CHAPTER EIGHT

"You failed to retrieve the Crystal." Beryl stated accusingly.

Prince Darien looked at her for a minute before replying, "No I don't have it yet. I needed to see the Scouts and determine for myself how difficult it will be to get my hands on the Crystal."

"And what did you discover?" Malachite sneered

Darien shrugged his shoulders "I caught them by surprise they weren't much of a challenge."

"And yet here you are without the Imperial Crystal" Malachite pointed out smugly

Beryl ignored this byplay for the moment more interested in gathering other information "And what did you make of Sailormoon?"

Beautiful was the first thing that came to mind but he knew better than to tell her that but he had to wonder himself why that was the first thing to pop into his head when he thought about her. Sure she was lovely with those big blue eyes and all that long golden hair but why he should notice or reflect upon it bewildered him.

"Well?" she barked impatiently

He shook off his misgivings she was the enemy nothing more their was nothing to worry about. She would either give him the crystal or he'd take it from her by force.

"She seemed more concerned for her friends than for herself that's the only weakness I've detected so far." he answered quietly his mind already devising ways that he could use this weakness against her.

Beryl looked at him for a moment before nodding apparently satisfied "Good. Now go and prepare for your next encounter."

He bowed to her and vanished from sight

"Jedite" Beryl called out once Prince Darien had left.

Jedite appeared immediately "Yes my Queen?"

"What did you observe from the battle? Did Sailormoon appear to recognize him?"

For a moment Jedite was taken aback. How did she know he had been watching the battle? He had told no one of his plans.

Beryl just looked at him her eyes gleamed gleefully and she wore a small satisfied smirk and Malachite the fool just stood their snickering

Jedite fumed how was he suppose to get rid of Prince Darien when he wasn't even aware of her watching him

"Well Jedite?"

Jedite could only tell her the truth not knowing how much more she knew. "Neither of them showed any signs that they knew who the other one was" he admitted reluctantly

Beryl was ecstatic. Everything was coming along perfectly and just as soon as Prince Darien rid them all of that annoying Princess Serena he would finally be hers and the universe along with him.

…………………

Serena walked into her empty apartment and once again felt that something was missing. She knew what people saw when they walked in. To them it was warm and cozy and reflected her personality perfectly but to her she always had the sense that something was missing but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what.

She moved quietly through the apartment turning on lights. The darkness was bothering her more than usually tonight it wasn't as if she was afraid of the dark but these past months it had seemed threatening somehow as if it were waiting to embrace her. Maybe she should take Luna's advice and move back home at least for a little while.

Serena shook her head trying to dislodge these misgivings. She was starting

to sound like Raye. She rotated her shoulders carefully she was so tense. Well that answered one question. Bath first then dinner. Humming softly she walked into the bathroom and started her bath.

She wouldn't think about what happened today or about him at least not until she had a nice long soak. But even as the words left her mouth her thoughts turned to him. Who was he really? Why hadn't they seen him before now?

Arghhh she cried frustrated that she didn't have the answers she stormed into the living room and out onto the patio. She leaned against the banister and looked out at the moon. What was wrong with her? All of Beryl's soldiers were good looking what was it about this one that unnerved her so? What made him so special?

She closed her eyes and immediately his image came to mind. She once again saw those sexy blue eyes of his. Looking into them she had the strangest notion that she had seen them somewhere like in her dreams which was ridiculous once she thought about it she could barely remember dreaming let alone what she dreamed of.

But even though for awhile she thought she recognized those eyes that wasn't what unnerved her the most it was his hair. One black curl in particular that hung low down on his forehead. Her hand had actually started to rise when she saw it. She wanted to touch it, to push it back onto his head and than run her fingers through it. She even knew how it would feel. Soft and smooth as silk.

Serena straightened abruptly what was wrong with her he calls himself the Dark Prince of the Negaverse he was no one to fantasize about he was the enemy and she'd better remember that. And she knew just how to exercise him from her mind. A long hot soak and her dream lover.

……………………………….........

Luna waited impatiently for Artemis to finish his conversation with the girls when he finally finished she had to wait until they were well out of ear shot before she said anything.

"Artemis what are we going to do? What if she's starts to remember?"

"Luna calm down theirs nothing to suggest that's going to happen or is about to happen."

Luna hung her head. All these months of lying to Serena of keeping this awful secret and waiting for him to appear were finally taking their toll.

"I need to her out of that apartment maybe then I wont be so jumpy."

Artemis looked at her with sympathy he didn't know how she could stand living in Darien's old apartment with Serena.

"Luna it's going to be alright"

"How can you say that" she cried "we both know he's not the enemy he's our prince, our future king how can we stand back and let them destroy him?"

"Luna! Artemis said sharply they couldn't think about him in those terms anymore he wasn't the same man but his tone softened when he saw how distraught she really was "Darien made his choice this is the way it has to be. I wish it could end differently. But what can we do? We have our orders." he reminded her sadly

Luna shook her head she didn't know she just knew that this wasn't right. Lying to Serena for her own sake was one thing but standing by and watching her destroy her true love was something all together different but she didn't know what else to do. Letting out a mournful wail she cried for Darien and Serena and for all of them and the future they should have had.

All Artemis could do was try and comfort her while fighting back his own tears.

………………………..

"My beloved." his voice whispered out of the darkness

"You're here" she cried and ran into his outstretched arms.

"I'll always be here" he whispered "waiting for you"

She sighed and leaned back to look at him

"You" she gasped in disbelief as she looked up into a pair of blue eyes.

"Who else would it be?" he chuckled softly as he started to lean down to kiss her

She knew she should pull away he was the Dark Prince but she didn't she wanted him to kiss her. So instead of pulling away she leaned into the kiss. Yes she whispered just as their lips were about to touch

"SEERREENA!"

Serena jerked up in the tub sending a wave of water crashing to the floor and soaking the one who had been unfortunate enough to wake her.

"Oh Luna I'm so sorry"

Luna who was very wet and very upset gave her a stern look "Do you know how dangerous it is to fall asleep in the bathtub you could have drowned.

Serena bit her lip. "I'm really sorry but I'm up now so why don't you go dry off and I'll be out in a minute." Serena watched Luna walk out mumbling to herself it was only when she was alone did she let out the breath she had been holding. Their was no way she could tell Luna about her dream she'd never understand she didn't understand herself.

Climbing out of the tub she wrapped a towel around her and stood in front of the mirror. It had only been a dream and dreams didn't mean anything right. So she was attracted to him so what no big deal he was still the enemy and he had to be stopped case closed. Satisfied she started to tighten her towel and leave the bathroom when she saw an image in the mirror that caused her heart to miss a beat and for the towel to slip through her now trembling fingers.

He stepped into the bathroom and their eyes met and she shivered. His eyes blazed with a inner heat that took her breath away. Shocked and unable to move or speak she could only watch him in the mirror as he came up behind her. She watched as his dark head lowered as if to kiss her bare shoulder and then he disappeared. Shaken she swung around but their was nothing nobody was there. She slipped down to the floor grabbing her towel she clutched it to her.

I'm losing my mind she cried silently as tears flowed unchecked down her face. What's happening to me? Who are you? What are you doing to me? Who are you? Who are you?

…………………..

Prince Darien jerked up in bed sweat covering his whole body. The words who are you ringing in his head. Oh man what a dream. He wondered who she was did she even exist. He flopped back down on the bed he was being ridiculous it had only been a dream. Closing his eyes he could still see her standing before him in all her glory. She was beautiful. Who am I? Is that what she asked me he thought sleepily before falling back into slumber

……………….

Serena walked into the bedroom trying not to appear to upset she didn't want to frighten Luna maybe she wasn't going crazy maybe she had just been daydreaming yes that's it, it didn't happen.

Serena are you ok Luna asked in concern noticing the girls pale complextion

Serena gave her a weak smile "I'm fine Luna I just need to fix me something to eat" sitting down at her vanity desk she started brushing out her hair "Um Luna you know I've been thinking maybe we could stay at my parents for awhile."

Luna jerked up hardly able to believe what she was hearing.

"I mean it will be nice to eat something that wasn't burnt for a change don't you think"

Luna looked at her in confusion it was strange this sudden urge to go stay with her folks but she couldn't let this opportunity pass maybe once she got Serena back there she could convince her to stay longer than a few days. Now that Darien had reappeared she didn't want Serena staying here it might trigger a memory unconsciously she already sensed that something important was missing from the apartment preventing it from feeling like a real home how could she know that the only thing missing from this apartment was Darien "I believe that will be a good idea Serena"

"Good" Serena sighed hiding her relief she really needed to get away she'd leave now if it wouldn't look so suspicious even though she told herself she only imagined it she knew she'd feel better at her parents in her old room in her old bed.

"Well" she sighed putting the brush down "let's go find something edible to eat"