The Dark Side of Life

By: LaLunegirl

Chapter 4

December, 2003

Revised January 9, 2008

"Stop screaming girl!" Abruptly Serena was shocked into silence as he spoke, her eyes growing wide as she stared in horror at the man in front of her.

"B-But you're dead! I saw you're dead body myself!" She shrieked. The man in front of her chuckled.

"Of course I am dead…Although why a mortal knows this I do not know, but you are quite right my dear…I am immortal, thus pretty much dead to you humans in your terms." He chuckled. "But believe me m'dear…my body is anything but dead at the moment." He then had the audacity of winking at her roguishly. Serena glared at him, her eyes shooting flames of fury at him as he curiously stared at her.

"SHUT UP DARIEN!" She shouted forgetting for a moment that she was speaking to a supposed dead man. "You died in my home two days ago! You were buried in a cemetery….you cannot be here…Jacob just hit me too hard and I'm beginning to hallucinate" Serena muttered trying to look anywhere but Darien as she said the last part shaking her head. Darien chuckled as he disappeared and reappeared right behind her, luckily Serena did not see this for her eyes were focused on the treetops in the distance trying to avoid reality for the moment.

"What is your name girl?" he asked as he began uniting her bindings.

"You know my name Darien!" Serena muttered, thinking that she would go along with this until she woke up or she reached god…she had reached to the conclusion that somehow she had died and Darien was here to meet her….show her the divine path to heaven or hell….she was at Limbo wasn't she? Darien came around and faced her, his blue eyes pinning her to the spot. He then closed his eyes and stood eerily still. Serena took this moment to study him. He looked the same but there was an unearthly handsomeness to him now. Almost as if he were another person in Darien's body. Then he opened his deep blue eyes and stared straight into her eyes again, and no matter how hard Serena tried she could not look away.

"Your name is Serena Ashfel. You are a medical student. You have no parents and you live with a girl named Molly who is on vacation with a man she loves dearly" He said softly before lifting her into his arms. "Who did this to you Serena Ashfel?" He asked. Serena stared at him in shock. No one other than Molly and her cousin knew of her dead parents in this country. And how did he know about Molly being on vacation when it happened after he died. She closed her eyes and opened them, hoping with all her heart that he had disappeared. But he was still there. "Tell me Serena. Who did this to you?" he asked again. Serena, for some weird reason, felt a tingling sensation and her mouth began to move on its own accord.

"Jacob did this to me because I refused him so many times" She heard herself saying. She stared at him in horror. She had not commanded her mouth to open and say that.

"Does this Jacob have a last name?" Darien asked still staring hard into her eyes. Serena couldn't rip her eyes away from him.

"McKnight." She said softly, mesmerized.

"All right Serena. Hold on tight." He said before he willed himself and Serena to disappear.

"HOLY FUCKIN CRAP!" Serena screamed as she jumped away from Darien when they reappeared and stared at him in horror. "WHAT ARE YOU?" She demanded, shaking like a leaf. "How the hell did you do that?" her legs gave away and she slid to the floor. "What is going on?" She whispered the last part to herself looking for all the world lost and scared.

"Serena" Darien said softly as he tried to come closed but Serena scampered farther away from him

"Stay away form me Darien!" she cried out in fear. "I don't know what kind of joke you're playing but it isn't funny. Do you know how broken your brother and sister looked? I had to tell them how you 'died'. They didn't believe me about your wounds you know. They think I'm crazy but they tolerated me because I tried to save you. Now I find out that you were never dead in the first place? Just stay away from me!" She cried out in hatred. Darien seemed surprised at her outburst.

"I do not have any brothers or sisters. I think you have me mistaken for someone else" He said trying to get her to come to him. Serena furiously shook her head. Darien looked at her in surprise.

"Your sister RAYE! And your brother ANDREW! And I do not have the wrong man! I took care of you for a day and half, how the hell could I mistaken you for someone else?" She demanded her eyes flashing.

Darien stared in shock at the girl before him. He couldn't will her to come to him anymore. And her mind…it was blocked out to him. How in all the hell that he commanded did she do that? He scanned her body. Well she sure wasn't a vampire…but then how in the world did she do that? He asked himself. He sighed heavily and slumped into a nearby chair. This girl thought he had a family…but that couldn't be possible. His brother and sister died a few years after he had been turned. They were dead. Gone like so many others before and after them.

"Serena" He said trying to sound persuasive. "Come here darling." He said but was in for another shock when a lamp came hurling at him. He ducked right in time or it would have hit him straight in the face. It probably would not have hurt him, but ever since the pain in his head, he wasn't sure about anything anymore.

"You…know me?" He asked deciding that he would let the fact that he could not make her come to him pass for the moment. But he needed his answers.

"Of course I know you Darien!" She hissed back her back pressed against the far wall.

"Tell me how you know me" He asked leaning forward in anticipation. He would finally know why his mind felt like two different memories.

"FUCK OFF DARIEN SHIELDS!" She screamed throwing another large piece of furniture at him. This time it was a small wooden stool. Getting sick and tired of being the target of her practice he got up and grabbed her hands and shoved her into the next room.

"You my dear are not leaving until I get some answers!" He snarled at her as he slammed the door shut.

"LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU COWARDLY SNAKE! ILL HAVE YOU ARRESTED! IM NOT BLUFFING. LET ME OUT!" Serena screamed herself horse but Darien did not come back. Slumping to the ground she began silently crying. "When is this nightmare going to end?" She whispered before falling into a troubled sleep slumped against the door.

Darien sighed as he listened to her sobbing. For some odd reason his heart wrenched at the sound. Shaking his head he slipped into his bed with the decision that he would not cumber to her pleas at any cost. He would get answers from her one way or another.

"Mina?" Kunzite called in the large house. "Mina Darling. I have some wonderful news for you!" he called out into the empty room but no ansewr. The house was silent as a tomb. Cautiously he took began looking around the house trying to locate any of the three women who were supposed to live here. Then he heard it. A soft moan from one of the rooms three floors above. His heart started hammering in his chest as he rushed upstairs. There lay on the bed…was a man…no a boy who could not possibly be older than 20. His neck was ripped open and he was moaning slightly at the pain his head creased in agony as his eyes were closed tightly. Kunzite stared at the man for a moment. The meaning clear. The girls had just finished dinner. Rolling his eyes at his girlfriend's carelessness he quickly patched the man up and altered his memory so that he thought that he had been drinking at the local bar and had passed out. Then he deported the man to the nearest pub.

"Why lookie here" Came a female voice from behind Kunzite as he made sure no one saw the man enter the pub. "What is the rat doing away from his cage?" Hissed the girl. Kunzite swung around and stared at the woman behind him.

"Lita!" He said in a flat toneless voice. Brown haired green eyed Lita stood at the door snickering at Kunzite. He and Lita were really close friends but they fought more than anyone in the group. She was Nephrite's sweetheart and the strength in female half of their group. "What the hell do you want?" he asked brushing himself off.

"Well for one thing the poor man you just sent away. I haven't had my fill yet" She pouted. Kunzite rolled his eyes. "If you drink anymore you'll turn into a pig" He said. Lita glared at him for a moment before winking at him and leaving the room. Sighing he closed his eyes and tried to locate Mina. When he pinpointed her aura he quickly finished up in the room and hurried to the room she was in. Coming to an abrupt halt at the door he stared in awe for a moment. Mina was lying on her bed, asleep. Moonlight filtered through the window and cast an eerie glow around her. She looked like an angel. He didn't want to wake her up but this was important. Slowly, and cautiously he went over and lightly shook her. "Mina?" He said softly. Slowly her eyes opened and she stared at him in wonder. "Ku?" She said softly. He nodded and she squealed and plummeted into his arms. Kunzite laughed as he hugged her back. But then she drew back and slapped him hard.

"Hey! What was that for?" he demanded staring at her in surprise not acknowledging the stinging pain in his cheek. Mina's eyes were flashing silver and her hair was slightly floating. "Uh…what did I do now?" he asked backing away slightly.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" She demanded. "TEN YEARS WITHOUT A VISIT! CALLING IS NOT ENOUGH!" She shouted choking him. Kunzite tried to hold back Mina but she was to strong for him. "You idiot!" She said as she started slapping him.

"MINA! I FOUND DARIEN!" He shouted when he caught his breath. That stopped her immediately, her eyes grew wide and she gaped at him.

"Y-You found Lord Endymion?" She asked in surprise. He sighed as she calmed down.

"Yeah. He's back to normal right now. We found him in Tokyo. Right where we were living too. The guys are in the process of bringing back his memory."

"B-But I thought KKris killed him over three thousand years ago. How did you find him?" Mina asked in wonder as she let go of him totally and lay back onto his chest.

"He was reborn somehow as a human. Were not exactly sure how it happened but he was as human as we were before the turn."

"What do you know?" Mina demanded.

"We know that up until a week ago he was living an average mortal life. I found him and got a job at the office place he worked to keep an eye out for him. Turned out that I was not the only one who found out about him. Kkris knew he was back as well and decided to try his luck again." Kunzite sighed before continuing. "But just before he could finish him off I found them and was able to ward off Kkris and he was unable to completely end Darien's life. But when I turned back to retrieve Darien he was gone. Apparently he found refuge with a human woman who in turn tried to save his life. Also apparently she succeeded but for some unknown reason his mortal life suddenly ended and he became one of us again." Kunzite said softly. "He thought I was joking when we told him" He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "He feels pain. I don't know why or how but he can feel pain." He said the last part quietly, and Mina didn't hear. She was too caught up with Darien being back.

"Well what are we going to do to get his memories back?" Mina asked.

"Zoisite has made a potion for his brain to uncover hidden memories. It didn't look fun" he said smirking.

"It must be the memory uncover potion that he and I were working on" Amy, a blue haired woman said as she made her presence known.

"Amy. Good to see you" Kunzite said getting up and kissing both her cheeks. Amy smiled slightly at him and took a seat next to the two on the bed. Kunzite went back to sit with Mina.

"How is Darien?" She asked.

"He's fine. The guys sent me over to bring you all back. We are all going to have to be there to explain things to him." Kunzite said softly.

"Dare back?" Lita spoke up from the doorway. Kunzite groaned as Lita came over and punched him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me jerk? How is he?" She asked.

"Fine." Kunzite said softly. "But we need your help. He and Jadeite were the only ones who felt no pain…nothing. But now…Darien feels pain. I don't know…He didn't say anything but I could tell by the expression on his face"

"But that is impossible! Darien has shown nor felt ANYTHING since before we came into his life!" Amy said gasping. "Are you sure?" Kunzite nodded slightly. Lita smiled slightly, she knew what was going on, but she wasn't going to tell them what was going on. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside Kunzite.
"How's Nephi?" Lita asked as she made herself comfortable on the bed. "Is he doing all right?"

"Yeah. He's fine. I can't believe you girls didn't come for a visit once! You're taking this new age independence thing way to seriously." He said.

"By the way…How is our bachelor number two?" Mina asked ignoring her boyfriends remark.

"Jadeite? Jade is fine. He's not much of a ladies man anymore. I think he's tired of going from woman to woman" He sighed thinking about his best friend.

"Now what did you say about needing our help?" Amy asked.

"Darien needs to be told everything about the time he was gone. This latest attack tells that KKris is still after Darien."

"I still don't understand why the hell KKris hates Darien so much? He did create him didn't he?" Mina asked.

"Yeah. Why create a companion when you're just going to kill him later?" Lita asked.

"I'm not too sure but we can figure this all out later." Kunzite said "We need to get back as soon as possible!" The girls looked at one another for a moment. Then squealed.

"ROAD TRIP!" They screamed. Kunzite groaned as they ran out of the room.

"I haven't been on a decent road trip in over 2 hundred years!" Lita said sighing.

"I feel so old" Mina groaned.

"Technically…you are 'so old'" Amy commented. Lita and Mina looked at each other and grinned.

Kunzite groaned as he followed the girls into the room that they had put all their suitcases in.

He groaned louder when he heard their topic of conversation.

"Hey Mina? What do you think? Should I bring the green turtle neck top or the neon off the shoulder one?" Lita asked holding up two different tops.

"I think the green one. Definitely. Green is so your color Leets" Mina said approvingly. "How about these…which one?" Mina asked holding up a red dress and a yellow dress.

"I like both of them" Amy spoke up from where her suitcase was neatly filled with clothing and other items.

"Hmmm….Yeah I like them both too. What the hell…I'll take em both!" She smiled as she threw them into her cluttered suitcase then smiling she went back to her closet. Kunzite slumped onto a nearby bed not realizing that the guys had predicted this exact conversation just after he left, and rubbed his aching forehead. It was going to be a long night.

"Guys…do you smell something funny?" Jadeite asked as he sniffed the air. The boys had just woken up and were on their way to their back to see Darien when Jadeite had paused and made that comment.

"Now that you mention it, what in the world is that?" Zoisite asked sniffing the air as well.

"It smells like…hairspray?" Nephrite said as if in a question. The guys gave each other a questioning look before running to Darien's room. There sitting on the bed was a girl with long blond hair. She was the cause of the spray smell. She was styling her hair. When they barged in she turned to glare at them. Then to their shock Darien came in also. The girl looked up at him with a glare as well.

"Are you not done yet girl?" Darien demanded walking over to her not even sparing a glance at the three men at the doorway.. The girl raised her hand and stuck up her middle finger. Darien rolled his eyes before he acknowledged the people at the door.

"Oh hello boys" he said smiling at them. "Meet Serena…Our new best friend". The guys looked back at the girl and studied her face. After a tense pause the gaped in shock at her as they recognized her. It was the same girl who tried to save Darien as a mortal man!

"Darien…What is this girl doing here?" Jadeite demanded.

"She is my guest here." Darien said. "Does anyone have a problem with that?" He asked with a raised eyebrow his eyes skewering each man thoroughly.

"YEAH THERE IS!" Serena began when none of the men made a move to speak. "GUEST? GUEST? I NEVER ASKED TO BE YOUR GUEST YOU….YOU VAMPIRE!" She screamed as she threw a comb at him. The guys looked at each other and sighed. Darien obviously used force to get her here.

"Minor details girl. Minor Details" Darien said smirking. "Serena has offered to help us in retrieving our memories." This got another glare from the girl on the bed.

"I guess you're all vampires too?" Serena asked turning to the guys. The guys stared at her in shock. She was taking this fairly well.

"Uh…yeah" Jadeite said after he picked his jaw up from the floor.

"All right. I don't have any choice in being here so I'm going to lay down the ground rules. Number one: No One will take my blood for feeding. Or I will have to kill you." This got a smirk from the guys but they stopped abruptly when Darien turned to the other side and showed them him swelling eye.

"You guys had better do as she says. She's a lot stronger than she looks" Darien said with a slight frown. Serena smirked and turned back to the guys. Holding up two fingers she continued. "Number two: I will have my own room! There's no way in hell I'm spending another night in Darien's room" She said pointedly glaring at the ebony man.

"Number three…There will be nothing kept from me. I want to know what you know when I want to know you will tell me" She said holding up a third finger. Then a fourth "And last (for now) I will do as I please when I please" Darien cleared his throat and Serena rolled her eyes. "Except for leaving he premises without one of you idiots around" She added with a sigh.

Darien cleared his throat suddenly and stared at the guys. Using mind communication he connected their brains for a little conversation.

You harm her in any way and I will forget about our friendship and make you pay. The girl is mine! He snarled silently.

Darien…She is human Zoisite said softly. Darien glared at him.

I do not care. This girl is and will always be mine. Be sure to tell everyone about that. One hair on her head harmed and you will not live to regret it! He said with fire in his eyes not for a moment wondering why he was acting so possessive towards a human woman.

Darien! Nephrite said sharply. This female is a mortal. You cannot keep her! Humans are meant to be blood supplies and toys only! He hissed.

I repeat. Disobey me and I will kill you without another thought! He growled. Knowing full well that Darien wasn't himself at the moment and that they would have to find out what was wrong with him soon, they said nothing. They just nodded their agreement. Only Jadeite said nothing the whole time. Breaking off contact with the other guys Darien spoke only to Jadeite. you are not against me keeping the mortal girl? He asked curiously. Jadeite sighed and shook his head.

No Darien…Love is a very powerful thing…it does not look at species. It just happens. I could do nothing even if I objected to this He looked over at the furious Serena and laughed besides…you might just change your mind after living a few days with this hellcat. He then became serious No Darien. I will help protect your woman. She is now my Lady, as you are my Lord he said seriously.

I do not love her Darien said softly.

You do…you just don't know it yet. Darien looked at Serena. His thoughts wandered. How can you love a woman you do not remember or know? He asked himself but forgot to break his connection with Jadeite.

Very easily came the reply. Darien, surprised, looked over at Jadeite then back at Serena and sighed. Jade was right. He was in love with a woman he hardly remembered.

Serena sighed. There was no use being angry at this bunch. She had a feeling that they had been alive a long time and her fury would do nothing to dampen their lives. She sat back down on the bed and thought back to this night when Darien woke her up…..

FLASH

"Hey. Sleeping Beauty! Wake up" Growled a voice from above the sleep infested Serena. She groaned and turned over, hoping to get a few more winks. "Common Cinderella. There's work to be done!" Came the same voice. But this time she was dragged to her feet by someone pulling at one of her arms. Too bad the person didn't watch her other arm. WACK! Her fist came flying out of no where and connected with his eye. "OW! GOD DAMN IT WOMAN!" Growled the man. Serena tried to give him another punch but missed when he let go of her arm and let her fall back onto the ground.

"And that is for disturbing my beauty rest you jerk!" She growled before curling into a ball and forcing herself to fall back to sleep once more. "Don't you know sleeping beauty shouldn't be woken up before she DECIDES to wake up?" Serena added in a mutter, not knowing what she was saying.

"I have met sleeping beauty and she wakes up sooner than you!" Growled the voice shaking Serena awake.

"ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! I'M UP!" Serena cried as she felt herself shaking. "Stop shaking me before I decide to dismember you!" She shouted in the person's ear.

"ARGH! Woman you are going to be the death of me!" Growled the man as he dropped her and clasped his hands over his ears.

"Hopefully soon!" Serena muttered angrily.

"I ask…what is the matter with you girl? Ever since I have met you, you have done nothing but curse at me and scream! What…have I done something to offend you?!" Demanded, Darien as he set her down. He was fed up with how she kept her attitude up.

"And that's another thing! My name is not girl. If I'm forced to stay here you had better start calling me by my name...SERENA!" Serena finished screaming, satisfaction in her eyes when she noticed him wince. Then suddenly she got an evil idea in her head and smiled sweetly. "Why good morning Darien…How are you this fine night?" She asked going closer to him. Darien gulped visibly and backed away. "What's wrong Darien…You aren't afraid of lil ol' me are you?" She asked battering her lashes and focused on making her acting believable.

"Of course not" Darien said hesitantly but when he looked deep into her eyes and saw the sincerity in her eyes he started smiling. He thought she was finally coming around. "It's good to see that you are finally coming around." He went over to her and pulled her closer.

"Did you ever have any doubt? You handsome old lug you?" Serena smiled as she stood on her tipie toes as if she were going to kiss him. Darien smiled as he bent his head down. He closed his eyes as she came forward to meet him half way. She paused inches from his mouth. Their breath mingling. Then it came…..

WHACK! Serena moved back and punched him in the eye again. "I wanna go home NOW!" She screamed. Darien groaned as he covered his eye with his hand.

"All right! All right Serena!" He cried. But suddenly he stopped and began thinking.

This is Darien's point of view

What the hell am I doing? Letting a Human woman walk all over me? I am a VAMPIRE! Thousands of years old! What the hell is wrong with me? Darien thought as he stared at Serena. Sighing he grabbed her and dragged her into the main bedroom. Serena, of course, struggled the whole way there. "Stop struggling Serena!" He demanded glaring at her. "I just wish to speak to you" Serena went limp into his arms. Darien sighed in relief. He may be thousands of years old but for some reason he could feel pain. And that was not always a good thing. "You are going to listen to me. And you will not interrupt me until I am finished!" He hissed as he pushed her onto the bed. Serena scurried to the far side of the bed but stayed on it when he barked "STAY ON THE BED!".

"All right. All right. I'll listen to you. But I wanna know all the answers to my questions also" She said glaring at him. Darien stood over her and nodded. Serena groaned and fell backwards on the bed. "How the hell did I get here?" She asked the roof. Darien laughed and she looked up glaring at him.

All right Darien…Don't scare her. You're on you way to get your answers. Just don't scare her. Darien thought as he cleared his throat. Common. Use that princely charm you were famous for way back when "All right." He sat down beside. "First off I'm going to start off by telling you about myself. I was called Endymion Darien Bantustan Shields. I was a great Lord from England. I was also 4th in line for the throne of England, my being a extended relation to the king of the time…the closest they knew of at least. I believe we were cousins thrice removed or some such. Anyway you must remember that many things were not in the past that are here today." He sighed. "I was a young man of 20 when my story starts. I lived in a large manor that had been in my family for generations. I was quite a ladies man as you might have guessed…" Darien stopped and chuckled as Serena looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Anyways I was in my first year in medical school…yes there was such things as medical schools back then…although they were primitive compared to when my memories end…anyways I was in my first year at the medical school and that was when I am guessing I was singled out. That was where I met him. Professor KKris Linchpins….my old surgery pre med teacher…very old teacher."

THE END OF CHAPTER 4….

Ja Ne

LaLunegirl