CHAPTER ELEVEN
Luna and Artemis held each other close as the mist descended upon them
"What's going on?" Luna cried
"I don't know" Artemis yelled back than they both heard it. The sound of female laughter. They tried to sense where it was coming from and since neither of them could see a thing they had no idea who or what was in the room with them.
Artemis who couldn't see anything yelled to Luna "Can you see anything"
"No" she yelled back clutching him tighter she tried to fight back her rising fear and come up with some sort of plan. Their situation wasn't good with neither of them able to see anything they had no way of knowing what was going on and were unable to protect themselves or the others who were all still unconscious
They were still trying to come to grips with what was happening when they heard the females voice speak
"Take care of your friend kitties. My masters not through with her yet"
Than just as fast as it had appeared the mist was gone and so was the owner of that voice whoever she was.
Artemis gave a huge sigh of relief that had been too close with Serena missing and Darien and the girls all unconscious and drained of their energy they were totally vulnerable. He frowned as something else occurred to him. Why when their were so obviously vulnerable why hadn't their enemy taken this opportunity to attack them. They had their chance him and Luna couldn't have held them off by themselves so that left the question. What was this new enemy of theirs really after?
Lost in his own thoughts Artemis was startled when Luna let out a cry he swung around ready to fight assuming he had been wrong and their enemy did intend to take advantage of their vulnerability but their was no sight of the mist or the mystery woman. He was about to ask Luna what was wrong when he too noticed the figure lying on the bed next to Darien.
"Serena" Luna cried and ran over and jumped on the bed to get a closer look at the sleeping figure and what she saw made her cry out for Artemis.
Artemis who had also made his way over to the bed saw how unnaturally still Serena was lying and how pale her complexion was. With fear running through every fiber in his body he ran over to Mercury's Mini computer to check Serena's vitals. The news wasn't good.
"Luna she's lost a great deal of energy."
"Will she be alright?"
Artemis sighed and looked at her with sad eyes "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see.
Luna bowed her head as tears trickled down her face. She was startled when a hand came down to rest upon her head. Her eyes flew open and her head jerked up to see Darien laying there staring up at her. He patted her head in a soothing caress although it was obvious it took a lot of effort to do so he barely had the strength to move it.
Artemis and Luna were in awe. They had both been witness to the terribly pain he had endured as his energy was literally drained from his body and they knew that despite the fact that the girls had supplied him with their energy to keep him alive he was still weak and clearly exhausted both physically and mentally. That was why they were both so amazed neither had expected a peep out of him for days. They didn't know where he got the strength to even open his eyes.
"Se-re-na" he moaned softly turning his head towards her he groaned his frustration as he attempted to lift his arm only to have it fall back down to his side.
He attempted it again. God his arm felt like dead weight he was so weak sweat beaded on his forehead from the effort as he struggled to raise his arm. Than Luna was they're helping him and together they managed to raise his arm high enough for his hand to come in contact with Serena's face. He let his fingers drift over it in a loving caress. Just this brief contact was enough for him. She was really here lying beside him and everything was right with his world once again.
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(3 days later)
Raye, Mina, Amy, Artemis and Luna all sat around Darien's living room trying to decide how they were going to make Darien concede to their demands.
"He cant go on like this" Raye whispered furiously giving Darien's closed bedroom door a hasty look making sure it was still closed
Amy agreed "Each day he grows weaker. I don't know how much more he can take"
"But what can we do" Artemis asked, "He wont listen to us. He hasn't gotten a good nights sleep since he woke up three days ago. Even though you girls are basically back to full strength he still refuses to let down his guard and get some sleep."
"Can we really blame him?" Mina asked, "I mean he's just scared that if he lets down his guard Serena will be taken again. I mean none of us actually know what they went through"
"What good is he to her like this" Raye hissed "He doesn't sleep he barely eats and he wont leave her side for more than five minutes"
"I know but what can we do? We can't force him to rest." Mina argued right back
"Maybe Lita's having some luck with him" Luna remarked in a hopeful tone of voice
They all cast swift looks at Darien's closed door where even now Lita was trying to get Darien to eat more of the soup she had made. They all stood at attention when the door to the bedroom swung open and Lita walked out closing the door behind her.
"Well" Luna demanded as soon as Lita got close enough to them so that they wouldn't be overheard.
Lita gave them all a shrug of defeat "But I did get him to eat some more."
"I don't understand why he doesn't let you girls take over once in awhile so that he could get some rest." Artemis complained
"He feels like he let her down" Lita surmised "And he's determined not to let it happen again"
Everyone gave a sigh they all knew how he was feeling they too felt like they had let Serena down. The attack had been so unexpected they had all been sitting around discussing Serena's odd behavior while Serena rested in the bedroom they had all heard her cry out Darien's name but when they went to see what was wrong she was gone. They don't even know if whoever took Serena took her because she was Serena or because they some how found out she was Sailormoon. All they had were unanswered questions. Questions that the only person who might know the answers to hadn't made a peep in three days.
"Theirs nothing we can do right now will just have to wait and see what happens" Luna stated matterfactly before bringing up another subject that they had to talk about. Rini. And since it was Mina's day to pick her up from her swimming class she turned and asked her. "How is Rini?"
"I think she's starting to realize that where not telling her everything."
Luna nodded in understanding "I know its hard since she became Mini Moon we've always been straight with her but until we know who or what were dealing with here she's safer staying out of the picture."
"What did Serena's mom have to say?"
Mina looked at them sheepishly "Well she thanked me for bringing Rini home and watching her until she got back and she talked about coming to see Serena." Mina looked at them with earnest eyes. "Their all worried about her since we told them she was sick. I didn't know what to do so I lied and said that she was still contagious and that Raye was sick now too and that maybe it would be better if they didn't risk it"
"Huh why did you say it was me?" Raye yelled at her to which Mina just shrugged her shoulders
"Well that should take care of that for awhile but we cant keep holding them off sooner or later their going to want to see her or at least speak to her" Artemis pointed out
Mina face became even redder as her gaze fell to the floor "Um I sort of told her that I'd have Serena call her tonight."
"What?" everyone cried out in disbelief
"How could you do that?" Raye hollered "Now what are we suppose to do?"
"Well I had to say something I mean it's been three days she was starting to think that Serena should go to the hospital. I had to say that she was well enough now to call her." Mina argued in her defense
"Maybe we should consider taking her to the hospital." Lita remarked
"They wouldn't be able to help her" Artemis argued, "All she needs is some rest and she'll be as good as new you'll see."
Everyone was quite after that and they all prayed that Artemis was right.
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(Darien's room)
Darien looked down at her and sighed there was no change. Though looking at her he couldn't help but give off a small chuckle. She looked so sweet while she slept no one could tell by looking at her now that most of the time she was a walking disaster. But that was his Serena and he would give anything to have her wake up.
He dropped into the chair he had set up next to the bed where he could watch over her while she slept and spoke the words that had been in his heart for so long.
"Serena I know that sometimes I have trouble saying the words. Of telling you how I feel. I've spent so many years alone that I became an expert at closing myself off from others. But you changed all that. I'm no longer afraid to love someone and to let them love me back it just sometimes I have trouble putting what I feel into words. I do love you Serena so very very much.
With an agonized groan Darien fell down on his knees before the bed taking her hand in his he bowed his head over it.
"Oh Serena I cant imagine going back to my world of loneliness but that's what you'd condemn me too if you were to leave me. Without you that's the only world that could ever exist for me here." His grip on her hand tighten as a single tear got past his defense and trailed a lonesome trail down his cheek
"Come back to me Serena open those beautiful eyes and look at me. Life without you is so empty and bare. I need to feel your arms around me and hear your sweet voice whispering my name. Please my love just open your eyes.
Darien raised his head and looked at her and his hopes fell he didn't know what he had been expecting a miracle perhaps. He rose and leaned over her the thought of climbing into bed and laying next to her was tempting but he had to keep his wits about him their would be time for rest later when she was better. He touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss closing his eyes he imagined that she was awake and was kissing him back. He didn't know when fantasy became reality but he became aware when he felt her hand stroke the back of his neck startled his eyes flew open.
Surprised he jerked his head back breaking the kiss "Serena" he whispered in disbelief hardly able to believe what his eyes were telling him.
Serena smiled up at him sleepily "Hi" she murmured back bringing her hand down from his neck to caress his cheek
Darien's eyes burned with tears furiously he blinked them back. Serena who was now fully awake got her first good look at him and the sight of him made her frown in concern bringing her hands up she cupped his face
"Darien you look horrible" she cried, "What's wrong?"
Darien shook his head "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Now."
Serena looked at him unconvinced "You look like you haven't slept in days"
Darien sat down next to her on the bed and took her hands in his bringing them to his lips "Don't worry about me I'm fine I promise."
"But Darien- she continued to protest and knowing there was only way to shut her up he kissed her. Serena wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. They were still kissing when a surprised Raye walked in on them.
Everyone was waiting for them in Darien's living room after Darien had kicked them all out of this bedroom so that Serena could shower and change. After Serena had showered and changed into fresh clothes her stomach started growling and demanded to be fed so they all had to wait until she finished eating before they could get the whole story out of her.
"So you never saw him?" Raye demanded after listening to Serena's tale.
"No. He always stayed in the shadows and it was so dark I couldn't see a thing beyond the bed."
Lita turned to Amy "Amy can you make any sense out of this?"
Amy turned to look at Serena as she answered Lita's question "Well it seems that he knows who Serena is and that she's what he came to Earth for"
"He says he wants to fight me" Serena admitted "He said I had what he's been looking for I think he called it a strong life force."
"Well that would be a short fight" Raye said sarcastically at a lose as to why someone would travel so far just to fight Serena.
Lita turned on her angrily now was not the time for petty bickering not with Serena in danger. "Come on Raye this isn't the time for that"
Luna turned to Raye " Lita's right Raye now isn't the time for you to be bickering with Serena we still don't know what where up against and if they are after Serena we have to keep her safe."
An embarrassed Raye gave them all a glare but remained silent.
"Ok now if he's after Serena why did he bring her back." Mina asked curiously
It was Serena who answered her "I think I know he warned me not to get off the bed that the mist would drain my energy and as long as that didn't happen I would be safe from him. But the mist did grab hold of me and through it he also got a taste of my energy and he wanted more of it. But he took too much and because I was so weak afterward he sent me back" Serena shrugged her shoulders "I guess I'm of no use to him until I get my strength back"
Darien hearing this got up and walked away. Everyone watched him in confusion all but Serena who got up and followed him out onto the balcony closing the door behind her so that they could have some privacy.
She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. His body was tight with tension.
"Darien I know what your thinking and its not true."
Not turning around he continued to stare off into space as he replied to her statement. Angry at himself his voice when talking to her was harsh "Yes it was if you hadn't left the safety of the bed to save me the mist never would have gotten a hold of you."
"Darien" she sighed closing her eyes she once again lived the horror of that place "I was so scared I didn't know what I was going to do and all I wanted was for you to be there holding me. I needed you. I called out to you and you came to me. You had no way of knowing about the mist if its anyone's fault its mine for not warning you in time.
Darien swung around and grabbed her by her arms "Don't say that. You almost died Serena and it would have been my all my fault"
Serena felt the tears swelling in her eyes and one after another they fell "Your right Darien I did almost die I was all alone in that terrible place and the pain was so unbearable. I just wanted it to end so I stopped fighting him I stopped fighting and I gave up.
Darien dropped her arms in shock he didn't understand what she was saying.
Serena brought her hands up to his face "Than I heard your voice calling to me telling me not to give up to fight. And I did. I don't know what I did or how I did it but I know that somehow I fought back and I stopped him. Than the next thing I know I'm waking up and your there and I know now that all the pain was worth it because it brought me back to you."
"Oh Serena" he groaned and swept her in his arms "I couldn't bare it if I lost you."
Darien and Serena stayed on the balcony for a while before going back inside where Serena finished the story about her experience until Raye spilled the beans about Darien.
"So Darien now that Serena is awake don't you think its time for you to get some sleep yourself. I mean you were weak enough as it was after you were attacked and watching over Serena nonstop these past three days couldn't have helped.
"Darien" Serena cried in alarm she had known something wasn't right but he had distracted her with kisses.
Darien flushed and gave Raye an angry glare before turning his attention to Serena's worried gaze Serena
"I'm fine I can sleep later first we have to find out whose out to get you."
Serena stood up and with a determined tilt to her head grabbed Darien's hand and led him into the bedroom
"Serena really I'm fine now's not the time to rest I have to look out for you they took you once I wont let it happen again."
Serena sat down on the bed and pulled him down beside her Ignoring his protests she pushed him back on the bed
"Serena I-."
"Don't you Serena me" she interrupted "you're going to get some sleep and I'm going to stay here and make sure you do.
Darien started to protest again but one look into her eyes he knew it would be useless "Alright" He conceded "but just a short nap."
Serena smelling victory smiled. Darien seeing her smile snorted before settling his head in her lap
Serena smiled down at him lovingly. Smoothing his hair back she whispered, "Rest my love and for once let me be the one to watch over you."
Soon Darien was snoring quietly and Serena continued to caress his hair it was then that she noticed the faint mark on his neck and the night in the garden came rushing back to her. She flushed as she remembered how she had behaved and to actually have bitten him. No that night she hadn't been herself. That thing that lives in the mist was responsible for what happened. Sighing she settled back on the bed and wondered what was going to happen now.
A block away Damien stood on a rooftop with Sasha. The two had been standing there for awhile now observing the scene between Serena and Darien because of his acute hearing and keen eyesight to Damien it was like he was in the room with them and could see and hear everything that was said even from this distance.
"Master why don't you destroy her now?"
"Patience Sasha it's not time she's not ready." he turned and faced her "I think its time for you to introduce yourself."
Sasha smiled coldly "I'll be happy to I'll find out what you need to know and have me some fun in the process. These humans are such easy prey."
"You better not underestimate them," he warned, "after all they did beat Krieger
Sasha let loose any angry snort "Krieger beat himself his need to create playthings was his downfall all he had to do was get the Scouts attention and lure Sailormoon to the park."
"Just stay on your toes I don't want anymore set backs I've waited to long for this."
Turning his attention back to the couple he frowned. Their connection is strong he thought to himself and that could prove to be a problem. When he spoke again he tone was colder.
"Give them two full days before you attack I want them all at their best." with that said he disappeared
Sasha stayed behind. Until it was time to attack she wasn't going to let that human girl out of her sight and in two days she was going to find out what made her so special.