Moonlight Horizon
By Lady M. Harris
A Sailor Moon Love Story: Rini and Elios
Chapter 4
"Thank you for joining me, princess," Elios nodded his golden-white head in gratitude toward Sarah who leaned over the
table to refill his goblet of red wine. Sarah smiled warmly at the archangel and straightened as Rini settled into her leather chair
across from Elios. Rini couldn't help flushing with pleasure as Elios' blue gaze glittered with approval over her attire, his gaze not
missing an inch of material or her skin. After all, wasn't that what she wanted all along, her mind whispered to her?
Denise came out of the shadows of the dining area with two platters of steaming, hot food, warily glancing over at Rini
who couldn't help but to stop whatever she was doing at the moment to gaze at the other woman. If Elios noticed the tension
between the princess and the servant, he paid no heed to it. He only had eyes for the pink-haired woman sitting directly before
him.
"Yes, but is all this necessary?" Rini waved her hands to the servants around her, trying to dismiss Denise from her mind
entirely. For some odd reason, they seemed to antagonize each other and Rini didn't understand completely why it was so.
Ignoring the servant girl, Rini decided to concentrate on the man and their situation before her. Granted, she particularly
liked the way the atmosphere around her made her feel cozy and comfortable, as if she were sitting in her dining room at home in
the palace. However, the situation seemed impossible to maintain on the tiny island.
Elios chuckled, agreeing with her, shrugging his great shoulders in the process. The feathers of his wings seem to vibrant
a quiet hum within the room. "I do agree with you, but you must thank Sarah and her husband for insisting on treating us like
royalty when it is not necessary while we are stuck here. They jumped at the chance to serve us, as did Torane and Denise, I'm
told." He decided not to mention their first encounter with the overzealous Javone and the disastrous evening of before with
Denise.
Rini grinned along with the archangel; her nervousness dissipating as Elios leaned back against his seat. Unconsciously,
her lids lowered, her gaze sweeping slowly over archangel's appearance. His golden white hair gleamed an orange hue, lending
glimmers of deep golden hues to each strand beneath the flickering firelight that blazed in a nearby large hearth. Shadows dipped
and curved on his lean, handsome face, his full lips curved in what appeared to be a lazy smile. His shoulders appeared somehow
broader, his muscle clad chest hidden underneath his simple, but elegant shirt. The shirt had apparently also been altered to
accommodate his large wings.
"Well, it is nice, I suppose," Rini smiled as she took a sip of her wine. The aged liquid warmed her insides, the flavor not
quite bitter but almost sweet on her tongue.
Elios continued his slow perusal of Rini, warming up to the discussion that he could not further avoid. "We may have to
get used to the situation," he paused, allowing his words to sink in.
Immediately, Rini sat up straight in her chair, her heart slamming into her ribcage. She couldn't believe what she was
hearing. "What do you mean by that?" She said carefully, her voice neutral.
"It means that we may be stuck here for a very long period of time, princess," he stated quietly.
Rini relaxed slightly, but his next words hurdled all other thoughts out of the window.
"There is that chance, that we may never leave this island. Although, I have every reason to believe we may be able to find
a way," he stated simply.
"But-but, that can't be!" Rini stammered in shock, the entire conversation suddenly did not seem real.
Elios inclined his head to her, understanding her feelings of frustration. "The shift of the Cycle only lasted moments when
we crashed through the atmosphere along the way to Hades. We are lucky to be alive. However, another shift does not occur for
another seventeen years," he stated, carefully.
"Seventeen years!" Rini exclaimed, setting down her goblet of wine as her hands began to tremble. "You mean to say, that
we will be stuck here! For the next seventeen years!" She continued, knowing that she was ranting like a mad woman. "There has
to be a way," she started as Elios sat before her, calmly.
"If the opportunity comes, I will, of course, find a way to get us out of here," Elios began. "Javone and I went over the
charts that were left here by the last Angian. She recorded the next Cycles and the even odd occurrence of shifts in the Cycle. I
will need your assistance once the weather permits to scout the perimeter of the areas that covers Hades."
Rini nodded her head, feeling a sense of hope flare up in her. "Of course, whatever it takes. What we will be doing?" She
asked, curious.
Elios looked at her for long moments, before answering her, "The last Angian was very meticulous with her work, but I
would like to make sure that the charts are correct anyway. It doesn't hurt to go over the details to make sure that nothing was
overlooked."
Rini was still unable to keep a groan from escaping from her. "But what if the charts are right?"
Elios shrugged his shoulders again, this time a slight smile appeared on his face. "Then we will have to content ourselves
with living here for the next seventeen years. Unless another way can be found to breach the barriers."
"I cannot accept that! What am I supposed to do for the next seventeen years? I can't even begin to think of being
confined here!" Rini shook her head, only playing with her food with her fork. Her appetite suddenly disappeared. The archangel
however, cleaned his bowl and plate of beef stew, cheese and bread.
"Do you think you are the only one to be feeling the strain of being stranded on such an island?" Elios replied slowly.
Rini's gaze shot up from her plate, noting his hard blue eyes on her face.
"Just like you, I have duties to my people-I am, after all, a guardian for this planet, and yet I cannot protect this planet
from an invasion while being stranded here. Particularly with Cerus being such a threat to my clan and to the people of this
planet." His eyes narrowed on her face, his voice dipping deeply, cuttingly. "Is that what you do for your planet, Princess
Rini-are you a sole guardian?"
Rini shook her head; the hurt and pain evident on her face. Every time her role was mentioned in protecting Earth arose
still bothered her. "I am not a sole guardian as you," her voice now low and taut. "There is my mother, the Neo-Queen Serenity
and my father, King Endyimon or the Lavender King as some say, who are ground rulers for Earth and then there are the Sailor
Warriors. My function is not quite as important as theirs or as yours, for that matter." And then she knew that she was being
selfish, like a child. Always wanting too much attention. Here she was complaining about her own life and this man, this
archangel could not defend his people, this planet that he was responsible for because of their situation.
Elios leaned back against his chair, watching the young princess, listening to the hurt in her voice. He wondered about the
pain in her voice when she mentioned her role as a protector for Earth. Perhaps that explained why she was a long way off from
home, serving as an officer in the galactic region. He sensed that there was a story behind her expression of pain.
He sighed. He really did not have the time to console her and her insecurities in herself. He believed that Princess Rini
would eventually find her place in the world and her role in life. He had sensed her power and another more dormant power
lurking beneath her façade, waiting for the right time to reveal itself to the world and that she could ultimately accomplish anything
she wanted out of life with those lethal powers of hers.
"Perhaps," Elios answered her, pausing.
Rini blinked at him.
"And perhaps not," he replied, picking up his goblet of wine that had been refilled by Sarah. Sarah quickly returned to
Rini's side and did the same for her. Elios noted the flush that stained Rini's cheeks and wondered if she had had too much wine.
"Before this trip to the Junketeer way laid me, I was in search for a soul mate," he began, wondering why he broaching the
intimate subject to her.
Rini stared, swallowing hard. She couldn't even imagine being a mate to such a man. He took her breath away and made
her heart beat so rapidly every time he was near that she knew for certain that he could hear her heart. She felt hot all over just
thinking about it and turned her thoughts away from her wandering mind. Why was he revealing this to her?
Instead, Rini nodded her head again, prodding the archangel to continue. She didn't think that she'd be able to open her
mouth to reply to his comments at that moment.
"I have reached three scores in years and my clan demands a heir, a new archangel to eventually take my place," he
laughed deeply at his words.
Rini's visage was stunned. "But-" she stuttered.
"I know what you are thinking. It is, as you Earthlings would say, a very primitive concept."
"Very much like our nineteenth century time period on Earth," Rini mused aloud. She was almost tempted to laugh, if the
situation wasn't so very serious or the fact that she was discussing a very personal issue with the ambassador of Paradise.
Elios' gaze warmed with blue fire as he noticed the twitching of her lips. "So you will laugh at my predicament?" He
chuckled as she tried to subdue her features.
"I didn't mean to offend-" she started, a soft laugh escaping.
Elios raised his hand, stopping her in mid sentence, still grinning. "It is quite alright. Most people cannot understand the
logic for an archangel to marry for an heir. But an archangel cannot breed physically unless the female is completely human. We
can dally, but not make children. So now you know the reason behind the logic." He smiled roguishly as Rini's face turned beet
red at his statement 'breed'.
Images of Elios and her entwined in a passionate embrace flew across Rini's overactive imagination. Instantly, she
blushed profusely as she tried to scatter the tantalizing images of Elios bent over her, his large wings huddling them within a
protective cocoon as her lips reached hungrily for his. Rini's breathing grew shallow and sweat formed on her forehead. It
wasn't fair that all he had to do was mention something provocative and there she was ready to faint at his feet. Ah God, did she
want the archangel? Yes yes, her mind whispered to her. You want him far more than even your wildest heart had ever dreamed.
She understood desire; she wasn't an idiot, after all. She wasn't one of those foolish heroines in her romance novels that
she liked to read for entertainment. She understood the ache within the pit of her stomach whenever her gaze would caress the
Angian's features when she thought he wasn't watching her.
Elios reminded her of someone. Someone special and magical, a person who was part of her past and part of her dreams.
She could not connect the two and maybe this was because this Angian made her feel alive and vibrant, like a sensual creature, like
a woman. They way his eyes would slowly move over her features, gliding over her body like smooth wine and causing her back
to be set all a tremble. She ached and yet she did not know, for what. And somehow, she wondered if the Angian was her
answer. Her answer for what, her mind exclaimed. She didn't know. And she could not recall if this person in the past made her
feel the same as this Angian.
"So-" she glanced quickly at Elios, ignoring her internal musings, saying, "were there any candidates that you preferred?"
She asked casually, wanting to bite her tongue for sounding fishy. She wondered at herself and why she was even asking the
question.
But he only chuckled at her statement, replying, "None, that I can recall that are worth mentioning."
When she said nothing to his statement, he continued.
"But now-there is one that I would fully consider," he added, mysteriously and leaving it up in the air as he watched her
nonchalantly.
She didn't dare ask, even though she was dying to know whom it was he was currently considering. She dared not think
it was her, for he barely knew her.
"But things are too new around here and I must tread carefully before I choose and it is probably far more than you care
to know," he stated, pushing back his chair and getting up, thereby ending their dinner conversation.
Rini wanted to say no that she wanted to know who the candidate was, but she refrained from asking. She stood up as
well and noted how his eyes traveled insolently up the length of her exposed legs almost as if lingering over her curves. She
blushed again and wondered if he was interested in her. There was certainly something in his eyes every time they turned her way.
"We have a long day tomorrow, princess, and I would recommend a good's night sleep. I will expect you to meet me
here in the morning and after breakfast we will scout the perimeter of this Cycle," he explained again, his arms crossing over his
chest and so drawing Rini's attention to his broad shoulders and his torso. She watched in fascination how the material of his shirt
bunched with his muscles.
"Sure, sure," she stated hesitantly, knowing she was being rude by staring at that delectable chest of his, but unable to
stop.
Elios' dark brow shot up, a lazy smile appearing his lips. "Unless, of course, you would like to join me in my chambers
for a closer view?" He drawled, not bothering to explain his words, his arms uncrossing for her inspection and startling her with
his searing words as her gaze shot up in embarrassment. Her face turned different shades of red again.
"I-uh...uh," she stammered, her head negatively shaking as she backed slightly away from the virile heat of the man
standing before her so imperviously. "I-I think I'll just retire to my rooms now, if you don't mind?" She said, ignoring his
statement that she wanted to answer with a yes, but didn't dare as she made her way towards the door. The servants had already
begun clearing the table.
Rini frowned as Denise stared hungrily at Elios when he turned toward Rini. Denise did her best to make sure that he
could see the way her blouse dipped enticingly and showed the soft curve of her breasts. Rini wanted to strangle the girl.
"Coward," Elios replied to Rini's earlier statement, the sensuous curve of his smile made Rini's knees weak all over again.
He ignored the servant girl. He was fully aware of Denise's attraction to him. It had been very obvious, from the first moment he
had laid his eyes on her. How she had managed to touch him when she thought he wouldn't be offended by her attentions that
evening in his chambers enraged him, just thinking about it. And he was not the type to easily anger. He was making a very valiant
effort to convey to the servant girl that he was not interested in her. Especially since, the Princess of Earth and Moon fully
captivated and intrigued him.
Rini turned toward him; her back leaning against the door to the hallway entry and Elios took his time to allow his gaze to
sweep the length of her shapely body. The skimpy dress hugged her exquisite figure, showing off the full mounds of her breasts;
her long limbs sleek and trim as her lustrous pink mane gleamed lusciously underneath the lights of the dining area. Immediately he
felt the repercussions grapple at his insides, his body growing fiercely hot with desire. Her gaze was innocent and yet provocative
all at once, yet it was more than he could take. He smiled slowly at her as if telling her good night for the evening and then turned
abruptly away from her. His large wings provided the protection he needed from the craving evident on his face and screaming at
his body for release.
He wanted her and he wanted her badly.
The next morning found Rini blurry-eyed and tired. Unlike the night before where she had slept like a baby, last night she
had done nothing but toss and turn. A certain angel with golden hair, blue eyes and a sinew body had kept her up all night,
dreaming of forbidden fantasies only to awaken from the illusion, warm and somehow unfulfilled.
She was late. She hurried through breakfast, gulping down her coffee and eating a piece of toast along the way to the
entryway of the caverns. Sarah had informed her earlier that Elios said he would meet her at the bottom of the mountains since the
weather had cleared overnight. When Rini came to the end of the cavern, she began to fume as she stood looking over the cliff of
the cavern entry.
Despite the early morning spectacular view from the high caverns, Rini's mind was on how she was going to get to the
bottom of the mountain with the elevator still in repair. She didn't notice the wonderful blue skies or the puffy clouds that dotted
along the horizon as Paradise's sun brightly blazed in the sky. She didn't notice either, the huge ocean that surrounded them or
how the water sparkled with that certain blue jewel color.
Instead of waiting for Elios, since she didn't know where he was, she did the next best thing by transforming into Super
Sailor Moon. Her mother had long since taken over the role of Neo-Queen Serenity and Sailor Cosmos. Rini had inherited the
Super Sailor Moon role a couple of centuries ago.
The costume had evolved over the centuries to reflect the fashion of their time period. It changed again as if it had a mind
of its own. This was new for the costume, as it had never reacted that way for her mother in the past. Before the outfit consisted
of the standard, very short skirt and long boots but more tailored and trimmer in its look. But now as she stared at the new
costume on her body, the outfit had changed again to accommodate the warmer climate in Paradise. The outfit now consisted of a
form-fitting shirt, very short shorts and again, light weight boots adorned her feet. The outfit was nearly completely white with
soft touches of pale pink, soothing lavender and shimmering, silver highlights. Silver, crescent moon earrings adorned her earlobes
and her small, heart-shaped locket dangled from a very thin, white-gold chain across her swan-like neck. Opera length gloves of a
very light quality also adorned her arms.
Rini pulled the back of the silky shorts further down over her rounded buttocks, not quite liking the way it molded to her
bottom, enticingly. Then she snapped her small wings wide and alighted into the air with ease. The cool air whistled through her
hair and clothing and then the atmosphere around her turned warm as she neared the bottom of the mountain. It was before she
landed that she spotted Elios flying towards her with tremendous speed and agility. His sinew arms spread wide of a sudden, his
long, hard body bracing before her for a stop even as his huge, white-feathered wings were spread wide. They beat so furiously
that the wings almost seemed invisible, like those of a hummingbird. And of course, she could hear the hum of his wings as her
feet touched the sand of the beach. The compound that she had occupied with Broad in attendance was a short distance away.
"I was wondering when you were going to join me," Elios said when he reached her side. He thrust a sheet of paper with
writings and architect drawings into her hands.
Rini looked down at the paper that read like mathematical problems and frowned back at the angel. "What am I supposed
to do with this?' She blurted out with frustration.
"Follow me, and I'll show you," he ordered, alighting into the air again. Just as they were ready to fly over the
compound, they saw Broad step out of the building, waving to them for attention.
"What's the news?" Elios asked of Broad as they flew down beside them.
Broad stared for a moment at Rini, her outfit and the small, white wings behind her, before finding his tongue. He could
feel the Angian's fierce gaze blazing at him and cleared his throat before saying, "just as we thought, the Junketeer confirmed this
morning that your ship was sabotaged."
"And have they any idea by whom?" Elios clipped shortly, his words sharp, all the sudden furious at the older man. He
didn't like the way the man had gazed at Rini with longing in his expression.
"Do they have any idea of how we're going to get out of here?" Rini asked desperately, not noticing the tension in Elios.
Broad nodded his negatively to Rini, his eyes showing their understanding, his gaze shifting nervously back at the
archangel, wondering what he had done to provoke the anger that blazed from the ambassador's eyes. "No, the Junketeer is
investigating that issue. It is considered right now, a high security issue and they are trying to conduct the investigation under
cover."
Elios nodded his head in agreement with the report, his ill-placed ire held in check. He turned his gaze toward the ocean, a
visible tick in his cheek. "Thank you, will you be joining us later for the scout?"
"No, I've got to attend to your security guard. He finally woke this morning. Marilee is with him right now and I should
get back to him, too." Broad finished, hesitating.
"Alright," Elios answered, motioning for Rini to follow him. "We'll meet with you later after we've scouted vicinity
thoroughly."
Broad smiled and grinned at the same, his nervousness leaving him in an instant, stating, "I'll come back out in minute. I
want see you guys in action."
Elios laughed deeply, unable to resist Broad's ernest expression and thereby releasing the tension in him. Rini turned toward
the laughter, unable to control the tingling that went down her spine. Her breath caught as she stared at Elios' handsome, rugged
face in a deep smile.
"And just what are you staring at, my sweet princess?" Elios asked roguishly, catching her in her gaze and making her
blush at his words.
"I-I I was staring at you, that's what!" She stammered and then answered with boldness.
Elios waved to Broad even as they started walking away from him. Broad was grinning widely at their conversation.
"Stare at me any longer like that and we'll see about appeasing that hunger in your eyes," Elios stated quietly and low, for
her ears only.
Rini stammered again, loosing her step along the way. Elios' arm shot out and grabbed her around her slim waist and
crushed her body to him before she could fall, and then suddenly and explicitly Rini found herself very close that body of her
best-kept, secret fantasy. She stared into his beautiful face, her gaze roaming over the chiseled features that she had already
committed to memory. Her tongue flicked nervously over her lower lip and drew the attention of the archangel's hard gaze to her
softly parted lips that were very pink and tantalizing to his view.
"You could tempt an angel, Rini," Elios drew out raggedly, his voice husky with fresh desire. The heat flared fast and hot
within him and he was so very, very tempted to taste her honey and not just the honey within her mouth but honey in other more
intimate areas.
"And you could tempt the devil," Rini breathed softly, a new boldness igniting within her. The devil in me, she wanted to
say.
Elios stared for long moments at those utterly delectable lips of hers before noticing that Broad still stood a few feet away
from them and alternating between a gaping grin on his face or his jaw plainly hanging open. He straightened them up, and breaking
the heady moment, clearly indicating to her that they had an audience watching them with great interest.
Rini turned her face into his chest, hiding her burning face from Broad in embarrassment. It only managed to cause the
man before her to suck in his breath sharply from the soft contact of her pert nose and the graze of her lips on his bare chest that
was exposed by the vee of his vest.
Rini's senses were instantly filled with Elios' heady musk and from where she stood within Elios' arms, to Broad, it
probably looked as if they were embracing intimately.
Elios cleared his dry throat and then set her carefully away from him. His body was clamoring for the touch of her and he
did not want to scare her with the blatant evidence of his desire tightening at the juncture of his taut pants. And he had to bring his
heady thoughts back into order before his body took control.
"I think it's time we got down to business, what do you think?" Elios asked, amazed that his voice was steady.
Rini nodded her head in agreement, not trusting her voice for the moment. Then she said, "then by all means," she started,
there was still a warm catch in her voice, but she ignored it as Elios' gaze pierced through her. "Let us not waste anymore time,"
she finished.
Elios continued to gaze at her for long moments before turning away, a devilish grin erupting across his lips, and saying
words that were meant to entice, words that he knew he would regret later, or would he, he thought? But the devil in him urged
him on, prompting him to say, "ah Rini, but that angel was so very tempted....so very tempted."
Rini's jaw dropped.
Elios chuckled.
Stay tuned for Chapter 5! Lady M. Harris.
By Lady M. Harris
A Sailor Moon Love Story: Rini and Elios
Chapter 4
"Thank you for joining me, princess," Elios nodded his golden-white head in gratitude toward Sarah who leaned over the
table to refill his goblet of red wine. Sarah smiled warmly at the archangel and straightened as Rini settled into her leather chair
across from Elios. Rini couldn't help flushing with pleasure as Elios' blue gaze glittered with approval over her attire, his gaze not
missing an inch of material or her skin. After all, wasn't that what she wanted all along, her mind whispered to her?
Denise came out of the shadows of the dining area with two platters of steaming, hot food, warily glancing over at Rini
who couldn't help but to stop whatever she was doing at the moment to gaze at the other woman. If Elios noticed the tension
between the princess and the servant, he paid no heed to it. He only had eyes for the pink-haired woman sitting directly before
him.
"Yes, but is all this necessary?" Rini waved her hands to the servants around her, trying to dismiss Denise from her mind
entirely. For some odd reason, they seemed to antagonize each other and Rini didn't understand completely why it was so.
Ignoring the servant girl, Rini decided to concentrate on the man and their situation before her. Granted, she particularly
liked the way the atmosphere around her made her feel cozy and comfortable, as if she were sitting in her dining room at home in
the palace. However, the situation seemed impossible to maintain on the tiny island.
Elios chuckled, agreeing with her, shrugging his great shoulders in the process. The feathers of his wings seem to vibrant
a quiet hum within the room. "I do agree with you, but you must thank Sarah and her husband for insisting on treating us like
royalty when it is not necessary while we are stuck here. They jumped at the chance to serve us, as did Torane and Denise, I'm
told." He decided not to mention their first encounter with the overzealous Javone and the disastrous evening of before with
Denise.
Rini grinned along with the archangel; her nervousness dissipating as Elios leaned back against his seat. Unconsciously,
her lids lowered, her gaze sweeping slowly over archangel's appearance. His golden white hair gleamed an orange hue, lending
glimmers of deep golden hues to each strand beneath the flickering firelight that blazed in a nearby large hearth. Shadows dipped
and curved on his lean, handsome face, his full lips curved in what appeared to be a lazy smile. His shoulders appeared somehow
broader, his muscle clad chest hidden underneath his simple, but elegant shirt. The shirt had apparently also been altered to
accommodate his large wings.
"Well, it is nice, I suppose," Rini smiled as she took a sip of her wine. The aged liquid warmed her insides, the flavor not
quite bitter but almost sweet on her tongue.
Elios continued his slow perusal of Rini, warming up to the discussion that he could not further avoid. "We may have to
get used to the situation," he paused, allowing his words to sink in.
Immediately, Rini sat up straight in her chair, her heart slamming into her ribcage. She couldn't believe what she was
hearing. "What do you mean by that?" She said carefully, her voice neutral.
"It means that we may be stuck here for a very long period of time, princess," he stated quietly.
Rini relaxed slightly, but his next words hurdled all other thoughts out of the window.
"There is that chance, that we may never leave this island. Although, I have every reason to believe we may be able to find
a way," he stated simply.
"But-but, that can't be!" Rini stammered in shock, the entire conversation suddenly did not seem real.
Elios inclined his head to her, understanding her feelings of frustration. "The shift of the Cycle only lasted moments when
we crashed through the atmosphere along the way to Hades. We are lucky to be alive. However, another shift does not occur for
another seventeen years," he stated, carefully.
"Seventeen years!" Rini exclaimed, setting down her goblet of wine as her hands began to tremble. "You mean to say, that
we will be stuck here! For the next seventeen years!" She continued, knowing that she was ranting like a mad woman. "There has
to be a way," she started as Elios sat before her, calmly.
"If the opportunity comes, I will, of course, find a way to get us out of here," Elios began. "Javone and I went over the
charts that were left here by the last Angian. She recorded the next Cycles and the even odd occurrence of shifts in the Cycle. I
will need your assistance once the weather permits to scout the perimeter of the areas that covers Hades."
Rini nodded her head, feeling a sense of hope flare up in her. "Of course, whatever it takes. What we will be doing?" She
asked, curious.
Elios looked at her for long moments, before answering her, "The last Angian was very meticulous with her work, but I
would like to make sure that the charts are correct anyway. It doesn't hurt to go over the details to make sure that nothing was
overlooked."
Rini was still unable to keep a groan from escaping from her. "But what if the charts are right?"
Elios shrugged his shoulders again, this time a slight smile appeared on his face. "Then we will have to content ourselves
with living here for the next seventeen years. Unless another way can be found to breach the barriers."
"I cannot accept that! What am I supposed to do for the next seventeen years? I can't even begin to think of being
confined here!" Rini shook her head, only playing with her food with her fork. Her appetite suddenly disappeared. The archangel
however, cleaned his bowl and plate of beef stew, cheese and bread.
"Do you think you are the only one to be feeling the strain of being stranded on such an island?" Elios replied slowly.
Rini's gaze shot up from her plate, noting his hard blue eyes on her face.
"Just like you, I have duties to my people-I am, after all, a guardian for this planet, and yet I cannot protect this planet
from an invasion while being stranded here. Particularly with Cerus being such a threat to my clan and to the people of this
planet." His eyes narrowed on her face, his voice dipping deeply, cuttingly. "Is that what you do for your planet, Princess
Rini-are you a sole guardian?"
Rini shook her head; the hurt and pain evident on her face. Every time her role was mentioned in protecting Earth arose
still bothered her. "I am not a sole guardian as you," her voice now low and taut. "There is my mother, the Neo-Queen Serenity
and my father, King Endyimon or the Lavender King as some say, who are ground rulers for Earth and then there are the Sailor
Warriors. My function is not quite as important as theirs or as yours, for that matter." And then she knew that she was being
selfish, like a child. Always wanting too much attention. Here she was complaining about her own life and this man, this
archangel could not defend his people, this planet that he was responsible for because of their situation.
Elios leaned back against his chair, watching the young princess, listening to the hurt in her voice. He wondered about the
pain in her voice when she mentioned her role as a protector for Earth. Perhaps that explained why she was a long way off from
home, serving as an officer in the galactic region. He sensed that there was a story behind her expression of pain.
He sighed. He really did not have the time to console her and her insecurities in herself. He believed that Princess Rini
would eventually find her place in the world and her role in life. He had sensed her power and another more dormant power
lurking beneath her façade, waiting for the right time to reveal itself to the world and that she could ultimately accomplish anything
she wanted out of life with those lethal powers of hers.
"Perhaps," Elios answered her, pausing.
Rini blinked at him.
"And perhaps not," he replied, picking up his goblet of wine that had been refilled by Sarah. Sarah quickly returned to
Rini's side and did the same for her. Elios noted the flush that stained Rini's cheeks and wondered if she had had too much wine.
"Before this trip to the Junketeer way laid me, I was in search for a soul mate," he began, wondering why he broaching the
intimate subject to her.
Rini stared, swallowing hard. She couldn't even imagine being a mate to such a man. He took her breath away and made
her heart beat so rapidly every time he was near that she knew for certain that he could hear her heart. She felt hot all over just
thinking about it and turned her thoughts away from her wandering mind. Why was he revealing this to her?
Instead, Rini nodded her head again, prodding the archangel to continue. She didn't think that she'd be able to open her
mouth to reply to his comments at that moment.
"I have reached three scores in years and my clan demands a heir, a new archangel to eventually take my place," he
laughed deeply at his words.
Rini's visage was stunned. "But-" she stuttered.
"I know what you are thinking. It is, as you Earthlings would say, a very primitive concept."
"Very much like our nineteenth century time period on Earth," Rini mused aloud. She was almost tempted to laugh, if the
situation wasn't so very serious or the fact that she was discussing a very personal issue with the ambassador of Paradise.
Elios' gaze warmed with blue fire as he noticed the twitching of her lips. "So you will laugh at my predicament?" He
chuckled as she tried to subdue her features.
"I didn't mean to offend-" she started, a soft laugh escaping.
Elios raised his hand, stopping her in mid sentence, still grinning. "It is quite alright. Most people cannot understand the
logic for an archangel to marry for an heir. But an archangel cannot breed physically unless the female is completely human. We
can dally, but not make children. So now you know the reason behind the logic." He smiled roguishly as Rini's face turned beet
red at his statement 'breed'.
Images of Elios and her entwined in a passionate embrace flew across Rini's overactive imagination. Instantly, she
blushed profusely as she tried to scatter the tantalizing images of Elios bent over her, his large wings huddling them within a
protective cocoon as her lips reached hungrily for his. Rini's breathing grew shallow and sweat formed on her forehead. It
wasn't fair that all he had to do was mention something provocative and there she was ready to faint at his feet. Ah God, did she
want the archangel? Yes yes, her mind whispered to her. You want him far more than even your wildest heart had ever dreamed.
She understood desire; she wasn't an idiot, after all. She wasn't one of those foolish heroines in her romance novels that
she liked to read for entertainment. She understood the ache within the pit of her stomach whenever her gaze would caress the
Angian's features when she thought he wasn't watching her.
Elios reminded her of someone. Someone special and magical, a person who was part of her past and part of her dreams.
She could not connect the two and maybe this was because this Angian made her feel alive and vibrant, like a sensual creature, like
a woman. They way his eyes would slowly move over her features, gliding over her body like smooth wine and causing her back
to be set all a tremble. She ached and yet she did not know, for what. And somehow, she wondered if the Angian was her
answer. Her answer for what, her mind exclaimed. She didn't know. And she could not recall if this person in the past made her
feel the same as this Angian.
"So-" she glanced quickly at Elios, ignoring her internal musings, saying, "were there any candidates that you preferred?"
She asked casually, wanting to bite her tongue for sounding fishy. She wondered at herself and why she was even asking the
question.
But he only chuckled at her statement, replying, "None, that I can recall that are worth mentioning."
When she said nothing to his statement, he continued.
"But now-there is one that I would fully consider," he added, mysteriously and leaving it up in the air as he watched her
nonchalantly.
She didn't dare ask, even though she was dying to know whom it was he was currently considering. She dared not think
it was her, for he barely knew her.
"But things are too new around here and I must tread carefully before I choose and it is probably far more than you care
to know," he stated, pushing back his chair and getting up, thereby ending their dinner conversation.
Rini wanted to say no that she wanted to know who the candidate was, but she refrained from asking. She stood up as
well and noted how his eyes traveled insolently up the length of her exposed legs almost as if lingering over her curves. She
blushed again and wondered if he was interested in her. There was certainly something in his eyes every time they turned her way.
"We have a long day tomorrow, princess, and I would recommend a good's night sleep. I will expect you to meet me
here in the morning and after breakfast we will scout the perimeter of this Cycle," he explained again, his arms crossing over his
chest and so drawing Rini's attention to his broad shoulders and his torso. She watched in fascination how the material of his shirt
bunched with his muscles.
"Sure, sure," she stated hesitantly, knowing she was being rude by staring at that delectable chest of his, but unable to
stop.
Elios' dark brow shot up, a lazy smile appearing his lips. "Unless, of course, you would like to join me in my chambers
for a closer view?" He drawled, not bothering to explain his words, his arms uncrossing for her inspection and startling her with
his searing words as her gaze shot up in embarrassment. Her face turned different shades of red again.
"I-uh...uh," she stammered, her head negatively shaking as she backed slightly away from the virile heat of the man
standing before her so imperviously. "I-I think I'll just retire to my rooms now, if you don't mind?" She said, ignoring his
statement that she wanted to answer with a yes, but didn't dare as she made her way towards the door. The servants had already
begun clearing the table.
Rini frowned as Denise stared hungrily at Elios when he turned toward Rini. Denise did her best to make sure that he
could see the way her blouse dipped enticingly and showed the soft curve of her breasts. Rini wanted to strangle the girl.
"Coward," Elios replied to Rini's earlier statement, the sensuous curve of his smile made Rini's knees weak all over again.
He ignored the servant girl. He was fully aware of Denise's attraction to him. It had been very obvious, from the first moment he
had laid his eyes on her. How she had managed to touch him when she thought he wouldn't be offended by her attentions that
evening in his chambers enraged him, just thinking about it. And he was not the type to easily anger. He was making a very valiant
effort to convey to the servant girl that he was not interested in her. Especially since, the Princess of Earth and Moon fully
captivated and intrigued him.
Rini turned toward him; her back leaning against the door to the hallway entry and Elios took his time to allow his gaze to
sweep the length of her shapely body. The skimpy dress hugged her exquisite figure, showing off the full mounds of her breasts;
her long limbs sleek and trim as her lustrous pink mane gleamed lusciously underneath the lights of the dining area. Immediately he
felt the repercussions grapple at his insides, his body growing fiercely hot with desire. Her gaze was innocent and yet provocative
all at once, yet it was more than he could take. He smiled slowly at her as if telling her good night for the evening and then turned
abruptly away from her. His large wings provided the protection he needed from the craving evident on his face and screaming at
his body for release.
He wanted her and he wanted her badly.
The next morning found Rini blurry-eyed and tired. Unlike the night before where she had slept like a baby, last night she
had done nothing but toss and turn. A certain angel with golden hair, blue eyes and a sinew body had kept her up all night,
dreaming of forbidden fantasies only to awaken from the illusion, warm and somehow unfulfilled.
She was late. She hurried through breakfast, gulping down her coffee and eating a piece of toast along the way to the
entryway of the caverns. Sarah had informed her earlier that Elios said he would meet her at the bottom of the mountains since the
weather had cleared overnight. When Rini came to the end of the cavern, she began to fume as she stood looking over the cliff of
the cavern entry.
Despite the early morning spectacular view from the high caverns, Rini's mind was on how she was going to get to the
bottom of the mountain with the elevator still in repair. She didn't notice the wonderful blue skies or the puffy clouds that dotted
along the horizon as Paradise's sun brightly blazed in the sky. She didn't notice either, the huge ocean that surrounded them or
how the water sparkled with that certain blue jewel color.
Instead of waiting for Elios, since she didn't know where he was, she did the next best thing by transforming into Super
Sailor Moon. Her mother had long since taken over the role of Neo-Queen Serenity and Sailor Cosmos. Rini had inherited the
Super Sailor Moon role a couple of centuries ago.
The costume had evolved over the centuries to reflect the fashion of their time period. It changed again as if it had a mind
of its own. This was new for the costume, as it had never reacted that way for her mother in the past. Before the outfit consisted
of the standard, very short skirt and long boots but more tailored and trimmer in its look. But now as she stared at the new
costume on her body, the outfit had changed again to accommodate the warmer climate in Paradise. The outfit now consisted of a
form-fitting shirt, very short shorts and again, light weight boots adorned her feet. The outfit was nearly completely white with
soft touches of pale pink, soothing lavender and shimmering, silver highlights. Silver, crescent moon earrings adorned her earlobes
and her small, heart-shaped locket dangled from a very thin, white-gold chain across her swan-like neck. Opera length gloves of a
very light quality also adorned her arms.
Rini pulled the back of the silky shorts further down over her rounded buttocks, not quite liking the way it molded to her
bottom, enticingly. Then she snapped her small wings wide and alighted into the air with ease. The cool air whistled through her
hair and clothing and then the atmosphere around her turned warm as she neared the bottom of the mountain. It was before she
landed that she spotted Elios flying towards her with tremendous speed and agility. His sinew arms spread wide of a sudden, his
long, hard body bracing before her for a stop even as his huge, white-feathered wings were spread wide. They beat so furiously
that the wings almost seemed invisible, like those of a hummingbird. And of course, she could hear the hum of his wings as her
feet touched the sand of the beach. The compound that she had occupied with Broad in attendance was a short distance away.
"I was wondering when you were going to join me," Elios said when he reached her side. He thrust a sheet of paper with
writings and architect drawings into her hands.
Rini looked down at the paper that read like mathematical problems and frowned back at the angel. "What am I supposed
to do with this?' She blurted out with frustration.
"Follow me, and I'll show you," he ordered, alighting into the air again. Just as they were ready to fly over the
compound, they saw Broad step out of the building, waving to them for attention.
"What's the news?" Elios asked of Broad as they flew down beside them.
Broad stared for a moment at Rini, her outfit and the small, white wings behind her, before finding his tongue. He could
feel the Angian's fierce gaze blazing at him and cleared his throat before saying, "just as we thought, the Junketeer confirmed this
morning that your ship was sabotaged."
"And have they any idea by whom?" Elios clipped shortly, his words sharp, all the sudden furious at the older man. He
didn't like the way the man had gazed at Rini with longing in his expression.
"Do they have any idea of how we're going to get out of here?" Rini asked desperately, not noticing the tension in Elios.
Broad nodded his negatively to Rini, his eyes showing their understanding, his gaze shifting nervously back at the
archangel, wondering what he had done to provoke the anger that blazed from the ambassador's eyes. "No, the Junketeer is
investigating that issue. It is considered right now, a high security issue and they are trying to conduct the investigation under
cover."
Elios nodded his head in agreement with the report, his ill-placed ire held in check. He turned his gaze toward the ocean, a
visible tick in his cheek. "Thank you, will you be joining us later for the scout?"
"No, I've got to attend to your security guard. He finally woke this morning. Marilee is with him right now and I should
get back to him, too." Broad finished, hesitating.
"Alright," Elios answered, motioning for Rini to follow him. "We'll meet with you later after we've scouted vicinity
thoroughly."
Broad smiled and grinned at the same, his nervousness leaving him in an instant, stating, "I'll come back out in minute. I
want see you guys in action."
Elios laughed deeply, unable to resist Broad's ernest expression and thereby releasing the tension in him. Rini turned toward
the laughter, unable to control the tingling that went down her spine. Her breath caught as she stared at Elios' handsome, rugged
face in a deep smile.
"And just what are you staring at, my sweet princess?" Elios asked roguishly, catching her in her gaze and making her
blush at his words.
"I-I I was staring at you, that's what!" She stammered and then answered with boldness.
Elios waved to Broad even as they started walking away from him. Broad was grinning widely at their conversation.
"Stare at me any longer like that and we'll see about appeasing that hunger in your eyes," Elios stated quietly and low, for
her ears only.
Rini stammered again, loosing her step along the way. Elios' arm shot out and grabbed her around her slim waist and
crushed her body to him before she could fall, and then suddenly and explicitly Rini found herself very close that body of her
best-kept, secret fantasy. She stared into his beautiful face, her gaze roaming over the chiseled features that she had already
committed to memory. Her tongue flicked nervously over her lower lip and drew the attention of the archangel's hard gaze to her
softly parted lips that were very pink and tantalizing to his view.
"You could tempt an angel, Rini," Elios drew out raggedly, his voice husky with fresh desire. The heat flared fast and hot
within him and he was so very, very tempted to taste her honey and not just the honey within her mouth but honey in other more
intimate areas.
"And you could tempt the devil," Rini breathed softly, a new boldness igniting within her. The devil in me, she wanted to
say.
Elios stared for long moments at those utterly delectable lips of hers before noticing that Broad still stood a few feet away
from them and alternating between a gaping grin on his face or his jaw plainly hanging open. He straightened them up, and breaking
the heady moment, clearly indicating to her that they had an audience watching them with great interest.
Rini turned her face into his chest, hiding her burning face from Broad in embarrassment. It only managed to cause the
man before her to suck in his breath sharply from the soft contact of her pert nose and the graze of her lips on his bare chest that
was exposed by the vee of his vest.
Rini's senses were instantly filled with Elios' heady musk and from where she stood within Elios' arms, to Broad, it
probably looked as if they were embracing intimately.
Elios cleared his dry throat and then set her carefully away from him. His body was clamoring for the touch of her and he
did not want to scare her with the blatant evidence of his desire tightening at the juncture of his taut pants. And he had to bring his
heady thoughts back into order before his body took control.
"I think it's time we got down to business, what do you think?" Elios asked, amazed that his voice was steady.
Rini nodded her head in agreement, not trusting her voice for the moment. Then she said, "then by all means," she started,
there was still a warm catch in her voice, but she ignored it as Elios' gaze pierced through her. "Let us not waste anymore time,"
she finished.
Elios continued to gaze at her for long moments before turning away, a devilish grin erupting across his lips, and saying
words that were meant to entice, words that he knew he would regret later, or would he, he thought? But the devil in him urged
him on, prompting him to say, "ah Rini, but that angel was so very tempted....so very tempted."
Rini's jaw dropped.
Elios chuckled.
Stay tuned for Chapter 5! Lady M. Harris.