"Well, how is my favorite Princess this morning?"

"Andrew, is it weally you?" Serena’s nose had become stuffy during the night, and now she had trouble with her diction. "What a’ you dowing hea’? Shouldn’ you be home?"

"Yes, I agree, but when word reached your mother that you were ill, well, here I am. Boy, you sound horrible!"

"Thanks, I feel howible. I can hadly bweath, much less tawk!"

"You poor, poor thing. When and what have you taken?"

"Last night, quill."

"The tea? Good." He took her temperature and gave her something for her stuffy nose. "Your temperature is high, 102° F, to be exact. Too high for my taste; here take this." He gave her a pair of read and blue pills, which she swallowed with water.

"Hey, that waz sneaky. You gave me t’ sedatives. You better keep…achuuuuuu…your needles away." She said as she fell asleep. He quickly took a sample of her blood and took out his cellular telephone,

"Rita, listen, I need you to get on the next plane to Earth with Serena’s record and your equipment, and, oh, don’t let any royals know what you’re doing. Tell them…we are taking a vacation together here. See you in five hours."

"Why so secretive?"

"Darien?" He turned around to see Darien, who had entered the room while he had been talking to Rita. "When did you come in?"

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, just making sure it is just a flue."

"What do you mean?"

"Serena could have had that flue for weeks and not let anybody know. In that time, it could have grown into something more serious."

"She had been complaining about being tired lately…"

"Need I say more. She will sleep for a few hours; you can stay if you want." Darien took the chair from the desk, put if by her bedside and sat down."

"Don’t worry, I will."

"Where am I?" Serena asked in confusion. She looked around the cold, damp, dark chamber. Two torches by the only door provided the solitary light. The ceiling was high, and the walls and floors were covered with decaying stone. She was sitting on one of three consecutive stairs that led to the Iron Maiden. In the center of the room there was a table with what seemed like a dish on it. Serena weakly stood up and realized that there where chains and shackles on all the walls. She also noticed that she was wearing a white coarse dress that looked more like a sheet with wholes for the head and the arms than a dress. "Is there anybody here?" She asked worriedly.

An evil laugh that crept from the pores of the rocks was her only response. A dark ominous black fog began to seep through those very pores and collect in front of a petrified Serena. It began to solidify in the form of a black hooded man, whose face was hidden in the darkness. "Welcome Princess. I have waited a long time for you."

"Who are you? What am I doing here?"

"I am your worst nightmare." With an evil laugh, he raised his hand and sent Serena flying against the wall. She missed the claws of the Iron Maiden by a hair, and she was kept in place by the shackles that had claimed her wrist. "Now, let the games begin!" With another laugh he turned the floor into black fire. The flames caught Serena’s dress and burnt her. Her screams of pain could be heard over his laughter.

"Serena, what’s wrong?" Darien screamed as he bent over her. His hand burned as he touched her forehead. "Andrew, come here!" He looked down at the moaning, screaming body in despair. Her face shined with pain, and he could do nothing to help her.

"What’s wrong?!" Andrew asked as he and Rita rushed into the room.

"Look." The two obeyed the frustrated Prince.

"Andy, this confirms our fear." Rita whispered in hopes that Darien would not hear.

"I still want the blood tests to be sure first. Give her a sedative and something for the fever. I’ll call Greg."

"Why? What’s wrong?" Darien sounded like a frighten little boy.

"We believe it is Delirydis Deteriorating Fever." Rita answered in a low somber voice.

"What? But…but…she is too young…and…she hasn’t been to Illusia…"

"She only needed to come into contact with an animal from that Planet." Andrew explained. "Age is only a factor with the people of Illusia."

"Andrew,"

"Yes."

"Last time we spoke, we had a conversation about this disease, and you said that there were no cases of non-illusian survivors. Is that still true?"

"I’m afraid so?" he replied in a whisper of a voice.

"I am not going to let her get away so easily! I am not going to let her die!" Darien said to hold back the tears of rage and desperation.

The flames had cooled until they turned to ashes; the chains gave way and Serena fell to the ground. She was crying hysterically. Fear and adrenaline pumped through her veins. The room was empty, and she thought of escaping, but she could not see the door. "Come on, Sergy. Can’t let mom down. Where is Darien or Celeste or Marcos or anybody? How did I get here?" She looked down at her dress and saw it was only singed. She was too confused to do anything.

"Hahaha, are you scared, little girl?" The dark menacing voice seemed to originate from the pores of the stones that formed the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"I’m not afraid of anything!" She screamed in return, but did not even fool herself.

"You soon will be!" With another evil laugh, he commanded chains to rise from the moldy floors and enlace themselves around Serena’s body; like boa constrictors, they squeezed the air out of their prey. She hopelessly tried to breathe the stale air, but the chains would not release her. "Don’t worry, Princess! I’ll make sure you have all the hugs you need, hahaha!"

"Andrew, she’s suffocating!" Celeste screeched. Andrew rushed over with an oxygen mask. He pressed it against Serena’s face until her body relaxed; then he slipped the strap behind her head and readjusted the gear.

"I think it is time I did some explaining." He looked at the entire royal family. "The blood test proved our greatest fear; she has Delirydis Deteriorating Fever. As you know, it is a common disease of Illusia, that no one, except Illusians, has survived it. It is a disease that attacks the cerebrum and cerebellum making the afflicted suffer painful hallucinations until the fever or one of the attacks finally kills him or her." His lifeless voice echoed in the dead silent room. Darien’s youngest brother was the first to speak,

"Does this mean she is going to live with granny Cecil, now?"

"NO!" Darien’s firm answer startled the little boy. "She is going to be the first to beat it. I will not let her die."

"May be you should rest a little, son. You had a hard day." His mother pleaded.

"I am fine."

"Have you told her parents yet?" his father asked.

"No."

"I have told them it is a bad flue," Andrew began, "but, by sending for Greg, I have put them on alert." As a sign from God, Greg entered the room at this moment. "Gregory! It has been confirmed." Greg walked to her bedside and touched her forehead. He was bombarded with a deathly image. "Well?"

"She is in a torture chamber chained to a table on one side."

"Is she physically fine?’’ Rita asked.

"Except that she is crying, yes."

"Can she hear us?" Darien begged

"The walls are very thick, but with the psychic amplifier, we might get through. This is a mental disease above all things. If she regains her confidence…"

"MARCOS!" Crystal screamed across the hall. There were times when he would have given his position to have her run to him the way she was now, but momentarily, he could only think of his brother. Her Sunday Morning smile faded as she reached him. "What is it?"

"D.D. Fever."

"No!" she gasped

"There isn’t much hope of a recovery." He whispered.

"There has to be some mistake…she couldn’t have gotten infected!" Marcos banged his fist against the wall in frustration. Serena was dying; his brother was withering away with her, and he could not help either of them. He could not face Crystal. It was too difficult to keep appearances when he felt so weak.

Crystal felt helpless in his presence. She could only think of leaving him alone to sort things out the way he always did. Before she left, she placed her soft hand on his shoulder for support; he took it and pulled her close for a kiss. She resisted at first, but he seemed so needy and desperate, she caved in. A flood of emotions invaded them like the Yellow River invades China during the Monsoon Seasons. After a series of long and complicated kisses, they broke for air. They hugged, and she held him in her arms as if he were a newborn babe. "It’ll be alright. Things always are." She whispered.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t of…"

"Don’t be. I should’ve stopped it. Besides, I would be lying if I said I completely detested it." She joked.

"Did you detest it at all?" He was holding on to her in their embrace. He could not look into her eyes now.

"No." she answered so softly that it died in the stillness of the hall. He took her face into his hand and looked deeply into her eyes. She was not lying. "If you need me…"

"I need you, right now."

"Alright, then you have me." She kissed his cheek. "Ask and you shall receive."

"I need you to kiss me and convince me there is nothing to worry about." She was about to kiss his other cheek when he stopped her. "I need you to KISS me." She brushed her lips against his and held back the tears of joy, pain, strength and helplessness. His traitorous lips claimed hers, and the weak victims of her lips obeyed. The passion slowly culminated until the kisses began to hurt. They reluctantly stopped, and she said,

"Everything will be fine." Tears began to fall down her cheeks. He softly whipped them from her face.

"Did I hurt you?" She shook her head in response. "Then don’t cry. We will pull through." She smiled at him, and claimed his lips as her own. She was now the rock he needed to lean on, and she was also the teddy bear he needed to protect.

The tears stopped falling as the chains released her. She had heard his voice. It was very weak, but she heard it. "Princess Serenity." It was coming from beyond the walls.

"Greg? Where are you?"

"You can hear me?"

"Yes! Where are you?"

"You need to fight him!"

"I can’t!"

"You must! It is the only way, Serena!"

"How?"

"Did you get it?" Greg asked nervously.

"Yes. But I have no idea what it says." Amy said from her computer. Greg removed the headpiece that connected him to a computer. It was the psychic amplifier, and he was monitoring Serena’s dream. Darien stepped out of the shadows.

"It looks like a mixture of languages, might have split from one of the Romantics. I think I know who knows." He took a deep breath. "Nena! You follow her everywhere! Show yourself." I obeyed.

"I still cannot get use to you popping in like that." Amy commented.

"You know." He was sure of himself.

"Yes."

"Well?" Darien was losing patience.

"She must do it on her own, or it will not work!" I replied. His eyes turned black with anger.

"You have a way of saving her, and you will not use it! AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A FRIEND!"

"She will not believe me if I tell her!"

"BECAUSE YOU ARE THE KEY!" I took a deep breath and relaxed myself. "You are the key, but she must make the connection; otherwise, it is just words."

"I HAVE IT!" Andrew rushed into the room. "According to an old Illusian legend, if we kill the animal that infected her, then she will be cured. The only thing is finding the animal."

"Has she come into contact with any wild animal lately?" Rita asked as she came into the room.

"It is my fault!" Darien accused.

"What?" we all asked in unison.

"I gave her a butterfly a few days ago…it all makes sense…I am the key because I brought the infected animal to her."

"Darien that is crazy!" Rita exclaimed.

"Look the animal has to stay close to Serena, or it will not have any psychological effect. All we have to do is search her room and find the animal." Andrew stated.

"There aren’t any animals in this room!" Celeste screamed frustrated.

"Are you sure that is what we are looking for, Andrew?" Amy asked.

"Quite, I don’t know how close the animal has to stay. Lets check the surrounding rooms. Darien, are you coming?"

"No, I want to stay with her." His voice was drain from all its previous life and joy. It was now as monotonousness as the death bell. The others left the room. "I don’t care how thick those imaginary walls are, you are going to hear me God Damn it! I am not going to stand by and see you wither away! Serena, listen to me and listen to me well, if you know what is good for you, you will break through the barrier and come back to us! DO YOU HEAR ME?! FIGHT! GOD DAMN IT, FIGHT!" He banged his fists against her bed and a single tear escaped his eyes and kissed her soft petal hand. A small moan abandoned her frail body. "Serena? Don’t leave."

"You can’t beat me old man! I am stronger." She rebelled. The hooded creature pressed and laughed harder. The voice became louder,

"FIGHT! GOD DAMN IT, FIGHT!" A red rose came crashing through separating the two. Serena took the opportunity to run for the frozen door, but he grabbed her leg and made her fall to the ground. He began to laugh harder as she reached for the table in the center of the room. It toppled and a tiara fell by her side. She took it and with the words,

"Moon Tiara Magic!" she through it at the hooded man. Instantaneously, he turned to dust. Her tiered eyes found some sleep.

About three hours latter, she woke up and ran for the door. It was still frozen shot. She tried to open it, but the melting ice was still too strong. His evil laugh began to rise again. "Where are you? Show yourself!" she ordered, but he only laughed in response.

"It’s been three days, Andrew, and she still hasn’t woken up!"

"I know it’s hard, Darien, but that could be good because she at least has been stable."

"I thought she was going to come out of it, today. For a few hours, her fever went down by itself, and she seemed to sleep with ease, but it is close to midnight, now. She is worse than before. If she dies, I die with her."

"She is NOT going to die, Darien! We won’t let her! Greg and Amy are working on a stronger amplifier and Rita is killing herself looking for a synthetic cure. Marcos, Celeste and Crystal are rounding up the animals…We are all trying to help. We will do it!"

"That’s not the problem! The problem is that she isn’t fighting! She isn’t coming back to us! She is leaving us, and with her she takes a part of us with her!" Darien punched a hole in the wall to hold back the tears. "She is taking my heart with her!"

"Why so lonely?" Marcos looked up in surprise. Before him was Crystal like he had never seen her before. She was wearing a red form fitting silk dress with off the shoulder sleeves that reached her wrists. It hung from her hips and had a very provocative slit from her waist to her ankles. Her hair was pinned up and fell in a careless waterfall of black curls to the base of her neck. She had applied her make-up as elegant as she could. The only thing that stood out was her red moist lips. She was a breath taking sight under the light of a full moon.

"Where are you going?"

"Junior Prom."

"Are you sure it is Junior and not Senior?"

"You do not like it?" she whined.

"No…let me get the full view…" He stood up and turned her around. He was taken aback when he saw her nearly bare back. Two silk strings held the dress together in an X form. He whistled at her and kissed her hand. "So who is the lucky guy?"

"There isn’t one."

"Huh? With a dress like that?" She smiled at his comment.

"The date I wanted didn’t ask, so I decided to go alone."

"So, you are not going to let any of the girls enjoy their dates? How can you be so mean? I am going to have to stop you from going!"

"How?" she openly flirted.

"By handcuffing you to my bed." He said as he took hold of her hands. He slipped her hands around his neck. "Locking the door," he claimed her waist, "and teaching you a lesson, sexy."

"And if I resist or scream for help?"

"Then I’ll have to…" He kissed her soft lips and pulled her into him. The fountain roared in the background as he traced a line of kisses from behind her ear, down her soft neck, across her bear shoulder until he reached her dress.

"So, Lady Aims, have you made much progress?" The two lovers turn to see the King, Aims, and Greg walk into the garden. "So that is where you are hiding son! Who is that with you?"

"It is I, my Lord." Crystal did a quick curtsey and tried to exist but the King had other plans.

"My, you look fabulous! Prom?"

"Yes."

"Who are you taking?"

"No one, sire."

"With a dress like that? You are not going to let the other girls enjoy themselves."

"I wouldn’t be so sure about that, sire."

"Well, I can’t let that happen in one of MY balls. Why don’t you take Marcos here with you?"

"Huh?" the two exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, he needs to relax a little. Besides, he is already wearing the same lipstick as you. It is a sign from above." The king joked as Marcos touched his lips. "Now, make sure she has a good time." The King said winking at his son. Crystal was redder than her dress. He took her hand and said,

"It’s still early, I have a better idea." He led her towards the lake with a devilish smile. "Now, lets see, we have about forty minutes until doors close, so where were we."

"Right here." She pulled him down to her and kissed him in a painfully slow manner.

The dark hooded creature came out of the shadows and into the light. For the first time his face was visible. Serena gasped in horror, "But…but you are dead!"

"Surprised? You didn’t expect me?" Nefarious laughed.

"NO. I expected someone worth my time."

"But I am worth your time. I am the reason why you push love away! Because I desecrated the word in your presence when I forced you to declare a love for me that did not exist, you, now, claim it does not exist! I am your worst nightmare! I am what makes you tick!"

"That is not true!"

"But it is! You are just like me! We renounce love!" Chains of black flames forced her on the floor.

"No! I love. I love my friends and family."

"It is easy to love those you know love you! Even I did that! But you do not love enough to risk life and death! Like me, you think of yourself first!"

"No! I’m nothing like you! No it is NOT true!" she cried in pain. His laughter filled the deathly silence like the death bell fills the deathly silence of a morning house.

"I AM NOT LIKE YOU!" Serena stood up braking the fiery chains. Nefarious jumped back in surprise. "I do love! I love without expecting return! I love HIM! And he needs me. I will not let you keep me here any longer!" The Imperium Silver Crystal appeared in her hands. Before she could attack, he asked,

"WHO IS HIM?" Serena stopped for a moment and then answered.

"I don’t know, but I know he is out there waiting for me. I will not make him wait any longer! IMPERIUM SILVER CRYSTAL, GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO VANQUISH HIM! COSMIC MOON POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A flash of light bathed the room. Nefarious screamed in pain as he disintegrated. Serena rushed to the door, which had finally melted; it was opened.

Inside there was a square room. On the left wall there was a portrait of her family and friends. On the wall facing her, there was a mural of a little girl with pink hair, who, even though Serena did not recognize, felt a strong connection with. To her right there was a melting wall. Serena looked at the mural. The eyes were hard to see, but the lips were as clear as day. She recognized them as Tuxedomax’s for a moment. The light shifted; it now reminded her of Darien. In the center of the room, there was a strange contraption. The melting ice fell in a bucket the when full would release the liquid from a container onto a white rose. Serena dipped her finger in the liquid and examined the red substance. It was blood.

Serena felt nauseous as she sat up. Her watch read four and the absence of the sun told her it was four in the morning. "I must have slept through the day." Serena thought. She looked at the chair on her bedside. Darien had fallen asleep against its sturdy back. "How cute. My worst enemy guards my sleep." She grabbed the silk quilt in her hand and stood up. With an uneasy movement, she fell on top of him. His arms quickly secured her.

"Serena?!" His eyes beamed with joy.

"Sorry, for some strange reason, my legs can’t seem to hold me up. Boy, you look horrible!" Darien had not shaved since the morning that Serena fell asleep. In that time he had only eaten that day’s breakfast and left her side once. This was also the first time he had fallen asleep in his vigil.

"You are awake!" He caressed her cheek in disbelieve.

"Yeah, Andy only gave me a small sedative."

"Serena, do you know how long you have been asleep?"

"Since Andy gave me the sedatives this morning."

"Serena, that was four days ago. We have been worried sick. They diagnosed you with D.D. Fever."

"D.D. Fever? Four days ago?" Serena looked confused.

"We have to tell the others."

"What? It’s four in the morning! Let them sleep!" She tried to stand up again, but her legs were still too weak; he caught her before she fell. "Four days could do this to a girl’s legs." He picked her up and laid her on the bed. He went into the bathroom and emerged a few minutes latter. He picked her up again. "Where are you taking me?"

"The bath tub."

"You are not taking me there!"

"Well, you can save some time latter by taking your bath now."

"Well, then leave me alone to do it."

"Serena, you can barely stand up."

"Then, I’ll wait." Darien just gave her his devilish smile and placed her in the tub. Her silk nightgown became transparent, and she hid under the bubbles. He passed her the sponge and soap.

"Take off your nightgown, bathe, and relax. I’ll be back in a few minutes to get you." He left the room without letting Serena say another word. She submerged her head a few minutes, then soaked for twenty. It was just what the doctor had ordered.

Darien reappeared forty-five minutes after he had left her shaved, showered, and renewed. He raised a large white towel in front of him, and turned his head in the opposite direction. Clumsily, she stood up and let Darien wrap the towel around her. He pulled her out of the tub and began to pat her dry, until Serena told him to relax. Crystal entered the bathroom with some clothes. She was still in her gown. Darien left, and Crystal helped her get dress. "You are a lucky girl, Serena."

"I know. Not everyone survives D.D. Fever."

"I wasn’t talking about that. These past FOUR days, Darien hasn’t left your side. He hasn’t slept, eaten or ruled. He just worried about you."

"Why? I mean…we aren’t THAT close?"

"He loves you."

Crystal helped Serena back into the room where Marcos and Darien were busily chatting. Crystal and Darien helped Serena back to bed and Crystal rushed out of the room. "So, how do you feel?" Marcos asked.

"Fine. Very rested."

"I should say." he giggled.

"Excuse me, coming through." Crystal said reentering the room with a cart full of food.

"Someone read my mind." Serena joked. Crystal passed a plate of pancakes to every member in the room. Darien ate with a good appetite, but Serena’s stomach was a roller coaster. She ate slowly and forcefully until she felt a bit nauseous. One look at Darien gave her an idea. Every time he looked the other way, she would put more food on his plate, but it would magically reappear in her plate a few seconds later. When their conversation came to a dull, Serena asked,

"So, tonight was your prom, Crys?"

"Yes, Darien caught me coming back."

"Who did you take?" Darien asked.

"Well…." Crystal began.

"You mean you didn’t go with Marcos?" Serena asked confused. This question made Darien press his hand against her forehead.

"No, she doesn’t have a fever. Why did you ask that?"

"Marcos is not a Junior, he is a Senior; Celeste told me his prom was two weeks after Crystal’s, and you caught them both fully elegantly dress at four in the morning. When I put those things together, I got the impression they went together."

"We did." Marcos informed them.

"Well, almost did." Crystal corrected. "The doors closed before we got there, so we started going clubbing sooner. We never went to the actual Prom."

"But we had a good time." Marcos added.

"When did you two start going to the same clubs?" Darien asked.

"My guess is that they compromised." Serena answered.

"We went to the quiet MODERN ones on the shore." Crystal affirmed.

"When did you two start dating?" Darien asked.

"My guess, three days ago." Serena smiled.

"Right again." Marcos beamed at Crystal. "After you were diagnosed with D.D. Fever, well, she convinced me things would get better. I guess, in a strange and weird way, Serena, you are responsible for our getting together."

"Glad to be of service."

"Wait, how did you know?" Darien asked Serena.

"Here," she handed him a white napkin, "moisten it, and I’ll show you." He did as he was told. Serena had Crystal press her lips lightly against it and then the right side of her neck. She then turned to Marcos and had him press his lips against it. She opened the napkin that now had three red stains and said, "See?" She pointed to the second one. "This is the same lipstick she has on; the only way she could’ve gotten on her neck is if she kissed a guy who kissed her neck. This third one proves it was Marcos." The young lovers blushed at the young Princess’s discovery.

"Well, I have to work in an hour, so I better get some sleep." Crystal said as she got up.

"I’ll take the chance to exit myself. I’m exhausted." Marcos said as he also stood up and took her hand.

"Marcos, it is going to be difficult for poor Crystal to sleep if you insist on being there." Darien joked.

"I’m only going to tuck her in."

"Marcos." Darien warned.

"Fine." They left, and after a long passionate kiss, they went to their rooms.

"Aren’t you tired?" Serena asked Darien.

"Why? Do you want me to leave you alone, now?"

"NO…I mean…I am fine, but you look like you need some good Z’s."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"You have some heavy luggage." She kissed his cheek. "Sleep. It’s my turn to guard." She climbed over him to get off the bed; then she sat on the chair. He gave her such a sweet dreamy look that Serena couldn’t help blush. "What? You want me to sing you to sleep?"

"That’d be nice." He smiled.

"OK, what do you want me to sing?"

"A love song."

"OK, oh, this is one of Ray’s." She took a deep breath, "No, I have a better one,

Darien?" He slept with a soft smile. Serena bent over him and kissed his lips. She jumped up in surprise. "Why did I do that? I must still have a fever. Control yourself, Serena. We do not need any misunderstandings." Darien still slept, but his smile had become brighter and stronger. She sat back and watched him sleep.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed something shining on the floor by the window. She approached it and tried to make out what it was, but the rising sun was in her eyes. Slowly, her eyes focused on the shining object. She jumped back in shock when she realized what it was. Tears ran silently down her cheeks as she picked up the dead golden blue bird. "Serena, why are you crying?" Darien asked as he was wakened by her tears.

"I killed it."

"Killed what?" Darien got out of bed and walked to her side.

"By saving myself, I killed it." She showed him the golden bird. Darien looked at her confused. "He infected me, and when I saved myself…"

"He died." Darien finished as he remembered Andrew’s words about the animal that had infected her. ‘If we find it…’

"My poor Princess. What am I going to do with you?" He took her into his arms, dried her tears, and kissed her soft lips as she fell asleep. "My poor Princess." He whispered into the early dawn.

********************* ******** ******************