Chapter Forty-One
The Curious Sarah Kino
Thanks for the awesome reviews for the previous chapter! Here's the next chapter of Ever After. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
Days had passed since the incident in Endymion's chambers. Serenity had moved out of the king's chamber and moved into her own chambers, which was the Endymion's mother Queen Susan's old chambers.
The sunlight illuminated her room and Serenity brushed her long silver hair sitting down in front of her vanity mirror. Endymion banged his fists against her chambers' door. She had one of the witches of Elysian cast a spell banning his presence from her chambers. She could hear Endymion shouting and begging her to let him in to explain. She ignored him as she continued getting ready for the day.
Endymion walked away in defeat. It's been days since he saw her. She's been locked in her chambers ever since the night of the ball. She performed her duties as queen from the privacy of her chambers. She even met with members of the government in her quarters to discuss new policies that she wanted implemented.
Endymion ate alone at their dining room table since Rini and Derrick had returned back to school the day after the ball, and Katherine was hardly there focusing on her top secret assignment. He had no idea what he did wrong. That night was a blur to him. She told him that he broke his promise to his family for the last time and they were over. He found out about a law to abolish their marriage, but he immediately shut it down once one of his advisors informed him of the secret meeting after the ball. How could they abolish a union blessed by the gods?
He was completely confused. He had not touched any alcohol in the fourteen days since they were married. The ball was a blank to him after he danced with his wife. Henry informed him that he disappeared and never returned to the ball. He was found naked in his chambers. Henry was displeased with the king even though he tried to act indifferent as he helped his master get ready for the day. Henry liked Serenity. Everyone liked her. Derrick adored his new mother very much, and she now hated her husband punishing him for doing something that he did not remember.
Back in his dorm room at school, Derrick sat on the bed with his back pressed against the white concrete wall. His eyes were red from reading Sarah's letter.
Dear Derrick,
I am sorry to write you this letter on your birthday, but I cannot prolong this anymore. I have no desire to be your friend Derrick. You're my past and I will be forever thankful for what you did for my father, but I don't want to feel obligated anymore to be your friend since saving my father's life caused your mother hers. I know that you like me and desire me as more than a friend, but I don't see you as that. You're always going to be Rini's little brother to me and nothing more. I wish you well in life, and I truly hope that you have a good birthday, but I am happy with my life and my boyfriend and I don't want you apart of it. Please forgive me for the cruelty of this letter, but I would feel worse to lead you on. I know that we will probably meet again like at Aunt Mina's wedding and other events that our parents forced us to attend, but whatever you thought we had is over. Good-bye Derrick and let's pretend that last year never happened.
Sincerely,
Sarah
She acted uninterested in him at the ball. She told him that she no longer wanted him in her life in her letter. She felt obligated to befriend him because she felt bad about possibly being the reason he could not save his mom the day she died. How could she be so selfish? She has a good life and he was completely miserable pretending to be happy for the sake of his sister. All he wanted to do was talk to her and remember a happier time in his life before his mother died and his life went to shit. Derrick bawled the letter up and tossed it in the trash. He jumped off his bed and opened up the top drawer of his desk and tossed all the letters she ever wrote to him in the trash. He fell back on his bed and placed his elbow over his eyes as tears rolled down his face.
Sarah lied in her bed sideways with her hands tucked underneath her face. Her back was turned from the door and her eyes were red. She could hear the sound of her little brothers and sister running around in the hallways. Her mother waddled to her daughter's room wearing a maternity dress with an apron on top. She nagged, "Sarah Jane Kino, get your lazy butt out of bed. I did not raise a princess. I will not have you lie here all day." Lita looked at her pathetic daughter crying over a boy whose reputation was as loud as his father's. Her boyfriend Rein was a good boy. He respected his parents. He went to church every Sunday and he knew how to respect a woman. That is the type of guy that she needed not some prince who was going to sleep with her then dumped her. "Sarah, he's only a guy. They only want one thing. Once they get that, they leave you hurt after you gave them a part of you that you can't get back. You have a good boyfriend and a full life ahead of you. Leave the Shields family alone. There is no happiness there. Now, come watch your brothers and sisters for me. I have to run over to the shop."
Sarah sniffled hoping that her mother was wrong. Derrick was not like his father. He seemed like a good guy. She heard rumors of how crazy the Shields' family was. The father was a raging alcoholic who screwed every woman he saw. He abused his children. Katie ran away to get away from her crazy father. Rini was broken and the king hated his son. She heard rumors of Queen Serenity too. How she was the devil's whore and fornicated with different demons, men, and women. People loved the queen and despised her at the same time. She was wonderful as Serenity, but horrible as Alexandra giving birth to the Anti-Messiah. Sarah's parents had isolated themselves from the royal family and only associated with them when deemed necessary. Her father and the king were once best friends. They hardly spoke and the king locked himself up in the castle after he lost Katie and destroyed the Earth. His father never forgave the king for what he did. He felt sorry for his children growing up in such a miserable home, but there was nothing he or anyone else could do to help the children. The king was the supreme ruler of Elysian.
Katie sat on a bench with her hair braided back into a ponytail dressed down in a blouse and jeans. She crossed her legs as she read a holographic image of the Elysian Times newspaper. There was an article about her mother's ball and how much of a successful it was. There was another photograph of her mother at a grand opening ceremony for a new research facility created to find ways to make the unfertile land fertile again. There was another article about a small group of hoodlums calling themselves the Defenders of Earth vandalizing another member of the House of Lords' home. She then saw in the breaking news session about the disappearance of Lady Camryn Luckington, wife of Lord Calvin Luckington. Her husband filed a missing person's report and stated that she disappeared the night of the ball. The police were doing a thoroughly investigation to find Lord Luckington's wife. The story irked Katie for some reason, especially since her father was the one having an affair with Lord Luckington's wife.
She glanced up and saw the little boy playing in the sandbox. His name was Nathaniel Black. He was King Matthew's son reborn in this dimension on Earth. He was one of the people that Sailor Mercury and Edward saved in the Empire State Building on Judgment Day. His mother Princess Elizabeth of the Sun Crystal kingdom in another time and dimension, travelled to this time and reality to find her son. She learnt that her son had been reincarnated as a newborn baby, only days old, to a young married couple. She died in the Empire State Building that day saving her son, his parents, and other stranded people's lives. She transformed into Sailor Celestial and used her powers to hold back the waters giving the stranded people a chance to escape to higher ground. The waters overwhelmed her as the water level rose quickly submerging the entire floor in water. Without any oxygen, the water filled her lungs suffocating her. She died four minutes later.
King Matthew stood alone on the bridge of the capital starship staring out the large view screen looking out into space. Matthew Black was a formidable and powerful demigod and the youngest son of Aries, the original King of the Underworld and Kera of the Lunarians. He was six foot five inches tall with a handsome, hard face and dark marble eyes. On his forehead was the symbol of the Dark Moon Family, which was a black upside down crescent moon. He looked like a man in his early twenties when he was really an immortal who was over two thousand years old. He was clad in all-black long-sleeved sweater, pants, and combat boots accentuating his powerful toned, muscular physique. He frowned with his arms folded across his brawny chest as the sliding doors opened behind him. Malcolm stepped in holding an eight-year-old Katie's hand. The doors closed behind them.
Matthew's hatred for King Endymion intensified as a dark aura surrounded him. He wanted to kill the Earth King. King Endymion was responsible for killing Princess Elizabeth, his first true love and the mother of his only son. Elizabeth was obsessed with finding their son and spent years of her life searching for him refusing to accept he was dead. Against his wishes, she travelled to an alternate version of Earth after some seer told her that her son was reborn there. Now, she was dead.
Malcolm sensed his younger brother's rage. A dark aura surrounded the king as his eyes glowed red. His short black hair grew longer and fangs grew on his teeth. Malcolm watched unfazed as the room turned freezing cold. The crew of the ship started to shiver in the lounge room. The ship started to rumble as things floated into the air around them. Katie became scared.
Matthew spoke in an icy tone that frightened Katie, "I want the Earth King dead." Katie's eyes widen as she gasped. Her small grip on Malcolm's hand tightened.
Malcolm let go of Katie's hand. He smiled down at her and petted the small child's head assuring her that everything was okay. He whispered in a soothing voice, "Don't be afraid, little one. You are the one person he would never hurt." He strolled over to his brother. He said in firm clear voice, "Calm down Matthew! You cannot start an intergalactic war. Our people are finally at peace. I know how important Elizabeth was to you, but you must keep your anger in check." Malcolm stood next to his younger brother and stared out at the space of endless stars and small meteoroids around them.
Matthew shouted angrily at his brother startling Katie, "He killed the mother of my son! I want him to pay!"
Katie had cried as she witnessed her father's destruction from a hologram a few days ago. Katie spoke, "Then take me." Matthew and Malcolm turned to her as she stared at Matthew with misty eyes. "If I had not left home because of my selfish desire to become a warrior, then my father would not have gone mad and destroyed his own world. Princess Elizabeth would still be alive if it wasn't for me. I'm sorry."
Matthew's anger dissipated as he watched the small child weeping before him. His heart softening as it always did when he saw her. His dark aura disappeared. His teeth returned to normal. His hair returned to its normal length. His eyes stopped glowing red and returned to black. He said, "With that reasoning, I could easily argue it was my fault that Elizabeth is dead. If I had not allowed my brother to take you and bring you to our world, then your father would not have destroyed his world. Elizabeth would still be alive. In a way, I could easily say it was my fault."
Katie said, "The worst punishment that you could bestow on my father is to claim me as your own. I'm his favorite, at least that is what my big brother and sister always told me." She knelt down before him and bowed her head. "On behalf of my father the Earth King, I pledge my eternal loyalty to you, your majesty." Matthew and Malcolm glanced at one another then turned to the small child who bowed before them.
Matthew said, "Are you sure, Princess Katherine? Once you pledge your loyalty to me, you can never break it. You'll belong to me for the rest of your life."
"Yes, your majesty. I am sure."
"Then so be it."
Prince Malcolm and King Matthew's eyes turned into black marbles. They held out their hands as dark energy erupted from their hands and surrounded Katie. A dark ball of energy surrounded Katie as she felt a dark energy enter into her body and take over. She opened her eyes as the dark moon symbol appeared on her forehead and her eyes flashed red before turning into black marbles. The Black Moon brothers smiled as Katie rose as the newest member of the Dark Moon family. Prince Malcolm took Katie under his wing and raised her as his own. He gave her the fatherly love and attention her own father denied her while also training her to become a guardian.
Over the next eight years, Katie trained to become a guardian at an academy where Malcolm was the headmaster. Katie was surprised when she saw thousands of students from different galaxies and planets. They were all different colors and species. Some looked humans. Others looked like monsters, aliens, and humanoid version of rocks, planets, reptiles, and lions, and so many other creatures. At first they scared Katie with their strange appearances as vice versa with her to the other creatures, but she soon warmed up to them and looked at them as friends. Her roommate was Malcolm's daughter, Victoria Black. She possessed the ability to control and manipulate water. She was two years older than Katie and wanted to become a guardian too. Katie thought she would be a mean girl like her cousin Maddie was because Victoria was very beautiful and popular. Actually Victoria was a bit of a mean girl, but she liked Katie and was nice to her. Katie and Victoria became instant friends and formed a sisterly bond. Victoria introduced Katie to some of her friends. One of them was Jax, a lanky green teenaged boy with a pointy head and paws for hands from the Planet Micha. He possessed the power of super speed. Another friend was Brock, a tall older boy with bodybuilder shaped body made of rocks. His body could turn as solid as a rock and absorbed energy. He also had super strength. Katie instantly clicked with both of them. They wore the same uniforms of the guardians as their school uniforms, which were all-black stretch bodysuit with white full body armor jackets and black combat boots.
Every morning, the three thousand students of the Guardian's Academy gathered into an auditorium in a dark dome shaped building like a basketball stadium. Malcolm walked onto the floor and the students listened as he lectured them about the different scenarios guardians' face. His lectures usually meant the theme of their lessons of the day. As Malcolm spoke, Katie noticed her classmates staring at her and covering their mouths as she glanced at her and whispered about her amongst themselves. Katie leaned over and asked Victoria, "Why is everyone staring at me?"
Victoria whispered back, "Everyone knows you are Sailor Moon's daughter from an alternate universe. She is quite beloved in our universe. She turned this academy into what is today at my father's side. She's a legend. Our parents read bedtime stories about her to us at night." Victoria grinned at an intimidating look Katie. "You have big shoes to fill, Shields." Katie gulped. At the top of the stairs of the academy and the main entrance of the school, there was a ten foot tall statue erected in her mother's honor of Eternal Sailor Moon holding her moon staff in front of her.
"Girls! Pay attention!" Victoria and Katie gasped sitting alert in their chairs when they heard Malcolm's voice telepathically as they watched him still lecturing on the floor below them and on the holograms around them. The students trained extensively and also spent their days in the classroom doing schoolwork and learning about intergalactic history. Their professors were former guardians and each taught them how to become the best guardians they could possibly be. During the holidays, Katie and Victoria travelled home to Moira, the Dark Moon where the Dark Moon family resided in the dark castle. Other times, they stayed on board one of the capital starships with Malcolm going on missions and stopping potential threats. Sometimes, Victoria would travel to her home world and spend the holiday with her mother. Katie did not mind Victoria's absence since Malcolm and Matthew had become family to her. Both men were very protective of her. She loved Malcolm like an uncle or a second father, but her feelings were not the same for Matthew. She loved him from the first moment she saw him. She could not wait until she grew up into a woman so he could stop thinking of her as the little girl she was. She hardly saw Matthew. He was extremely busy since he was the King of the Seven Galaxies and dealt with the Council who represented the nine hundred planets. She noticed that he always seemed distance to her like he did not want to be around her. She did not understand why. She asked him once, and he told her she was imagining things.
At the age of fifteen and thirteen, respectively, Victoria and Katie officially became guardians along with some of their school friends. As guardians, their mission was to travel to different planets throughout the seven galaxies, fight youmas, awaken sailor warriors, hunt down traitors, and fight battles in the king's honor. Most of the times, Victoria and Katie went on missions together teamed up with Jax and Brock.
King Matthew had grown fond of the young princess as he watched her matured into a great warrior. Katie was a quick and agile fighter and very resourceful using her surroundings as her weapon. Her favorite fighting weapon was Indonesian warrior beads and secret dagger that looked like a broach clipped onto her signature half up half down ponytail.
At the age of thirteen shortly after she became a guardian, something strange happened to her. She saw the spirit of Sailor Celestial. Malcolm informed her that she was once Sailor Celestial in another life. When she died in her previous life, Katie bequeathed her powers to Princess Elizabeth. Now, that Elizabeth was dead. Her powers had returned to their original master. She transformed to Sailor Celestial for the first time when she battling a giant youma made of rocks on one of the terra planets inhabited by rock creatures alone.
Katie was in her room, which was a small white room with a dresser, a writing desk and chair, and twin sized bed. She was lying on her back in a short, black dress with her legs crossed at her ankles listening to the music of Surge, an intergalactic rock star. She tossed Mr. Giraffe up in the air and easily caught him and twirled him in her hands. She jumped when Alice, the ship's voice activated central intelligence system, called her name in a robotic voice. Katie quickly hid Mr. Giraffe safely under the blanket. She said, "What is it, Alice?"
"There is an attack on Planet Niletak by a rock creature. I cannot determine its origins. It is not from our world, but it has somehow landed on Niletak and is destroying everything in its path." Katie hopped out of bed and stripped off her dress and slipped into her guardian uniform. She raced through the white hallways through the sliding doors towards the operating room. When she arrived at the operating room, she quickly punched in the code. The light turned green and doors slid open. Katie rushed through the sliding doors into the bridge where the crew was operating the ship. She asked, "Where is Brock, Jax, Victoria, or Malcolm?"
One of the crew members informed her, "All out Princess Katherine. You're the only one available." She saw holographic images of the rock creature destroying and killing innocent villagers on the large tan planet before her. The dark moon symbol appeared on her forehead and Katie concentrated on her destination and teleported to the planet. She fought the creature with Indonesian warrior beads. She unclipped her broach as her long strawberry blonde came loose. She quickly tossed the dagger broach at the creature. It bounced off the creature. She could not fight it directly because it would pulverize her with a single punch. It charged towards her. Katie leaped into the air over the twelve foot tall creature and landed in a knelt position. She turned her head and saw the creature picking up a large boulder to throw at her. She dodged his attacks as it uprooted trees and rocks and tossed them at her. She heard the sound of children playing. She looked behind her and saw a small village of blue people with marble green eyes. She turned back to the monster knowing that it would slaughtered all of the villagers like he had done in three other towns on the planet. She had to stop him. She grabbed out her transformation stick. She prayed to Uno to give her strength to defeat this monster.
She held up her transformation stick in the air and shouted as the creature charged towards her, "Celestial Crystal Power!" She transformed for the first time as she closed her eyes to a soothing power flowing warmly inside her body. A white bodice materialized on her torso with a big yellow bow on her chest. Tall knee length yellow boots appeared on her feet. She held out her hands as white elbow length gloves materialized on her arms. She spun around as a short yellow pleated skirt appeared around her waist. Her half up half down ponytail hairstyle came unfastened and her hair floated in the air widely around her. Her hair changed from strawberry blonde into a golden blonde high ponytail with long bangs. A golden tiara materialized on her forehead with a yellow crystal in the center. She opened her sapphire eyes feeling more powerful and confidence.
Sailor Celestial scowled at the creature charging towards her. She yelled, "Celestial Dragonfly Strike." A yellow lightning bolt shaped like a large dragonfly struck through the creature's body. Sailor Celestial blinked when nothing happened. The creature laughed and it kept charging towards her. She started to panic until the creature stopped moving. A yellow light started sparking in its chest. Celestial quickly leapt backwards and hid behind a large boulder covering her face. A large explosion occurred shattering the rock creature to smithereens. Celestial sighed in relief as she looked up to see the rock creature was annihilated. She won her first battle alone.
King Matthew stood alone in his private quarters of the starship. He smiled as he watched a hologram image of her defeating the creature. He purposely set it up to where she would have no choice but to fight the creature by herself. She had become too dependent on having the other guardians help her out of tough jams. He knew she could do it alone, but he wanted her to see that she could do it too. Yet, his thoughts were troubled. Katie was right. He was avoiding her over the years, keeping his distance, and trying not to form any serious attachment to the girl. This was the second time that he had Katie in this lifetime. In each version she loved him at first sight and then she died a tragic death. In this version, the future was unknown. Maybe this time around they would have a chance to be together. His brother Malcolm did not even try to stop the king from falling in love with the young girl this time. He only asked his little brother to wait until she turned eighteen to make her his queen if she still desired him. Matthew frowned at his brother's jab. Malcolm only smirked at him.
Katie was now fifteen-years-old and very beautiful with very enticing body. She was also a natural flirt like her mother and Mina were back on the moon. He was quite aware of the boys and men admiring her beauty. It did not help that she had a seductive glint in her eyes and now wore formfitting clothes that accentuated her womanly assets. Katie playfully flirted with his guests and her male classmates in front of him much to Matthew's annoyance. He knew she was trying to seduce him by teasing him with her body and flirtatious looks. She wanted him to lose control and ravish her and take her innocence. She quickly became upset when she believed she had no effect on him. He kept a mask of indifference on his face and continued to treat her as a little girl much to her annoyance even though his libido was burning on the inside. He promised himself to wait until she turned eighteen and on her wedding night, he would turn her into an immortal like he was.
There was a different between the immortality of a Lunarian like he was and an Elysian like her father Endymion was. For a Lunarian, they are immortal from birth for those who grew up near the dark crystal of the dark moon or the silver crystal of the white moon. It took a Lunarian one hundred years to age one Earth year. For instance, a Lunarian child that looked around eight-years-old was actually eight hundred-years-old. While on Earth, an Elysian had to be twenty-one and aged normally in Earth years until they reached their fiftieth birthday and then they stopped physically aging. An Elysian dies on their one thousandth birthday if they are not killed or mortally wounded before they reach their one thousandth birthday. The only way for a Lunarian to age regularly in Earth years was leave the boundaries of the black or silver crystal.
After eight years of being in love her king, Katherine wanted to show him how much she desired him. She walked into his quarters, removed her clothing, and slipped into his bed. She was quite aware that he bedded many women throughout the centuries and wanted to know how it felt to be with him. If being naked in his bed did not work, she feared she had no chance with him. He walked into his quarters and was surprised to see Katie naked in his bed. With a seductive look in her sapphire eyes, she sat up letting the covers slip down revealing her creamy, soft ample breasts. His dark eyes filled with desire and his groin hardened but he restrained himself. She was still a child, he reminded himself. He scolded her and sent her away like a disobedient school child.
For weeks, she gave him the cold shoulder. He told her he wanted to talk but she avoided him like he had a contagious disease. She pretended like she did not hear or see him much to the amusement of his brother, the other guardians, and the crew on the ship. She did not respond unless he addressed her as Katherine. And when she did respond, it was strictly business only discussions about new threats, reporting about the activities of the planets she visited, or a skill assessment of the new sailor warriors' training. She was blunt and to the point with everything. In public and in front of the Council members and guests, she was civil and bowed before their king addressing him properly as sir or your majesty. Alone, she pretended like he did not exist. She constantly disappeared travelling to different worlds and fighting off evil in his honor. She took on assignment after assignment without break taking out her frustrations with him on the youmas she battled and destroyed. He grew worried about her to the point that she was distracting him from his duties as king. He regretted reproaching her, but he knew the longer she stayed in that room, he would have had his way with her.
Against his council's wishes, he teleported to the planet where she was getting her butt kicked by dozens of humanoid plant creatures with green vines as arms and legs on a botanical planet inhabited by humanoid botanical creatures. Celestial crashed into the ground hitting her head against the pavement. She moaned disoriented. She touched her forehead and saw blood on her gloved fingers. Her ankle was broken. Her fuku was torn and bruises and cuts were all over her arms and legs. They approached her walking on tall their stem legs as Celestial pushed herself backwards on the ground. She trembled all over fearing she was about to die. She then saw something strange in the sky. Twelve gigantic fireballs crashed from the sky down onto the surface of the planet and destroyed the gigantic creatures instantly. She could hear their screams and cries as they burnt to death in the flames and smoke. Katie's eyes widen when Matthew walked through the flames and smoke towards her. She glanced to her left and rights saw dozens more of the creatures charged towards him. Matthew held out his hands and a gigantic fire shaped tornados erupted out his hands in both directions towards the creatures and burning them to death. He stood before her. He said firmly, "Now, we are going to talk whether you want to or not."
Katie stared at him mystified. He scooped her into his arms. She automatically slipped her arms around his neck. He held her like she weighed nothing and she knew she was a big eater like her mother. She couldn't help but look at him dreamily as she studied his strong profile. They disappeared and reappeared in his bedroom. She blushed wondering if…
"Don't even think about it." She turned red. He had read her shameful thoughts. He gently laid her down on his emperor sized bed. She lied quietly watching him as he healed her wounds as she transformed back into Katie. Afterwards, they sat on the edge of the soft but firm bed and Katie listened as he told her how special she was to him. He told her about his ability to travel through different times and dimensions. He told them about their many lifetimes together and how she always died because of him. He told her that this was the only lifetime where he could not foresee her death. He told her that he wanted to marry her when she turned eighteen and he would not take her any sooner than that.
He brushed aside a loose strawberry blonde strand off her face. "So stop trying so hard to win someone you already won a long time ago. My heart already belongs to you. It always has. And on your eighteenth birthday, I shall make you my wife and queen for all eternity." He slipped an engagement ring on her finger. It was a simple but gorgeous fourteen karat white gold diamond ring with a round cut diamond and side stones diamond accents. He said affectionately as Katie beamed admiring the ring, "It belongs to my first wife."
Katie's head shot up horrified. "What!"
Matthew erupted into laughter. "I'm joking. I've never been married." Katie frowned as she grabbed the pillow and banged it against him. He continued to laugh as he shielded himself as she continued to hit him hard with the soft, fluffy pillow. He laughed, "Don't you get it, idiot. You would be my first wife so the ring belongs to you."
Katie yelled, "It was a stupid thing to say and you're the idiot!" She then stopped hitting him when a pensive look appeared on her face as she pondered what he said. Matthew took it as an opportunity to sideswipe her with the pillow knocking her down onto the bed. She frowned at him and pounced on him catching him off guard until she pinned him down with her body. Matthew continued to laugh as tears formed in his dark smiling eyes. Katie smiled enjoying seeing him acting childish. She was so used to him being so serious.
Katie feigned an authoritative voice, "As a guardian, I am placing you under arrest, your majesty until you give me what I want."
Matthew chuckled toying with her, "It depends on what you want, Guardian Shields. I do not negotiate with extremists." He whispered mockingly, "It is viewed as sign of weakness." Katie grinned as she ran her hands through his dark locks. His hands caressed her smooth back.
"Okay, I agree to accept that you have an unbreakable willpower. I won't try to seduce you. No more birthday suit visits until we're married." He pouted like a child causing her to laugh. "No more prancing around in sexy little outfit." He groaned in disappointment. "No more-"
"-flirting with other boys or men." Matthew finished.
Katie lowered her head. "Jealous, eh?"
"Only when it comes to you." He reached up. She sighed in content as his hand ran through her long strawberry-blonde locks.
"Can we just make it official and become a couple already?" His hand settled on the small of her back. Her lips were inches from his as their eyes locked with another. She watched as his eyes turned into black marbles. She grinned as she felt his desire growing for her. She tilted her head lowering her eyelids as she parted her lips. He lifted his head from the bed. Their lips were a centimeter apart.
"Your majesty." Someone cleared their throat. Katie and Matthew turned their heads to the right. They saw Nigel, the King's butler, blushing sheepishly. "Your council is still waiting on you in the war room."
"Hmm, I totally forgot about them. Thank you, Nigel." Nigel bowed then left out of the room. Matthew's eyes returned back to normal. He flipped Katie over her back. He gave her a quick forehead kiss and said, "Gotta go." He vanished. Katie pouted pounded her fists hard on the soft, comfy bed. She'll be an old maid before she received her first kiss at this rate. She held up her ring and stared at her engagement ring. It sparkled in the light. She grinned from cheek to cheek….
Katie took out her silver chain from underneath her shirt and stared at her ring dangling on the chain. She smiled at she looked at it. Her father was going kill her when he finds out she had fallen in love with King Matthew and was now a member of the Dark Moon Family. She wished he would realize they were good people now. She sighed knowing her father. It was his way or the highway.
With her door opened to the hallway, Sarah sat at her computer desk in her room while her brothers and sister roamed wild throughout the house destroying everything in sight. Sarah sat on her laptop searching the internet. Zayden and Elizabeth ran throughout the hallways screaming at one another while Max followed behind.
Her brother Josh walked by. He was really her adopted brother, but they loved one another like they were blood. His parents Haruka and Michelle Tenou died in the Human and Humanoid Battle twelve years ago. Her mother was his godmother and in his will Haruka left his guardianship to her mother. Josh was extremely rich since his parents were loaded and very accomplished.
He was a handsome young man of eighteen with perfect blonde locks that fell perfectly into place and beautiful blue eyes like his mother. He was tall and slender and had boyish good looks that drove guys wild. He had a charming personality and always seemed happy and full of life. He did not let anything get to him and he could make friends easily with anyone. He was one of the most popular guys at their school and the teachers adored him.
Josh would be considered a metrosexual. He had impeccably tasted in clothing and many times helped his sister with shopping, picking out an outfit for a date, or styling her hair. His clothes were always starched and his shoes were always fresh and clean. He had a very clean cut look and spent hours in the bathroom priming his body. Josh regularly went with his mother and sister to get a manicure and pedicure and never had a speck of dirt underneath his nails, which were always short and nicely trimmed. He was a great dancer and the life of the party. He could do choreography, ballet, hip hop, and pop and lock like street dancer. He could also sing and performed as the lead singer and guitarist in a rock band, which became Christian Rock on Sundays since he performed the music at church. He was extremely athletic and ran track for their school. He was an accomplished pianist and violinist since the age of three and regularly travelled to Midas and Starlight City to perform for the elite. He was also an accomplished painter and many of his artwork was displayed in many art galleries throughout Ergon. In other words, her brother was an overachiever.
He made his eighteenth birthday a few weeks ago and spent some of his inheritance on a brand new convertible. They were travelling to beach with their boyfriends. He was currently dating Zachary Hawkins, the class president and star running back of the football team. He always knew that he was different and came out to his family when he was thirteen after he started having wet dreams about Derrick Shields. He tried to his hardest to think of girls, but they did not turn him on. He tried to kiss a girl and felt nothing. He finally accepted who he was and first confided in Sarah that he was gay. She surprised him by being so supportive of him. Their parents took a minute to adjust to the news. They eventually came around and realized that he was still their son and they told him that God still loved him. Their classmates and the whole community were surprisingly accepting and were indifferent with Josh coming out as gay saying that he was still the cool kid.
He started dating Zachary when Zach transferred from the city and moved into their small country town. It was love at first sight between them. Sarah was disappointed along with the entire female student body that Zach was gay. He was so cute with his dimples, black ebony locks, dreamy blue eyes, and ripped V-shaped torso. He had a southern charm about him and a friendly personality like her brother. He was the type of guy that did not realized that he was hot. He was sexy without even trying. He was also a genius. He led their school to many football game wins and he used his skills from ballet to dodge and maneuver his way out of the tough spots to score the winning touchdowns and did a silly dance in the end zone every time he scored. He was also a teacher's favorite and spent his time volunteering at the local hospital with her Aunt Elizabeth since he wanted to be a registered nurse. He also spent time at nursing homes playing bingo and chatting with the elderly. He spent his summers in Grey Mountains working at the Shinto Temple since his grandfather was a Shinto Priest like her Aunt Raye.
Her parents adored Zach and even allowed him to stay overnight in Josh's room. He practically lived there with them since he was there almost every day helping Andrew and Lita with the farm and working part-time at the restaurant. Sarah tried to ask her parents if it was okay if Rein spent the night, and they immediately told her, "Hell no!"
She was used to her brother receiving special privileges. She was an honor student at school. She was also on the swim team and editor of the student newspaper. Her brother and Zack were also members. Zack was a writer, while Josh took photographs and occasionally wrote an article. She wanted to go to school to become a journalist.
Josh walked into her room since the little ones were running around the house creating a mess. Sarah was totally absorbing in typing something on her laptop. Josh asked puzzled, "Sarah, didn't mom ask you to watch the kids?"
Sarah clicked on a website that caught her interest. She was completely absorbed in whatever she was doing. She said absentmindedly, "I am. She told me to keep an eye on them. My door is opened and every time they run pass, I see them."
Josh rolled his eyes. "You're totally irresponsible."
"Whatever." He walked behind her and leaned over her shoulder. He asked staring at the open windows reading headlines with the words "COLD" and "FOD" in it.
He asked, "What are you doing?"
Sarah said absentmindedly, "I am doing some research."
"What does cold and fod mean?"
Sarah tilted her head and said, "They're acronyms." She pointed at the screen. "COLD means Children of Lucifer Dragon. They're an ancient society created a thousand years old ago who worship the devil Dragon." She scrolled down the article and pointed a word.
Josh squinted his eyes and said, "The New World Regime? What do they have to do with COLD?"
Sarah said, "The Children of Lucifer Dragon, the New World Regime, the government, the reborn… I think it's all connected." Sarah frowned. "I have to find the connection. I think it goes all the way to the royal family for sure."
Josh asked, "Didn't King Endymion eradicated the New World Regime and destroyed the reborns? Why would he have anything to do with the COLD or whatever they are?"
A pensive look appeared on Sarah's face. "That's what baffles me. His actions don't make sense to me. If he is a member of the COLD, the New World Regime, or whatever they called themselves, why assassinate ten thousand of your own members?"
Josh massaged his chin with his thumb and forefinger. It confused him also. He said, "Well, Queen Serenity was married to the devil and gave birth to the Anti-Messiah. The king is mad. Katie has returned all of sudden. Rini lacks personality and is completely depressed. Derrick told me she tried to kill herself two years ago. I don't know what to say about Derrick. He seems completely normal."
Josh grabbed a chair and scooted up next to her and sat down. Josh nodded as something became clear to him. "You were using him for your story."
Sarah protested. "I'm not that bad."
Josh said, "I heard how you basically rejected him at the ball and the rejection letter for his birthday was the icing on the cake. What a wonderful birthday gift!"
She cringed as she explained the last year to her brother. She hated how she ended things with Derrick. She started becoming curious about the Elysians around that time since they were studying Elysian history at school. Her parents did not want anything to do with the Shields family. She overheard them one night in the kitchen talking about how evil they were. How crazy Darien had become? She started doing research about the New World Regime and the government and she came across something that aroused her interest. When Derrick found her online and inbox her, it was perfect. She could tell that he was totally interested in her. He subtly flirted with her even though he had a girlfriend and she had a boyfriend. It surprised her how much he confided in her and instantly trusted her. He had many friends, but he could not talk to anyone about what really went on in his life. Rini was fragile so he kept many things from her. Sarah found herself gradually starting to like him as they talked on the phone and started inboxing one another online on a regular basis. He feared that the internet and the phones were tapped by the government which shocked her since his father was the king. He suggested they start writing cryptic letters to one another instead. Then, she saw something recently that gave her nightmares and ended their communication all together. She was surprised that he approached her at the ball. She later figured out that he had not read her letter yet.
Josh asked puzzled, "What freaked you out?" She turned her laptop towards her brother.
She said, "Read what FOD means?"
Josh read through the articles about FOD and he was stunned. It meant Followers of Derrick. He saw pictures of a Derrick dressed in a dark armor with a twisted look in his face surrounded by fire and chaos and burning villages in the background. He saw one with the devil embracing Derrick from behind and whispering something intimate in his ear. Sarah said as Josh continued to read, "They called him Derek the Enforcer. He was an evil conqueror after his father King Endymion died. He raped women. Slaughtered villagers and burned down their homes. He left a trail of blood and impaled the villagers. He was mad conqueror and murdered thousands of innocent people. He had the powers of the wind and used his power to wreak havoc on the earth in hatred of his father. He was killed in battle in the late eleventh century defying death so many times from drowning, stabbings, and deadly diseases that his murderers hacked, stabbed, and beheaded his body to make sure he never returned to the land of the living." Josh's eyes widen when he saw pictures from the eleventh to nineteenth century of people with the symbol of the red dragon on their right wrist slaughtering humans in the name of Derrick. All of them were wreaking havoc and killing thousands of innocent people. There were followers of him that worshipped him like a god, awaiting the day when he shall be reborn and become the True King.
Josh continued to see the grotesque images of the inhumane things Derrick did to his victims. Josh turned the laptop away and could not look at anymore.
Josh covered his mouth in disgust. "He's worse than his father. At least, Endymion does not torture his victims. Derek the Enforcer got a kick out of torturing his victim. He looks like he got off on it. That's disgusting." He wanted to vomit.
Sarah exhaled deeply. She asked, "Am I crazy to pursue this?"
Josh turned to her and said, "Sarah, this is some deep stuff. We can open many cans of worms from messing with this. This is not Earth. We are on their territory where they have ruled for thousands of years. They are not going to allow you to publish that. They give us the illusion of freedom, but we don't have any. King Endymion is the supreme ruler. We have no say, and this can get us killed."
Sarah turned to her laptop. "So I should just ignored all this and pretend like I don't know what I know?"
Josh grabbed her hand and held them with his. He said looking at his sister directly in her eyes. "It's for the best. Stay away from Derrick and stop looking."
Sarah said, "But what if something happens and we could have prevented it?"
Josh said, "Sarah, stop it. Stop looking. I don't get any good vibes from this."
Sarah nodded to her brother's relief. He kissed her cheek and left out of the room. She knew she was going to continue pursuing her story. Her gut was telling her that she needed to. The Anti-Messiah existed. She glanced at her closet.
Lita walked inside of her home carrying groceries. She was outraged when she saw how much of the mess her house was in. The pillow cushions were thrown off of the sofa. Underwear hung from the ceiling fan. The kitchen was a disaster with dishes piled up in the sink and chocolate syrup and milk wasted on the floor. Lita's temperature started to boil. Her blood pressure started to rise. She yelled loudly, "Sarah Jane Kino, you're grounded!" She yelled Sarah's name so loud that everyone in the house jumped. The younger children became scared and stopped red…well chocolate handed since they were making handprints along the hallway walls. Josh and Zach were in Josh's room making out in bed and stopped. She placed the groceries on the floor. Lita waddled grabbing the banister for support as she walked up the stairs.
Josh and Zack rushed out of the Josh's room. Josh saw Lita struggling to come of the stairs. "Mom!" Josh and Zack rushed to opposite sides of her body and helped her up the stairs.
Lita said angrily, "I am going to kill that girl. Why is she so damn irresponsible?"
Josh said worried, "Mom, calm down. You don't want to get high blood pressure. You're at a critical stage with the baby. Zack and I will clean up the house while you lie down and rest."
Zack concurred, "Yes, Mrs. Furuhata. We'll take care of the house."
Lita frowned angrily, "Not until I beat the laziness out of her." Zayden, Max, and Elizabeth held their guilty evidence hands behind their back with equally guilty faces. Lita saw red when she saw her beautiful golden painted hallways ruined with tiny brown hand prints.
Lita frowned at the small children and said, "You three are in so much trouble. Go to your room. I will deal with you later." The small children formed a small line and bowed down heads walked towards their rooms.
Lita burst into Sarah's room. "Sarah Jane…" She looked around with Zack and Josh behind her. It was empty. Her bedroom window was opened as the wind blew her curtains. Her laptop was gone along with her laptop bed. Lita panicked as she waddled over to her closet. She frantically searched through the top of the closet and saw that her black overnight duffle bag was gone. She always took it when she spending the night somewhere else or had gone out of town. She never left without her parents' permission. Had she ran away?
Lita screamed screamingly. "Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!" She rushed towards her room. Lita's screams could be heard throughout the house, but Sarah was nowhere in the house.
Zack froze when he saw her legs. Josh noticed the blood coming down her legs.
Josh cried out, "Mom!" Lita looked down and saw the blood dripping. She cried shaking her head. "Not again." She started to faint. Josh rushed to catch her.
Josh lifted his mother into his arms. He ordered, "Zack, call dad and tell him that we're taking mom to the hospital and watch the kids."
He rushed downstairs as fast he could to get her into his car and to the hospital.
Sarah stood in a small queue at the train station with her hair brushed back into a high ponytail and wearing a green long-sleeved blouse and skinny jeans and sneakers and a brown leather jacket. She carried her duffle bag on her shoulder and her laptop tote in her hand. It was finally her turn. She smiled at the elderly man behind the window. "One ticket to Luckington City."
The attendant said, "One way or round trip."
She only had enough for a one way. She'll figure out how to get back home later. She smiled. "One trip." She placed her right hand underneath the window. He scanned her hand with an infrared laser and an invisible barcode appeared. It beeped. He looked at a screen that read with a blue digital identification card, "Sarah Jane Kino. Age: 17. Birthday: March 5. Blood Type: O. Occupation: senior student at Owl Village High School. Address: 675 Kato Road, Owl Village, Gaia. Parents: Andrew and Lita Furuhata. Identification Number: 796-795-945. No criminal record." He nodded releasing her hand.
The attendant said, "One hundred and fifty bucks." She handed him the money and he handed her a ticket. "Have a nice trip." She glanced at the ticket and walked towards the train. She boarded the train that was nearly empty. She handed the conductor her ticket then sat down in her seat. Luckington was four hours away from Owl Village. She took out her laptop and logged on. She connected to the wireless connection on the train and touched the internet icon with her finger. She began searching the internet for FOD. She saw pictures of Prince Derrick the Enforcer. He looked a few years older than Derrick about age twenty-one. She wondered if she could trust Derrick. Her gut was telling her that she could. She wondered if he would slam the door in her face. Her letter was pretty mean and she was aloof towards him at the ball. But something inside of her told her that she needed to put the pieces together. Time was not on their side. The Anti-Messiah was alive and no one knew when Dragon would strike. Or were the Elysians on the side of the devil? Were the Elysians really the bad guys? She rested her head against the side and glanced out of the window as the conductor shouted, "All Aboard!" The doors closed and the train began to move. She'll find out soon. Was she really ready to open Pandora's Box?
Serenity lied in bed that night. She heard knock on her door and groaned hoping it was not her husband again. If he wanted to fornicate with every Stacey, Mary, and Jane on the planet, that was his decision. Leave her out of it. She was not going to leave him. So why was he continuing to bother her?
She pulled off the covers and crawled out of bed. She grabbed her satin robe out of her closet and slipped it on. She tied the strings closed together as she walked out of her bedroom into the hallway and unlocked the door to her chambers. She was surprised to see that it was not her pathetic excuse of a husband. It was the pretty blond maid Lily. She was about her daughter Rini's age now.
Serenity smiled warmly at the simple child. "What brings you here at this time of night, Lily?"
Lily looked nervous. She was dressed in a white flannel nightgown and holding a lit candlestick in her hand. Her long wavy blonde hair hung freely down her back and over her shoulders. Her innocent green eyes looked frighten as she trembling constantly looked both ways down the long, dark hallways looking to see if she was being followed. She pleaded, "I'm sorry your majesty to bother you at such an indecent hour, but I must speak to you now. It's important, ma'am."
Serenity moved to the side and said, "Of course you can, my love." Lily was too nervous to smile as she walked into Serenity's chambers. Serenity peeped out in the hallways looking both ways and saw nothing but dark shadows. She closed the door and locked it.
Lily was already sitting on the sofa. Her legs shaking as she rocked herself nervously. Serenity rushed over to her and comforted the frightened child. She asked worried, "What is it?"
Lily shook her head still rocking. "I'm not supposed to tell you. I have a good life here. We all do." She turned to Serenity and stared at the beautiful older woman. Serenity looked at her with the worried eyes like of a mother she no longer had.
Serenity prompted. "You can tell me. Your secret will be safe with me."
Lily stared at her. "It has nothing to do with me. It's about you and the king."
Serenity looked puzzled. Lily said, "Your entire family is in danger. The king and his children were brought here under false pretense and now his life is in danger."
Serenity asked, "What do you mean?"
Lily shook her head. "There is so much to tell you mistress." She sighed. "First of all, you should know that the king did not cheat on you. Someone slipped something into his drink at the ball. It was a blink and you missed it moment. I saw the whole thing." Lily clarified, "Milady, the king did not cheat on you. He was drugged." Serenity covered her mouth in shock.