Disclaimer: I've sunk to an all time low... *standard disclaimers
apply*... *hangs head* I'm sorry! *wails* I'm so disclaimer
uninspired... *sniffles* Forgive me...*waaahhh*
Serendipity Lost
Chapter Three
Nephrite took a deep breath before slowly raising one hand to
rap lightly on the thick oaken door. There was a long moment of
silence before he heard the muffled call to come in and with a
stubborn set to his jaw he entered.
He closed the door softly behind him as he looked around
Kunzite's study. His eyes took a minute to adjust to the low lighting
provided by the dying flames in the fireplace before he found Kunzite,
sitting in a high backed, unpadded chair, the sparsest piece of
furniture in the plush room. He looked smaller in stature as he sat
behind the great desk, and older as well. So much so that Nephrite
stopped and stared, hesitating even more. Annoyance flickered briefly
across his imperial features.
He waved an impatient hand at Nephrite. "You've already
bothered me, come in." Suddenly decided he strode forward and took a
seat himself. His gaze flickered to the desk and felt his throat
tighten. The smiling faces of five young men looked innocently back
and he shivered. Drawn by his gaze Kunzite smiled bitterly, his
silver eyes hardening to a shuttered granite.
"We took that one year before Endymion left us... If only we
knew then what we know now..."
"Would it have made a difference to Endy?" Nephrite snapped,
voice unforgiving. Silver turned molten and the older general turned
away momentarily until he regained his composure. Nephrite winced.
He hadn't meant to provoke him...
Things used to be so much simpler, so much better between
them. Emperor Sol and Prince Endymion were brothers. Sol was older
by about ten years and had always been groomed to become King.
Nephrite, Kunzite, and two others, Jadeite and Zoicite, were ranking
nobles of impressive military backgrounds. They had come as young
boys, picked to begin training at the palace as Prince Sol's personal
guard. And something unexpected had happened. The Queen, almost past
her childbearing years, had become pregnant and nine months later
bore another child, a boy with jet black hair and blue eyes that could
read someone's soul.
And somehow, as Endymion, the child grew, he had became
friends with them, the newly christened Earthen Generals. When the
Queen had died several years later the country had mourned but the
King, to be honest the King was pushed over the edge. In his madness
he clasped onto an idea so bizarre... He wanted to rule the world.
And he did, so much so that with his last breath he proclaimed
Sol First Emperor of Earth. And Emperor Sol had made his father's
quest his own with a zeal that sometimes even disturbed Nephrite. All
in all the wars and turmoil that followed the King's wrath had
little affect upon him or the other Generals. Their lands were
already loyal to the King, there was no rampage there, or rapine.
But the affect on Endymion had run much deeper. Endymion had
served as diplomat and ambassador for the other kingdoms of Earth and
had seen friends and lovers die on the blades of his father's men.
When Sol assumed the throne he had thought the death would stop but
the King's cause had become Sol's own, only he had broadened it.
Where the King was mad Sol was ambitious. The world wasn't enough for
him, he wanted the universe. And when he proclaimed his intentions
and began to gather men the Moon Kingdom, who all the Earthen kingdoms
formerly had an uneasy truce with, cut all ties with Earth.
Sol wanted war but wasn't ready, yet. The Moon Kingdom was
powerful then, it was made of every planet save Earth. Eager to play
the diplomat he was at heart Endymion had traveled to the Moon as an
official Earth ambassador. There wasn't war, not yet, but things were
close. He never came back.
He had fallen in love with the beautiful Princess Serena, heir
to the Moon Kingdom. That had been nine long years ago. They had
married. For two years there was uneasy peace and then, Rose had come
to seal a pact with them and the Moon Kingdom. Two years later a
formal treaty was to be drawn up. Negotiations had gone well. And on
the return trip to the Moon they had all died. In that horrible,
stupid accident. And Sol, eager, impatient, to achieve his
aspirations which he saw slipping away with peace used it as an excuse
to unleash all the forces he had secretly been gathering for four
years.
Five years after that Earth ruled the universe. And Sol's
wife, a sorceress named Beryl, was carrying his child. Nephrite's jaw
tightened. He hated how things were now. He hated Sol's
blood-thirstiness. He hated Beryl and the terrible magic she wielded.
He hated the child she carried that would be perverted and warped into
its parents' twisted image. He hated the fact that the woman he loved
was dead. He hated that Endy, one of his best friends in the world lay
beside her. He hated the fact that thousands had died because of him
and the cause he fought for. He hated that millions more would suffer.
He hated that the blood of one innocent princess was on his hands,
that two more lay in near death because of him, and that another would
never see the light of day without chains on her wrists. That he was
ordered to do the same to a fourth, a woman his wife called sister. A
woman... a woman who would die before she lived in chains...
He looked earnestly at Kunzite and the older general sighed as
his features softened. "Damn it all," he said gruffly, "what is it?
I didn't mean to snap..." Nephrite slumped lower in the chair, his
face desperate.
"Gods, I don't know what to do! How in all hells am I
supposed to find this Princess Jupiter, Lita? Sol will have my life
if I don't find her soon. She's all the remains between him and total
subversion of the planets. There's still too many rebellions. People
know she's free and they won't submit to us until all the princesses
are subdued." Kunzite scowled.
"I'm perfectly aware of that. You may be in charge of the
princesses but I am in charge of converting the planets into good
little Earth Colonies. Just as Jadeite is in charge of helping Sol
rule Earth and Zoicite is in charge of attempting to conquer Pluto.
Now what would you have me do? I can't find Princess Jupiter for
you. I've already given you all my spies for your use and have my
soldiers who are stationed at the planets listening for rumors."
Nephrite shook his head.
"Yes, I know, and I'm grateful. Its... sometimes I just find
myself doubting everything we stand for... Don't you?" Kunzite
growled, his hawkish features strained, before replying.
"I know my duty and responsibilities Nephrite. I live by a
code of honor that has been ingrained into me since I was just a boy.
It doesn't matter what I think or feel, I've sworn vows that cannot,
will not, be revoked." Kunzite looked away, full mouth tightening
with pain.
Nephrite massaged his temples. He told himself that duty was
enough but why was there still a hole gaping within his breast?
'Rose...'
"Lita is my problem, I know, but there is something, someone
you can help me with." Interest sparkled briefly in his eyes.
Kunzite leaned back and eyed Nephrite speculatively.
"And just who might this someone be?" Nephrite hid a grin.
'Got him.'
"Princess Venus, Mina. She doesn't know where Lita is, all
the pity, but she herself represents an important step in totally
subduing the colonies. Sol wants her to openly endorse Earth. I've
tried talking to her because if she won't agree with persuasion Sol
has ordered me to leave her to Beryl... Please try to convince her to
help us Kunzite... I don't want another death on my hands, a death
that could have been prevented. If Beryl gets her claws on her..."
"Careful," Kunzite warned in a low voice. Beryl was not
Empress but she still held power, over both them and Sol, to an
extent. "What makes you think I will succeed where you didn't?"
Neprhite sighed.
"Because in her eyes I will forever be the murderer of her
friends and family. Besides, you are our leader, as she leads the
princesses." Kunzite snorted before nodding slightly.
"I will try."
Mina fingered her golden necklace as she closed her eyes. She
hummed softly to herself, lost in memories. When she moved and her
chains chimed in response she was brought back to the present, and
reality. She cursed darkly, sapphire eyes gleaming with frustration
and deeper, anger. "Venus," she whispered, longing in her voice. She
missed her golden home... She missed her people, and most of all she
missed the power of Venus. Her throat tightened.
Since Serenity's death they hadn't been able to transform into
warriors, since Serenity's death where once the warm glow of magic
filled her there was only emptiness, and for the leader of the senshi
that was aiken to death.
'I failed. I failed my duties as leader and thousands have
died because of it, because of me. I should have found some way to
regain our powers but there was nothing... I even tried to reach
Pluto.' She shivered. She had tried and failed, oh she had succeeded
in seeing Pluto, Setsuna, but the older woman had been of no help.
Well, not toally. The lost and desperate look in those somber
burgandy eyes was all the answer she had needed. They were on their
own. And she was trapped here, and had been for three months since
her capture.
A creak alerted to her prison opening and she stood fluidly to
face the man who entered. Her mouth hardened. She never met Nephrite
sitting. But the man in the doorway wasn't Nephrite, he was a
stranger. She stepped back, surprised as the tall man entered.
The first thing that struck her was his features, sharp,
angular. White hair framed silver eyes that gleamed in the
semidarkness of the room. A strong mouth was pursed sternly. He was
tall, over six feet, several heads over her golden one, with the lithe
grace of a mountain cat. He was slimmer in build than Nephrite but he
was better defined, his muscles showing slightly under his gray
uniform, a standard Earth Army issue. His stance was aggressive and
she stiffened in response to it but she wasn't afraid. She feared no
living man, not any more.
His frank gaze studied her carelessly and she felt anger stir
in response in the pit of her stomach. There was impatience there
too, it was hid well but she was a princess, bred in lies, raised in
intrigues. No other could see past masks like a princess. He nodded
slightly and she crossed her arms, purposely making her chains rattle.
One side of his mouth quirked in a small smile before the man bowed.
"Forgive my intrusion... Lady." She noticed the slight pause
and raised one golden eyebrow in query. Silver eyes darted to her
sword roughened hands and she felt startled. Not many noticed details
like that... "My name is General Kunzite of Earth. General Nephrite
asked me to become your guide for your stay at the palace. His
services are needed elsewhere and he cannot devote the attention to
you that you deserve." Mina looked at him for a long moment before
snorting and turning away.
Kunzite's gaze narrowed. He had seen the slight tensing of
her body at Nephrite's name. "Lady?" he asked in a polite tone,
careful to keep emotional inflections out of his voice. She turned
back to him, anger gleaming fully in her face.
"Well done General Kunzite. Not many could have given so
eloquent a speech without mentioning that my 'stay' at this 'palace'
is imprisonment and that those 'duties' Nephrite is attending to is
the capture and death of one of my dearest friends. Tell me oh
honorable General of Earth, how do you sleep at night?" Silver and
cerulean eyes locked, the silver flashing gray, the blue burning with
intense cobalt light. One side of his mouth quirked upwards again,
bitterness etched deeply in his features as he answered with another
bow and stiff flourish.
"Not well Lady, not well." Caught off guard by his caustic
openess Mina smiled sardonically. She snorted once more, softly.
"Not Lady," she corrected, "if your Emperor should have his
way you may very well be the man who takes my life, either you or one
of the others... I believe there can be more familarity with your
murderer. After all Nephrite was never so formal. Call me Mina, or
princess if you must, but not Lady. I haven't been a Lady in a long
time."
"I noticed." One strong hand reached out and caught her own.
She flushed as he held it up in the light, examining it. "No Lady I
know has the hands of a warrior." He released her and she stepped
away, still embarassed. Her reaction amused him.
"You said we should drop all pretenses, did you not? I take
it Nephrite was not that informal." Her jaw set she answered, false
brightness in her voice.
"Actually he was less so. I have rarely been as ill treated
since of late." Recognizing the heavy irony in her statement his
mouth twitched.
"I doubt that princess..." Mina's eyes grew cloudy.
"So do I in fact..." Kunzite studied her. He had wanted to
approach what they wanted directly. He had wanted to offer her a
deal, corroperation or death but he sensed she wasn't ready. Instead
he decided to bide his time, for now. Beryl could hurry Nephrite but
only Sol could overturn Kunzite's order. His trust was absolute and
more importantly, proven to the fickle Emperor of Earth, his loyalt had
been too highly bought to let the witch Beryl command him like she did
the others.
"Well I have come to see to your comfort... What do you
require of me?" Mina turned and waved at the sparse, ill lit room.
"Some lace draperies and silk sheets and danishes..."
"No Lady," he said forcefully, interrupting her sarcasm as he
strode nearer to her, so close that he was looking her in the eyes,
his steely ones clashing with her vibrant. She met him as an equal,
rage sparkling in the pools of sapphire.
"What I really want?"
"Yes Lady."
"I want to see my friends."
Lita, Lena, bowed her head and hurried past the guards, her
back hunched over. She heard their racous laughter and tried not to
stiffen as fury lit in her heart and ignited. 'I'm just a servant...
Servants don't fight, they flee. Servants don't respond... Servants
accept what ever fate their masters hand them.' Except her 'master'
was no longer the kind hearted Tess. Lena tried to calm herself as
she felt her hands tremble in response to her anger. Jupiter she
itched for a sword, or just a good old brawl, either would suit her
just fine.
One man reached out to grab her and she deftly avoided him,
unfortunately she lost her load of laundry and her 'master's' dress
shirts went flying across the yard. She cursed roundly and dashed
after them, taunted by still more laughter. She felt Jupiter's power
rise briefly in her and she clenched her teeth.
'Not yet,' she thought desperately. 'Save your power... I
can't use it yet. I need to plan more, know more, before I can act.'
She sensed distant agreement and the white hot magic that trilled
through her veins suddenly vanished. She tried not to cry.
Meanwhile she managed to gather up all of the shirts. Still
keeping a wary eye on the men in the courtyard she edged back towards
the kitchen entrance to Tess's house. Tess's house only Tess didn't
live here any more, or her husband. Not since one month ago, when the
Earthen soldiers had come. Lita ground her teeth together. Three
months since Mina's capture and two months in this small border town
of Mercury. In the one month before Earthen occupation Lita had made
some headway. Apparently Tess, while not in charge or directly
contacted, knew some rebels, people who were buried deep underground
but who would do anything to overthrow the Earthen Empire. Lita had
talked to some people, coaxed, and formed some hesitant plans. All of
which had flown straight to hell when Earthen troops, alerted by the
increased number of uprisings on Mercury and more specifically the
surrounding countryside, had moved in.
Most of the regular peasants had been shipped off in chains,
as slaves for those colonies and people truly loyal to Earth and
Emperor Sol. Those that aided in the enslavement effort by turning on
their bretheren were allowed to remain. Tess and her husband, while
hardly noble, were well off enough to convince the officers, with some
heavy bribing, to let them take the first sky carriage to Jupiter,
Lita would be with them of course. But of that the officers would
have none.
Tess's darling niece was poor and with the price the officers
were asking for they could only afford two. Tess had tried to remain
and let Lita escape with her spouse but Lita had put her foot down.
Tess had done too much for her already, she wouldn't let her sacrafice
her life needlessly. And in truth the officers would have been
suspiscious had she forfeited her own fare in favor of Lita, or Lena,
her orphaned cousin.
As it was Tess had bargained with 'Governor' Pharl, the puppet
Earth had installed in this province to keep order. For the rest of
their savings Pharl had agreed to let Lita, Lena, become his
housekeeper since his had recently retired at the age of fifty two.
She wasn't a slave but she wasn't free. She wasn't fighting Earth but
she was alive. She was also as frustrated as hell.
Unconsciously her back straightened and her bearing became
briefly, more proud. Emerald eyes flashed as she contemplated her
unsatisfactory situation. With a sigh she entered the kitchen.
"What do you think?" Governor Pharl asked the man standing
next to him. Zoicite frowned as he watched the woman vanish into the
house.
"Perhaps," he murmured. "We shall see." Satisfied Pharl
turned and left. Zoicite stared hard, mulling over what he had just
seen. The woman Pharl employed as a housekeeper was obviously much
more than that. What he wasn't sure. The way she avoided those
guards spoke of a warrior's training, as did her grace in capturing
the errant garments. Her walk, her presence bespoke of a Lady though,
a noble mayhaps. Green eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps, we shall see. I have legendary luck but somehow I
doubt even I am that lucky... And yet..." His mouth curved into a
secretive smile as he mused out loud, "Oh Nephrite would just die!"
Authro's Notes: Hallo peeps! Waaasssssuuuuppp? I know, that was
ssooo last year but its fun and you get the stick your tongue out at
the end like this.. *nah*... See? Umm yeah...right... Oh yeah, the
story(no I'm not always *this* ditzy). EMAIL! PLEASE! *crawls and
begs, sobbing as inbox curls up and dies in my hands* Must have
mail. Must have mail. inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com
Check out my page... http://www.geocities.com/keitree
(
geocities.com/element_sprite)