firm. She pulled back to look Hotaru in the eye. "Who was hurting you?" Hotaru gulped and sniffled, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her white nightdress.
"It was..."
Don't speak. Metallia's voice was a low hiss in Hotaru's mind. The girl trembled and scanned the tower nervously, whimpering as she searched for the source of the voice. Of course, she could not find it, but she searched anyway, momentarily forgetting that the High Queen was standing before her.
"Hotaru?" Serenity prompted, her tone gentler than before, but no less fearful. "Who was it?"
If you breathe a word of me to her, Metallia snarled, I will kill her while she sleeps. Tears of helpless rage flooded Hotaru's violet eyes.
GO AWAY! She mentally screamed at the dark goddess. Just leave me alone, Metallia!
Is that what you want? Metallia asked, sounding amused. To be left alone in this silver prison? You know I can do it. I can trap you inside here, without your precious Queen Serenity. I can separate you from her for all eternity if you wish it.
No...Hotaru cried softly. Don't.
Then be a good girl and stay silent. And don't think the danger is passed once I leave you. I have eyes everywhere. Even inside your mind. Am I right? The last question, Hotaru knew, was not directed at her, but at the older, crueler version of herself that hid inside her. This other self answered.
Yes, Mistress, the older Hotaru purred.
If she tries anything, have her slit the Queen's throat. Hotaru shuddered violently. Metallia was speaking to her cruel self, but she knew that the real Hotaru was listening. Her voice was cold and triumphant, daring Hotaru to defy her even as she knew the girl would back down.
Your will is my honor, Mistress, the elder Hotaru answered smugly; she, too, knew that her younger self would pale at the challenge of the goddess. With that, the goddess severed the link between her and the Promise Child.
Hotaru jumped. For a moment her memory darkened, abandoning all recall of the dark goddess, or the cruel one living within the child's body.
"Hotaru." The Queen's voice was firm again. "Who was here?" Hotaru blinked dully at the Queen for a moment.
"No one," she answered somewhat tonelessly. "It was only a nightmare." Serenity arched an eyebrow disbelievingly.
"Are you sure?" Hotaru nodded. It was not a lie. Although the effects of this meeting between the Promise Child and the dark sister remained upon her body and soul, Metallia had taken all memory of it with her when she left. All that remained in those respects was a looming sense of danger, a dark cloud of fear hanging over the child, warning her to be aware.
"I think," she murmured, her certainty wavering. Her lips quivered violently, and she threw herself into the Queen's arms, sobbing. "I'm so afraid!" Serenity held her secret daughter tightly, clasping her dark head to her breast.
"There, there, Hotaru," she cooed comfortingly, petting her hair with a tender hand. "Everything is alright now. Mother is here." Hotaru's sobs died down suddenly. A heavy sort of silence embraced the pair for a moment.
"Your Majesty," Hotaru said softly, never letting go of the Queen, "You do not have to pretend to be my mother anymore. I know who you really are. And who I really am." Serenity's heart sank like a stone.
"You do," she stated. She knew her unhappiness was evident in her voice, but she could not help it. If Hotaru knew of her power, it meant that she had failed in her mission to ensure that Hotaru grew up safe from that ever-present danger. Hotaru nodded against her breast.
"Yes. You are Serenity V, High Queen of the White Moon Kingdom. I am Hotaru of Saturn." She hesitated a moment before adding, "I am the daughter of the goddess Lady Saturn, who betrayed her sacred promise and was punished with mortality." Serenity sighed heavily. She did know. Not that it truly surprised her. She supposed Hotaru was bound to find out somehow.
"How did you learn this?" she asked.
"Selene told me."
"Selene!" Serenity tightened her grip on the girl. "Selene spoke to you?!"
"Yes! She told me all about how my mother betrayed her, and how you saved my life, even though my grandfather advised you against it." Privately, she noted how loud the Queen's heart had begun to beat behind her breast.
"Did she say she was angry with me for rescuing you?" the woman asked, sounding as meek as a child caught stealing her baby sister's doll.
"Why, no!" Hotaru exclaimed, surprised. Curious, she craned her neck to look Serenity in the face. "Why would she have been angry with you?" Serenity closed her eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath.
"Your mother committed a grave sin in betraying her sacred promise. Oath-breaking in a sin surpassed only by the murder of an innocent, and breaking an oath to Selene, who is the Queen of the gods, is one thousand times worse. From your grandfather, I got the impression that because you were conceived in that sin you would bear the stain of it forever, thus making you unworthy of life in the eyes of the gods. I thought you an innocent. I could not bear to leave you to your mother's fate, so I brought you here, against what I believed to be the will of the gods." She turned her head, shamefaced. "I suppose that was foolish of me, to go against the will of the gods. But I could not have lived with myself if I did not save you."
"Selene was very kind to me. She said nothing about me being unworthy of life, only that my power has the potential to be dangerous. Besides," she frowned, furrowing her brow in thought. "I cannot help but feel that she is protecting me from darkness." Serenity sighed, relaxing, and kissed the crown of the girl's dark head. Selene had not abandoned her for saving a traitor's child. In fact, she was helping her to keep the girl safe. Hotaru knew of her power, but she also knew the danger it presented, and knew that it could be avoided. And with Selene's help, it would be avoided.
"Selene's name be blessed," Serenity murmured.
"Majesty?" Hotaru asked.
"Yes, child?" Hotaru opened her mouth, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. How could she express all that she wanted to say? How did she say how happy she was that the Queen had saved her? How could she let her know that it pained her to think that her mother had done something so horrible to the mother of Serenity's bloodline, and Serenity's own kingdom? How did she convey sorrow great enough that she would rather she had never been born than share blood with the goddess who had caused the Queen such pain. How did she express how much she loved Queen Serenity?
"Majesty," she whispered, snuggling her head against the good Queen's bosom, "may I call you Mother?"
"Of course," Serenity whispered back. And in Hotaru's eyes, there had never been a greater gift bestowed upon a more unworthy receiver.