Phew! This chapter has been a long time in the works, and I'm so happy to get it out!I'm really excited for what I have planned in the upcoming chapters, and I as always, I hope you enjoy it! :)
Chapter Five
With strings of curses slipping through his lips, Endymion draped a black cloth around his face, leaving only a small opening to see. He pushed out into the storm, the wind trying desperately to pick apart his clothes as it hurled sand into the air.
"Serenity!" he yelled, his cries lost to the sky as he trudged forward.
Hours passed, and night gave way to dawn. The sun stretched across the horizon, bleeding into the darkness and chasing the stars away. The storm had passed, taking all traces of the princess with it. Endymion's skin burned from the assaulting winds, and his muscles ached from fighting through mountains of sand. After doing one last survey of the landscape around him, he decided to head back to the cave, hoping that she had come to her senses and returned.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door, surprised to find a shadowed figure in the room. Endymion squinted, eyes raw from the sun as he attempted to see into the darkness. His fingers lightly brushed the hilt of his dagger, and his shoulders tensed in anticipation.
"Finally!" The voice cut through the dwelling, echoing off the rocky walls.
"Motoki?" Endymion asked, stance relaxing as he moved through the dwelling. His vision slowly adjusted, and he lit the lantern that sat in the middle of the table.
"Where have you been?" the man wondered, his hands shaking dramatically.
"The girl escaped," he said simply, setting his pack on the table and sitting down with an agitated sigh.
"I know." Motoki joined his friend, grabbing the flask of water that Endymion had discarded and taking a quick swig.
"You know?" he gaped, eyes wide with shock.
"The Daboia have her."
"Shit," Endymion cursed, slamming his fist on the wood. "How do you know?"
"Do you think they'd keep something like that quiet for long?" Motoki snorted, unable to hide his disapproval – he had warned Endymion from the beginning that keeping the girl would backfire.
"So they know she's a princess." He sighed with annoyance, tiredly rubbing his face. He had to get her out of there.
"News of a missing princess spreads pretty fast, Endymion," Motoki replied knowingly. "What were you thinking?" he chided, watching as Endymion stood and began to pace around the room.
"She followed me," he argued, knowing that his response was hardly justification.
"You should have let her go," Motoki said wearily, shaking his head.
"She's an asset," Endymion spat, stopping in his tracks to glare at the man.
"In what, blackmail?" he shouted back, well-accustomed to Endymion's hard-headedness.
"I don't have time for this, I have to find her." He hastily grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and shoved a sheathed dagger into its place on his belt.
"You don't even know where they are," Motoki protested, folding his arm across his chest as he leaned back in the chair.
"They won't be hard to find," he insisted, as he slid another knife into the top of his boot.
"Endymion." Motoki licked his lips, swallowing anxiously as he leaned forward, watching his friend prepare.
"The flask." Endymion motioned for the container, palm out, waiting expectantly.
"You can't just march up to them alone and expect to get her back," Motoki said emphatically, refusing to do as he was asked.
"Yes, I can," Endymion replied tersely, snatching the canteen from the table.
"Fine," the blond huffed, rubbing the back of his neck. The chair screeched across the floor as Motoki stood, "but I'm coming with you." He shook his head as he gathered his belongings, picking up the sword that he had discarded upon his arrival. Endymion nodded a silent 'thank you' in reply.
Pain. All Serenity could feel was the searing pain that throbbed through her skull. She groaned as her eyes slowly opened, and grimaced at the taste of blood on her lips and sand on her tongue. Her wrists and ankles were once again bound, but this time the coarse rope was pulled too tight, and wasted no time burning her skin. She retched when her senses fully reawakened, flooded with the stench of rotting animal and burnt meat. The truculent laugh of men rang through the air, yet all she could see was a collection of pelts held by logs that served as a makeshift tent. She used her legs to inch herself forward towards what looked like an opening. Using her foot to push a flap of fabric to the side she peered out on the camp, breath hitching in her throat – these were not Endymion's men. She struggled to remember what had happened, but could only remember slipping from Endymion's watch into the whirling winds. Noticing movement from the tent, a burly man approached, ripping open the doorway.
"Good morning, Princess," he sneered, his lips curving into a virulent smile. When she refused to reply, he lunged forward, grabbing her arm and forcing her to stand. "I said good morning," he repeated, mouth twitching in irritation.
"Who are you?" Serenity demanded, biting her cheek to keep her lip from trembling.
"Your prince in shining armour," he mocked, "don't you remember? I saved you," he snarled, bringing her closer.
"Then why am I being treated like a prisoner?" she bit, trying to quell her fear by playing brave.
"What would you rather be treated as?" he asked, his guttural tone sending shivers up her spine as his glare bore into her.
"Who are you?" Her voice cracked, and he grinned at the panic that cross her face.
"Acacius, master of the Daboia," he answered, roughly cupping her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. The dessert sun had taken its toll on his skin, and he donned a large scar across his cheek. "Aren't you a pretty little thing," he murmured, tilting her head as he inspected her. His calloused fingers grated against her skin, and his sour breath caused her to wince in repulsion.
"Release me, and no harm will come to you," Serenity said, unable to stop the tears from welling in her eyes. Acacius chuckled and pressed his hand against her back, pushing her body against his.
"Oh my dear, you are far too valuable to release," he grinned, drawing a line straight down her cheek and stopping at the top of her breasts. "Isn't that right, men?"T he shouted, his tribe eagerly replying with whistles and cheers. Serenity glanced nervously over his shoulder at the band of thieves who were celebrating with food and wine. She clenched her eyes and dropped her chin, trying to calm her erratic heart. Her head spun and she could feel her limbs growing languid with exhaustion.
"Endymion…" she whispered, praying that this was all a dream and she would wake up in the confines of the cave.
"Don't you dare say that traitor's name," Acacius hissed, "you're mine now," he seethed, crushing his lips against hers, grabbing a fistful of hair to prevent her from pulling away. She writhed against him, wrists and ankles still bound, unable to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. Her eye twitched and nose crinkled; she would not allow this. With every ounce of strength she had left, Serenity bit down on the man's lip, her teeth piercing his flesh. Acacius stepped back in shock, breathing ragged and anger ablaze, and gingerly touched the bleeding skin. "Bitch," he cursed, raising his arm and striking her face, the clan of onlookers growing deathly silent. Serenity cried out, and he shoved her to the ground, spitting blood into the sand beside her.
The princess landed roughly on her side, struggling to regain her composure. She managed to push herself upright, and gasped when she realized the locket she had so carefully hidden beneath her clothes had be shaken from its hiding spot. Using her thumbs, she hastily tried to drop the necklace back behind the cloth, yet her actions did not go unnoticed.
"What do we have here?" Acacius snarled, leaning down and grabbing the locket in his fist.
"Please," Serenity begged, eyes swollen and a purple bruise beginning to show. The man's stained mouth curved into a menacing smile, and he ripped the chain from her neck. The girl howled as the metal tore into her before giving way, and all she could concentrate on was the loss – the failure. Weak and defeated, Serenity allowed herself to topple over, lids heavy with grief. This couldn't be the end; she would stay strong, and they would find her.
"Throw her back in the tent. We'll deal with her later," Acacius ordered, shoving the heirloom into his pocket and intentionally kicking sand on the girl as he stalked away. Two of the thieves rushed to her side, dragging her across the terrain and back to her cell.
Locked in the western wing of the Earth's frigid castle, Rei jolted awake, body trembling and brow damp with sweat. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she swallowed in an attempt to catch her breath. She rubbed her face and massaged her temples, raking her fingers through her thick, dark hair. The girl fell helplessly to her pillow, staring at the shadows that played on the ceiling as she tried to piece together the visions.
Along with the abilities her planetary powers bestowed upon her, Rei also had the gift of foresight. Ever since she was a child the hazy premonitions would plague her dreams, and making sense of them was like trying to solve an intricate puzzle. She had always been told it was a gift from the gods, yet deep in her heart she felt it was a curse.
Unable to sleep any longer she rose from the bed, draping a robe around her shoulders. Curious to see if her friends were awake, she headed to the door only to find that that it was locked. She struggled with the handle, jiggling the knob and pushing against the wood.
"Dammit," she cursed, pounding the door one last time before relenting. Knowing there was no possibility of returning to sleep, Rei stalked over to the window. She pressed her palm flat against the pane, reveling in the feeling of the cool glass. The sun was slowly beginning its ascent, and she watched as the moon faded with the night. Her mind flitted back to the visions, and with a heavy sigh she found herself falling into a nearby chair. She went back through what she remembered, image by image, trying to make sense of it all. Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," she called, not moving from her seat as she listened to the jingle of keys and turning of the lock.
"Good morning, m'lady," a young girl greeted her, bowing politely as she nervously stepped into the room, carefully balancing a tray in her hands. "The King has sent me with breakfast," she explained, setting the meal down on small table.
"Oh, he has, has he." Rei turned her head, "how kind," she stated curtly, glaring at the blond guard who stood behind the servant. Quickly realizing that the servant was in no way to blame, she changed her tone. "Thank you," she said sincerely, nodding her head. The girl beamed and bowed again before spinning on her heel and leaving the room.
"We leave in an hour," the guard announced sharply, "the coach will be waiting for you. Don't be late." His squinted her, and she flashed a disparaging smile. The guard rolled his eyes, and using every ounce of self-control he had, gently closed the door.
Rei curiously made her way to the table, picking up a round, purple fruit and rolling it between her fingers, inspecting it carefully. 'Earth does have some strange food,' she mused, before popping it into her mouth. Enjoying the sweet flavour, she grabbed a handful and ate them as she paced around the room.
"One hour," she said, voice echoing in the emptiness. The princess went back to the door, and gradually pulled it open, peering around the frame only to find three guards standing at the end of the hallway. She shook her head, and blew the bangs out of her eyes – this was utterly ridiculous.
She slowly finished the rest of the breakfast, hoping that it had bought her enough time, and clapped in relief as she felt her comrades transform. Thrusting her hand into the air, she called upon the powers from her planet. Instantly she was wrapped in fire, the flames invigorating her down to the core as she turned from a regular princess to Sailor Mars.
"Ready?" Venus asked, as Mars pulled open the door to find her friends waiting on the other side. The girls all nodded, and marched down the hallway.
"I can't believe they locked us in our rooms," Mars scoffed, shaking her head as she adjusted the bow on the front of her uniform.
"I know," Jupiter agreed, "and that just proves that they have something to hide," she added, balling her hand into a fist.
"It seems like they're as distrusting of us as we are of them," Mercury commented, not willing to jump to conclusions quite yet.
"Be as quick and as thorough as you can," Venus ordered, her voice hushed, "we lost a lot of time due to the storm." The soldiers nodded in understanding, as they approached a trio of men.
"Ladies," Kunzite greeted them, dipping his chin in respect. "Allow me begin the introductions," he said, unable to ignore the tension that filled the small area. "I am Kunzite, the King's master-at-arms," he paused briefly, and motioned to the blond on his right. "This is Jadeite." Sailor Mars glowered at him with recognition – he had been at her door earlier that morning. "And Nephrite," he finished. The men bowed, and the four guardians returned the gesture.
"Sailor Mars and myself are looking to gather information on the Black Cloud. That who is you suspect kidnapped the princess, correct?" Venus asked, wasting no time on formalities.
"Yes," Kunzite replied, taken aback by her pointed tone and strong command.
"I suggest we begin in any villages they are known to frequent, would you agree?" she said, brow raised expectedly.
"That sounds logical, m'lady," Kunzite stuttered, unaccustomed to taking orders – especially from a woman.
"Excellent. Then you…" she paused, pointing to the snowy haired master-at-arms, "and you…" her finger flicked to Jadeite, "…will take us there." She stared at them until they uttered phrases of acquiesce. Venus turned to Nephrite who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "I'd like you to take Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter to Princess Serenity's last known whereabouts," she directed. "Any questions?" She looked each of the men in the eye, expression stoic and mouth tight.
"We best be on our way," Nephrite said diplomatically, pushing open the heavy wooden door to the outside where a coach was waiting.
"It'll take a moment to ready the second coach," Kunzite explained, calling over a stable boy and whispering orders in his ear.
"Mercury and Jupiter, you go ahead," Venus instructed. Taking the cue, Nephrite opened the coach door, helping both girls inside before climbing on top with the driver.
"Good luck," Jupiter wished, shooting her friends a determined smile before the carriage pulled away.
The remaining members of the group stood in awkward silence as they waited for their ride. Venus ran her fingers through her golden hair, tightening the bow that held stray strands from her face, while Mars purposely ignored Jadeite's heated gaze to stare at her perfectly manicured nails. Kunzite subtly inspected the warriors with mute interest; he had stories of them, but this was his first time to meet them in person. The sound of hooves on stone echoed through the courtyard, and the coach pulled up, accompanied by the stable boy. Kunzite took a pile of fabric from his hands, and gently placed it on the seat.
"Shall we?" he asked, offering an outstretched palm, which Venus accepted, allowing him to help her step inside. He continued the gesture for Sailor Mars, who willfully rejected, face hard and jaw set. Jadeite stifled a chuckle, masking his smile with a gloved hand.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered, following Kunzite into the coach. Once settled, the general knocked on the roof, signalling to the driver that it was time to go.
The first carriage pulled to a screeching halt, and both Jupiter and Mercury heard the two men clamber down from the seats atop. The door opened, and they stepped out into the vast, dusty terrain. Sailor Jupiter frowned, and wiped the sweat that had already began to collect on her brow. Never in her life had she seen so much sand, and she longed for the metallic lansdscape of her home planet. She scowled, watching the Earth's general with disdain. 'Useless,' she muttered, shaking her head. Serenity had been gone for days and these Earth men knew nothing.
"So this is where the caravan was stopped?" Sailor Mercury confirmed, scanning the area.
"Supposedly," the general replied, seemingly uninterested in the task at hand. Angered by his indifference, the brunette was about to speak, but her companion shot her a silencing glance, telling her to bite her tongue.
"And she was last seen going east on horseback," Mercury recounted, turning her body in the direction she imagined the princess had gone.
"How long can a horse last out here?" Jupiter wondered, squinting as she examined the endless hills of dust.
"Not long, I'm afraid." The general's face softened with regret. "Maybe a half hour," he guessed.
"She couldn't have gotten too far on her own then," the cobalt haired genius said, as she programmed her computer to run a series of calculations. "And even if she was taken, it would be hard to take her too far," she added. "We need a map."
"You." Jupiter pointed to the general, "fetch a map from the carriage," she demanded, flicking her wrist. The general closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves . "What are you waiting for?" Jupiter asked haughtily, arms folded across her chest. Casting the girl a frigid scowl, he turned to obey her orders.
"Try to be civil," Mercury scolded. Jupiter only shrugged in reply – she had already had enough of Earth.
"Here," the man handed her rolled parchment, "and the name is Nephrite," he said sharply, staring her straight on.
"Thank you," she bit, clenching her jaw as a jolt of electricity played at her fingertips.
"Enough," Mercury warned and the warrior conceded, unrolling the map and glowering at Nephrite from the corner of her eye. "So according to these calculations," Mercury began, focus shifting from the numbers on her visor to the paper in front of her, "she could be anywhere within this radius." She traced a large circle on the map with her gloved finger.
"That's still a pretty big area." Jupiter sighed, rubbing a hand over her face; they didn't seem to be making any progress.
"There are two camps that aren't on the map," Nephrite interrupted. He took a piece of fabric from his pocket, opening it to reveal a stick of charcoal, "one here, and another here," he said, arm reaching over Jupiter's as he marked down the locations. "It's unlikely she'll be here," he crossed off another section, "there's nothing there but sand." The warrior snorted – all that seemed to exist here was sand.
"And how big are these villages?" Mercury asked, ignoring her friend's attitude.
"This one," Nephrite pointed at more eastern of the two, "only has about one hundred people. But this one is much larger. There's an inn there, so they get a lot of travellers and merchants passing through," he explained, as Mercury pursed her lips, mulling the information over in her head.
"No one has seen or heard anything?" the brunette wondered, tipping her head to the side as she studied the parchment.
"No one has come forward," Nephrite replied, shaking his head. "M'lady," he added sardonically. Jupter's cheek twitched, and her nostrils flared.
"Hopefully Venus and Mars will have found something. That might give us a better idea of where to start," Mercury reasoned, deactivating her computer.
"I agree." Sailor Jupiter rolled up the map, thrusting it into Nephrite's chest. "Thank you." She forced a painted smile. The man chuckled and tucked the scroll under his arm, heading back to the carriage. Jupiter's stomach fluttered, and she watched after him with a blank look – had he just laughed at her?
"Come on," Mercury urged, drawing her companion back to reality as she gently grabbed her arm.
Two generals and to guardians stared each other down in the close confines, neither group quite sure where to begin. Mars tapped her fingers against the plush seat, unable to sit still – this was torture.
"So, how does it feel to be reduced to babysitters for the day?" Mars baited, interrupting the strident song of the carriage wheels, and crossing her arms over her chest as a self-satisfied grin tugged at her lips. Unimpressed, Venus hit her friend on the thigh, warning her not to tread any further.
"Begrudging babysitters," Jadeite quipped, nose crinkling in annoyance – this was far from his ideal assignment.
"We're relying on your expertise to help us find some leads," Venus said politely, trying to lighten the mood. After all, arguing with these men was not going to help them get answers. "Where are we heading?" she asked, pushing back the heavy curtain and peering briefly out the window.
"We'll start in Muadib," Kunzite replied, "the Black Cloud are known to do a lot of their trading there."
"Why haven't you looked there before?" Mars shot, sitting upright in the seat as she glared at their escorts.
"We have," Jadeite snapped, quickly tiring of the girl's attitude.
"The people of Muadib are loyal to the Black Cloud and reluctant to talk. You may be able to persuade them," Kunzite explained.
"What can you tell us about the Black Cloud?" Venus asked, posture straightening as she placed her hands in her lap.
"They're bandits and thieves, but they have a big following." He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "They ignore the King's will and do what they feel is best for the common people."
"How long have they been in action?" Venus probed, carefully observing the generals as they spoke.
"About three years now," Kunzite answered, tapping at his lip with his finger.
"Are they dangerous?"
"Only when crossed," Jadeite snorted, and shook his head.
"Why would they want Serenity?" Mars wondered, brow furrowing as she mentally listed any possible reason.
"A bargaining chip or ransom, perhaps." Kunzite shrugged– it was as much of a mystery to him.
"They haven't made any demands," Venus countered.
"No, not yet." Kunzite corrected his posture. "But if the Black Cloud does have her, there's a good chance that she's alive," he stated hopefully.
"Put these on," Jadeite ordered, handing each girl a folded fabric. "To blend in," he explained, quickly aware of Mars' reluctance. The soldiers obeyed, and draped the silken robes around their shoulders, concealing their uniforms.
"
Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars soon found themselves deep in the hustle and bustle of the foreign marketplace. Wooden stalls lined the streets where merchants sold a mirage of goods, from fabrics and jewellery, to fresh vegetables and fruit. Citizens stopped to pay their respects to the uniformed men, their faces soon souring with suspicion as their gaze passed to the two girls. Despite their clothes, it was painfully obvious they did not belong there.
"Not a very trusting people, are they," Mars remarked, receiving nothing but a disapproving glare from her leader.
"At the next corner is a vendor who often trades with the Black Cloud." Kunzite motioned towards the appropriate stall. As they approached, the man's face washed white with fear, yet despite his trembling hands, he fought to remain steady.
"Where is the Black Cloud?" Jadeite demanded, wasting no energy on civility.
"I'm sorry, sir," the merchant swallowed, beads of sweat appearing on his brow, "but I haven't –"
"We just want to talk," the general interrupted, shoulders rigid and tone sharp as he rested his hand on the hilt of his dagger.
"I still don't know –"
"You'll be rewarded handsomely," he bribed, untying a leather pouch that had been hanging from his belt.
"I don't want your money," the man insisted, shaking his head vehemently.
"You will tell us what you know," Jadeite ordered, casting a steely glare at the man.
"I
will not betray my prince!" the merchant cried, standing steadfast in his decision, fists balled and knuckles white. Venus flinched at the objection, blinking in confusion. She exchanged glances with Mars, who slowly shook her head.
Venus warily surveyed their surroundings, noticing that the commotion was beginning to draw unwanted attention. Already unimpressed with the Earth's general, she knew she had no choice but to step in.
"Excuse my companion," she said, moving gracefully past Jadeite and gently placing her hand on the man's forearm. "But could you please tell me if you've seen this girl around here as of late?" She pulled a small portrait of Serenity that had been tucked inside her uniform, briefly exposing her creamy flesh. "She's a very close friend." Venus handed the man the picture, smiling sweetly as he studied her face, completely enraptured. "It would mean so much if you could help me," she pleaded, directing his attention to the paper.
"I'm sorry, m'lady." He lowered his head, and licked his dry lips. "I have truly ne—"
"You won't find her with the Black Cloud," a voice rasped from behind the group, causing them to turn in surprise, muttering terms of confusion. "You will not find the girl with the Black Cloud," the old man repeated, lifting his heavy eyes that were sunken into his wrinkled skin.
"You know where she is?" Venus asked, kneeling so that they were on eye level. "Please, sir," she begged, placing her hand on his.
"Your charms will not work on me, child," he chided, smirking knowingly. "Nor will your coin," he addressed Jadeite, who drew his mouth into a tight line, and released a controlled breath.
"You are testing fate, old man," he growled. Kunzite placed his hand on Jadeite's chest, forcing him to take a step back.
"The Daboia have her," the man announced, drawing perplexed reactions from the princess' guardians.
"The Daboia?" Venus asked.
"Bandits. Rivals of the Black Cloud," Kunzite explained, pinching the bridge of his nose – this was not good news.
"Where are they?" Mars pressed, mirroring Venus' crouched position.
The old man threw back his head and released a throaty chuckle. "They move like snakes on sand, impossible to catch."
"If anything happens to her – " Mars bit, eyebrows drawn together and muscles tense.
"He will save her," the man declared, confident and assured.
"Who will save her?" Venus wondered, imploring him for more detail.
"The prince." He stated pointedly, head cocked to the side as if they should have already known.
"We don't have time for this," Jadeite scoffed, raking an aggravated hand through his hair.
"What prince?" the blonde solider leaned forward, tone hushed as she studied the old man's face – was he deceiving them?
"The only true prince," he replied, straightening his back as he shot a look of disgust towards the men.
"Watch your tongue," Jadeite barked, finger pointed and cheeks reddening in anger.
"How do you know?" Mars asked softly, already fearing the answer.
"I've seen it." His attention stayed focused on the Martian princess, his piercing gaze causing a lump to rise in her throat.
"Thank you," Venus said sincerely, rising to her feet.
The man grabbed Mars by the hand, pulling her close. "There's no stopping it," he whispered. Mars flinched, staring at him with a complete loss for words. "Go," he urged, loosening his grasp, and turning his head.
Sailor Mars backed away slowly, dread pooling in the pit of her stomach, and her rosy cheeks turning ashen. She glanced at Venus who raised her brows in worry.
"I'm fine," she managed lips dry and heart pounding. "Who was he?"
"Just a crazy old man who thinks he's a prophet," Jadeite scoffed, "I hope he didn't upset you," he added, his sudden shift in attitude causing Kunzite to look at him curiously.
"Should we see if anyone else can offer us more information on the Daboia's whereabouts?" Venus suggested.
"It's unlikely you'll get anyone to talk now," Jadeite admitted, releasing a heavy sigh.
"I thought you said they may be persuaded," Mars snapped, her fire returning, hands planted firmly on her hips.
"People respect the Black Cloud," Kunzite explained, "but they fear the Daboia."
"We're getting no closer to finding Serenity, and wasting valuable time." Venus could feel her patience wearing thin. "Let's return to the castle. We'll see what Mercury and Jupiter have collected, and tell them what we've found," she instructed, seeing no other viable option.
"We will send scouts out to scour the area, they may be able to pick up some tracks," Kunzite offered, and the Princess' two guardians bobbed their heads in agreement.
As they walked back to the carriage, Kunzite kept his eyes peeled, constantly surveying the stream of citizens. Catching a glimpse of auburn haired girl, he paused, communicating with Jadeite through eye contact alone.
"I'll be one moment," the master-at-arms announced, "I'll meet you there." He looked pointedly at Jadeite, signalling that he was not to be watched after or followed – a look that did not go unnoticed by the guardians. Doing as ordered, Jadeite ushered the girls towards their ride.
"Ouch!" Sailor Mars cried, stumbling forward, her shoe lodged in the sand. The general ran to her aide, grasping her gently by the elbow.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Mars glanced over his shoulder at Venus, who nodded. She had had just enough time to see Kunzite hand something to the girl in the crowd.
"Yes, thank you," she replied cordially, smiling slyly as they climbed into the coach.