Chapter Seven
Suddenly, a little girl appeared in the jeep's headlights. Serena had a blurred image of brown hair and eyes, a blue school shirt and skirt, before Raye twisted the wheel hard, throwing the jeep completely off the road. Serena's head cracked on her window, causing the world to go black for a second. The sounds of metal screaming and crunching filled her ears. The few seconds, in which the jeep hit the surrounding shrubbery, seemed to last forever.
The next thing Serena knew, the passenger side door had been ripped completely off, and hands were reaching for her. She unsnapped the seatbelt and threw herself into the backseat.
Raye moaned from the driver's seat, then screamed as her door was also ripped off its hinges. Serena reached around the seat to Raye's seatbelt and unsnapped it, then grabbed one of Raye's arms, which launched Raye into a new fit of screams. Abruptly, Raye was gone. Serena hurled herself back into the backseat, then slid to the floor boards.
Serena could hear her heartbeat in her ears, which sounded impossibly loud. Her throat felt tight and her vision kept blurring when she moved. She tried to listen over her heartbeat for Raye, but there was only silence. For a wild moment, she wondered if whatever had attacked them had left.
She moved very carefully back into the seat and peered out the window at complete darkness. Forcing herself to take deep calming breaths, she climbed back into the front seat, then out of the car.
Glancing around, she wondered how far Raye had thrown them from the road in her attempt to avoid the small girl. She couldn't see the road at all. Of course, that might have been because after a few yards, her vision blurred. Or because it was so dark.
Her mind seemed completely numb. Dimly, she realized that they had Raye, and that wasn't good, but she couldn't seem to feel anything about it. She walked a few feet wondering where she was, and how to get back to the palace. But her mind was a jumble of thoughts.
She was on her knees but didn't remember how she got there. Her stomach lurched and she threw up on the ground in front of her. Forcing, herself to her feet, she thought she heard something move to her left.
"Don't fight us, or we kill your friend." A cold voice spoke from the darkness. Serena froze, without really knowing why.
"I… don't think… I can fight." She told the voice, her own was breathless. She couldn't seem to get enough air. She tried to look around but her body didn't seem to want to move.
"Don't listen to them, Serena!" Raye shouted from the same area. There was fear and pain in her voice, but otherwise she sounded all right.
"Let her go… and I won't… fight." Serena called into the shadows, trying to keep herself standing. Her mind didn't seem to want to focus, but she knew she should get Raye free, at least. Her head felt like it was about to explode, but at the same time, the pain seemed far away, as if she wasn't actually experiencing it.
A man stepped from the shadows. Serena couldn't make him out in the darkness, all she could tell was that he was a man. Her eyes were fading more persistently, and she knew if she was going to get Raye's freedom, she had to do it soon.
"Let her go." Serena told him. He walked casually up to her until he stood about a foot away.
"Take her up to the road and flag down a car. Get her in it and get her gone." He told the shadows over his shoulder. There was a flurry of moment. After a few seconds, Serena knew that she and the man were alone next to the wrecked jeep.
Serena felt the world sliding away. She couldn't feel her legs any more, and was barely aware of falling forward as her legs gave way. She felt arms catch her before she hit the ground, and had the sensation of being picked up.
Something was sweeping her hair away from her face and neck. "It's alright. You're alright." A voice kept saying over and over, then darkness swept everything away.
Serena woke in a white room. The bed beneath her was hard and uncomfortable. A flimsy blanket was draped over her. There was a strange beeping that barely registered in her consciousness at first, but slowly became louder as she rose from the darkness. Her head hurt. She tried to shift and found out that she was restrained to the bed; straps ran across her chest, stomach, thighs and ankles. Her wrists were tied down as well.
The beeping was becoming annoying. She glanced around and found a monitor with a black screen, grid, and waveform on it.
She came fully awake at that moment. "Let me out of here!" She screamed.
Instantly, people in white clothing burst into the room. Two men grabbed her legs and pushed them into the bed, while two more pushed her shoulders into the bed as well.
"It's alright, Princess. We'll just give you a shot to relax you."
"Why am I tied down?" She asked, hoping against hope that the people in the room were doctors.
"You're fully awake?" A man asked from behind the four people holding her down.
"Yeah, my head feels like it's going to explode. Can you turn that beeping off?"
"Let her go." He told the others. "I'm sorry, Princess. Your heart stopped twice after you came in here, the beeping is the heart monitor. And no, we can't turn it off."
"Fine. Why am I tied down?"
"Yesterday you went into an extreme seizure, and threw two of my nurses into walls."
"I'm sorry." Serena said, wondering about the two people she had unintentionally hurt. "Are they alright?"
"Yes. We can untie you now." The man said. "Would you like to see your family? They are in the waiting room."
"Yeah." Serena said, as the straps were loosened, then pulled off of her. She sat up and rubbed her arms. The doctor nodded, smiling.
"Aren't you going to ask what happened?" He asked, still smiling.
"Car accident."
"Yeah, we thought so. But you were found in the park, no car in sight." He picked up a clipboard and studied it for a moment. "You suffered from a major concussion, blood loss, internal bleeding, and a very badly lacerated neck." He glanced up. "Must have been one wild ride."
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Serena said, feeling very tired. "How long was I unconscious?"
"Almost a week." Serena felt her heart stop. She stared at the doctor, shocked.
"A week?"
"Yes." He said, still smiling. "I'll send your family in now." He left the room, closely followed by the other four men. Serena moved until her legs dangled off the bed. Her entire body felt sore, but not as bad as what she had expected when he read off the list of injuries.
A few moments later, her mother, father, and brother entered the room. All looked pale, worried and tired. They stared at Serena as if they didn't know what to say.
"Hi. Bring any food?" Serena asked, deciding to try to get them to laugh. Her mother and Sammy giggled. Her father frowned.
"You almost die, and all you can think of is food?" He asked dumbfounded. Serena grinned at him.
"What would I be if I didn't want food?"
"Dead?" Sammy asked, smiling at his sister.
Serena nodded. "If I ask for food, it means I'm going to be all right, doesn't it?"
That got a smile from her father. "I'm glad you're alright, Serena." He moved to the bed and gave her a tight hug.
"Ok, dad, I can't breathe." Serena groaned, slightly embarrassed. "I mean, Geez. Here I am, barely surviving death and my own father comes into the hospital room and tries to kill me." She pushed him slightly away, and was surprised to see tears in his eyes. Sammy and her mom hugged her as well, but shorter. Serena wondered momentarily if some aliens had kidnapped her now teenage brother. He started to blush furiously, which told Serena that she was staring. She turned back to her parents, who started asking questions about what happened. Serena told them an edited version of what happened, basically the full story minus being followed and vampires. For, Serena was sure that that was what the people were.
Finally, they left the room, and Darien and the girls filed in. Serena's eyes sought out Raye. Raye looked bad, the side of her face looked almost as bad as Serena's after she had been thrown into the pavement a few times. Raye's arm, which had been in a sling, was now in a cast. As she explained, apparently, she had also gotten a concussion and broke her forearm in the process of trying to stop herself from being broken in half. She also had a couple broken ribs.
"The weird thing is that I don't think that they are involved with Nikolai." Said Amy, "I mean, when Nikolai captured you his thugs took you to him. These guys attacked you on the spot. I think there is more to this than any of us know."
"Then I need to find Nikolai and find out what is going on." Serena said, her throat felt raw, and sore. She shifted uncomfortably and stared at the others in the room.
"I don't think that is a good idea." Darien said, frowning.
"Why?" Serena asked. "I mean, he didn't seem to want to hurt us… ok, well, not really. Whereas these new guys do. Maybe he knows who they were, and what they were after. I mean, they didn't kill me, and I bet they could have. The man that seemed to command the others felt really old."
"I think Serena's right. We need to talk to Nikolai, but I think that we all should go as backup. Best if we go as the scouts." Raye said suddenly, everyone went quiet while she talked. "We have to figure out what's going on. Why is everyone suddenly interested in Serena?"
"I could transform, but I'm not sure if that would help any." Serena said.
"I don't think it matters, Serena. The world knows who we are, so it wouldn't matter if we went as scouts or as ourselves." Mina stated, from her perch on the edge of Serena's bed.
"Actually, it does, Mina. As the scouts, we can call our powers more easily than we can as ourselves." Amy replied.
Serena nodded. "We need to figure out when I can get out, send someone as messenger for a meeting with Nikolai and figure out where to meet." She sighed and stared out the window. "I don't want to meet where civilians would get hurt or pay for it later."
"The park." Darien said, he didn't look too happy with the way the plans were going, but he also looked resigned. "Personally, I think we should kill them all, and get it over with. But Raye and Serena are right, we need the information."
"Most likely they have others watching the delegates, we can scout one of them out, and find out if it's a vampire or not, then give the message to them." Luna added thoughtfully.
"I agree. If they are a vampire they should go back to their hideouts during the day." Artemis said. "Luna and I can watch them."
"I think it will take more than just the two of you to watch the delegates' people. There might be other delegates that have been transformed already. We should watch them too. I think all of us should be in on watch duty." Lita said.
"I can't help. I'm stuck here." Serena shook her head with a frown.
"Actually, when I talked to the doctors they said that you were almost completely healed. They were really surprised with the rate that you are healing. They told me you could leave at any time after noon." Darien stated.
"Ok. We need to get the watch out then. It might take a couple days, Serena, so don't expect much when you get home tonight." Luna said. The girls all stood.
"Well, see you later Serena." They said almost simultaneously before following Luna and Artemis out into the hall. The door snapped closed.
"I really don't think this is a good idea, Serena." Darien said, staring at the door after the girls.
"We don't have much of a choice, Darien. I promise to be careful." She sighed. "Wont you be there as Tuxedo Mask?"
Darien nodded, "But I still don't think this is a good idea. We didn't exactly leave Nikolai's custody freely. He might not want to let you go free, again."
Serena sighed. "That's why we're going in force, at least I think that's why. I don't think he would want to fight me and the scouts."
"Let's hope you're right."
Serena stood nonchalantly on the bridge in the park two days later. She glanced over her shoulder at the Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo Mask, who had arranged themselves behind her, Raye stood only a few feet from her. The cast on her arm had made her glove look oddly shaped. It was almost midnight, which was when they had agreed to meet Nikolai.
Luna and Artemis had found a vampire in one of the delegates' servants, and had sent the message to Nikolai. They received the response that morning, arranging for that night at midnight. It was signed, Nikolai.
Serena shifted in the cool breeze, and glanced around as the church bell tolled midnight. Nothing stirred in the darkness. Serena tried to peer through the shadows to see if anyone was there, but the night was too dark and as another disadvantage there was no moon.
Serena started to turn and call the whole thing off, when someone moved in the shadows behind them. She motioned toward the darkness, staring.
Nikolai stepped out of the shrubbery and approached cautiously, surrounded by Syrese, Jesse, Damin, and Laryn, plus several others. Serena counted quickly and knew that the vampires had them outnumbered. She thought silently of the fact that she should have told him to only bring a certain number of followers to even things out. Damn!
Mars and the other Scouts moved directly in front of Serena, as Tuxedo Mask moved to stand beside Serena.
"Greetings, Princess Serena." Nikolai called in the darkness. Serena shivered at the sound of his voice. The moment he had spoken, she felt like something soft and warm had wrapped around her. When he stopped speaking, the feeling was gone. She heard the nearly inaudible gasps of the Scouts as Nikolai stepped into the little light of the area, leaving Serena wondering if they had felt his voice as well, or if they were surprised at how much he looked like Darien.
"Cut the sweet talk, we need information." Jupiter, no doubt, but since Serena couldn't see her talk, she didn't know for sure.
"I heard of the attack on you Princess. Please come forward, I need to see you."
"Why?" Serena asked, feeling Tuxedo Mask stiffen beside her.
"I need to make sure that during the attack, you were not marked."
"Marked?" Serena asked. "Is this a joke or a trick? I know you cant be happy that Darien and I escaped you intact."
"No, no joke or trick. As for your escape, we will discuss that another day." Nikolai said. He waved a hand minutely at his people then stepped forward, right up to Mars, who had started to shiver. Serena wondered if Raye was getting slightly freaked. Nikolai looked down at her and frowned. "Remember that I asked for your assistance at one point. Well, you have met my problem."
"You mean those vampires?" Serena asked.
"We are Strigoi." Nikolai corrected, almost automatically. "And yes, they are the problem that I sought your help about." He looked back up at Serena. "We're you bitten?"
"No. I was in a car accident…" Serena paused. Her hand drifted up to her neck, as if by its own accord. "They made Raye swerve off the road, then pulled her out of the jeep. I followed, and they threatened her if I didn't go with them quietly. I was too… I don't remember anything after I said ok." Serena said honestly. She rubbed the bandages over her throat. The rip at her throat was the only thing that hadn't healed quickly. Everything else, including the scrapes she had gotten on her face, during the brawl with Nikolai's thugs, were almost completely healed.
Mars nodded. "It's true. I was with her when it happened."
"Ah, and where we're you after they had let you go?" Nikolai asked, his voice held something Serena couldn't name as he glanced back at Mars.
"I was thrown into a car and taken to the hospital!" Mars snapped, indignant. Nikolai stared at her for a moment before turning back to Serena.
"Let me see the wound." He demanded. Serena frowned.
"Don't order me around." She told him.
"Fine, whatever. Don't be difficult." He replied, trying to look bored. Serena sighed and stepped forward, between Jupiter and Venus, to stand next to Nikolai. Tuxedo Mask moved with Serena and stared over her head at Nikolai. Nikolai frowned. "Your bodyguards are very loyal, but they are not needed. You asked for help, I offer it."
"Yeah, but at what price." Jupiter said.
"The only thing I ask is for your help in return."
"What help?" Asked Mercury, looking interested.
"With the group of vampires that attacked your Princess."
"Why would you want her help for that? Surely you can take care of your own problems." Tuxedo Mask stated with a hint of anger in his voice.
"They aren't rogue. Strigoi can only, as you say, take care of their own kind if they become rogue and threaten to reveal our existence to the world. What I want is information. I want to know why they are here, what they want, that is all." Nikolai said, he frowned at Tuxedo Mask. "Show me the wound." He told Serena.
Serena sighed, gripped the edge of the bandage and jerked. She flinched as it ripped at the tender skin around the cuts on her neck. Nikolai started to reach out a hand toward her neck, when Tuxedo Mask grabbed Serena's shoulders and pulled her against him. Serena gasped at the sudden movement. Warmth spread from Tuxedo Mask through her, she felt herself relax against him.
"Don't touch her." Tuxedo Mask growled.
"I have to find out if she was Marked, or just bitten." Nikolai stated.
"Do you have to touch her to find out?" Venus asked, moving to stand shoulder to shoulder with Tuxedo Mask.
"Do not worry, I cannot transform her with just a touch. I need to touch her, she will have the remains of the vampires energy on her if she is marked."
"It's energy?" Mars asked, with a frown.
"Look, we can chat about Strigoi politics, history, and habits some other time, but right now we need to get information about what is going on." Nikolai growled, losing his patience. "Either we help each other or I take off and let you deal with my problem on your own."
"Ok." Serena said, stepping forward. Nikolai looked at her with a look of curiosity on his face, before his eyes moved back to her neck. He touched the cut on her neck gently. Serena closed her eyes, expecting pain. She felt his fingertips trace the outline of the tears then ran casually up her neck into her hair, pulling it from its pigtails. Serena's eyes snapped open and she stared into a face that looked so much like Darien's.
Suddenly, Tuxedo Mask pulled her away from Nikolai again, and pushed Serena behind himself. He stood face to face with Nikolai, his mouth turned down in what looked like a painful frown.
"Is she Marked?" Tuxedo Mask growled, after a few seconds.
Nikolai glowered at Tuxedo Mask. "Yes."
Serena stared. "You're joking." She said, feeling her heart jump into her throat. "Does that mean that I'm gonna turn into a vampire?"
Nikolai looked around Tuxedo Mask at Serena. "Unfortunately, no."
"How is that unfortunate, at least she wont become one of you!" Mars snapped.
"No, she wont become one of us, she will become a servant. A Strigoi's eyes and ears during the day. She will be ageless as if she was one of us. She will never grow old, never die, but she will forever answer to the Strigoi that made her his servant." Nikolai said. He sounded tired. "You have to destroy the Strigoi before it marks you again."
"Again? How many times does it have to mark her? Do you guys make people servants the same way they make others of your kind?" Mercury asked interestedly.
"No. There are three different marks for both the servant and to turn someone. For a Strigoi to turn someone they have to feed three times then give their blood after the third feeding. To make a servant, first mark is feeding, which is the giving of blood to the master, the second is rolling the mind, which is the giving of the past, present and future, and the third is the sharing of the blood, which is the showing of a union. The third mark between servant and master is a marriage of sorts." Nikolai told Mercury. He watched her with a little than more interest than Serena thought was appropriate. But he only seemed to watch Mercury for her reaction, because he turned back to Serena. "You have the first mark, the giving of the blood. He had labeled you as his."
"He? How do you know it's a he?" Venus asked, looking surprised.
"A Strigoi leaves their energy on their servants. It's like a tag that you would put on a favorite pet. The tag says the name, and address and to return the pet. When this mark gives his energy as a signature, but it tells me very little, only that he is a he, and that he is very much older than I am." Nikolai frowned. Serena was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Her head felt light and her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She was a servant! To a vampire none-the-less.
She felt Nikolai's violet eyes settle on her. "What happens if I don't kill him before he gives me the second mark?"
"You would become a servant, in mind and blood, at least. Not a true servant, but a servant none-the-less." Nikolai told her.
"And what if I kill him after he gives me the second mark?" She asked him.
"You could die, as well."