What's Done In The Dark: The King's Concubine

Dear Diary 5

She woke up when the sunlight touched her creamy flesh but it was the warm presence all around her that startled her the most. She blinked awake when she realized that she couldn't move only to find Darien's hands holding her body closer to him. If that was not odd in on itself, she was naked!

She growled, moved his hand and shoved him away. It was his quick reflexes that saved him from falling off the bed.

"What the hell do you think you are doing!?" she screeched and go off only to come face to face with Raino the lion. She blinked.

I must be dreaming. She thought but then the lion stood up on all fours and little growl came from his throat.

On second thought.

She returned the bed, took his hands and placed it around her and shoved the blanket on top of them.

It's just a dream. A nightmare. Just sleep and it will all go away. Lions don't live in rooms. She chanted as if the reality could be a dream.

It took a minute for Darien to understand what was happening and he burst out laughing! He removed the blanket off of him in his laughter but when he tried to do the same to her she gripped it.

Don't mind him, he is crazy. Just an insane king in your dream.

Darien just kept on laughing. It was normal for people, particular women to scream or faint as she had done the night before, but to actually go back on the bed and hide under blanket as if that thin material could protect you from the jaws and claws of a lion was a first for him.

She's probably thinking this is all a dream. He thought amusedly. Well if it is all a dream, anything can happen in a dream right? He thought deviously. Gently, he moved his hand up from her stomach and traced her skin, earning a little satisfying shudder from her. His fingers traveled until they reached her breasts and held firmly to one. With a squeeze, her body bulked forward as her head was thrown back and a little moan escaped her. He blinked; he had never heard a moan so sexy! Suddenly he wanted to hear it over and over again.

You're dreaming about a very perverted king! She thought but then her eyes popped open. Why the hell would I want to dream about a perverted king! And worse of all, him!?!? I'd rather face the lion than this!

"Get your filthy hands off of me!" she yelled and threw his hand back. Taking the blanket, she quickly stepped away from the bed and to the opposite wall and stared at the lion at the foot of the bed and the man on the bed smirking at her.

"Oh, and the fun was just starting too!" he pretended to whine.

"What the hell is your problem!?" she screamed at him.

"Horny maybe?" he answered with a raised brow and a little smile at the corner of his lips. She scowled. "Now come back to bed."

"Like hell I will." He sighed dramatically.

"First you disobey your king's orders, run away, and refuse his request. Tsk tsk, what should I do with you mmm little one?"

"You can let me be and return me back to Mr. Adams house."

"Do you think they will welcome you with open arms if they knew I was displeased with you?" he asked blandly.

"If Mr. Adams knew that you would be doing these things to me, he would never have allowed me to be here!" she said though a part of her disagreed. That short old man was as greedy as they man with 100 sheep but still tried to steal the only sheep a poor farmer had.

"Stop deluding yourself in thinking that old fart doesn't know why you are here. He practically sold you to me and he knew exactly what I would be doing to you."

"That's a lie!"

"Is it?" he got up and walked to a desk and picked up a packet. He took the packet to her but she kept moving away. He sighed and left the packet on the window sill and returned to the bed. She watched him and the lion suspiciously. She now knew she wasn't going to breakfast to it but still, why was a lion in the room?

She moved lightly to the window and picked up the packet. She held the blanket close to her body and opened the packet, reading through and saw the familiar signature and stamp at the bottom. It was basically a deal between Mr. Adams and Darien that if Darien had his way with her, Mr. Adams would receive a huge sum of money plus precious stones and a title in the court. Seeing all that he would receive, she understood why he had as Darien had said 'practically' sold her to him. The betrayal hurt like nothing she'd ever felt. Tears pulled at her eyes and her tight grip on the blanket fell and pooled at her feet. She fell to her knees as her body wracked with sobs.

This is so not fair!

From the bed Darien watched her with empty eyes but inwardly his heart went out to her. He didn't like to see her in so much pain; suddenly his appetite to have her under him was replaced with a craving to make her happy. There has never been a girl able to resist him but some had tried. There were several who denied him and he never fought for them, days later those girls came of their own accord begging him to have them. Why was he so head strong about this girl that he would use such an unorthodox method to have her. Would it be enough after he had made love to her? Would he be able to let her go back to her life and perhaps into the arms of some other man? He tried to picture the image of her in another man's arms but it filled him with fury and bile in his mouth.

What is wrong with me?! No! I won't let her get to me!

Serena roused up, her anger at a boiling point.

"So what?! He signed a deal with you, big deal! He doesn't own me nor am I his child! I will take this issue to the court! I have the right to decided how my life goes! He can't just sell me off as if I was his property!'" somehow he had anticipated something like this so in the deal he had gone further.

"Look at the third page of the deal, you will find something quite interesting." He drawled and with burning eyes, she nearly ripped the paper.

"So what, now you are paying for my brother to go to school at America's Harvard, big deal! My brother doesn't have to go to Harvard! Crescent Bay Private Institute is a good enough school for him to go to!" Serena said and he sighed.

"You don't know what kind of School Crescent Bay is, do you?" he asked her.

"It is a very well respected school excelled in producing the best students in the country!" she said haughtily with her nose stuck in the air. Darien raised his right brow.

"Oh really? Is that what Mr. Adams told you?" he asked.

"Hmph!"

He sighed. Well it was always a good idea to educate the uneducated.

He pulled the bell rope.

"What are you up to now?" She asked him suspiciously.

"To educate you."

"Excuse me?" he just smiled at her. A few seconds later a knock came at the door. Noticing she was standing nude for his display, she quickly picked up the blanket and folded it around her figure. He chuckled at her antics, completely at ease in his own nudity.

"Come in." he said and Serena's eyes grew big, was he going to let the servants see him like that?! Obviously Darien didn't see anything wrong with it.

The girl who had introduce herself as Mina and directed Serena to the king's room the night before entered the room, her face devoid of emotions.

Are they used to his nudity display?

"Mina, tell me…do you have brothers?" Mina seemed to blink, completely caught of guard by the question. Serena noticed it too, what was that bastard up to?

"Um…yes Your Majesty. Two of them." She answered uncertainly.

"How old are they?"

"16, they are twins, Your Majesty."

"Are they in school?"

"No, Your Majesty." Mina blushed, feeling completely humiliated.

"Well do they want to be in school?"

"Yes Your majesty. They finished high school last year but we didn't have the funds to send them ahead." Serena's heart went out for the girl. she understood the feelings of hopelessness and despair behind the girl's sad eyes. It was not easy knowing you can't send your younger siblings to school and Serena knew the girl was her age.

"I want to send to school, is that ok?" Darien asked. He knew Serena and Mina were both confused at his questions but he would make his point clear enough.

"Really your majesty!?" Mina's eyes light up hopefully!

"Yes, I am thinking of sending them to Crescent Bay Priv…."

"No! Never!" he didn't finish when Mina caught him off, her eyes wide with fear and anger!

"Why not? They are not in school and Crescent bay will educate them."

"I will rather they go uneducated than have them in that murderous school!" The furiosity with which she used to express her words caught Serena off guard.

"Mina, what kind of school is Crescent Bay?" Serena asked and the servant looked at her as if she had been living under rocks for the past century.

"Crescent Bay is a school for the crazy people. Where they allow students to be armed as they wish. It is a school that teaches trouble makers a lesson by severe punishments from extreme beatings to death. You have to be really strong to go there and I don't just mean strength of the body but of the will as well. To be sent there is the worst punishment you could give to anyone. And if the students survive their four years there, they are put into the King's army for war. Many people have never seen their sons or brothers again and many that have only see their body on their funeral beds. The environment on the outside seems clean but on the inside the walls are covered in blood, it is dirty and there are no medical staffs there." Mina explained, her body shaking.

"Then why the hell does such a school exist!?" Serena demanded, repulsed by what she had just heard.

"Because the elders think it is need in other to train boys to become tough men." Darien answered, in his own eyes a reflection of anger that many parent's and siblings have felt when they lost their kids.

"Why would anyone send their children to such a place?!" Serena demanded.

"Sometimes it is to punish them, other times it is to get rid of sons parents don't want. And other times they are forced there by the royal court if there is a need for the army to organize."

"Oh my God! How could anyone be that cruel!?" Now she understood the kind of place she had eagerly accepted for her brother to go. Not knowing anything, she had believed that old greedy bastard thinking he was being very kind and generous when in truth he was practically planning on killing her only living relative.

"Mina, what are your brother's names?" Darien asked.

"Taiki and Yaten, Your Majesty."

"I really do want to send them to school, will you allow them to go to Harvard University in the US?" he asked sincerely.

"Yes! Oh yes your majesty! Thank you! a thousand times thank you!" Mina said, tears gushing down her faces as she ran to Darien and took his hands, kissing every inch. The happiness in her was so strong that she just wanted hop and jump and sing! Every one Knew only the smartest and richest went to a prestigious school such as Harvard or Yale or even Oxford!

"It's alright. Spring school year is about to start in a month, if they can be ready we can send them a week or two weeks ahead of time for them to settle in their new dorms or homes if you prefer."

"They will be so excited. Please I will go tell them right now!" she said, rushing out of the room forgetting to ask permission to leave the house and go to the city to tell her brothers.

"Now do you understand? Your precious Mr. Adams was going to send your brother to Crescent Bay so I made the deal with him that if you would be mine and I find you entertaining I will send your brother to Harvard and I will pay for the costs myself. Now if I send you back to Mr. Adams, you and your brother will either have to live on the street or he will be sent to Crescent Bay. So make up your mind, give yourself to me and give your brother the best life there is or deny me you and face the consequences. You have up to tonight to decide. By the time I come back from the capital at night, if you answer yes be on the bed naked and if you answer No, have one of the servants give you your own room under my orders." Darien said, rising from the bed and going to the restroom for a shower. Serena slid to the ground, knowing this was no choice at all. Her eyes went vacant. Darien returned, dressed and left and still she sat on the floor, lost in her despair.

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Darien's return to the capital was met with many disapproval and anger. The council had tried to dissuade him from deciding to live alone in the Mist Night Forest but he had not listened to them. How could he when all they do every day is argue amongst themselves and try to tell him what to do?

Of course the first to yell at him was Queen Hotaru, her violet eyes blazing with anger! She felt she had married a fool and only her crown and the future of her son prevented her from marrying another man. He thought she didn't know that the only reason he had chosen to live so far away was because of his infidelity! Well he was in for a surprise.

"Darien, I have decided to come live with you in the forest. I grow tired of the city." She said after the whole screaming had finished. They had been married for three years and two and a half of those years he had never touched her! She was a woman too and needed her own attentions!

"Sorry but it is not big enough for the both of us." Darien replied coolly.

"Then make it big."

"Woman if you know what is good for you, then stop bothering me or else I will strip you of your crown. There is a reason why I have kept silent all this time, don't think that my silence is a sign of weakness." He threatened, meaning every word of it. Her eyes opened wide in shock, never had he threatened her though she was used to his cold voice. The first half a year of their married life had been sweet because they were both recovering from blows dealt to them by fate, but after the first 6 months, his attitude changed towards her. He didn't touch her, his voice was always cold or sarcastic and other than functions where etiquette dictated they eat or be together, they were hardly seen together. It was as if they lived separate lives even though they were married.

But then the past few months he had actively been involved with other women and he had not hidden it either. She had come upon him and some woman in their bedroom! The girl had run away when she had seen the queen but he just rolled his eyes and left the room for his own separate room. It was as if he did that just to hurt her.

"You are threatening me?" She asked, her voice thick with tears.

"I am not threatening you, I am telling you what to expect if you cross the line." From the side, her son watched the scene with painful eyes filled with hate. Darien got up and left them there to his office. There were some documents he had to take care of before returning to Serena.

"My Queen, we have received a letter from HER." A woman with long greenish brown hair approached the queen and gave her the letter.

"Let me see." She took the letter and opened it. Her face for a minute switched from painful sadness to bitter hate before resorting back to the face of the calm and gentle queen.

"My Lady?" the older woman asked worriedly.

"Oh Trista what are we to do? He is with some blond bimbo! SHE said the girl is extremely beautiful with lovely eyes and a body that makes even HER jealous." Queen Hotaru said, her face in her hands.

"For now I say lets just watch and see how it goes. Remember that the king changes partner, he won't keep her for long. What is her name did it say?"

"Her name is Serena. But from what the letter says, who wouldn't want someone like her around forever?!"

"My lady, if the girl stays with him for two weeks then we will take action but until then lets just watch and see what happens. We will have the girl investigated. What is her family name?"

"It doesn't say."

"Then we should tell her to get her family name. It will be alright." Trista said soothingly.

"You really think so?"

"Yes My Queen. Everything will be alright.

"Mama?" The queen looked up to see her son standing by the door with his thumb in his mouth.

"Ah, Helios come here." She said. The boy ran to her and she embraced him.

For you, my little one, I will do anything!

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From the shadows, a girl with black hair and purple streak listened on the queen's conversation and when the subject was changed to matters relating to the kingdom, she retreated from the shadows in search of her brother.

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Darien was busy with papers when a knock came at his door.

"Yes?" he answered and the door opened to reveal a face similar to his own.

"Hey brother." She said and walked around the table to give him a peck on the cheek.

"How are you doing?" Darien asked.

"Oh, I am good. Just got some juicy gossip for you." she said with bright eyes as she sat on one of the couch in his office.

"Your and your gossiping. What is it now my dear sister?" he asked.

"Well, it seems the queen knows about your latest project."

"My what?"

"You know, what you've been up to."

"You're not making sense Rei."

"Oh fine! She received a letter from someone they refer to as HER telling them about Serena if that rings a bell and her description. They said they are going to have her investigated and who ever is her must get her family's name." Rei informed.

"I see, this will be fun." Darien said with a chuckle.

"You're not going to get rid of Serena before they find the dirt they need on you?" For a minute, he didn't answer and Rei watched him with worried eyes. Ever since her birth, she had been loved and cherished by their parents but all the same it was Darien who understood her most. She had come to love him the best even though he hadn't been liked at all by their father. She had hoped that he would find the happiness he deserved but fate had been cruel and with the death of their eldest brother Diamond, Darien's only chance at happiness had been taken away from him. It was no wonder that he was so bitter!

"Rei, this girl…Serena, I fear she means a lot more to me than any other girl I have come across." He said softly and her eyes widened. She had never stopped him from sleeping with other women because she believed none were there to stay that would interfere with his marriage to the king, but for him to admit this to her meant that this Serena girl was not just any ordinary girl!

"What, what do you mean?" she asked timidly.

"Ever since I first laid eyes on her months ago, she has constantly been on my mind. It was her that made me start sleeping with other women. Every time I think of her my needs become so unbearable that I need someone to relieve me but they those girls were never good enough!"

"Well weren't you with her last night, you have had her so shouldn't your need for her be gone now?" she asked. And he sighed.

"She wouldn't allow me to have her. She is completely against it. I had to use blackmail to get her and even still, tonight is when she gives me her answer."

"Are you saying that…"

"Yes, over and over she turns me down and I know she really means it. She has feelings for me because she admitted it one time but because I am married and the king, she refuses to sleep with me. She is worried about hurting the queen!" He growled out.

"Wow, this is complicated."

"I don't think I will be able to let her go Rei. I tried picturing her with another and all I felt was fury!"

"Stop it! You are strong and you will let her go! Go home and lie with her, after that you will see how easy it is to let her go. Trust me, it will all be ok. You are strong, remember that!" Rei said, hoping his brother would believe her words even if she couldn't.

"And if I can't let her go?" he asked.

"It won't come to that!" She said passionately and got up. "I will see you later, just let me know how it goes."

"Thanks Rei."

"No prob." She bent again and kissed his cheeks before leaving the room. When her foot steps were complete gone Darien sighed.

"I am sorry Rei, but I really don't think I can let her go."

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Darien finally left the castle around 8, arriving home at 10. At the door his coat and other tings were taken away from him.

"May I serve you some drink Your Majesty?" The cook asked.

"No Lita. I have already had my meal. How is she?" he asked, referring to Serena.

"She ate a little and took a short walk but otherwise she had been in your room." The chestnut hair high ponytail cook informed. She had bright forest eyes and an athletic build that suited her well.

"I see. Thank you. Then please, be prepared with a bottle of fruit wine."

"Yes Your Majesty."

A small smile tugged at his lips as he walked down the hall to his room. She was still in the room, did it mean that she had finally given in?! arriving at the door, he didn't knock. He opened it and closed it softly behind him. he walked further ahead into the next room and opened the door. She was sitting on the bed, her facing looking out the window as the moonlight fell on her like lighting on a stage. She was so beautiful that his breath caught in his throat. Her hair were let out of that strange bun hairstyle and it flowed gently around her like moonlight since the moon's light had turned her golden her a pail silver. The blanket was pooled around her bottom but her upper figure and breasts were left exposed.

He stared at her flawless skin, the hint of full lips he saw from the side angle and the long lashes that stood straight up. No, never in his life had he met such a radiant person or felt so attached too. It was impossible, he knew now that he could never give her up.

He walked in front of her but she didn't look at him, her gaze still on the full moon. He bent down and took her hangs, gently playing with her fingers.

"Serena?" he breathed softly. Finally she looked down at him, her eyes an open door of numerous emotions but what stood out most was fear, despair and hopelessness. It hurt him to think that she thought being with him could possibly be the worse that that could happen to her.

"What have you decided?" he asked. She looked at him for a little longer before looking back up at the moon.

"To give my brother a better life and future." Somehow her answer hurt him a little.

What did you expect? That she would say she want to be with you? Yeah right. Take what you can get Darien and be satisfied with that! He lectured himself.

He stood up and gently stood her on her feet, her face reverted back on him.

"Then lets create that future. Maybe it's not just one future we will create today but a 3 futures." She didn't understand what he was talking about. However her puzzlement vanished as his right had held her waist and the left held the back of her head and softly his lips touched hers in the most tenderness of kiss.

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Once again the sunlight woke her but this time the heavy warmth around her did not startle her. She turned her face to look at him, trailing her eyes over his face, his closed eyes, his firm lips and his tanned face. He looked so peaceful, sleeping so defensively like a child.

The night had not at all been what she was expecting.

After that soft and gentle kiss, she had been surprised that he could be so loving with her. She had expected him to pleasure himself as wildly as the stories she had heard. But he hadn't, instead he had laid her on the bed and kissed her whole body, even her feet before returning to her mouth. He had lovingly caressed her body and made her so relaxed that all her nervousness had disappeared. Then he had gotten up, took off his clothes and returned to kissing him. at first she had not participate but it got harder to hold off doing anything so she had given in, her body craving for a firm grip of his body against her. He had taken her into his arms, their bodies tightly pressed against each other. He had breathed in her scent, ran his fingers down her body and around her breasts, kissing her with ease at times and passion at others. The he had pulled the bell rope, covered her up as a brown haired girl came and served them some wine.

They had drunk with soft music playing at the back ground and not knowing what was going on, she had kept silent. After their drinks had been removed, they returned to the bed and in each others arms.

"You are more than some prostitute or some common slut and I will cherish you for it. I won't touch you more than I have done, not until you say it is alright. And I won't press you. When you feel ready to fully accept me and all that I offer, I will show you heaven on earth. For now, just let me love you." he spoke softly and gently, totally surprising her. Tears had built at her eyes for the warmth he had shown her and in that moment, the worst scenarios of being a sex slave she had imagined vanished to be replaced with a possible future, a future in which he had already hinted.

"Thank you." she had whispered back, the silent tears trailing down her body with relieve. He held her closer, his arms very protective around her throughout the night.

It had been a very troubling experience but after taking the walk with that Lion which she had learned from Lita the cook that he was friendly, she had returned to the room with a firm resolution. Sleeping with a man was little a price to pay for a future of security and happiness for her brother. She had also talked to Lita and the cook had assured her that despite Darien's roughness on the surface, he was good man and he kept his promises.

And through the night she had come to believe her, Darien had a tough exterior and came off as arrogant, but he was sweet and gentle.

Now awake in bed, she ran her hands fingers gently over his face, marveling at the perfection of his body.

"You surprised me you know." She whispered gently with a smile on her lips.

"I do that a lot to people." He answered back and she blushed being caught with her hands trailing around his face. She tried to draw her hand back but he caught it and pressed his hand on hers on his check. His eyes opened, and his cobalt eyes turned bright sapphire stared at her with amusement and adoration. He smile and for a second she forgot how to breathe.

"Good morning sunshine." He said and finally she returned the smile. On her own accord, she pushed her neck up and kissed him gently on the lips, taking them both by surprise. She blushed to the root of her being.

"Thank you." she whispered gently. His smile turned into a boyish grin and she saw in the king before her a man and a boy struggling to coexist in one body. There was a story behind what she had just witnessed.

"Thank you for giving me a chance to prove to you that I am not an ogre."

"I wouldn't go that far." She teased and he laughed. Gently he ran his fingers over her face, lingering it on her lips. He marveled at the perfect girl he had in his arms. She fitted him as if she was the piece that solved the puzzle that he was. Gently he took her hand and brought her finger to his lips, kissing each finger before putting her hand on his chest.

"Do you feel that?" He asked. She nodded!

"That is the sound that my heart is finally at peace. You complete me Serena. And no matter what happens, I will protect you, I promise. Do you believe me?" he asked. She looked into his eyes; saw the seriousness and the truth of his words.

"I believe you." she said quietly, marveling at the truth of her own words. She did believe him, she trusted him, she loved him and that was all there was to know in other for her to take the final step into the journey she and he had just begun. But whether the journey will end for her like it did Cinderella or end for her as it did Juliet, only the future had the key into the safe box of possibilities!

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I made it long so don't shot me!