Of Vengeance and Beauty
Chapter Seven
By: Sailor Raspberry
Author's Notes: Yeah, Chapter Seven didn't come out in the next few days, did it? Sorry about that. I just got caught up in other things... Thank you times a billion to all the reviewers who've been driving me to keep writing. It's really appreciated and I absolutely ADORE every single word that's written in each in every one of the reviews.
Disclaimer: Standard stuff; don't own Sailor Moon or its characters (Serena, Darien, Lita, Raye, ect. ect.) But, I do own the plot + storyline.
Serena smiled up at Darien, who had his chin rested comfortably against the top of her head.
"What a pleasant surprise," he mumbled, planting a light kiss on her hair. "What brings you to these parts of the academy?"
She laughed lightly, connecting her arms around his waist. "Just thought I'd stop and say hi." Tilting her head slightly back, she smiled teasingly at him, "Hi."
Darien chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Hello." He pulled away a hand from his hips, brushing his lips against her knuckles.
Serena frowned, watching as his eyes suddenly become darker, his jaw clenching quite noticeably. "Darien, is everything all-."
Her hand slipped from his grasp, a deep growl rumbling in his chest. "He was here."
Her eyes grew wide as she took a step away, tying her hands together in front of her stomach. "Who was?" Wiping the offending palm across her skirts, she glanced around, hoping for something to distract him.
His head snapped in her direction. "He touched you." Fingers pulled at the roots of his hair, face becoming taut with anger. "Dear lord, Serena!" He staggered his way towards his desk, palm coming down hard against the dark wood.
Serena pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing at the floor. "I don't understand." She heard a rather loud growl, then a crash.
Jumping at the sudden sound, her jaw hung open as she watched his chair follow a stack of books through the now broken window. "Darien, please, take a deep-"
"Jadeite and Nephlyte, they let him near you?" His voice grew louder with each word, his hunched figure stomping loudly towards the closed door. "I'm going to kill someone!" He turned to a bookshelf, swinging a hand at the books. "They're going to-"
Serena grabbed his wrist as he hurtled himself at the door, feeling his muscles tense beneath her grasp. "They didn't do anything," She whispered, keeping her eyes focused on the floor.
"What?" His voice was still obnoxiously loud, his shoulders heaving with each breath.
Serena gazed cautiously up at him through her eyelashes. "I...He...I couldn't control him. He just kept coming, and I-." She screeched, her back hitting the bookcase roughly, Darien's leg coming up between her legs to lift her to his height.
"He. Was. Near. You. Before?" His voice was a scorching whisper, eyes burning furiously.
Serena felt her breath hitch in her throat as his hands gripped her thin waist forcefully, pushing her up higher against the shelf.
"Answer me," his hot breath tingled her face, a predatory look creeping into his sharp features.
She focused on the windows that lined the opposite wall, her chest beginning to ache as it pressed intimately against his own. "Yes," she forced her eyes shut, feeling the burning sensation of tears pricking behind her lids.
"How long?"
She took a glance at him, finding a pique face and a pair of lengthened canines. "How long...What?"
His eyes closed, his breaths coming out in short gasps. "How long has that goddamn man been..." His sentence trailed off, his breathing still heavy and face formed into a tense growl.
Serena felt her bottom lip quiver, and she bit down on it harshly, "Every since," her voice wavered, "I've gotten here."
Her feet hit the ground, legs threatening to give out. Darien pulled his fingers through his ebony locks, a foot kicking out into his desk, which gave off an injurious snap. "I'm going hunt him down and rip his god damn throat out!" His eyes looked around the room wildly, before resting on Serena's tear stained face.
She caught a look of sympathy, before it was replaced with outrage. "You're supposed to tell me this stuff, Serena!" He was in front of her in two power strides, his hands gripping her shoulders firmly. "How do you expect me to protect you if you don't tell me anything?" His eyes searched hers, and she could have sworn they were shining with tears.
Serena exhaled a shaky breath, turning her head away, "You wouldn't understand."
She received a howl of sarcastic laughter as a response, his hands shooting above his head, "Of course I wouldn't understand! But, that's because you won't tell me anything!" His chin met his collarbone, head shaking back and forth slowly. "So, at the lake," his voice shifted into a gloomy whisper, his canines gleaming through his parted lips. "And in the bedroom, too?"
Serena's throat closed off dangerously, her vision blurred. "I told him to stop today."
His head snapped up, tongue licking across his teeth. "That's splendid, Sere. Just peachy." He began to pace, every so often a fist shooting out suddenly into the nearest wall.
"Darien, I just thought it was my imagination, I really did." She gulped, turning her eyes back to the carpeted floor. "But, it just seemed to happen more often." Inhaling slowly, she looked up at his emotionless face, his eyes dark and empty. "And...And it seemed like he was trying to control me, to try and keep me away from you." Her voice cracked, a shudder racking her body. "It felt so real!"
A pair of strong arms unexpectedly wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest. "I want to protect you," he whispered, his chin at the top of her head. "You need to let me protect you."
Serena forced down a loud sob, clutching onto his shirt tightly. "I didn't want to worry you," she admitted, fresh tears seeping into the dark fabric.
Darien pursed his lips, pulling her closer. "You have to let me in, Sere."
She inhaled his rosewood scent, leaning her head down to wipe her damp cheeks against her sleeve. "I want to. But, it's just... You're kind of scary when you're angry."
He chuckled gently, glancing around the room at all the indents in the wall. "I only get this angry when someone treads on my territory."
Serena pushed away from him, "I'm not your territory," her nose crinkled at his choice of words. Folding back into his embrace, she sighed softly. "I would prefer it if you would call me your lover."
Darien smiled slightly, raising a hand to stroke a thumb along the length of her neck. "If I wasn't so angry right now, I might have ravished you for saying that."
The students sat awkwardly in their seats, eyes snapping back and forth between their teacher and headmaster.
"Okay..." Serena leaned against the edge of her desk, trying hard to ignore Darien's prodding eyes. "You all can read ahead in your books; so there'll be a quiz this Friday." She nodded at her students, repeating her words in her head before sitting down in her chair.
Quizzes are no fun.
Serena looked up in surprise, glancing around the room slowly.
To your left, love.
Peering over, her eyes met a blank-looking Darien, who sat reclined in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
"How did you do that?" Serena whispered, picking up a pencil to advert her gaze away from him.
It's simple, really.
"Stop that."
I think you like it.
Serena glowered at him from the corner of her eye. "Where are Jadeite and Nephlyte?" Tapping the tip against her desk, she tried to come off casual, secretly glad that the bickering duo weren't there.
He shrugged, crossing an ankle over his thigh, "They've been relieved of their duties and have gone back to teaching for the time being. Besides, I think you'd enjoy it more if I was your watch-wolf," he whispered with a sly wink, plucking the pencil from her grasp and doodling on a spare sheet of paper. "Oh, naughty Sere," he grinned, "although, I wouldn't mind that, really."
Serena gasped, face adorning a crimson color. "Don't read my thoughts."
"I like your thoughts, actually." Dropping the pencil, he scooted the paper in her direction. What do you think?
She felt her eyes grow wide, her hand crumpling the paper. "There are children in the room," she hissed, pegging the paper towards the trash bin.
"In the closet? Seriously, love, you are too wicked." Darien sniggered, ignoring the firm punch directed towards his thigh.
He watched as her face puckered, eyebrows drawing together.
Pig.
Darien mimicked applause, flashing his pearly whites, which had reclined to their normal – human – length. You catch on quite fast, little rabbit.
Diamond sucked his cheeks between his teeth and bit down, ignoring the slight taste of blood. This girl did not know when to stop! "Unbelievable," he sneered, watching as she dismissed her students earlier then usual and closed the door quickly.
A look of disgust flashed across his face, turning away from the crystal as she led the male into the room's storage closet.
Wetting his lips, he allowed his eyes to travel down the length of the desk. Sliding his hand down the columns of drawers, he paused, fingers lingering at the bottom. Sighing, he pulled it open, feeling around before emerging with a silver blade. "I didn't think I'd have to use this, dearest Serena." He whispered more to himself, twirling the blade in the direction of the setting sun and watching as a beam of light streaked off to hit a wall. "But, desperate times call for desperate measures."
Twirling around in his chair, he hurled the blade towards a wall, adapting a satisfied smirk as it sliced through the wood.
It felt like hours had past by the time the couple stumbled from the cramped closet and into the deserted classroom.
Giggling, Serena clamped a hand around Darien's waist, afraid of losing her balance. "That was fun," she giggled again, squealing as he bit the tip of her ear.
"I never would have guessed you could be so..." He paused, licking across her ear, "Explorative."
She shuddered at his touch, tracing small circles at his hip with her index finger "It's that darned full moon. It has my thoughts all jumbled." Sending a sideway glance towards the window, she smiled. "Is this how it's going to be every full moon?"
Darien dragged her towards the door, smirking down at her. "We'll just have to find out, won't we?" He pinched her roughly through her skirts, drawing a yelp of surprise. Serena sneered playfully at him, beckoning to him with her finger.
"Come get me," she said softly, darting from the room as he chased her down the empty hallways, laughing and gasping every so often at each others actions.
Serena stopped suddenly, 'oomph'-ing as Darien bumped into her from behind.
"What's the matter?" His voice was harsh, quick rasps of air brushing against her neck.
Pouting, she turned to face him. "I left my shoes in the closet."
An eyebrow rose in confusion. "Just get them tomorrow."
Sighing, she crossed her arms. "But I need them." Not waiting for his response, she pushed past him, taking long strides back the way they came. "I can't walk into class barefoot, that's -"
Something whooshed past her head, sending small slivers of golden bangs twirling to the floor.
Gulping, she turned towards the wall, a sudden shiver traveling quickly down her spine as her eyes met a long silver blade that sat pierced through the wall. Glimpsing quickly around the corridor, she spotted no one. Her head twitched to the side slightly, catching no sign of a blade anywhere.
"Sere?"
Jumping, she whirled around to face a worried Darien. "Yes?"
One eyebrow arched upward, "Are you okay?"
Laughing nervously, she looped an arm through his, "Of course, now come on. The shoes can wait until tomorrow."
Liar.
Serena pursed her lips, scrunching up her face in concentration. They're only shoes.
Not that, love.
She looked up at him carefully, sighing. I know.
Pouting, she flopped onto the bed, crossing her arms defiantly. "I don't know if it was even real!" Giving an exasperated sigh for effect, she rolled onto her side, watching with mute interest as Darien changed into his pajamas. "You aren't being very nice."
"Well, when your mate tells you that he saw a blade fly past his head, come and tell me how you feel."
"You're being unreasonable." Serena sprawled her body out on the bed, refusing to allow him to climb next to her. "You should be worrying about yourself, too, you know. He also threatened you."
Darien gripped her ankle, dragging her to the other end of the bed despite her protests. "Don't give me that, Sere."
"Don't give me that, Sere," she mocked, scurrying towards him and attempting to shove him from the bed. "Bad werewolves have to sleep on the floor."
Darien grabbed her waist, propping himself against the headboard and turning her over to arrange her in his lap. "If I've been bad, I can only imagine what kind of trouble you've been in." His cheek rested against her golden hair, senses clogging with her strawberry scent.
Serena crossed her arms, head falling back against his chest. "Whatever."
"Whatever."
Glaring, she punched his arm gently, "Don't mock me."
"Don't mock me."
Sapphire pushed open the door slowly, peering in and glancing around. "Brother, dinner is being served."
Diamond sat hunched at his desk, hair falling in front of his eyes and fingers twitching. "I'm not hungry, Sapphire."
Rolling his eyes, he stepped into the room, closing the door softly. "You haven't left all day."
Amethyst eyes clashed with navy, giving the air a stale feeling. "You know, your advice is not pulling through."
Sapphire scanned the desk that sat in the far corner of the roon, eyes falling on the crystal ball. "I see."
"I've tried to use her dreams to manipulate her." He placed two fingers on his desk, inmitating a person's legs. "She ran to him." The legs took a step back. "I've gone to visit her. And he came to her rescue." Another step back. "Then, I tried to make her think she was insane; make her vulnerable. The male ended up finding everything out." His fingers traveled backwards. "Failure, brother, is all you've brought me to."
Sapphire took a step away, tying his arms behind his back. "It wasn't my fault. You did not carry out the plan well enough."
Diamond stood, disregarding the comment as his arms hung loosely at his sides. "I've come up with my own plan, Sapphire." He strode to the wall, wrapping a hand around the handle of the blade. "The full moon is only a week away." Pulling forcefully, he drew the blade from the wood, a small smile creeping onto his lips. "Every wolf feels a need to hunt before a full moon."
Sapphire felt his eyebrows knit together unconsciously, watching as his brother took the point and pushed it into the tip if his finger, twitching slightly as he hissed in pain. Gradually, the puncture began to turn to a mauve-ish color; a sign that a wolf has been pierced by silver. "I'm afraid I don't understand where you're going with this." Blood oozed from his flesh, slowly trickling down the length of his finger.
"Her male will need to hunt. Sadly, though, he knows of my..." He paused, pondering for a word, "Longing for Serena. Therefore, he won't allow her a moment alone." The blade slid up his finger, collecting the blood into a small puddle. "Together, the two of them will hunt. And when the forest is dark and the moon is hidden, I strike."
Sapphire pursed his lips, forcing down a shudder as the blood fell to the floor with a hushed 'plop'. "You're going to kill him."
Diamond chuckled, dropping the knife on a bookshelf. "No." Settling himself in his chair, he motioned towards the door. "Leave me to me thoughts."
Shooting his brother a strange look, he exited, shaking his head slowly. "Such a foolish man," he muttered, closing the door with a soft click.
She sat in the courtyard quietly, watching the clouds drift quietly past. Plucking a piece of grass, she looked around.
A sudden breeze picked up, causing her hair to tickle her ankles. A cloud drifted across the sun, darkening the day.
Sitting up from her reclined position, she blinked, trying to rid her eyes of the black they were buried in.
And then, something caught her attention, glinting gaily within the forest's depths. She leant forward, trying to examine the object, when she heard a chuckle behind her, causing an unexpected pain to shift beneath her flesh.
Turning, she looked up at the culprit, her stomach churning dangerously.
Amethyst eyes stared down at her, greasy white bangs curving against a tight forehead. The faintest amount of white around his thin lips showed him to be smiling. He whispered something, her ears straining to listen.
The wind howled, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. Finally, his unheard words reached her ears. "Your mine."
Silver slashed past her eyes, drawing a scream of pain to echo in her mind. Warm liquid slithered down her neck, her body collapsing to the unwelcoming ground. The man stared down at her, a broad smile on his sickening face. Behind him sat a silver blade, pierced through the hard dirt.
Serena jerked herself awake at the sound of something crashing noisily to the floor, followed by a select choice of curse words mumbled in the far corner of the room.
Propping on her elbows, her eyelashes fluttered, her dream shifting into complete nothingness, resting in the back of her memory to sit, forgotten.
Straining her eyes, she caught a distraught looking Darien, who busied himself with picking up a toppled chair. "What are you doing?" She mumbled, smiling slightly as he looked up in surprise.
"Nothing, now go back to sleep." He pushed the chair into its rightful position.
Serena looked out the window, watching as dark clouds drifting lazily over the half moon. "Why are you up so late?" She fell back against her pillow, pushing the quilt down past her knees to cool off her heated body.
The bed depressed as Darien sat beside her, his hand stroking her hair gingerly. "I haven't been out hunting in a while." He rested his head in his palm, examining her face carefully. "The moon puts a wolf's necessity to hunt into over-drive."
Serena nodded, patting his cheek with a small smile. "I'll take you out tomorrow night, 'kay honey buns?"
"I can't do that, love."
Pinching his nose, she turned on her side, facing away. "If I'm going to spend rest of eternity with a wolf, I'd like to experience him in action." She heard him sigh. "I'm serious. Now go to bed or I'll-."
The bed shifted noisily, a large arm coiling around her waist. "That's my boy," she cooed, settling herself into his embrace.
Soon, Darien's relaxed breathing blew over her neck, sending little shivers of delight down her spine.
Forcing her eyelids closed, she altered her body within his tight hold. As hard as she tried to let sleep overtake her body, something kept her from doing so, but she couldn't quite figure out what.
Twisting around, she wrapped her arms around Darien's torso, burying her head into his warm chest.
His heartbeat pounded soothingly in her ear, eyelids drooping involuntarily. She was surrounded by darkness, the distant sound of a heartbeat echoing through.
"Until next time, beautiful..."
Reviews admired!
xo,
Sailor Raspbery