Sue Riley Fragments of the Crystal *disclaimers apply...* OK.. I was a little to lazy to write one. * * * * * Chapter4 "Look into my eye's senshi, what do you see? "No, I will not!" "Look into them!" "No!" "Now senshi what do you have to fear... Yes, yes good, what do you see? Tell me, what do you see?!" "I see... I see... no, no." "Don't cower weakling, don't cower! Turn up to me face me as a warrior." "No! I cannot." "What do you have to fear? Good... stay... tell me what you see?" "I see... Endymion... Endymion he's calling out to me... No I won't fail I won't, NO! Please let me go! Please! I..." Serena's eyes flew open, head fell limp to one side, she strained painfully to move- as her legs bunched underneath her. I feel pain! That is all I feel in this world! Let me go back there, let me go back to them... they will take the pain away. She turned ahead- one eye fell open. A bright light. She quickly fastened it shut, wincing. "Serena..." a voice whispered, as a hand traced down her left arm side. She opened her mouth to scream, though all that escaped her lips was a weak gasp. "Serena, do you hear me? It is me Tuxedo Mask." Her face remained blank, she tilted her head upwards. "Endymion." The figure nodded, "Its me, Serena are you alright? Serena?" She examined his features with childish curiosity, he smiled reaching out to caress her face with his finger tips. She jerked back, a soft moan escaping her lips. With strength Serena thought had long since left her, she stood from the bed. Stumbling a few steps she rested her wait partially on a bench. If I stay awake they can't hurt me... I have to return to... Her vision blured, as her mind searched desperately for some clue to her surrondings. She turned a half circle, her hair whispering around her neck. An open window. She turned back to the man, who was noting what had caught her attention. He stepped an apprehensive step forward- holding his hand palm faced up. "Serena, are you okay?" She stepped back from the window, leaning fully on the bench. Her hand reached outward, fingers tracing along the counter. She reached a small blade handle, fingers wrapping around the blade tilt. She heard him talk again- trying to reach her- his words becoming more desperate. She jerked her head backwards. Darien turned concerned, he faced Serena fully, his eyes to hers. Something deep within her lurked- his eyes opened wider as he saw what hid behind her pale blue eyes. The look he found in his enemies eyes every time they knew that the fight was useless, when he threw his rose into there chest and they knew the end was near. There was no mistaking the fear that ran so deeply through her. He winced, stepping back a few steps. Serena hand tightened round the blade- as she supported herself a few meters across the counter. She glanced back to the man, who seemed to gaze upon her- she noted- like as if she was an angle. She released the hold of the bench, stepping a few steps across the room. She moved to the veranda edge. A hand caught her waist, lifting her a few centimeters from the ground. She screamed though her cry was muffled by his hand. How did he manage to move so quickly! She thought desperately, her body quenching with the pain of her unseen bruises. "Serena, listen to me. I won't hurt you, understand." His warm breath against her ear, his voice soothing- she could do no more then push outward- trying to slide from his hold. She threw her head aside, turning down a to where she had dropped her weapon. Slowly she turned back to him, nodding weakly, her arms and limbs trembling under his touch. "I'll let you go." She heard him say. "If you promise not to run." She nodded again, hoping that he would not force his gaze onto her again. Serena twisted herself free of his arms, he followed her down as she touched the ground. He ran his hand to her chin, lifting it up to meet his gaze. "I won't hurt you, understand." He said, though knew the words had flown passed her. What infected her so deeply- what had they done to her! He pulled his other hand from round her wrist- dropping it down to just below her breast. Her eyes opened wider, though he continued without thought. He fingered away the bottom cloth of her shirt- revealing her ribs and stomach. His hand traced over the scare- he sighed revealed. This was most defiantly his Serena. His head twisted upwards in a strange premonition. He blinked confused. Her arm swung forward- a blade tip cutting like a knife through butter into his skin. His eyes flew to the wound opening, he threw his head upwards facing her fully. In the early morning light her features were contorted, eyes plain and without color- eye-brows raised in horror- forehead creased. Her fingers were stretched outwards- blood staining them. Small droplets falling down on the blade- which now rested on the cold tile floor. Her expression was not of evil- or hate- or even fear. Nothing remained except sympathy. Sympathy for the one she had just wounded, he now understood her words. _Hate you, why would I?_I understand, and I think it was really sweet how you tried to protect her, even if it was that slime Zoisite._ His head bowed into his chest, Serena remained motionless, turning to him with wide eyes. She fell back onto her backside, crawling towards the door before glancing back. A feeling of the inevitable swept over her, she returned to the masked man side. What had she called him? How could she help him? She questioned, he had stolen her from her home... What is MY home! What do I do? Who am I? Am I good or evil!? An image of a lady flashed into her mind, a room surrounded, drowned in the image of a lady. "You will lure Tuxedo mask back here do you understand!?" Another voice was beside her screaming, the words became louder with every moment. "Yes!" She turned to face the woman, screaming to the lady. Blonde hair framed the perfect image- of No! The image smiled back- eyes opening fully. It couldn't be? Herself! With a final scream of agony she fell head long onto the ground, arms sprawled outwards above her. * * * * * * Mars and Mercury took either side of Jupiter, the brunet senshi held an arm tightly around Mars- Mercury stepped back. She slipped her computer from her pocket, eyes running over it. "We're clear." Mars and Jupiter sighed in relief, "I thought they would have followed us for sure, common- the temple isn't far, Jupiter?" Jupiter lifted her head from Mars shoulder, nodding- "good." Mercury stood back a few paces from the two, taking the back- occasionally running her scanner over another building. She turned another corner, slowly closing the gap between her and the other scouts. She paused briefly, head jerking upwards. "Artemis?" The cat let out a noise that could best be described between the mix of a dying bird and a disgruntled dog. The other two turned around, ready to encounter the source of the disturbance. With grace which could only be accomplished by a feline Artemis leapt down to the ground, panting. "I just ran half the city looking for you scouts! Venus said be at the temple!" "Artemis they have Serena!" Jupiter cut in, her voice weak- she tilted her head side ways, the cat looked upon her with careful eyes. A silent curse escaping his lips. "We were just going to the temple Artemis," Mars explained, the cat turned head downed mumbling. "You don't see any normal cats running over the city. Any of you seen Luna?" At there silence, he nodded and was again off into the night. * * * * * I look upon her figure shaded by the evening light, her eyes and cheeks tear stained. Even in her darkest moment she is truly my princess, I never have meet someone like her. Is she truly my true love? Or shall I always be destined to the moon princess, who still I love so much. Maybe this is just a passing phase, and I will leave her soon... abandon- no I could never bare to see her alone. Never. Gently Darien bent over forward, his hand covering his wound he knelt before her- his lips brushing lightly over hers. A smile crossed her features, though eyes remained still. She muttered a name, "Beryl," again the name. Until at last she was chanting it- falling into near hesterics "Serena!" he supported her up into his arms, her head feel limp to a side- yet he refused to let it touch the ground. "Serena! Wake up!" She mumbled a few words, her head falling forward onto his chest- tears falling from her eyes. She began to struggle, as if she was suffocating- her palms flew to him, trying to push him away. Her eyes flew open, she tried another scream though this time was not restrained. The screams got softer until she was only sobbing. Her head closed into his chest and at last his weeping seized, and eyes fell closed. Darien only sat and watched, running his hands through her golden mane- covering his own wound with a handkerchief. He turned upwards- facing the open morning light. He would not be able to stay in the apartment block for to much longer. The nega-verse is closing in. I don't know how much longer I can protect you... my princess. * * * * * Venus stood tall amongst the three other scouts and princess, she lifted the Mercury computer into her hands- gesturing to a few pieces of text information. "Yes, we all know that Serena isn't Sailormoon anymore Venus, I still don't get your point." Mars sighed irritated- but the princess held a hand towards the scouts saying in praise. "Just wait and listen- Venus knows what she is doing. As you were saying- Venus?" The blonde blushed, swooping her hair from her eyes. "I found something that is quite interesting... umm- look at the genetic make-up here, between- Serena- Sailormoon and the Princess. Now as Mercury demonstrated earlier our code changes as we transform- but the princess..." "The princess is made completely up of Serena and Sailormoon-" Mercury finished. "But... they are both from the moon and..." Jupiter started, but Mars gaze cut her off. The black hared girl stood with a grunt. "She said Serena was chosen completely randomly, that she had no connection with the Moon Kingdom." She pointed a finger at the princess- eyes growing wide. "You lied- didn't you- why?" All eyes turned simultaneously, the girl hid her face. She whimpered. "No- I can't lie… I- I am a part of Serena- she created me to take her place and…" Venus sighed, swooping the princess to her feet- she examined the girl with loving eys. "To hold us together, princess..." * * * * * * I hate dreams, every curse that they bring me! Though I believe... I think dreams should not be a thing of pain but pleasure and joy. YOU like seeing me in pain and wretchedness. But you become powerless when he holds me in his arms- then you can do nothing! I can feel you inside me, don't think I can't! I can't give you a name... but I know your ally, don't deny it! I know her name, and when she is gone you will be no more! Huh! Don't cower, I know your weakness now! But these images... the pain! I can't stand it! But I will stay strong for my friends! Who are my friends!? No! I am not alone, don't... no they are there you just hide them from me! Please let me see them! Please! No all I see is... I see darkness- an army of darkness looming closer to Earth every minute, every second! ...It's so close! I can feel it! Its useless, I can't win! Who holds me now? I am alone I always will be! But I hear something. Faint- but clear, it is a phrase of protection, of pure love... I can escape this nightmare! Focus, what do I see? I am moving, my legs are tucked beneath me, a blanket thrown across me- and a beautiful sunrise on the horizon. A hand rests on my side- but it is not my own. A name, I remember a name- I murmur weakly. "Endymion." I wait patiently for a response, it is not verbal but that hand- it brushes over my forehead- and inside- inside me where the battle rages on I hear a reply. "You are not alone." I cherish those words, I run them through my mind a hundred times over. See how she takes that! See, you can't hurt me when he is by my side. But... what are you doing? I can see you are planning something! No! Don't take him away! I will escape! I will! With a cry of anguish my eyes fly open. A man sits in front- one hand on the steering wheel of a car- the other one rested on my own. I gasp! Is he the one- the one that talked to me in my dreams- the one that protects me- that keeps me from- her? No-of course he isn't! He is the one that stole me from my... my home! He is the evil one! The one I will escape. He turns- smiling comfortingly to me. I return it, but my smile is false- as I'm sure his is. He talks. "I'm glad you've woken, I'm taking you out of the city for a while- till I can contact your 'friends'." I nod weakly, 'friends?' "Where?" "Uh- right, I have a friends who owns a place out here- we will be staying there." Staying? More like holding me prisoner there! I lift my hands to my eyes looking for the rope which I'm sure he would have used to bind them together. Nothing- there! He must underestimate me... I can fight back too- I will. Inside me, so deep inside I feel I am choking she laughs, taunting me... * * * * * * Sorry again- I'll try and be a little less morbid with the next chapter, kinda about the time I will look for a ending to this catastrophe. And anyway, I have an excuse for the behavior... Soon the holidays will end *shudder* Mail comments to Zone123@hotmail.com And my page: www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Lot/2115