The Dark Prince Returns

Chapter Seven: Deathly Ill

Serena lay down on Darien's bed with a washcloth over her head. She looked over at Darien in the corner of the room. He sat solemnly looking out the window. There was such a sad expression on his face as if he knew about everything that had happened.

Serena sat up in the bed and hoped to get Darien's attention. She wanted so bad to be in his arms. She wanted to be held by him and to forget everything. Deep down she knew nothing would ever be the same. She had betrayed him. Serena owed him more than she could offer. The worst part of it all was that she had nothing left to offer.

Darien looked over to the waking girl for a minute, then looked back out the window with the same face he had before.

"Are you feeling better, Serena?" he asked without even looking at her.

"A lot better. Thank you." Her heart sank to her stomach.

There was a long dead silence for a moment, and then Serena spoke again.

"Darien, please look at me…"

He didn't turn to her.

He knew. He must know. Darien never acted this way towards Serena even through the worst.

"Do you remember anything that you said to me when…"Darien trailed off, unable to finish what hurt him so deeply.

"Darien, I was under his control. I had no free will. Whatever I said you wasn't true!"

"I know…and that's not what bothers me. I just…it seems like there is something wrong and I can't put a finger on it. Like he still has some kind of hold on you…"

Her stomach jerked again. Another nauseous feeling came up into her throat and she leaned over the bed and grabbed the garbage can beside her.

"You need your rest. Lay back down, Serena…"

"Can you tell that he knows, Serena? He wants nothing to do with you." A voice came to Serena.

She looked around frantically expecting to see Diamond in the room watching her. There was no one but her and Darien.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Serena. I can take care of you like he never could. I can love you. I can give you everything your heart desires-"

"Leave me alone…" Serena screamed.

Darien looked at her not sure whether to be hurt or angry. Then he got up out of his chair and walked towards the door. Then he stopped with his hand on the door knob.

"I love you, Serena. I just want you to know that. I love you more than anyone." And then he continued to walk out the door.

"See, Serena. He's leaving you. Abandoning you."

"He loves me! He'd never abandon me!"

"Why is he avoiding you?"

"Stop it!"

"Why won't he touch you?"

"Stop…"

"He can't compare to what I have. He doesn't appreciate you like I do."

Serena started crying. She curled up and held herself as she lay on her side.

"All you have left is me."

Rei stood outside of the temple. She had a lot on her mind. Mostly it was about Serena and what to do about Diamond. Darien had a point earlier. Something was going on and something was different about Serena but she couldn't put a finger on it. She knew that Serena had been through more that she could handle right now. That was understandable but it wasn't that. There was something else.

The wind was picking up a little and it was starting to get cold out. Rei wrapped her arms around her body to keep warm. Even with every psychic ability that she had, and with the spirits and the fire to guide her, she felt helpless and oblivious to what was going on.

"Hey Rei why don't you come inside. Its getting cold out and there's a storm coming." Jedeite walked up and put his arms around her.

"I'll be inside in a little bit. I need some air."

Jedeite kissed her softly on the forehead and walked back into the temple.

"Why can't everything just go back to how it was…just to be at peace again." She sighed.

"Things don't come that easily."

Rei turned around abruptly.

"Diamond…" her breath caught and every part of her froze in fear.

"I have a message for Endymion. Where is he?" He asked, approaching Rei closer.

Rei backed up to keep distance between them. What was she supposed to do? If she ran then he would chase after her. He wouldn't give her the chance to transform.

"He's not here." Her voice was shaky. He knew she was frightened.

Diamond slammed her against one of the temple pullers. "I'm getting impatient!"

Rei let out a shriek.

Jedeite ran outside after the scream. "Rei!"

"Where's Endymion!" Diamond yelled, releasing Rei from his hold.

"How dare you. Leave now and I don't destroy you!" Jedeite held out his hand and let energy form in his hand.

Diamond just laughed. "That wouldn't be smart." He paused for a minute then continued. "I need to speak with Endymion. You can let me through and tell him I'm here or I'll force my way in."

"Then it looks like you've got yourself a fight." Jedeite threw the energy at diamond.

As soon as it came close enough, Diamond put out his hand and reached out for the energy to catch it. Jedeite and Rei looked at him with disbelief. Diamond threw his arms foreword and blasted a large energy ball straight at Jedeite. He tried to block it but failed as he flew back.

"Do you want to try?" He asked as he approached Rei.

"Mars Star Power!" She yelled.

Diamond once again laughed. He wasn't planning on fighting. Delivering the message was all he needed to make him happy. This was beginning to feel even better, though.

More energy formed in the palms of his hands, ready to throw out at Sailor Mars.

"Enough." Darien said, stepping outside in the middle of it all. "What do you want?"

There was a wall of anger that surrounded Darien and Diamond could feel it. Pure hatred and disgust. It was beautiful.

"I want to talk about Serena's condition. I hear she's not feeling well." A wicked smile hindered upon his lips.

"BASTARD!" Darien charged at Diamond but Diamond just blew him away with the throw of his arm.

"What did you do to her!" Sailor Mars yelled.

Diamond laughed again. "Of course I'm to blame. Hmph." He walked over to one of the pillars and leaned against it casually. "I asked to see you so I could talk to you."

Darien looked at Diamond for a minute decided whether or not he should be alone with him. There was something wrong with Serena and he had to find out what it was. He would tell the others later of what was happening. Then, he looked at Sailor Mars and Jedeite and gave them a nod. Jedeite was a little surprised by Darien's decision, but Sailor Mars was more angry than surprised.

"Are you dense!" Mars yelled.

"We'll discuss it later. I need to know what's wrong with Serena." He gave her a look to tell her that he knew that she understood. Darien knew that Mars would understand. They talked about it just the other day.

Sailor Mars looked at him deeply as if they were having a conversation with their eyes. Then, she sighed and looked away from him.

Darien and Diamond stood on the roof of a 10-story high office building. No one said anything at first but then Darien spoke.

"She hasn't been the same. You did something to her and you better fix it. You'll fix it and then I'm going to make sure you die so you can't come back again."

A smirk snuck up on Diamonds lips. "Every minute Serena gets sicker and sicker. She still has the dark crystals energy running through her blood. It's fighting the power of the silver crystal inside of her. Either the dark crystal's energy will overpower and return her to me, or both energies will destroy each other and kill her."

Darien stood breathless. He really was losing her and whether she went to Diamond or died…she would be lost to him. Was there any way he could save her?

The look that Diamond gave Darien said he knew what Darien was thinking.

"She's already gone to you, Darien."

"Your sick. You would let her die!"

Diamond just smiled. "What makes you think I would let her die?"

"What's your angle?"

"I'll let you know if I come up with one. For now, I just want to see if Serena will tell you about what she does remember."

Diamond faded and disappeared, leaving Darien alone on the rooftop.

The only sound that could be heard in Serena's room was of her unsteady breathing. Darien opened the door slowly and sat down on the bed, looking down at Serena's pain face. It killed him to see her like this. Everything that had happened and everything he had felt flew in every direction in his mind. Finally, he just began to cry. He cried for not being there to save her. He cried for letting her down. He cried because he didn't know what to do and he didn't know how to save her.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! Yea, I'm sorry I took so long in updating this. The story is rolling now and I'm determined to finish it. However I Won't write the next chapter (post it. I am writing it now) until I get some reviews! Alright people I know your reading this story too so lets see some input!