AN: Well I promised to update more often and I'm sticking to it since I have a tiny bit more free time at the moment. Thank you to every one who reviewed my last chapter even though it took me forever to write something new and update. I do so thoroughly enjoy writing this fic and I'm glad that you guys seem to enjoy it as well. I could have held off on updating to get more reviews, but I'm not going to be petty like that. I'm just as eager to post updates as you guys are to read them :) Anyways, I'll stop jibber jabbering and let you get on to the new chapter. Hope you like it :D
Chapter 18: When I Am Queen
Everything happened so fast and all at once . . . One moment Venus was patrolling the grounds, daydreaming the next she saw the woman plaguing her mind holding a bloody fist over Markus and the younger blonde boy from the night before lying on his back. The Martian bore a murderous look and it didn't look like she was going to stop her rampage any time soon unless she was interrupted. Venus was at a loss and her heart plummeted to the ground as she saw Rei's fist flying through the air, ready to strike again.
"Rei!"
Was that really her own voice? Were these really her feet running to her lover who seemed to stop mid swing, her eyes wide with a sudden realization of what she had done.
"Rei . . ." Minako stopped in front of the raven haired girl who stood there frozen, hands now dropped to her sides, amethyst eyes fixed on a crushed flower on the ground.
"I'm sorry . . . I didn't . . ." Mars was unable to properly formulate what had happened.
"You've really done it now." Markus smirked, stepping away from the wall, holding his hand under his bleeding nose.
"Markus , please-" Venus started, but was interrupted by the loud clamor of feet and armor rushing down the halls.
"What happened here?" One of the guards spoke up.
"This . . . this savage attacked me!" Markus pointed at the fire senshi, playing the part of damsel in distress perfectly.
Mars narrowed her eyes, stepping towards the brunette guard, who took a satisfyingly subtle step back before Venus stuck her arm out, keeping her subordinate at bay.
"Mars!" Venus snapped firmly in front of prying eyes. "I can handle things here. I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding." She spoke firmly and seemingly confidently to the other guards.
"Tell that to my broken nose." Markus growled.
"You're lucky I didn't break more than that." Mars sneered back.
"I-I'm sorry commander, I'm sure you do, but . . . I have to report this to the Queen. I'm sure you understand." The leader of the group responded with a frown.
"I understand." Venus sighed. "I'll take Mars for the time being, you take Markus. We'll be in the training grounds if we're needed."
"Yes commander." The guard bowed, grabbing Markus by the arm as he walked off with the rest of the group.
Venus watched them walk away, worry filling her gut as they turned the corner. She turned back to look at her lover, but found Mars already storming off.
"Hey! Mars!" Venus ran after the dark haired girl, grabbing her by the arm once she caught up to her.
"Don't." Mars growled, yanking her arm out of the blonde's grasp, starting to walk away.
"Don't walk away from me!" Minako shot back, grabbing the martian's arm more firmly, dragging her to the training grounds. Once they were inside Minako let go, setting her gaze on the angry fire senshi. "Mind telling me what the hell all of that was about and why the hell you're snapping at me?"
"Is it true?" Mars looked down at the ground, balling her hands into a tight fist.
"Is what true?" Minako looked beyond puzzled.
"Is it true . . ." Mars let out a long breath unable to say what she didn't even want to think. ". . . that you and Markus . . ."
"That Markus and I what?"
"Is it true that you fucked Markus?" Mars finally lifted her head back up, locking her smoldering gaze onto Minako's deep blue eyes.
"What?" Minako asked softly; it felt as if the air left her lungs.
"That's why you were late last night isn't it?" Mars accused.
"No! He sure tried last night, that's what held me up. I was trying to get away from him. Why would you ever think such a thing?" Venus couldn't believe that Mars would think so lowly of her.
"Well that's what he was saying to that other guard when I overheard him . . . He said that you . . ."
"He was lying." Venus shot back.
"Well either way I couldn't let him talk about you like that. He deserved a lot worse than he got." Mars growled, looking off to the side.
"Rei . . ." The love senshi stepped forward to place her hand on Mars' cheek, but she hastily retracted her hand before their skin ever made contact when she heard footsteps.
"The Queen wants to see you both in the throne room." Came the voice of the guard from before.
Minako stood silently with her eyes locked onto Rei's, trying to reassure the Martian with her gaze that everything would be okay before she turned around with a soft smile to the guard. "Of course. Let's go."
The walk to the throne room was eerily silent, all you could hear were their footsteps, and it seemed as if everyone had their gaze locked on the three. Once they arrived at their destination the guard closed the door behind them as the two made their way in front of a very unhappy looking queen.
"Your majest-"
"Don't bother me with formalities." The Queen interrupted the martian who promptly snapped her mouth shut, knowing when it was better to be silent than to talk. "What is this I hear of you attacking not just a guard, but the HEAD of the guards?"
"He. . . he was slandering the commanders name." Mars stood up straighter, trying to compose herself.
"Oh? How?" The Queen leaned forward in her seat.
"He was saying some . . . distasteful things. I told him he shouldn't be speaking of the commander in such a way. He disagreed." Mars replied simply.
"So you broke his nose and bruised his jaw? You know, he has a different recollection of the events."
"He-"
"That's enough from you." The Queen snapped again at the fire senshi, turning her attention to Venus now. "What is your recollection of events Venus?"
"I didn't see how anything started." Venus replied, trying not to shift her gaze to Mars. "I was patrolling when I saw Mars and Markus."
"And what was their position when you arrived?" The Queen asked dryly, glancing briefly at the dark haired girl.
"Mars . . ." Venus looked down, she was between a rock and a hard spot. She wanted to protect her girlfriend from the Queen's wrath, but she also knew that if she lied they would face much greater trouble. "Mars had a hold of Markus' shirt with her fist raised and Markus had blood running down his nose. I didn't hear anything. I just saw them there and immediately intervened."
"I think I've heard enough. You're dismissed." The Queen sat there with her chin propped on her folded hands. Both girls bowed, silently heading for the door. "Except you Venus. You stay." The Queen stood up as Venus and Mars faltered in their steps. Mars looked back at the blonde who tried to offer a reassuring smile before she turned back around and Mars reluctantly made her exit. "There's more to this whole situation that you're not telling me Venus." The Queen sighed, walking towards the blonde.
"I already told you-"
"Don't take me for a fool." The Queen interrupted the blonde icily. "I know." She sighed.
"You . . . you know what?" Venus gulped uneasily, avoiding the Queen's gaze at all costs as she approached her.
"Do you think I don't know what goes on in my own palace?"
"I . . ." Venus's mouth went dry.
"I have known for a while. I allowed this little tryst to go on, because it didn't seem to effect you or Mars' performance, but seeing things now . . . I was a fool to let it go on for as long as I did." The Queen looked almost sad, a very big contrast from her icy demeanor before.
"Your majesty, I don't know what you're talking about." Venus put on her best confused face.
"It's time to stop pretending Venus. You don't have to play stupid anymore." The Queen frowned. "Whatever you two have going on . . . lust . . . love . . ." Venus' breath hitched in her throat at the mention of love. "It has to end. Now."
"B-but . . ." Tears sprung to Venus' eyes. She desperately tried to keep them at bay and compose herself.
"I'm sorry Venus." The Queen sighed, placing her hand on the commander's shoulder.
"P-please don't make me." A stray tear fell from the blonde's deep blue eyes, her heart sinking to the ground, and a lump forming in her throat.
"It gives me no small amount of pleasure to do this, but I have to look out for what is best for this kingdom and these things are forbidden for a reason. She could have killed that guard."
"What do you think she will do when I end it?" Venus shot back, forgetting her place.
"Would you prefer for me to send her back to her home planet and have them behead her for treason?" The Queen snapped back.
"She won't just let it go. I know she won't . . ." Venus bit her lower lip, looking down.
"Do what you have to do to end it. Permanently. Otherwise I will be left with no choice, but to take matters into my own hands understand?" The Queen stood up straighter, trying not to let her heart break for the pair.
"Yes your majesty." Venus replied softly, tears freely flowing down her face now.
"I won't punish her for this offense, but should anything else happen you know what the result will be."
"T-Thank you your majesty." Venus choked out, slowly trying to pull herself back together. "Am I dismissed . . .?"
The Queen let a little sorrow shine through her eyes, looking at the upset blonde, before tearing her gaze away from the commander. "Yes." Venus bowed before heading towards the door, unable to say anything else as she left. The Queen felt the world weighing down on her as she turned around to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her daughter looking at her with tears in her eyes.
"Mother . . . how could you?" A tear fell from Serenity's angry blue eyes.
"Serenity. . ." The Queen sighed.
"Why would you break them apart? I'm . . . I'm the one who tried to push them together . . . and when they finally got together you . . . you tore them apart . . ."
"I did what I had to." The Queen replied tiredly.
"You didn't have to-"
"I will not put you or the kingdom in danger for them!" The Queen shot back.
"How am I or the kingdom in danger, because two people are in love?" Serenity glared at her mother.
"Do you think they would protect you or the kingdom before each other?" Serenity opened her mouth, but the Queen wasn't done. "No, they wouldn't. We have these rules in place for a reason. You and the kingdom must always comes first. They took an oath, they swore their allegiance to us and this kingdom, not each other."
"I don't care." Serenity childishly responded.
"I don't expect a child like you to understand these things, but one day when you are Queen-"
"When I am Queen . . ." Serenity balled her hands into tight fists; if looks could kill her mother would be dead. "When I am Queen people will be free to live their lives how they please and love whoever they want."
-End Flashback-
Minako sprung up in bed, sweat beading down her body, and tears stinging her eyes. Her heart sat heavy in her chest as she looked around the room, trying to place what era she was in and where she was. Relief washed over her when she realized she was in the present with her lover in bed. 'Wait . . . where's Rei?' Minako suddenly felt cold realizing the Martian wasn't slumbering next to her. She looked over to the clock to see it was seven pm and the sun had just set. 'We must have fallen asleep after all of our . . . activities.'
The senshi of love stepped onto the cold floor, shivering at the contact, before she threw on underwear and a shirt. She quietly walked down the stairs in search of her lover, but didn't find her in the living room, rubbing her arms when she felt a cold breeze. She turned around to see the back door wide open. 'That's strange . . ' Minako followed the trail Rei seemed to have left her, heading out back to see the Martian sitting on a bench, looking dazed and out of it.
"There you are." Minako let out a sigh of relief, crouching down in front of her girlfriend. "What are you doing out here Rei?" She tilted her head to the side, but Rei didn't respond. "Rei . . .?"
A small smile formed on Rei's face. She could feel the flames and the soft thudding of the drums increase her pulse to a pleasant pace. This is heaven, no, there was no way heaven could feel this good. She wanted to stay here forever. All of her wildest dreams could come true here, she could live here for the rest of eternity in complete bliss sitting right on the edge of ecstasy.
"Rei?"
'Who is that . . .? That voice . . . it sounds so familiar . . .'
"Rei."
Rei started to go towards the voice, but felt herself being pulled back by the voices whispering sweet nothings into her ear. She felt torn. She wanted to stay here, but she wanted to go to that person too. Did she have to choose? Couldn't that person just come here and bathe in the flames with her?
Rei's decision was made for her when she felt something pull her from her trance. Something incredibly soft and delicious. Something even better than this ecstasy she was swimming in. Her eyes fluttered open and realized the soft delicious thing tickling her senses was Minako's lips pressed against her own.
"Are you okay?" Minako pulled away, her blonde hair shimmering in the moonlight as her bright blue eyes gazed at her curiously.
"I . . ." Rei started, licking her lips, and getting the familiar taste of Minako's lip gloss in her mouth. "yeah."
"What are you doing out here? You seemed like you were . . . meditating or something."
"I um . . ." Rei looked around suddenly realizing she was outside, her heart starting to hammer in her chest when everything started to come back to her. 'H-how did I get out here . . .? Last thing I remember is passing out next to Minako and then . . . the drums . . . the trumpets . . . the fire . . . no . . . this makes no sense.'
"Rei?" Minako tilted her head to the side, looking quizzically at the Martian, snapping Rei out of her thoughts.
"Sorry." Rei blushed, rubbing the back of her head. "I came outside to get a little fresh air after you fell asleep. I must have been more tired than I thought and fell asleep out here." Rei lied through her teeth, too afraid to say what was happening to her out loud.
"Well get back in bed, it's cold without you in it." Minako smiled, standing up, and holding her hand out to her girlfriend.
"Yes commander." Rei grinned back half heartedly, her mind still elsewhere as she took Minako's hand and stood up only for the blonde to tug her hand, and pull her into a deep kiss. All of her troubling thoughts flew out the window when she felt those soft pink lips pressed against hers and Minako's hands tangle in her dark locks.
"What was that for?" Rei blushed.
"Nothing, I just wanted to." Minako said softly, leaning her forehead against Rei's. "I . . . I don't want to take this life and what we have for granted. I want to engrain everything into my brain. I don't want to ever forget." She closed her eyes, running her hands down Rei's arm, trying to memorize the feel of the Martian's skin underneath her fingertips.
"Me too." Rei smiled, pulling Minako closer. The feel of Minako's heart pounding against her own was enough to calm her down and bring her back to reality. "Did you have a flashback or something?"
"You didn't?" Minako pulled back a bit, confusion swimming in her blue eyes.
"I . . . no . . ." Rei frowned. 'All I had was that weird dream. That was a dream right? The drums . . . the trumpets . . . it doesn't make sense. Why would she have a flashback that included me and I didn't?'
"That's weird." Minako scrunched her nose. "You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. I guess we still know the exact science of these flashbacks." 'Or maybe something is blocking me from seeing them. No. That's crazy . . . Right?'
"We should probably ask Artemis and Luna about that." Minako sighed as she tugged Rei back into her house.
"I'm sure it's nothing. I don't think-" Rei started, but was interrupted by Minako's phone buzzing on the coffee table. "Who could that be?" The miko was secretly grateful for the random well timed interruption.
"It's Usagi." Minako frowned as she picked up the phone and saw the smiling face of their princess. "I better answer." Minako clicked the accept button reluctantly before putting her phone to her ear. "Hey Usagi. What's up?"
"Meeting at Rei's place in one hour."
"Alright Liam Neeson. Mind telling me why?" The blonde smirked at her own witty comment.
"Who is Liam Neeson?" The joke obviously went over Usagi's head.
"You know . . . the guy from Taken . . ."
"Taken?"
"Never mind." Venus sighed. "I'll be there." And with that Minako clicked end on her phone before tossing it onto the couch.
"What was that about?" Rei raised an eyebrow curiously at the blonde.
"You're not going to be happy." Minako ran her hand through her blonde locks.
"I can't believe we're actually doing this." Makoto sighed as she, Ami, and the blonde headed up the stairs of the Hikawa shrine.
"We've run out of options and now we're back to plan A which we obviously should have done to begin with." Usagi bore a determined look, gazing straight ahead.
"There is no way this is going to end well." Ami nervously rubbed her arm.
"Come on, there's no way Rei-chan will burn down her own house. That would be crazy!" Usagi smiled brightly, trying to cheer up her companions. "Rei-chan may have a short temper sometimes, but she sure isn't crazy."
"She only has a short temper when it comes to you and I'm starting to see why." Makoto growled under her breath as they reached the top of the steps.
"What was that Makoto-chan?" Usagi bore the same smile, completely oblivious to the brunette's comment.
"Nothing." Makoto smiled back, quickly knocking on the door before Usagi could say anything else while Ami tried to stifle her laughter.
"Why do you even bother knocking anymore?" Rei sighed as she opened her door. "You all have been here so many times the last couple of weeks that you might as well live here."
"Are you saying you want to be roommates Rei-chan?" Usagi started to get herself excited.
"What!? No, no, and no! I enjoy my sanity." Rei crossed her arms heading into her living room.
"Awe, but we would have so much fun!" Usagi pouted.
"Yeah Rei. You guys would have a blast." Makoto smirked as Rei's eye subtly twitched out of irritation.
"Don't provoke her Makoto-chan." Ami scolded her girlfriend.
"Yeah Makoto-chan." It was Rei's turn to irritate Makoto as the grin dropped from the brunette's face.
"I'm here. Sorry I'm late." Minako rushed in through the door, her cheeks turning slightly pink when the miko sent her a subtle knowing smirk.
"Well now that we're all here tell me why the fuck we are having yet another last minute meeting." Rei's subtle smirk fell as she glared at Usagi.
"I need you all to come with me." Usagi sighed, suddenly becoming uncharacteristically serious as she started walking through Rei's house.
"Huh? What the hell is going on?" Rei raised an eyebrow as she and the rest of the group followed their princess, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.
"There is something that has been troubling me . . ." Usagi looked down, her tone grave.
"Is everything okay?" Minako asked as she and Rei sent each other a skeptical look.
"No, not really." Usagi sighed, stopping in front of Rei's closet, and opening the door. "This should explain everything." Rei and Minako looked curiously into the spacious closet.
"Dumpling head, this doesn't make any sen-" Before Rei could finish her sentence she felt a pair of strong arms shove her into the dark space with Minako following close behind. Both girl stumbled and fell into a tangled heap on the floor and before they could even look up the light seemed to disappear as Usagi slammed the door. "Usagi!" The miko jumped up and ran to the door. She jiggled the handle, trying to open it, but it was firmly in place. "What the fuck is this about?" Rei slammed her shoulder against the door, but it didn't budge. The princess had obviously placed a chair under the handle of the door.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Minako jumped up as well and stood at the door next to Rei, hitting the wood hard with the palm of her hand repeatedly.
"You guys have been entirely too hostile to each other when it's obvious that you care for one another!" Usagi shouted back on the other end of the door.
"So your solution is to lock us in a closet? Are you five?" Minako shrieked. "Makoto and Ami, as your commander I order you to let us out right now!"
Makoto and Ami looked at each other uneasily as Usagi's eye twitched out of irritation. "Makoto and Ami as your princess I order you to stand guard at this door! I outrank both you and Rei Minako-chan!"
"This is absurd!" Minako yelled back.
"I'm not letting you two out until you kiss and make up!" Usagi crossed her arms childishly.
"We have already made up so this is entirely unnecessary and completely crazy!" Minako glared at the door.
"Yeah right! As if I'm going to fall for that!" The princess stuck her tongue out at the door as if Minako and Rei could see her.
"During this whole ordeal I have been nice enough not to mention that I can just burn this damn door down if I need to." Rei growled, lighting a fire in her hand.
"And burn your whole house down in the process? I don't think so Rei-chan! I already considered that option!" Usagi smiled triumphantly.
"Damnit dumpling head!" Rei slammed her fist into the door. "When I get out of here you're going to get it!"
"Yeah, saying that is totally going to get her to let us out." Minako sighed leaning against the wall before sliding down into a sitting position.
"Well what do you propose we do?" Rei growled, looking over at the blonde.
"Kiss and make up?" Minako smirked, raising her eyebrow suggestively.
"Hardi har har. Good one Minako." Rei sighed, sliding down the wall to sit next her girlfriend.
Minako grinned as she got on top of the fire senshi, straddling her waist and wrapping her arms loosely around her neck. "Who said I was joking?" The blonde leaned forward, pressing her lips against Rei's, softly biting the raven haired girl's lower lip before she pulled away. "Usagi wants us to kiss and make up, then I guess we will have to do just that. This will teach her to mess with us."
"You're so sexy when you're being evil and scheming." Rei smirked as she leaned forward, gripping Minako's hips tightly and capturing her pink lips in a deep kiss.
Minako tangled her hands in Rei's dark locks and ran her tongue along her lower lip before she gripped Rei's hair at the base of her skull and pulled just hard enough to tilt her head back, giving her better access to Rei's mouth. She pushed her tongue past her lovers lips, massaging the fire senshi's tongue with her own as she started to move her hips against the girl trapped beneath her.
Rei snaked her hands up underneath the back of Minako's shirt, pulling the blonde in impossibly closer as she explored her lovers mouth. Minako's back arched and a soft moan escaped her lips when Rei dragged her nails down the soft flesh of her back.
"You're so fucking hot." Rei breathed heavily as Minako pulled away, gripping the hem of her own shirt and lifting it over her head, throwing it haphazardly off to the side.
Rei lifted her hand, gently cupping Minako's cheek as she ran her thumb over her plump lower lip. A fire ignited in the pit of her stomach when Minako locked eyes with her and she grabbed Rei's wrist, keeping her hand firmly in place as she took the miko's digit into her mouth, lightly running her tongue along it before retracting it from her mouth.
"I don't hear any talking!" Usagi yelled from the other side.
"Oh, she's going to hear a lot more than talking." Rei growled as she grabbed Minako's bra straps and yanked her back to her, kissing the blonde hard as her hands roamed her girlfriends almost naked body.
"Guys?" Usagi started to worry from the other side. "Do you think they killed each other?" The princess looked over at Makoto and Ami.
"Reiko." Minako moaned softly against Rei's mouth as the raven haired girl ran her hands up Minako's thighs, squeezing them when she got dangerously close to where Minako needed her the most. "Don't stop." Minako moaned softly as Rei kissed down to her neck, sucking on the flesh, and biting down before returning to the blonde's enticing lips.
Rei's hands inched towards Minako's underwear, starting to push it aside when a bright light lit up the once dark closet. Both girls pulled away, breathing heavily to see a very shocked Usagi, Makoto, and Ami standing in the doorway.
"My eyes!" Usagi cried as she turned around quickly, acting as if she was a child who just walked in on her parents.
"You told us to kiss and make up." Minako smirked as she got off of her girlfriend and grabbed her shirt, promptly putting it back on while Rei sat there looking pissed.
"I didn't mean it literally! And even if I did mean it literally, you guys were doing a lot more than kissing!" Usagi cried.
"You should have believed me when I told you the first time." Minako crossed her arms, leaning on the doorframe as Rei stood up, straightening out her clothing.
"What about Lucy?" Makoto tilted her head to the side, curiously gazing at her Martian friend.
"Oh, we broke up and then she proceeded to break everything in my house." Rei sighed, running her hand through her raven locks.
"Wait!" Usagi turned around, realization finally dawning on her after the trauma she went through. "So this means that you're . . ."
"Yup." Minako smiled.
"I'm so happy!" Usagi smiled and ran at the two, capturing them in an awkward group hug before they could escape. For the slightest of seconds tears sprung to both Minako and Usagi's eyes as flashes of the silver millennium buzzed through their minds.
"You're not mad or anything?" Minako stepped away as Rei, Makoto, and Ami looked at her in confusion. "I mean . . . I know I'm the commander of the squad and Rei is second in command and . . ."
"No." Usagi cut Minako off before she could finish. "This isn't the silver millennium and I am not my mother. We were put on Earth for a reason. Every single one of you is free to love who you want and live the life you please. All I ask is to be a part of it." Usagi smiled, an air of maturity suddenly surrounding her.
"Usagi-chan . . ." Minako chewed on her lower lip as tears sprung to her eyes again.
"Did I miss something?" Rei rubbed the back of her head in confusion.
"No." Minako shook her head with a smile, blinking back her tears.
"Well I'm glad you guys are finally out of the closet." Makoto smirked, lightening the mood.
"That it!" Rei growled as she lunged after Makoto who was running for the door. "Get out! All of you!"
"But Rei-chan we're supposed to be roommates!" Usagi cried as the raven haired girl pushed her out the door.
"We will NEVER be roommates!" Rei growled after the back of the retreating group as Minako slipped past her, heading out the front door. "And where do you think you're going?" Rei grabbed the blonde's wrist lightly.
"You told everyone to get out." Minako looked innocently at her girlfriend.
"I'm not done with you yet." Rei pulled her commander back into her house with lust swimming in her amethyst eyes as the blonde giggled, running for the bedroom.
Rei started to close the door when an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach; it suddenly felt as someone was watching her every move. She poked her head outside, narrowing her eyes as she looked left and right, but as soon as the feeling was there it was gone.
The miko tried to brush it off as nothing as she stepped back inside, closing the door behind her, and locking it before she ran after her girlfriend who was eagerly awaiting her arrival.
Just to watch; sometimes it was enough. Of course there was the sure knowledge that watching would lead inevitably to the surging heat and glorious flow of blood, the overwhelming pulse of emotions throbbing from the victims, the rising music of the ordered madness.
For now, it was enough for the Watcher to observe and soak in the delicious feeling of anonymous, ultimate power. He could feel the unease of the other. The unease would grow, rising through the musical range into fear, rage, panic, and at last full-fledged terror. It would all come in good time.
The Watcher saw the other starting to lose control, starting to feel the dread and panic. The Watcher could see the other confused and searching for answers, but she would find nothing, of course. Not yet. Not until he determined that the time was right. Not until he had run the other into dull mindless panic. Only then would he stop watching and begin to take final action.
AN: Dun dun duuuuuun! The plot thickens! I'm excited to see what you guys think about the new chapter so pretty please review and leave your thoughts :)