CHAPTER TWENTY

Jedite paced back and forth steaming. It wasn't bad enough that he had Nephlite complicating things with his veiled threats and Prince Darien out for his blood but now he also had Zosite to deal with. He felt that everything he worked so hard for was slipping through his fingers. He thought that with Malachite turned traitor he'd have a chance to get back into Beryl's good graces but instead it was Zosite who was giving that privilege. It wasn't fair if it wasn't for him they'd all still be a pile of dust. He deserved better than this.

"Well I see your still alive."

Jedite swung around quickly "What do you want Nephlite?" He asked coldly looking at him in disdain. He was in no mood for any of Nephlite's games or snide remarks

"Just checking to see if your still among the living."

"As if you care." Jedite snorted

Nephlite leaned against the wall. "I just wanted to know the lay of the land. It always pays to be informed."

"If you're here to tell me that Zosite has taken Malachite's place I'm afraid you to late to share that little bit of bad news."

"Actually" Nephlite drawled "I did come to tell you about Zosite but only in connection with Prince Darien."

Interested but trying hard not to show it Jedite tried to appear nonchalant when he asked. "Oh and pray tell what might that be. Don't tell me she's thrown her lot in with him not after what he did to her precious Malachite."

Nephlite's mouth tightened at the sound of Malachite's name. He hadn't enjoyed doing what he did to him but he knew he had to put some effort into it or risk the chance that Beryl would be displeased and assign some one else. Someone who didn't have a history with him and therefore would be much more brutal maybe even deadly.

Nephlite shook off his wondering thoughts and turned his attention back to Jedite. "Hardly" Nephlite chided responding to Jedite's comment "She hasn't joined his side but of course theirs only two sides in your own mind" When Jedite didn't comment he continued. "She has been a very bad girl though. In fact" he stated with a more sober look "I think she might have made a very costly mistake such as the one you made earlier."

"What are you babbling about now?" Jedite snapped irritably why couldn't he just say what he had to say and leave. He had things to think about. He didn't have time for riddles not when the Dark Prince was hatching up ways to get rid of him. He had to be the one to make the next move he couldn't wait around for him to do it the wait would drive him crazy.

"Really Jedite" Malachite scolded "have you forgotten already that you tried to kill Prince Darien by causing that cave in. Oh wait" Nephlite continued more sharply "I really should start calling him the Dark Prince. After all that's who he is now. That's what you and Beryl turned him into."

Jedite looked around nervously. Nobody knew that but him Nephlite and Prince Darien and although Prince Darien's own reasons for keeping quite were suspicious he went along with it for his own reason. "Be quiet" Jedite hissed "someone might hear you."

Nephlite looked at him as if he were crazy. "Your worried about someone overhearing and telling Beryl. Are you out of your mind cant you see that the real threat isn't Beryl but the Dark Prince and you cant tell me he doesn't know it was you. I saw it in his eyes when he was here earlier. He knows it was you that tried to kill him."

"So what if he knows" Jedite boosted with false bravado What can he do he has no proof only speculation he cant touch me." Jedite didn't bother to inform Nephlite of what he feared the Prince might do to him. He already opened his big mouth once he wasn't about to do it again.

Nephlite looked at him and for a minute felt a little sorry for him. He actually had no idea the danger he was in. Because the stars don't lie. A powerful dark force was steadily growing. Greater than any he'd ever felt before. And his own instincts were telling him that it was closer than any of them knew. A powerful battle was approaching which outcome was uncertain but it was going to hit them like a whirlwind and anything standing in its way would perish of that he was certain. "Maybe you wont feel that way after I tell you what happened just now between him and Beryl."

¼ ¼ ¼ ..

Serena looked at Raye with wide eyes. "What?

Raye stepped in front of her with a determined expression "You've been different lately and I want to know what's go on."

"I don't know what you mean" Serena laughed nervously

Raye looked at her suspiciously. "Come on Serena fess up. What's going on with you?"

"Do you got any muffins?" She asked rubbing her stomach "I'm starved" she insisted not only in an effort to change the subject but because she really was hungry.

"Don't try and change the subject" Raye snapped

Serena looked at her with a hurt expression. Raye looked at her for a moment torn before rolling her eyes. "Alright I'll get you some muffins but then your going to tell me what's going on with you."

"How about a couple sandwiches too?" Serena said with hopeful eyes.

Raye let out a ragged breath. "Alright."

"And maybe some cocco or tea?"

…….

Prince Darien felt his anger turn to an icy rage. He didn't like being played with. And the fact that he let himself get sidetracked by a mere woman who he almost allowed to interfere mad him even more angry. It was time he had some answers and he knew just where to go to get them. Beryl was obviously concerned about something and that something had to do with malachite and the Scouts. And he figured it was about time Malachite revealed his secrets one way or another he was going to find out what he wanted to know.

……..

Malachite looked at her warily. "How is this possible? Can you really be here?"

She smiled but the smile held a tinge of sadness. "Yes I'm really here but not in any true sense. I came here to beg you not to reveal the secret pasts of tuxedo mask and Sailormoon to anybody.

Malachite looked at her in confusion. "I don't understand you're…" his voice trailed off he didn't know what to say. It was all to unbelievable.

"I know how it seems but you have to trust me. Darien can't know who he is or what Sailormoon really is to him not until he makes his choice."

Malachite shook his head in bewilderment "What choice?"

"That I cant say. I can only tell you that a great darkness is apon us. And it grows stronger everyday." She looked at him earnestly "Sailormoon is the only one who can stop it but if something should happen before he makes his choice the darkness could consume her and the Earth would be truly lost."

"If your a hallucination you're a very good one" he groaned feeling incredibly tired Maybe if he slept he could escape the pain for awhile1.

She looked at him hesitantly for a moment before placing her hands on his chest.

"What" he managed to gasp before a warm feeling started to spread through him he looked down at his chest her hands were glowing. He could only remain silent in amazement as she started glowing from head to toe with a soft white light. He could feel the energy inside him it was warm and soothing. When the glow faded she took a step back and wobbled on her feet.

He gave a cry of alarm and reached for her but was reminded swiftly that he was still in chains when they bit into his wrist.

"I'm alright" she whispered tiredly swiping at her forehead "how about you?"

Malachite looked down at himself in amazement he was still covered with cuts and bruises but he felt no pain at all. Not from his wounds or his abrasions.

Standing their looking pale and wan she said "I'm sorry that I couldn't heal you completely but a miraculous recovery would have been to suspicious. And know body can know that I was here."

Malachite didn't know what to say it was obvious that what she did had taken a lot out of her "I don't know what's going on but I promise he wont learn who he is from me."

She gave him a grateful if tired smile "Thank you I…"she let out a startled gasp when a figure suddenly immerged in front of her.

…..

While Serena sat waiting for Raye to come back she couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She tried to convince herself that it was just nerves because Raye had sensed that their was something wrong but she couldn't actually bring herself to believe it. When Raye came back in with the food she made a move to help her and became extremely dizzy. She let out a startled cry and reached out for something to grab onto but their was nothing. She felt herself falling and their was nothing she could do.

"Serena" Raye cried and dropping the tray shot across the room just managing to catch her before she hit the floor. "Serena are you alright?" she asked anxiously looking her over in concern she looked so pale.

Serena looked at her in bewilderment. "I guess that battle took a lot more out of me than I thought. I'm suddenly very tired." She yawned "Don't eat all the muffins" she whispered before falling into a deep sleep.

"Serena? Serena!" Raye cried shaking her but their was no response she was out cold. Raye picked her up and laid her on the bed before calling Luna.

…..

Malachite almost swallowed his tongue "ok now he knew he was seeing things."

"My love" she gasped "what are you doing here?"

"Cant you feel it?" he asked soberly ignoring Malachite for the moment

"No I…" she raised a weary hand to her face "I'm not feeling well"

His eyes narrowed on her pale face. "What's wrong with you?" He turned swiftly to Malachite and speared him with his eyes before turning back to her "what have you done?"

Malachite had the feeling that his very soul had been stripped before those penetrating blue eyes.

"I did what I had to do." she whispered tiredly but managed a small smile "don't worry I'll be alright."

"You won't be for long if you remain here." he stated grimly "Leave. I'll finish up here"

She looked at him in confusion but didn't argue with him. She caressed his features lovingly with her eyes and then she disappeared.

Malachite blinked his eyes rapidly if he didn't still feel like a million bucks he would have sworn beyond a reasonable doubt that he had gone insane and was now seeing things. He didn't have long to contemplate his insanity or lack there of for long before those eyes set upon him again.

"I know this must seem like a dream to you or something else not quite real. But I assure you your not dreaming Malachite. Theirs no time to explain. The Dark Prince is on his way to see you."

"The Dark Prince?" Malachite repeated as if never hearing the name before

"He's quite angry I'm afraid. Angry and determined to get answers. Answers that you must not give him."

"How can this be?" Malachite whispered "how can you expect me to believe you when you look…when you look…"

"I know how I look." he interrupted "but you have to see past that. Remember everything that you've been told you must not tell him who he really is." With that said he too disappeared

Malachite starred at the spot he just stood in with incredibility. Could he really believe everything that had happened everything that he had seen? Did he have a choice? He gave a startled jerk when the door to the dungeon swung open and the Dark prince swept inside. He wasted no time but marched up to Malachite and said

"I want to know everything that you know about Sailormoon. And I want to know it now."

Malachite looked at him warily their was something very wrong here. The other one had been right something had enraged the dark prince to the point where he could actually feel weight of his anger it was so strong and potent. He looked like some wild animal who was ready to pounce at any giving moment.

"I don't understand" Malachite remarked. "Beryl knows as much about Princess Serena as I do."

The Princess eyes pierced him. Malachite couldn't look away as he came closer. "What did you call her." he asked quietly but Malachite wasn't fooled he could sense the undercurrents in the question. For a moment he was afraid to repeat it thinking that he might have given something away unknowingly. And after the conversation he had with his mystery guest he knew what was at stake. He was still trying to make up his mind how to play this all out when the Prince's hand shot out to grab him by the throat. He started gasping for breath as the grip became tighter and tighter cutting off his air supply.

"This will be my only warning Malachite. You will tell me what I want to know or I will show you what it means to be tortured. With that said he let go and stepped back.

Malachite took in great huge gulps of breath.

"Now" Prince Darien began softly "what did you call her?"

…….

His stroked her cheek with his finger and she trembled in his arms. "Some bonds can never be broken my love. You can tear at them pretend they don't exist or simply don't know they exist but its their all the same."

She looked at him with longing "I want to be together forever"

He smiled down at her lovingly "I'll always be with you Serena. Always." He bent his head and she rose up on her toes. She sighed as their lips meet. He groaned and pulled her closer. She placed her arms around his neck and held on as he deepened the kiss.

Suddenly her feet were no longer on the ground as he swung her up in his arms. Surprised she broke the kiss and he took that moment to ravish her neck with kisses. She gasped and her hands gripped his shoulders tightly.

He brought her over and lowered her onto the bed. She laid back on the bed and looked up at him. He just stood their caressing her with his eyes. She smiled at him lovingly and raised her hand he took it and then she proceeded to pull him down to her.

"SERENA! WAKE UP" Luna yelled for the millionth time and finally at the end of her rope she jumped onto Serena's back claws extended. One minute she was smiling smugly and the next she was sailing through the air as Serena launched up from the bed. She hit the wall with a hard thud and slid down it landing on her head. She stayed that way for a moment and while counting the pretty birds flying around her head she contemplated a common phrase. Who was it that said that cats always land on their feet?

Serena looked around in a daze. For a moment confused about where she was. Than it dawned on her that it had only been another dream. "A dream." she whispered achingly and thought she might perish from the crushing despair that gripped her heart. It had seemed so real so beautifully real. A fierce longing filled her and in her minds eye she could see his face and the longing grew worse. She couldn't take it anymore she had to see him she had to be with him.

"Serena? Serena are you alright?" Raye asked coming to stand in front of her. But Serena didn't answer and as if in a trance she turned and walked away from her.

"Serena?" Luna cried after finally coming back to her senses. But instead of stopping Serena kept going right out of the temple.

"Where is she going?" Raye cried

"I don't know. But something's not right" Luna cried back "lets follow her."