Chapter Seven
Truth
Rontu led them to the garden of pink flowers he had found. "Oh, what lovely pink flowers!" Rhoda exclaimed. "Pink flowers...?" Fiore said, obviously troubled by something. Rhoda examined one of the flowers. "Rhoda! Don't!" Fiore warned. He pulled her away just before the flower brought itself down on her hand. She gasped. She looked at Fiore. "How did you know?" she asked. "I..." Fiore started to say.
"Ah, Fiore. How good it is to see you," said a cold voice behind them. They all turned around. Standing there was the same woman whom Rontu had stolen the necklace from. Zoë hissed. Sky-Dancer and Rontu lowered themselves, ready to pounce, teeth bared.
"Kesenian..." Fiore gasped. "The Kesenian Blossom?" asked Rhoda. Fiore turned to her. "How do you know about that?" he asked. "She has pink hair," Rhoda replied. "That's right," the woman said, "I am the Kesenian Blossom. Only I am powerful enough to sustain a body of my own. I no longer need anyone to work on my behalf. You should be able to remember one special servant I had."
"Fiore, what is she talking about?" Rhoda asked. Zoë hissed at Kesenian. Kesenian cackled. "Ah, so you haven't told her," she taunted, "What a shame. And to think, this girl trusted you to never keep anything from her."
She walked toward Rhoda. Rhoda looked puzzled. Kesenian stood behind her and put her hands on her shoulders. "He has hidden a lot from you," Kesenian purred into Rhoda's ear. "Get away from her!" Fiore growled. Kesenian laughed cruelly. "Will you, dear Fiore," she hissed, "tell her what happened? Or will I have to tell her what happened when you met me?"
Rhoda's eyes grew wide. Kesenian smiled wickedly. "He found me on a lone asteroid," Kesenian said, "I planted the seeds of negativity in his heart and he became my most loyal servant. He was jealous of his friend Darien and Sailor Moon's passionate friendship, so he tried to destroy Sailor Moon. Unfortunately, that Sailor brat escaped and foiled my plans. She also freed Fiore of my grasp. I was supposedly destroyed, but no! I was merely turned into a seed, drifting from one star system to another. Now, I have a body of my own instead of that puny flower."
Rhoda's eyes grew wider than ever. "Leave her alone, Kesenian!" Fiore hissed. Rontu growled, and prevented Kesenian from coming any closer to Rhoda. Kesenian glared at Rontu then looked back at Rhoda. "You have something of mine, and I want it back," she hissed. Rhoda shook her head. "You can't have the amulet!" she exclaimed. Kesenian glared at her. "You will regret this!"
On saying this, she disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. Rhoda looked at Fiore, betrayal in her heart. "I know what you're thinking," he said, "I'm sorry. I should have told you about Kesenian..."
"Yes, you should have," Rhoda said.
Fiore said nothing. Rhoda turned her back on him. "I trusted you, Fiore!" Rhoda hissed, tears forming in her eyes. She fell to her knees. Rontu whined. He lay down beside her and slipped his head under her arm. Rhoda stroked his black fur. Fiore knelt beside her and put his hand on her shoulder. "I truly am sorry, Rhoda," he said, "Can you forgive me?"
Rhoda turned and threw her arms around his neck in a hug. "Yes," she said, "But this will leave a wound on my heart for quite some time."
Fiore kissed her cheek. Rontu and Bianca nuzzled each other affectionately. They then threw back their heads and howled.
Oh, poor Rhoda. She must be so hurt that Fiore had lied to her. Will she still marry him?