Hearts' Remedy
Chapter 16
Another grand banquet was held in the same season in honor of Shingo and Mika's marriage. Most brides like their marriages to be held in the spring, but Mika preferred autumn. She loved the beauty of the foliage, but the date was set mainly because she was allergic to pollen.
One moment Mika was walking down the aisle, and the next, Kenji's household was preparing a room for the new member. With Mika's presence in the family, the house seemed cozier. Mika took over Serena's usual house chores and from there life started to take a careening turn that made Serena dizzy.
"Who are you?" The prince asked. There was a frown on his face.
Alone in Gor's cabin, and weary from work, Serena took the prince's outburst unprepared.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Who are you?" This time he sounded entirely serious. He needed to know, his tone implied.
"I am who you see," Serena laughed softly at herself.
"I see a girl, who is hiding so much it's weighing her down."
Serena turned around to face Darien with hands on her hips. "Funny, I don't feel weighted down at all." She leaned back against the wall. "What you see, weighing me down might be me recovering from the aftershock of everything that has happened since I met you."
"Don't change the subject."
Serena's eyes widened as the prince stepped closer to her, so that his shadow fell over her entire body. "I feel that I know a fake you," Darien said.
Serena's face frowned. "If that is how you see me, then maybe I'm not worth your time."
"Serena… That isn't what I mean."
"Then, what do you mean!"
"I dream of you."
Serena gulped, seeing his face come nearer to hers.
"And what do you see in those dreams?" She murmured.
"I dream of a shadow of you, confused and lost because you can't decide."
Somehow Darien's mouth was on hers by the time he finished his sentence. She forgot about their whole conversation as he pressed his lips against hers. The only thing that came to mind was that this was her first kiss! The only thing she felt was a weird, unfamiliar fluttering in her stomach. The only thing she saw in the back of her mind was a great flash of light.
Darien, realizing the position they were in, drew back immediately. "Forgive me! I don't know what came over me." He took a deep, nervous breath, afraid to look at her. Serena stared at him with dazed, misty eyes.
"Serena? Darien?" Gor's deep voice entered the room. "Hey, is everything alright in here. I was coming back and I saw a light."
Serena covered her mouth in surprise. "You… You saw it, too!" Serena shouted at Darien.
"What's going on here?"
"N-nothing, I have to finish something. I need to finish it." Serena stumbled out, through the curtains.
When the two men were alone, Gor gave Darien a questionable look. Darien raked a hand through his hair and shook the question off.
Guilt. The light made Serena feel guilty. It erupted as a caution to her. The pact she had made to herself was broken. She felt another change in her, different from anything she had felt. In moments as confusing as this, she needed a guardian to speak to.
Anger. Why did Darien do that? He only wanted to ask her who she was, where she was from. He wanted to know her and scare away the dark dreams he had of her. Instead, some enchantment compelled him to scare her away. Now, this girl's incessant secrecy will need eternal time to reveal itself.
"Serena, are you alright?"
Serena spun around, all nervous and worked up. "Why!"
Darien stepped back. "I was wondering if it would be safe to talk to you. You once told me you would be there if I needed someone to talk to."
"Did I? We're in a different situation right now." Serena turned around and started wiping down the counter.
"I can't have you angry with me…"
"Then control yourself, Highness! You make moments seem so awkward."
"I know, I know, but the truth is…"
Serena's hands were moving faster and scrubbing harder. The door suddenly squeaked open. No one came through it, but Serena took the hint to look down. Her eyes followed the cat Artemis. Artemis leapt onto the stool then onto the counter that Serena was wiping. He looked up at the girl with an inquisitive look.
"Artemis?" Serena was surprised, for the lone cat seemed to be missing something.
"Where's Luna?" Darien asked, in wonder.
"Yeah…" Serena murmured. "Where's my cat?"
"Luna!"
"Luna!"
"Luna!"
"Here, kitty, kitty, kitty."
Serena glanced at Darien with a funny look. He shrugged. "She is a kitty isn't she?"
Artemis darted back to the pair. "Looks like he's back empty handed," Darien stated the obvious.
"This is pointless. Maybe she'll show up later. Let's go back to Gor's place. I'm thirsty and all this shouting has left my mouth dry."
"Fine with me," Darien agreed, following the girl back. Artemis brought his lingering eyes to the path behind them. He stared worriedly down the road before he turned and followed the two of them home.
To say that it was easy for Serena to relax with her drink would be a lie. Luna had not returned home and the sky was getting dark. "I'm going out. I have to look." Artemis got up from his warm place on the counter, ready to tag along.
Serena went into the backroom to get her slippers. For five minutes the place was quiet, but then…
"Artemis!" Cat and man jumped.
"You rascal!" Serena burst back into the room. "Come here you!" She grabbed the cat roughly and brought him into the next room. She entered Gor's room, and showed him Luna, wet from perspiration, lying on a blanket atop Gor's bed.
"Look what your cat did to mine?" Serena tossed her angry eyes at Darien.
"What's wrong with her?"
Artemis seemed to grow warmer in Serena's arms, forcing Serena to look at the cat. Apparently, the heat was coming from the blush that grew on his cheeks.
"My cat is having contractions."
Question marks popped out of Darien's head.
"Because of Artemis here."
Darien quirked an eyebrow. "Huh?"
"She's having a kitten. Do I have to spell it out, Your Highness?"
"Oh…."
"Take your cat and get out, I need peace and quiet. This is going to take some time." Serena pushed Artemis into Darien's hands and shoved him out. She rolled up her sleeves and pursed her lips. "Boy, things are going to be different around here!"
Darien and Artemis waited right by the door. Artemis paced, but Darien sat comfortably still on his stool. "Artemis, hold still. You're making me nervous."
Artemis glared at the man.
Suddenly, Serena opened the door, holding up bloody hands. She went to wash them in the basin. Artemis was about to step in when Serena stopped him abruptly with a wet hand.
"It's a girl kitty if you want to know and Luna is fine."
Artemis looked up and noticed that Serena held him fast with her eyes. She was not speaking to Darien, but was directing her speech at him.
"My favorite Artemis, talk to me. I know you can talk."
Darien started fidgeting like a child on his stool. "And I know about Luna."
Serena frowned. "I see I'm not the only one keeping secrets."
"I never expected you to find out this way, Serena," Artemis spoke readily.
Serena squealed with glee, hugging the cat to her. "Such a beautiful voice!"
"Serena, please, you're suffocating me," the cat gasped.
"Oh, you! Come everyone; meet Luna and Artemis's baby."
"Everyone being me?" Darien laughed.
Artemis leapt lightly on the bed beside Luna. Luna looked over at him, stopping her cleaning of the newborn between her paws. A grey fur ball, slept snuggled against the black cat. Artemis sniffed it proudly, his eyes shinning with love and joy.
"We should name her right, now!" Serena shouted with excitement.
"Pipe down," Luna mumbled.
Artemis smiled, licking Luna's cheek. "There's no need. We already made up names ahead of time."
"So that's why Luna was getting so fat and lazy!"
Luna glowered at Serena from her place. "I was carrying Diana."
"Diana! That's such a pretty name!"
"Oh, Darien, will you please take the girl out of here? She's hurting my ears," Luna groaned.
As Serena babbled on, Darien took her by the shoulders and led her out. "We'll leave you two alone," Darien said, giving them a wink before closing the door behind him.
And that was the day, Diana was born, an additional change to Serena's altering life.
A.N. No I haven't forgot about this story. Just trying to find the time towrite for fun like this. It's like this, when I have time I type or write a little of something.
How many of you have followed Hearts' Remedy since it's first chapter? I would really like to know. Say yes in your reviews if you please. Thank you!