Chapter Twenty-Four
The Shields
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
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Two days later, Serena rode in the back of a taxi to a countryside villa on the outskirts of town. She would love to say that it was of her own freewill, but it was really Mina kicking her out of her hotel suite. After saying good-bye to Raye at the airport, she found herself wandering through the streets of Barcelona that night in her evening gown holding herself. She did not notice the prying eyes staring at herself like she was crazy. She was lost in her thoughts and afraid and reluctant to meet Darien. She'd rather face the devil than meet with Darien again. Yet, she knew it was time and she could no longer procrastinate any longer. Time was not on her side and Judgment Day was only months away. She ended up at Mina's hotel suite in the early hours of the morning. A sleepy-eyed Jason answered the door clad in a white beater and boxers. She could tell Jason was not too pleased to see her even though he pretended he was. She could hear his frustrations as she eavesdropped on his conversation with Mina in Mina's bedroom as she crashed on the sofa that night. Jason lied in bed embracing Mina who placated his worries. After two days of listening to Serena talk herself in and out of meeting Darien, Mina kicked her out and informed Serena that a taxi cab was waiting downstairs to take her to Darien's home. Serena protested but Mina ignored her as she personally escorted a disinclined Serena down to the elevator to the lobby and into the taxi speaking in bad Spanish as she paid the driver enough money and extra to take Darien's home. Mina blew Serena a kiss good-bye then texted Jason that Serena was gone. Jason smiled happily when he received the text during rehearsal.
Serena thoughts ended when the driver turned right into paved driveway hidden behind the green forest. As she rode along the long pathway, she gazed in awe at the roll of gigantic tall hedge trees trimmed neatly on both sides of the pathway. She could see a couple of Spanish workers on tall ladders trimming the hedges. Serena's mouth gaped open as she stared at the beautiful hilly green pastures decorated with beautiful white, red, and purple flowers and saw a gigantic villa sitting lovely and strong several feet away along the long path. The driver came to the end of the driveway and circled around a marble fountain in the center with two stone shaped cupid angels with the backs against one another. Their arrows pointing towards the sky as water sprouted from their mouths. Behind the villa was a sapphire blue crystal clear lake surrounded by the forest in the distance.
He parked behind two white vans. Serena stepped out of the taxi thanking the driver as she slowly closed the door behind her. Serena hesitated as she looked at the beautiful house in front of her. Her palms were sweaty and her heart racing in anxiety. She could hear the driver pulled off behind her. She turned around and a part of her wanted to chase after the driver and ride away back to… She was not certain of where. She watched the yellow cab drive off until she could no longer see it. She turned back around and formed a tight fist with her hand.
Serena slowly walked up the stone stairs of the villa that looked to be several decades old. She nervously rang the doorbell. In a nervous gesture, she ran her hand over her short brown hair. She wore a light blue shirt and jeans and flats. She hid her essence so that Darien would not know that she was Serena. Darien had the uncanny ability to know that it was her regardless of her disguise. She tried to fool him many times over the years. She asked him once how was he able to see through her disguises. He laughed as he revealed to her that her aura gave her away. Maybe being Alex was not such a bad thing. Their marriage had been rocky and they could not agree on anything without an argument. Serena wondered now that she looked like someone else maybe he would listen to her. She would get her answer soon enough as she heard footsteps approaching the door.
An elderly Spanish woman in her seventies opened the door. She was a short, stout woman with a round face and wide hips. Serena assumed that she was the maid since she was dressed in a maid's uniform.
The woman greeted her in thick Spanish accent. Serena understood her perfectly. "I am here to see Mr. Darien Shields."
"Do you mean Master Endyimon Shields?" Serena arched an eyebrow. Why was he calling himself Endyimon now? Serena snorted internally knowing Darien probably thought Endyimon sounded cooler than Darien with the title of master.
"Si."
The woman informed her that Master Endyimon was not home, but Mrs. Shields, mistress of the house was there. Before Serena could decline, she pulled into the house and escorted to the main hall. She ducked out of the way as she saw two construction workers in hardhats passing by her holding up a long ladder on their shoulders. There was dozen of them all over the home going in and out of the house. She could hear hammering, jackhammering, the sound of the sound of the saw, and the laughter of men chattering in the local lingo as they worked.
She stared in awe as she gazed around at the gigantic walls of the villa that were spacious and opened and decorated with some of the finest art in the world. She gazed at the ceiling that was made of glass as the sun shone directly in the illuminated the room with daylight. Serena spun around when she heard footsteps. Serena watched as someone came down the long curvy marble staircase. Serena looked up to see it was Karen coming down. She watched as Karen held the banister as she slowly descended the stairs. Her long fiery hair and her makeup were flawless. Not one strand was out of place. She looked cool, elegant, and posh in her off the shoulder cream-colored blouse and white linen pants and matching sandals showing off her pretty manicured feet. She was wearing a sterling silver necklace reading MOM encrusted with diamonds and matching diamond studs in her ears. Serena was upset that this woman was happily living her old life. But she was more pissed off when she noticed the ring that Darien gave her on their eighth wedding anniversary was on Karen's perfectly manicured fingers. She had it soldered on with her wedding band. It fit her perfectly.
A smiling Karen greeted her as she held out of hand in a way to show off her ring. Serena unenthusiastically shook Karen's hand.
Karen said to the housekeeper, "Gracias Marissa." She gestured for Serena to followed her in the sitting room. Karen said as Serena followed behind her, "Excuse us for the ruckus, we're redecorating." Serena wanted to die inside. "Thank you so much for coming here to apply for the nanny position."
Serena froze. "I am-"
Karen interrupted her as they sat down in the sitting room at a small round table next to a large picture mirror that showed an exquisite view of their massive backyard of a beautiful green and flowery landscape and tall trees that extended for miles. "What is your name?"
Serena reluctantly answered automatically, "Alex Green."
Karen smiled. "What a pretty name!"
Serena thanked her. Marissa brought in a tray with two cups of coffee and cucumber sandwiches as Karen interviewed Serena. She asked her a series of questions like if she liked kids and what were her qualifications. Serena found herself in a state of confusion as she answered them. Thirty minutes later, she was offered a job as the children's nanny to Karen's delight. Serena had no idea why she accepted the position.
Karen stood up. She said, "Well, I will have to call the agency and do a background check to check your credentials." Serena smiled weakly. She knew that she would not be there long enough for the background to finish. "Well, I have to meet with some of my friends tonight. My husband is currently out of town."
The world underneath Serena crumpled. She questioned weakly more to herself than Karen, "Husband?"
Karen laughed. "Yes, we married two years ago." Karen continued to gush on about their wedding but Serena did not hear her. She was upset with Darien. She knew that he remarried, but it still shocked her to know he belonged to another woman now. After eight years of marriage, he married this new woman within months of their divorce. He gave Karen the engagement ring that he gave her on their eighth wedding anniversary. He did not even have the decency to invite his daughters to his wedding or let any of their friends know he was getting married. Had she become that worthless to him?
At that moment, Serena hated Darien Shields more than she ever hated him in her entire life. Her heart grew cold to him as his had grown to her. If he cared that little about her, then she would do the same to him.
Serena looked at Karen still talking about Darien. She could hate Karen until hell took over the earth, but it was not Karen's fault that her marriage was over. It was her fault. Karen did not steal Darien from her. She gave him away by her indifference towards him. She was jealous of Karen for having Darien and her old life, but she could not fault Karen for taking Darien away from her. Her hatred was purely towards Darien.
Serena smiled again. She had not heard one thing Karen said. "How lovely! Your husband sounds like a wonderful man."
Karen blushed. "He is so wonderful. I have never been this happy in my entire life." Karen placed a hand on Serena's shoulder. Serena spent the next five minutes listening to Karen babble on and on about how wonderful Darien was, and all Serena wanted to do was shut her up and say, "Yes, I know. He was mines before he was yours." But she restrained herself and kept a tight smile on her face.
Karen soon finished and led her out of the room. "Come on! Let me introduce you to Derrick our son."
Serena wondered why she did not say children since her daughters lived there too. "I thought you said you had children."
Karen laughed lightly. "I do. Derrick is my son with my husband and the girls are my stepdaughters from my husband's previous marriage. Their mother died four months ago and we took custody of them. They are with their father right now."
"He's spends a lot of time with them separately?"
Karen smiled. "Not a lot but he does try to spend time with them individually."
"Like when he took you and Derrick too see the musical Les Miserables?"
Karen stopped walking. Serena stopped. She worried about Karen's quietness. Karen asked, "How did you know that my husband took Derrick and me to see the musical Les Miserables?"
Serena had to think of something very quickly. Karen was looking at her now with suspicious eyes like she seriously questioning hiring her. Serena said the first thing that popped in her head. "I went there with my boyfriend a couple of days ago. I saw you there in the box seats with a man and boy. I'm assuming that the man and boy were Mr. Shields and young Master Derrick." Karen gave Serena a suspicious stare like she still questioned her story.
Karen said as the tension calmed down, "Okay, you're a fan of Les Mis…"
Serena nodded. "I loved it. It's one of my favorite novels."
Karen smiled. "I enjoyed it too. I'm not really a big fan of musicals but my husband wanted to go because his friend Mina Aino starred as Èponine."
Serena gushed acting like a fan girl, "Oh my goodness, I did not know that Mr. Shields was a friend with the actress Mina Aino. She was amazing as Èponine."
Karen looked at her bored. "She's an okay actress." Bitch, Serena thought. "I mean she plays the same character in everything she does." Karen could tell that Serena was not pleased with her response. She added for good measure. "I supposed Society was okay, but she was playing herself. Now, Jason Hunt, he was hot."
Serena smiled. She hated that Karen blatantly insulted her friend's acting ability, but she needed to get on good terms with the Shields in order to tell Darien the truth and get the hell out of there. Serena pretended to not be offended. She said, "Yes, he is eye candy…"
"And he could act too…" Serena laughed as Karen continued talking. "Too bad he is marrying that dumb blonde Barbie with the big breasts."
"Huh?"
Karen looked at her silly expression. She laughed, "Since you are such a fan girl, you should know that Jason Hunt and Mina Aino are engaged. It's all over the news."
Serena smiled. She was not used to someone blatantly talking ill about Mina. She could not forgive herself if she did not defend her friend's name. "Well from the millions of dollars she has made over the years, her awards, the recognition of her acting ability, her millions of fans throughout the world, and the millions of dollars her movies still make at the box office, I think many people will beg to differ with you."
Karen was not pleased with Serena's response. "I guess so. Let's continue on with the tour." Karen turned around flipping her hair over her shoulders. Serena smiled as she continued to follow her.
Karen gave Serena a tour of the home. Serena moved out of the way as the workers paraded throughout the house fixing up the old foundation of the home in the east wing of the villa as Karen dictated orders to the workers in Spanish. She saw the girls' room. Serena smiled at the size of the room which was the size of their living room in Los Angeles. The large white room had hardwood floors surrounded by windows and two twin-sized beds on opposite side of the room facing each other with matching miniature white furniture including student desks. The room was neat and tidy. At the far end of the room, there was a large play rug which was surrounded with toy chests that Serena knew were filled with toys. When she asked Karen why the girls shared a room in a house with a dozen rooms, Karen explained to her that it was the girls' choice. Katie wanted to sleep with Rini, and Rini was fine with it. Serena smiled. It seemed the older her children got, the closer they became. Rini really acted like the big sister protecting her little sister.
Karen slowly opened the door to Derrick's room. The child looked content on the floor playing with his Lego blocks. His room was painted blue with a small twin-sized bed that matched his eyes. A student desk with a laptop closed on top of it. Her room looked very neat and cleaned unlike her daughters' room. Serena saw that he inherited his father's meticulous style for detail and cleanliness. His Lego blocks looked like a small masterpiece of the city of Barcelona. Serena could tell the child was very gifted; probably a genius likes his father.
Karen cleared her throat, "Derrick. " Derrick stopped playing with his blocks. His innocent big blue eyes shot up and eyed his mother and the strange teenaged girl in the doorway standing next to her.
Karen smiled. "This is Alex. She will be your nanny."
Derrick looked sad and indifferent. He went back to his playing blocks. A twinge of worry for the boy crept in Serena.
Karen sighed as she glanced at her child. As they walked out, she said, "He's been through a lot lately. It's a long story." Serena nodded.
Karen said, "I'll show you your room in case you get the job." Serena smiled.
Karen showed Serena a small room down the hallway not too far from the children's rooms. It was a nice cozy little room with a full sized bed and half-opened windows as the wind blew the white thin blinds. It was had a relaxing atmosphere.
Karen soon left while Serena spent the day with a very reserved Derrick as she watched him build his building blocks. He hardly spoke and she said things to try to make him laugh. After spending hours with her, he found himself talking. She won him over when she disappeared and reappeared before him. He was upset that he was having troubles mastering his powers. His sister Rini was getting better and better at her power. Over the last two years, his father hardly spent time with him. He only spent time with his mother, because he felt guilty for abandoning his other family. Darien constantly yelling at him then apologized. Serena was so happy to find out that Derrick and Rini still communicated telepathically with one another for the two years they were separated from one another. Sometimes when he was sad, she would teleport to spend the night with him. When he woke up, she was always gone. Sometimes when his parents argued, he would teleport to her room. Serena wondered why she always heard a boy's voice coming from the girls' room. When she came in, they had guilty expressions on their faces. Serena automatically glanced around the room and saw no trace of another person being there. It made Serena somewhat pleased that the children still communicated with one another. She was also amazed at what you could find out when people think they are talking to a complete stranger.
Things were better now that the girls were there. Darien became a better, happier father to Derrick. Most importantly, he spent time with him. Sometimes he would spend time with each of his children individually. Other times they would spend time together as a family. Right now, the girls were out of the country with their father, which sadden Serena. She was looking forward to seeing her daughters again. Derrick became happy when Serena agreed to help him master his powers.
May
A month had passed and Serena still had not seen Darien. He was always gone when she woke up or had some type of fancy party or dinner to attend to with his new wife. He had no interest in seeing her. She was the hired help.
Two weeks after her arrival, she heard a car pulled up in front of the house. Serena crawled out of bed and peeped out the window. It was a large black limousine. A driver walked out dressed in a dark suit and hat. He opened the doors and escorted two girls with strawberry blonde hair out of the limousine and backpacks on their backs. Serena pressed her hands against the window as she lit up seeing them again. They were taller. Katie lost her baby fat. Both of their strawberry blonde hairs were longer. Rini wore her hair in two pigtails while Katie wore her hair down. Katie looked taller like she had growth spurt within the last few months since her funeral. She saw Darien emerged from the limousine. The girls embraced their father. He picked Katie up in his arms as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The chauffeur strode to the back of the limo and grabbed the luggage out of the trunk of the car. Darien walked up the stairs. He was embraced by Karen dressed comfortably in a blouse and hip hugging jeans. He leaned down to kiss Karen as they engaged in a light conversation smiling at one another. Karen's eyes lit up as she hugged an excited Katie told Karen about her trip. Derrick ran downstairs to greet Rini. Whatever he said excited Rini and they ended up racing in the house against Darien and Karen's displeasure. Serena smiled sadly at the scene. Karen had taken her place.
Darien strode in his house pulling an eager Katie down. Katie ran off. Darien said sharply, "Katie…" Katie cringed as she froze.
She said apologetic, "Sorry daddy." She walked up the remainder of the stairs.
Marissa greeted him in Spanish, "Welcome home Master Endyimon."
Darien greeted the maid in Spanish with a kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad to be back. I cannot wait to try your cooking."
Marissa beamed as she handed him the morning newspaper, "I'll cook one of your favorites for supper."
Darien laughed. "Excellent!" Marissa smiled walking outside to help the chauffeur.
Karen followed Darien to the west wing of the house. He was heading to his study. Karen said, "Alice and Fredo invited us over for a dinner party tonight. Do you want me to confirm it or not?"
Darien walked into his study as his wife followed behind him. Karen closed the door behind her. Darien said, "I am kind of beat tonight baby."
Karen smiled. "How did the girls enjoyed spending time with their grandparents?"
Darien smiled, "They enjoyed it very much. Rini spent most of time hanging out with her friends Sarah and Josh. Irene and Ken send their best."
Karen smiled. She arched her eyebrow. "And what about their father?" She was quite aware of the mischief that Darien and Andrew got into together. Darien told her plenty of stories about his wild adventures with Andrew back in their college days.
A devilishly grin appeared on his face. "I was on my best behavior. I played golf with Ken at the country club and sat around with his friends as they bragged about their wealth. Then, I went on a fishing trip with Andrew and a few of our friends from university. You can call Lita or Irene if you don't believe me." Karen laughed lightly in a sardonic tone not believing a word he said.
He neglected to mention the details of his time with Andrew while the kids had a sleep over at Lita's. They caught up with some of their old friends from college. All married with children and working conventional jobs wanting a break from the monotonous grind of their lives. They lied to the wives that they were going on a fishing trip. In actuality, they painted the town red getting wasted, going clubbing, dancing with college girls, and getting lap dances from strippers in the back of shady strip clubs. They recovered from the hangover by spending the night at a hotel then coming home to their wives talking about how much fun they had fishing with their friends.
Karen mentioned casually, "Oh, I found a new nanny for the children a couple of weeks ago. Derrick likes her."
Darien walked behind his desk unbuttoning his jacket. He looked down at his desk glancing at the bills and memos he received while he was away. "I thought I told you we did not need one. Derrick and Rini are going to boarding school in the fall."
Karen walked up to him. "Darien, they do not want to go. They want to stay at home with us, their family."
Darien glanced up at his wife. "I understand Karen, but I want the best for our children. This is the best solution for them. Plus, we checked out the school and you agreed that their programs were extraordinary."
Karen said, "Darien, the children are all together and they are happy. Katie and Rini are starting to warm up to me after losing their mother only four months ago. Derrick is happy again." She pleaded with her husband. "Our family is whole. Don't separate them."
Darien looked at Karen. He could tell there was more to her desire to keep the children there than she was letting on. He admitted that their marriage started off badly. He felt guilty for choosing his family with Karen over Serena. He unexpectedly lashed out at her. He put them through hell. When she upset him and kicked him out of the house, he went to other women and alcohol to comfort him. He always came home begging her to take him back. She always did. Rini was right. It was Karen that suggested that the girls come to stay with them after finding out about Serena's death. Ever since they came, things improved. The girls were still adjusting and he was happier and so was Derrick. He knew Karen probably feared that he would return to his old ways if they left.
Karen said, "After four months, the girls are actually warming up to us. And now, you choose to do this. It's too soon, Darien. Let's give the kids another year together, and then we'll look at schools again."
Darien mocked her, "And then a year after that, we'll be having the same discussion. I am looking out for the best interest of my children."
Karen snapped back, "So am I. You are going to spend time with your children and be a father to them whether you like it or not." Darien frowned at her. He had no idea how feisty she was until after he married her. She never took his bullshit and she was not afraid of him.
She looked at him with angry blue eyes. He walked around his desk towards his wife. She did not back down as she looked up at her husband. He slid his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. He said, "Okay then until next year." Karen smiled. She knew he meant they could stay. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.
Katie walked into Derrick's room in amazement. Her long strawberry blonde hair blew around her. Derrick was at the center of the room surrounded by a small tornado spinning his toys in the room. Rini looked amazed as toy monkeys and stuffed animals danced in the air around them. Derrick smiled as he moved his hands around amusing his sisters. A male doll and a female doll bowed in front of one another as they began to dance together.
Katie could not believe her big brother could do that with so much control. Derrick stopped and the toys all went back to where they belonging on shelves, in corners, and in toy chests. Rini said, "That's amazing Derrick. Who taught you that?"
Derrick said happily, "The new nanny. Her name is Alex, and she has powers like us. We just can't tell mom and dad."
Rini said stunned. "I can't believe dad hired a mystic. " Mystics were those who had magical abilities. Their father hardly allowed them to use their powers. Rini and Katie received more training living with their grandparents than under their father's roof. The two years after their mother left because she was fugitive of the law, Lita and Andrew continued training them along with Sarah and sometimes Josh. Since they left Tokyo, they had not used their powers in months. Two incidents occurred that made her father unyielding in this rule.
The first incident was teleportation. Anyone caught possessing supernatural abilities were to be reborn was one of the twenty laws of Dragon. Their father forbade them from teleporting. He encouraged them to be normal. When he caught Rini disobeying his rule to spend time with Sarah shortly after her mother's funeral, he threatened to find an enchanter and bind her powers for all eternity. Rini became angry but she knew that her father was serious with his threat. She never teleported again.
The second incident happened shortly after the first one. Shortly before Katie's sixth birthday, a youma appeared out of nowhere and broke into the mansion. Apparently, Rini had used her powers trying to impress Derrick with her skills. A youma sensed her presence and broke into the mansion that night when everyone was sleeping. In stealth mode, he appeared over Rini's sleeping body. As he reached to touch the sleeping child with his claws, he heard a scream. He turned around to see Katie screaming with the covers to her chest. Rini woke up and jumped up. She screamed her sister's name when she saw the creature holding a kicking and screaming Katie. Darien jumped up in bed sensing his daughters were in danger. Karen woke up to see her husband throwing the covers off of him and sprinting out of the room. She chased after him as he ran towards the girls' room. Derrick was already standing there in his blue and white striped pajamas. He was struggled to open the locked door.
He yelled, "Daddy, it's lock!"
Darien shouted angrily, "Stand back."
Derrick ran over to his mother who held him tightly in her arms.
Darien's eyes blazed a golden hue as a powerful bolt of energy blasted through his hands
busting the door open. A powerful hurricane like wind burst through the room. Darien yelled as he covered his eyes with his hand, "Karen, get Derrick out of here!"
He saw Rini screaming as her tiny hands held onto the headboard of her bed. Her body floated above the bed. Everything was being stuck into a portal. The bed slowly moved towards the portal. He looked around for Katie but could not find her. "Where's Katie?"
Rini cried, "The boogeyman took her into the portal." Darien panicked as he saw the portal
rapidly growing smaller and closing as it sucked in everything into the black hole. He quickly thrust his hand forward pulling Rini towards him. Rini screamed as she fell out of the room into the hallway next to Karen and Derrick. Darien raced into the room. The door quickly slammed shut and the wind stopped. Karen rushed to the door and opened it. She looked around and saw that the room was empty. Nothing was in it, not even her husband. She looked at the area where the portal was and saw nothing but a blank wall.
Darien landed in his knelt position in a dark, fiery world covered with lava and molten crust. He moved his eyes from side to side trying to sense his daughter's presence. He heard her scream coming from off the dark cave ahead of him. He raced through it. He shouted out her name. She cried out for her father. Darien transformed into Prince Endyimon as he raced through the caves. He raced down the caves until he came to the edge of a cliff that stopped. Beneath him was a river full of slow moving, bubbling lava. He looked across the cliff and his eyes narrowed. He stared several feet across from him into the familiar face of Dr. Rick Thornton. It was not really him but someone disguised as him. He was red armor and cape. On his head was a golden crown adorned with twelve red rubies.
Darien asked, "Who are you?"
Rick Thornton said, "The one that's been fucking your wife." Darien was shocked when Serena appeared next to him. She was dress sexy in a red halter top dress and with a sweetheart necklace exposing her cleavage. Her blue eyes were hard and devoid of any emotion. Her golden hair was in a braided updo and on her head was a crowd with twelve rubies. Rick placed a hand around Serena's tiny waist. He grinned. "Or should I say ex-wife." Darien diverted his eyes when Rick kissed her.
Had Serena died and went to hell? Were her sins so bad? Was this his fault?
Darien turned back to them. Serena was dead. Katie was still alive. He had to save their daughter even if her mother was now a demon.
Darien said, "I want my daughter."
Rick laughed breaking away from kissing Serena. "She isn't your daughter, Darien. Why do you care what happens to the little brat?"
Darien gritted his teeth. "Because I brought her into the world and I raised her. So she is my daughter. DNA does not matter."
Rick laughed. "I wanted the other one, but my stupid youma picked up the wrong one. Good help is so hard to find. Serena…" He kissed her neck causing Darien's skin to boil. "Kill him."
Serena answered, "Yes master…."
Serena leaped up in the air towards Darien. Darien hesitated at a moment watching her come towards him. He did not want to fight her, but he had to save Katie. Darien leapt up in the air taking his sword out of his sheath. A double edged sword appeared in Serena's hands. Their swords clashed with one another as they engaged in combat. Serena overpowered Darien with her attacks. He went into defense mode simply blocking her.
"This is pathetic, "a male voice said. Darien frowned as he struggled against Serena who already drew blood by slashing his arm. "At this rate she is going to kill you. Let me take over."
Darien said telepathically, "I have it."
"You have nothing. She is kicking your ass. This is a distraction. They are about to kill your daughter. Let me take over."
"What do you care?"
"Darien allowed me to take over." Darien let go and allowed Endyimon to take control of his body. Serena became terrified when she sensed a powerful presence take over Darien. Endyimon grinned, "Hello Serena…."
Serena frowned and charged towards him. She gasped as blood came through her mouth. She looked down to see a sword thrust through her stomach. Endyimon was behind her. He took out his sword. She fell hundreds of feet into the lava. Rick looked down as she fell past him into the lava.
He looked upwards to see Endyimon staring down at him from the sky. Endyimon said, "Serena would never want someone as evil as you. You can clone her until hell freezes over."
Rick laughed, "Don't worry. I have her daughter to appease me. They grow up so fast."
Endyimon frowned. "You really are a sick bastard, Dragon."
Endyimon disappeared.
Katie screamed as she was surrounded by youma creatures in a red rocky area with a red and orange hue to it. She clutched her throat as a dark energy swirled around her. She cried as the creatures surrounded her with wicked smiles on their faces. She gasped as she fell to the ground. Her blue eyes turning dark as she felt a dark energy take over her. She closed her eyes. The dark energy wrapped around her body like a spider's web. Her hair flew out of their pigtails and started to grow a couple of inches longer. Her legs and arms became longer.
The youmas screamed as a blast of golden energy destroyed the youmas. Once the youmas were destroyed, Endyimon's boots touched the ground. His eyes glowed golden and the dark energy evaporated. Katie's nude body lied unconscious on the ground. She had outgrown her clothes and aged two years. Endyimon took off his cape and knelt down wrapping the girl's body with it. He scooped the girl's body in his arms. His golden eyes clashed with Rick's dark ones.
Rick said looking at the girl, "One of the females of the Lunarian bloodline will be mine. If I cannot have the mother, I will have one of her daughters."
Endyimon's temper flared. "You will never possess any of Serenity's children."
Rick laughed. "Fine, I won't age them. I can wait until they are legal. One of Serena's daughters will come to me willingly and I will make her mine for all eternity." He grinned at Endyimon. "Both have been corrupted in their own way, eh Darien." Darien growled guiltily knowing what Rick was referring to.
Rick smiled down at Katie. He said to Endyimon, "I suggest you leave. The desire to kill you is increasing." Endyimon frowned. "You were powerful enough to kill my youma, but your power is no match to mines. Now get the hell out of my house before I kill you. She's so much like her mother, don't you think."
Endyimon frowned. "I will kill you, Dragon. Count on it." Endyimon disappeared.
He reappeared back in Katie and Rini's room. Karen and the children rushed over to them. Endyimon returned back to his normal attire and allowed Darien to take back control of his body. Katie groaned in her father's arms slowly awakening. The children slept in their bedroom that night. Katie did not remembered what happened or why she was two-years-old. She was excited that she was going to get her powers soon. Darien was more worried about what Rick said about his daughters. He had to protect them.
The next day, Darien found an enchanter, a friend he met while aboard in Africa. Karen and the children were out preparing for Katie's birthday. They all wanted to stay with Katie. They were worried about her. He told him that she was going to be fine, and having a great birthday party will make her feel better. When he still could not convince them to leave, he gave them his credit card with an unlimited balance and told them to buy whatever they wanted. The three of them stopped worrying about Katie and quickly left out of the house before Darien realized what he just did.
Katie lied asleep in one of the guest bedrooms. Her father had mixed a sleeping potion in her cereal. The little girl had been asleep for hours.
Darien invited the enchanter to his home. The enchanter, a powerful sorcerer, teleported to Darien's home and blessed the home casting out evil spirits from crossing the protection of his estate. The enchanter informed him that the spell to return Katie to her normal age could not be reversed. His daughter was touched by the devil. On her sixteenth birthday, she will grow up to marry the devil and bear the Anti-Messiah.
Darien asked the enchanter, "What can I do to stop this?"
The enchanter asked, "Has she made her birthday yet?"
Darien shook his head. "No, it's in a few days."
The enchanter said, "Strip her of her powers both Lunarian and Elysian. Make her completely normal. The devil only desires her because she is one of the last of the Lunarians. Lunarians are the ultimate good. The devil is the ultimate evil. To combine these will create an abomination. If you remove her powers, she will no longer be desirable to him."
Darien said, "There is a chance that she is not Elysian."
The enchanter touched the sleeping child. He turned to Darien. He said, "She is of Elysian descent. She is a descendant of the Earth King." Darien smiled. She was his daughter.
Darien said, "Then do what you have to save her?"
The enchanter waved his hand over the sleeping child's body. "Are you sure Darien? I sense a great power from this child. She will grow to be a powerful warrior like her mother and a great defender of your kingdom. Are you sure? Once I removed her powers, she'll be completely normal. It's irreversible."
Darien stared at her daughter. He knew that she wanted nothing more to than to be a great warrior like her mother. She boasted constantly about turning eight and being more powerful than her siblings combined. She wanted her powers and he was taking that away from her. If she ever found out, she would hate him for all eternity. Not giving her the choice to decide whether she wanted to keep them or not. Serena was dead. He was her only parent now. She was his responsibility, and he would protect his blood by any means necessary.
Darien thought of Rini. If he removed Katie's powers, Rini would be the new target. Darien asked, "And what about Rini's powers, her Lunarian ones?"
The enchanter said, "She already has her Elysians powers. Once an Elysian heir has their powers, only the Earth king can strip them away with the power of the golden crystal like your father did to you in your previous life as Endyimon. But I can take away her Lunarian powers. She'll no longer be a target of the devil either. However, by doing this, you are ending Serenity's bloodline. Your daughters will no longer be Lunarians. No other generation will possess the powers of the Lunarians. By doing this, the Lunarians become extinct."
"But if I do this, the devil cannot use my daughters, the last of the Lunarians, as a carrier of the Anti-Messiah. Dragon's plan cannot come to be because the Lunarians, the ultimate good, is extinct."
The enchanter nodded. "You are correct, Darien."
Darien looked at the enchanter. He said firmly, "Do it. You have my blessing." He looked down at the sleeping child. "Forgive me, sweetheart." Darien watched as the enchanter cast a spell a golden yellowish glow appeared around the child. The symbol of the crescent moon and the earth appeared on her forehead. Darien took a step back as Katie's body ascended from the bed as her powers slowly departed her body. Rini clenched her chest as she panted for air in the back of the car heading towards town. She tried to call out for help, but she could hardly move and no words came out of her mouth. Derrick and Karen sat in the front with the music playing loudly as Derrick chanted nonstop with his mom about something.
Rini felt part of herself dying as her body began to glow golden yellowish. Katie slowly descended to the bed. The symbol of the crescent moon and the earth faded from Katie's forehead.
The crescent moon and the symbol of the Earth appeared on Rini's head. The symbol of the crescent moon faded from Rini's head leaving only the earth. It slowly disappeared also. A soft moan escaped Katie's lips. Rini's body started to calm down. She was confused about what just happened to her. Derrick turned around offering Rini candy. The look she tossed her brother made him quickly turn back around.
The enchanter turned to Darien. He bowed, "It is done." Darien nodded thanking the enchanter. The enchanter bowed then disappeared.
Darien lied in bed that night with a guilty conscience. A guilt that would live inside of him for the rest of his life. Karen groaned waking up. She could tell that something was bothering her husband. He was restless. "What is it, Darien?"
He said firmly, "Nothing." He turned off the light and went to sleep.
A few days later, Darien threw Katie's the biggest party ever for an eight-year-old. She was surprised to see her grandparents along with her Uncle Sammy and the inner scouts and their families. He invited Karen and his friends and associates to the party. There were clowns, magicians, a spacewalk, a rock climbing wall, a live band playing the latest pop music, and the circus which Katie really enjoyed. She still had a love for animals. She already decided that she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up. The children were really enjoying themselves as they ran across the lawn playing games.
Darien stood in the corner happy that Katie was enjoying her birthday. He nodded to the enchanter casting a spell brainwashing everyone into believing that Katie was eight-years-old now. He did not know how to explain how his six-year-old went from turning six to eight overnight. He decided to brainwash everything like he saw Rini from Crystal Tokyo did with her Luna P ball. The only difference this time was that the spell was permanent. Katie went from waking up ready for her sixth birthday party to rushing across the lawn in her princess costume telling how father how much she was enjoying her eighth birthday.
"What the hell did you do, Darien?" Darien became nervous. Did someone know what he was doing? He turned to see Lita standing next to him with a paper plate with birthday cake on it. "I only do grand gestures like this for Sarah when I am extremely guilty."
Darien laughed uneasily. "Nothing, just wanted to do something special for my little girl. I haven't seen her in two years. Her mother just died." A guilty expression appeared on Lita's face and quickly disappeared. Darien did not catch it. "I wanted to do something special for her."
Lita smiled placing a comforting arm on his arm. She said sincerely, "You're a great father, Darien. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Darien thought Lita was acting weird. As a matter of fact, all of the Sailor Scouts were acting weird and walking on eggshells around him. Were they hiding something from him? Lita quickly walked off like she was afraid he would see right through her lies. Darien was not worried about the others. He was concerned about Katie. She was happy today playing with her friends. Andrew approached him with Zayden in his arms. Zayden reached for his Uncle Darien. Darien picked up the boy and played with his godchild making silly noises. Andrew asked him if he could take off time to come home and officially christened his godson since he missed out on both of his weddings and the birth of all of his children. Darien was honored that Andrew wanted him to be his son's godfather. Darien joked that he could have been one of his daughters' godfather if he would have picked up the damn phone and let people know where he was. Andrew laughed and agreed with Darien's point.
Their attention was drawn to the sound of an elephant. "Look daddy!"
Everyone looked in shock. Katie was riding on top of the elephant. The elephant was enormous to Katie's pintsized body.
Darien said, "Oh"
Andrew said, "My"
Karen said, "God"
Katie bent down and hugged the elephant. Something scared the elephant and causing it to stand on its two bottom feet moving up and down. Katie fell off. She tried to flip off but her coordination was off. Something was weird. She had been doing gymnastics effortlessly since she was four. She crashed on the ground spraining her ankle and hitting her head. The elephant started to fall over. Everyone froze horrified as they fear the elephant will fall on the small child.
Darien held out his hands. Ami held out her hand freezing everything except Darien. Darien silently thanked her. Ami smiled rushing over to collect a frozen Katie. Darien's eyes started to glow as he stabilized the elephant steadying it. He slowly calmed the elephant down with his mind. His eyes returned back to normal. Ami unfroze everything. Everyone was shocked when they saw that Katie was gone and getting check out on the side by Ami. The elephant was not falling. It fell back on its feet and calming down.
A sense of relief fell over the crowd when Katie regained conscious a minute later. Ami and Darien took her back to the main house. Darien urged everyone to continue having fun. Katie was fine. Karen took over as hostess.
Darien placed Katie down in her bed. Katie felt strange. It took her father about twenty minutes to get her to her room. Her ankle should have healed by now. She knew something was wrong. She had not received her powers yet and now her ability to heal quickly and do cool flips was gone.
Katie asked worried, "Daddy, what's wrong with me? Why am I not healing?"
Darien sat on the bed next to his daughter embracing her in his arms. "I don't know, sweetheart." Ami stared at the father and daughter duo as she stood next to the bed. She did not buy Darien's bull and knew something was up. She watched as Darien comforted his daughter by telling her that it may take a while for her to get her powers, giving the child false hope of a day that will never come. Katie was pleased with her father's explanation. She trusted her father more than anything. He smiled as a golden aura surrounded his hand as he touched her sprained elbow instantly healing it. Katie quickly embraced her dad. "Thanks daddy." She gave him a kiss on the cheek before running off of the room return back to the party. Ami definitely knew something was up now. Darien would never blow their cover like this. Returning a child that nearly died who clearly had a concussion and sprained ankle to a party only a moment after healing her.
Darien smiled at his daughter's happiness. He easily lied to her. He knew she would hate him if she found out the truth. Now, that he knew that she was really his. He did not want to lose his daughter's love. He could not tell her that he took away the thing she wanted the most.
"What did you do Darien?"
Darien looked at Ami. She did not look pleased with him. He asked, "What?"
"You're not acting like yourself. I could tell that you're lying to your daughter. What the hell is going on? The government is dangerous. Sending Katie back outside so quickly is sending red flags to them."
Darien frowned at Ami. He did not know why he confided in Ami, but he did. "I striped Katie of her powers." He knew why. He was worried that she would alert the rest of the scouts of his strange behavior.
"What!"
"She's completely normal."
"Why the hell would you do that? I could understand if she did not want them, but Katie wants them more than anything. How could you deny your child this?"
Darien walked over to the door and closed it so no one could over hear them. "The devil sent one of his minions to kidnap one of my daughters last week. I think he was meant for Rini, but Katie screamed awaking the entire house. He took Katie through a hell portal right in this room. The devil wants one of my daughters to marry him and bear the Anti-Messiah. Since Serena was the ultimate good, and he is the ultimate evil, he wanted to create an abomination. Now, that Serena is dead. That left only Rini and Katie." He fought to say the next part out loud. "He tried to age Katie to a child bearing age so that he could rape her and impregnate her with the Anti-Messiah." Darien said furiously. "Last week, my daughter was turning six now she is freaking eight. He aged her two years. He took away two years of her life." Ami looked horrified. Darien stared at her. "I did what I had to do to protect my daughters."
Ami nodded. "So they have no powers?"
Darien said, "Katie is completely normal. Rini still has her Elysian powers only the Earth king can take them away from her since she already had her powers."
Ami pitied Darien. She saw the hurt in his face. He knew he made a tough decision. A decision that if they ever found out. His daughters may never forgive him. He needed his daughters' love no matter how tough he chose to act. His children made his life worth living. He loved Karen and Derrick, but Katie and Rini were a creation of pure love. The more they grew, the more they resembled their mother.
There were round white tables set up under large tents outside. Karen sat at a table holding Zayden in her arms as she fed him homemade ice-cream. Lita, Irene, Mina, and Ami sat at the table with her while Eddie, Andrew, and Darien were conversing over a beer by the barbecue grill. Ken chatted with them but only drank water since his wife was staring directly at him and the doctors informed him that he could no longer drink alcohol. It amazed her how closed Ken and Darien had gotten since Serena's death. They were more like father and son now. They regularly chatted on the phone with one another. Ken loved bragging with his friends that his son was a doctor. Sammy and Darien got on good terms also. Once Sammy saw that Darien was a pretty good father to his nieces, he apologized. His college girlfriend dumped him shortly after his sister's funeral. She wanted to dump him for a while, but his sister's dying threw things out of whack so she politely waited until after the funeral. He was now a second-year law student and spent his time at the party flirting with some of the Darien and Karen's single female friends. They came from wealthy families and Sammy was on the lookout for one of them to pay off his student loans and to hook up with.
The girls wanted to hate Karen because of their loyalty to Serena. But she was so damn likable and she made Darien happy. Her son Derrick was likable also and well behaved. Every time he visited their homes, he was so polite and well mannered, but it did not hurt that he was just so handsome. He got away with a lot because of his looks. Karen gushed over Zayden.
She said playing with the giggling baby enjoying the attention, "Oh you're so cute. I can't wait to have another one of these again. Darien and I have been trying." There was a collective silence over the group that was oblivious to only Karen. Their eyes stared at each other. They had all recently found out that Raye and Serena was not dead. They knew where Darien lived and Serena was still reluctant to see her children or see Darien. Irene scolded her about it expecting her daughter to get on the plane or teleport and see her children, but Serena remained in Tokyo stuck as Alex. All of the girls agreed that Serena should be the one to tell Darien about Judgment Day.
Karen laughed breaking up the tense silence, "I doubt that Darien wants to have another child, but you are too cute." She nuzzled her nose against Zayden's button nose. She looked at Lita and impishly begged, "Can I keep him?"
Lita laughed. "You can have him." Zayden laughed as Karen cradled him in her against her chest.
Irene smiled as she watched her granddaughters happily running around with the other children. They were having a blast. Sammy was flirting with girls he had no chance with. Darien and Ken were on good terms. The girls were happy, a complete one eighty from how sad they were when they left Tokyo. They kicked and screamed like social services were taking them away instead of their dad. Now, the entire Shields family was happy. Irene knew it would work out that way. Irene commented, "Karen, your family looks at peace."
Karen smiled glancing at her husband then her children playing. "They are. We're very happy here. The children are getting along when they aren't trying to kill one another." The girls laughed.
Irene smiled. "And what about you and Darien?"
Karen smiled as she watched her handsome husband from across the lawn. "He's happy too. The girls were exactly what we needed to make our family complete." The girls smiled. "He needed Serena's presence." The girls looked confused.
Karen laughed. "I know that Serena is always going to be Darien's first love. She will always be on a pedestal that I or no other woman can reach. She is gone and all he has let of her is those beautiful little girls. I get it." One of Karen's affluent friends motioned her to come over. Karen handed Lita the baby then excused herself.
Once she was good distance away, Mina asked, "I wondered if she was still going to feel the same way once she finds out about Serena."
Lita laughed, "I get it, my butt. What woman really wants to compete with the ex-wife?"
Mina said, "Serena is a threat to her. If Serena wanted to, she could get Darien back."
Ami said, "She cheated on Darien."
Lita said, "Darien is hot. Women throw themselves at him all the time. I bet you a million dragoons that he has cheated on her. Serena could not have been crazy and paranoid." Irene looked amused as she watched the bickering match amongst the girls about Serena and Darien's relationship.
Ami turned to Irene. She asked, "Mrs. Tuskino, this has to be tough for you. Serena's your daughter, but you bonded with Karen. She loves you like a mother."
Irene smiled. "Let fate decide girls." The girls groaned in agony. The girls were unaware that Karen had heard everything they said.
Ami glanced over at Darien. She sat on the bed next to him. She looked at him. She said, "Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell."
Darien smiled in relief. "Thanks Ami." She nodded. She kept Serena's secret that she was still alive. Now, she was keeping Darien's secret that he removed Serena's powers from their daughters forever. They were no longer Lunarians.
Back in the present time, Derrick said, "I think mom hired her and she is now upstairs convincing dad to keep her." Rini smirked. Karen always did things that she wanted and knew Darien would not approve of. Yet, she usually got her way in the end. She seriously hoped that Karen convinced their father to not send them away to boarding school.
At first, she did not like living with her father and his new family. She despised her brother because her father chose him over her. She hated that Derrick was a boy and wondered if she was born a boy would her father love her more, would he have still left. Over the years, she could not hate her brother, especially since she could relate to him. Her father was putting Karen and Derrick through the same hell that she went through with her parents. The same thing that was happening to her mother, was happening to his mother? She wondered if the problem was really her mother like everyone suggested.
Karen went through the same hell with her father as her mother did. Her mother constantly accused her father of cheating. Her father reminded her of a discarded child craving the love of a callous mother who favored another child. No matter how mean and indifferent she was to him, one smile or one kiss, or the simplest sign that she cared and he belonged to her once more. There was a time that he dismissed other women's advances. He soon started flirting with them because they made him feel young, wanted, and desirable. Things that his wife made him questioned about himself. She would love to say that her father never crossed the line. Well, there was one incident that she hardly remembered.
She was three-years-old and her mother was out of town at some art convention with friends.
Rini woke up to the sound of woman's laughter one night. She slowly tiptoed out of her room and down the stairs. She stopped midway when she saw her clearly drunken father with his head tilted back on the sofa and his eyes closed. Stacey, her mother's friend, sat on the floor with her head in her father's lap. There were two wine glasses on the coffee table and an empty bottle of wine rolling around on the floor. Her mother's name escaped her father's lips as he took his hand and grabbed the back of Stacey's head pushing it up and down. Her father opened his eyes. When he saw that it was not her mother, he pushed the woman roughly off of him quickly adjusting his clothes. Stacey landed flat on her butt. He picked her up and dragged the crying woman to the front door. Stacey cried that she loved him and Serena did not love him. Her father threatened that if she told anyone of what transpired tonight, he would end her career. He kicked the woman out of his house and slammed the door shut in her face. A horrified expression appeared on Darien's face when he turned around and looked up the stairs to see Rini staring at him. Rini quickly raced up the stairs and back into her bedroom. She hid underneath her covers hoping it was a bad dream. Her father walked in her room a few minutes later. He sat on the bed next to her and slowly peeled the covered off her face. He apologized and told her that he made a mistake. Then, he realized that he was talking to a three-year-old. He explained to her that it was a game that adult play sometimes and not to tell her mother about it. Rini nodded. Darien leaned down and kissed Rini's forehead. He tucked her in and walked out of the room. It was the last and only time they talked about the incident.
Her mother was extremely insecure and paranoid. Her father was irritated with her mother because she did not worship the ground that he walked on like every other woman. Rini did notice that her mother never looked at her father the same way other women did. Making her think that he was having multiple affairs was his way of getting back at her. The only downside of his plan was that her mother never seemed to care. Her only problem was why he was keeping her instead of divorcing her to be with these other women. After Katie's birth, things started to improve between them. They did not argue as much. Her mother no longer talked about getting a divorce. When they found out about Derrick, it was the end of their long, miserable marriage. Rini was not shocked when her father finally left. He was miserable with her mother. Nothing he did seemed to please her. With Karen, he was happy.
Her mother was a bitter woman after the divorce, always speaking ill of her father. She overheard her grandmother and mother talking one night. She found out that the breaking point in her parents' relationship was when her father found out that Katie may not be his. Her mother had cheated on her father. Derrick and Rini both knew that their father loved them, but Katie was his heart. He loved telling them how he delivered her with his bare hands, how he saved her from nearly dying at birth, and how he was the first person that she saw when she came into this world. It warmed Rini's heart when she realized that her father continued to be a wonderful father to Katie even after finding out that she may not be his.
Rini wondered sometimes if her mother ever really loved their father or did she loved the convenience of being with him. After finding out about Katie, Rini became nicer to her little sister just like she did when she realized that it was not roses and sunshine for Karen and Derrick either. She became nicer to her brother. Rini found it strange how the bad things can sometimes bring people closer to one another.
Katie walked over to her siblings. "I cannot wait to get my powers." Rini smiled at her sister even though she realized that her sister may never get the powers that Derrick and she had. Rini thought her sister was normal until the night she watched along with Sarah and Lita as Katie started to glow using her Lunarian powers as Andrew started to disappear. However, Katie did not remember that night and had not been able to use any of her powers since.
Katie said, "I wonder if she can teach me how to awaken my powers." Derrick and Rini smiled.
Derrick said, "Sis, we told you. You will get them when you turn eight-years-old."
Katie pouted. "I am eight-years-old, and I still have not received them."
Derrick and Rini looked at one another not knowing what to say. Rini turned to her. She said reassuringly, "The year isn't over yet."
Katie said upset, "You received your powers around your birthdays. My birthday has passed and I still have not received them." Katie looked at her brother and sister. She became upset afraid that she would never get her powers. She could not read thoughts. She could not move things like they could. She could not even teleport. She could do nothing. She said angrily, "I'll never get my powers." She ran out of the room slamming the door behind her.
Derrick moved to go after his little sister. Rini placed a hand on his shoulder stopping him. "Let her go."
Derrick said worried about Katie, "But she is upset."
Rini said, "There is a chance that she could never get her powers."
Derrick could not believe that Rini was saying such a thing. "You said that you've seen her use her powers two years ago."
Rini retorted, "Yes, and now I know better. Lita explained to Sarah and me once about spirits taking over a person's body. That may have not been Katie. Someone was using Katie's body to stop Andrew's spirit from moving on. He was dying."
Derrick asked, "Then who could it have been?"
Rini sighed. "If I had to guess, I would say that it was my mother."
Derrick became quiet. "I feel bad for her."
Rini said, "Me too, but she will eventually have to accept that she may not come into her powers."
Katie ran down the hallway not paying attention to where she was going. Serena saw Katie running passed her down the hallway. Katie ran into a room on the east wing of the house. She closed the door behind her and hid in the darkness of the closet. She got on her knees with her ankles to her chest and cried in her arms.
The door of the bedroom closed. Then, the door of the closet opened as a light slowly shined in the dark closet. A young woman she never saw before knelt before her. Katie slowly lifted up her face wet with tears.
The woman smiled warmly at her. She looked like a teenager and boyish with short brown hair and big green eyes that were too big was for her small face. The girl said, "Hey kiddo, why are you crying?"
Katie cried, "I cannot tell you why."
The girl said, "You can trust me. I promise I won't tell."
Katie sniffed. The girl prompted. "Why are you crying?"
Katie cried, "Because I am ordinary and my brother and sister are extraordinary."
The girl laughed. Katie stared at her strangely. Why was she laughing at her?
The girl said, "You are very special, little one. Just because you do not have this extraordinary trait that your siblings supposedly have, it does not make you any less extraordinary than they are."
Katie said, "But I did not get my gift on my birthday like they did."
The girl smiled at Katie. Katie instantly warmed up to her. Katie asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Alex. The new nanny."
Katie's eyes widen. "You're a mystic. You helped Derrick become stronger with his magic."
Alex placed a finger over her lips. "Shhh….don't tell your father. I was warned that he become very upset if he catches you all using magic." Katie smiled as she saw the hint of amusement behind Alex's big green eyes.
Katie's face lit up. If she could teach Derrick to harness his powers better, then maybe she could help Katie get her powers. Alex looked at her with warmness like she could read the little girl like an open book.
Alex said, "I'll do my best if you promise to stop crying in closets." Katie nodded her head quickly as she wiped away her tears. The children instantly warmed up to her since she helped Derrick control his powers. Her daughters did not recognize her, but they enjoyed spending time with her.
Darien and Karen enjoyed the same high society lifestyle that Serena used to enjoy with him. They were gone most of the time. If Darien was not working, he was off to some charity event or party mingling with the Elite with his wife Karen by his side. A couple of occasions, they invited some of their Elite friends and colleagues back to the villa for dinner parties, but neither Serena nor the children were ever invited. Karen often came to check on the children and was pleased to find out that they were all happy with Alex as their new nanny. The children were happy with Karen since she convinced their father not to send Rini and Derrick off to boarding school in the fall. Serena became jealous when she saw how affectionate her daughters were with Karen and how their eyes lit up every time Karen entered the room. She temporarily became oblivious to her daughters standing off to the side with a fake smile plastered on her face as the children told Karen about their days being careful not the mention the parts where Alex taught them how to harness their powers. The girls called Karen by her first name. Serena did not know how to respond when Katie asked her one day as she combed her daughter's hair if it was okay to call Karen mom since her mother was dead and Karen was her new mother. Serena did not know how to respond to that question. She was hurt that Katie even brought it up. She simply told her to do what felt comfortable to her.
JUNE
Serena took advantage of the absence of Darien and Karen. When the school year finally ended for the children, she started taking the children on the outskirts of the property and teaching them how to use their powers. Derrick and Rini both possessed the power to move things with their hands and eyes. Katie sat under the shade of a large pine tree in a woody area as they trained. She did not want to train with them because she had no powers.
One day, Serena had Derrick and Rini practicing moving objects with their hands. Serena walked off to the side. She glanced over at Katie, who was sitting under a tree playing with a stuffed giraffe. It was not just any giraffe. It was Serena's toy when she was little. Katie must have taken it with her when they moved to Barcelona from Tokyo. Serena sat down on the ground next to Katie.
Her back was against the tree. One leg cropped up to her chest while the other stretched on the ground. She placed one arm on top of her knee as she watched Rini and Derrick tried to block each other's attack with their powers. Rini had better control over her powers than Derrick, but Derrick was getting stronger and more confident in his ability.
Katie played with her giraffe. Serena listened as Katie had a pretend conversation with the giraffe that she nicknamed Mr. Giraffe. They were on a mission to search for buried treasure. Serena stifled back a laugh. She cleared her throat interrupting the make-believe conversation. Katie and Mr. Giraffe turned their attention to Serena. Serena grabbed Mr. Giraffe out of Katie's hands and sat him against the tree. She questioned, "So are you always going to sit on the sidelines playing make-believe with Mr. Giraffe while your brother and sister fight?"
Katie looked up at Alex. "What do you mean?"
Serena looked at Katie than over at Rini and Derrick. Derrick dodged Rini's attack. Rini charged towards Derrick knocking him off his feet. Derrick fell to the ground but got up and continued fighting.
Katie watched her brother and sister fight as Alex spoke. "Just because you don't have powers like your siblings doesn't make you less special than they are. You don't have to have a power to be a superhero. Ordinary people do extraordinary things every day. They do what they can, with what they have, to make the world a better place. So don't sit here feeling sorry for yourself."
Something had happened to her daughter that Serena could not put her finger on. She knew that she was not crazy even though she was incognito in her daughters' lives for two years. She knew that Katie should have been six and not eight like everyone said. She asked her friends and family, and they all concurred that Katie was eight-years-old. She called her mother about Katie's birth certificate and Irene told her that it stated that Katie was born two years earlier than she thought. She even called the hospital where Katie was born and spoke to Dr. Westley. He confirmed too that Katie was born two years before she thought Katie was born. He quickly hung up with her. Lita and Mina confirmed the same thing. The only person she could not ask was Darien since technically she was supposed to be dead. She looked at Katie. Maybe she was crazy. Katie looked like she was around eight and she was much taller than Serena remember. She sighed. Maybe one day she could ask Darien about it.
Katie whined reaching for Mr. Giraffe, "But I don't have any powers. I may never get them." Serena grabbed the giraffe holding it out of Katie's reach. She sat it down behind the tree.
She turned back to Katie. "So what?"
Katie cried upset, "But it's unfair. My mother was one of the most powerful warriors in the universe. My father has extraordinary powers along with my brother and sister .Why am I the one left out? I have neither of my parents' powers. I cannot be ordinary in this family. I don't want to be." Serena sensed that the girl was completely normal, which she found strange. Serena stopped Andrew's spirit from moving on to the otherworld by using Katie's body as a vessel. She felt her daughter's Lunarian power. She felt her dormant Elysian powers awaiting her eighth birthday to be awakened. She sensed that her daughter was going to grow up one day and become a powerful warrior who rivaled the powers and skills of her sister. Yet, she sensed neither Lunarian nor Elysian powers inside of her daughter. Neither did she sense Rini's Lunarian powers. If she was not so in tune with her daughters' essences, she could have easily been fool. But she was. She knew that Katie had great power inside of her because she felt it when she took over Katie's body. Something was off that she could not put her finger on. Maybe one day she could ask Darien about that too.
Serena said in a nonchalant tone, "Then don't."
Katie asked, "What do you mean, Alex?"
Serena said, "Accept that you may never get your powers and master the skills that you have. Like you are an excellent fighter and you are quick on your feet. That's great traits for a warrior to have."
Katie said, "Sailor Moon was a great warrior…"
Serena smiled. "Sailor Moon lost her powers once."
"What?" Katie said in disbelief. Serena nodded.
"Yes, she lost her powers after fighting a youma. She could no longer transform into Sailor Moon, but do you think she quit fighting because she lost them?"
Katie smiled. "No, my mother told me that she never ran away from her fight. She would try to protect those who she loved even if she lost her powers and could never be Sailor Moon again."
"Exactly." Serena poked Katie on her belly causing Katie to laugh.
Katie smiled. "That's a great story and all, but Sailor Moon gets her powers back." Serena rolled her eyes.
"You are such a tough little critic." Katie laughed as Serena ruffled her hair and pulled her into a bear hug. Serena then got up and went back over to Derrick and Rini who were on the verge of killing one another. Derrick's attack had knocked Rini on the ground and now Rini was trying to kill him. Serena was unaware someone was watching them.
Over the next few days, Katie joined her siblings in their training. Serena smiled at her and helped Katie with her fighting skills.
A week later, Marissa informed Serena as soon as she strolled back into the house with Derrick that Master Endyimon wished to see her. Serena was nervous about seeing Darien again. When she first came, she thought she was going to tell him about Judgment Day then leave. Now, that she saw her children and even bonded with Derrick, she was reluctant to leave.
Serena climbed up the stairs and to the west wing of the house where Darien's study was located. The large thick door creaked open and Serena slowly entered the dark chamber with the eerily light seeping through the small cracks of the thick curtains as the only light. She gently shut the door behind her. Serena studied the room she never entered before since she never been to the west wing of the house before. The room was gigantic and reminded her of the dark corners of a state library with the brick walls. In one corner, there was a large fireplace with a silver mantelpiece on top of it with photographs of his wife Karen and their children. Three of the walls were filled with books. At the far end of the room were an antique desk and a large black chair behind it with two oak chairs in front of it. Behind the desk was a roll of floor lengths windows covered with thick dark curtains from end to end. There Darien stood with his back towards her in a dark green three piece suit with his hands clasped behind his back. His head was bowed as if he wanted to prolong seeing her.
He slowly turned around and stood slightly disappointed when he saw an average petite teenaged girl with freckles and short brown hair and big green eyes standing in front of him. She was not what he was expecting to see. A part of him thought it was his ex-wife. He could tell when she was in disguise because she always kept the same aura. Yet, the girl who looked about eighteen or nineteen did not have that aura. She wasn't his wife. He meant ex-wife. He still had to get used to the idea that Serena was not his wife anymore. Karen was. More importantly, he had to get used to the fact that she was dead. He was so used to them dying and coming back to life, that the idea that she was really dead was so surreal to him.
When he saw her coffin, it became real to him that she was dead. He felt so guilty about her dying and he took it out on his wife and son.
When he received his divorce certificate, he felt a sense of dread instead of relief. He felt weak and still wanted his wife even though he was miserable in their marriage. He still loved her. He married Karen and she was wonderful. But she wasn't Serena. He did not realize that fully until Serena's funeral. He found himself arguing with her over the stupidest things. They made love and it was wonderful, but never as wild and breathtaking as it was with Serena. He had not spoken to his daughters in two years at the time of Serena's death. He figured they hated still him. He hated himself so much that he could not be the father he wanted to be with Derrick. He felt like being there for Derrick meant he was abandoning his daughters. He remembered the way Rini spoke to him the night of Serena's funeral. The best thing that Karen did was convinced him to try to bring the girls to live with him. She told him that she refused to be with him if he was going to continue acting crazy as he was acting .He knew if he saw Serena again, he would probably never want to leave. He had to get her out of his system. She was dead. She was not coming back. The girl simply stared at him like she was trying to decipher him.
He strolled around the desk to greet her. He spoke in Spanish which she clearly understood. He leaned against his desk with his arms folded.
He stared at the girl. It was obvious that she found him desirable as she simply stared at him like the love struck teenager she was. He did not think she realized that she was staring at him like that. She was not his type or anyway nearly as attractive as the women he bedded but there was something endearing about her that puzzled him.
Darien spoke breaking the silence. "So you are the new nanny?"
Serena nodded. "Yes, Mr. Shields."
Darien said, "I looked over your credentials and they are quite impressive." Serena looked confused. How did he get credentials on her? Why did she have a sneaking suspicion that Raye was behind it? Raye and Andrew were the only ones that knew her plans. He confirmed her suspicions by adding, "My friends Andrew and Lita Furuhata recommended you highly. Andrew said that you were once the nanny of his children Sarah and Zayden." Serena weakly smiled.
Darien continued, "My children seem to like you a lot. They talk for hours about you to our housekeeper Marissa." Serena smiled. "And your name is Alex…"
Serena interjected, "Yes, sir. It's Alex Green."
Darien asked, "Is Alex short for something else?"
Serena quickly added, "Yes, Alex is short for Alexandra."
"I see." There was a slight uptight look on his face that worried more than confused her.
Darien turned to her with angry eyes. "Who do you work for?"
"I don't-"
"You're not human. I know that you have powers." He leaned off the desk and stood in front of her. She stepped back. "Tell me who do you work for or you will not make it out of this room alive." His eyes glowed golden and she could hear the sound of the door locking behind her. Serena gulped.