Chapter Seventeen
Kunzite and Venus arrived at the Earth's castle in a flash, and since they weren't with the crowd, immediately left toward their destination without delay. The holding cells for detainees were on the far side of the castle, and a few flights down. No one, she thought, could ever get out of here without being caught—although, had Kunzite caught her that first night, she would have had fun trying.
There were several sets of guards waiting for them when they arrived. Kunzite made a motion with his hand, and they opened the gate to the cell where the woman sat, arms chained together. He had told her on the way how he expected this to go, so Venus, although she didn't want to, kept quiet and let him do the talking. She took her place by the gated door, arms crossed, glaring, waiting for her chance to lay into this woman.
After twenty minutes of no response, Kunzite demanded to know why she wouldn't speak. The prisoner simply stated that she wouldn't speak with a Lunarian in the room. Venus mumbled something under her breath that no one could understand, and left to wait by the stairwell. When the sound of the large door echoed its way down the hall, Kunzite turned to his detainee. "Satisfied?"
The woman, known as Beryl, nodded. "But, I'm not certain I can speak with you, either."
"And why is that?"
"Because it seems that you have also lost your way and fallen for a moon harlot. She has corrupted you."
Kunzite's blood began to boil, but he held his composure and allowed her to go on. He wouldn't fall into some ploy to toy with him.
"Much like my dear Endymoin..." she paused a moment to let out a small sigh. "I was merely going to warn him. You and your guards have interfered for months now, you know. I needed to warn him of those little nymphs that live above us. Keep him from their treachery." She stopped again and looked Kunzite dead in the eye. "They will be the end of us, you know. And their sick plan starts with the Earth's high court. You." She rose from her seat and stepped towards him. "Don't think I did not see the way you looked at her as she left, or the way she brushed against your palm." Another step. "She has you under her spell. You must break free, and join me in saving Endymoin. Metalia will aid us. It is the only way we can save our planet and destroy-"
"Enough!" Kunzite pushed her back down onto her cot. The words seethed from his lips, "You will rot in this cell. You crazy hag!"
Beryl merely smiled at him.
Had the prisoner been a man, Kunzite would have struck her. But, he could not hit a woman. So, he stormed from the cell and met up with his blonde companion. She was waiting idly, tapping her fingernails against the stone walls when he reached her. Before she could speak, he grabbed her hand and began to ascend the stairs. He led her to a large study near the wing of the castle where his room was. He lit a few lanterns and then made his way to a large desk in the center of the room. On it, were several maps pinned down, with different markers placed on them.
"What's this?" her voice rang out softly, unsure in her words. His haste and silence had her worried. What had happened when she was gone those short moments?
He leaned over the map, searching for something. When he found it, he pointed and looked up to her. "Here. Right here. This is where they are."
She walked over to the table and looked down on the map. "There?"
"This is the source. It has to be. That—that witch down there, she mentioned 'Metalia.' I am certain it is who is behind this, and this, this here, is where the first patch of darkness appeared. This is where we go."
"You're certain?"
He paused and looked at the map once more, nodding. "Yes."
Venus bit her bottom lip and nodded. "You will need more troops." Her hand found it's way into his and she leaned into his shoulder. "Let's go rest first."
That afternoon, Kunzite called a meeting with the King and his fellow generals. Everyone was briefed on the plan of attack. While the generals of Earth left to gather their own armies, Kunzite left with Venus to speak with Selene and gather troops from the other planets. After they had plead their case and gained permission, word was sent to Mercury, Mars and Jupiter to allocate a certain amount of their own to help. Venus, with Kunzite, went to her home planet to gather more Venusians.
"There is a great war about to break out. I need to ask your help, dear brothers and sisters. The Earth needs us. If we do not rid it of this evil, it plans to attack us. To destroy everything we know and love. We cannot let that happen."
Kunzite stood by her side, his cape floating around him. "It would be my greatest honor to have the mighty warriors of Venus fight by my side. I cannot take this evil down on my own. Please, join us."
A few days later, all the forces gathered and left out. Venus stood by her beloved, holding onto the collar of his shirt, looking up at him. "I still don't know why you won't let me go with you."
He brushed the hair from her face. "You've done enough. I need you here. Safe."
She frowned.
He smirked. "I'll be back in a fortnight. To check in. Meet me here then."
"I will." She let go of his collar and smoothed it back down. "Be safe."
"I will." He pulled her head into his chest.
"I love you."
Smiling, he kissed the top of her head. "I love you, too."
A quick kiss on the lips, and Kunzite left to join his comrades. Venus stood there, until they disappeared into the distance, then left for the Moon.
A/N: A fortnight is 14 days. And, sorry for the rapid pace of this chapter. I'm really just trying to move it along. I'm not one to try to drag things out for ages. I don't have the skill to make it interesting enough.