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rosemoonprincess
nessa
Vchanny
xSapphirexRosesxFanx
LoveInTheBattleField
Moonprincess998
Lina2121
SeleneAnadyomene
Disclaimer: Don't own Sailor Moon.
Chapter 13
Mina was confused. She could not ignore her father's soothing voice. However it had always been easy for her to recognize the tone and to guess what a conversation would bring, however this time was different. The woman didn't see a hint of what might be coming in his posture, his words or facial expression. What she did see was the terrified expression on her sister's face, but Mina could not understand the reason she behaved like that. It looked like she wanted to say something important, even vital, but was too scared for that.
Was Serena afraid of the man's reaction to the fact that there were two of them? Or had she already gotten her piece of hell? After all, Mr. DeVeene was known to be an intimidating person.
«We've been waiting for you, Mina. Have a sit, relax. By the way, you organized such a beautiful gathering. Well done. Your mother would have been proud. Would you like some wine?»
When Mr. DeVeene turned his attention to the bar, Serena mouthed a word to her. What did she want to say? Whatever it was, Mina was not willing to leave her sister alone. And, contrary to what Serena would want her to do, Mina closed the door behind her and entered the library. She chose an armchair next to her sister's. As she was close enough to the woman, she saw silent tears falling down her distorted with fear face.
«Don't pay attention to your sister. She just knows a little more than you do.»
«Meaning?» Mr. Seven ignored the question, choosing to busy himself with pouring the drinks. «Father! Can it! What does she know?»
«That you'll die.»
«Well, eventually everybody dies. What's the big deal?» Mr. Deveene chuckled.
«Mina, child, she knows that you'll both die tonight.»
«Why on Earth would we die tonight?»
«Because I'll have you killed. The man standing behind you by the window? He's an assassin. His gun has been pointed at you and your sister for quite some time now. So be as good girl as your sister and shut up!»
«You are kidding, right?» Mina even chuckled. However the ringing of a shot, Serena's scream and blood on her arm made the world go spinning.
It seemed like Mina's brain shut down. She watched her father approach Serena and almost tenderly wipe the blood from her shoulder. The wound was surprisingly small and almost non-existent. Mr. DeVeene placed his handkerchief on the cut, whispering calming words to the shocked girl. He had never been anything like that with Mina. Caring and soothing, fatherly.
«I am sorry, Serena. It was not meant to be. Here, drink this…»
It took several moments for Mr. DeVeene to calm down. Mina recognized the breathing exercises her father used in particularly complicated situations. The funniest part? Mina herself taught her father that trick when she succeeded in dragging him to yoga. Once. It happened only once.
«I've promised Serena that you'll both know my reasoning. And I intend to fulfill my promise. But both of you should keep quiet. Not that anyone will hear you, the office is sound-proof, but it's not safe to play with Matt's patience. And you have already driven him mad with your games. So let's make a deal. You provide me with silence and I tell you the story. Nod if you agree.»
The girls nodded. Not only did they actually want to hear Mr. DeVeene out, but also they were willing to do anything to win some time. And whereas Serena was ignorant about the coming help, Mina couldn't stop replaying the moment when she asked Darien to find Kun and come to the library. The only thing she could do was pray that they came sooner rather than later.
«I have always been said that if somebody hurts me, I should forgive them. But this story is not about forgiveness. When everything you loved has been stolen from you, sometimes all you have left is revenge.» Mr. DeVeene looked at the picture on the desk almost impassively, taking a few moments to put himself together. «It was a surprisingly warm autumn day…»
It was a warm autumn day. The sun was shining up in the sky, making people smile foolishly. Daniel DeVeene was walking in the central park, first day of work finally over. It was nothing like he imagined it to be.
While studying international relations in university, he dreamt of becoming a praised diplomat, chargé d'affaires, ambassador. Every time he was passing an exam, he pretended to present his country in the General Assembly, or the Security Council, every time he walked home, he pictured living in a foreign country, representing there his country and its interests. He had been working so hard to become the best, to make his perfect family proud, he wanted to achieve more than his father ever dreamt of. But all he got to do that day was making copies and fetching coffee for old fat fools. And this very moment he felt even more unworthy of his family than ever.
Ever since his perfect twin-brother died in a car accident several years before, he hoped his life would become easier, because parents would have no longer had a person to compare him to. But no such thing happened. Moreover, they blamed him in Theodore's, his brother's, death because the car he was driving that night belonged to Daniel. It was he who should have died. But he decided against going to a school party and stayed at home, in the library, working through the works of brilliant politicians and philosophers. Thanks to his desire to develop, to become better than his brother, he was still alive. Though no that much closer to his dream.
His attention was attracted to a girl, who was sitting in the shadow of a tree, crying. At least Daniel thought so. Her long strawberry blond hair hid her face, but he heard sobs and her shoulders were shaking. Daniel approached her, careful not to scare. The moment she looked up, he knew this woman would be his wife.
She was angelic, with her big cerulean eyes and long blonde locks. On a closer inspection she was so petite, Daniel doubted she'd reach his shoulder. She was breathtakingly beautiful even with puffy eyes and red nose.
«Hey. Why are you crying?»
«I… my sister has left me.»
«Oh, I am so sorry… When did she die?»
«Die? No! God, no! She's just moved to a different country with her husband. And I am afraid, I will never see her again.»
«Oh, I am sorry. Where to?»
«He's a journalist, so he travels a lot. This time they've gone to Burma. But for how long? I just love Helena so much, I miss her so…»
«What's your name?»
«Ilene.»
And the girl's sobs became even louder. Her crying brought Daniel almost physical pain and he vowed that some day he would be able to take Ilene wherever she wanted and she'd meet her sister again. And the woman of his life would never ever cry again.
But first he had to win Ilene's heart.
His parents were furious with this liaison, but for the first time in his life he didn't care what they thought.
When he started getting promotion after promotion at work, Daniel deemed it high time to propose. The day of his marriage was the happiest day of his life.
He wanted his wife to have whatever she wanted, he wanted to show her the world, to buy her every single thing she looked at. And he worked so hard, failing to recognize that the higher his position was, the more distant they became.
Not long after that Ilene decided to really start a family and soon she was pregnant with their first child, Jade. However the gap between the two of them widened. Daniel became even more absorbed in his work, trying to provide for his family with the best.
Ilene got carried away in the social life. Being an out-going person, she found it fascinating meeting new people, organizing events. She also found new best friends in the Shields family, Arthur and Marie.
She admired Marie's strength: the woman had terminal cancer, but not a soul could guess she suffered. She forbade her family to treat her any different, she protected her secret, and lived every day of her life as if it was the last: pouring love in all those who were around, making sure every single soul knew how much she cared, how much they meant. And when Marie sensed the time was coming, she left to a one-way journey to India, saying her last goodbyes in letters.
Ilene didn't want to leave Arthur to grieve alone. She was there for him, but seldom for her husband who at the time forgot about her existence, taking more and more work, traveling around most of the political hot spots. Hardly did Ilene see her husband anymore. Daniel lived another life, in his own world. He had almost no memories of being at home with his family, with the woman he loved; his little son no longer recognized him.
Once he returned home and Ilene announced that she was 3 months pregnant again. His wife was hoping that another child would succeed in saving their marriage. If not, Ilene was willing to leave.
She never was eager to travel, however when Ilene learnt that her husband's next destination is Russia, she expressed desire to go there with him. Daniel in all honesty did not like the idea, since Ilene was already 8 months pregnant, but his wife almost begged to take her with him: not long before her sister had moved in Russia and once upon a time Daniel vowed to bring them back together again.
His own words backfired.
Driven by her hormones, Ilene initiated quite a few heart-to-heart talks. Thanks to them, during that journey Daniel and Ilene felt closure and even behaved as though they were in love again, young and almost carefree. Happy.
Ilene visited her sister, the long-forgotten dream came true. However during that call she went through premature labour. Daniel managed to come to her only on the next day. When he entered the ward, Daniel was mesmerized by the most beautiful picture: his wife was breastfeeding their little daughter. Little princess was a spitting image of her mother. And nothing like her father.
«We were happy. The last four years. We were really happy. We moved to another country, I got the position of an Ambassador - something I was dreaming about for so long. And then I found out about her cheating. And my heart broke. I mean, I suspected it, she practically lived with Shields. But I never found strength to accept it, to forgive her mistake, even if she asked for it. And she payed for her betrayal. After her death I took both you and Jade and moved away. Of course, I knew that you, Mina, was not mine. But you are so much like her… I imagined, I could bring you up as my own, love you. I thought, separating you with your love and making you marry your half-brother would be enough of a punishment for both you and Arthur Shields, but turned out Arthur didn't care about your marriage and possible complications within his bloodline and you were more like your mother than I could ever assume and. You were cheating on Darien and I almost sympathized the poor boy. I knew what it is like. And there is nothing I can do, my girl. You deserve the same fate, Mina. And that's what you'll face too.»
Ok, guys. Are you furious with Darien? I know I am, because, hey! His girl is shot and where is he? Bad, very bad knight in shining armor... or prince. Whatever you like.
But we do know Mr. DeVeene's POV. Do you sympathize him? Or hate him even more? And what about the girls' mother?
R&R!
xo, Renie.