CHAPTER EIGHT

The girls all ran over to Darien when he fell back onto the bed.

"Darien" they cried. But no matter what they did they couldn't wake him up.

"Could this be the work of who ever took Serena?" Lita asked in anxiously

I don't think so." Amy stated materfactly already working with her mini computer. "My scans show theirs nothing here. I cant find anything wrong with him. It's as if he's really just sleeping."

"But he wont wake up" Raye cried out in fear shaking the comatose Darien again.

"First Serena now Darien. Can't we protect anybody?" Mina sobbed

Nobody answered they had no idea who or what took Serena and they didn't know what was wrong with Darien. They never felt so helpless.

......................................................................

Serena decided she had had enough. She'd been laying here for what seemed like forever waiting for something to happen. She looked around her and shivered this place really gave her the creeps it was so dark pitch black she couldn't see beyond the pale light of her candle and it was oh so very, very quite.

But she needed food. Her stomach growled as if to reinforce the fact. Wondering if she was being left here to starve she decided to take matters into her own hands. Taking the candle off the nightstand she swung her legs over the side of the bed preparing to go in search of some food.

I wouldn't do that if I were you." again only his voice came out of the darkness

Serena swung her legs back onto the bed clutching the candle between her hands like a weapon.

"Your safest right where you are princess. I can control my hunger for you now but if the mist happens to sample your delights

Well…then you would simply become too much for me to resist. For when it feeds so do I."

Serena looked around nervously "The mist? What is that?"

"The mist is everything. Its been a part of me for thousands of years. I help feed it and it gives me unspeakable power and immortality."

"Its alive?" Serena gasped in relief

"Yes very much so but not in a way you could understand. I was a mere boy of twenty when it found me. I was a very powerful warrior despite my young age. The stronger I got the more arrogant and cruel to those weaker I became. You could say the mist thought I had potential."

"So you find people whose life force is strong and you steal it." Serena shook her head back and forth in confusion "Than why the dreams"? She cried out in bewilderment "why the beast in the park? He wasn't stealing energy he was using the black mist to change people into animals."

"We don't steal energy" he hissed angrily "don't confuse us with those infidels that need your energy for power we have power greater than anything you can imagine. We feed. It's all about survival Serena. The strongest will always conquer the weak."

"Is that what you plan for Earth? To conquer it?"

He laughed mockingly "Conquer Earth why would we? It's a pitiful planet with pitiful inhabitants. You my dear are the only thing of value on it" he purred "And as for that beast you encountered in the park he was a pet of mine a very loyal pet. He was just making him some playmates while he waited for you."

Serena put her hands up to cover her face not believing what she was hearing. Always it was the Earth and the rest of the Universe she had to defend, to protect but now it seemed the only thing in danger was herself. She didn't know if she should feel relieved or what. This was all about her.

"Me?" she whispered in disbelief

"You see I had to see you in action for myself to see what I had to work with. I was a little disappointed that you missed the fight but you did manage to change those pathetic humans back to normal so that showed me some of what I needed to know."

"And what did you need to know?" she snapped She had to know what made her so special. A strong life force what did that mean

"You were tired." he began softly "Night after night I haunted your dreams. All those sleepless nights drained most of your strength. Yet you fought on. You were determined to change them back and you did. You were a sight to behold. You were so fierce in your determination. And while I wasn't impressed with your desire to help them I was most impressed that you held on for as long as you did. Lets hope you bring some of that fire and determination to our battle."

"And the dreams?"

"Ahhh the dreams I had to test you your mind and sprit. That and the fact that the smell of fear excites me. Do remember that wont you." he added with a wicked laugh

"I believe you were looking for this." Serena was startled when a tray of food appeared out of thin air and came to settle down on the bed next to her. "Now if you'll excuse me Princess I have other things to attend too."

After he was gone Serena began eating the food he had left for her relieved that she wasn't going to starve to death. When she was done she sat back on the bed and looked around nervously her imagination running wild as she imagined all kinds of things that could be living in the mist ready to gobble her up the minute she set foot off the bed.

She was lost in thought wondering what she was to do when she had to use the bathroom when a hand settled on her shoulder startling her and causing her to scream. Immediately another hand settled across her mouth stifling her scream.

"Serena shhh it's me." he whispered softly in her ear

As if in a dream Serena turned to look at him. He stood before her dressed all in white from head to toe. Moonlight knight. He removed his hand slowly and wiped away the tears trickling down her face

"Darien." she sobbed and threw herself into his arms. The feel of them closing around her was a feeling she wouldn't soon forget.

"It's alright Serena. I'm here now. I'm sorry I took so long."

Serena looked up at him she could only see his eyes for the rest of his face was covered. Needing to see him she removed it.

"Darien is it really you or am I dreaming?" Her eyes pleaded with him to say it wasn't so

He smiled down at her "I'm really here Serena. You called me and lead me too you".

She smiled up at him with relief and joy she wasn't alone anymore in this dark place surrounded by this awful mist. THE MIST! her mind screamed the warning and her expression turned to one of horror

"Darien quickly get on the bed." she shouted but it was too late even as she was dragging a confused Darien onto the bed she could feel a force pulling him in the opposite direction. His scream of pain cut her straight to the heart and she pulled harder but just then a great force of energy knocked her back on the bed severing her hold on him.

She regained her balance to greet a sight that filled her with dread Darien was almost fully covered by the mist she watched as he fell to the ground and before her eyes a force she couldn't see dragged him further into the darkness until she could no longer see him.

"NOOOOOOO" she shouted in anguish "Darien" she cried before jumping off the bed to follow him into the mist.

..........................................

"What's happening" Lita cried

Darien who had been resting quietly now began thrashing in the bed as if he were being attacked.

"Hold him down before he hurts himself" Luna shouted to the girls she had to shout to be heard over Darien's screams

"He's losing energy" Amy cried "and quickly if we don't do something soon where going to lose him."

Mina looked at Amy in despair "what can we do?"

Amy was unsure she knew he was losing energy and rapidly but she didn't know what was the cause. Her mind raced for answers but she kept coming back to the same question what was the cause

"I have it" Artemis cried

Everyone swung around to face him hope flaring in their tear stained eyes

"You girls can give him some of yours. Form a circle around him and each of you lay a hand on him" the girls did as he suggested "now concentrate, feel your energy all around you."

The girls body began to glow with their energy "Now let it flow from you into Darien"

The girls sighed in relief as their energy started to flow into him. But this was only a temporary solution. He was still losing energy. As soon as they were giving it to him he was losing it. And soon even they were going to run out of energy.

"I don't know how long they can keep this up" Artemis confided to Luna "If we don't find the cause soon their wont be anything any of us can do for him."

Luna nodded her head sadly "I know. We can only hope that the extra time the girls are giving him is enough for him to pull out of this."

Soon the scouts were running out of energy to give and Darien was running out of time.