CHAPTER TWELVE

Serena hummed softly as she stirred the soup Lita had left for her and Darien to eat. Now she knew she couldn't mess this up after all she wasn't exactly cooking it she was just warming it up.

She stopped humming and tilted her head to the side as she heard a noise coming from the bedroom. Putting the spoon down she went to investigate and found Darien climbing out of bed

"Darien" she cried and rushed over to push him back down on the bed

"What do you think your doing?"

"Serena I've been in this bed all night and most of the day. I can't take it anymore I'm not an invalid I've rested enough. I'm all better now I promise."

Serena was unconvinced she knew how weak he must be after his run in with the mist then their were all those days and nights where he guarded over her while she slept recuperating from getting attack by the mist herself. All those nights of being constantly on guard must have been draining "You should stay in bed for the rest of the day just to be on the safe side."

Darien agreed knowing if he didn't she'd just worry about him and right now she had enough to worry about "Alright but tomorrow I'm out of here."

Serena smiled down at him shyly "I'm sure it hasn't been all that bad"

Darien caught her smile and flushed remembering how he greeted her this morning when he woke to find her lying next to him. Serena laughed softly before leaning in for a kiss Darien raised his head to meet hers then suddenly pulled back at the last minute

"HuH?" Serena cried but Darien didn't seem to notice as he turned his head away to sniff the air before turning back to her wearing a frown "Serena did you burn something?"

Serena let out a horrified gasp "Oh no" and took off at a dead run leaving Darien to fall back on the bed with a groan "That's my Serena."

Serena managed to salvage the soup and they both ate heartily. It was only after they finished eating that Darien noticed how quite it was in the apartment

"Serena where are the girls?"

"They'll be here later." she answered

"When did they leave?"

Serena looked at him in bewilderment, as his posture grew stiff. "They left early this morning."

"What" Darien shouted angrily pushing himself up off the bed ignoring Serena's worried cry he paced the room "They left you here alone."

Serena looked at him in confusion "But Darien I'm not alone your here"

"I was asleep" he barked, "Anything could have happened to you. What were they thinking?"

Serena approached him warily never seeing Darien so angry "Darien calm down I'm fine."

Darien groaned and sat down on the bed dropping his head in his hands when he finally looked up at her it was with haunted eyes. Serena had to stifle a cry at the pain lurking there.

"They took you Serena right out of this room. Here in my home you weren't safe. I just left you for a minute to talk to the girls. I can still hear you calling out my name and rushing in here only to find you gone."

"Oh Darien" she cried knelling in front of him she took his hands in hers. "Darien I know you would give your life to protect me but you cant watch me 24 hours a day. Yes this enemy could be the most dangerous we've faced so far but I know together we can beat'em."

Darien sighed "I just don't want you to be alone not until we know what where up against."

"Alright tomorrow I'll go back to school and one of the girls can walk with me and stay with me until you get home. Ok?"

Darien nodded hiding his relief he didn't know how he was going to bring it up that he wanted her to stay with him until they had defeated this new enemy but some how she knew that he worry about her constantly if she wasn't where he could keep an eye on her. As he settled back on the bed he wondered briefly what she was going to tell her parents.

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

(The next day)

"Guys what excuse can I give my parents for staying at Darien's. I know my father is going to go ballistic when I tell him."

They were all sitting around the booth pondering Serena's dilemma everyone but Amy who was at computer class.

"I suppose you can say your staying at my house" Raye stated reluctantly just a little bit jealous that Serena was going to stay with Darien it brought up the question of when would she ever find someone.

"That might solve her problem for a night or two but we don't know how long this thing might go on Serena's mom wont let her stay their forever" Lita argued

"I know" Mina cried "we can say that Raye's having a nervous break down and needs Serena's support."

"What" Raye yelped giving Mina an angry glare while the other girls laughed Raye was about to say something else when their communicators went off it was Luna

"Girls we have trouble again at the park again we need you right away."

"Where on our way Luna."

The girls left the cafe in a rush and transformed in a back alley

Mars star power

Venus star power

Jupiter star power

Moon crystal power

When the Scouts arrived at the park they expected a scene like before they expected to see a half man half creature terrorizing the place and changing people into animals what they saw was a beautiful young woman with long flowing red hair floating in the air.

They paused when they noticed the people who were just standing there. It was only as they got closer did they realize that they were standing unnaturally still almost like statues.

"Well its about time" the young woman called out with a chilling smile "I've been waiting."

"Who are you and what have you done to these people?" Jupiter shouted angrily

"They are of know consequence to me" and with a wave of her hand whatever spell they had been under was lifted. The people seeing that could now move took off.

"You may call me Sasha. My master has a great interest in your Sailor Moon"

"I recognize that voice it's the same one from Darien's apartment." Artemis exclaimed to Luna. Both were far back from the fight neither wanting to get in the girls way.

"Good ears kitty" Sasha smirked than laughed at his startled expression before pointing at her own ears "My hearing is far superior to any creature on this pathetic planet." Turning her attention back to the Scouts she yelled "Your gonna find your no match for me Sailor Scouts even your defeat of Krieger was nothing more than mere luck. Now lets begin shall we?"

Sailor Jupiter not liking the woman's attitude quickly stepped up to the plate

"I don't care who you are or why your here you cant just go around attacking people. I am Sailor Jupiter and on behalf of Jupiter I wont let you put anyone else under you wicked spell." taking a fighting stance with her heels grounded and her legs spread apart she cried "I call upon the power of Jupiter come to my aid"

Jupiter felt the static building up all around her sparks flew between her hands as the current of electricity started flowing between them. Concentrating her energy she called out one of her attacks. "Jupiter thunder crash" the energy formed into a huge ball that she then sent flying towards the floating red head.

Sasha waited for it. It was time these humans witnessed her perfection. As the energy ball closed in on her she chose her first victim.

Just as it seemed Jupiter's attack would strike Sasha took her hand and swatted it back at them straight at Sailor Venus. It flew back down with a super speed that gave Venus no chance to avoid it.

"Sailor Venus" her friends cried as the attack caught her from behind and sent her flying into a near by tree. Sailor Moon and Jupiter ran to check on her. Although unconscious there seemed to be no permanent damage both girls tried to make her as comfortable as they could before they rejoined Mars.

Mars seeing her friend lying so still on the ground was determined to make this Sasha lady pay.

"You'll pay for that. I'm sailor Mars and on behalf of Mars I'll make sure of it." Concentrating hard building up her power she choose one of her favorite attacks "Mars Celestial Fire surround" as the rings of fire shot out towards their smug enemy Sailor Mars cried "Take that."

Sasha response to this attack was to laugh as she caught the rings in mid air like they were nothing but Frisbee's

"What no" Mars cried out in disbelief as she watched in horror as the woman continued to taunt her by twirling the rings around on her finger

"Is this all you've got Sailor Mars?" and just as she did with Jupiter's energy ball she sent the rings soaring back down this time catching the unsuspecting Jupiter.

"No Sailor Jupiter" Mars screamed as her own attack was used on her friend leaving her bruised and shaking on the ground. Sailor Jupiter tried to rise only to fall back down.

"Jupiter" Sailormoon cried as she watched her friend fall down and slip into unconsciousness standing up she turned to Mars "What do we do now? Everything we attack her with she just sends right back at us."

"Will have to attack her all at once" Mars replied

"That sounds like a plan" Sailor Mercury called out before coming to stand next to them

"Sailor Mercury." Sailor Moon and Mars cried glad that she was here

"Sorry it took me so long to get here. Now lets end this"

"Right" they cried

"Mercury you lead us off" Sailor Moon commanded

Mercury nodded she knew just what attack to use too. "Mercury bubbles flare" as soon as Mercury's bubbles covered the area with a fine mist Sailor Mars and Sailormoon attacked

"Mars Fire Surround."

"Moon Tiara Magic"

When the mist lifted Sasha was gone. "Yes" Sailormoon cried, "we did it"

A taunting laughter from behind was the only warning they got before they felt a cold icy hand on their shoulder. Before Sailor Mars and Mercury knew it they couldn't move. They could see and hear everything that was going on but they couldn't move an inch what was going on but they couldn't move an inch.

"That takes care of the two of you."

Sailor Moon cringed when she turned those cold grey eyes on her. She looked to the others for help but they seemed to be under the same spell that those people had been under when they first arrived.

Sasha smiled at Sailormoon with anticipation "Now lets see what your made of Sailormoon"