Chapter 19

Rebirth

"Death is not the greatest of evils; it is worse to want to die, and not be able to."

-Sophocles

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Elena smiled as she was surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Plutonian fields. She wore a white gown. She had long white wings that came out of her back and a halo on top of her head. She was sitting in the garden as her daughter Mina and son Zephyrus, a beautiful little girl with long blond hair and big blue eyes and a boy with blonde hair and emerald eyes like his father, raced towards her.

Mina cried upset, "Mama, Zephyrus ruined my kite and now it flew up to the sky."

Zephyrus said equally upset, "I wouldn't have ruined it if you would have let me played with it, you dunce."

Mina cried and said, "Mama, Zephyrus just called me a dunce."

Elena laughed because it was reminded her of her first time she met her husband Astraios. Elena laughed, "Darling, I shall build the both of you kites later. We can all do it together." The children laughed and embraced their mother and gave her a kiss on her cheeks causing her to laugh. They ran off.

That evening while Elena stood at the stove cooking dinner, she felt arms wrapped tightly around her. She felt the intoxicating musk of her husband doing exotic things to her senses.

She turned around to her husband Astraios' arms as he held her in a loose embrace. Ten years had passed and they had been married for ten years. The night that Astraios left the Moon. Elena came with him that night leaving behind her life on the moon and allowing her sister Selenity to rule. She let her family believed that she was dead and gave up her crowd for the love of her life. She also lost her immortality and now lived the life of a mortal woman. Astraios was happy when he found out that he was going to be a father and wept with joy when their son Zephyrus was born. He was never as proud as he was that moment until their daughter Mina, named after his late sister, and was born three years later.

Elena said slightly upset, "You're late. Your dinner is cold, and the children are fast asleep."

Astraios said, "I know my love. It took me awhile to help my father and brother get the crops ready for the harvest. We had to get it done today. I hope that you can forgive me."

Elena said with a sigh, "I guess I can. I tried to keep your food warm in the stove."

Elena gasped when she found herself being turned around as her husband pushed her against the kitchen table. Elena spread her legs apart as her husband stood between them. He kissed her passionately on the lips as she lost herself in him and wrapped her arms around his neck. They quickly started ripped off each other's clothes. Elena was in ecstasy as her husband kissed all over her body as he sucked on her breasts that had grown bigger since they had their children. She was so wet that he easily entered her body and fucked her on their kitchen table.

He cried in a husky voice, "I love you so much Elena."

She said in bliss as she was on a verge of an orgasm, "I love you too Astraios!" They came together in bliss and tiredly rested on the kitchen table and began to laugh together.

Astraios said, "Making love to you is always amazing Elena."

Elena was so exhausted she could not even sleep. Astraios carried his wife to their bedroom and tucked her in the bed. He then went back to the kitchen and gathered their clothes that were scattered all over the kitchen floor. He smirked when he found her undergarments in the sink. He then checked on his children that looked angelic as they slept peacefully in their beds in their room. He looked at a third room in the house that he hoped would soon become another child's room. He then walked into their bedroom and cuddled peacefully next to his wife. He whispered I love you to her as she slept and kissed her softly on her cheek then dosed off with his cheek pressed against hers.

Elena awoke from her sleep to find herself encased in a glass coffin in an all-white room. She looked around in confused as she started to bang against the glass coffin in feeling trapped and confused. Where were her husband and her children? She fell asleep in her husband's arms and now she awoken in a glass coffin. The coffin started to open.

She slowly sat up and saw herself wearing a long white gown. Her hair was short and uneven. She saw the royal family crest on top of a door and knew she was back at the palace. Yet, how? She remembered dying in the forest after she was attacked and sexually assaulted by gang of men that she killed before she died. She remembered entering paradise with Death and being in her heaven which was having a family with the man that she loved.

The door opened and a lady wearing a nurse outfit walked in. Elena looked at them confused. The nurse said, "You're awaken, Princess Elena."

Elena asked confused, "Where am I? How did I get here?"

Princess Elena said, "We found your body on the other side of the moon badly beaten and assaulted. We brought your body back to the palace and kept you in the glass chambers to preserve your body until we figured out a way to bring you back to life. The queen was saddened by your loss. When she found out you died a mortal death, she used the power of the imperial silver crystal to bring you back to life. Yet, you were alive but you did not awaken. It was like you were in a comatose state and your vital signs stayed normal."

Elena asked confused, "My mother returned me to life."

"No, your mother along with the king is long dead. Princess, you have been dead for over a thousand years. Your sister Selenity is now queen. She has reign for over five hundred years."

Elena was stunned.

After Elena was taken to a grand and elegant styled room where she was bathing and dressed in the latest fashion. She looked in the floor length mirror at herself. She still looked like the girl of eighteen hundred years she was before she died. Her hair was still short and they style her short hair in a nice pixie cut. She missed her glorious golden locks. She felt naked without it. She was wearing a beautiful blue gown and a golden crown with the moon family symbol on top of it. As her ladies left her, Elena started to mess with her hair.

"It will grow back Elena. It's just hair." Elena stiffened as she remembered the voice and turned around to see that it was no other than her sister, the queen. The woman she saw standing in the doorway was not the sister that she remembered. She was older, more mature and very beautiful and elegant as their mother. She was the splitting image of their mother with her hair in the traditional odango-styled and wearing the long strapless evening gown. Her hair was silver now. Every moon queen's hair eventually turned silver to represent their wisdom.

Queen Selenity said, "Welcome back, sister."

Elena did not smile at her sister. Queen Selenity walked towards Elena and embraced her in her arms. She said, "I missed you so much sister."

Elena stepped away from her sister and said, "Why am I here, Selenity? I should not be here. I died and went to heaven. I was happy there. Why did you awaken me? How is that possible for you to bring back the dead?"

Queen Selenity said, "Like you have to power to take life, I have the power to bring life back." Queen Selenity said, "Because your death was not supernatural and you died at the hands of mortal, I was able to bring you back to life."

Elena asked angrily moving away from her sister, "And how did mother and father died? Why didn't you bring them back to life?"

Queen Selenity said, "Shortly after you died, there was an attack from a powerful warlord named Waru. Grandmother imprisoned him five thousand years ago. She died using her power to seal him in the hell dimension for all eternity. Somehow Waru escaped and in a vengeance he wanted to destroy every last member of our bloodline. He came to the moon by a surprise attacks even the seers could not see him coming. He killed many of the Lunarians and took over most of our lands and destroyed our cities and towns. He killed Aunt Athena first to declare war on the moon."

Elena covered her mouth in shock.

"Mother was devastated by the news and declared war on Waru and his army in retaliation. Father led the royal army in the attacks against mother's wishes. He had not been the same since your death. You were his heart and he went to drinking and even rumored to have a woman or two in hatred for mother."

Elena asked stunned, "Why? He was ashamed of me and so were you. You did not even tell me good-bye when I left."

Selenity said, "Because we did not know. None of us knew what happened to you. You just disappeared one day and it was not until later did I find out that it was because you were with child. I eavesdropped on an argument that father was having with mother about you a few months after you had left. It was then that mother confessed that you were pregnant with some child with a peasant boy that was not of power or royal blood. Father was upset with mother for how cruelly she treated you and sending you away. He thought she could have handled the situation differently and still allowed you to keep your title and crown. Yet, when we all thought you were dead in that covenant, it was like father's love for mother died also. It was never the same between them after you left. Nothing was the same actually."

Elena asked confused, "Are you telling me that mother lied to me? That you were not ashamed over me and that father did not hate me."

Selenity shook her head and said, "No sister. We did not know, and we never stopped loving you."

Elena began to cry covering her mouth with her hands feeling a sensation of closure knowing that her father and sister still loved her even though she made one mistake.

Selenity said, "Everyone knew going up against Waru was a suicide mission but father did not care. He faced Waru in battle. They had a great fight before father was killed at Waru's hands. The kingdom was devastated. My mother looked at me sadly like she was saying good-bye to me. At that moment, I knew that my childhood was over. I lost my sister, my father, and my mother in a short period of time. I felt lost and alone, yet I knew I had to be brave for my people and be a strong queen that would make my family proud. Mother faced Waru that day with the power of the silver imperial crystal at her side and used all of her power and life force to destroy Waru and his army and to send him back to hell for all eternity so that no future queen of the moon will ever have to face him again. She died shortly after she defeated him and his army."

Elena walked past her sister devastated by hearing about the loss of their parents. Queen Selenity said, "I know you two had a difficult relationship but she loved you Elena. It was simply hard for her to separate her duty as a queen from being a mother sometimes. I think she died regretting the decision to turn her back on you. She was never the same after you left." Selenity said hoarsely, "I lost them too when you left. They're deaths were supernatural like every member of our family's death is. I could not bring them back."

Elena asked on the verge of tears again, "And did she ever tell you what happened to my son before she died. Who took him away from me?"

Selenity's eyes became emotional as she answered, "He was given to wealthy aristocrat family shortly after you had given birth to him. The husband was a well off business man and his wife was barren and wanted a child. It was one of the first regions that Waru took over when he died. No man, woman, or child was left alive. I am so sorry sister."

Elena wept as she looked at her sister, "Why did you do this me? I was happy!"

Selenity said loudly upset, "Because I needed you. I missed you. I was lonely, and I'm sorry that my reasoning was selfish, but when I found out that I had a chance to bring you back, I seize it."

Elena looked at her sister strangely then said, "I missed you too, Selenity. I cried out to you when before I died."

Selenity said, "I heard you, sister." Elena and Selenity begin to cry as they embraced one another.

Later that day as Elena and Selenity sat in the sitting room as the maid served them tea and cucumber moon cakes. The maid closed the door behind herself to give them privacy. Elena said noticing how strangely everyone was looking at her wondering who she was, "You know that even though I was born before you, I look a thousand years younger than you."

Selenity laughed nibbling on a cupcake, "Don't rub it in. I already have issues getting older."

Elena cut her eyes at her.

Selenity said, "I know. I have a solution for that, and that is telling everyone that you are a distant cousin on my mother's side that I loved like a sister. You are visiting for a while and you will stay at the palace as my guest."

Elena smiled then said, "And will I look like this forever."

Selenity said sipping her tea, "No, you shall age normally from now on. You died at age eighteen hundred so time stopped for you."

Elena said sipping her tea, "But it did not."

"Mama! Mama!" Elena turned her head to the disturbance of a child running into the room. She was pretty little girl in a white gown with cute like odango style pigtails like her mother with dangling curls at the end. She had a heart shaped face like her mother with bangs and big blue eyes. She looked about two hundred-years-old.

Selenity cried in amusement as she placed the little girl in her lap, "Serenity, I told you that it is not proper to barge into places. What is my love?" She had the crescent moon symbol on her forehead.

"Iolaus hit me again."

Selenity said playfully, "Do you want me to banish him to the outer realm?"

Serenity happily nodded.

Selenity laughed kissing the girl on her cheek, "Okay darling."

Selenity turned towards Elena and said happily, "Elena, this is my pride of joy, Serenity. I named her after grandmother. We call her Serena for short."

Elena smiled then said with a smile, "It's nice to meet you, Serenity."

Selenity clutched her mother's dress not knowing the stranger. Elena smiled at the girl's shyness.

Selenity said looking down at her daughter, "Serenity, this is Aunt Elena. She is my sister."

Serenity simply stared at the strange lady that she did not know.

"Serenity! Serenity! Where are you?" Elena stiffened remembering that sound. A man walked in the doorway looking relieved when he saw that the little girl was safe in her mother's arms. He shared an affectionate glance at the queen which the queen returned. He then turned to the woman sitting across from her.

His heart skipped a beat when he recognized the woman and asked unsure, "Elena?"

Elena dropped her tea cup on the floor causing it to shatter.

Selenity looked at the man and her sister weirdly then said dismissing her confusion, "Sister, are you all right?"

Elena smiled then said, "Just tired." She asked pretending not to recognize him, "But who is this man?"

Selenity smiled then said, "This is my husband Astraios and Serenity's father."

Elena looked stunned then stood up and said, "I need to rest. Too much of everything I guess. I apologized for breaking the tea cup. I shall return to my room if that is all right." Selenity nodded then said, "Of course you can. I'll check on you later."

She walked past Astraios without looking at him even though every fiber in her being wanted her to look at him.

When Elena returned to her room, she closed the door behind her then slowly slid down the door and sobbed quietly on the floor. Her Astraios was dead and he was married to her sister and the father of her niece.

Elena spent the next few weeks being reintroduced into society as the queen's distant cousin Elena. Those who remembered Elena was in shock when they saw the striking similarities between the late princess and this new distant cousin. Yet, it was rumored that every member of the royal family had a doppelganger and Elena was apparently Princess Elena's.

Elena had no problem being reintroduced into society and fitting in even though some things changes like The Wigs party no longer existed after the Battle of Waru. They were replaced by a new party called the Moon Rangers who represented the working class society of the moon.

Elena avoided Astraios at all cost and spent time bonding with her niece Serenity. It took Serenity only days to start to like Elena and they quickly became close.

As Elena lied outside on the sundeck in a lounge chair, Serenity lied on Elena with her head lying on Elena's chest as Elena told her stories about the childhood adventures of Selenity and her.

Serena asked out of the blue, "Elena, you should have a daughter."

Elena asked stunned, "Why?"

Serena said, "Because I need a playmate."

Elena laughed then said, "It's a little more complicated than that but I'll work on it just for you."

Serena smiled and said, "Good." She fell asleep on Elena's bosom. Elena lifted her head and placed a soft kiss on the top of Serena's head before falling asleep herself.

Elena did not see as a pair of eyes watching her run along the grounds of the estate with Serenity ran behind her with her tiny feet.

Elena was running backwards as she watched Serenity try to catch up with her. She bumped into something hard. Before she could fall to the ground, she was caught by a strong pair of arms. She looked at Astraios' eyes as if she was in a trance as he slowly helped her back on her feet. He then let her go and knelt down to embrace his daughter that smiled at them.

Astraios said with a smile, "Darling, Luna is waiting for you in the nursery. Run off inside. Luna is waiting for you."

Elena felt nervous about the possibility of being alone with Astraios. She quickly blurted out, "I could take her there. It's been ages since I've seen Luna."

Astraios said firmly, "No, you're immortal. You have all the time in the world to see Luna."

Astraios gave Serena a peck on the top of her hair and said, "Run off now, my darling."

Serena said pouting, "Yes, papa." She looked up at her Aunt Elena and said happily, "Can we spend more time together later, Aunt Elena?"

Elena smiled then said, "Yes, my love." Serena smiled then ran off.

Elena started to walk away. Astraios rose then followed after her until he caught up with her. They walked for a while without talking to each other.

Astraios asked, "We cannot keep avoiding talking to each other. Things must be discussed between us."

Elena said snappily, "I have nothing to say to you. You are my brother-in-law and father to my niece. That is all you will ever be to me from now on."

Astraios asked, "So you don't want to know the why?"

Elena said firmly, "No."

Astraios stopped with a sigh as Elena continued walking.

Astraios said, "I came back for you."

Elena stopped and turned around.

Astraios said, "I was halfway home when I realized I could not let you go like that. So I spent every last penny I had. I even sold my father's sword so that I could return to the moon for you." He laughed then said, "My plan was to kidnap you and take you back home to Pluto and we were going to live happily ever after." Elena did not respond.

He started to walk towards her and said become emotional, "When I returned home, you were dead. My greatest fear was that you married King Lucifer of Venus not that you were dead. I was devastated and wanted to kill myself when I imagined life without you. Then there was a rumor that circulated that you had a child. We have a child together, a son. I was so happy that a part of you still remained in this world. Then, Waru soon attacked destroying the lands. By the time I got closed to the town where the rich couple that adopted our son lived, Waru had already attacked it and killed every single living soul. I was the one that reported this to your parents. They did not know that I was that boy that impregnated you. For my bravery, your father placed me in his army.

They allowed me to stay at the palace and then I saw her. Your sister Selenity was as lovely as you were. She had innocence with a pure heart about her and she reminded me so much of you. She was as devastated by your death as I was. I think the loss of you strengthened our bond and we somehow became closer. The battle of Waru lasted five devastating years and over the years I rose in rank and soon became a trusted worthy companion to your father.

I was there when Waru killed him with one final blow." Elena stopped and turned towards him as he mentioned her father. He stopped and stared into her beautiful blue eyes. "Your father fought bravery. I stayed by his side while the rest of the army fled when they saw that we were outnumbered. I held him in his arms as he died. His dying wish was me to take care of Selenity for him and married Selenity. That's why I am alive today. When I returned to the palace, Queen Helena had already defeated Waru and was slowly dying. I arrived just in time to see Selenity holding her dying mother's in her arms. When she saw me, she told me to protect Selenity and help her ruled the moon kingdom. With her final breath, she gave me immortality and with the blessings of the silver crystal, I was chosen as Selenity's husband and the new king of the Moon. We were married shortly after. She doesn't know about us. It would devastate her if she ever found out that I married her because she reminded me of the woman I lost, her sister… I do love my wife, but it is different from the love I will always have for you."

Elena asked angrily, "If you claimed that you love me, then why didn't you stop her from bringing me into a world I don't fit in to watch the two people that meant the world to me find happiness in each other?"

Astraios bit out, "I didn't know that she was planning on doing that. I was shocked when I saw you."

Elena said changing the subject, "Serena is beautiful."

Astraios smiled then said, "Thank you. She is my heart. She makes things seem so lively here."

Elena said with her head held high, "I have to go."

Astraios said, "Okay."

Elena smiled at herself in the mirror. She had been there was six months now. Her hair had grown to the middle of her back, and she was happy about it. She had many admirers of the rich and powerful noblemen of the Moon and the intergalactic counsel.

The Queen Selenity watched happily as Elena danced with potential suitors. King Astraios tried to hide his displeasure as he sipped his wine.

Queen Selenity said happily, "It seems that very soon our precious Elena will soon find a love of her own. I wish her as much happiness as we share."'

King Astraios gave a fake smile. She was currently dancing to the waltz with King Richard, the current king of Venus and a descendant of King Lucifer, who died a thousand years ago. King Richard was the splitting image of his ancestor. He was tall, dark, and handsome like his ancestor. The only difference between the two was that Richard wore his blonde hair short and slick back and had well-groomed stubble.

He led Elena out of the ballroom onto the balcony were the earth shined brightly. He leaned against the balcony and said to Elena, "You are beautiful as they say Elena."

Elena smiled then said, "And you are as handsome and charming as your forefather Lucifer was."

Richard leaned forward and asked, "So how far did my forefather get with your ancestor Princess Elena."

Elena smiled then said with a smile, "After months of courting, not even one kiss."

Richard said leaning towards her, "Then I have to break that record." He sealed their lips with a kiss. It became fiery and passionate as they continued.

Selenity became excited along with Serenity and Luna as Elena expressed the news that King Richard asked for her hand in marriage.

Luna said happily in feline form, "It's like everything is righting itself."

Astraios stiffen at Luna's comment and walked out.

Selenity said happily, "Sister, mother and father would have been so proud. Everything is the way it was meant to be."

Elena gave her sister a lukewarm smile.

Serena said happily, "I am so happy for you, Auntie Elena. Can I be the flower girl?"

Elena laughed then said, "Of course you can darling." Everyone laughed when Serena squealed with glee.

Eight months later, Elena married King Richard of Venus and with her marriage strengthened the relations between the Venus and the moon. Queen Selenity blessed her new brother-in-law with the gift of immortality since he was now a member of their family. Nine months later, Elena gave birth to a bundle of joy, a baby girl named Mina, Princess of Venus. Richard almost wept with joy at the birth of their daughter. Serena was now happy that she would have a playmate.

Over the centuries, Mina and Serena bond grew and they reminded Selenity and Elena so much of themselves.

One night Richard, while visiting his sister-in-law on the moon, lied naked in bed while Elena rode her husband's member like she was a disc jockey. She moaned in pleasure as he thrust his hips up to meet her rhythm as her large breasts bounced up and down in front of him. He then flipped her over and pounded his member inside of her as she moaned in pleasure grabbing the sheets for support. With a mighty roar, he released his seed inside her as she joined him in ecstasy. He collapsed on top of her.

He rolled over on his stomach and said out of breath, "They were right."

Elena asked confused, "About what?"

He said mischievously, "Making love to a Lunarian woman was heavenly." Elena playfully slapped him on his rock hard stomach.

As Selenity ruled her planet and Mina and Serena played their games together, no one noticed how crazy with jealousy Astraios was becoming. No one noticed the lustful way he looked at Elena. No one noticed how he hated seeing Elena happy with her husband Richard. He found himself pretending once more that Selenity was Elena. As he made love to his wife, he had to hold his tongue back from calling out Elena's name.

He found himself fantasizing about her in his dreams. He saw himself making love to her and taking Richard's place. He wanted Elena for himself one way or another.

He rode like the wind on a dark rainy night on his black horse Whisper. He came to a small cottage in the woods where he was greeted by a black elderly woman named Susana Grey and her young daughter Charisma Grey.

Susana was a powerful sorceress. Skin black as the midnight sky. Her hair was grey with long untamed dreadlocks. She practiced all types of magic dark and white magic. She taught her young daughter the magic as well. Susana defied the laws of longevity, and it was rumored that she did not have immortality like Lunarians. It was rumored that her dark magic had kept her alive for nearly a thousand years. Her daughter, however, was beautiful age one thousand and two with long way black hair and hazel eyes. She was innocent and had the immortality of a Lunarian. Astraios did not know what Lunarian gave her immortality. He knew that Susana was coming to the end of her days and soon Charisma would be left alone in this world.

Astraios walked into the tiny cottage that was filled with special herbs and roots. He grimaced when he saw a long snake slithering along the old wooden floor.

Susana was stirring a large steaming pot on the stove. She asked not looking at him, "Astraios, long time no see. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Astraios said, "My wife's sister returned from the land of the dead. She doesn't love me another and she is happy with another. I want you to make her love me again."

Susana said still stirring the pot, "She is happy Astraios. The love you shared with Elena died a long time ago .If you would have stayed or if she was having chosen to come with you, things may have been different for you too. But your destinies are no longer intertwined. When you married her sister, you forever broke any chance of a relationship with Elena."

Astraios said angrily, "And how was I to know that Selenity was going to be able to bring Elena back from the dead."

Susana interrupted, "It was not Selenity who brought her sister back."

Astraios asked confused, "What do you mean?"

Susana said, "Elena's purpose for being here has nothing to do with you milord. She has a higher purpose and that is why she was returned to our world. The Elena that you know and loved died a long time ago. Let the past die, Astraios or live eternity in misery chasing after a ghost."

Astraios said, "Susana, I did not ask you for your personal opinion. I want Elena to love me once more."

"Will you be willing to give up everything to have her again? Will you be willing to lose your family and the life that you have created?"

Astraios hesitated a moment then said, "Yes."

Susana said, "So be it."

Astraios walked out. Charisma hid in the dark corner of the room watching her mother and Astraios' interaction.

Back on their home Planet Venus, Richard was having a picnic on the castle's grounds with his wife and daughter Mina. She was chasing a butterfly around the yard. She was now two hundred years old. She had long blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. She looked like a mixture of the both of them.

Elena and Richard sat on the picnic blanket watching Mina. Elena smiled happily at her husband, "I cannot believe how beautiful she is growing up."

Richard smiled as he lied sideways on the picnic blanket and said, "Yes, she is. It's funny how two hundred years can fly."

Elena said, "I know. We are blessed with long life and we take it for granted the moments we shared with our loved ones."

Elena turned to her husband and said, "Do you regret your immortality? Do you ever wish you could have lived and died normally like a mortal?"

Richard said, "Well, sometimes it does sadden me that I have outlived most of my family. I watched people I've known all my life grow older, get married, have children, and die. The girls that were born the year that Mina was born are long dead by now and had lived long, full lives. Centuries will pass before Mina becomes a teenager. I had to step down from my crown and now my great-great-great nephew is now the king because my people think of the Lunarian gift of long life as a curse that defies nature. Apart of me loves my immortality, while the other part misses being normal and growing older."

Elena said, "Our immortality sometimes saddens me too. On the moon, it's no big deal but away from the moon, we see life go by so quickly. One year for us is a lifetime for mortals. Sometimes I wish I could be normal too."

Elena shared a smile with her husband. She turned away from him. She did not see Richard clutch his chest as he felt a pain near his heart. When she turned around, he looked so normal. She did not realize that at that moment his immortality was taken away from him.

Over the years she started to notice that he looked a little older. She noticed that his hair started to turn grey and his blue eyes started to become dull. She noticed that he started to gain weight in his midsection and started to shrink in height a little bit each year. After ten Earth years, she realized that her husband was mortal now.

She did not know how to turn him back into an immortal. Her powers would not allow her too. She even tried to consult her sister. Her sister tried and even with the power of the all mighty silver crystal, nothing worked.

Richard was now age forty while she still looked like a young woman in her early twenties. He asked to return to his home planet. Elena stayed with her husband and loved him. She cherished every minute that they shared together. Richard played with Mina was still only two hundred-years-old until he was too tired and old to play with her.

Elena started to take care of her aging husband as he became an elderly man. As he lied dying on his deathbed at the age of eighty in human years, she kissed her husband good-bye. She wore black as she buried him in the graveyard of kings and stood next to him holding her daughter's hand. Her heart turned cold as she walked away and boarded a space ship back to the moon.

When she arrived three months later, her sister welcomed her with opened arms. She did not notice the sinister smile on her brother-in-law's face.

He welcomed her home with a sympathetic smile. Yet, as his wife and sister-in-law walked off hand in hand, an evil smirk appeared on his face. He had Elena right where he wanted her.