Author's Note:here's the next chapter, I hope your enjoying it so far. Not much else to write at the beginning of this one so I'll just let you get on to reading it!


Heart of the Sun
Chapter 2

     She couldn't get enough of the house. It was well taken care of. It looked as new as the day it had been built. Obviously Sara still made sure to have it cleaned and aired.
     She was taking pictures of the room everything was said to have happened in, where the girl was said to have died. There were no signs of blood anywhere, no signs that the house was haunted. Of course, people could just be seeing things, she thought as she angled and took another shot. There imagenations running a bit wild.
     The old woman who took care of the house had opened the door for them and nearly fainted at the sight of Serena. Darien had had to catch her and lead her to another room since she was too distressed and kept staring speechless at Serena. As soon as they had left she had begun taking pictures, asking another younger maid which room was where everything had happened. The maid had showed her, then stared at her a moment in awe, and run off.
     She had been somewhat relieved, if not confused by her hurried exit. She liked to work alone after all and other people tended to get in the way when she was photographing and taking notes.
     She was on one knee, focusing in on the grand piano, when Darien walked into the room and she nearly dropped her camera. Glad that he hadn't been watching, she clutched it more securely and continued.
      "You look like her, you know."he stated casually, watching her bend on her little heels and her skirt hike up her smooth legs. He tilted his head to the side to get a better look at them.
     She didn't even look up."Who?"she put her camera down and took out her notepad, began jotting quick notes.
     "Selene, of course."jesus, the woman had killer legs and she didn't even seem to be aware of it.
     "And who is Selene?"she glanced about the room, frowning. She felt nothing. No chills, no sixth sense kicking in. She'd had some encounters before and here she felt absolutely nothing.
     "Selene is the young woman who died in this room. Your ancestor. You look exactly like her. The resemblance is amazing."he shook his head."Wait, not exactly. Her eyes were green."
     She looked at him."I look like her? Is that why everyone's looking at me so strangely?"
     "That would be right."he hummed quietly when she bent over to pick up the notepad she had left on the floor. Gorgeous butt."Have dinner with me tonight."
     She straightened immediately, eyes going wary."No, thank you."
     "Tomorrow then."
     She looked at him more fully and saw the interest there, the heat. She had seen him watching her bend down when she picked up her notepad."I can't."
     When she hurriedly began putting her things back in her pack, he approached her."Is it just me, or are you nervous to be around me?"
     "Look Darien, I'm flattered by the offer, but no thanks. I'm sure that you could find someone else to take to dinner tonight, another woman who would be very willing."she stared at his strong arms and felt her mouth go dry. No, it was a much better idea to stay away from him and keep it professional.
     He couldn't prevent the smile when she backed away."I don't want another woman. I want you."
     "Thats too bad."she walked to the open doorway, turned back to him but didn't look at him."I'm ready to head back now."
     He realized it was going to take a lot more time to get her on a date. He accepted this, patience one of his finer virtues."All right, lets go then."he followed her.
     They were walking out the front doors when the old maid came, going to Serena and stopping her, staring at her with wonder."Your not her."
     Serena shifted uncomfortably, gave the woman a timid smile."No, I'm afraid I'm not."
     "You look like her."the old woman shook herself."I'm sorry I scared you when you first got here. I was just so surprised-"
     "Its all right, don't worry about it. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have work to do."turning, she quickly walked out of the home and down the porche steps. She couldn't explain why the fact that  looking like her dead ancestor gave her the chills.
     Darien caught up with her."Not much on manners?"he asked.
     She turned to glare at him."I came with you when I didn't want too, didn't I?"immediate horror filled her and she clapped a hand over her mouth. She had NOT meant to say that out loud.
      He raised a brow at her, that ruggedly handsome face of his amused."Is that right? And here I thought it was my charm."
      "Could you please just take me home?"determined not to let him anger her again, she walked to his truck, waited beside it.
      "I think I can manage that."he walked to the truck and instead of unlocking the passenger door for her, he caged her there by leaning both his hands on either side of her. He grinned when she jerked and flattened herself against the truck."Relax, I'm just looking at you."he let his eyes move over her face, linger on her mouth.
     Taking a deep breath, she fought for control. Calm, she ordered herself, cool. Don't let him see how he affects you."What is there to look at? Do I have a third eye?"keeping her voice light, she relaxed her body slowly, inch by inch.
     "You've got a gorgeous face for one and a killer body to add to that."
     She lifted her chin a bit, her eyes narrowing. Josh had been good looking like this man, just as handsome and with just as much sugar coated words as him. And in the end, it had all been lies. "Do you always corner women and think your good looks will do the rest?"
     When she ducked under his arm and moved away, he turned and rubbed a hand over his chest, where his heart was."Ouch. You know how to hit your mark. All right, I know how to take a hint."he opened the door for her, then gave her a quick, cocky grin when she got in."But I don't give up easily either."he slammed the door and thought, let her think about that.
     He pulled up to Sara's home and she was up and out the door before he could even turn to look at her. He got out and quickly followed her."How about I pick you up tomorrow? I could show you around, take you to a nice restaurant."
     She gave him a whithering look over her shoulder."No."she walked up the steps and had her hand up to knock on the front door when he slapped a hand on it before she could.
     "Fine. But I'll be back soon."he leaned into her, sniffed at her neck and had her jumping."You smell good. And since I like looking at you so much, I'll be back sooner then you think."whistling, he turned and left her there.
     She watched him walk back to his truck, watched him get in, give her a breathtaking grin and drive away. It took her a few moments to calm her racing heart.
     This won't do, she thought. Not even Josh had been able to make her heart race with just a look. She would just have to be calmer, more controlled, and avoid him as much as possible.
     The door opened and her grandmother stood there, frowning and looking extremely fierce for such an old little woman."Why are you back so soon? Didn't you go out to dinner with him?"
     Serena raised an eyebrow at her."I don't recall ever saying I wanted you to set me up with him."she walked past her and into the house, asking the maid to show her to her rooms so she could begin typing her notes.
     Sara followed."The man's gorgeous and rich. Your lucky if he would even glance your way." the damn girl wasn't cooperating. It figured she would have to be as cautiously stubborn as her grandfather too.
     "Oh my, gorgeous and rich. And he's paying attention to little pathetic me."she rolled her eyes and had her grandmother chuckling."Please. I have work to do."
     Sara knew when to step back. After all, she'd been the one to chase Serena's grandfather in there younger years. The man had been as stubborn as a rock and more interested in learning and finding then seeing what was right before his eyes. She could see it would have to be the same in this case.
     And she knew that once Darien Cunningham had his eyes set on something, or somone, they were as good as his. He loved a challenge and Serena was a perfect one.
     With a small smile, she watched Serena follow the maid up the stairs to her room.


     Darien Cunningham was thinking of that particular challenge a few days later as he drove over the land and surveyed his crops, making sure to see men out on the rows showering them. He pulled his truck over to the side of the road and got out, putting his sunglasses on to shield against the blinding rays of the sun, and walked out into the rows, seeing what was his, what had been his since childhood.
     He'd grown up rich, he'd grown up with the privelages that the money his family had had gave him, and he'd grown up to love the open country of his land. There was a satisfaction in knowing that what grew here grew because he nurtured it, because he loved it and gave it everything he had. There was magic here, he thought, there always had been.
     Perhaps it was just the Irish side of him, the part that believed there was magic, the romantic side that gave way to sympathy whenever he thought of the woman who had been murdered in the old Whittington Estate. It had fascinated him as a child, had terrified and exhilerated him when he saw with his own eyes the ghost of the woman, Selene. He'd been at the estate with Sara, who he'd known all of his life, when he'd wandered off upstairs and was walking down the halls when he saw her there, staring at him with a smile and looking as beautiful as the day she had died.
     He hadn't run, he hadn't screamed. In fact, he had been rather curious to ask her questions, but she had turned and walked away from him and when he had followed her, she had been gone.
     He'd told Sara what he saw and she had been shocked, very, very shocked. People had seen Selene, many people, but ususally when they were standing outside the house and she was standing at one of the two story windows. No one had actually seen her upclose or even had her smile at them.
     It had been the first time he saw her, but not the last. Every time he went near the house she seemed to appear, looking out the window at him, appearing around a corner. He'd gotten used to it as time passed.
     And just thinking of Selene made him think about Serena. Beautiful and prickly Serena. There was a challenge there, he mused walking back to his truck. He could see she was attracted to him, but that didn't seem to matter to her. The woman had a way with stomping down her hormones, something he had never learned or ever bothered too. If he wanted a woman, then he went for her and got her. That was that.
     And he wanted this one. Oh yes, he wanted her. Perhaps there was a striking resemblance between her and Selene, but in his opinion Serena was much, much more gorgeous. Those yards of cascading, silvery hair, those wide blue eyes, eyes like the moon. And her tight, little body was just as perfect.
     Suddenly hot and itchy, he got into his truck and cranked up the air conditioner. But the heat he was feeling wasn't from the sun, but from his own body. So that didn't help much.
     He was driving into town to grab himself a beer at the local bar when he spotted a familiar jetta parked before it already. Pleased with his luck, he parked next to her and got out, walking up and swinging through the doors.
     Serena wasn't one for hanging out in bars. She had a few times back in college, but that had been with friends and particularly different from this. She'd asked Sara where the best place to find other people and ask them there version of the story was and Sara had told her the local bar, where most everyone went to relax during there lunch and converse with each other.
     She had made quick friends with one of the waitresses, a tall, dark haired woman named Raye, who had been very willing to tell her her side of the story. So as soon as her boss had given her her lunch, they had sat down at one of the booths and began, with Serena placing her recorder between them.
     Raye was winding down to the end when she stopped, her eyes glazing over with desire as she looked past Serena."Oh now there's a fine sight to see."
     Serena frowned, but didn't glance up from the small notes she was taking."I'm sorry, is that part of the story?"
     Raye's chuckle was low and wicked."Not part of the story, part of my dreams. Darien Cunningham, come on over here and sit with us women."she called out, surprised when Serena jolted and her pen dashed over the notepad, creating a long, crooked mark."I can see you've already met him."
     He sauntered over, winked at Raye."And how are you doing Raye?"
     "Much better now."she leaned on her elbow, her chin in her hand."Hows the harvest coming along?"
     "Its coming along very well."he looked at Serena."Are you going to scoot over there darling, and let me in?"
     Her tone was pleasant when she spoke."I didn't realize we'd invited you to sit."
     Raye stared at her with shock, both her eyes and mouth wide open. Never in all her years of living in Beaufort and knowing Darien had she seen a woman actually push him away.
     Her second inclination was to laugh, which she did. She was laughing so hard she couldn't get the words out."Oh....oh God.....thats the first time I've ever seen that."
     He ignored Raye and leaned toward Serena."What is it about me that you don't like?"he was genuinely puzzled. What had he done wrong here?
     Calmly, she jotted notes and didn't look at him."I don't recall saying I didn't like you."
     "I know the difference, trust me."
     She heard the hurt in his voice, just beneathe the annoynance, and relented a bit. Just because he was as good looking as Josh didn't mean he deserved the ill treatment she was giving him. And it was his problem if he was attracted to her.
     She stopped writing and looked up at him."Ok, fine. Sit."she moved over and he immediately sat next to her, draping an arm across the seat behind her.
     "Now thats better."he angled his head toward the bar."Molly honey, get me a bud will you?"
     "So I heard you and Mina split?"Raye inquired, excited to hear he was single.
     "Your a bit behind. We 'split' two months ago."he gave Molly a charming smile when she brought him his beer.
     "You could of fooled me, the way she was still hanging around you up until last week."
     "Why is it so hard for women to accept that two people could just be harmless friends?"he sipped from his beer, flicked a glance at Serena, who sat listening with interest.
     "Harmless friends? Explain how anyone could just be harmless friends with Mina Jade."
     He wagged a finger at Raye."Some other time. Shouldn't you be getting back to the story now?"he motioned to the recorder still set on the table.
     "No, thats all right. You've told me as much as I need to know."Serena pushed the 'stop' button."I really appreciate you taking your time to talk to me also."
     "Its no problem. I hope I've been some help."she checked her watch, flinched."Time to get back. Don't be a stranger Serena, and you come back to visit me."
     When she was gone, Darien scooted closer to Serena."Alone at last. Now maybe we can make this into a small date."
     Not missing a beat, she scooted away from him."I think thats my cue to leave."she gave him a pointed look."Move aside please."
     He stretched out his long legs, continued drinking from his beer."I'm comfortable here."
     "Darien, I have work to do. I need more information on this and I need to go see that house again as soon as possible."when he still didn't move, she elbowed him sharply, causing him to choke on his beer."Will you move?"
     He slid out of the booth, rubbing his ribs."At least now I know you like it rough."
     Not saying anything, she waved bye to Raye and walked out of the bar, back out into the sunlight where she saw his truck was parked next to hers. Shaking her head, she fished around in her purse for her keys.
     Darien stood outside the booth a moment, contemplating following her or not. Raye saw the indecision on his face and made her way over to him."You like her, don't you?"she couldn't help feeling disappointed, but she wasn't surprised he liked Serena either. The moment Raye had seen her walk into the bar she had been somewhat shocked by her stunning looks and also by what a friendly person she was. She genuinely liked her.
     "She's beautiful."he considered another moment, then strode out of the bar and found her looking for her keys."Where you headed?"
     She glanced at him."Back to the Whittington Estate. I want to take a few more shots of the upstairs of the house."she found her keys and took a step toward her car when he placed a large hand on her arm, halting her."Yes?"
     He felt her withdrawing from him and the frustration that was becoming familiar to him around her came back."Will you stop that?"his tone was sharp, had her eyes darting up to his.
     She studied him and came to the conclusion that he wasn't going to back off."Ok."
     He breathed in a moment, blew out some of the anger."I'll come by later to see you. When I've wrapped up my work for the day."he waited tensely for her answer.
     She bit back her smile. It was obvious that he was a concieted man, that he was aware of how much power his looks and all that money gave him, but right now all he looked like was a desperate man begging a girl for a chance. Josh had certainly never seemed like that. The sight both made her feel guilty and humble.
     "Ok, I'll wait till then."she turned and walked to her car, smiling to herself when he remained silent behind her. She was getting in when he finally spoke.
     "Maybe we can go see a movie after, have a pizza."he called to her.
     She put her sunglasses on, rolled her eyes behind them. She should have known he wouldn't give up that easily. He had said it, after all."Maybe."she called back, getting into her car, switching it on and driving away.
     He watched her go, and with a grin, he went back into the bar.


     The Estate gave her the chills. There was something about it....perhaps it was because one of her past family members had been murdered in there. She wasn't sure which, but just looking at it from the outside made her want to turn and run.
     "Don't be such an idiot. Its just a house."she scolded herself, grabbing her pack and getting out of her car, walking up the drive.
     She glanced up then and froze in her tracks, spotting a woman at one of the two story windows looking down on her. It wouldn't have mattered to her before, she would have just smiled and been polite, thinking it was a worker, but she KNEW this wasn't a worker. The woman looked exactly like her. Except that she appeared to be wearing old fashioned clothing and her hair was a golden blonde and pinned up, and there were the eyes, which were green as Darien had said. But there faces were the same.
     She watched her as if in a trance, until the woman turned and disappeared from sight.
     She didn't know how long she stood there until she came back to herself, surprised that she had actually been standing there for some time staring at that window. Feeling even more like an idiot, she walked the rest of the way to the double front doors.
     She'd seen ghosts before, or figments of her imagenation, and never had they frightened her or even made her stare for long periods of time. The first time she had been a bit surprised, but not much else. What was so different about this ghost?
     The little old woman answered her knock a few moments later, smiling when she saw her."Oh, I'm glad you came back."
     "Yes, is it all right if I get some shots upstairs? I didn't go up there when I was last here."
     "Of course its all right, this is your house, after all."she stepped back and Serena walked in, a little nervous about going up those stairs and facing what she had just seen.
     She shook it off, determined not to let a ghost frighten her."Thank you."squaring her shoulders, she walked to the stairs and up them, halting at the top of them. A good idea would to get some shots of the room she had seen her from.
     Bracing herself, she walked down the hall slowly, rounding the corner and seeing the door at the end of the little hallway. She walked to and stopped at the doorway, relieved to see no one was presently in the room.
     Shaking her head at her own idiocy, she took out her camera and set it up, snapping the lens into place and making sure everything was in place. She lifted it and directed it at the window from where she had seen her, taking a few pictures here, then moving to shoot other furniture that was in the room.
     She stopped when she spotted a small ring on the dresser, a ring that was small and simple, with a little diamond at the center of a gold band. Frowning, she walked to the dresser and studied it. She let her camera hang around her neck so she could pick it up.
     The moment she picked the ring up into her hands she felt a jolt shake through her, then a chill run down her spine. An image flashed in her mind, of a young, handsome man and a young woman standing under the moonlight as he slid the ring on her finger, her marriage finger. The sudden image filled her with warmth, with immense love, so pure and right her heart nearly broke with it.
     Just as quickly as the image had come, it was gone, leaving her standing alone in that room holding the ring in her hand. She looked down at the ring, her hands shaking, her entire body trembling. With a swift movement, she tossed the ring back on the dresser, watching as it hit and landed there, sitting so innocently.
     The little glimpse she had just seen of both her great grandparents had shocked and frightened her more then she cared to admit. It was her job to research, understand, and write, but never had she actually had the legend, the story, reaching out to HER. It wasn't something that sat well with her.
     She put her camera away, zipped up her pack, and was already walking out the door when she looked at the ring again. It sat there and she could swear it was calling out to her, silent pleas for her to believe, to accept.
     Taking a deep breath, she walked back to dresser and, setting her face, picked up the ring quickly. When she felt nothing, she squeezed it, fingered it, but still nothing happened. Frowning now and feeling a bit disappointed, she stared down at it and made a quick decision. Slipping it into her coat pocket, she turned and left the room.
     She was driving home when her cell phone began to buzz. Reaching into her purse, she took it out and flipped it open."Hello."she rested it between her chin and shoulder, keeping her eyes on the road.
     "Hey babydoll, miss me?"
     She laughed."Yaten, I was wondering when you would call me."
     "I've been waiting for YOUR call. You've been out there almost two weeks Serena and you didn't even bother to call me and tell me how you were doing."he sounded childish and angry.
     "I know, I'm sorry. I've been busy. This town....its beautiful Yaten, really beautiful."
     He was silent a moment."Serena, its a little bumfuck town that could fall off the face of the earth and no one would ever notice."
     "Thats not true!"she stopped when she heard him chuckling."You always do that."
     "I guess its the big brother in me. Well then, you sound like your doing fine and not at all bored."
     She spotted her grandmothers home ahead, turned into her lane and pulled up short in the drive."I never get bored when I'm on the job."she grabbed her pack and climbed out of the car.
     "This job's different. This one's about our family."
     "Your right. Your very right. I've found out some intersting things about our family. Secrets and curses, ghosts and jewels. Its all a bit overwhelming when it has to do with your own family." she dropped her pack as she juggled the phone and her purse, bent over to pick it up.
     And stopped at the low whistle behind her.
     "Now there's something you don't see everyday. Serena, you've got a great butt."Darien approached her, his truck parked a little down the drive where she hadn't seen it when she was pulling in.
     She remembered what she had told him earlier and could have kicked herself for allowing him here."You shouldn't be looking."primly, she straightened and flung her pack over her shoulder.
     "Can't help that."he stared at her cell phone."Who are you talking too?"there was no mistaking the sudden edge to his voice.
     Miffed, she turned away."None of your-"she was halted when he plucked the phone out of her hand and put it to his own ear."Darien!"jumping at him, she struggled to snatch it back, but he held it easily away from her with his greater height.
     "Who's this?"he asked, hooking his arm around her waist to stop her leaping on him.
     She heard Yaten shouting, obviously angry. She shut her eyes tight with horror. If there was one thing Yaten was, he was protective of her. And she knew that right now he had to be raging like a bull and wondering who Darien was. Which meant she could expect him by the next day.
     "Oh....is that right?"he laughed at the threats, tightened his grip when Serena began to kick. "Well now, I'm holding her here and your not. Yea, thats right. And she's nice and soft and-"
     "Darien stop!"she shouted at him, terrified now. Yaten was going to KILL him, then her.
     "You can try. Yea, try."he hung up then and when it began ringing again, he turned it off.
     "You've got some nerve!"she jerked out of his grasp, jumped for her phone, but he held it away."Give it to me!"
     "Who was that? Your grandmother said you were single."he was angry, jealous and angry. And feeling like the biggest idiot on earth.
     "NONE of your business."she snatched it away this time, shoving it into her pocket and heading for the front doors.
     He knew when he was acting like a child, and especially when he was acting like a jealous one, something he had never done before with any woman."Well you can't ignore me now either. You invited me over, remember?"
     She was angry at him, but more worried about what Yaten would do. Feeling extremely nervous, she decided not to call him back or turn her phone on. She'd rather not have to hear what he would say and put off his rage at least another day.
     Feeling a headache coming on, she spoke without thinking."Fine, fine, just please let me get some aspirin."
     He grinned, walked into her home with her and watched as she walked up the steps to change.
     He would make sure she forgot that other man. It would be his name she thought of over any others.
     Serena didn't know what she was going to do with him. She didn't want to go out with him, but then she HAD invited him over. She was trapped and knowing it both frustrated and angered her.
     So she would just stop running from him then. It was stupid to keep running circles and acting like such an idiot child. Enough was enough and she would face this man who insisted on bothering her.
     Mind firmly set, she smoothed down the blouse she had changed into, ran her hands over the knee length, black skirt. Perhaps she was overdressing just a bit, she mused, studying her little black heels. Maybe she should just change into something more simple.
     But this was simple for her. She had only two pairs of jeans and about three t-shirts. She wasn't a person who dressed casually often. She dressed in simple skirts or slacks. That was more suited to her.
     Running the comb through her long hair once more, she took a deep breath and walked out of her room and down the stairs. She heard Darien and her grandmother in the parlor speaking. Her grandmother laughed out loud at something he had said and she could hear his low chuckle. Just the sound of that had her insides curling.
     Setting her face, she walked in."Ok. I'm ready."chin up, she stared at him.
     He rose slowly, his eyes surveying her and his chin nearly dropping to his knees. She looked absolutely gorgeous. He had thought she was beautiful before, but now....
     "I know that look."Sara interrupted his heated thoughts, making him uncomfortable. Her smile was smug and pleased."Serena, honey, you look beautiful."
     "Thank you Grandma."she smiled at her, then turned her back and took two steps."Shall we go then?"she said over her shoulder, walking out the front doors.
     "Go get her Darien. She may seem cold as ice, but inside, she's as hot as fire."Sara winked at him."Like her granddaddy."
     He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then walked out after her.
     Sara watched them from the window, watched Darien open the door to his truck for her and Serena stiffly get in. She could see in Darien's eyes the beginnings of an emotion that only few were blessed with knowing, but for Serena it would take much longer for that look to be there. Her granddaugther had been hurt, she knew. A woman always knew. She could see the shadows of it in her eyes.
     But it was there destiny. For it to begin, they would both have to let go.





Stay tuned for Chapter 3!~SailorPerfect@yahoo.com