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

Dear Diary 10

Everyone was skittish in the house. Hotaru was carried to her room after being brutally strike by Darien and realizing the heavy burden placed on her fragile shoulders, Serena collapsed under the weight of it all. Darien gently carried Serena to the room for her to rest before calling Lita and Mina to his studies. He refused to hear both of them out until Serena had awoken and he had several guards guard it to make sure they wouldn't escape.

Lita was not worried, she would take any punishment given her, it was Mina who was sweating. She knew, her gig was up. She stared vacantly at the wall even though her hands shook with fear as they rested on her knees. For years she had loved Darien. Before he had left for America, she had been his personal servant. There were many instances they connected on so many levels but Darien never touched her. Then she heard he was in a relationship with Hotaru. Their relationship had been a secret but there wasn't much servants didn't know. She had known Hotaru was just using Darien but she could not say anything. She watched Darien get hurt and moved away. After he returned from Harvard, she had hoped to tell him her true feelings. But she had not been given the chance. It was announced that he would be marrying Hotaru. She had felt her heart shatter into million pieces. Why!? Why was the world so unfair!? She had wondered and cried for many days.

It was then that she began plotting, at first it had been unconsciously but soon it took firm root in her mind. She would take Darien away no matter the consequences! Her break through came half a year after Darien and Hotaru got married. Darien became very cold and distant toward Hotaru, no one knew why, he just was. She was curious and dug herself through Hotaru's business until she found out the reason. Back then, she had smiled. It would be a piece of cake. Darien had not begun sleeping with women right away; it took the other half of the year. After his return from Titan, he began to crave the touch of female flesh, particularly blond females. When he looked at her, a gentle look would pass over his features and she mistook him of falling in love with him.

She had been the first person Darien slept with. And although he slept with many others, she was a repeated fantasy. She grew bolder, seducing him many times. She couldn't get enough of him and everyday she grew more obsessed with him. Then two or something days before Serena showed up at the forest mansion, Darien had asked her if she would serve him in the forest. She had mistake it as an invitation for them to have a private affair and that in the forest they would openly declare themselves. She had fancied herself draped over his naked body, openly touching, kissing, being intimate without fear of being exposed. But that wasn't enough, she wanted him to herself, she wanted Hotaru out of the picture!

She had gone to Hotaru then and told her of Darien's plan to move into the forest mansion. But then she had lied to her that it was because of a certain girl that he was moving from the palace. She wove herself into Hotaru's trust and became the Queen's 'spy' with promises of riches. She had planted the seed of Hotaru's destruction. What she hadn't expected was Serena. She had come and looking at her, Mina had understood everything almost instantly. The soft looks Darien had directed her way had never been for her, he had saw Serena through her! She and Serena looked so much alike they could pass for twins. The only difference between them was that Mina had a little lighter shade of blond and blue eyes than Serena. They both had the same heart shaped face and large eyes and their body measurement seemed to be the same. Mina had been furious! She had never planned to send Hotaru any information about Darien's activities but it all changed then. She knew, Serena meant more to Darien than Hotaru did. She herself could not get rid of Serena but Hotaru could. She would use Hotaru to get rid of Serena then expose Hotaru's secret to the world and dethrone her. She would then make sure to weave her way into Darien's heart and all would be well. Such a perfect plan, completely destroyed. And Darien was going to hate her.

She had never feared Darien but seeing what he had done to Hotaru, someone who had meant the whole world to him once upon a time, she realized that he could kill her without blinking. She was nothing to Darien and he would never be hers. It took her getting to where she was now to realize she was no better than Hotaru, manipulative, cold hearted, deceptive and a bitch.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Hotaru was the first to wake up from her unconscious state. Her head pounding and her body felt to her as if she had been hit by a train. It took a while for what happened to register in her mind but when it did, she made a final decision. It was time to bring Darien's madness to an end. She would exposed him to the elders and make sure Serena's life was exchanged for her being so bruised. She couldn't stay in the mansion; she had to return to the palace before her wounds healed. She needed to show them to the elders as proof that Endymion had abused her after she had 'caught' him having sex with another woman.

"Trista?" she said, her horse voice cracking.

"Yes?" Trista answered softly.

"Go and tell Endymion that we are leaving tonight." She said. Trista's eyes widened in surprise but she quickly masked it.

"As you wish your majesty." Trista left the room and the other two sitting in the room blinked at each other. They wondered if Hotaru was giving up.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Soon after Hotaru woke up, Serena also woke up. She found herself in Darien's embrace with his dark eyes staring at her. Their eyes clashed and soon t heir lips as well. She didn't know what happened only that their clothes were suddenly going off and a knock was coming at the door. Darien raised his to the door and glared hatefully at the innocent golden frame, cursing at it and whoever was knocking. He made to get up but Serena griped him tight. She realized she didn't want him to go. No, the realization was far stronger than him leaving, it was as if her body wanted to be touch so badly by him that she feared even a second without contact with him will drive her over the edge. Frightened at the realization, she stared up into Darien's eyes with fear and need.

"What's…what's happening to me?" She whispered in a near cry. Darien understood what was happening. He had bound Serena to him not only mentally and emotionally but physically as well, there would be many times her body would crave for his touch, it would madden her if he is not there to provide the touch that would sooth her body. For the first time, he was beginning to understand the horror of what he had really done to her.

He bent over her head and pushed the hair from her face.

"Shhh, it's alright. Nothing is wrong with you. Give me just a second." He said and briefly kissed her on the lips before striding to the door, leave Serena twitching on the bed aroused and in heat.

He opened the door to his studies until he find the door at the other end and opened it. He was surprise to find Trista standing there but he masked his surprise well.

"Yes?"

"My Lady sends a message." She responded and he raised his brow.

"Hotaru would like to leave within the hour."

"Wonderful. Tell her to wait for a minute, I have something for her." he said and Trista narrowed her eyes.

"And what…" but the door closed on her face as he hurried back to the sweating Serena on the bed to ease her aches and needs. Thirty minutes later, she could think about other things other than sex and Darien's warmth.

"Who was that?" she finally asked, referring to who came to the door.

"Trista, she says Hotaru is about to leave. I should probably go see her off." He said with reluctance. Serena patted his cheeks.

"Where are Lita and Mina?" she asked instead.

"OH yeah, I have them guarded, what is the deal with them?"

"Hotaru." She answered, sitting up on the bed.

"I figured that was the case but I still do not understand." He said.

"Let's go see the queen off, though you might want to bring Mina and Lita along." He raised his brow at her but said nothing. He just did as she told him. They roused and dressed before leaving the room. Darien gave quick instructions to the guards to bring Lita and Mina to the living room where Hotaru and his ladies waited for him. The tightening in her eyes was the only indication of Hotaru's displeasure in seeing Darien and Serena together. His eyes surreptitiously trailed Darien's hand which held Serena protectively and possessively to his side and she winced, remembering that once upon a time, that hand had protected and kept HER safe and warm. Darien sat Serena down on the couch furthest away from Hotaru but it was a one person couch so rearrangements were made so he sat back and had her sit in front of him with his hands gently cradling her to him. She avoided the queen's eyes. A minute of uncomfortable silence passed before Lita and Mina who was being dragged by a guard entered the room. They were stood in the center where both Darien and Hotaru could get a really good look at them. Mina's eyes held hatred seeing the position Darien and Serena were sitting in, Serena smiled innocently at her.

"So ladies, will you explain yourselves to us?" Darien said, the threat very real under the calmness of his voice. Mina's eyes widened, understanding dawning on her features. They were going to reveal her right in front of Hotaru! She really was in deep waters now.

Lita sighed; she might as well get it over with.

"I came into this household as a spy for Queen Hotaru." Lita began.

"That's a lie!" Hotaru cut in.

"Lita, continue." Darien said.

"I was to report to her anyone whom you bed. When she found out about Serena, I had no choice but to report to her about Serena. I wasn't happy about that but I had to do it, she promised to reinstate my family back into the country if I did her bidding so against my better judgment I reported to her. but when she came here asking questions about Serena, I could not find it in my heart to give her information she could use to hurt her so I gave her as little of what she wanted to know and hid everything else. I had thought that would be enough but apparently it wasn't." She went on to explain how she had eavesdropped on the queen and Mina's conversation with Mina encouraging the queen to take action. At this Trista, Michelle and Amara all glared at the blond. She finished her side of the story with both Mina and Hotaru denying all association with each other or with her.

"Do you have anything to say Mina?" Darien asked her.

"Yes, everything she has said is a lie." The blond replied.

"Why would I stoop so low as to send spies here?" Hotaru also added.

"I see, two against one. Lita, do you have any proof to back up your claim." Darien asked the brown haired cook.

"No your majesty, only my words." She replied with a bowed head. Inwardly, Mina and Hotaru smirked.

"That isn't enough." Darien said.

"It really isn't. I mean Mina was sent to spy on any girl Darien slept with wasn't she as claimed by you." Lita nodded but said not a word.

"Then why would she sleep with him herself?" Darien stiffened at the reminder of his betrayal that had led him to bind her to him. Mina's eyes widened in horror.

"What?!" Hotaru barked. Serena turned her cool gaze to the queen.

"I see fail to see how this concerns you." Serena answered.

"He is MY husband you bitch!" Hotaru screamed.

"Yes, and I'm certain you have known of his affairs for a long while so why bark at Mina's own affair with him. It shouldn't be anything serious at all." Serena said and to this Hotaru had no replied. Lita gave a small smile, realizing that Serena was trying to trick the two into admitting the truth.

"My Queen, I mean no disrespect but is it not time you leave? I was told you mean to leave this evening and it is getting dark. It is rather unsafe to travel by the night's light in this forest." Serena said, reminding them of the time. Hotaru just glared at Serena.

"She is right my lady, time is short." Trista said, understanding of what Serena was doing dawning on her. She decided that she would help Serena out.

"Very well, we shall leave but Mina comes with us." Serena saw the frantic look in Mina's eyes.

"NO!" Mina screamed.

"Why should she come with you?" Serena asked instead.

"I mean to punish her for sleeping with my husband." Hotaru said.

"Worry little for she is not alone your enemy but mine as well. She will be severely punished here without her needing to make any trip with you." Serena said. She really hated Mina, it had been because of her Darien had so abused her emotionally, mentally and physically. Remembering her earlier painful need of him, her hatred grew for the blond who looked much like herself.

"You will not deny me my vengeance wench. The girl comes with me." Hotaru said threateningly and Darien gave her a sharp warning glare.

"I suppose Mina could go with you." Serena said mildly.

"No!"

"Why not? Is it not within the queen's right to punish you for knowingly sleeping with her husband?" Serena asked.

"Then what about yourself." Mina spat.

"My case is a little bit different. You see, I was not the one to seduce him; he forced me here against my will. That separates our two cases."

"Then why don't you let Lita go with her instead?!" Mina yelled.

"And what good will it do for my peace of mind with you here? You're the last person I want to see or be in any kind of contact with. You will travel with the queen." Serena said commandingly.

"No I can't! She will kill me!"

"And why would she do such a thing?" Serena questioned with a raised brow.

"Because I slept with the king you fool!"

"Bite you tongue!" Darien's voice lashed out at her and she stumbled back.

"Mina, the queen will not kill you. Has she killed any of the other females who have grazed Darien's bed? I think not."

"No no no! I will not leave this place! I will not go with her!"

"You will do as you are told." Darien said.

"Give me one reason why we shouldn't let Hotaru take you with her?" Serena asked, hoping Mina would come clean so she could spare her the fate of traveling with the queen. Mina got up and tried to run but the guard at the door caught her and held her firmly.

Darien stood up from the chair.

"Mina, I have never been as disappointed in a long while as I am with you. How dare you try to hurt my love. As much as I want to tie you to several horses and have them drag you on the floor through the forest, I think giving your fate to the queen is a more befitting punishment." Darien said and Mina screamed, thrashing and begging. Serena felt sorry for her and would have tried to help her out but seeing the decisive look in Darien's eyes, she knew it would be useless.

"Hotaru, you will take the traitor with you but the next we meet I expect her to be alive. Now leave my house. As for you Lita, because you did not actually cause any irreversible harm and because Serena loves you that much, you are forgiven but there will not be a second time do you hear me?" Darien said.

"Yes My Lord. Thank you."

"You may return to your duties."

"Thank you." She bowed and left the room.

Darien stretched his hand out to Serena and she took it. Together they left the room without even saying a goodbye. They left for a stroll in the forest, by the time they returned, the queen and his many followers as well as Mina were gone.

But there was no relief in That, Serena knew, the real trouble had just began. The battle was no longer going to be with Hotaru or her conscience but with the entire kingdom and the struggle to keep Darien sane.

The future was looking grim indeed.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Read and Review.

I know it's short, i will try to make the next one long. I think we have only two or three more chapters to go. or maybe one really long one.