As Serena listened to the voices behind the door she heard first the outraged sound in Ami Ludmila's voice. "She is a threat to us all Darien!"
"I disagree, Serena is no more a threat to you and the others then as I" he told her.
"Darien you must think reasonably what will the other covens say when they learn that their Prince is keeping such a slayer in his home but not as a prisoner," Lita said.
"I don't give a damn what they say, if they question my judgment or my doings then perhaps they should be taken care of, " Darien said his voice rising with anger. "This matter is not up for discussion by any of you, I have made my decision and you will all honor it."
"And what of when her sister come to attack us?" said Rei Ambrose. "What then when the slayers attack us? Her sister is motivated…we all know of how she's been searching non stop and even Kusanagi had a run in with her," she said.
"You saw the sister?" asked the voice of a male that she didn't know.
"Yes a while back, we had a run in….I saved her life and she made my night most enjoyable," he said with a mischievous tone, "I don't believe she will be of any more trouble."
At this Serena burst into the room thinking that he killed her. Everyone looked at her. Darien was sitting at the head of a long wooden table, next to him on the left was a white haired man, and at the right was his brother Kusanagi. Around the table sat the vampires that she had seen the other night, Rei Ambrose, Lita Draguta, Ami Ludmila, Zoicite Arber, and two other men that Serena didn't know. Standing next to Serena by the door stood the youngest Ambrose, Daniel.
"What did you do to Momiji," Serena demanded of Kusanagi.
"I haven't done anything to her," Kusanagi said.
"That's not true," Serena yelled.
"Serena," Darien said.
Serena's eyes looked at him and then back to Kusanagi. She took a few advancing steps towards the end of the table her eyes never leaving him. "If you have done anything to my sister I will kill you myself," Serena said, "And that is a promise."
"See Darien she is threatening your brother, this proves that she is a danger to us all," Ami said.
"Ami it is fine I understand her threats, she is scared and concerned for her sister," Kusanagi said to the group. "I cannot blame her, but let me tell you this Madam I would never hurt Momiji," he told her.
"And why should I believe that?" Serena questioned with defiance.
"He just told you that he wouldn't," Lita said staring at her, "Is that not enough?"
"No," Serena said giving Lita a look that silenced her. "Tell me Mr. Ambrose why would you never hurt my sister?" she asked again staring into his strange eyes.
"Because I love her, and I would never her the woman I love," Kusanagi said.
Lita gasped, and Ami dropped her jaw. Zoicite put his hand on Ami's shoulder, and Nephrite's eyes widened; Jadeite stood from his sitting position. Only Rei, Darien and Daniel didn't move; Serena however took a step back from him.
"What?" she said breathlessly.
"I love her," he repeated.
"How can you….this doesn't……how?" Serena asked shocked.
"Is it so unbelievable to think that your sister could be the soul mate of a vampire?" said Rei.
"Yes, vampires have no souls," Serena spat.
"That is not true," Lita said, "Some of our people have done more then any mortal could think of, we are good people."
"Good creatures you mean…"
"That is enough," Darien said seeing that the others around the table were ready to attack her with one wrong move. He stood and stared at Serena, "You should go back to your room Serena."
Serena looked past Kusanagi and at Darien, the look on his face made her understand the seriousness of the issue. She turned and went to the door opening it; before she stepped through she turned and spoke to Kusanagi again.
"She'll never love you," she said, "She wouldn't allow herself to even if she knew and understood that she did, no matter what you think you will never be together."
Kusanagi looked at Serena who returned his gaze. "Would you stop her if she chose to be with a vampire?"
Serena stared at him and said nothing, "No but she would stop herself." With a last glance at Darien Serena walked out and shut the door behind her. As soon as she had closed the door she walked down the hall. Soon her head began to buzz with a familiar feeling; she knew that it was Darien. He was trying to get into her head and she was trying with all her might to stop him.
"Leave me be," she said. She then broke out in a run back to her room. She reached the door and threw it open. She slammed it behind her and ran into the sunlight, the rays warming her body. Her head was swimming; Momiji the soul mate of one of the Ambrose sons. It wasn't possible, and yet it made sense, Momiji had always been interested in the dark side of life. Perhaps this was why; she had been getting ready for the truth, for her love.
"Momiji would never allow something like that to happen, she would never be with a vampire," Serena said out loud.
"And why not is your sister to proud?" said Darien behind her. He made sure to stay away from the sunlight. But he said nothing to her being embraced by it, the sun made her even more beautiful long golden hair shimmering in the light, blue eyes sparkling with brightness, tanned skin glowing. She was a vision of extravagant beauty.
"No, Momiji has strong beliefs and she is…..stubborn," Serena said turning to face him as he watched her. "She wouldn't allow herself to be with him or any other unless she was undercover for a mission and even there she draws lines."
"Seems like she's a hard headed person," he said.
"Concrete," Serena said with a slight smile. "If Momiji was your brother's soul mate then it would change everything that we've been taught, that humans and vampires can be together."
"Why shouldn't they be able to?" he asked her.
"Because your kind hunt and kill my kind," she said.
"Only to stay alive," he said, "Why do you and yours hunt us?"
"To stay alive," she said. Serena leaned back against the railing and looked into Darien's eyes; he leaned against the door frame and stared back at her. They remained like that for a while each studying the other, a silent foreground between them.
Blake was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast when Momiji came down dressed in a pair of dark jeans, green flip flops and a green shirt. She had her car keys in her hand and her jacket slung over the other arm.
"Where are you going?" he asked her.
"In to town I need to buy a few things," she told him.
"Like what?"
"What does it matter?" she replied.
"Curious, you don't come home until two in the morning and sleep until four in the afternoon then get up and leave right away," he said, "and I know that your not going to look for Serena dressed like that so you had better come up with another excuse," he said as she opened her mouth.
Momiji tried to hold her tongue but the look that Blake was giving her made her crack, "Fine damn it I have an appointment."
"Where?"
"At the salon okay, does that make you happy I'm going to get a new hairstyle is that alright or should I have your permission," she yelled.
"Why I thought you liked your hair the way it was," he said.
"Not anymore," Momiji said as she walked around him and towards the door.
"Man I sure would like to know what happened to you last night that brought upon this change."
Momiji stopped and was silent the door half open, "Nothing happened it's just time for something new."
"Sure," he said, "have a nice time and don't spend too much money."
"What money I got your credit card." Then Momiji bolted out the door before he could catch her and take it back.
Hermione drove up to the house right as Momiji was pulling out, she tried to stop her but Momiji already anticipating her actions was able to avid her again. Hermione sighed as she watched Momiji drive down the dirt road and disappear. Hermione grabbed her bags and silently retreated to the basement.
She sat in the cold of the room and turned on the computer. She leaned back in her chair and stared at ceiling for a long while. The thoughts running through her head were deep.
"If I hadn't realized that he wasn't Daniel Ambrose would I have accepted a date with him when asked?" she questioned herself. "Could I have enjoyed myself with him if I had remained ignorant to the truth? And what was the feeling that I felt, was it mere desire or was it something more," she thought. "Why did I feel a pull towards him like I've known him for so long of my life?...What am I thinking he's a vampire a demon of the old world, I've been sent here to kill his kind not to fall in love with them," she quarreled with her mind.
"But he was extremely handsome," she said out loud. "No!" she said, "No I've got to get him off of my mind." Hermione looked at the computer screen and tried to concentrate on the files that opened in front of her. But she kept seeing his face; "I need to go out," she said. Hermione went upstairs and began to get ready. She took a shower and blow dried her hair, then she curled it in loose curls.
She picked a tight fitting pair of black pants that flared out at the bottom and a tight red halter top, a pair of black sandal heels gave her another half an inch. She had on light red eye shadow, black eyeliner, and light lip gloss. She looked in the mirror and was proud for the woman who looked back at her. She loved to dress and go to clubs it helped relieve the stress.
Hermione grabbed her black jacket and put it on zipping it up to hide her top. She knew it didn't matter but she didn't want any of the girls to get a bad impression of her, especially since she was known as the good sister.
She had gotten downstairs and into the kitchen without anyone seeing her. Hermione grabbed the keys to Sarah's black lexes and was heading out the door when none other then Blake walked into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her.
"What is this run off night?" he said, "First Momiji and now you what's going on?"
"I need to go out and get some stuff outta my head, don't worry I'll be back before morning and nothings going to happened to the car," Hermione said.
"Just make sure that Sarah doesn't find out," he said turned about to walk out.
"You're not going to tell her, are you?"
"I know nothing about nothing," he said as she the door swung close. Hermione walked outside and into the cold air. She looked up into the sky and saw the silver of Daniels eyes. A warm feeling spread over her for a second, but then she shook it off.
She went to the car and blasted the stereo; she pulled out of the driveway and turned off in the direction of the city. She glanced back at the house for a few seconds and then turned away unaware that eyes watched her from the darkened window on the corner of the house.
Silver blue eyes blinked as they watched the car drive off and away from the house. It was the second car those eyes had seen drive away from the house that it belonged to and both cars had carried two of the most important girls those eyes had ever beheld. But they were sad now, they sensed something bad happening. They sensed a darkness spreading and they saw the crumbling of everything that they had built.
Momiji walked out of the salon feeling fresh and clean, she also felt like she had gained three layers of hair and baked in an oven. Not only had she gotten her hair lightened, chopped off the dead ends, but she had also gotten extensions and spent ten minuets in the tanning bed. No longer was her hair a dark brown color but more light chestnut, it was now down to about and inch above her elbows; she was also tanner. Though she lived in California and she was naturally tanner the most people from the East coast she worked mostly at night so sometimes there wasn't time to hit the beach.
Momiji got into her car and began to drive, she didn't feel like ending the night just yet and she still had Blake's credit card so she decided to treat herself to a nice solo dinner at a quite Italian restaurant that she knew of. It was downtown but not in the section that was filled with clubs, so it shouldn't be as busy as most.
She arrived at the restaurant and saw that there were only a few cars in the area. Momiji walked in and went over to the hostess, "Table for one please," she asked. The young woman nodded and took a menu from the stack that was sitting next to her. She led Momiji through a series of tables to on that sat by the window. There were two chairs, and two place settings on the white table cloth. She sat a few moments and then a very good looking dark haired waiter came over and took her order. She was tempted to order wine with Blake's card but remembered that she had to drive back home after dinner. So she ordered a glass of water with lemon.
Momiji looked around and saw that everyone that seemed to be around her was with another person, mostly couples. Not wanting to seem pathetic Momiji pulled from her purse a paper back book that she had loved since she was young, Pride and Prejudice. She began to read and was immediately entranced by the tale. She had reached one of her favorite parts in the book, where Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth for the first time, when the meal came and she had to put the book down for a moment.
Momiji again glanced around the room and saw no one of interest around her so she began to eat her meal after the waiter had left to find someone else to serve. She began to eat her dinner and had almost finished when the bill came. She paid with Blake's card and then gathered her things. She stood and pushed in the chair; she walked out of the restaurant glad that she had come when she had because now there were numerous people waiting for a table. Momiji brushed past all the strange stares of people and went out to the car. She was about to get in when she saw a strange sight.
The boyfriend of Mina Anica, Malachite, was talking with a dark haired man that Momiji didn't recognize. She quickly took out her phone and used the small camera to snap a picture. Then she watched their lips and began to read what they were saying.
"How is she doing?" the man asked Malachite.
"Not well she's still locked up," he told the man.
"For her safety or for others?" the man asked.
"Both," Malachite responded.
"Are you going to see her now?"
"Yes," Malachite said.
"I wish I had the hope that you did Malachite," the man said.
"She will get better."
"How many do you know that have been able to live through this after they were infected?" the man asked.
Malachite was silent, only diverted his eyes towards the ground. "Mina's stronger then people think, she's got a will within her that will not allow her to die."
The man's face turned to one that reflected a slight remorse for Malachite. "Where is Darien now, I need to speak with him before I am able to get started."
"He's no longer in the city, he took the family and moved everyone to Santa Barbra, yesterday," Malachite told him.
"Why?"
"As you have probably heard he is holding a slayer as his prisoner and believed that it was too dangerous to keep her in the city with her sisters searching for her," Malachite replied.
"When is he coming back?"
"I don't know he said when her sisters gave up searching, but she claims that they never will and Kusanagi has assured Darien that the youngest sister will never stop until her sister is back home," said Malachite.
"What are they names of the slayers?"
"We only know the names of two the youngest and oldest, the one that Darien has is the eldest her name is Serena, she's extremely beautiful Christopher, like the goddess of the moon herself," Malachite said.
"The other sister I have never seen, but Kusanagi says that if Serena is Selene then younger sister would be Athena, her name I have been told is Momiji," he said.
"Momiji? Why does that name sound familiar," Christopher said.
"Perhaps you have heard of her vicious workings," replied Malachite.
"Perhaps," Christopher said with a thoughtful look. "And what of Daniel and Rei are they with Darien?"
"Rei is but Kusanagi returned a few hours ago, and Daniel comes back tonight he only went down to speak with Darien and check on Rei, then he had to leave again," Malachite replied.
"What was it that he had to tell them?"
"I was not privy to that information," Malachite told him. Then he looked down at his watch, "I must go now Christopher but I will see you again in a few hours, if you go wait for Daniel I'm sure that he will appear at his apartment sooner or later." Then Malachite walked away and got into a small silver car, he drove off in the direction of the hospital as Christopher watched.
"You're not a vampire," Momiji said behind Christopher, ""You're human, so why deal with them?"
Christopher turned around and looked at Momiji, "I take it you're the little slayer."
"You're correct," she replied. "Now answer my question."
"That is my business," he said.
"But it affects me and my family so that makes it my business as well."
"Then perhaps you and your family should go into another line of work, one that will ensure a longer life," Christopher said.
"Oh see I can't do that," Momiji told him.
"And why not?"
"Because then you and your vampire friends would run wild and free without consequences," she said, "and I cannot allow that to happen."
"Do you really think that you can stop it?" he asked.
"Maybe, maybe not, but I wont know until I try," Momiji replied.
Christopher watched her and saw that she was ready for a battle; she had the defiant stance of confidence and the feel of power flowing from her. "Going to fight me Momiji?"
"If it comes to that."
"You won't last five minuets," he told her.
"I guess we'll see wont we," she said.
"I really don't want to damage your pretty face, Kusanagi wouldn't be too happy," he said.
At the mention of Kusanagi's name Momiji faltered in power a little showing her interest in the matter. "What do you know of what he would like," she spat at him.
"They say that his feelings are only one sided, that you'll kill him before bed him," he paused and watched her reaction, "But I wonder how much truth is in that statement."
Momiji glared at him with hate in her eyes, "Enough talking." She threw her hand out at him and sent him flying back into a car.
"Impressive," he said recovering and looking at her. He put his hands together and made a number of symbols with his hands. Then he threw his hands out at her, a blast of fire spewed from his palm. Momiji quickly put up her hands to block the attack, she was successful for a while, then after he increased his power she faltered and the shield was broken. Momiji was thrown back but not before she put her arms up to block the fire from her face.
Momiji slammed into a car and fell onto the ground; she drew in a painful breath and then lifted her head to look at Christopher. He lifted his hand and she began to lift into the air, he walked closer to her and began to speak.
"You see Momiji I may be younger than you but I am a lot stronger then you," he said. "That's one of the reasons why I am involved with vampires because they like to give power to the faithful," he said.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"No you see if I kill the woman that Kusanagi is love with then he would hate me and I would lose all my connections within the family," Christopher watched her face and knew that she was thinking of Kusanagi. "But that doesn't mean that I won't make this encounter painful." He flicked his wrist and she was slammed back down onto the concrete.
Momiji felt warm blood drip down her face she also tasted copper in her mouth and knew that she was bleeding there as well. Her mind flashed back to the night Kusanagi saved her and she gave a sadistic smile. 'Where is when I need him,' she thought. She felt her body lift into the air and crash into another car.
"Come now Momiji you're not even giving me a fight, it's rather disappointing," he said. He lifted her up so that he would look at her and cocked his head to one side. "What to do with you know?" he asked himself and her. He let her fall to the ground and turned his back thinking about it.
Momiji lay there contemplating what she could to do get out of this she felt a great pain in her leg and knew that when she had been thrown, one of the numerous times, she may have injured her leg. Momiji looked up and then held out her hand towards him. He was pushed down and hit the ground hard; Momiji clenched her fist and he was dragged along the concrete and into a nearby car. Momiji felt her power weaken and she tried to get up. She was standing on a shaky leg and had turned around. When she heard a rushing sound behind her, she turned to face it and saw him standing up and facing her, the wind rushing out from behind him.
"Power over the elements," she whispered to herself. She heard the ground beneath her cracking and looked down to see vines with long thorns pushing through the concrete. They encircled her legs and pressed deep into her skin and muscles, the bolted her to the ground.
"Now you'll burn like the witches of the Salem," he said. He gathered a ball of fire in his hand and threw it at her.
Momiji turned her head to the left and closed her eyes, awaiting the fire to burn her face. But after a few seconds when she didn't feel it she opened her eyes and saw a figure standing in front of her keeping the flames away from her. The fire stopped and she saw Christopher's face full of fear.
"Kusanagi," he said.
"What are you doing Christopher," he asked.
"She attacked me, I was defending myself," he replied.
"It looks as if you were the aggressor here," Kusanagi said. "Do you know who this is?"
Christopher was silent and then nodded, "But that doesn't mean…"
"It means that she is off limits," Kusanagi said. "If you attack her again Christopher I'll kill you, and it won't be quickly," he said in a deadly voice. "Now disappear!" he yelled.
Momiji saw Christopher vanish before her eyes; she was breathing hard and felt herself weakening from the loss of the blood, which was pooling around her feet. Kusanagi turned around and faced her, she said nothing and he said nothing only looking at her state. He walked to her and stood before her not sure of what she would do.
Momiji looked into his eyes without any hesitation this time. They stayed like this for a few moments and then Momiji felt her legs give out, she automatically grabbed onto his arms to hold herself. He was stiff for a second and then grabbed onto her. Kusanagi looked down at her legs and saw the blood. Still holding her he took one hand and broke the vines from her right leg.
Momiji let out a whimper of pain and bit her lip. He stood and looked at her to make sure that she was alright; then when he had given her a second to recover he bent down and broke the other vines. Again Momiji let out a cry of pain. Kusanagi stood and looked at her; she looked back.
Then she said in a weak voice, "I think I'm gonna faint." Her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell unconscious. Kusanagi scoped her up into his arms bridal style and in a gust of wind was gone.