This is chapter is the hardest I've had to write so far. So I hope you all enjoy my hard labor.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"I'm starting to worry about her."

He didn't say anything. Although he too was worried. Things were moving fast to fast. Her pain was like an empty wound. And something had to fill that void. It was that something that he was worried about. She's fighting a constant battle. One that even she wasn't aware that she was fighting. For this time the danger is from within. She had a small taste of it in the park after the Dark Prince had left with Zosite but that was just the tip of the iceberg. But it was a battle that had to be fought. As long as the Dark Prince lived it was a battle that will be fought. And in the end if the Dark Prince's will is stronger than hers than all will be lost. And everything would have been for nothing.

The bond between them was strong and growing stronger. He doubted if even they realized how strong it was. But they will. After what transpired between them theirs no way either of them will be able to ignore it or deny it. The only question that remained unanswered is whether the bond between them will save him or destroy her?

"I should go." she said softly trying desperately not to cry. She thought this would have been over with by now. Was Beryl's hold over him too strong to break? No, he just needed time. She knew him so well. Right now he was fighting what he was feeling. He had always been stubborn. But he couldn't fight it for long. And soon everything would be as it was. She couldn't believe otherwise. "She's going to need all her strength for the fight ahead."

He wanted to protest but knew that she was right. He needed to go as well. But suddenly he was afraid that he if let her go now he'd never see her again. And if the Dark Prince won that was more than a possibility. But instead of voicing his fears he nodded his head in agreement.

"I'll see you soon" she promised feverishly as if she too feared this would be their last meeting.

"Goodbye my love" he whispered achingly after she disappeared than he too faded away.

…………

Serena sat alone in her darkened apartment huddled up on her sofa. It was strange but the darkness no longer felt threatening. In fact it felt just the opposite. It felt inviting. And she was beginning to prefer it.

All week she had put up with the persistent ringing of the phone until she thought to unplug it. She ignored the timid knocks of Amy and the more aggressive ones of Lita. Even Raye's shouted comments that she was being a baby and to open the door failed to get response out of her. In fact she hadn't moved from this spot in days. She didn't have the energy or the desire to move.

Since the morning when she had awoken surrounded by her friends instead of in his arms she had been surviving not living. She felt like she was losing a part of herself little by little. At first all she had wanted to do was sleep knowing that he would be there waiting for her in her dreams. But now she couldn't bare it any more. It just wasn't the same. Once you've tasted and experienced reality dreams were pale by comparison. Each day without him felt like an eternity. She didn't know how much more she could take.

(Serena)

Serena looked around the room in bewilderment she could have just sworn she heard her name.

(Serena)

Serena was off the couch in a flash. "Darien" she cried searching the room frantically. But their was no sign of him.

(Serena come to me I need you.)

………….

"How is she?" Amara asked unable to hide her concern. It had been a whole week since they found Serena alone in the park apparently unharmed after the Dark Prince kidnapped her. And all though Serena swore nothing had happened and that she didn't know why he allowed her to leave she had kept them all at a distance ever since. They hadn't laid eyes on her or spoken to her in days. She had locket herself up in her apartment not answering the phone or the door. In fact up until a few days ago they wouldn't even have known that she was in there if it hadn't been for Luna. But now even Luna wasn't allowed inside.

Luna shook her head "I really couldn't say she hasn't contacted me in days. I'm really starting to worry." She still couldn't believe that Serena had kicked her out. All she did was tell her that she needed to snap out of it and focus on bringing Beryl and the Dark Prince down. One second she was lounging on the chair the next she had been swept up and tossed out the front door. It was a good thing that cats always land on their feet.

"We should just go there and knock the door down." Lita cried crackling her knuckles. If Serena wouldn't let them in than they'd just have to bust their way in.

"That wouldn't solve anything" Michelle stated although the idea had some appeal it wouldn't solve their problem. "The problem is not getting in. We could have done that days ago. The problem is getting Serena to tell us what happened."

"When she first got back all she seemed to want to do is sleep." Luna mused "She seemed happy when she was asleep."

"What did they do to her?" Raye growled. What was so horrible that she rather live in a dream world than here with her friends in the real world?

"We don't know." Luna answered repeating what they all knew "She wont talk about it." But maybe she did know. She'd been thinking about this for days and had meant to talk to Artemis about it and get his opinion. Could something have happened between Darien and Serena? Was that why he let her go? Was it possible that the old Darien was resurfacing?

"But something has changed since she's been back." Artemis pointed out giving Luna a funny look wondering why she hadn't mentioned it.

"What?" Mina asked anxiously dreading what he was about to say knowing that it couldn't be good.

"Well where as before all she wanted to do is sleep now she seems to be avoiding it at all costs."

Everyone let out a sharp gasp. Serena not sleeping?

"Whatever comfort she was getting from her dreams doesn't seem to be working anymore." Artemis remarked.

Raye jumped out of her seat "I've had enough of this I'm going to try another fire reading. Maybe if I focus on her dreams I'll get something."

"You can do that?" Mina asked in surprise

Raye nodded her head "If her dreams have strong vibrations, yes. It all depends on the intensity of the dream whether good or bad. But its easier to focus on someone's dreams when their having a nightmare than anything else. The energy spikes they give off are tremendous."

"We'll go with you in case you find something." Luna announced after all their wasn't very much else they could do.

…………….

Serena ran as fast as she could to the park. She just knew he would be there. But when she arrived he was no where to be seen. Serena sat down on the bench tears streaming down her face. Where was he? Had she just imagined hearing his voice? Was she going crazy?

"Serena?"

Serena's head jerked to her left. He stepped out of the darkness and into the light

"Darien" she sobbed before launching herself at him. He caught her and held her to him inhaling her sweet scent.

"Serena what are you doing here?"

Serena looked up at him in surprise. "I heard you calling me" her lips trembled. "You said that you needed me."

Darien sucked in a sharp breath. It was true that he had been standing here in this park where he had left her thinking about her wishing she was here with him. But he didn't call her to him¼ did he?

"Darien?"

Darien looked down at her and forced himself to pull away from her.

Serena looked at him her hurt plain to see. "You shouldn't have come. In case you've forgotten we happen to be enemies"

Serena gave him a stricken look. After all they'd been through and shared how could he still believe such a thing.

"The next time we meet I'll have to take the Crystal. It's what Beryl wants and I am her servant."

"No. Stop please." She covered her ears in an attempt to block out his words.

He grabbed her wrists angrily and dragged her hands down. He had to make her listen. They couldn't be together. He was a man who prided himself in having no weaknesses. One who was use to being in control of his emotions. And yet she managed to destroy both. He had no control over himself or his emotions when she was around. And he found that he did indeed have one weakness. Her. And nobody could ever know. If they ever found out they could use her to get to him just like he used Zosite to get to Malachite. And right now he couldn't afford to have any weaknesses.

"Serena where enemies that's all we can be that's all will ever be. You have to except that he treat me as such."

"I cant. I love you" she sobbed she looked at him with sorrow filled eyes. "I'm dying inside without you."

Her words touched him deeply but he couldn't let it show. How could she love someone like him? Didn't see sense the evil in him. Couldn't she feel the emptiness in his soul? And yet some part of him ached to accept her love and everything that it entitled. And it was that part of him that made him even more vicious. He couldn't allow her to sway him he had to drive her away.

"Really Serena your starting to sound like a love sick little girl. Grow up we had a good time together I admit but it had nothing to do with love.

He ignored her whimper of pain and continued his brutal assault instinctively knowing the right buttons to push. This was for her own good.

"I enjoyed myself very much. But I don't love you. How could I? You're a klutz. I'd be afraid to be seen with you knowing you might trip or knock somebody over any minute."

He looked down to see how she was taking this. She stood there with her heard down. Knowing that he succeeded in hurting her didn't make him feel any better in fact he felt worse and more confused then ever.

"I...I understand" she stuttered still not looking at him "I am clumsy and I'm always falling down. I don't why I thought someone like you would ever…"she broke off on a sob pulling away from him she turned and ran.

Darien didn't follow her although a part of him wanted to very badly. But he just couldn't do it. This was for the best. He knew it was. He was about to return to Beryl's when he heard a scream. It was Serena.

"Serena" he cried and dashed off in the direction she had gone off in.

…….

Serena just wanted to go somewhere and hide when a hand reached out and grabbed her.

"Well look at what I've found."

Serena cried out as she was jerked into the arms of her enemy Jedite.

"I knew it." He cried gleefully "I knew that he was up to something." He gave her a sly look "It seems you and the Dark Prince have been reacquainting yourselves huh Serena. Or should I call you Sailor Moon?"

"Let me go." she cried while struggling in his arms. But it was useless she was no match for his strength if only she could retrieve her locket and transform.

"I don't think so. You're my ticket to get back into Beryl's good graces. Once I present you and expose Darien's treachery I will once again have a place at her side. And all the power that goes along with it.

"Jedite."

Serena gasped and swung her head around. Darien.

Jedite looked at him wearing a smug expression. But he made sure to keep Serena between him and the Dark Prince. He didn't like the guy but their was no denying his power he wasn't taking any chances.

"Come to save your precious Serena have we?"

"Let her go Jedite."

"I'm afraid I cant do that." he tightened his hold on her. "You see she's much to valuable.

"This is between you and me Jedite. Leave her out of this."

Jedite gave Darien a knowing smile. "I told Beryl that you couldn't be trusted. I warned her that you'd turn on her again. I knew the only way to keep you in line was to get rid of this one" he shook Serena roughly "But she wouldn't listen." he gave a surprised laugh. "Well I guess in this case that was a good thing because she didn't listen I now have the means to get rid of you. And believe me once I turn the Imperial Crystal over to Beryl you'll be one of the first to go."

Darien barely heard him all he could hear were Jedite's words about turning on Beryl again and needing Serena out of the way to keep him in line. "What are you talking about? What does Serena have to do with anything?

Jedite looked at him as if he were stupid. Did he really except him to fall for that. "Oh drop the confused act I'm not buying it" he sneered, "Why else would you team up with Sailormoon unless you got your memories back." Jedite's look turned to one of amazement and then glee as Darien expression remained confused. "Are you trying to tell me that you still don't remember your past. That you don't know who Serena really is?"

Jedite's expression turned nasty. "Than let me be the first one to tell you. So when she dies you'll know exactly what you've lost. And how your sacrifice and your persecution of me was in vain. You see before you were the Dark Prince you went by another title. You were once known as the Prince of the Earth and this lovely that I'm holding now is your wife."

Darien and Serena both let out startled gasps. Their eyes met and held.

"Your lying." Darien growled but looking into Serena eyes he was starting to feel unsure.

"Am I?" he taunted "I really have no reason too." he looked at Darien with half crazed eyes. "I was the one to take her from you before. Only this time the split will be final." he waved a hand in the air. "Bye now"

"No wait." Darien cried but it was too late. He watched as Jedite disappeared taking Serena with him.

"Jedite" he shouted angrily Serena his heart cried silently. Darien felt the darkness rising inside of him and allowed it it's freedom. Serena was his. He always known it. He had tried to deny but he couldn't deny it any longer. They belonged to together. She was his. And Jedite was about to discover what happened to those who took what belonged to him. And it wasn't going to be pretty. With eyes as cold as the artic winds and with a purpose as dark as his soul he went after her and damned anyone who got in his way.