Ten Weeks Later
"Has there been any progress in tracing the arsonist?" Endymion asks his generals who just entered the meeting room.
"Unfortunately Endymion another fire has been started." Zoisite replies. After they heard about what happened both Zoisite and Ami agreed that it would be for the best if they cut their honeymoon. Unfortunately they had been unsuccessful in finding any leads.
"Okay, when we get down there I want Jadeite and Nephrite to help with the extinguishing. Zoisite, Malachite we will try to find the arsonist, but be careful. If this is another trap we don't want to fall into it again.
"Endymion, should we tell Serenity what's going on?" Jadeite asks, stopping Endymion at the door.
"No, she'll only want to help and I can't be worrying about her while we try to find this guy. Plus, if she found out she would worry and the doctor said that her blood pressure has been a little high recently. I don't want it to develop into a serious problem." The generals nod and they all leave.
Serenity is sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery, her hair down and still in her nightgown. It was something she had been doing since they had finally gotten it set up a few weeks ago. The crib, changing table, and rocking chair were made all of the same deep, dark wood. The walls are painted a light blue with a bright yellow bordering the bottom. Above the crib is a mobile with faux sunflower blossoms dangling down. Serenity's favorite part of the room however is the small stuffed white bunny that was currently residing in her lap. It was the same bunny that her father had given her when she was a baby and it was incredibly important to her. (AN: room is on my profile)
Serenity had almost fallen asleep when she heard the door jiggle open. She turns to see who it is and immediately stands up, placing protective hands on her stomach, when she realizes that she does not know who the intruder is. The man who entered, and has since shut the door behind him, towers over Serenity height-wise. Midnight black hair, even darker than Endymion's falls softly around his pale face. The man is wearing a black military jacket and pure white pants. On his hands is a pair of black gloves. But what frightens Serenity the most is the inverted black crescent moon on his forehead.
"So you must be the infamous Serenity." He says, his completely dilated eyes giving the impression that they were pitch black.
"Who are you?" She says as she backs away from him. The man following each of her steps with one of his own.
"Some call me an arsonist, but you my dear may call me Sapphire." Serenity feels her panic rise even further when she feels her back connecting to the wall.
"Guards!" She calls out, panic clearly written in her voice.
"Well that's not very polite." Sapphire says with a dark chuckle. "I just got here. Besides, I don't think they are going to be much help to you at the moment." Serenity gives a small whimper.
"Don't worry Serenity, I'm not here to hurt you or, apparently, the child you're carrying. I just thought I'd introduce myself while I was here to pick up something." He brings up his hand to caress her cheek and Serenity flinches back. "I can see why Diamond was so enthralled with you. You are quite the beautiful woman. But sadly," he drops his hand, "not my type."
"You'd better leave if you want to live. When Endymion sees you he is going to kill you." Serenity says while she tries to contain her crying.
"I'm not too worried about him, I have a feeling you won't be seeing Endymion in a long while. You know, seeing as how he is currently running into a trap while trying to put out my little fire." Serenity lets out a sob. "But just so I know you won't go running to get the little king some help, it seems I'm going to have to lock you in one of the dungeons."
"Where do you think Serenity is?" Mina asks as she lounges on a chair in the library staring at her engagement ring. Malachite had just recently gotten up the courage to ask for her hand and Mina couldn't be happier. They had decided to plan the wedding for after Serenity gives birth so she can be Mina's maid of honor.
"Probably in the nursery again." Rei says, looking up from her book. Ami sitting next to her also reading, but unlike Rei she is reading some medical books about pregnancy and birth. Lita is sitting on the ground with her son Noah who is playing with some blocks.
"How about we go get her, it's about lunch time anyway. Plus I want to talk about some wedding details." Mina suggests, the other girls shrugging in agreement and are starting to rise when Luna and Artemis run into the library.
"Whoa guys, where's the fire?" Asks Lita who is now attempting to hold the fidgeting Noah who had started babbling and clapping when the two talking cats had entered the room.
"You have to come quick! We were going to go sit with Serenity when we saw some dark-haired man dragging her towards the dungeons!"
"What!" They all shout standing up quickly. Lita hands Noah off to Mina, the four girls knowing that in this type of situation they need Lita's strength, Ami's medical knowledge, and Rei's fighting knowledge. They head out, Mina following with Noah at a safe distance. When they reach the stairwell to the dungeon Lita, Rei, and Ami start to head down following Luna and Artemis. Mina stays at the top of the stairs holding Noah and waiting for the signal that it was safe to come down, which came very quickly.
Walking slowly, trying not to trip as Noah plays with her hair Mina makes her way down. As she gets to the bottom she can quickly hear Serenity's sobs. When she hits the level ground she quickly puts down Noah, unable to support his weight for much longer. Noah immediately runs off to find his mom, Mina walking quickly behind him.
Mina walks in as soon as Lita finds the correct key to the cell currently holding Serenity. Mina feels tears flood her eyes as she takes in the scene laid out before her.
In the back corner of the cell kneels a sobbing Serenity, arms clutched around her swollen stomach in her attempt to physically protect her child. Her white nightgown is dirty from the cell floor and there are some small smudges of dirt on her face. What is more frightening though is the light bruising on her arm, most likely from where the strange man grabbed her. Luna and Artemis are curled at her knees in their attempt to comfort her, apparently they are small enough to fit through the bars.
Lita opens the cell door and immediately picks up Noah who had attempted to run through in order to get to the cats. Ami, Rei and Mina enter the cell and quickly surround Serenity. Ami immediately starting in on checking her pulse and other medical things. Rei and Mina flank her sides and start rubbing circles on her back in an attempt to sooth her. Rei breaks the silence.
"Serenity, what happened?" Serenity goes into a description of the recent events describing how the man, Sapphire, seemed to have known Diamond and about the crescent moon that adorned his forehead. Immediately, though, Serenity stops suddenly remembering a specific detail Sapphire had given her.
"Endymion!" Serenity gasps.
"Endymion will be back before you know it, but you need to calm down." Rei tries to get her to relax but it's useless as Serenity just stands up and starts pacing.
"You don't understand! The fire, it's a trap. He's in trouble! I need to go to him!" She tries to leave the cell but Lita just stands in her way.
"No Serenity, what you need to do is calm down. This panicking is not good for your baby. Now Rei will go and warn Endymion, and the generals about what is going on. You are going to let Ami look over you and make sure there is no lasting damage. Now, are you going to be a good girl and do as I or do I have to lock you back in this cell until Endymion gets back?" Lita and Serenity have a staring match and Lita realizes that Serenity has made her decision. "Very well, Rei will you please exit so I can lock this door?" Rei does that and Lita pulls the door close, hearing the lock click in place. "Now Ami, if you don't mind, please look over Serenity and make sure she's alright while Rei goes and fetches Endymion."
AN: Sorry it's so late...personal problems/school/etc...I'm on spring break now though so I'm going to try to finish as much as I can before I go back...Happy Reading!