Of Vengeance of Beauty
Chapter Twelve
By: Sailor Raspberry
Disclaimer: Standard stuff; don't own Sailor Moon or its characters (Serena, Darien, Lita, Raye, ect. ect.) But, I do own the plot + storyline.
In the light of the moon, you strike the wolves.
She was faintly aware of a sudden smoldering heat that enclosed around her, pressing and grasping at her skin. But barely, for she felt smothered by another, more enticing, fragrance, and that made it seem like every other detail was nonexistent.
That is, until it began to feel as if her lungs where being torn apart, an ache so immense that it caused her to stumble slightly, consciousness slipping away seconds before it gathered itself back.
"Serena!" His voice sounded urgent, the low baritone creating a barrage of goosebumps at the base of her neck. "Let's go now, we haven't much time..."
It was then that she finally realized who exactly she was grasping onto, and with a newfound vigor, she disregarded the smoky fog that was quickly closing in on the two of them and shrieked, diving into the familiar arms of one Darien Repens.
"Darien," she whimpered, burying her cheek into his shoulder so that her cries were muffled. "I thought... And you... But then..." She couldn't quite get her words out, but it didn't matter, because whatever she was able to choke out became silenced by the light, feathery touch of his lips upon her own. Her hysterics died down to a small simmer.
When he finally pulled away, his face was of complete and utter seriousness. "Come on then," and with a small, tender kiss to the forehead, he stooped down, having noticed the sticky fabric of her gown, and swooped her into the air. One arm tucked beneath her knees, while the other rested behind her back, forming the protective cradle that was rightfully hers. She gave a surprised yelp at his actions, drawing an amused chuckle, before he continued swiftly down the hallway.
Amy's nose scrunched upwards, a foul stench creeping its way into the kitchen where she, Zoisite, and Mina sat, nestled around a wooden table.
"Zoisite," Amy whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around Mina's fragile waist. "Do you..."
He simply nodded his head, fingers tapping anxiously from where they rested on the tabletop. Slowly, he lifted himself from the chair, resting a delicate hand atop Amy's shoulder, before leading the three of them from the room.
Mina tried not to say anything, but buried her nose into her mother's breast, hoping to distinguish the smell that persisted to make her eyes water. And then, just when they made their way out of the house and towards the towering forest before them, there was an ear-splitting crack. A new flurry of raging orange flames engulfed the house, emanating a strong, foul heat that made her skin crawl. She gripped the fabric of her mother's sleeves, chin quivering, as she daringly lifted her head to stare in awe at the burning wood.
Amy looked down at her daughter, placing the palm of her hand on her upper back, rubbing in soothing, circular motions. "It's okay, princess. Everything's going to be fine."
Though she whispered those simple comforting words to the trembling girl in her arms, she found it hard to believe herself.
Serena felt her eyes grow impossibly wide as Darien came to a sudden halt, body wavering slightly and arms tightening, before he settled back comfortably on his heels.
"Is everything alright?" She whispered, arms convulsing around his neck as he slowly maneuvered around the gapping hole in the floor. An intense heat poured from its clouded depths, causing a thin sheen sweat to bead above her brow.
He grunted his answer, the sound low and deep in his throat, feet light and quick on the weakening floorboards; the actions of a true wolf.
"I'm going to take that as a yes," she peered up at him through her eyelashes, voice soft and unsure. "That was a yes, right?"
He set his jaw, another low rumble reverberating from his chest, "I would appreciate it if you didn't ask so many questions. I'm busy at the moment."
"Well," Serena wiggled around in his arms, ignoring the grunt of his disapproval. "Put me down, I'll walk myself."
His eyes narrowed, feet coming to a slow stop as they approached a staircase. "Don't be foolish, Serena. This house is already falling apart. It will be much less of a risk if we go as one. Besides, with the condition of your legs, you'd be jeopardizing-."
Serena frowned hard, curling her fingers around the material of his shirt and pulling his head sharply down towards hers, "Don't test my patience, Repens. So just trust me, please. We will move quicker on our own feet. My legs are as good as their going to get, now don't make me scratch you." She could see a tone of confusion in his eyes as he contemplated his decision, and she felt her heart ache. He truly cared.
She placed her hands against his cheeks, padded thumbs brushing over his temples. With a small smile, she brought her lips to his forehead. "Trust me."
Their noses bumped as she pulled away, and she drank in the seriousness of his dark eyes. His voice was uncertain as he spoke, a certain gruffness mingling that sent a stint of nervousness into her bones, "Stay close, and always stay aware. This is no longer a game." He allowed her to slip from the warming embrace of his arms to the rickety floorboards.
Serena gave him a small, reassuring smile, running her fingernails over his arms. But her leg throbbed in warning, causing the muscles to bunch and throb in pain, though she did her best to control the intensity of her voice, "This charade was never a game, Darien, and if it was, I was certainly never playing." She adverted her eyes quickly then, barely catching the slight curling of his lips as she entwined their fingers. "Now come on, it's becoming unbearably hot in here, and I would love to go home."
Sapphire paused, eyes narrowing at the sight before him. Thick, black smoke tumbled down the staircase in large tufts of clouds, curving around everything it came into contact with. His fingers tightened into fists at the display, lips pressing into a thin line. Nothing could ever be done easily, could it?
Slowly, he began his stride again, pressing into the folds of the beast, and disappearing into the darkness its belly contained. He never caught the sound of a door crumbling, and never saw the black magic pulling back to its master.
Amy's ears perked, hand pressing slightly harder than needed against Mina's back. She peered at Zoisite from the corner of her eye, and saw that he, too, had heard something. She squinted, examining the jagged shadows that the moon cast across the ground.
Her head whipped around, hair slapping at her cheeks. It sounded like... footsteps? Padded footsteps?
Zoisite reacted quickly, arms and legs distorting until he came down upon the earth, fur slick and pale beneath the moonlight's glow.
Mina squirmed against her mother, sensing the sudden shift of mood, and twisted until she was looking out into the depths of the forest, "What's going on?" Shrugging off her mother's frail hand, she looked down at the ground. "What's daddy doing like that? Is something wrong?"
She turned accusing eyes towards to woman holding her, eyebrows drawn. Amy smiled as best she could, and shifted the child to her other hip. "It's nothing, pumpkin, we just need to..." She cut her words off at the sound of a twig snapping, moments before the air stilled.
Zoisite snarled, teeth glinting through the looming shadows. An instant passed, seconds stretching out through the thick atmosphere.
A growl, low and deep, responded to the disconsolate air, followed by a quick dash of black. Amy squinted, and despite the squirming child in her arms, she stepped toward it. Another blur darted past, pale eyes peering through the darkness. Zoisite stepped in front of her, legs bowed and taut, ready to pounce.
Amy swallowed hard, forcing back the lump that threatened to clog her throat. She moistened her cracked lips, felt the dampness of her palms. "We mean no harm," her voice was kept at a calmly cool, but her eyes betrayed it all. "There is nothing-"
"Neph, please, you can Jade's tactics are outdated."
Amy's brow furrowed as she hoisted Mina higher up on her hip. With luminous, wide eyes, she watched a woman, auburn hair hanging limply around her face, stride out from between the trees. The woman turned grassy eyes toward her, a small smile gracing her lips.
"Hello there, we seem to have gotten a tad lost."
Serena was forcing herself not to gag on the smoke, forcing herself not to let tears fall from her itching eyes. Swallowing back her displeasure, she continued to push forward, skirts lifted to reveal her battered, bleeding shins to the blistering heat of the fire's flame.
"Do you have any a clue as to where we may be going?" Darien asked, exasperated, right behind her, eyes trained to her movements.
She chewed her lip for a moment's breath, eyes darting from wall to wall to every charred wall. It was as if she had never set foot within the house before, as if, somehow, the very walls had transformed themselves into a winding maze, the hedges too tall to peer over. "I'll figure it out, so don't fret so much," she turned another corner, and felt her heart skip.
Her nose bumped against a wall, dusty flakes of wood scraping off and dancing toward the floor. She spun around quickly, rubbing her palm against her nose to rid it of the wood's ghostly touch. She came into contact with Darien's substantial chest, then, tilting her head upwards, she took the time to drink in the seriousness his face portrayed.
His eyes flashed with recognition, and just as quickly, he gripped her upper arm. "Come on, if we stay too long..." But he didn't bother to finish his sentence. Before Serena had the chance to exhale, she was pulled sharply back in the opposite direction, Darien leading the way.
She stumbled along, the tips of her hair frayed and frizzed from the heat. Sweat trickled, slowly and uncomfortably, down her spine, and she forced herself to suppress a squirm. "Darien," she breathed, words hot and sticky against her cheeks. She found herself falling into a spell of confusion. Blinking away a bout of tears, she spoke with a weak voice, "I don't think you're going the right way." She heard him sigh, in a frustrated way, but it seemed distant, as if he was no longer right in front of her.
Her arm began to feel numb, starting at the tips of her fingers and darting up toward her elbow. Darien was saying something, but it was muffled, his words struggling to meet her through the thickness of the smoke. She shook her head, hoping to clear the cloud that hovered somewhere in her ear.
Pinpricks jabbed at her neck, and she clenched her teeth, a secluded, cold sweat coating the base of her neck. A dark cloud swam not to far up the hallway, mocking eyes peering out at her.
Her entire arm seemed nonexistent, and it scared her. It filled her up to the brim with an unknown fear. With a whimper that came from somewhere at the back of her throat, she jerked away from the panic, stumbling backwards and crashing to the floor. A cloud of dust rose up around her, clogging her throat.
She couldn't think, could barely breathe. She was suffocating; being dragged within the smoke, pulled under so quickly that her head began to spin. She couldn't hear, couldn't think, couldn't...
She was lost, lifeless and clueless to the world. The space around her vibrated with the sound of a voice, pounding footsteps, a gripping feeling that wound around her heart. The blood pounded at her temples, echoing back to her ears.
The fire parted, and a man, tall and lean and smirking, glided over the burning wood. His smile was wide, eyes glinting from their bright amethyst color, to a sickly blue, dancing along with the flames.
He was speaking, but she couldn't hear him, because all she could make out was the thumping of her own heart.
In a quick, sudden instant, she found herself upon the glossed floors of Cryptid Academy, legs weak and arms limp. The students bustled by, turning corners and climbing stairs, not even sparing her a glance as she struggled to her feet. Her fingers grasped at the walls, prying to steady herself.
It was then that her eyes darted to the floor, where scratches, deep within the wood, glared angrily back up at her.
Her eyebrows furrowed at the sight of it, toes peeking out to brush across it. They shifted at her touch, curving and stretching to form a few words, written in a language she couldn't decipher. She mouthed the unfamiliar tongue, and found that the words tingled her lips.
Alla luce della luna...
Serena narrowed her eyes at the words, fingers curling into tight fists. This time, she whispered the words, and began to feel a tightening within her stomach.
Something shifted behind her, a quick movement, and before she could make out what was happening, she found herself pinned up against the wall.
Warm, clammy breath coated the sensitive skin of her neck, gangly fingers pulling at the fabric of her dress. Her throat caught, a lump rising from the pit of stomach that threatened tears. She blinked them away, looking around wildly, but found that no one, save herself, was around.
"What's the matter?" The words traveled through her mind, scorching her thoughts.
Her eyes widened at the whisper, and she felt a hot, open-mouth kiss press against the prickling at her neck.
A scream rattled her ribcage, rising from deep within her core, and with an unknown vengeance, she kicked her leg out, hoping to catch something, anything, that would get her away.
She was rewarded almost immediately, a grunt dancing off into the depths of the hall. She shook free of the desperate hold the fingers had on her and darted away, hand scrubbing the spot where lips lingered.
Serena came to two towering mahogany doors, barely hesitating as she flung them open, before stumbling inside. Her chest heaved, a slender hand fluttering to her chest, as if that would ease the pounded of her heart.
Darien's office seemed much more lonesome without him hunched over his paperwork. Without him there, it was like she was missing the last piece that completed the puzzle.
She rested back against the cool surface of the wood, eyes slanting close. The silence enclosed around her, pressed against her, and just when she was starting to believe that nothing was going to twist into harm, the faint sound of patient footsteps jerked her back to attention.
They sounded far off, a good distance away so that she had room to breathe, to think. She was suddenly grateful that she had a piece of wolf stamina running through her.
Her hand felt across the door, only slightly satisfied when her ears met the sound of the lock clicking shut. She glanced around the room, a small smile quirking her lips at the remembrance of her and Darien's mishaps.
With a heavy exhale, she stepped farther into the room, peering around at the bookcases, the broken window, the desk, and at its splintered leg. Chewing on her lip, she slid her way into a moonlit-bathed chair.
Her fingers plucked at pens and folders, pulling open drawers and filing through the carefully organized papers. What she was looking for, she didn't know. But she needed something to preoccupy her mind.
Then, something caught her eye, an object that glinted against the pale light. Her fingers wrapped around its sheath, felt the sharpness it complied, admired its gem-encrusted grip.
The desk wobbled dangerously, the air froze, and she felt her neck, ears, blood prick.
Space and time stretched out before her, and she became faintly aware of the smell of charcoal smoke. The object of her attention fell back into the safety of the drawer, as if it had never been removed.
The doorknob began to wobble, twisting frantically against the wood, drawing her attention back into the room. Serena gasped, eyes dilating and nostrils flaring.
Her limbs felt gangly, the pulse of her heart traveling the distance of her veins, settling in great, shuddering booms within her ears.
Within seconds, she was pulled under, the ground and air around her disappearing until all that was left was the galaxy, stars winking down at her, moon turning her skin to a milky white. For a moment, while she soaked up the moon's glow, she felt a tight presence deep within her, calling out, begging to be awoken. But the sky twisted into an angry red, swallowing the moon and its companions, quick winds gusting out and turning the world into a dusty mess. A tornado of emotions bustled by, whipping and tearing up everything it came near. Serena felt her skin pulling towards it, every ounce of control slipping away.
She found herself in the welcoming confines of her classroom. But not really. The setting sun turned the room into shades of oranges and pinks, illuminating her hair until all that was left was a silvery essence. The sky remained the color of fresh blood, a warning.
Serena gasped, eyes wide as they rested upon her desk, where she, herself, stood nestled between the chair and its edge, eyes mesmerized by a glass of water. Her mind buzzed; skin tingling as she examined herself, brows knitted together. She watched the cup's exterior become fogged, until its hazy surface began to clear, a bout of unknown words smoothing itself out. She pursed her lips and read it aloud, "Colpite i lupi."
But the words barely had time to simmer, for a faint sound caught her attention.
Her head swiveled from the desk, to a point somewhere along the alabaster walls. Her forehead crinkled, eyes hooking to a single spot. Then, the small section split, opening slowly and soundlessly, a shadow looming within its depths.
A knot in her stomach tensed painfully, ears becoming that much more sensitive as the shadow grew thinner, until Darien, tall and handsome, appeared, hands in his pockets, eyes hooking to her back.
A smile edged its way onto his lips, and he began his silent prowl upon her.
Serena's lips began to tug at her own face as well, but it quickly turned into a tight grimace. Her lungs became stiff, eyes began to sting. She lifted a delicate hand to her throat, gasping in sort, quick breaths, until tiny pinpricks began bursting into her vision.
The room began to swim, the walls stretching out until all that was left was wispy spirals and crescents.
Her nails dug into her throat, begging for air, nose clogged and limbs heavy. She barely realized it when the sharpness of her fingers dug deeper than the flesh, and her neck became sprinkled with droplets of blood.
Somewhere within the room, the glass shattered, and Serena was positive she was the only one who heard it hiss is agony.
Lita approached the group calmly, though the inconsistent pounding of her heart proved otherwise. Extending a slightly clammy hand, she offered a smile, "Lita Maughan, Pastry Teacher at Cryptid Academy."
Amy's eyebrows knitted together as she did her best to keep her face emotionless, watching carefully as the two wolves appeared at the brunette's side. She hitched Mina higher up on her hip. "You know Serena then?"
Lita's face flooded with relief, and she took another step forward. "Oh thank the Lord. We've been so worried. We haven't seen Serena or Darien in days, and..." She trailed off, a thin hand fluttering over her heart. "Do you know where they are?"
Amy gulped, watching through narrowed eyes as she felt her daughter squirm. When no one spoke, Lita's eyes widened.
"You don't know?" Her voice steadily grew higher. "You have to! We can't afford to..."
One of the wolves sensed her hysterics, and shifted, auburn hair and emerald eyes splitting through the darkness. He gathered the woman into his arms.
Zoisite stepped forward, "We do know where they are. It's a different matter that leaves us," he paused to clear his throat, "slightly discouraged."
"Nephlyte!" Lita cried into his shoulder, fingers clenching the fabric of his shirt. "Do you know what they're saying?"
Nobody spoke, they didn't dare to, and the silence spread out before them, until all they heard was the faint sound of crackling.
Serena stumbled backwards, and she found herself sprawled out across the office's wooden floors. She greedily gulped at the air, pushing herself up from the ground on unsteady arms and legs. A hand remained on her neck, fingers tense against the shallow scratches. Her free hand grasped the tilted desk, head clearing just a moment before another wave of panic overtook her.
Through her overcast thoughts, she realized that something didn't seem right. Almost as if...
The door's wooden frame cracked and flew open, revealing a confident man standing in the doorway. Diamond arched a slender brow, a crooked smile riding his lips. "Thought you could hide, little lady?"
Serena bit onto her lip to suppress a sob, and slid farther behind the desk. It was the only thing between him, and her.
His eyes remained hooked to hers, their amethyst depths swirling with unnamable emotions. "Don't ignore me, Sere." He pouted, advancing forward. "We've been through so much."
He was no more than ten feet away, tongue peeking out to moisten his lips. "Why must you be so cold? After all you've put me through?"
Serena edged in the opposite direction, felt the cool breeze from the broken window blow against her fresh wounds. She didn't break eye contact.
"Serena Lockeheart," his voice met her ears in a sour whisper, and she couldn't resist the wince that flashed across her face. "Don't you see? There's no one trying to step between us anymore."
"No one?" she whispered, features adopting a look of confusion. "What do you mean?"
His smile was warm, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Darien, or so you liked to call him. He's done. He can no longer keep a clamp on your heart." Diamond tilted his head to the side, examining her through his bangs. "Come, darling. Let me have a look at you." He beckoned to her with an outstretched palm.
She shook her head, collapsing into Darien's chair. It couldn't be true. "I can't."
His eyes flashed, but he didn't say anything, merely took another step forward.
His prey was cornered.
Serena felt her vision blur, felt her throat clench. Darien couldn't be gone. Her eyes moistened, threatening tears of sorrow. But then, someone's voice crept into her mind, "Alla luce della luna, colpite i lupi."
"In the light of the moon, you strike the wolves."
Serena froze, felt her body tense, and turned slightly to peer out the window.
A full moon gazed back at her.
She turned back to face Diamond, gave him the warmest smile she could muster. Inhaling the thick air, she forced out a steady whisper, "We haven't met formerly."
Diamond smiled, lacing his arms behind his back. "Of course, how foolish of me." His voice betrayed his evident relief. Eyes twinkling, he bowed deeply before her. Serena held her breath and allowed her hand to slip into the drawer. As he stood up, she tied her arms behind her back.
"That's much better," she said shyly, gracing him with a small grin. "Hard to believe I thought you a barbaric creature before."
His smile broadened, and he gestured her to him, "Come to me, Lady Serena."
Serena obeyed, standing up on wobbly legs. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stepped out from around the desk, arms wound tightly around her backside.
His arms took purchase of her waist when she was within his reach, and she quickly glided her arms around his, then slid them up around his neck. She gulped down a gag.
"That's my girl," he murmured into her hair, thumbs tracing circles on her hipbones.
Serena chewed on the inside of her cheek, but dutifully threaded her fingers into his pearl-shaded hair. Her voice dropped to a small sigh, "Kiss me, Diamond."
She felt his chest stiffen and bunch beneath her bosom. Her fingers tightened.
His nose bumped with hers, and she found herself being drowned within the depths of his dark hypnotic eyes. "Gladly," he whispered, breath fanning across her lips.
She hesitated a moment, scanned his face, read his emotions as easily as she could read Darien's mind. And when his thin lips were just close enough, she took the chance.
Diamond's sudden surprise lasted only a moment, before he gagged on his own bile, eyes widening and nostrils flaring. Serena jabbed her hand farther into his back and pushed him away, eyes narrowed as he staggered back. The stench of vomit filled the air, and blood poured from his mouth, shirt soaking with that same liquid as well. His eyes darkened to their true blackness as the carpet on which they stood became coated with a heavy crimson liquid. A silver blade jutted from his back, imbedded to the hilt.
Her senses soared, finally freed from the cage in which they were imprisoned for so long. The moon was as potent as it has ever been, seeping through her pores and into her veins.
Serena wasted no time in rushing over to the bookcases, pulling book after book from the shelves, moving from case to case, tossing everything she came within reach of to the floor.
Each one crashed down, scattering about her, and her eyes began to flood with tears. She cried out in desperation, nose filling with the retched stench of blood as she grabbed a handful of worn novels and flung them across the room. They landed with harsh thuds.
Every page from every book crinkled and curled, charring beneath the strong clout of Diamond's power. The covers blackened, until they turned to ash. The only thing that remained was thin tufts of smoke.
She came upon a vase of roses, the stems green and their blooms the color of crimson. A petal broke off and fluttered to the floor, soaking up the blood that the carpet could no longer contain.
The vase fell to the floor, shattering at the same moment Diamond slipped to his knees, continuing to struggle, chin dripping with his own black fluids.
Serena turned to face him and met his eyes squarely. They were no longer their amethyst color, but a daunting, eerie indigo. His skin shifted to a watery white.
She felt and heard the bookcases behind her slide open, felt the goosebumps dart across her skin as a cold dampness seeped out.
Diamond gave her a pleading look, knees and shoulders trembling, soaked in his own blood. "Please," he whispered, barely, and reached out towards her, canines glinting and fingers coated red. Smoke curled from the blade.
She felt her heart give a slight tug, a pitiful tug, but she lifted her skirts anyway. "I'm sorry, Diamond. But I'm afraid your time has run out."
With a final shake of her head, she turned her back on the pleading man, stepped over the blood, the books, the roses, and made her way into the lantern-lit passageway.
As the walls began to close, she turned to give him one last glance. When she caught his eye, she spoke, "In the light of the moon, Diamond, you strike the wolves."
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