You Belong To Me
Chapter 3 – The Melodious Song
To say Darien was shock that Amara would faint at such trifle news as his own marriage was understating it. He was rather slow to it all. One minute she was sitting the next she was falling. At first he had thought she was bending down to grab something but her rolled in eyes was what clued him on what was happening. If that wasn't shocking enough, Serena's graceful but fast reflexes amazed him greatly. One second she was sitting by his left the next she was by his right holding the fallen woman in her arms, her face filled with concern.
"Amara!" Lita's voice indicated that the servant woman was not far. She rushed over, snapping Darien from his gawking.
"It's alright, just spray cold water over her face." He directed, not many knew he had masters in medicine earned from Harvard University during his brief stay in the united state after his banishment from court.
Doing as her master directed, Lita rushed back to the kitchen and poured cold water in a plastic cup before rushing back. Anticipating that Lita would pour the water instead of sprinkling it, Serena grabbed a hold of the older servant's hand and stopped the motion of the glass tipping. She shook her head.
"Not a good idea. She's with a fever; such cold water would do no good to her." She said.
"What do we do?" Lita asked, normally she knew how to take care of fevers and cold but her panic was making her have amnesia on how to treat sick people.
"First you can snap out of the panic you're in. Darien, please lift Amara up to a room. We need her in bed and near a fire place." She said and he did. He lifted the fainted woman up as if she was a mere child and taking the left corridor from the parlor, he headed into the elevator. Lita reached it first, using the card key that was needed to activate practically everything in the house. Serena wondered why Darien had everything so secured and locked up, was he afraid of robbery?
The elevated deposited them on the second floor and Darien walked down the darkened hall way to a particular door painted in a particular cream color with the medical symbol of a stick with wings and two snakes snaking around it with their heads meet just below the round mound of the top of the stick. Lita opened it and entered the room in speed. She took out several white sheets from a side closet and covered the sick bed that was like a queen's bed. While she was busy doing that, Serena ventured toward the fire place to give a little heat to the room but the manuals of it confused her. She had never seen a fire stand so…complicated.
"It's alright, just press the red button on the black romote up there on top of the fire place." Darien said when he noticed her confusion. He had personally constructed the mansion he lived in, building it with advance technology and security for purposes that would protect him from the reaches of the family he was running away from. Nodding in thanks for his help, she did as was told. The fire started low but within minutes blazed up and began warming the room.
Darien put Amara on the bed that Lita had made and Serena took charge.
"Bring me hot water and a towel." She asked. And so from then and all through the night she wiped sweet off the older woman. She worked none stop until dawn when the fever finally broke and she collapsed by the bed, by this time Darien and Lita had both retired to bed by Serena's insistence.
Darien frequently got up to check on Serena and when he found her asleep sitting on the floor with her head on the bed, something in him softened. Her tired face looked more than just hours spent caring for Amara, Serena had her own demons she was facing. Suddenly his heart ached, he wanted her to trust him, to depend on him and open up to him.
He sighed. What have I gotten myself into?
He picked up his new fiancé and carried her to the silver room opposite his. That room he had made with the intention of it belonging to his wife, Serena may not yet be his but she was as close to his heart as any wife to their husband. His gentle ministration did not wake her from her slumber and he sat by her bed, gazing down on her soft pale face.
"What are you Serena?" he asked softly, running his hands down her cheek. She stirred lightly which made him paused before She unconsciously leaned into his touch. Her soft warm breath caressed his hand like a gentle breeze and he found himself unable to leave her side. Taking of his sandals, he scooted under the big blanket and pulled Serena close to him. He rested her head on his arm, surrounded her legs with his own and tugged her body against him as he put one hand around her. Then with a silent prayer that he wouldn't get slap or shot in the morning, he slept.
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In a secluded room in the mighty palace of the king of the United kingdom, six young men met to discuss the subject that was now sleeping soundly by his new woman.
"It's not fair to Darien." On of the men said.
"Yeah, tell me about it! But there is nothing we can do. We can't possibly go up against the king!" another agitated voice joined in.
"What are we going to do now?"
"We are going to make sure that Darien is ok, he has suffered enough as it is!"
"But isn't this for the best? I mean if he picks one of the women the king is sending him, he will not have to deal with the royals ever again!"
"Do you really believe that? No, father has picked these women for the purpose that they may drag Darien back so he might become his puppet! I mean think about it, Countess Beryl? Come on, you know how much she disgust Darien but everyone knows she wants the position of queen."
"Enough, I for one am sick of father's dictatorship. I am willing to risk all I have to make sure Darien gets the peace he deserves!"
"Yeah but how?"
"Well first of all father plans to shock him by sending the royal escort to him unaware, I will send him a letter to warn him against it."
"Do you think it won't be intercepted?"
"Not a chance because I am sending it with someone no one would suspect of betraying the king!" the voice was amused.
"Who!?" five of the men said.
"Kunzite."
"Ahhhhhhhhhh"
"Well we better get some rest; from tomorrow going we are putting our necks on the line." The first which had spoken stood up.
"Yeah, hopefully we are not making a mistake."
"Mistake or not we or at least I won't turn back on my decision."
"Count me in!" the men dispersed for their individual rooms except the lone figure of the shoulder length silver haired man who had devised the plan to send the letter to his brother. He took to the shadows, escaping the palace guards noticed and headed to the stable. He had already made arrangements with Kunzite, head of the army of the United Kingdom, so now all he got to do is deliver the letter. That was easier said than done since every shadow gave him pause. The king had been keeping a close eye on them and now even the guards were ordered to watch their movements. Silently he made his way to the stable and hid, awaiting the coming of the general. As he waited he reflected on his actions.
Years ago when Darien had been hurt and banished and his mother killed, he had been unable to protect the child he had loved like a brother though they both had different mothers. He supposed if it wasn't for the tragic passing of Lady Gaia and the kindness and love all the men had received from her, they wouldn't have cared much about Darien but they had. No matter the circumstance, Darien was their brother and they would do all they could to assist him.
This was not the first time they were bailing Darien out of trouble. When Darien presence had been noticed in Romania four years ago, the king had summoned the banish prince back into the palace with promises of riches and heir to the throne. Legally that was not possible since Darien was not the first child and that he had been born out of wedlock but the king had many times defiled many of the laws of the country to suit his own purpose. Hoping that Darien would be lured by the promises, especially after they all discovered that he had become a multi-billionaire and had been educated in Harvard University, their father wanted him on the throne more than ever.
Darien had without hesitation refused the offer, not attended to the kings calling and paid the king no attention. This had shocked the nation but as Darien was on the soil of a different country, the King's order had no effect on him. If he had been in the kingdom at the time, he would have been immediately put to death. Such was the severity of defying the king's orders. But the king had not given up, using the very laws he had so often times abused, he cornered Darien to a point where if the Romanian government did not give Darien up, it was a declaration of open war. Knowing the many lives that would be destroyed because of the bloody war the king would wage, Darien had finally given in. he had stayed with them at the palace for six month's and in all that time he never once smiled. Seeing the misery he had been in and the fact that he was under the mercy of their father, the brothers had banded together for the first time since the death of Darien's mother and fished through the book. Looking for any forgotten clauses that would free Darien. Of course they knew they couldn't act in open rebellion, so they had constructed a lawyer, sought the help of the elders whom were tired of their father's tyranny and together they had over ruled the king's power over Darien. Of course they had also sought help from Romania government officials whom had agreed to house Darien so long as the princes could keep war from breaking out.
With Darien's freedom, he returned to Romania but the smile of thank you he had given to his brothers had made them feel they had made the right choice. Of course their actions were not openly found out but they all suspected that their father had been told of their involvements because from then on he took his anger not only on them but on their mothers. The king had had twenty wives, among which were born many sons and two daughters.
This time not only were they risking their lives but they were breaking in open rebellion! They had had enough of their father; they would not allow him to have his way anymore. Besides, all the ladies picked by the king were whores and sluts of society whom were after money, position and power.
None of them deserved the son of the woman who had not been their mother but had loved all of them as her own children when their own mothers had only used them to gain favor with their father. Darien deserved so much more, he would make the choice of choosing whom he wants to spend his life time with; they will just make sure she is suitable and is good for him. They had to have a say after all, that's what brother's were for.
"Stop daydreaming!" a thick heavy voice said from behind the silver haired man and he jumped. He turned around sharply and let out a sigh of relief.
"Kunzite, Don't scare me like that again!" he said.
"If you are so soft of heart, I don't think you are ready to rebel against the king." The man called kunzite said. Like the first man, he had silver hair too but his was down to his waist. His eyes were the reflection of glacier, icy blue with strong looking jaw. He was a handsome man of about 30 though his looks hid well his age. He was well muscled and toned, with tan skin and rigid like a rock. At age twenty, he became the youngest man in history to receive the position of leader of the king's army. His quick wits and strategic mind had won them the impossible cold or death war against Great Britain.
"Sorry cousin, I haven't yet mastered my fears."
"Do you have the letter?"
"Yes, here it is." He handed the letter over to the older man.
"Is this really what you want to do?" Kunzite asked.
"Yes, it is what we all want to do. No matter what we will protect Darien." The short haired man said.
"Very well, I shall do my best to deliver it. So long then Diamond, stay safe." Kunzite uttered before exiting the stable. The shoulder length silver haired man named Diamond watched the retreating back of his cousin until he was gone completely.
"God speed Kunzite." He said and headed back to the palace as discretely as possible.
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Lita was the first to wake up. By six she was awake and in the kitchen. She had checked on the sleeping Amara and noticed that Serena's amazing care had defeated the tomboyish woman's fever and she slept soundly. With a smile of wonder, she proceeded to the kitchen to prepare their morning meal. As she worked, she sang a familiar song she had learned from none other than Serena back when they were mere children. Till this day, she could still remember clearly how Serena, a reject of society had done she could to keep her alive. At the time, Serena had been five and she had been seven.
"What are you grinning like that for?" Amara's strong voice startled her, but being used to such sudden shock of the system, she did not drop the bowl of flour she was mixing to make a cake.
"Morning Amara, how are you feeling?"
"God, I've never felt so much better in the morning. Thanks for taking care of me." the older woman said graciously.
"Oh no, I didn't." Lita said with a mischievous smile as she went back to cooking. Amara blinked at her.
"Darien took care of me?" she asked, looking down on her open up chest and having imaginations on Darien viewing what was her private belongings.
"No"
"Then who?" Lita did not answer. She began singing the song again.
"Please don't tell me…" Amara began.
"Then I won't but other than her the only ones left are the guards." Lita said and Amara groaned. She went back to singing.
By stars we are directed our destination
By destiny we know our course
By the moon we are not alone
By fate we will make it
Who can change the course of my choices but me?
"What a beautiful catching song. I've never heard it before." Amara said as she closed her eyes to enjoy the beautiful melody of the stirring song.
"Serena thought it to me." Lita said softly.
"Serena, that Serena!?! Just how long have you known her?" Amara asked in confusing. How long had Darien hidden this woman from her? Somehow the idea hurt her, to know her best friend would hide something so important.
"Yes Serena. We met when we were children…" Lita said as she sat the bowl of mixed flour on the table and turned to Amara to tell her the story of their encounter.
__________________________________________Flashback______________________________________________________
It was a cold Christmas day; the snow had piled very high on the ground and the horses ere locked in the stables for even they had trouble moving. At the time, there was a great depression and even the nobles were hit at some point but the commoners were without food and medical help. There so many dead bodies littering the streets, so many starving children and adults. But the nobles kept their own to themselves and watched coldly as those less fortunate suffered day after day with the snow as their only meal. On this particular cold December day when those of fortune basked in happy bliss, eating to their hearts content and those of misfortune sought shelter from the unreasonable of snow that had fallen, a little girl was lying down in the shadow of two tall buildings. Her breathing was haggard, she was almost as pale as the snow and her body shivered in compulsive coldness. The white of her eyes had spread to her normally green orbs, a sign that the little girl was dying. At this point she didn't care, she felt numb and in her head she was begging God to end her misery with death. As she closed her eyes, intending to sleep through her death, a soft hand touched her checks and warm breath blew gently on her. Her eyes which were the only active part of her flew open to stare into the sky that was captured in the eyes of one little girl.
"Are you ok?" the little girl asked as steam escaped her lips with her every word. The child on the ground though heard the question could not respond for her mouth was frozen shut.
"It's cold out here. Let's go to the Nanas place to warm up." The sky eyed girl said and bent down to lift her up. She found to her dismay that the frozen girl was much heavier than expected.
"If we don't get out of here we are going to freeze to death. Ok, you stay and I will be back soon." The girl said as she unhooked her scarf and put it around the girl. She then proceeded to take off her torn mittens and her coat and used it to wrap the girl on the floor, rising up clothed in only short skirt and turtle necked shirt, the girl rushed away.
The frozen girl on the floor thought she would not return but near twenty minutes later, the girl came back with two dogs, a white and a black and white husky Dog. Together they had carried the frozen girl who fell asleep. The next she woke up, she was in a small room covered in a fur coat. She realized that she wasn't cold anymore and that she was actually too warm. She was confused as to her surrounding but when she turned around; she saw the beaten form of the girl who had helped her. The blue eyes were closed but around the eyes were black bruises. Her body was covered in similar wounds with blood flowing. She wondered what had happened and if she was supposed to wake the girl. But when she turned around, she saw the gods staring at her and she froze in fear. They just watched her in curiosity a she backed up.
"Nice doggies oh." She said in a panic.
"Oh they wont hurt you." the blue eyed girl stirred and sat up and gave the frighten girl a smile.
"My name is Serena and these are the Nanas. The white one is just Nana but the other one Nana ell, meaning male nana." The girl said as she moved closer to the dogs who greeted her with tongue slurps on her face.
"Oh." They sat in silence as they didn't know what to say.
"Um…so what's your name?" Serena asked.
"Me namea Lita oh." Such was the tongue of the commoners. There was always an oh after every sentence and their names ended in a sort of mia.
"Lita, such a pretty name!" Serena said with a bright smile. Lita blushed as she gazed at Serena. Obviously Serena was of a high class family from the way she spoke but then why was she covered in bruises? And what had she been doing outside in that snow?
"I'm five years old." Serena said.
"Me sevien oh!" Lita said proudly to which Serena interpreted correctly as seven. As soon as she said that though, her stomach growled in hunger and she blushed.
"Stay here, I will get you some food." Serena had said and left the girl with the curious dogs. She ventured outside and saw she was in a sort of a shed, one that could easily be a house for an entire family of commoners but was used as a dog's residence. She shook her head at nobles' insensitivity and returned inside. She also noticed that it was night time meaning she had slept the whole day. The dogs' eyes followed her every movement. Inside they waited for Serena. An hour later she came with bread and cheese, hot herbal teain a flask and wrapped chicken wings.
"Here, eat." She said as she assembled the food in front of her but Lita noticed that she came back with fresh bruises. What was happening to the girl? Lita began to worry. As Lita ate, the girl talked none stop. Talking about herself, her family, and her friends and finally grilling answers out of Lita.
"So why were you in the snow?" Serena asked. From what Serena could understand of the commoner's language, Lita had lost her parents that morning as they had been among the victims of hunger. She had wondered around begging for food but no one offered her any. The cold had set in and she was tired so she decided to rest a little and that was how Serena had found her. After Lita spoke Serena was crying.
"I'm sorry." She said sadly.
"Me finea, mama had babey in tummy oh. Me no have me bra and sista to pay oh. Mama tummy big for twi oh." Lita said which roughly translated to, I am fine but my mother was pregnant with twins but now I won't have a brother and sister to play with.
"I am so sorry. Both my parents are alive and my siblings so I can't begin to understand what you are going through." Serena said. For a child of five, Serena was very wise and she spoke as an adult, not as a child. After Lita had finished eating and the hour had turned midnight, under Serena's instructions they sneaked into the huge mansion that was before them through the back door. They merged with the shadow until they reached some stairs and they descended down it to the basement. It was quiet in the basement, not a single thing stirred.
"Wat ar we doin ere oh?" Lita asked.
"This is the storage area. It is also where I sleep. I have this really nice room with bed and mirror!" Serena flushed her a bright smile and only then did Lita noticed the missing tooth and other broken ones. They entered into a room that was a replica of a slave's room. Lita blinked, why did Serena speak like nobility but lived like a slave?
"Isn't it pretty!?" Serena said as she climbed on her rock bed made to look soft by the dirty blankets. Lita did not know what to say. When she had had a house to live in back before the depression, she had always complained about it but this room was worse than the one she had to live in but Serena was not complaining. Not wanting to hurt Serena she had nodded and scouted next to Serena. The room had one tiny mirror on the wall opposite the stone bed and there was an old dresser on the side and a small mat on the floor. The walls were black and the only light came from a lamp on the dresser. How could anyone appreciate a room like this?
A knock came to the door. Serena began to shake with fear but when Lita looked at her in confusing, she swallowed her fear and gave a small smile of assurance. She got up and opened the door. Standing in front of the door was the most beautiful lady Lita had ever seen. Standing by the woman was a man, and four children, one of whom was a boy. They were finely dressed in silky night wears and their feet in fluffy warm sandals. A great contrast to Serena. Before any words were spoken though the woman struck Serena across the face and Serena backed down to the floor.
"Where the hell have you been?!" the man yelled.
"I'm sorry papa, I was with the nanas." Serena answered softly.
"You were with those dogs again?! I should sell them!" the man screamed.
"No papa!" Serena cried out in alarm
"If papa sells them it will be your fault!" the girl who was about Lita's age with black hair and purple eyes sneered at Serena.
"I'm sorry." Serena said pathetically. That was when they noticed Lita.
"Who are you?" The boy with sandy blond hair and green eyes asked. Lita just looked at them in horror.
"She is my friend. She just lost her parents today so I told her she could stay with me." Serena said.
"You filthy child! Who gave you the right to bring street urchins in this household?" the father kicked Serena to the wall and Lita cried out in alarm. She rushed to Serena's side and held her small body protectively. How could these people be the same people Serena had talked about earlier? She remembered Serena as she described her family.
"My mom is so beautiful. You know she has blue hair! Nobody but mother has blue hair. She has a very beautiful skin and she is very nice. Papa is very handsome too with brown hair and eyes. He is kind and always brings us presents. My sisters, Ray, Mina and Nehelaniah are very pretty too. Nehelaniah has mama's hair but hers is darker. We always play together. And you know Ray and Nehe are twins though they look nothing alike! My brothers are very handsome too just like papa. But my older brother Andrews looks nothing like papa but Sammy who is younger than me has daddy's looks. They are all so very kind. You will love them!" Serena had said to Lita not too long ago but the picture spoke more than Serena's fancies.
"Don't hurt my friend!" Lita yelled at them as tears fell from her eyes. These people were monsters!
"You get your filthy self out of this house!" the blond haired one who looked like Serena said with menacing eyes.
"Papa please let Lita stay! She can work and we will do good things." Serena pleaded and for nearly half an hour but her mother finally gave in.
"If she doesn't work she is out of here do you hear me?" she said.
"Yes mama."
"I'll work." Lita said grudgingly.
"Oh well tomorrow morning I want you in my room at 7 sharp to polish my shoes." Ray said and they all left laughing. Serena closed the door and for a few minutes lagged against it. She turned with a small smile on her face to Lita.
"I'm sorry about that. They were in a bad mood today." Serena said, making excuses for their behavior which shocked Lita more than anything that night.
"Wy dey mean oh?" Lita asked.
"You can speak like me!" Serena changed the subject smoothly.
"Ma pa wark for nobles so I lerned to spek noble tongue wen in der compinea oh." Lita said. Her father had worked for nobles so she had picked up ways of talking like them when in their company.
"Well let's sleep; there is a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Serena said and the two of them had cuddled together. When neither could really sleep, Serena began singing a strange and soothing song that had Lita sleeping in no time.
By stars we are directed our destination
By destiny we know our course
By the moon we are not alone
By fate we will make it
Who can change the course of my choices but me?
With faith I will look toward the future with rising hope of a better tomorrow.
________________________________________________End of Flashback___________________________________________
"I later learned why she was disliked by her family. It's because she had not been born with her mother's looks. Her mother prided herself and family on their looks but when her last daughter had turned out to be an ugly duckling, the woman had gone near insane. People had talked of their family being cursed and so she had blamed Serena for everything. The husband hated Serena because his wife was troubled constantly and they raised their children to reject Serena too. But Serena was so kind to everyone. She worked like a servant and was only showed as family of theirs when they try to make an impression. Of course they worked me to the bone too. One day they beat Serena so bad that she went missing. When I went out to search for her I couldn't find her. Then I met Darien's mother who learning of my suffering took me to live with her. I never saw Serena again until two days ago when she came here looking for Darien. The song I was singing was the same song she sang for me that night we first met. Often times when things got so bad for us, when were given no food to eat, when I was so angry I want to kill her siblings, she would sing the song. I never learned the whole song but the little she taught me, I sing it when life gets tough for me. It helps to remind me that I had survived a childhood nightmare, I can survive anything else and where I go is now my choice." Lita finished recounting her story and they both signed.
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Darien woke up at seven. Serena was still asleep in his arms and the sight of her flushed face warmed him. She looked just like a child, so defenseless. He didn't want to move from her warmth but he knew he had to get to work. Slowly he extracted himself away from her. Making sure she would not wake. Though her face scrunched up in displeasure of the heat he had taken away.
He had decided to go down and check on Amara but when he got to the room, she had not been there. Hearing a slight noise in the kitchen he went in that direction. When he got there Lita was singing a beautiful song that seemed familiar to him. He had made to great but Amara had asked about the song and wanting to know why it had sounded familiar to him he had been quiet. Lita's story however shocked him. He had known that Serena hadn't been well liked back when they were kids but he had not expected that she was actually beaten! Then he remembered why the song was familiar to him. He remembered that the afternoon his mother had brought Serena to their cottage, Serena had tried to teach his mother the song.
Now he had a vague idea of Serena's past. The woman who was sleeping in the same bed he had occupied in the night knew more pain and suffering than anyone. The thought made him pause; such a strong desire to shield her overwhelmed him. He pushed himself against the wall to hold himself up. It didn't matter anymore what motives drove Serena, he would protect her, make her happy and do all in his power to provide her with everything she wanted and needed. She had suffered enough, he won't add to her suffering. With this new determination, he headed to his room to freshen up. His heart felt lighter and at ease. He knew that there were many obstacles they had to clear before they could safely be together but Serena would not fight alone, he would be by her side through out the whole ordeal. He wanted Serenity and Endymion's passionate love. Serena had said it was possible to relive it, he was going to make sure that he and her both lived a life of passionate love that would rival that of the mythological couples!
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