| Author's Note: here's the last chapter to "Midnight Dreamer." I realize its taken me very long to update this story, and I mean VERY long. I wanted to thank all of those who were faithful readers to this fanfic and sent those E-Mails, thank you to all of you. Thanks for your patience, I hope you enjoyed this story and will come back for Yaten's. Don't forget to send that E-Mail, I'd love to hear from all of you! Midnight Dreamer Chapter 6 Fear had never been a ruling emotion in her life. Grief had come, happiness, joy, lust, and desire. She'd felt all of those, now common to her, familiar to her. But never fear. She could feel it pumping through her as she drove home through traffic, could feel it crawling along her skin when a car followed her for sometime, then turned into another street and let her sigh. She jumped when someone beeped at her, felt foolish because she hadn't been paying attention to light that had turned green. Her entire body relaxed when she saw Seiya's home ahead, big and bright and seeming to wait for her. Her home now as well. She'd moved in with him right after Lita's murder, had been living under his protection since that fateful night. He wouldn't let her leave, especially now that they were engaged. As she stepped out her car, taking her brief case with her, then slamming the door, she smiled softly at the thought of there engagement. It had all happened so quickly, hit them both so hard and fast they were still having trouble keeping up. But it felt so right. She walked up the walkway and using her key, opened the front door to step in. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the din of the entrance hall, the classical furniture, the antique grandfather clock set nearby now familiar to her. Feeling safe and at home, she closed the door behind her. Seiya's car hadn't been parked outside so she knew he wasn't home yet. Picking the mail up from the mail slot, she was sifting through it when she heard the beeping coming from the living room, where the phone and answering machine was. Going toward it, she pressed the play button, listening to the messages, perking up when Seiya's deep voice filled the room, telling her he would be a bit late, around 8:30. When the messages were done she went into the kitchen, serving herself some cold lemonade she had made the day before. Sipping that and reading through her mail, she went into the living room to watch tv, came up short when the phone rang. A bit annoyed at the intrusion, she debated whether or not to let the machine get it, then realizing it might be Seiya, raced over and snatched it up."Hello?" There was silence, but she could hear faint breathing, soft and deep. She felt a chill move up her back, fear clogging her throat, causing her breath to hitch. But through the fear came anger, anger that he would dare to call her home and do this to her."I'm not afraid of you Vegeta."she spat out, her hands shaking."I'll never be afraid of you."she heard the click, then the sound of the dial tone filling her ear. Hanging the phone up, she placed it carefully back in its cradle, the sound of the quiet click like thunder in the large, silent house. Suddenly the quiet was too much, suddenly every shadow, every corner looked as if it could hide something while the sun set outside. Desperate and unbelievably frightened, she made a dash for the door. She halted when it opened and nearly screamed, lifting her arms to shield against whoever it could be."Serena?"it was Dimando, stepping in and looking extremely worried."My God Serena, whats happened?"striding in, he shut the door behind him and went to her, shocked when she threw herself into his arms, her body trembling."Hey, whats going on? Has someone hurt you?"his voice had turned deadly. She clung, grateful it had been him. Dimando was a comfort to her, like Taiki and Yaten were."No....I just.....I need a minute." "Hey, go ahead and take it."he stroked his hand up and down her back to soothe."Its because Vegeta is back, isn't it? Did he do something?"he yanked her back to look her in the eye. She shook her head vigorously, then decided against it."I'm not sure. Oh God, I'm going crazy. Someone called just now. They didn't say anything, just.....nothing." He nodded grimly."Just breathed and scared the living shit out of you right? Yea, that jerk would do that. I'm calling Seiya and telling him."he moved to walk past her, but she latched onto his arm. "NO! Don't! Seiya will.....I don't want to think of what he'll do, but please don't tell him! Its nothing, really. I'm just...uneasy. Nerves these days."she laughed almost hysterically while he stood and just stared at her. "Yea you seem real fine too me."when her eyes continued to plead with him, he let out a long sigh."Fine. Goddamnit, fine. But he even makes one move toward you, just ONE, I'm telling Seiya everything." She nodded, hugged him."Thank you Dimando." He grunted, patted her back."Yea. I just hope Seiya doesn't find out some other way, cause then its my ass he'll kick."he glanced around the house."He wanted me to drop in on you and make sure you were ok."he checked his watch."I'm going to call my date and cancel then. I don't want to leave you alone until he gets here." "No Dimando, don't do that. I'll be all right now. I feel better."and she did, to her surprise."You go on your date and have fun." He shook his head."No I'm staying." "Don't be stubborn! Go! Have fun! I mean it."she pointed at the door, watching the amusement lighten his eyes."Out! I don't want you here, I want you on your date!" "I wonder if Seiya realizes what a bossy woman he's got on his hands."he shook his head again, laughing softly."I'll go only because you look ready to pull me out by the ear if I don't." She laughed with him as he walked to the door."I just want you to be happy." He turned to study her a moment, standing behind the open door."Seiya's a lucky guy. Hope you don't mind me saying so." "I'm flattered." He nodded, his expression turning serious."If anything happens, and I mean ANYTHING, call Seiya, or me, or Taiki and Yaten. I mean it Serena. If Vegeta's back, he's back for something." "I know, your right. I will."she watched him go, smiling to herself, before closing the door behind him. He watched her from a safe distance, watched Dimando, Seiya's cousin, leave the house, glancing back as if worried to leave her. He watched the man stop and seemed to debate with himself, then turn and go to his car, turning it on and driving away. Pleased with his luck, he decided to take action now. She was home alone and he knew for a fact that Seiya would be tied up at his office for another couple of hours yet. He had planned it neatly and precisely. She knew he had planned on coming back for her. Well here he was. When the knock came at the door, only minutes after she had seen Dimando out, she smiled, knowing he had changed his mind yet again and had returned to argue with her. Humming, she went and opened the door. And felt all of the blood drain from her face. Vegeta stood in the doorway, with that familiar smirk on his face that she had once loved, his dark hair wind blown, his dark eyes riveted on her. He said nothing, merely stood there staring at her. When she attempted to slam the door on his face, he brought a hand up and held it open, cocking one brow."Aren't you glad to see me, my love?" With a cry of outrage, she slapped him."Bastard! How dare you come here! How dare you even attempt to speak to me after what you did to Lita!"her hand cracked across his face again, his head snapping to the side with the force of the blow."I'm not afraid of you! I told you only moments ago, I'm not afraid!" The sting of her slap had hurt more then physically, but he refused to let it show. He turned to look at her, the imprint of her hand on his cheek."You were never afraid of me before, I wouldn't want you to be now."he took a step forward, watched her back away, her eyes wide."I thought you said you weren't afraid." "I'm not."but God she was. She could feel the fear eating at her insides, so much that she was having trouble thinking. There was no one around there home for a mile down the beach and she knew they wouldn't hear her scream. No one would."Have you come back to finish the job?" He tilted his head to the side as he walked slowly into the house, with her backing away."What job?" "To kill me."she hissed, jumping slightly when the grandfather clock began to bong the hour."Like you did Lita." "I thought we'd already been over this. I didn't kill her. Although whoever did did me a favor."he mused, smiling slightly."She always was a nuisance." She gasped, her hand covering her mouth."How could you? She was your cousin! Bastard!"she groped for something behind her as she walked, gripped a candleholder and heaved it at him, catching him by surprise and hitting him on the head. At his cry of pain and outrage she turned and ran, racing into the living room and heading for the sliding doors that led to the beach. She had almost made it when he tackled her from behind, both of them falling to the ground with a loud thud. She screamed, attempting to crawl across the floor, grabbing hold of a coffee table and knocking it down when he jerked her back to him, vases and plates crashing to the floor around them. "I came back for you."he snarled, turning her over onto her back, beginning to rip at her clothes."I came back for whats mine. And you are mine Serena. You've always been mine." She struck out, clawed at him, kicked and scratched, but it was no use. He pinned her arms down, and her legs with his heavy weight. Once she had welcomed that weight, welcomed him willingly into her body, but now felt only terror at this touch. He tore her blouse, his large hand groping for and cupping her breast, squeezing it and flicking the nipple as he remembered she had favored it."I know your body Serena. I know what you like."he lowered his head, running his tongue slowly across the nipple. She bucked, twisted, wept bitterly."Let me go, please. God, don't do this Vegeta." His hand was slithering up her skirt when the front door opened."Serena, who's car is-"Dimando walked into the living room, halting for just a moment at the sight of Serena half naked, with Vegeta tearing desperately at her."Son of a bitch!"grabbing Vegeta by his shirt, he tore him from her and hit him in the face with his fist, watching him fall. He flicked a glance at Serena, not seeing when Vegeta stood and rammed his own fist into Dimando's face, knocking him back, crashing into a large book shelf. He lay there, dazed, when with a loud groan, the book shelf came crashing down on top of him. Vegeta didn't waste time. Turning, he ran from the house. Clutching her shirt, she struggled across the floor and began pushing the books out of the way, vaguely hearing Vegeta turn his car on and speed away. "Oh God Dimando."shoving at books, she saw he must have been knocked out, as his body was lying limp. She went to the phone and dialed 911. Seiya sped up to his home, screeching to a halt and leaping out of his car. There were several patrol units parked around his home, with policemen walking in and out. He raced inside, searching desperately through each room until he found Serena, Dimando, Taiki, and Yaten all sitting in the parlor, Serena pale, her eyes dark and haunted. Detective Potter stood with a pen and pad in hand, studying both her and Dimando. He ran to her, watched her eyes light up, then fill with tears before she threw herself into his arms and held on tight."Oh baby."he whispered into her hair, clutching her desperately, stroking her hair."Oh baby, I'm so sorry. This is my fault, its all my fault." Her hand vised into his shirt, her face pressed into his neck."Seiya, he came back. He's back for me." "Well he's not going to get you."he said it fiercely, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then looking at Dimando."How you holding up?" Dimando shrugged, grinned through the black eye and split lip. Except for the nurmerous bruises over his body that no one could see and the pounding in his head, he felt just dandy."I'll live. Just wish I had gotten the bastard." "Oh I'll get him. I'll get him all right."Seiya said it savagely, his blue eyes darkening with rage. Potter held up a hand."Thats my job, Mr. McCloud. I understand your angry, but we-" "No, you don't understand. You don't understand a thing. Your here to take notes, to think and consider, and maybe make a move. But other then that, you don't do shit. We TOLD you about Vegeta, we told you what he was capable of. Now look what he's done!"his voice had risen to a shout, several cops stopping what they were doing to listen. Serena tugged on his shirt."Please Seiya. Don't, not now." He turned back to her and stroked her, soothing them both."I'm sorry sweetheart, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry Mr. McCloud, and you are right. I don't understand. But I've seen this, I worked with this, and I've stopped this. So maybe that will be enough for now."seeing how fiercely Seiya was protecting Serena, he doubted he'd let him speak with her alone."I'll need a statement from Miss O'Neil, and you as well, Mr. McCloud."he said to Dimando, who nodded while Taiki examined his head."Perhaps tomorrow I'll stop by and see you both. I'll try and have everyone out of here within the hour."he left them alone. "Why didn't anyone tell me Vegeta was back?"Seiya asked, eerily calm."And don't bother telling me none of you knew." Taiki continued examining Dimando's head, suddenly intent on his work, Yaten rubbing the back of his neck while Dimando scratched his chin."We ah.....we didn't want to piss you off."Dimando spoke, hoping to gain pity for his battered appearance."You know, you go nuts when your pissed Seiya. It was better we kept it from you." "I see."he knew they were right, but it still didn't take the rage away."So instead I found out like this." "This is no time to get mad and start putting blame on each other."Serena pushed back from him, hands on hips."We need to keep ourselves united, especially now." Seiya rubbed his eyes."Your right darling, as always."he cupped her face, kissed her softly, then pulled back to look at Dimando."I'm grateful to you. Very grateful. I'll owe you for the rest of our lives." Dimando grinned, winced when his lip split again."I'll cash that favor in one day then." "Anything you want, whenever you want it."he promised. Yaten was thoughtful."What about Vegeta? He's still out there. And he still wants Serena." "He won't get her. I'll put guards on her, I'll put everything I can to guard her, but he won't get within two feet of her."Seiya said, his tone hardening. She shook her head, held up a hand."No, please. I don't want to be walking around with body guards like I'm some movie star or something. Just as long as I never have to come home alone again, I'll be fine." Seiya knew arguing with her when she set her mind to something was useless. He nodded slowly."Fine. No guards. But your extra careful and from now on I pick you up from the office. We go everywhere together, no matter what. Its either with me, my brothers, or Dimando." She smiled, stroked a hand through his hair."Deal." In the dark, in the night, he clutched her image, held onto how beautiful she'd looked, how beautiful she'd always been since he'd first seen her. Her silvery, golden mane, her deep blue eyes, eyes he could drown in. The way she tilted her head, the way her hair cascaded down her lovely backside, the way her eyes warmed when she smiled. She'd halted his revenge, had made him re-think what he'd been going to do. But now he knew. Yes, now he knew. Sitting alone, in the dark, where no could see or hear his hatred and revenge, he wept bitter tears. She took an afternoon to herself, drove out to the cemetary, to where she had buried Lita. Walking toward her grave, she stopped and stood, simply stood, and gazed at the large headstone she'd had carved for her, of an angel, an angel who would remain forever young. Wrapping her coat more securely around herself, she tucked her hands into her coat pockets."Hello Lita."she whispered it, her throat suddenly dry."I'm sorry I haven't come since the funeral, but I.....I just couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to come and see where I had put you into the ground. It still makes me sad, still tears at my heart to think of you. Its been almost two months, but for me it might as well have been two days." She was quiet a moment, the icy wind blowing against her, causing her to shiver."I feel guilt because I'm so happy. Because when you died so many things seemed to fall into place and make sense to me. Because I have Seiya now and he makes my heart sing, makes me feel as if I can be happy forever, as if his love is all I need."she paused a moment, pressed a hand to her heart."He's back Lita. He's come back for me now. But by God I won't let him take me too. I promised you I would fight back, that I would protect myself and Seiya and I will. Its the last promise I can make to you and the last I'll be able to keep."she let out a long sigh, smiled a little."I hope one day I have a daughter like you. And I promise you that I'll name her for you, that she'll have everything you should have had." The wind blew fiercer, like insistent fingers through her hair, enveloping her in a warm embrace. She felt it, and knew it was Lita, thanking her, and reassuring her as well. And with that warmth surrounding her, she didn't see the tall man watching her from the shadows, his eyes hungry with desire, hungry for blood. Seiya was home, on the patio of the beach house, sipping a beer and watching the blazing sun. He glanced at Serena, who stood nearby painting, working intently, not even stopping to spare a glance. She'd been at it since she'd returned from the cemetary the day before, stopping only to eat when he handed her something, or when he'd seduced her into bed the night before. At the memory he smiled, sipped more beer, then looked over when Yaten, Taiki, and Dimando came outside, all of them stopping to watch Serena a moment, before continuing over to him and settling down with him. "You weren't kidding."Yaten observed, grabbing a few beers from the cooler Seiya had set up next to him, handing one to Taiki and Dimando before opening his."She's intense." "Yea."Seiya grunted, noted the black eye Dimando had had faded."Feeling better?" "Except for a few headaches, I got no complaints. Besides, I got lucky last night."lacing his fingers behind his head, he tipped back his chair and grinned."That Julia, she's one fine piece of woman." "I got lucky too."Seiya said smugly."And with the wedding coming up, I'm getting even more lucky." "You guys sure about this? I mean, with everything thats going on?"Taiki asked, casting a worried glance at Serena."Has she been eating properly, drinking liquids?" Seiya laughed."Always the doctor. Yea, she'd been ok, I'm making sure of it. And besides that, were definitely sure. Everything's going crazy around us, but this is the one thing thats right."he smiled."Its perfect." "I'm glad to hear that."Dimando lifted his beer."To you two then. May you have a long, long, and I mean long, boring life together." The four men laughed, clanked cans together, drank from there beer. That night Seiya was climbing into bed, wearing nothing as he snuggled down, waiting for Serena to come out of the bathroom and join him."Honey, are you done yet?"he called out, ready to seduce her again. She came out, wearing a thin, black lacy thing that made his mouth water."Yea, I'm ready." As she strode to him, he didn't see her smug smile, his hands reaching out and grabbing her, dragging her to him and crushing his mouth on hers. Rolling her beneathe him, he drank deeply from her, starved for what only she could give him. When he woke the next morning, bleary eyed and pleasantly exhausted from the night before, she was gone. Panicked, he lept out of bed and quickly dressed, racing downstairs to find the house empty. Just as he was considering rounding up his brothers for a search party, he saw a small, neatly folded note on the coffee table near the entrance doors. Picking it up, he scanned its contents, frowning because she had gone to an early appointment at the office and would be back in the early afternoon. He'd told her he didn't want her going anywhere alone. Of course the woman was too stubborn and to independent to listen to him. Crumpling the note in his hand, he began to think of ways to punish her, ways that had his blood heating and a smug smile coming to his lips. He was chuckling under his breath when there was a knock at the front door. Stuffing the note in his pocket, he went and answered it, the smile he'd had fading when he found Detective Potter standing on the porche, his hands stuffed in his coat pockets against the cold day. Seiya stepped back."Come in out of the cold." Potter inclined his head in thanks."How are you doing, Mr. McCloud?" Seiya shut the door, motioning for him to go into the living room."I'd be better if Vegeta was behind bars. Coffee?" "No thank you. I have some information you might be interested in hearing, regarding Vegeta." Seiya sat on a settee across from him, folded his hands together and leaned forward onto his knees."Good. Spill it."he said in a calm voice. Potter nodded."All right. Your brothers aren't the only one's who kept track of Vegeta when he went to Europe."he rubbed his chin a moment."I kept tabs on him, and there were murders very near to anywhere he was staying. And he would always pick up and go when they were committed." Seiya acknowledged this with a nod."I know that now. He murdered those women." Potter shook his head, halting him."No, I don't think so. They were done very near to where he was staying, yes, but I've had my sources over there gather considerable amounts of witnesses. Vegeta went there alone, remained alone, but when a man looks like him, is as obviously rich as him, women are willing to watch, and to follow even for a taste." Seiya could feel dread filling him at every word the detective was saying."What did these women see?" "The night of each murder, Vegeta wasn't there where it was done. He was across town, in a bar somewhere drinking himself into oblivion. He was drunk and crying for Serena, but never near the place of these murders. We have several witnesses who can testify to this."Potter leaned forward, his eyes dark."Do you realize what I'm telling you?" He did and he was afraid to say it."But it had to have been him. Who else would do it? He was there, it was him!" Potter shook his head."No, it wasn't him. But someone wants us to believe it was him. Someone who planned this for sometime, someone who targeted him to take the fall for there own murders."he scratched his chin."And whoever this is has got to realize everything will add up to us and we'll know his plan. Which means-" "He'll make his move now."Seiya finished, the blood draining from his face. "Precisely. Where is Miss O'Neil?" "She's gone."alone. Serena finished up her appointment with her bookeeper, went through files and paperwork, checking on shipments, cruiselines, safety and stats. Writing memos to the members of the board, she left her office and gave them to her secretary, telling her to have them sent out and make sure any files were put on her desk first thing in the morning. "Will you be heading home now, Miss O'Neil?"Susan, her secretary asked her, neatly stacking the files and setting the memos aside. Serena rubbed at her neck, thought of Lita and the painting she'd finished the day before. It was two months exactly that day."No, I think I'll visit someone. If Seiya calls, tell him I'll be home a bit late. Have a good night Susan." "You too Miss O'Neil." She went out to her car, drove through a storm that was building slowly and steadily. Relieved she'd brought a thick jacket with her, she entered the cementary, noting it was empty. Of course it would be, she thought. Who wanted to be out in a storm like this? Parking, she slipped into her jacket, putting the hood over her hair and buttoning it up. Stepping out of the car, she braced against the icy, fierce wind that seemed desperate to almost push her back into her car. Clutching the rose she'd brought, she walked through the slashing wind, keeping her head bent. She stopped before the figure of the angel, walked forward to place the rose at the feet of it. She took a moment to study it, to put away the grief that had been eating at her since her murder."Lita, I have to let go. I can't continue like this. I want my life with Seiya, I want a family with him. I'm sorry. God, you can't realize how sorry I am, but I need to let go of this grief or I won't be able to live like I want too."she touched the petals of the rose, looked up at the statue of the angel."You'll always be in my heart, no matter how much time passes, no matter where I go." The winds changed, grew fiercer and seemed to scream around her. Frightened, she felt something move along her back, felt the slithering of warning and fear grow, and turned slowly to look over her shoulder. Vegeta came tearing toward her through the storm, and her eyes widened in alarm. Before she could move to run, he was gripping her arms, the rain running in rivelets down his face. "Let me go!"she screamed it at him, struggling in his arms. "Stop it! Listen to me!"he flinched and it was then she noticed the blood at his middle, to the side, pouring steadily out. Her eyes shot to his and she saw the strain on his face, the pain."He's coming!" Even as her mind registered the blood and the fact that it was a knife wound, she struggled still."Let me go! Murderer! Did you come to finish the job?!" "Stop it Serena and run! Just run!"he pushed her, gasped and would have fallen if she hadn't caught him."Run, damnit!" Something was terribly wrong, she thought, helping him straighten. Vegeta wouldn't actually give himself a knife wound....would he?"Whats going on? Vegeta, whats going on?"she stumbled back under his weight and leaned against the stone of the angel, grateful it was there. "He's coming Serena, he's coming for you. Run, run now!"he shouted it over the storm, but it was too late. Out of the dark, out of the storm in the night, the form of a man materialized. Clutching Vegeta's weakening body, she turned to him, watched him step from the shadows, and felt her own shock take a sick spin. "It was you."she whispered, the horror and shock of it tearing into her. Seiya tore through the building and into the main offices of Serena's. Her secretary, Susan, was finishing up her work to go home and stopped at the sight of him, Detective Potter close behind."Mr. McCloud?" "Where is she?"he fell on her, gripping her shoulders so tight she flinched."Where the hell is she? Serena!" "She's gone."frowning, Susan watched him turn on her, his eyes wild."She said to tell you she would be visiting someone." "Visiting someone? Oh God, who, goddamnit who!"he racked his brain for answers. "Mr. McCloud, you need to remain calm. Reacting this way won't help."as he spoke Yaten and Taiki came tearing inside, panting, chests heaving. Seiya saw them and grabbed both there arms."Serena's in trouble. We have to find her!" "You know? How do you know?"Yaten was pale, his usually handsome face filled with terror and grief."How do you know?" Seiya shook his head, tried to clear it and see his brothers."What? What are you talking about?" "He doesn't know."Taiki spoke, made sure to keep his voice calm."Yaten recieved a call from Paris today, from a detective who works out there for the local pd unit. It seems that while Dimando was there, he left a few things behind." Seiya shook his head."So what? Dimando's always forgetting things, he never-"he halted as what they'd said struck."Paris? But....he said he had business in Tokyo. He went to Tokyo, I saw the ticket myself!" "THATS the ticket he left behind there in Paris. But thats not why he called. He left a pair of clothing behind, and when the manager to the hotel he'd been staying at went through it it had blood."Taiki watched Seiya's eyes widen, his mouth fall open."The detective said the blood matched two of the girls that had been killed out there." Seiya shook his head, shook it furiously even as what his brothers had said settled."No...no, not Dimando. No, he's like our brother!" "Where's Serena?"Yaten asked sharply, turning toward Susan. The secretary was pale after everything she'd heard, her eyes huge."She....she went to visit someone. I don't know who, I-" "Lita."Taiki cut in, his eyes widening."She went to Lita." "Your right. Its been two months today." "How could you? What had she ever done to you?"Serena shouted it over the howling of the storm. Dimando came out of the shadows, his white hair wet and plastered to his head, his blue eyes full of amusement, his smile easy."Oh nothing. She was beautiful, full of life. She gave me momentary peace."he wore a polo shirt and jeans, not even blinking against the onslaught of the storm, a bloody knife in his right hand."But you. Oh you'll give me everything Serena. So beautiful, so light and pure." Her teeth were beginning to chatter from both the cold and the fear."Why? What reason do you have, what right-" "I have every right!"he screamed it at her, then calmed before her very eyes, the cocky smile returning, the smile of the insane."I have every right, my beautiful one. Do you know how much I hate my cousins?"she watched his grip tighten around the knife, watched his eyes turn brutal and cold."Do you realize that while they had everything there whole lives, I had nothing?" She swallowed, made sure to keep her eyes trained on his every moment."I don't understand." He motioned with the knife, causing her to freeze."Of course you don't understand, spoiled little princess you are. Your dear mommy and daddy gave you everything you ever wanted, everything." "So did yours. You were well off your entire life Dimando, lived a life with luxuries like me." "But no love!"he shouted, the tears escaping and mingling with the rain."No love ever. My father hated me from the moment I was born. My mother died when I was a child, I have no memory of her, and my father raised me to know how much he despised me, how much he also despised his brother, Seiya's father, my uncle." He scratched his head a moment."Seiya's father was perfect, everyone loved him. No one loved my father. And because of that he couldn't love me. He hated me to his dying breath and that was when I swore I would kill every last McCloud, every one of them."he pointed at Vegeta with the knife."He came at a perfect time. The both of you did. I used him, framed him, made it look as if he was the psychatic boyfriend looking for revenge."throwing back his head, he howled with laughter."But I fooled him, didn't I? Yes, I fooled them all!" "Run Serena."Vegeta muttered it to her, leaning heavily against the stone angel."Run now." "No, I won't leave you like this."she hissed back, pausing when Dimando stopped laughing to look at them. "Look at you two, the ideal couple. Your time has come to an end Seiya, she's going to belong to me now."mixing faces as the darkness enveloped them and lightening flashed, he lunged forward. Vegeta pushed her out of the way and the knife sank deeply into his other side, Serena's scream barely heard over the thunder shaking through the night. Dimando pushed him off the knife, stood over him as Vegeta fell to the floor, a pool of blood steadily growing around him. "That takes care of that."Dimando said cheerfully, turning toward her, lifting his free, bloody hand to crook a finger at her."Come here Serena, my love." The fear seemed to want to choke her, but through it came the need to live, the surge of strength she hadn't realized she had. Reaching into her jacket pockets, found the keys to her car, and lunged at him. Plunging them into his face, she took that chance to turn and run, the storm swallowing her. His howl of pain followed her, his heavy footsteps behind her as she ran. Desperate, she raced through the maze of graves, felt a whisper, a tingle telling her to run for the mosaleum at the top of the hill. Following that, she ran up the hill, stumbling, the wind blowing at her back now as if pushing her forward. Going on instinct, she ran around the building, hid in the dark when he came out of the storm, the knife still in his hand, his cheek bleeding from the wound she'd given him."Now Serena, don't do this. Be reasonable. I won't hurt you. Not really anyway. Seiya's dead, there's nothing left for you." Hiding deeper into the corner of the wall, her hand gripped something, felt the handle of a shovel. "I'll make it quick. You won't feel a thing."he said, his tone coaxing."I promise you won't feel a thing." With a shout, she jumped from the shadows holding the shovel and hit him on the shoulder, watching him fall back. She'd aimed for his head, but the dark had confused her. Not wasting time, she ran. She needed to get back to Vegeta. She needed to get him to the doctor. Oh God, she needed Seiya. She saw the statue of the angel, felt hope and relief, only to have the breath knocked from her when Dimando tackled her from behind, both of them falling to the wet, muddy ground. "Bitch!"he shouted, beyond reason now."You bitch, now it will be slow and it will be painful!" She looked up at the shadowy figure of the angel, cried because she had been unable to keep her promise to Lita. Just as a car came to a screeching halt behind hers, lightening flashed, exploded in the dark and illuminated the figure of a woman standing above Serena and Dimando. Serena struggled to see her, lifted her head and met Lita's intense green one's. Dimando screamed, lept off Serena and crawled backwards, leaving the knife next to her."No! No, I killed you! Thats not possible, I killed you!" The lightening was gone just as quickly and Serena took her chance. Groping for the knife, she found it and rounded on Dimando, who was on his back, glancing about frantically."Your dead! Your dead, I killed you! No, get away from me!"he lifted his arms as if holding someone away, crawled back even more."Get away! Don't touch me, get away!" She heard the sirens then and knew it was over. Lowering the hand that had clutched the knife, she heard Seiya's voice."Serena! Serena!"turning, she saw him, and ran to him. Detective Potter came then, signaled for his men to take and restrain Dimando, who was still screaming at the top of his lungs, frightened and terrified of a woman he had murdered. As they took him past Seiya, Serena, Taiki, and Yaten, he strained against the handcuffs and the officers holding him."I'll get you you bitch! I'll kill you!"his eyes fell on Seiya and he gasped, falling back."No, I killed you! Your dead!"the horror turned to laughter, insane laughter that was heard well over the calming storm."I killed you all!"he continued shouting this as they shoved him into a patrol car and drove him away. Serena turned to Seiya, saw the deep pain and grief."I'm sorry Seiya. I'm so sorry." He held onto her, burying his face in her wet hair."He was like my brother." "He was sick. His father.....his father drove him to become that way." The paramedics wheeled Vegeta by, catching her attention. She ran to him, gripped his hand and watched his eyes open to look up at her."Your going to be all right."she said, her voice full of wonder. He smiled faintly."It'll take more then some knife wounds to get rid of me."he winced in pain."Serena, I wanted to tell you. When I get better, I'm leaving. I'm going back to Europe, back to where none of this is. I realize I was insanely jealous, and I need to go away to bury that. I won't be in your way anymore." She touched his cheek."Vegeta, you saved my life. You'll never be in my way. There's just one thing.....how did you know it was him?" "I saw him in Europe. I knew he'd followed me. I just didn't know why until tonight. And when I knew, I followed you here and he followed me."he shut his eyes against the pain."Its over now." Seiya came to stand next to her, smiled at Vegeta."Thank you. I'll owe you for the rest of my life." "Just take care of her."they stepped back when the paramedics hoisted him into the ambulance, shut the doors and drove away. "Lets go home."Seiya whispered. She nodded, both of them heading back to where Yaten and Taiki waited by there car."How about we move that wedding up a bit?" He grinned, bent and brushed his lips across hers."I think thats a great idea." As they walked away, the angel stood tall and silent behind them. The End By:SailorPerfect I hope you enjoyed the ending, thats it for Midnight Dreamer! Finally! Anyway, the next story is on Yaten McCloud and Mina Star. Keep your eyes peeled for that one! Any complains or praise, send them to sailorperfect@yahoo.com |