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The Ice Cold Princess

The Earth Saga

Part X

By Sailor Nena

Serena walked the cold streets of Tokyo without paying much attention to the cold she was feeling in her bones. Then the rain began. First it had only been a few drops, but then it began to pour down in a fit of fury, as if the Earth had a dark stain that desperately needed to be cleansed. Not that it mattered, or at least not that it mattered to her. She kept walking, arms wrapped around herself more for emotional support than for protection from the cold. “It was all lies…my whole life is…is a lie!” She cried as she had remembered opening the door to an ever so hopeful Sergio.

All the years of practicing what he would say to her failed him…and he blurted it out. At first she didn’t believe him, but when her own parents…step-parents looked at the floor in shame, it all clicked in her head. She felt the house close in on her, as she suddenly needed to get out of there, away from them away from him. She ran out the door without grabbing her jacket, if it wasn’t that she was on her way out herself, she would have also left without grabbing her shoes. A small blessing that came in handy when she had to out run Sergio. Now, four hours later, she was still as confused and directionless.

The rain began to weigh her hair down even more as she let her head drop further. She continued to walk until she recognized the area…it was the old park they had first met that strange general with the long bangs…what was her name? Oh, yes…Cassandra. It didn’t matter know. She could care less if the Negaverse attacked this very moment and killed her…that would at least end the pain. She shivered and turned the corner coming up to the park entrance when she suddenly bumped into someone. She mumbled an apology and kept on walking.

“Clumsy and rude…well that isn’t a good combination, Serena.” A familiar voice replied. She turned around to see a very familiar pair of blue eyes. Fear suddenly began to chock her as she ignored her common sense and listened to her instinct. She turned on her heals and ran as fast as she could into the park. She could hear him call her name, but that didn’t stop her. She needed to be away from him, from everyone.

She blindly ran into the park, quickly leaving the path to run into the trees instead as she swore she hear footsteps behind her. She managed to keep moving considerably fast in the cold rain. Night was almost upon her, not that she noticed that. Nor, did she notice the root sticking up from the ground before tripping over it and landing hard in the mud. She opened her eyes quickly as she saw before her, no more than twelve inches tall, a familiar figure.

“Mother?” She almost whispered as tears continued to flood her eyes.

“Yes my dear.” The queen politely answered as her daughter looked upon her doubtfully.

“Why? Why this charade? Why Sergio? Why now?”

“I know this must be hard for you to understand…but you must believe me when I say that I only wanted the best for you…I only wanted you to be happy.”

“Well, you missed the mark.” Serena said sarcastically before biting her tongue. Something like guilt stirred in her stomach as she remembered that this woman had sacrificed everything, even her own life to give her only daughter a second chance at life… at love.

“I know it may seem like that, but I don’t think I was that off.” The ghostly woman answered as behind her the forest behind her seem to bathe in the warm light of the summer sun, and a young family played happily. She recognized the man, who had once been her father, and the young boy, no more than four with emerald eyes…those green eyes could only belong to Sergio.”

“Genetics child.” Her mother continued. “You children needed to be reborn in your own family line, but Sergio had none. His people had all been destroyed, so I couldn’t just send him to be reborn. All I could do was slow his aging…maybe turn back the clock a bit, and then make sure no one asked questions.”

“By raising him yourself?”

“By becoming his surrogate mother. It is difficult to explain, but I promised him a natural family, and I meant it.” She took a deep breath as she noticed Serena staring at the boy… playing with his baby sister. “It nearly drained me of all my energy, but the way you two laughed made it all worth while.” The queen became quiet as the scene became dark, and the sinister. Something attacked them. It all happened so fast all she could see was Sergio crying over his mother’s body.

“What happened?” Serena asked.

“Negaverse…” Her mother whispered. “My ghost made sure you ended in good homes…both of you. I tried to keep you together, but…there is only so much a spirit can do.”

“That still doesn’t excuse what they did to me!” Serena began as the pain she had felt all afternoon soon turned to anger… “They had no right!” she began to cry more forcefully as her fist slammed into the ground beside her head. “They had no right to lie to me…not that way!” She said as she felt her body being lifted.

“It’s alright Serena.” A familiar warm voice said as he examined carefully her face. “No one can lie to you now. I’m here.” The loving blue eyes seemed to reassure. She couldn’t help but burry her head in his chest. He held her tight as he realized how cold she was. He quickly took off his coat and covered her with it. The new found warmness made Serena feel…safe.

Darien helped her to her feet only to find she had trouble standing. He didn’t think twice before literally sweeping her off her feet. Her big eyes began to surrender to the cold and pain. Her look scared him and he did the only thing he could think of possibly doing. He took her home.

It was a strange sight. He was sure of it, but no one seemed to notice as the streets were deserted, but he was sure he would get some sort of response when he stepped into his building with the girl in his arms, and he did. The doorman smiled and winked at him as he took notes for his next date. Darien ignored him as he made his way to the elevator. There he took his chances and set Serena down. This time her legs held, at least they did to get her into the elevator.

She was quietly looking at the floor with eyes that had run out of tears. He found feel something inside of him stir…there was no way he was going to let whoever had done this to her live. “Cool it Darien.” He reproached himself… “First make sure she is ok; then you can ram your car into the asshole who did this.” He looked at her and noticed her cloths were soaked and muddy, and her knees were bruised and bloody from the fall. He made a mental note of how he should proceed. The elevator bell dinged as they reached his floor. He led her into his apartment and quickly led her into the bathroom. After tending to her wounds, he took the towels he had left in the drier before he had gotten a strange urge to go out in the rain. He gave these to her plus a pair of his sweats. Well, she needed dry cloths. He quickly changed from his own muddy cloths and but a pot of tea on the stove. She walked out with her somewhat washed tear stained face and her cloths in her hands. His blue sweats were to big on her, and her hair, released from its meatballs, hung in frizzy waves towards her calves. He took her clothes and threw them into the washer. Then, placing a cup of hot tea in front of her as he sat her in the coach he decided to break the silence.

“Your parents must be worried about you…you should give them a call…”

“No!” Serena cut him off. “I can’t…” she whispered, “I don’t want to talk to them.”

“Oh,” his reply seemed emotionless, but there was something behind his eyes that she did not understand. He went to phone and dialed what had once been a familiar number. “Hello, Raye…yes it me. Listen could you do me a favor…yes I know. She is here with me…Long story listen could you just call her parents and tell them she is safe at a friends house…no don’t tell them which friend. Just tell them not to worry…talk to her?” Darien looked at Serena, who had been staring at him with her big blue eyes. Suddenly she shook her head. “She is in the bathroom right now.” He continued into the receiver. “Don’t worry, I will. Bye and thanks.” He hung up and looked at her before continuing.

“She wanted me to let you know that she is there for you when you need her.”

“I know.” she whispered.

“And so am I.” Serena looked up in surprise her big blue eyes glazed over with newfound tears. Instinct took over as he hugged her. “What happened? Did you have a fight with your parents?” She shook her head into his shoulder as she wetted his shirt. “Then what?”

“They…they lied to me!” She finally chocked between sobs. “All these years…everything has been a lie…my family…my home…everything just one big lie!”

“What are you talking about?” He asked confused.

“Sergio…”she began but she could not help but to get lost in other string of tears that made it difficult for her to breath. Her nose was getting stuffy, and her throat was burning, and all Darien could think of doing was wrapping his arms around her and holding her as tight as possible. Somehow he understood everything.

When she was done crying, but before she could free herself from his arms, he dared to speak.

“I don’t think it was a lie at all.” Her face went cold as she registered his words. She pulled from his embrace and stared at him with accusing eyes.

“What would you know?”

“Not much…I wasn’t lucky enough to be adopted.” Serena’s mouth dropped as she suddenly remembered his history.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault…but if you take a moment to consider your luck Serena,” his hand gently pulled her face in his directions so her eyes had no choice but to look into his. “Could they have loved you anymore if you had been theirs by blood. Sam obviously could not…I doubt he knew before today. And your parents…did they ever treat you differently…how about your grandmother? I noticed how no one whispered any of this in her house…could it be because they all believe you are truly one of the family?”

She pulled her face away as her cheeks flushed with shame. His words registered with something she had known inside from the very beginning. Something she was scared to admit. “What is going to happen now?” She asked more to herself than to him, but that didn’t stop him from answering.

“What do you want to happen?”

“I don’t know…but I don’t want to go home right now.” He smiled.

“You don’t have to…In fact, the way is raining, I don’t think it would be a good idea to even try. Most of the roads have been closed off as it is.”

“Darien.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.” He smiled and hugged her.

She heard the keys slowly unlocking the door for the second time that day before jumping off the sofa. Sergio walked into the darkness of his apartment without bothering to take off his drench coat. This caused her to spring into action. She quickly rushed to his side, slowly removing his coat.

“Morena?” He looked at her bewildered.

“She is safe…with a friend.” He grabbed her arm. “Where?”

“Don’t make me tell you…now…now is not the time. She needs to sort things out first.”

“Is that an ‘I told you so?’”

“No.”

“Then…what are you doing here?”

“Making sure you’re ok.” She said giving him an encouraging smile. He didn’t let go. Not until she opened her arms to him. Then he grabbed her in tight hug as if she was the only thing that would keep him from being devoured by a storm-stricken sea. She held him just as tight before leading him towards the couch. “Wanna talk.”

“No.”

“Wanna sleep?”

“No.”

“Wanna be alone?”

“Hell’s no!” He said grabbing her hand.

“Good, cuz I am not planning to leave here tonight; so don’t get any ideas of bribing me.” She tried to smile.

“I am so tired.”

“You should be…you were walking for five hours in that damn rain.”

“That is not what I meant.”

“I know.”

“What do I do now? She hates me!”

“I-I don’t think she hates you. As for what to do now…rest, then go talk to her, the way you should have the first time.” He lifted his tired eyes to her.

“Will you stay?”

“I already said I would…” she started pulling him towards her so he would use her lap as a pillow. “And I never break my word.” She finished as he began to drift into sleep.

Darien awoke with a jolt the next morning, as the sun’s rays attacked his eyes. “Forgot to draw the curtains.” He reprimanded himself when he noticed a warm heaviness on top of him. He looked down to see blonde curls. “Serena?” He felt the hair on the back of his neck jump as he struggled to remember what happened the night before…

Darien had left to get another cup of tea and put her cloths in the drier. When he returned to the living room, Serena was sleeping on the couch. Exhaustion had finally won. “This isn’t exactly how I would have like to introduce you to my bed.” He said smiling as he picked her up. “But I never seem to guess right with you, do I?” He laid her softly and prepared to leave as she grabbed his sleeve. He heard her groan. “What are you dreaming about, princess?” Serena let out a small moan that seemed to answer,

“You.”

He tried to pull away, but this only seemed to agitate the sleeping girl. He finally gave up and laid next to her figuring he could make his escape later. But instead, he had fallen asleep next to her.

Now, he stared down at her flushed cheeks and hair covered faced as if it was the most natural thing to do. He could tell their legs had gotten tangled somehow. He smiled. It felt so right to have her in his arms like this. “May be just for another few minutes.” He thought as his own weariness beat the sun’s rays.

Serena awoke a few hours later, still entangled in Darien’s arms. She looked up at her sleeping prince in wonder. “If I had a choice of how to spend the rest of my life…it would be like this.” She thought to herself as a bitter-sweet smile crossed her lips. Her eyes drifted to his lips, and slight memories of Hawii danced in her head. “What were you trying to tell me, Darien?” she whispered causing him to stir.

Surprised, Serena somehow managed to detangle herself from Darien’s arms. She left the bed and searched for her shoes. It was going to be a long day. Might as well get a head start. She accidentally closed his apartment door to hard, making a sound that she was sure was heard inside. She raced to the elevator, praying he hadn’t woken up.

“Hey, where you going?”

“Huh?” Serena turned to see Monique coming out to throw the trash.

“I didn’t even know you were here…Let me guess, late night study session? He should at least have the decency to drive you home.”

Serena just smiled understanding what the girl had implied. “Not that!” she tried to smile “He just talked me through some personal problems that’s all…I feel like I bothered him enough.”

Dinggggggg. Serena thanked the elevator for so gracefully saving her, and turn to see Monique shrug. “I got away.” She thought sadly. Only a month had passed since they had kissed, but he had become distant and almost cruel in that month. She didn’t want to fall deeper for him, not unless he was willing to open up to her.

The elevator door open in the lobby, and she gasped in surprised at the out of breath figure that pushed her back in.

“Where do you think your going without saying good-bye?” Darien asked with his sexiest smirk.

“Darien?! But how?”

“Took the stairs.” He said as he pressed the button for his floor. He eyed her carefully before continuing. “And who the hell told you that you were any trouble?” he said with a tinge of resentment.

“I-Oh…um…I just didn’t want to impose.”

“You’re not. Now, come on. We’ll have breakfast before I drive you home.”

“But…” Serena’s words were cut short when she smelled the fresh pancakes in Darien’s apartment.

“You’re out of eggs and milk.” Monique yelled from the kitchen.

“So you were the one that ratted me out.” Serena smiled as she sat in front of a tall stack of pancakes. “And you are fast.”

“Not really…that elevator is really slow.”

“You’re still here?” Sergio stirred from his sleep on the not so comfy couch snapping my mistress from her trance. She smiled sweetly at him.

“I promised I would stay.”

“Do you always keep your promises?”

“To the best of my abilities.”

“Then…promise to love me ‘til death do us part.” Morena gave a light giggle and kissed his forehead.

“I don’t think you would like my interpretation of your vow.”

“How is she?” He asked after a moment of silence.

“Much better…she will be home by this afternoon…you can try talking to her then.” He nodded with eyes lost in turbulent thoughts. “Hey!” she snapped him out of it.

“What?”

“I’m starving.” She smiled. “Isn’t it good manners to feed the girl that spend the night with you…after all I did risk getting grounded for…life.”

“How do you like your eggs?”

Serena walked into the quiet house unsure of how to proceed. She was still in Darien’s sweats, which he had so kindly told her to keep. She felt like a stranger returning home after many years of living abroad to find that only the atmosphere in the house had changed. Everything felt cold. She took some unsure steps forward and saw Sam sleeping on the couch. At first she thought of waking him, but then opted for covering him with a big blanket.

“Serena?”

“Shh, go back to sleep.”

“Are you going to leave now? Are you going to leave me for him?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Your other brother…don’t think I didn’t notice…Well, are you going to leave us for him.”

“Of course not!”

“Than why did you leave last night?”

Serena thought long and hard and finally answered, “I was confused and needed some time to myself.”

“Does that mean…”

“I am here to stay…much to your dismay, you will still have to put up with my presence.” She smiled and looked up to see her mother standing by the door of the living room. “Hi mom. Are you mad?”

“No.”

“We need to talk, don’t we?” Serena asked tears racing to her eyes as her mother quickly grabbed her into a strong embrace.

“We were so worried…”

“I sent you a message.”

“Thank the heavens for small blessings, but you are right, we need to talk.” The woman signaled to move to the kitchen where her father was waiting. Serena stood still for a second and turned to Sam one last time.

“You know, you hold the world record in being the most annoying inconsiderate spoiled little brother in the world, and no damn paper will ever change that.” She winked before following her mother. Sam just smiled before racing after her and hugging her tight around her waist. Serena stumbled, and they both fell hard on the floor, but instead of a fight, all they could do was giggle.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Okay, I know it has been ages since I last updated (more like a year) ::mentally kicks herself::

Anyway, summer is here and finally some time. I hope to finally finish this.

As usual your comments (good or bad) can be directed to

sailor_nena1@oocities.com