The Dark Side of Life
By: LaLunegirl
Chapter 6
December, 2003
I first wanna apologize for the late update. I do have a very good reason though. I was in a car accident (Great way to start off Christmas eh?) Anyways I have just gotten my life back into order and.. on with the story.
Serena stared at the suitcases with sorrow. For some reason in her mind the stuffed cases symbolized her loss of freedom.for quite some time. Sighing she took the first suitcase and opened it and to her surprise began chuckling. "Always trust a man to just toss everything in" She muttered as she stared at the jumble of stuff in the case. Reaching in she moved a few stuff here and there until she found a pair of jeans and a sweater. Shutting her case she went into the washroom and locked the door. Two hours later she came back out nice and clean, the shower had done her some good, Her hair was neatly done up in a braid that ran down her back. She looked around the large room. Darien was still not back and she didn't like the idea of sleeping in his bed. But sleep called her and after trying to fight it for a while she gave in and sunk into bed oblivious of the tension that was flowing downstairs at that exact moment.
"ZOISITE! NEPHRITE! JADEITE!" Darien shouted both mentally and physically, his rage emitting through energy waves everywhere. Three figures came running to do his bidding, but stepped back when they felt the rage in his aura.
"Darien?" Jadeite asked softly. Darien turned his murderous gaze on his friend.
"I was mortal??" He demanded. "I was mortal and I don't remember?" The three men stared in shock and horror. They had been hoping that Darien wouldn't believe Serena until Kunzite got here to explain everything. Darien sighed and sat down on a large black chair. Closing his eyes for a moment he just sat there.
"How did you find out?" Zoisite asked softly coming near Darien. Darien slowly opened his eyes.
"I.When I went feeding my veins told me I hadn't eaten in centuries. Then I went to Serena's home to get her belongings. I got hit with these." He paused to think about the most appropriate words. "Flashes, like memories every time I went anywhere in that home..for some reason without a doubt I know now that I used to be human.how?" He added softly looking at his closest friends.
"We do not know Darien" Nephrite said softly. "But now that you remember everything-"
"No! I do not remember anything other than these flashbacks. I know I lived them but I cannot remember anything in between them. I remember being in pain and getting to Serena's doorway.but I do not remember anything before that. And that is another thing.why in hell's name do I of all people feel pain?" Darien demanded.
"We do not know." Jadeite said softly. "Ask us anything and if we can we will answer it"
"Fine what year is it?" Darien demanded as the three men sat down around him.
"2003.but in it's been three thousand years since you were last here" ( yeah this is confusing since he was supposed to have died three thousand years ago and the year would be negative 997 but work with it.I really don't know how to put it)
"HOLY HELL!" After getting over the initial shock he asked the question that had been bothering him for a while. "How did I die?" He asked softly. When no one answered he came up with his own. "It was KKris.wasn't it?" he asked.
"Yes. He killed you with a stake through the heart. Unfortunately we got there too late to help you. You were already dead when we arrived." Jadeite said. "Then for three thousand years we lived without a leader. Our people, even then, refused to go towards KKris for rule. It pissed the hell out of him" Darien raised his eyebrow at the term 'pissed' that Jadeite used "And then we felt it. Three thousand years after you died we felt you're life force again. Somehow your soul survived you're first transformation into a vampire and it got you reincarnated. No one else could feel you're presence for some reason. We guessed it was because we four knew you longer than anyone else and spent the most time with you thus knowing more about you. But then we noticed something.you had the scent of a mortal man. You were no longer one of us."
"How.How did I come to be immortal again? I remember thinking that Kunzite had something to do with this.but that is plain crazy." Darien said.
"It was not Kunzite. It was KKris. He got a whiff of you also. But for some reason when he tried to kill you.somehow in the time when he beat your mortal body to the extent that It could, and did, die at any moment to the time when Serena found you and healed you.you began the process of coming back to us. You became immortal without a blood exchange.it's as if your body was biding its time before it went back to its immortal state." Nephrite said in wonder.
"Another thing.I cannot control Serena. For some reason my mind control has no affect on her and that has happened only once in my existence" Everyone stared in Darien in surprise and shook their heads. "It is indeed a mystery Darien" Zoisite said softly. "I only regret not knowing the answer." The rest of the night was spent updating Darien in the ways and customs of the present day, and a three thousand year history lesson. (It was unbelievably easy to update him on three thousand years, they had originally thought they would need the girls but that might have caused too much confusion.) Darien had filled the boys all in on why KKris wanted him dead when they were speaking mind wise with Serena around (See last chapter) so now they were trying to figure out ways to repel KKris's attacks. It was a loooonnnnggg night.
Darien blinked as he went into his room late the next day. They had been up all night speaking about what had happened. He was surprised at how much humanity had changed over the years.yet had stayed the same. His mind was reeling with information and all he wanted to do was sleep for the next week. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the figure curled up in his bed. Serena lay there looking like a fallen angel in the middle of his large bed. Faintly he recalled her saying something about wanting another room so that she wouldn't have to spend the day with him. He chuckled at the memory. Jadeite was right about one thing. His woman was one hell of a hellcat. Stifling a yawn he closed his eyes and concentrated. In a flash his clothes were gone and he was in his boxers.quite a wonderful invention these boxers.very comfortable. Darien caught himself thinking as he slipped into bed with Serena. His arms automatically wrapped around her fully clothed body and she instinctively curled into his. Sighing he fell into a deep sleep.
Serena screamed as she was jolted awake. It was around noon and something or someone had just crashed through Darien's bedroom window. She sat up and tried to move away. But she was held in place by.Darien's arm. She began freaking out more. How in the world did she end up in his arms? And why was he (seemingly) naked? The thing that had crashed through the window was now standing up tall, his teeth glittering. Serena could finally tell it was Darien's kind. His eyes were dark and hungry as he stared at her. Desperately she began shaking Darien to try and wake him up but to no avail. He began snoring on top of that. She kept struggling to get out of Darien's grip but he just tightened his hold on her. She screamed again as the Second vampire (Not the one in her bed! Well his bed) began advancing on her.
"DARIEN!" She screamed trying to get some reaction but got nothing. Her next scream caught in her throat as the vampire reached out to grab her throat. She stared in horror as his hand curled around her neck applying the slightest of pressure. BOOM! The vampire suddenly let go of her as he was thrown back. Serena let out a sigh of relief. Darien was now sitting up beside Serena and had just punched the other vampire. He got up and growled at Darien. Darien smirked back as a light of recognition filled his eyes. Darien got up, clothed only in boxers.Then they raced at each other, fangs drawn, claws out eyes flashing with fury. Serena closed her eyes and looked away in fear. But when she didn't hear any fighting she snuck a peek. And stared in shock. The men embraced once and then began laughing as they did a 'manly secret handshake' which made Serena roll her eyes.
"Uh.excuse me? Am I missing something?" Serena demanded her eyes still looking at the stranger warily. Darien turned to her and smiled.
"Sorry about that. This is my very old friend Luke. He's known for his.uh.unique entrances." Darien said gesturing to the broken glass. The man next to him known as Luke smiled at Serena.
"A real pleasure to meet such a beauty" He said smiling a very toothy grin. Serena gulped and smiled back hesitantly. "Sorry about that Dare.I didn't know you had 'company'" He said turning back to the chuckling Darien.
"No worries Luke.It's good to see you man" Darien said smiling. Serena stared. It seemed as though his mortal lingo was coming back.
"Wow.you've been like out of it for some time." Luke said chuckling. "I haven't seen you since we caused that rush back in the (Remember they've been around since before time itself.well at least our yearly time thingie. Before the year 1 even) Nucktuck era. Man we were soooo evil back then. You remember that blond chick with her ankle boots and her big huge man handle?" (I have absolutely no idea as to what her 'big huge man handle is at the moment so just use your imaginations) He asked as he made himself at home sitting down on the bed right next to Serena winking at her in the process. Serena growled and jumped off the bed.
"Oh.She asked for what she got!" Darien said as he began laughing. "Remember her father finding out our true nature but no one would believe him?" Serena rolled her eyes and stomped out of the room.
Darien sighed as he watched Serena storm out of the room. He had been hoping she would open up to him after sleeping a night with him.well technically they did sleep together but didn't 'sleep' together. Darien rolled his eyes as he tried to mull over this thought.
"You all right Darien?" Luke asked. Darien looked over at his friend and smirked slightly.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked smirking.
"What's with the chick then?" Darien stared at his friend for a moment. He hadn't seen him in over three thousand years but it seemed as though they had never been parted.
"What can I say.I'm a blond kind a man" Darien said shrugging. "She's my new interest." He said not able to find it in himself to trust Luke with the truth. He sighed as he pondered this as he winked up some clothes to cover his practically naked skin.
Serena stared at the painting on the wall for a moment in shock. The painting theme was some type of goddesses. But what really disturbed her was the fact that she felt like she had seen that particular painting before. In fact she felt as if she knew the painting itself very well. But that was impossible. She loved art yes but she had never been to an art museum or anything in her life. The picture had five women in a grassy area with hills in the background and a lake behind them. They were in a small clearing with trees to their left and right. One girl had beautiful brown hair tied up in a ponytail. She held a bunch of grapes in one hand while putting another round grape into her mouth. The second had Ebony locks that swayed in the wind. She was smiling sadly as she stared at the sky above tears welled up in her eyes, a singled tear streaked down her cheek leaving soft tear marks. She was lightly fingering a small golden ball pendant, on a delicate chain around her neck, lovingly. The third had golden hair kept together with a red ribbon. She was giggling as she brushed a feather against the fourth's feet. The fourth woman had short blue hair. She was trying to read but kept getting distracted by the feather against her feet. And the fifth seemed to be hidden slightly behind a tree trunk. A very dark shadow loomed behind her covering her body; wisps of silver blond hair fell from the shadows, as her hand reached out to hold them back.
"An evil watches her" Serena muttered to herself as she stared at the painting. "The other's don't know this though.they are all very close except for the silvery haired girl. She seemed to be more of an outsider rather than share a bond with the girls. She seemed to be the one who unconsciously brought the evil shadow into their circle."
"It is a very moving portrait is it not?" Serena jumped as she whipped around to stare at one of Darien's friends. "Hello Serena.have a good night's rest?" Nephrite asked as he smiled at Serena.
"Yes. Thank you for asking. Who painted this?" Serena asked as she turned back to the painting, shivering slightly. Although she had gotten along surprisingly well with Jadeite (almost as if they were siblings) she could not find herself to be calm around the other men yet.
"A young woman who caught Darien's fancy many, many years ago. She knew us for who we were.our vampire heritage, but also our personality."
"Who are these women?" Serena asked in awe.
"These are our women. She knew them but was not close to them, Darien asked her to include his sister in the picture.she did also add, at Darien's request of course, herself. But I guess she thought she would be imposing so she painted herself in the corner as if not to penetrate a circle of friends."
"That girl is Raye.right? The ebony haired woman?" Nephrite nodded unconsciously but then looked at her surprise.
"But how do you know?" He demanded in shock.
"Darien's sister in this time is named Raye and she looked exactly like the girl in the picture.But how did the painter know what Raye looked like?" Serena asked. "I guess Darien had a picture or something lying around." Nephrite shrugged. "For a mortal that woman was wonderful. I could go as far as to say that Darien might have loved her."
"If he loved her then where is she today?" Serena demanded. Nephrite looked at her sadly.
"KKris had her killed. But at her dying breath, Darien offered her immortality. She refused saying that if they were meant to be she would find her way back to him. We never saw her again."
"Can't you feel her soul like you did Darien's?" Serena asked caught up in the tragic story.
"That was the problem.other than Darien, no one knew this girl well enough to pick her scent up. Since he has not picked up her scent she probably has not been reborn. I think that the reason, at least subconsciously, Darien brought you here is because you remind him of her."
"Oh great! I'm here because some Vampire is having fantasies of his dead girlfriend and I ever so conveniently remind him of her" Serena said sarcastically.
"You do not care for Darien?" Nephrite asked softly. Serena stared at him blankly. But then spoke as she turned back to the painting.
"She must have been a very sad woman. The brush strokes speak of pain and anguish.She almost seems to portray herself as unworthy of this world.as if she does not belong" Serena said hoping to go onto another topic.
"She went through many pains in her lifetime. She had lost her family at a young age and then her home and income. Then the last strike was when she lost her life for Darien" Nephrite answered her unspoken question. "You have not answered my question" He said turning back to Serena.
"I don't have to if I don't wish to answer" She snapped, her eyes flashing with distain. "And anyways it's none of your business" She turned back with a stiff back.
"As you wish." Nephrite said. Serena turned to him to put him in his place but she ended up staring at an empty hallway.
"Nephrite?" She whispered. But there was no sound. Growling at her own stupidity she turned back to the picture. "What frightened you so bad that an evil shadow was cast with your presence?" She asked herself softly.
Darien smiled as he and Luke took off to go feed. It had been a while even before he had 'died' that he had spent actual time with his friend.
"Good catch one down by the west bank!" Luke called as the soared across the clear air.
"You know.It's a surprise that no one has noticed us considering its morning." Darien smirked back. "Human's are so predictable in this way" Luke just threw his head back and laughed. Their prey in sighed they soared down into the remote area. "You know.this is exactly where I came to feed last night" Darien said as they touched down in the exact place where Darien had taken the blood of that boy.
"I know." Luke said. Darien turned to look at him sharply.
"How do you know?" He asked in surprise. Luke looked at him confused for a moment. Then with a slight laugh he spoke.
"I felt your scent here" He answered. Darien laughed off his stupidity but something in his mind was still not adding up. Shrugging it off they ducked behind two separate hedged as a presence made its way towards them.
~You take the guy..I get the girl! ~ Luke mind whispered to him with a hidden meaning. Darien rolled his eyes.
~Don't you dare even think of doing anything other than drinking Luke! ~ Darien said with a laugh in his eyes. From the other side Darien felt Luke let out a laugh. He sighed. Some things didn't change. The couple came into the clearing. Darien sat there frozen as he stared in shock at the pair. But unfortunately Luke didn't stop. He lunged out of the hedge and threw a mind bomb at both but he himself went after the girl. The unsuspecting pair both fell to the ground as Luke barred his teeth. Darien let out a growl and lunged at Luke.
"STOP!" he shouted both mentally and out loud. Luke though was way too gone into his feeding mode that Darien had to use most of his force to pray Luke off of the girl. "LUKE STOP!" He screamed as a blast from him threw Luke a few feet back. Luke groaned as he came back to his senses. Looking up he stared in Darien in shock.
"What the hell was that for Darien?" he demanded his eyes flashing.
"We cannot take their blood!" Darien said as he checked the girls pulse and went over to the man; all the while his mind was whirling with what to tell Luke.
"Why the hell not?" Luke demanded getting up and brushing himself off.
"They.are very important to Serena" he blurted out.
"That woman in your bed?" Luke asked puzzled. Darien nodded. "But she is just a toy right?" He asked. Darien focused on checking the pair over before answering.
"Yes.But that toy knows of our nature and she would be useless if she felt we betrayed her" Darien said mentally groaning at the stupid excuse, but Luke seemed to accept it.
"What do you want us to do with them then?" Luke asked. Darien sighed.
"We might as well take them to the house" He said.
"Well you're on your own man. I haven't eaten in a while.I'm gonna chow down a bit" Luke said. "And I.well I'll see you tomorrow. I'm staying with Reika. She let me stay in one of her spare rooms on the condition that I would model for a painting for her." He said rolling his eyes. "And she wants me back in about half an hour. In that time I'll hopefully get a good bite to eat." Luke said sighing. Darien laughed as he rearranged the two still laying on the ground. "Well adios!" He called out as he took to the air. Darien sighed and turned back to the two in front of him.
"How the hell is this possible?" he demanded as he took another look at the faces trying to decipher a difference in them and the ones from his memory. There was none. Shaking his head he picked the two up and shot up into the air. He didn't have the energy to blink out here and appear there especially since he hadn't eaten much the night before. Being careful to stay up high so that he would not be seen he searched his memory for a reason as to how this was possible. Landing in the front porch he let himself in and mentally commanded the boys to come to him.
"What is it Darien?" Jadeite asked but stopped dead as he stared at the pair on the ground. "Is that..but how is that possible?" He asked in shock as his heart skipped a beat.for more than one reason.
The end of chapter 6
(AN: Added later!)
By: LaLunegirl
Chapter 6
December, 2003
I first wanna apologize for the late update. I do have a very good reason though. I was in a car accident (Great way to start off Christmas eh?) Anyways I have just gotten my life back into order and.. on with the story.
Serena stared at the suitcases with sorrow. For some reason in her mind the stuffed cases symbolized her loss of freedom.for quite some time. Sighing she took the first suitcase and opened it and to her surprise began chuckling. "Always trust a man to just toss everything in" She muttered as she stared at the jumble of stuff in the case. Reaching in she moved a few stuff here and there until she found a pair of jeans and a sweater. Shutting her case she went into the washroom and locked the door. Two hours later she came back out nice and clean, the shower had done her some good, Her hair was neatly done up in a braid that ran down her back. She looked around the large room. Darien was still not back and she didn't like the idea of sleeping in his bed. But sleep called her and after trying to fight it for a while she gave in and sunk into bed oblivious of the tension that was flowing downstairs at that exact moment.
"ZOISITE! NEPHRITE! JADEITE!" Darien shouted both mentally and physically, his rage emitting through energy waves everywhere. Three figures came running to do his bidding, but stepped back when they felt the rage in his aura.
"Darien?" Jadeite asked softly. Darien turned his murderous gaze on his friend.
"I was mortal??" He demanded. "I was mortal and I don't remember?" The three men stared in shock and horror. They had been hoping that Darien wouldn't believe Serena until Kunzite got here to explain everything. Darien sighed and sat down on a large black chair. Closing his eyes for a moment he just sat there.
"How did you find out?" Zoisite asked softly coming near Darien. Darien slowly opened his eyes.
"I.When I went feeding my veins told me I hadn't eaten in centuries. Then I went to Serena's home to get her belongings. I got hit with these." He paused to think about the most appropriate words. "Flashes, like memories every time I went anywhere in that home..for some reason without a doubt I know now that I used to be human.how?" He added softly looking at his closest friends.
"We do not know Darien" Nephrite said softly. "But now that you remember everything-"
"No! I do not remember anything other than these flashbacks. I know I lived them but I cannot remember anything in between them. I remember being in pain and getting to Serena's doorway.but I do not remember anything before that. And that is another thing.why in hell's name do I of all people feel pain?" Darien demanded.
"We do not know." Jadeite said softly. "Ask us anything and if we can we will answer it"
"Fine what year is it?" Darien demanded as the three men sat down around him.
"2003.but in it's been three thousand years since you were last here" ( yeah this is confusing since he was supposed to have died three thousand years ago and the year would be negative 997 but work with it.I really don't know how to put it)
"HOLY HELL!" After getting over the initial shock he asked the question that had been bothering him for a while. "How did I die?" He asked softly. When no one answered he came up with his own. "It was KKris.wasn't it?" he asked.
"Yes. He killed you with a stake through the heart. Unfortunately we got there too late to help you. You were already dead when we arrived." Jadeite said. "Then for three thousand years we lived without a leader. Our people, even then, refused to go towards KKris for rule. It pissed the hell out of him" Darien raised his eyebrow at the term 'pissed' that Jadeite used "And then we felt it. Three thousand years after you died we felt you're life force again. Somehow your soul survived you're first transformation into a vampire and it got you reincarnated. No one else could feel you're presence for some reason. We guessed it was because we four knew you longer than anyone else and spent the most time with you thus knowing more about you. But then we noticed something.you had the scent of a mortal man. You were no longer one of us."
"How.How did I come to be immortal again? I remember thinking that Kunzite had something to do with this.but that is plain crazy." Darien said.
"It was not Kunzite. It was KKris. He got a whiff of you also. But for some reason when he tried to kill you.somehow in the time when he beat your mortal body to the extent that It could, and did, die at any moment to the time when Serena found you and healed you.you began the process of coming back to us. You became immortal without a blood exchange.it's as if your body was biding its time before it went back to its immortal state." Nephrite said in wonder.
"Another thing.I cannot control Serena. For some reason my mind control has no affect on her and that has happened only once in my existence" Everyone stared in Darien in surprise and shook their heads. "It is indeed a mystery Darien" Zoisite said softly. "I only regret not knowing the answer." The rest of the night was spent updating Darien in the ways and customs of the present day, and a three thousand year history lesson. (It was unbelievably easy to update him on three thousand years, they had originally thought they would need the girls but that might have caused too much confusion.) Darien had filled the boys all in on why KKris wanted him dead when they were speaking mind wise with Serena around (See last chapter) so now they were trying to figure out ways to repel KKris's attacks. It was a loooonnnnggg night.
Darien blinked as he went into his room late the next day. They had been up all night speaking about what had happened. He was surprised at how much humanity had changed over the years.yet had stayed the same. His mind was reeling with information and all he wanted to do was sleep for the next week. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the figure curled up in his bed. Serena lay there looking like a fallen angel in the middle of his large bed. Faintly he recalled her saying something about wanting another room so that she wouldn't have to spend the day with him. He chuckled at the memory. Jadeite was right about one thing. His woman was one hell of a hellcat. Stifling a yawn he closed his eyes and concentrated. In a flash his clothes were gone and he was in his boxers.quite a wonderful invention these boxers.very comfortable. Darien caught himself thinking as he slipped into bed with Serena. His arms automatically wrapped around her fully clothed body and she instinctively curled into his. Sighing he fell into a deep sleep.
Serena screamed as she was jolted awake. It was around noon and something or someone had just crashed through Darien's bedroom window. She sat up and tried to move away. But she was held in place by.Darien's arm. She began freaking out more. How in the world did she end up in his arms? And why was he (seemingly) naked? The thing that had crashed through the window was now standing up tall, his teeth glittering. Serena could finally tell it was Darien's kind. His eyes were dark and hungry as he stared at her. Desperately she began shaking Darien to try and wake him up but to no avail. He began snoring on top of that. She kept struggling to get out of Darien's grip but he just tightened his hold on her. She screamed again as the Second vampire (Not the one in her bed! Well his bed) began advancing on her.
"DARIEN!" She screamed trying to get some reaction but got nothing. Her next scream caught in her throat as the vampire reached out to grab her throat. She stared in horror as his hand curled around her neck applying the slightest of pressure. BOOM! The vampire suddenly let go of her as he was thrown back. Serena let out a sigh of relief. Darien was now sitting up beside Serena and had just punched the other vampire. He got up and growled at Darien. Darien smirked back as a light of recognition filled his eyes. Darien got up, clothed only in boxers.Then they raced at each other, fangs drawn, claws out eyes flashing with fury. Serena closed her eyes and looked away in fear. But when she didn't hear any fighting she snuck a peek. And stared in shock. The men embraced once and then began laughing as they did a 'manly secret handshake' which made Serena roll her eyes.
"Uh.excuse me? Am I missing something?" Serena demanded her eyes still looking at the stranger warily. Darien turned to her and smiled.
"Sorry about that. This is my very old friend Luke. He's known for his.uh.unique entrances." Darien said gesturing to the broken glass. The man next to him known as Luke smiled at Serena.
"A real pleasure to meet such a beauty" He said smiling a very toothy grin. Serena gulped and smiled back hesitantly. "Sorry about that Dare.I didn't know you had 'company'" He said turning back to the chuckling Darien.
"No worries Luke.It's good to see you man" Darien said smiling. Serena stared. It seemed as though his mortal lingo was coming back.
"Wow.you've been like out of it for some time." Luke said chuckling. "I haven't seen you since we caused that rush back in the (Remember they've been around since before time itself.well at least our yearly time thingie. Before the year 1 even) Nucktuck era. Man we were soooo evil back then. You remember that blond chick with her ankle boots and her big huge man handle?" (I have absolutely no idea as to what her 'big huge man handle is at the moment so just use your imaginations) He asked as he made himself at home sitting down on the bed right next to Serena winking at her in the process. Serena growled and jumped off the bed.
"Oh.She asked for what she got!" Darien said as he began laughing. "Remember her father finding out our true nature but no one would believe him?" Serena rolled her eyes and stomped out of the room.
Darien sighed as he watched Serena storm out of the room. He had been hoping she would open up to him after sleeping a night with him.well technically they did sleep together but didn't 'sleep' together. Darien rolled his eyes as he tried to mull over this thought.
"You all right Darien?" Luke asked. Darien looked over at his friend and smirked slightly.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked smirking.
"What's with the chick then?" Darien stared at his friend for a moment. He hadn't seen him in over three thousand years but it seemed as though they had never been parted.
"What can I say.I'm a blond kind a man" Darien said shrugging. "She's my new interest." He said not able to find it in himself to trust Luke with the truth. He sighed as he pondered this as he winked up some clothes to cover his practically naked skin.
Serena stared at the painting on the wall for a moment in shock. The painting theme was some type of goddesses. But what really disturbed her was the fact that she felt like she had seen that particular painting before. In fact she felt as if she knew the painting itself very well. But that was impossible. She loved art yes but she had never been to an art museum or anything in her life. The picture had five women in a grassy area with hills in the background and a lake behind them. They were in a small clearing with trees to their left and right. One girl had beautiful brown hair tied up in a ponytail. She held a bunch of grapes in one hand while putting another round grape into her mouth. The second had Ebony locks that swayed in the wind. She was smiling sadly as she stared at the sky above tears welled up in her eyes, a singled tear streaked down her cheek leaving soft tear marks. She was lightly fingering a small golden ball pendant, on a delicate chain around her neck, lovingly. The third had golden hair kept together with a red ribbon. She was giggling as she brushed a feather against the fourth's feet. The fourth woman had short blue hair. She was trying to read but kept getting distracted by the feather against her feet. And the fifth seemed to be hidden slightly behind a tree trunk. A very dark shadow loomed behind her covering her body; wisps of silver blond hair fell from the shadows, as her hand reached out to hold them back.
"An evil watches her" Serena muttered to herself as she stared at the painting. "The other's don't know this though.they are all very close except for the silvery haired girl. She seemed to be more of an outsider rather than share a bond with the girls. She seemed to be the one who unconsciously brought the evil shadow into their circle."
"It is a very moving portrait is it not?" Serena jumped as she whipped around to stare at one of Darien's friends. "Hello Serena.have a good night's rest?" Nephrite asked as he smiled at Serena.
"Yes. Thank you for asking. Who painted this?" Serena asked as she turned back to the painting, shivering slightly. Although she had gotten along surprisingly well with Jadeite (almost as if they were siblings) she could not find herself to be calm around the other men yet.
"A young woman who caught Darien's fancy many, many years ago. She knew us for who we were.our vampire heritage, but also our personality."
"Who are these women?" Serena asked in awe.
"These are our women. She knew them but was not close to them, Darien asked her to include his sister in the picture.she did also add, at Darien's request of course, herself. But I guess she thought she would be imposing so she painted herself in the corner as if not to penetrate a circle of friends."
"That girl is Raye.right? The ebony haired woman?" Nephrite nodded unconsciously but then looked at her surprise.
"But how do you know?" He demanded in shock.
"Darien's sister in this time is named Raye and she looked exactly like the girl in the picture.But how did the painter know what Raye looked like?" Serena asked. "I guess Darien had a picture or something lying around." Nephrite shrugged. "For a mortal that woman was wonderful. I could go as far as to say that Darien might have loved her."
"If he loved her then where is she today?" Serena demanded. Nephrite looked at her sadly.
"KKris had her killed. But at her dying breath, Darien offered her immortality. She refused saying that if they were meant to be she would find her way back to him. We never saw her again."
"Can't you feel her soul like you did Darien's?" Serena asked caught up in the tragic story.
"That was the problem.other than Darien, no one knew this girl well enough to pick her scent up. Since he has not picked up her scent she probably has not been reborn. I think that the reason, at least subconsciously, Darien brought you here is because you remind him of her."
"Oh great! I'm here because some Vampire is having fantasies of his dead girlfriend and I ever so conveniently remind him of her" Serena said sarcastically.
"You do not care for Darien?" Nephrite asked softly. Serena stared at him blankly. But then spoke as she turned back to the painting.
"She must have been a very sad woman. The brush strokes speak of pain and anguish.She almost seems to portray herself as unworthy of this world.as if she does not belong" Serena said hoping to go onto another topic.
"She went through many pains in her lifetime. She had lost her family at a young age and then her home and income. Then the last strike was when she lost her life for Darien" Nephrite answered her unspoken question. "You have not answered my question" He said turning back to Serena.
"I don't have to if I don't wish to answer" She snapped, her eyes flashing with distain. "And anyways it's none of your business" She turned back with a stiff back.
"As you wish." Nephrite said. Serena turned to him to put him in his place but she ended up staring at an empty hallway.
"Nephrite?" She whispered. But there was no sound. Growling at her own stupidity she turned back to the picture. "What frightened you so bad that an evil shadow was cast with your presence?" She asked herself softly.
Darien smiled as he and Luke took off to go feed. It had been a while even before he had 'died' that he had spent actual time with his friend.
"Good catch one down by the west bank!" Luke called as the soared across the clear air.
"You know.It's a surprise that no one has noticed us considering its morning." Darien smirked back. "Human's are so predictable in this way" Luke just threw his head back and laughed. Their prey in sighed they soared down into the remote area. "You know.this is exactly where I came to feed last night" Darien said as they touched down in the exact place where Darien had taken the blood of that boy.
"I know." Luke said. Darien turned to look at him sharply.
"How do you know?" He asked in surprise. Luke looked at him confused for a moment. Then with a slight laugh he spoke.
"I felt your scent here" He answered. Darien laughed off his stupidity but something in his mind was still not adding up. Shrugging it off they ducked behind two separate hedged as a presence made its way towards them.
~You take the guy..I get the girl! ~ Luke mind whispered to him with a hidden meaning. Darien rolled his eyes.
~Don't you dare even think of doing anything other than drinking Luke! ~ Darien said with a laugh in his eyes. From the other side Darien felt Luke let out a laugh. He sighed. Some things didn't change. The couple came into the clearing. Darien sat there frozen as he stared in shock at the pair. But unfortunately Luke didn't stop. He lunged out of the hedge and threw a mind bomb at both but he himself went after the girl. The unsuspecting pair both fell to the ground as Luke barred his teeth. Darien let out a growl and lunged at Luke.
"STOP!" he shouted both mentally and out loud. Luke though was way too gone into his feeding mode that Darien had to use most of his force to pray Luke off of the girl. "LUKE STOP!" He screamed as a blast from him threw Luke a few feet back. Luke groaned as he came back to his senses. Looking up he stared in Darien in shock.
"What the hell was that for Darien?" he demanded his eyes flashing.
"We cannot take their blood!" Darien said as he checked the girls pulse and went over to the man; all the while his mind was whirling with what to tell Luke.
"Why the hell not?" Luke demanded getting up and brushing himself off.
"They.are very important to Serena" he blurted out.
"That woman in your bed?" Luke asked puzzled. Darien nodded. "But she is just a toy right?" He asked. Darien focused on checking the pair over before answering.
"Yes.But that toy knows of our nature and she would be useless if she felt we betrayed her" Darien said mentally groaning at the stupid excuse, but Luke seemed to accept it.
"What do you want us to do with them then?" Luke asked. Darien sighed.
"We might as well take them to the house" He said.
"Well you're on your own man. I haven't eaten in a while.I'm gonna chow down a bit" Luke said. "And I.well I'll see you tomorrow. I'm staying with Reika. She let me stay in one of her spare rooms on the condition that I would model for a painting for her." He said rolling his eyes. "And she wants me back in about half an hour. In that time I'll hopefully get a good bite to eat." Luke said sighing. Darien laughed as he rearranged the two still laying on the ground. "Well adios!" He called out as he took to the air. Darien sighed and turned back to the two in front of him.
"How the hell is this possible?" he demanded as he took another look at the faces trying to decipher a difference in them and the ones from his memory. There was none. Shaking his head he picked the two up and shot up into the air. He didn't have the energy to blink out here and appear there especially since he hadn't eaten much the night before. Being careful to stay up high so that he would not be seen he searched his memory for a reason as to how this was possible. Landing in the front porch he let himself in and mentally commanded the boys to come to him.
"What is it Darien?" Jadeite asked but stopped dead as he stared at the pair on the ground. "Is that..but how is that possible?" He asked in shock as his heart skipped a beat.for more than one reason.
The end of chapter 6
(AN: Added later!)