A/N: So yay! Another chapter! Hope you're all pleased with how the story's going. Your reviews are what encourage me to continue! And I love you all for it! And I know that it takes me forever to update, but I'm just freaking crazy busy and not to mention I've had major writer's block. I had to all but force this chapter out, but I wanted to update for you! :) . haha.

Oh and a WARNING: this chapter is a lot more risqué than the previous ones... Not quite there but a precursor. But this fic is rated "M" for a reason (as I stated before).

Crescendo

Chapter 3: Bound

The feelings and passion coursing through her body were incredible; like nothing she'd ever felt before. Rather than being repulsed by the idea of someone drinking her blood, it felt... erotic, and sensual somehow. And if the increased pressure on her stomach from Darien was any indication, she wasn't the only one being affected.

Darien moaned softly as Serena's sweet, warm blood slid down his throat. Like some kind of syrup or ambrosia, her taste was absolutely addicting, and he just couldn't get enough. In all of his long existence, throughout the incredible span of his lifetime, Darien had never tasted blood or experienced such sensations as sweet and perfect as this. So perfect, my Serena…

Desire and lust sparked around them, creating such a tension that both bodies were becoming restless, as they writhed against each other. Mindless with want and overcome by the powerful yet unfamiliar emotions wrung out of them, Darien continued to pull with long strokes from Serena's neck, her body completely limp in ecstasy.

Momentarily breaking free, Darien opened heavy lidded eyes, the dark blue orbs nearly black with desire, his lips painted red with Serena's blood. He slowly licked the remainder of blood off his lips, savoring the rich flavor. He felt his rigid length swell and thicken to the point of pain as Serena began to moan in protest, all but crawling up his body in an attempt to get closer. The separation felt unbearable to her and she needed all the close contact she could get.

Reaching up, she plunged her fingers into his thick raven-black hair and pulled his face down to hers, crushing her lips against his. This time, with her willing and giving, Darien ran his tongue along the seam of her sinful lips, quickly slipping through when her mouth slightly parted. He melded his mouth and body even more closely against hers as his tongue mated with hers. Their mouths still fused together, he lifted one hand and gently cupped her breast, wanting to roar with pleasure and conquest when she strained against his hand rather than pushing him away.

Brushing his thumb over her rigidly peaked nipple, he removed his mouth from hers only to return back to her neck, drawing in one last deep pull before breaking free and spinning Serena's body around so that her bottom cuddled his raging erection.

Using his teeth, he slashed a cut over his wrist and thickly demanded, "Drink from me..." Gritting his teeth against the pain/pleasure, he resisted ripping all of her clothes off and taking her on the staircase.

His demand broke through Serena's haze of desire and her thoughts finally began to clear. It took her moment to thoroughly process his words and to understand his meaning. Realizing that he meant for her to drink from the blood welling in his slashed wrist, all thoughts of sex and passion seem to flee.

Darien could feel her rising panic but he was too consumed by the bloodlust, and the animal inside him was roaring that he officially claim her as his, to make her his kind, to be by his side for now and eternity. He began to see through a red haze and even as he realized that his normally controlled and concealed dam of incredible powers was about to break free, he ignored the warnings blaring off in his head and let the beast free.

"What? No! Wait, stop Darien, let me go." Serena began to struggle as one of his powerful arms held her still and kept his other arm with the bleeding wrist in front of her face. He ignored her flailing arms and didn't even flinch when she repeatedly kicked his shins and elbowed him in the chest.

"Drink." His voice was completely monotonic, the word completely lacking any emotion or substance. It was as if he was under a trance, and wasn't planning on waking up anytime soon.

Desperately, Serena continued to struggle as Darien brought his wrist closer and closer. Normally, Serena was unbearably squeamish and couldn't even stand the sight of blood, but with Darien, nothing was the same. Even as the scent of his blood wafted to her, she felt no repulsion or any disgust; only an inexplicable hunger that she knew was unreasonable and completely inappropriate.

DRINK! This time, she'd not heard his voice through her ears, but in her head, as if a shadow of his presence resided in the recesses of her mind. She craned her neck around trying to get a glimpse of his face and what she saw terrified her.

His face was completely blank but in his eyes, the beautiful navy irises were tinged with a crimson red around the edge as they blazed with hunger, rage, and power. His entire body was emanating a dark force, clogging the air around them even though she could see nothing. But the waves of power and energy rolling from him were all but beating her body.

Her eyes remained transfixed on his, and as she fell under the hypnotic spell of those unblinking eyes, she distantly realized that he'd turned her back around in his arms, so that they were face to face once again. Slowly, he raised his wrist back up to her mouth and gently pressed it against her mouth, coating her lips with the thick, red liquid. Its heady scent filled her senses and strung her body tight with lust. Paralyzed by the force of Darien's power, she felt like she was caught in a dream, and couldn't wake up. Inside, she was screaming and trying to move her limp body, but still, she remained silent and unmoving. Only her eyes relayed the horror and terror of what was happening, of what was going to happen.

Despite the pleading in her eyes, Darien remained as cold and unmoved as ever. When finally he removed his wrist, the wound healed instantly, not even leaving a single trace of blood on his arm or the ground.

Involuntarily, Serena licked her lips and before she could even realized what she had done, the heady taste of his blood had already flooded her mouth and invaded her senses until she became desperately frantic for more.

"Oh god. More. Please, more. Darien. Now. God. Please, I want more," she begged, not even caring about what she was begging for, just so long as she could have more; like a drug user who desperately needed another hit to relieve them of the painful longing.

Darien's smile was triumphant and almost cruel in its beauty. "Then say it. Say that you're mine. Say that you will be my mate for all eternity. Say that you love me," he hissed. Subconsciously, he knew that she was under his thrall, that his immense powers had spilled out and consumed her to the point that she'd do anything he commanded. And even as he knew that it was wrong, knew that once the spell was broken, she could very well despise him with all her being, he let it happen, damning the consequences. So long as she agrees to submit and never leave me.

"I'm yours. I'm yours. Your mate. Anything. Everything. I don't care. You have me. Now and forever. Please. More. Just a little bit more."

"Do you love me?"

"Oh god. More. Yes. I love you. Please, Darien." Serena felt as if her body were on fire and was going to explode in a matter of seconds if she didn't taste some more of his delicious and lethally addictive essence.

"Forever?" he gritted out harshly as he cut a thin line along his collarbone.

"Forever," she agreed mindlessly, immediately latching on to the wound like a baby to a mother's teat. She suckled greedily, lapping at his skin.

Darien roared his pleasure at the sensation of Serena sucking at him, taking his blood for her own. He grabbed her head and held her more closely in place, his head thrown back in rapture. He had given his blood before, to his brothers when they were in need, and to a few select others, but it had occurred with a sort of distant disinterest, not with this burst of sensation and pleasure. It was like experiencing the best orgasm of his life but without the finishing release.

Satisfied with her compliance, the beast in him calmed, reveling in the pleasure saturating his body. Slowly, Darien reigned in his powers, alarmed at his loss of control. When one as powerful his him had the ability to take out entire cities, it was best that he be in full control at all times. But something about Serena just touched a primal instinct; demanding that he protect and be obeyed, no matter the cost.

Looking down into her foggy, entranced eyes, he hoped that the cost wouldn't be too great.

When finally Serena had drunk her fill, she slowly lifted her eyes and languorously licked her lips, savoring every last drop. Her mind still clouded over and her thoughts confused, she looked back up into Darien's eyes. The red tinge had disappeared and he looked a hundred times more approachable than he had before. The air no longer had that thick, choking sensation she had sense earlier as well.

Tenderly, Darien lifted a stray strand of hair and tucked it gently behind Serena's ear. "Serena love?"

For a moment they stared deeply into each other's eyes. Some would call it a picture perfect moment, the tall, darkly handsome man and the beautiful, angelic woman wrapped in each other's arms.

That is, until Serena reached up at slapped him with all her strength across the cheek.

Although he barely even flinched, didn't even move a muscle, his mind was still reeling in shock that she actually managed to slip past his defense and strike him. No one, in at least a millennia had ever managed to hit him.

Until now.

"How dare you?" she hissed furiously. "What did you do to me? I could hear you in my head! You made me drink…" she trailed off, feeling slightly queasy.

"I did what I had to do to insure your safety. And to bind you to me. It is not safe for you leave me. If my enemies were to find the queen unprotected… I cannot allow the risk of you almost succeeding in leaving undetected again like today," he said coolly. Tonelessly.

Heartlessly. What a freaking bastard, she thought angrily. Actually, she was angrier with herself than with him. For although her stomach rolled each time she thought about what she had done (and with relish…), she knew that she couldn't deny the fact that she had enjoyed it. Immensely. Although she'd damn well try.

Actually, my parents were married when I was born. Quite happily in fact.

"What the fuck? How did you- "she asked, alarmed.

"Now that we have exchanged blood, we have the ability to see into each other's mind now. Well, at least, I can see into yours," he responded smoothly.

"You can read my mind? What have you done to me? Oh god. Stay out of my mind." She planted her hands over her ears, as if that action alone would keep Darien out.

It's alright my love. You'll soon become accustomed to our ways. I will teach you to control your thoughts and powers.

"STOP IT! Stay out of my mind!" she screamed furiously, wrenching herself out of his arms. "Oh god. What's happening to me? How could-"

She broke off abruptly, as a wracking pain echoed through her body. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and fell on her knees, gasping for air.

"Serena?" Alarmed, Darien rushed to her. He reached out to her, only to be stopped when she held out a hand.

"Don't touch me," she hissed. She let out a choked scream as she felt another stab to her abdomen. It felt as if she was being cut and a burning liquid was being poured over her wounds at the same time.

"Like hell!" he yelled, taking her up into his arms.

In too much pain and shock to protest, Serena merely whimpered, hating herself for being so weak. She curled up into a ball and turned into his chest. Next thing she knew, in a blink of an eye, they were back in Darien's room, from where she had just escaped. He closed the curtains with a wave of his hands and gently placed her on the bed.

Darien was terrified. He had no idea what was happening to his mate, causing her this immense pain. He could feel her agony rolling from her in waves, leaving him feeling… Helpless.

For the first time in his life, Darien had no idea what to do, no idea as to what he could do to help. He felt utterly powerless and desperate as he watched Serena's writhing form and heard her every whimper. Helpless.

She felt as if someone was grabbing her inner organs and squeezing them, pulling and stretching them. The pain was unbearable. This time she welcomed the incoming darkness that was creeping up on her, wanting to fade into that oblivion where pain and suffering was nonexistent.

Cradling her slight frame to his, he leaned against the headboard and held her shivering body against his, whispering a litany of soothing, desperate words. As he felt her shivers and tremors subside, he let out a relieved breath. He watched Serena's pale face carefully, searching for any further signs that she was in discomfort.

There were very few things he had never understood, or couldn't find the answer to. But this… He simply had no idea what was happening to Serena. Whenever a mortal was given vampire blood, it simply gave enhanced senses; sped up healing. It didn't cause excruciating pain. Instead, the symptoms that Serena was showing were more akin to… conversion.

No! It's not possible! Conversion required the mortal to be on the brink of death - usually by draining as much blood as the human could take. Only then after feeding them vampire blood would they return as the undead. But how could he deny the evidence? Already he could feel Serena's heart rate slowing exponentially, smell the change in her scent.

No, his earlier suspicions were correct. Serena was no mere human. She was something… more.

Mina bleary lifted her head from the table and looked at the clock hanging on the opposite wall.

Nine-thirty a.m. …Ugh. I must've dozed off for a few hours.

Never before had Mina ever had such a tiring and stressful night. There she was, sleeping peacefully in a deep, dreamless sleep, recovering from the bane of her existence (a.k.a. jet lag), when someone decided to start pounding on the door, making a god-awful racket. Not to mention, when she opened the door to confront her disturbers, she was became face to face to two very large, very powerful, full-grown vampires.

Oh god. Not this again, she groaned. I thought I left this all behind in Venezuela, after… Well, whatever. God I hope nothing is wrong…

Psh. Yeah right Mina. "Hi, we're your friendly local neighborhood vampires, and we were just stopping by to say 'Welcome Back', and to drop off these freshly baked cookies. Oh and don't mind the ominous and eternally scary look on our faces."

"Uh, may I help you gentlemen?" she asked timidly. Damn it Mina, how many times did Serena tell to always check the peep hole before opening the door?

"Hey Mina! I'm sorry to bother you like this but I'm afraid we have a situation," said a familiar voice.

"Raye?" Mina just stared at the head that popped up behind the man with the short blond hair. "What are you doing here? At this hour?" she asked, confused out of her mind.

"Um… Well, I think we should talk about it inside; it might take some explaining," she answered nervously.

"Um, okay. I guess. But what about…" her voice trailed off as she eyed the two male vampires. Does Raye even know what she's with?

"Oh! Right, I forgot. This Nephrite," she said, gesturing to the dark haired man, "and this is Jadeite," she gestured to blond man. "He's my fiancé," she finished.

"Your… Wha?" she asked, horrified. Oh my god. What has Raye gotten herself into? Does she know what these things are? "Fiancé? Oh wow. Well, um. Congratulations." She was proud of the almost genuine smile that she gave.

"Thanks, it just happened recently." Raye smiled, but her face was still lined with worry and tension. "Anyways, we should go inside."

"Yeah. Of course." Belatedly, Mina realized that something was missing. "Where's Serena? She's not coming home with you? I thought she said that you guys were going out to dinner."

Raye hesitated and when a worried look passed over her face, that's all it took for Mina to realize that something was wrong. "Did something happen to her? Was there an accident?" she asked alarmed, already reaching for a coat and her purse, ready to go to her cousin.

"Well, that's just it. We don't know. After the concert, we waited half an hour for her. When we went to check up on her, the auditorium had already closed and all the lights were off. It's like she just disappeared. So we called her cell phone, but she never picked up. Then we thought that she might've just completely forgotten about dinner; you know how she is sometimes after concerts," Raye added with a half-smile, "so we came here and from the confused expression on your face, I guess she never came home either," she finished dejectedly. "I'm so worried about her! It's not like Serena to go wandering this late at night without telling someone. I don't know if I'm just overreacting, but I feel kind of nervous about this whole situation."

Throughout Raye's explanation Mina had remained still, frozen to the floor, but as soon as Raye was finished, Mina stuffed her sock-clad feet into thick rain boots and said, "C'mon. Let's go to the police station. I'm definitely getting a bad feeling about this too."

Raye puzzled for a moment over the look Mina gave Jadeite and Nephrite as she spoke, but didn't get a chance to expand on her thoughts as Mina rushed her out of the door. It was just that for a moment, Mina looked like she was…

Blaming them.

It was killing her, torturing her, beating her. It was relentless, unbearable, and consuming.

The thirst.

Her throat felt dry and parched as if she had swallowed a gallon of sand, her stomach twisting and wracking her body with pain as the emptiness and hunger filled her. But even amidst the pain and hunger, she felt strong arms around her, protecting her and a deep, soothing voice, comforting her, warming her.

She went for the jugular.

For the past hour, Darien had been gently holding Serena to his body, whispering words of comfort, words of love, even complete nonsense in his desperation to bring her back to consciousness. When he mentally scanned through the physical condition of her body, he noted with part confusion, part understanding that while she was no longer human, she still was not completely vampire, as if a whole other being still remained a part of her body; a being that that he could not recognize.

It was yet another strange phenomenon, another extreme rarity as Darien once again found himself at a loss, not knowing what was happening or how to fix things. If only he could-

Holy FUCK! Abruptly, all train of lucid and cohesive thoughts immediately fled his mind as all the blood in his brain, hell, all the blood in his body shot straight down to his groin.

Serena's eyes had shot open and even before he could process this relieving news, she had sprung up and pinned him down, with amazing speed and agility, latching down on his neck and suckling like a newborn.

Caught completely off guard, again! This would not do. What was the world coming to, if he, Master Vampire and the proclaimed King could be caught off guard by a woman who was half his size?

His thoughts trailed off as he groaned again when she began to writhe and rub against him, his body already taut and as tight as a wire. When her roaming hands began to wander south, teasing him as they lightly brushed the large bulge straining against his zipper, Darien quickly flipped their positions, in order to avoid coming right there in his pants. She laughed huskily against his neck, never breaking connection as his powerful blood continued to flow into her eager mouth.

He slipped his hand under her (well actually, his) shirt, stroking her smooth, satiny skin, until he was stroking the undersides of her breasts, circling a fingertip around the peaked tip, never quite touching. She finally lifted her mouth, her lips painted red, as she moaned and wrapped her arms around him, bringing them even closer together.

This was what he had been waiting for, what had subconsciously kept him sane and alive for all this centuries. As he stared down at Serena's enraptured face, her eyes closed and her breath unsteady, he felt so much heat in him, so much damn love, it seemed impossible.

Impossible that he had really found her, impossible that she was in his arms, impossible that he even knew how to love. Yet, it was happening.

He slammed his mouth down against hers, his tongue sweeping in and battling against her own, as they kissed with such ferocity that it seemed as if they were fused at the mouth. Her hands clumsily attempted to undo his trousers, until he growled and brought her arms back up, pinning them above her head. She nipped at his mouth in protest, but that only spurred him on further.

Using his free hand, he tore her shirt off with a mere tug and latched his mouth onto a bare, rosy nipple. Serena cried out as his tongue swirled around the bud and as he gently caught the sensitive tip between his teeth. Releasing her hands, he brought his other hand down to see to her other breast, as he lightly rolled her nipple between two fingers.

Plunging her hands into his thick, dark locks, Serena brought his head even closer, her mind hazy with absolute pleasure and ecstasy. She cried out in protest when he lifted his tousled head from her breasts and stared into her eyes. Vaguely, she noticed that his eyes were taking on that same slightly red tinge as it had earlier, until she lost her train of thought when he lowered his head back down, but this time pierced the skin right above her heart. She fell into an intense orgasm, her body wracked with pleasure as this time, Darien drew blood from her.

"Darien, please. Oh please. Let me… Just. Oh god. Darien." The words just tumbled out of her mouth, her mind numb and thoughts incoherent.

Drink Serena. Drink from me and make us one. Bind us, and be my Queen. I have waited an eternity for this, for you, and cannot wait any longer.

Without hesitation, Serena fell under the heady compulsion of his smooth voice in her head, not even caring that he was doing the very thing she had forbade him to do earlier. With Darien still latched onto to her breast, she craned down and bit his jugular, not even stopping for a moment to think about what she was choosing to do.

For a moment, there was a blinding rush of power as a dark aura emanated from Darien and battled with the pure white light shining from Serena. The two auras seemingly battled against each other, striking and retreating, striking and retreating.

Oblivious to the obvious turmoil raging around them, Darien and Serena remained entwined as they exchanged blood. Any other time, Darien would've been amazed that so much resistance was being shown against his powers, but as Serena's hands began to wander again, he became, to say the least, rather distracted.

Finally, the darkness and the light began to wane, as if their attacks were fruitless and losing energy. Instead, they began to twist and tangle, entwining thin strands of dark and light.

Breaking apart, Darien and Serena stared deeply into the other's eyes, forever imprinting the image of their destined mated deep within their hearts. Coming together, they shared one last, deep kiss before the air around them began to crackle. Then, all of a sudden, the entwined aura of night and day were sucked back into the embracing couple.

Serena gasped out in pain and broke off the kiss when suddenly she felt a searing, burning sensation right above her heart, where Darien had previously bitten.

At the same moment, Darien slapped a hand on his neck, as he too, felt a burning prick on his skin. Underneath his hand, a bright red light shone for a brief moment, before it disappeared.

For a moment, the only sound evident in the room was the deep and heavy breaths of the couple, as they stared at each other with half-dazed, half-amazed looks.

"W-w-what just happened?" Serena stuttered. Her body was still feeling intensely aroused, yet she also felt as if she'd just gotten her money's worth at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Her mind still fuzzy, she looked down at herself and screamed.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" she yelled, quickly pulling on the tattered shirt that hung limply from her wrists. Her entire upper torso was bare and her breasts were still rosy from the passionate embrace and attention Darien had bestowed upon them. There was a noticeably brighter red area on the swell of her left breast, right above her heart. It appeared to be some sort of shape, but Serena didn't want to risk lowering her shirt in front of Darien to examine it further. "What just happened? What is that-"

"Don't worry, it was nothing that you didn't enjoy, my sweet," Darien purred. "Now, let's just finish what we started." He swiftly pulled her into his arms and began to lower his head once more, aiming for those luscious, tempting lips.

Her lips parted in reflex and she felt her eyes begin to shutter close before she caught herself. "No! Wait! Stop! Please!"

Something in her tone caused him to pause. As he lifted his head and searched her face, he could see that she was noticeably frightened and confused. Gently caressing her face, he tilted his head to the left, drawing Serena's attention to a similar red mark on his neck. As she squinted her eyes and looked closer, she saw that it appeared to be a tattoo of some sort, with a vague shine that was beginning to fade.

"That mark- I think I just saw that- wait, what? How did it… Why do I… Why is it…" She trailed off, as again, an overwhelming sense of panic and confusion started to come over her.

Why is all this crazy shit happening to me? Maybe I'm just having a really, really, intensely realistic dream that I can't wake up from. Oh god oh god oh god. WAKE UP. Please. Let this all be a dream. This can't be happening.

"That, my love, is a sign of our marriage," said the impossibly sexy and gorgeous not-so-figment of her imagination said calmly. "And you are most assuredly, quite awake."

"Well fudge."

Mina was just about ready to go out of her mind with worry. Not only was it begin to get dark, but she still hadn't heard any news about Serena yet.

Serena, what have you gotten into now? Honestly, why can't we all just live a nice, simple, uncomplicated life? she thought, stressfully pacing the room. She stopped and shivered when an unexpected cold burst of air brushed across her skin. Did I leave a window open?

She stepped out of the kitchen and headed towards the window in the sitting room, only to stop dead in her tracks upon seeing the tall man nonchalantly sitting upon the windowsill. The man smiled broadly, his sharp and extended canines flashing dangerously in the light.

Even as she paled and her heart began to race in fear, she couldn't suppress the dreaded excitement and shameful joy upon seeing the man's face.

"Hello Mina."

"Kunzite."