| Author's Note:well I haven't added to this one, I've been getting my butt in gear adding to all the other one's. I know people's favorites tend to be the one's that have to do with Serena and Darien, but I try to be fair to all my couples and add at least one chapter to each of them every week. I think I've added more then enough for S&D, now its time for the others. So I apologize to those who love Serena and Seiya and have been waiting patiently(most of you impatiently, yes I got your e-mails telling me to hurry up)and here is the next chapter to Midnight Dreamer. Enjoy! Midnight Dreamer Chapter 5 Serena spent the night with Seiya, sleeping content and also exhilerated that she was engaged. Her first thought when she woke the next morning was that she had to tell Lita so both of them could celebrate and sigh over the ring together. And of course Lita had to be her maid of honor. They showered, dressed, ate breakfast, then finally set out for Lita's home. As they approached Serena was alarmed to find several patrol units parked around the house, along with police officers moving in and out of the residence. "Whats going on.....?"she whispered, both confused and frightened. Seiya parked and she was out and running toward the house before he could switch the car off. She ran to the front lawn, but was halted by an officer."Sorry ma'am, off limits." "Whats going on? Where's Lita? Has something happened to her?"when the officer didn't move, she pushed past him."Get out of my way! Lita!!" Seiya came then and held her, trying to calm her."Ssshh, stop that. I'm sure Lita's fine." Detective Potter had been standing nearby, listening to the exchange, studying Serena. He left the men he stood with and went to them. "Good morning, I'm Detective Potter. I'm in charge of this case."he held out his hand to her to shake. She ignored it."Where's Lita?" Seiya shook his hand instead and kept a firm hold around Serena's waist also."I'm Seiya McCloud and this is my finance, Serena O'Niel. Whats going on here detective?" He eyes Seiya, easily recognizing him as People Magazine's Bachelor of the Year last year, then looked at Serena again. After having walked through Lita Harris' home and seeing all her picture frames of the two of them together, he had a pretty good idea of who she was. "Perhaps we should go somewhere else and-,"he began. "No, I'm not going anywhere until I see Lita. Where is she?"Serena's eyes were turning wild. He stared at her a moment, then sighed. This was the part of the job he had never enjoyed, or he thought, ever would."All right Miss O'Neil."he looked at Seiya and in that moment, Seiya knew. He made sure to hold her tight as the detective spoke." Last night a call came in a little past midnight, about a girl who had been raped and murdered. Charles Lavelle made the call."he took a moment, remembered the horror of what he had also seen only hours before."It was Lita Harris." Serena stared at him, through him, as her confused mind ran through a riot of thoughts and emotions. Lita....no, that couldn't be. Lita....she had just seen her last night....watched her.... "Charles Lavelle, can you believe it? Oh, he's so hot Serena! And rich of course, thats always an added bonus. Practically perfect....."she laughed as she arranged her thick hair, her bright green eyes so vibrant, so ALIVE."Well, I gotta run. I'm already running late. I'm supposed to meet him there. Good luck with Seiya honey, and I'll see you tomorrow!"and with that, she was gone. She was gone..... Seiya caught Serena when she collapsed in a dead faint. She was dreaming, she knew she was. But the dream wasn't about him this time, her knight, her love. It was Lita now and she was smiling, so calm and peaceful, looking so beautiful and so familiar. "Lita....?"she whispered, approaching slowly. "I came to say goodbye. I couldn't leave without saying a word to you. Not you." "Goodbye? No....no, you can't. I-" "You have to promise to take care of yourself. Protect yourself. And Seiya. He'll come after the two of you."she moved closer and stopped in front of Serena, her eyes studying, distant."He hates with all his being and he thinks he's right. Its revenge and its twisted." "Who? Who are you talking about?" But Lita merely shook her head, her green eyes full of secrets."I can't say."she smiled suddenly."Congradulations on your engagement. I'm happy for you, as I always will be."she reached over and took Serena's hand tightly in hers."You were always the center for me; my sister. The family I never had. I'm glad your ok, but you have to watch the darkness."she glanced up, quiet a moment, then back at Serena, her grip on her hand releasing."Now its your turn." Serena awoke with a start, beginning to sit up, but being held back by strong arms. She lay back and looked up into Seiya's worried eyes, realizing she was no longer in Lita's front yard, but in Seiya's home. A man with violet eyes and dark brown hair, a very handsome man, was studying her critically."She'll be all right Seiya."she noticed Yaten standing behind him with Dimando, both also looking worried. "Serena, honey-"Seiya began. "Lita."she whispered, remembering what had happened, remembering the dream. With a sob, she turned in Seiya's arms and buried her face against his chest, crying so hard her stomache hurt. She couldn't seem to think past the pain, she couldn't think past the fact that Lita was dead. Lita, who had been her best friend for years, who had shared so much laughter and adventures with her. She was gone now. The tears subsided, she didn't know how long she cried until they finally stopped. She was drowsy, drained against Seiya as he held her in his lap, one of her hands in his. "She's gone Seiya....."she whispered. He kissed her forehead, held her tightly."I know baby....I know." Death always seemed like a dream, like a nightmare you couldn't wake up from. She had experienced it with her parents before, but Lita had been there to help her through it. Now it was Lita who was gone and she was alone again. Even as the thought came Seiya was there, holding her and soothing, murmuring words of comfort, of encouragement. And she knew that she wasn't comepletely alone because he would always be there with her. She spoke with the Detective Potter and he told her how it had happened. That Lita had been raped and murdered in the backseat of her car. That her throat had been cut from side to side, precisely and neatly. The man who had done it had left nothing of himself behind. Nothing. But she remembered the dream and Lita's warnings, Lita telling her to be careful and watch Seiya also, that he would be coming for them. It confused her even through the mourning. Who would want to kill Lita, or even her and Seiya? Who could hold a grudge against them? It was at the funeral that the answer finally came to her. It was a cold, bleak day, with small drizzles of rain falling on them as they stood beside the casket, Seiya beside her, her hand held tightly in his. She listened vaguely as the priest spoke, explaining her death, mourning for her, and blessing her. And when it was over, other friends of hers walked away, leaving Serena and Seiya, Yaten, Taiki, and Dimando standing there alone. None of them noticed the tall, dark man who stood off to the side, watching everything with both anger and hate. Serena sighed and placed the rose she held on the casket, turning to leave when she saw him. She froze and stared at him, past events coming back to her in one quick instant. "You."she pointed at him, where he stood some feet away."It was YOU!"the second statement got the others attention. Vegita stepped out, wearing black jeans and a black shirt under, with a long trenchcoat over those. His dark eyes were full of anger, of surpressed hate as he stared at first Seiya, then back at the woman who had once been his."So she was murdered. What a shame."his voice held no sympathy, only bitterness as he continued looking at the couple before him. Seiya immediately put an arm around Serena, in both protectiveness and posessiveness."She was your cousin. You could show a little more sympathy." "He can't show anything because he killed her."Serena's voice was low, but Seiya and his brothers heard, all of them staring at first her then Vegita in shock."You bastard. She was your own cousin!" Vegita shook his dark head."I may have hated her, but I wouldn't kill her." "Lets see what the police think when I tell them."of course. It all made sense now. Lita had said the killer killed with hate, with revenge. And who else would want to kill her and Seiya? Vegita. To get revenge on them because she had left him. He had said it himself when she had told him she was leaving him. He had gone after Lita, ready to murder her, but Serena had stopped him. How could she have been so blind? He shrugged."Tell the police what you want. I know what I didn't do."he glanced at Lita's coffin."She's dead now. There's nothing left for me here."he looked at Serena, then Seiya, calculating."Only a few more things."shoulders hunched against the rain, he turned and walked away. Serena stood there trembling with fury, with fear. He was going to come after her next, her and Seiya. She wouldn't let him though. She would tell the police and have Lita's murderer put away before she allowed him to kill anymore people. "Serena, whats going on?"Seiya asked her softly, confused at what had just happened. "Take me down to the station Seiya. I need to speak with Detective Potter." The detective listened with interest and patience, taking notes as Serena sat before his desk, telling him everything that had happened, Seiya beside her. He stopped her only a few times to ask a question, then would motion for her to continue. When she was done, he sat thinking for a moment."Miss O'Neil, this is all very helpful, trust me. Its given me more then I had before, but your going to have to understand that just because he threatened you and Lita Harris doesn't mean he necessarily killed her."he spoke calmly, not at all surprised when Serena's eyes filled with anger and disbelief. "But it had to have been him! No one else would want to kill her!"her voice was rising. "It could have been any number of people. Perhaps someone holding something against her, or just a random, faceless man. Someone who found her a perfect victim."he folded his hands on his desk before him and kept his voice calm."What your going to have to understand is that in a murder case like this, there are suspects everywhere. And the fact that we have no type of evidence to help us makes it even harder to figure out who it could have been." She heard what he was saying, but she refused to believe it had just been some man who found her attractive. It had been Vegita, it had to have been him!"Won't you do anything then with what I've told you?" He nodded."We'll pay him a visit, ask him some questions, check out his home. But other then that, there is nothing else we can do." She was angry, she was furious. But she also knew when someone was right. What he was saying made sense. She would just have to accept that. She stood, held out her hand to shake when he quickly stood also."Thank you for your time, detective." "Thank you for coming in and telling me all this. I'll hope to have more for you soon."he shook hands with Seiya also, then they left him. They were driving home and Seiya kept sneaking glances at her as he drove. She hadn't said a word since they had left the station, but it was obvious that she was upset by everything. He was afraid of what she might be thinking. They arrived at his estate and he walked around to put his arm around her as they walked up the steps. Once inside she told him she was tired and wanted to go upstairs and get some rest. When he offered to go with her she shook her head and walked away. He went into the parlor and found Dimando and Yaten waiting for him."Where's Taiki?"he asked, his voice tired. "He got called in."Dimando studied his cousin."Let me guess: they didn't listen to her?" Seiya shook his head."He wrote it all down, but I could tell he was pretty skeptical about just taking her word for it."he ran a hand down his face."Its tearing her up." "She'll be all right. She's strong, stronger then even we realize."Yaten put a hand on his shoulder. "I don't like that she didn't tell me about what happened with Vegita."he recalled her words, that he had threatened both her and Lita and could feel rage pumping through him."She thinks it was him." Dimando and Yaten let this piece of information sink in."Do you think he'd be capable of that?"Yaten asked. "I don't know. I mean, she was his COUSIN. Thats pretty sick."Seiya didn't know if he was more disgusted or angry. "It could have just been some guy. You know, like one of those rapists that passes through, then moves on to the next town."Dimando thought about it."And if thats the case, they have to catch him before he can move on." Seiya nodded."Yea." Dimando eyes him."Maybe you should go turn in with Serena. You don't look so good yourself." "Yea, get some rest." "Thats the best idea I've heard all day."he gave them a faint smile."I'll see you guys later." He left them to head upstairs, watched as they went out the front doors speaking quietly to one another. He was glad he had a family to back him at a time like this. His brothers and his cousin, who he considered his brother also. And he was glad Serena had him. He entered the room quietly, found her lying on the bed sleeping soundly. He removed his shoes, jacket and tie, then climbed in with her, pulling her to him. She snuggled against him and he smiled at that, then drifted into sleep. "I miss her."Serena whispered, sitting in her office with the phone cradled between her shoulder and chin."Its been three months, but it might as well have been yesterday." "I understand. I miss her too. I wasn't as good of friends with her as you, but I still do understand."the voice was soft, quiet and calm. "Yea, I know. Detective Potter hasn't found anything. There giving up, I know they are. I can tell."she drummed her fingers against her desk."Amy, what if everyone's right? What if it was just some guy passing through, and it really wasn't Vegita?" "You listen to what your heart tells you Serena, not what everyone else does."and even though Amy was a very realistic person, she had to admit that some part of her believed Serena. "I guess."her secretary buzzed her."Amy, hold on one minute."she pushed the button."What is it Lisa?" "Mr. McCloud is here to see you. I think its the brother who's a doctor."her voice sounded dreamy. Serena bit back her laugh."Send him right in Lisa."she clicked back over."Amy, I'm going to have to have to call you back. Taiki's here to see me." "Taiki? The doctor? Oh. Ok. I'll call you again soon." "All right. Don't forget too."she hung up just as Taiki walked in."Hey handsome, what brings you down to my door this time of day?" "Making sure your doing ok."he spoke casually, but even under his tone she detected something. Worry, tension. She had known him only weeks, but had already come to understand his pattern. "Taiki, whats wrong?"she stood and walked around her desk to him. "Its....well, there is something."he waited a moment, took a breath and cursed Yaten for making excuses and not coming with him to tell her."Vegita's back." She stared at him, lifted her hand to grip her stomache."What?"she felt like she would faint and it must have showed when he rushed forward and helped her into a chair before her desk."He's back?" He hated the fact that he had put that look on her face."He came back last night."he shifted and walked away from her to look out the window of the office."Thats not all either." What else could there be? she thought with horror. She waited for him to speak since her own voice had seemed to have been taken. He breathed in a deep breath."Yaten and I, we thought it would be a good idea to keep tabs on him while he was gone. It was a pretty good idea that we did too."he shut his eyes."While he was in Europe, a young girl was raped, beaten, and murdered very near to wherever he was staying. And as soon as the murder had been done, he would pick up and go." She struggled for air, grateful when Taiki came over and rubbed her upper back."He's killing her....over and over again....." "Thats what Yaten and I thought too. These murders....there all the same. All of the them were neat and precise. He left nothing of himself behind. Nothing."Taiki shook his head. "And he's back now."she fought past the fear and horror, tried to think that he was back for her and Seiya now. He had sworn revenge....he had come back to fullfill it."Have you told Seiya?" "No. No way. Seiya will.....I don't want to think of what my brother will do." She knew the truth in those words."Taiki, I'm glad you came and told me, even if it was hard for you. But you have to promise me that you won't tell Seiya. I'll....I'll do it at the right time." He nodded."Its no problem."he halted when his beeper went off, lifted it to look at the number."Thats the hospitals numbers. I'm on call."he knelt in front of her."I have to go Serena. But just try not to let this get to you too much." She looked into his worried eyes, and decided to lie. She forced a smile."I'll be ok." He smiled also."Good to hear. I'll see you."he stood and left her there. She sat there, her mind swirling with thoughts, her heart beating quickly. The time had finally come. She had known it would...even when Vegita had left so suddenly, coming to say goodbye to her at the office. She had been relieved to see him go and hadn't bothered hiding it. She had ignored his hurt expression and watched him leave. But he was back now.....for her..... Stay tuned for Chapter 6(I think that one will be the last chapter too)!~SailorPerfect@yahoo.com |