Of Vengeance and Beauty
Chapter Three
By: Sailor Raspberry

Author's Notes: Thank you all who reviewed for the previous chapters! It means so much to me. (And it really helped me squeeze out this chapter.) I'm sooooo excited for the upcoming events in the story, you have no idea! Okay, enough of my rambling; go read you crazy cats!

Disclaimer: Standard stuff; don't own Sailor Moon or its characters (Serena, Darien, Lita, Raye, ect. ect.) But, I do own the plot + storyline.

Diamond paced around his office, the crystal shimmering slightly with the arising sun. Almost a week had past and Sapphire had not spoken to him.

His pale lips turned upwards slightly, forming into a seething smirk. He knew he didn't want his brother; he didn't need his brother. Finding this inevitable power was something that he could do himself, no one else needed to guide him.

Stepping past the scattered books, he examined the crystal ball, its cloudy core reflecting his mood. He reached a hand forward, tapping the gem gingerly.

The dark confines cleared, revealing a slumbering woman, her silvery blonde hair pooling around her in faultless locks.

Diamond allowed his fingertip to trace along her profile, his eyes focusing on the red blemish on her slender neck.

"Such innocence," he whispered, a glint of white showing him to be smiling. "I'll have her."

Serena stirred, a feeling of uncertainty washing over her. Peering open one eye, she glanced around the room. The sun was just rising, giving a wonderful daybreak view from her window, but nothing was out of the ordinary.

She sat up, wiping her hands across her arms, as if trying to rid her skin of cobwebs. She felt watched, hunted.

"At least I don't have class today," she smiled at that thought, climbing from bed and grabbing a clean dress.

As she headed towards the door, she looked back, giving her room a look over, before dismissing her worries as her imagination.

Darien sat at his desk, legs propped up casually. His lips were pursed tightly, a pen twirling between his fingers.

He hasn't had a whiff of that scent in almost a week, and it satisfied him. But, despite the pride that swelled in him every time he thought of Serena being completely and wholly his, he couldn't help but ponder at who had wafted on her.

His insides tightened, his lips flattening into a straight line. Serena was made for him; she was part of his soul, and no one else's.

The pen dropped to the desk, a hand raking through his dark hair in frustration. Why is it bothering him so? The intruder on his lover hasn't been seen, or smelt, for some while. He should move on; he should begin worrying about when the next full moon will appear; for that is when every new-found werewolf awakens.

Darien stood from his chair, walking to the window and swinging it open.

A slight breeze drifted through the room, filling his nose with the aroma of autumn, pine trees, and-

His eyebrows quirked upwards, his nose crinkling. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply.

Diamond sat before the crystal, fingers rubbing his chin in wonder. He sat forward, examining the spinning clouds within its heart.

If he could penetrate into her dreams using this stone, why could he not pay her a visit? Sweep her off her feet and allow her to be his queen when he discovered this mysterious power?

He smirked, chuckling at his sappiness. But, nevertheless, it made sense. It made him want to experience being in her presence, to feel her skin against his when he captured her for eternity.

Diamond tapped the crystal hungrily, eyes ravishing at the clear picture displayed.

Serena folded her dress neatly in the corner, sliding from her nightgown. Raising her arms over her head, she stretched her tight muscles, hair tickling the back of her calves.

She poked a finger into the tub's water, testing its warmth. Deeming the temperature perfect, she slithered into the steamy tub, a sigh of pleasure escaping her lips.

Serena's eyes fluttered closed, her breathing relaxed and deep.

"Hello there."

She jumped, spinning around in the tub, submerging herself up to her chin in water. "Who's there?" Her blue eyes searched through the thick steam, a dark figure walking slowly towards her.

"Don't you remember me?" The man appeared in front of her, his lips curved into a sickly smile.

Serena squinted at the hazy amethyst eyes, the stringy silver hair, her mind focusing on the thin, pale lips.

A shocked gasp reached Diamond's ears, and his smile broadened. "You do remember me," he said, reaching gangly fingers out towards her. "Fabulous."

A stench stung Darien's nostrils, causing the tuffs of hair on his neck to stand on end. The smell thickened, creating an unsteady feeling in his nerves.

He jumped towards the door, flinging it open and darting out into the empty hallway.

His muscles tightened in territorial anger, his fingers beginning to twitch as he sprinted through the hallways, stray students gaping as he sped by, his figure a blur.

Darien felt his wolf howl within him, but he fought it back, struggling to gain control over his jolting muscles.

Serena pulled away from his hand, hissing angrily. "Go away." Her head bobbed to the side, the mark on her neck igniting with pain.

Diamond chuckled, his hand reaching back for her. "Don't be that way, my little beauty." He sneered, gripping her hair and tugging her forward. "I can give you anything you want; more so then your supposed mate."

She held back a squeal as his face descended towards hers. She tightened her lips, jerking her head away from his, despite the throb it created at her skull.

Diamond clenched his jaw, finding her impudence aggravating. "Now, now, little one, don't be rude."

Serena's eyes grew wide, her scream silenced as his lips crushed against hers, his tongue prying her lips apart, his arms pulling her from the confined area of the tub, his hand rubbing her thigh raw.

Tears stung her eyes, her stomach lurching at his touch, a gag racking in her throat at each nauseating stroke of his tongue.

Darien felt a shudder of anger and security dart through him, his speed quickening. From the corner of his eye, he saw Jadeite and Nephlyte patrolling the hallways, their expressions revealing their surprise as he rocketed past them.

The door of the bathing room was open, steam spewing from the archway. At each inch he gained, the feeling of rage and protectiveness coursed through his veins, the reeking odor of the trespasser melding with the distressed fragrance of strawberries.

His skin crawled when he entered the room, his eyes taking agonizingly slow seconds to adjust through the thick steam.

Serena knew the moment he entered the room, her heart swelling, calling out to him to help her before she choked as the man's saliva dripped down her throat.

She heard a growl, a familiar growl, and then the man was wrenched away from her, a sharp intake of breath showing her to be alive. She fell back into the tub, its contents spilling over the edge, her hair sticking over her tear-strained cheeks, her mind desperately telling her to try and wipe away the feeling that clung to her. She continuously gagged, clutching her stomach, every choke a threatening sign that she might throw up. But, over the loud noises of her gagging, she heard a raging Darien, items in the room being flung towards the unknown man.

Darien threw the man against the wall, picking up a glass shampoo bottle and hurling it at the mop of stringy hair that smirked at him.

Diamond stepped aside, the bottle smashing against the wall, the pink soap oozing down the wall.

"Tsk, tsk," Diamond accused, waging a finger as another bottled zoomed past him. "That is no way to treat a guest."

Darien growled, launching himself at the man, his fingers aiming at his throat, his mind telling him to rip it out and watch him whither away.

Diamond's eyebrows shot to his hairline, his ears pricking at the sound of two other males entering the room. His eyes focused on the long fingers seeking for his throat, and he pressed himself against the wall. "Before I go," he rushed, glancing back at the hunched over Serena. "Tell her I'll be back."

Darien's fingers curled into a fist, his knuckles smashing into the wall. Each breath he took was ragged, his unkempt hair falling into his eyes. The man had just disappeared, faded away into the wall before his very eyes.

He then remembered where he was, and he wrenched his hand away from the wood, pushing past the approaching men and stumbling into the half empty tub. "Who was he?"

Serena heard the fury in his voice, her figure trembling as he gripping her shoulders tightly.

"Answer me!"

He shook her fiercely, the sobs barely registering in his brain. His main focus was to hunt the man down and kill him, just so he knew he would never touch Serena again.

Serena sobbed uncontrollably, her head falling against Darien's chest. Her stomach lurched dangerously, tears plopping into the water.

She managed to lift her rickety head, her watery eyes looking into his as she clutched his damp shirt, "I don't know!" She screamed, her sobs breaking, her mouth filling with bile.

That was all she was able to speak before she broke from his grasp, throwing her head over the side of the tub and throwing up.

Raye sat beside Serena in the library, rubbing her back as Darien's tall figure paced furiously before them, his eyebrows drawn together and lips pursed into a line; Serena had just told them what had happened, beginning with her dream.

Jadeite and Nephlyte stood off to the side, guarding the door, their own faces serious; they knew how severe it was when someone messed with their mate.

Lita sat in front of the fire, taming its wild flames, throwing a thick log into the burning embers every time the glow dimmed and lost its comforting heat.

Darien clenched and unclenched his tight fists a few times before pausing, turning to face his mate, searching her pale face, and seeing, for the first time, the true agony that rested in her taut flesh. "Serena," he began, running stiff fingers through his locks. "I want you to tell me-."

"I'm sorry."

Darien snapped his jaw shut, wondering if he had heard her right. "Excuse me?"

She licked her lips, pulling the quilt Raye had provided tighter around her body. "I'm really sorry," she looked up into his eyes, fresh tears stirring within the depths of her own. "Really, Darien, I am. I should have done something, anything, but I- I," her chest tightened painfully, the mornings escapades flooding back into her memory.

Raye wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leaning her head against Serena's gently. "Shh, it's all right, it's over."

Serena forced a watery smile at her friend's attempts to ease her sorrow, but she knew that it wasn't over; somehow, she knew.

Darien gulped, his heart aching at the display. "Sere..."

Serena pushed herself up from the couch, strolling towards the large window, staring up at the thin sliver of moon that shone through the dark clouds. "You know, when he was touching me," she gulped, wiping away the tear that trickled down her cheek, "when he was kissing me, I wanted to...to do something to get him off." She turned to look at Darien's distraught face, "You are the best thing that's happened to me," she whispered, feeling an embarrassed heat scorch her face, the tears that slid from her eyes feeling like ice on her cheeks.

Darien hadn't a clue what to say, so he strode towards her, folding her into his arms, stroking her silky hair and resting his cheek against the top of her head.

Lita looked back at Raye, nodding as the both of them stood. Slowly, as if they were afraid any noise would shatter the moment, they left the room, pulling admiring mates along with them.

"How come you never hug me like that, Raye?" Jadeite whispered, pouting and crossing his arms.

"Hush you," was all she said as she closed the door with a soft click.

Sometime later, Serena found herself glancing around Darien's room, her fingers maintaining a tight grip on the white sheets of his bed as he changed behind her.

She focused her eyes on her feet, finding the silence deafening, as silly as that may sound. Inhaling deeply, gathering every last droplet of her courage, she stood from her seat, turning to face him.

"Darien, I," she paused only for a second to admire the hard slate of abdomen that was his stomach, "want you to know that I-."

He held up his hand, cutting her off. "Serena, you mean the world to me," he took long strides towards her, looking down at her with intense eyes. "You're my heart, my soul, my one and only."

Serena giggled slightly, covering her mouth immediately.

"What?" Darien frowned; he was about to pour out his un-male-like emotions, and she giggled at him.

"Nothing... It's just that, well, that was so cheesy." Muffling another giggle, she looked up at him, her face adapting the same look of intensity his held moments before.

Her voice was a whisper when she stood on her tip-toes, her lips hovering over his, her arms locking behind his neck, "I love you."

The heat of desire and yearning flared between them, their lips meeting in an extraordinary kiss filled with promise and affection.

One hand held her steady as he lowered her back onto the bed, his other cupping the base of her neck, allowing him the access to intensify the kiss, making the first appear to be a friendly nibble.

Serena mewled, clenching his shoulders, her legs bending up to wrap around his waist. She felt or heard her body hit the mattress, but paid no mind to it, she was too preoccupied focusing on his fingers, which were weaving through her hair in a gently manner.

Darien smiled, the relaxed smile on her lips causing his stomach to flutter excitedly. His lips met hers tenderly, drawing a sigh come from her, and he pulled away, placing chaste kisses on her cheeks, at the bend of her eyebrows, and on the curve of her jaw before he moved to look at her again.

Serena felt butterflies in her stomach as he searched her face, the intense look in his eyes leaving her to cower beneath him. She was glad that the moon was the only source of light; her face must have been cherry red from being examined so.

But then, he leaned into her ear, his hot breath tickling her sensitive skin. "I love you."

A sense of shock swept through her; sure, he's told her that plenty of times within the past week. But, never has it seemed so pure and meaningful. His face was back to hers, kissing her feverishly and intensely, his arms enveloping her into a cocoon of security.

Serena smiled to herself as she lay nestled next to him in the early morning, wrapping an arm around his shoulders an he breathed deeply beside her. She felt safe. He made her feel that way.

Diamond grimaced at the crystal ball, his fingers clenched tightly, anger flaring within him, his eyes ablaze at the scene he had just witnessed.

Had he not made himself clear when he went to her? Is she blind to his unwarranted need for her? All these unanswered thoughts racked at his mind, leaving him confused and hungry for more of her.

He growled, his eyes falling on the man that held her tightly to his chest, her long silvery hair curling around their bodies. That male is the one small barrier that's keeping her from him, and something needed to be done.

Phew! Was that an emotional roller coaster ride or what? Reviews are welcome, they make my day! I'll also try to start up the next chapter later today or tomorrow! Oh, and sorry if there were any huge mistakes in this chapter, I didn't feel like editing all too well.

Tah-tah loves!

xo,
Sailor Raspberry