Disclaimer: Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko and DIC. This is only a fanfic.
Moonlit Secrets and Love: Chapter 8
:RECAP:
Who is Metallica, really?" Serena asked.
Darien raked his fingers through his hair. "She's someone I'd rather not talk about."
Serena stared at him squarely, clearly not accepting his answer.
"She's an enemy. And I am really a prince," he replied somewhat reluctantly. When he said he would do anything to keep her, he meant anything.
"Wha–?!" Before Serena could answer, she felt that presence again. The same one that had broken the bridge in half during Alan's suicide attempt. Thunder roared and she felt her world turn upside down.
:END RECAP:
Pounding. Yup, her head was pounding. Serena could barely think straight through the pain. Before she was once again enclosed within darkness, she heard voices.
"Will she be alright?"
"She's dead."
"No, she's ill."
Throughout the rest of the day, Serena fell in and out of consciousness.
--Three days pass--
Serena opened her eyes, yet closed them just as quickly due to the sudden burst of light. Then she opened her eyes slowly to adjust to the light. When her vision began to clear, she started panicking.
Where the hell was she!?
Her surroundings were unfamiliar to her. She knew she was in a cabin of sorts. The wooded walls, the bed, and the wardrobe meant that she was in a bedroom, but who's?
Serena got up and walked towards the door, feeling her energy was revitalized. As she was about to open the door, it slammed open, causing her to jump back and yelp! Imagine her relief when she saw that it was Darien instead of a stranger.
He backed past her as though she really wasn't there. Even when she started yelling and asking questions about where and why she was here, he didn't seem to notice. She found it quite surprising. She found it even more unnatural with the way he dressed. He was wearing a black tux, with a red tie, and white gloves. To her, he seemed overdressed.
Without acknowledging her presence, Darien grabbed something red which resembled a mask, and walked out the door.
Stunned, Serena could only stare for a few moments before following him down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she saw a family of strangers. There was a man who was sitting in a chair with some papers. He looked late middle aged, and had a brown beard reaching a little below his chin. Despite his large frame, he seemed fairly kind, with his eyes looking proudly at his Darien.
Another lady was sitting in a rocking chair opposite the man, but she was putting together what looked like a fancy expensive gown. Her features were exotically beautiful. She had dark hair with striking blue eyes. Her beauty disguised her age for it was apparent that she was married to the middle aged man.
She caught Darien saying, "Goodbye Mother, Father" before rushing out of the door. Content, the lady looked at her husband, but dropped her stitching when she saw Serena.
"Oh dear. She's awake."
Her husband craned his neck to look at Serena and gave a friendly smile.
"How are you, dear? You were pretty tired and you were out for at least 3 days."
Serena, always one to be shy around strangers, mumbled a "I'm fine." Then, her mind flooded with questions and she realized she had to be a bit more bold.
"Thank you for allowing me to stay here but where am I? Who are you? How did I--?"
The man held up his hand, silencing her. "Now just wait a second, young one. We will answer your questions one at a time. I am King Buchanan and this is my wife Queen Sharia. However, this is confidential for we are hiding right now from the White ones. I will explain that later."
Queen Sharia continued for him. "This is our temporary home for now. We do not know why you are here, but you were found laying on the ground in our backyard. You were not hurt except you must have hit your head."
Serena instinctively reached up to feel her head, and felt a sharp pain.
"It seems that no one else can see you but us two. You may have noticed that our son, Prince Darien, may have gone into your room but he could not see you. And it was not just him, the doctor we hired also could not see you."
Oh, Serena thought. So that's why Darien did not respond to her questions. He could not see her. But that still did not make any sense.
"But why?" Serena asked, astounded.
The Queen replied, "That we do not know dear but we guess it is because you are not from here."
Kings and Queens? Prince Darien. That sounded familiar. It was supposedly his "nickname" according to the two men, Kunzite and Jedite. But here, it was his formal name. Yup, "I am not from here," Serena admitted.
Then another thought came to her. "Where did Darien go?"
"He is at the formal masquerade," boomed the king. "You see, he was in a hurry to see Princess Serenity that he forgot his mask and he had to come back and get it."
"Oh," Serena said, even though she didn't have anything more to say. The fact that Darien went to the gala to meet a Princess did not seem to bother her. She couldn't imagine Darien cheating on her with his promises and encouragements to build their relationship through trust.
Queen Sharia's eyes sparkled as she looked at Serena from head to toe.
"I know this dress is perfect for you! You should wear it to the masquerade just in case anyone sees you. I can also help you apply some color to your cheeks, darken your eyelashes, and straighten up your hair."
Serena was once again speechless, but she didn't have any time before the queen was rushing her up the stairs. The last thing she heard was the king's deep rumbling laugh.
+MSL+
Serena stood outside the grand palace after the carriage drove her here. What am I doing here? Serena thought. She had never been to a gala before, yet here she was standing in this foreign place with only familiar Darien to hold on to.
He was the reason she had convinced herself to come here. She might learn something more by being here than waiting for him at his home and taking advantage of his parent's hospitality.
"Oh someone help me," Serena mumbled to herself, readying herself for whatever she were to face.
"Excuse me what was that?"
Serena yelped as she looked behind her. Standing merely half a feet away from her was Jed. He leaned near her and looked at her as though she had said something offensive. He looked like the Jed she knew but he felt rather different. She didn't know how but she sensed his aura to be a bit more lighthearted rather than his sarcastic self.
His facial expression was slightly different for it was obvious he had cleaned up, and he looked younger. It was still the same bright blue eyes which looked at her, but his hair was brushed out into curls, and he was wearing a white suit rather than dark attire.
Jedite noted her frightened expression and said, "Miss, are you alright?"
"I-- I'm fine," Serena stuttered. He could see her? But how?
Jedite smiled a huge grin and replied, "Why yes, I would never miss looking at such a beautiful girl as yourself." Serena hadn't realized she'd spoken her thoughts outloud.
"Well do you have a date, Mi'lady?" He asked, extending his arm out for her to hold.
Serena knew why she accepted his arm. She didn't want to be in such a huge gala by herself. She was shy around strangers and for her, Jed was familiar.
As they both walked in, Serena looked around in awe. There were chandeliers everywhere,and the setting was royalty with women wearing expensive fluffy gowns and men wearing tuxes of all colors and sizes.
Somehow, it didn't seem like an act to her. And for the nth time, Serena wondered just where she was. Unlike everyone else, Serena didn't have a mask because she hoped she would remain invisible.
She felt uncomfortable among the people, but the palace was gorgeous.
"And that is count Belliam with his lady--"
"Milady?" Jedite asked, gazing at her amusedly.
"Oh, sorry," Serena blushed. She was so taken in by her surroundings that she hadn't realized that Jed was talking.
"It's alright, I'm just not used to having a women not lavish all her attention on me."
Yup, that seemed like the old Jed.
"Well, its almost time for the midnight dance. You'll have to hold on tight to me or else you might get sweep'en away by the many suitors no doubt eyeing you," Jedite replied, with his quirky smile.
All of a sudden, the lights went off and a slow but melodious sound filled the air. Serena was so surprised that Jedite had begun dancing with her that she almost fell over her own two feet.
As she was recovering from her stumble, Jedite twirled her around but Serena was not accustomed to this dance and therefore she twirled into someone else.
After apologizing to the unsuspected pair, Serena tried searching for jed but couldn't find him in the dark. Before she knew it, Serena was at the far corner of the ballroom, and near the open balcony doors.
She heard whispering, so she glanced inside. What she saw broke her heart.
Darien was with a beautiful woman, who were a silver gown and had long flowing silver hair that reached the floor. Darien was holding her like a lover would, and he was kissing her passionately.
:End of Chapter:
I made this longer than the other chapters. It is also out early to make up for the last ones being late! Hope you liked it and I know it was a bit confusing but that's why you have to read on! Please Review and thank you to all my reviewers.