Chapter Seven

Truth’s Deception

Oh, why had he done that?

Darien looked blankly out. He had hurt her.

But he hurt as well.

She evidently gave no regard to his feelings when she set the

match.

And from what she had said, he gathered she didn’t think he HAD

any feelings.

He put his face in his hands and tried to wipe away these thoughts.

So now, what was to happen?

Was he really going to marry this woman, whom he didn’t love?

He had always thought, that somehow, things would turn out

different; Serena wouldn’t let him marry Mina…not if she truly loved him,

as he had wished.

But…well…*the joke’s on you…* She didn’t love him. She

abhorred him.

In the shadows, a figure stirred, disappearing into the air.

Couldn’t they see they were in LOVE with each other?

Prima couldn’t allow this wedding to occur. *Can’t she see that

he’s only goading her into admitting her true feelings? And can’t he see

that she’s only trying to stop any feeling that she had ever felt for him

before?*

No, she couldn’t allow for this to happen. It just wasn’t RIGHT.

Couldn’t they see, if they just admitted their love, they’d be all right?

That they could push through this together?

No, they couldn’t. She couldn’t be able to get to them at all, now

that they had already torn the last tie. The potential of falling in love again

upon seeing each other again was lost. Prima had hoped that they would

be able to, from what Serenity said, it appeared Serena thought she would.

The girl was a lot smarter than she thought. She had actually manipulated

her own thoughts, and his, to tangle them in this mess.

No, if there was something to be done, she’d have to find another

way.

Raye looked into her black pearl flame, and she smiled slyly.

“What are you thinking of now?” An exhausted, tired voice asked

her.

Her smile vanished, her dark, soulless black eyes narrowed, as she

turned around to confront the intruder. “Leave me…”

“Sorry…but you can no longer boss me around…” he

contemptuously answered. “We are equals now…one may even believe

that I’m of a higher rank than you!”

“If one were stupid…” she completed the sentence, spitefully.

Zoicyte’s dark eyes narrowed, as did his voice. “I’ve served her

longer than you…”

“And ironically, I make things move faster…” Raye snapped back.

Raye enjoyed her power. Beryl and Metalia appreciated her. If

she was still with her pesky mother and brother, no one would believe she

was so strong, or powerful. No one knew the fire, the passion, the anger

that the “princess” had carried in her.

No one except that faceless man…in her turbulent dreams…a man

of…white fire? Who…who carried her when there was a burning pain in

her foot. Who talked to her as an equal, not as an inferior, as they

debated…Shakespeare? What was Shakespeare? What was going on?

Where was she?

When she thought about him, she lost ground. She lost footing.

She lost everything. *Foolish girl!* she’d laugh at herself. What was she

thinking of?

“And I want the temple cleaned thoroughly,” Serenity continued,

turning…

…to see her ward, crying, running from Cloud Way, to the palace.

“Anything more, your highness?”

“No, that will do. If you’ll excuse me, I have some very important

matters to attend to.”

Serenity rushed off the temple steps, and walked quickly to

Serena’s quarters.

She found her crying on the bed.

“Serena?”

Serena, now made aware of the presence of another person in the

room, sat up and looked about her. She saw her adopted mother. “I want

to go home,” she muttered, childishly. “I want to be with my mother, and

father, and I want them to be near me, to tell me that everything is all

right. That it will be.”

Serenity, concerned, sat down on the bed next to her ward. “You

saw him?”

Serena put her head in Serenity’s lap, and felt the queen’s hand,

gently in her hair, and soothing her softly. “It was so horrible. I hurt him

so horridly, saying he had no feelings…Oh…he hurt so horribly!”

Serenity stroked her hair. “You did this to protect him?”

“YES!”

“And you don’t feel good at all about it?”

“YES!”

“And you still think you did the right thing?”

“Yes…no…I want to apologize, but at the same time, if I

apologize, everything will get mixed up again. If we just follow, now, on

a straight path…if he gets engaged to Mina, still hating me, it’ll hurt me,

but he’ll be engaged, and that’s what counts, right?”

Serenity was silent. Thinking about Prima’s words…

“Right?” the voice muffled in her skirts.

Serenity held her breath, and let out a soulless “right.”

Serena continued to cry in her guardian’s skirts, feeling comfort as

the hand continued to stroke through her hair.

She was tired, as she settled back in her bath.

She let the warm water soak into her toes, warming them and

washing away the tension and exhaustiveness in her.

She wanted sleep.

Other than her breaks to meet with her mother, and meals, she had

spent the last four days locked in a room with Amy, sewing Mina’s

wedding gown. A part of her wanted to be furious with Serena for not

assisting, but Serena was not only now soulless, but she was always

around Serenity, preparing the palace decorations, the invitations.

Sometimes, as Lita remembered Serena’s restless shallow sleep, Lita

wondered how Serena could continue to do this.

Her own soul was tired. She had loved seeing her mother. She

had not loved seeing Neph, as she had thought she would. He was…here,

but…reserved. Was it his fiance? Was he already married?

And this whole business with the young guard her mother had

brought with her, Thoran. Thoran, who said that he was her fiance from

birth.

It appeared excaping from one uncontrolable life placed her in

another. Thoran was everything Neph wasn’t. Though he was very

handsome, he was outrageously bold and pompous. His devilish smile

wielded a lot of power over many of the maids in the palace and rumor

was that…he’d even…Lita shuddered. She hated him. She felt slime

whenever he glanced her elbow with his, or “accidentally” bumped into

her. *Sick, sick man…be gone from my thoughts…*

She forgot about it, and leaned back more into the tub, wanting to

drown herself in the bubbles, and forget all that had happened between her

and him…gosh, had she really, at one time, thought…

“And I’ve missed you so much…” she whispered to her mother.

Invy smiled at her daughter, and caressed her cheek. “I’ve missed

you, too…I haven’ t been able to talk to you much…”

“No, there hasn’t been much of a chance. After all, with the

ceremony so soon…and with the princess already being so…”

“Unstable?”

“We don’t know what she’s going to do. We all think she’s going

to refuse, but at the same time, we know she’s gotta say yes…”

“And what about this friend of yours, the queen’s ward?”

“She’s…supporting this…” *She hasn’t talked about it.* Amy

thought. “She’s tiring herself out, rushing here, there, trying to make

things right. I’m afraid she’ll just fall over, and I know she can’t, because

she’s got a duty to protect her kingdom.”

“And you? Have you been taking care of yourself? You

look…soulless. As much as I’d like to think that you’re happy, I feel that

you miss something. What is it?”

Amy looked at her mother. “My heart…”

Invy saw her daughter’s tears, and held her close. “I don’t expect

us to magically pick up where we left off, but Amy, when you’re ready, I

would like to take care of you.”

“We haven’t been able to talk since I arrived,” he started her.

Lita looked up, from her gathering of the moon lilies, and smiled

flatly. “I’ve been busy…”

“Ah, yes…with your mother.”

He said the word bitterly. It was almost as if he resented her

heritage. “Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all…” He did not actually believe it at first, when she

first was revealed as a princess, but upon seeing her, with her mother, a

queen…and he had met her mother’s guard, Thoran, who laid claim to

Lita’s affections.

While Otonya continued to meet with Serenity and get to know her

daughter, she was unaware of her lead guard’s slimy behavior, and Neph

wanted it known, before Thoran did anything else foolish.

He had taken Lita from all possible conversation with Neph, and

Neph wanted to talk to her.

“How are you?” Lita said, ducking back among the flowers, to

pick them.

“Um…I’ve been…better…” he smiled, honestly.

“I’m sorry to hear that…” she looked up at him, then back into the

flowers. “You look paler.”

“Yes, as do you.”

“I’ve been busy…” she replied, mechanically.

“I’ll bet you have,” he kneeled down next to her, taking her hands,

looking at her. “Lita, look at me.”

“I’m engaged…” she blurted out.

Neph lost his composure as he looked at her blindly. “What?”

“I’m engaged…my mother had arranged it before I was born…I

know you’re engaged too…but…”

Neph laughed bitterly. “The engagement was called off…” she

whispered to her. “Apparently, my fiance was really the princess of

Jupiter…”

When he had found it out a month ago, he was shocked, and

thrilled. To think, he might have ended up marrying her. He wanted to

write to her, to laugh about this with her. He’d imagined it. He’d visit her

on the moon, and tell her. They’d laugh. He was relieved. He didn’t have

to get married. But…instead, he was left feeling…empty.

“YOU were my fiance?” After her discovery of her royal blood,

and her necessity to leave Earth, she had written the residents of her

hometown, if she would still call it that, to tell them that the match

arranged for her was not necessary…that she was really not an orphan,

that her parents were discovered.

But just yesterday, her mother had softly told her the news that

bound her again to undesirable company. But this time, the company

became truly undesirable.

“He WAS your faince.” Thoran smiled smugly. “Did I interrupt?”

he asked, with false innocence.

Neph wanted to tear this man apart. Lita placed a hand on his arm

to halt him, and looked at Thoran. “No, my Lord, you did not.”

“Good, come Lita.”

Like a dog. He treated her like a dog. Lita silently obeyed. What

was she to do? This WAS what her mother wished, right? And

mother…she choked…knew best.

Neph, furious, stood up. “Are you going to take that from him?”

“Yes, she will, because she has to be VERY nice to me, isn’t that

right, sweetheart?” he kissed her on the cheek.

Lita resisted spitting in Thoran’s face, and looked at Neph. “I’m

sorry…” her eyes whispered.

Otonya disappointedly watched the scene playing before her, out

the window.

Damn the bastard!

She wanted to cry. She wanted to tell Lita why this had to be. She

wanted to tall the whole thing off. But she was afraid.

From the first moment her daughter had met her, she offered full

understanding. A few days ago, when Otonya made it known to her what

Lita’s fate was, Lita proudly submitted, and Otonya knew that her

daughter’s respect for her was lost.

But what could she do? Tell her daughter the truth?

Any respect that her daughter had left would be increasingly

diminished.

She had hoped, when she made the promise, that the son would be

better than the father. Apparently, she was so wrong. What could she do,

though?

And what about the man? The one who did not lay claim to her,

but…somehow…was in the way. She liked him. He was pleasant, and

strong. Very strong, emotionally, and physically. He was a very stable,

and calm person, logical, and very wise.

From the flash in his eyes every time he saw her daughter, she

knew that Lita was important to him. However she did not know how

important.

Prima had forever scolded her for this mess, and continued to

berate her in the last few days. But what was she to do? She was only

eighteen! What else could she have done?

“Damn you, Claudius, for making my daughter’s life hell!”

She wouldn’t even look at him anymore, as if she were ashamed.

She simply walked about, seemingly without a care in the world, bustling

about, preparing for the ceremony. *What’s happened to you?*

Neph was speechless with wonder. Was she happy?

It wasn’t that he LOVED her or anything as tragic…but…seeing

her being tailed by that DOG was not…

She was HIS fiance first, right?

No, not even…for even before birth, she was fated for Thoran.

His mother didn’t look like the cruel type, with her daughter’s

strong but also compassionate emerald eyes, her soft fiery hair, with the

exception of silver of age streaking through at places. Her expression was

shaped to be a woman who had suffered a lot of emotional stress, and

Neph sympathized; she had, for the last twenty years, lost her daughter.

She didn’t look like the heartless type, the type who would force

her daughter into marriage.

And yet…

It had to be important.

Jed found her outside, painting a sad, blue watercolor. “Princess

Mercury…” he bowed.

She looked at him, startled. “Jedyte…”

He smiled, nervously. “You’ve been busy with your mother…” he

continued. “I didn’t really have any time to talk to you…” he sat at a

stone bench nearby.

She sat down next to him. She felt comforted, being in the

presence of one who could empathize. Her eyes met Jed’s and they held.

“You loved Raye, didn’t you?” she asked, quietly.

“Very much…although I was fool for not telling her…I didn’t

even realize…” his fingers wrapped into a fist, and his knuckles turned

white.

Amy took his hand softly. “I think she knew…” she replied softly.

“I think, somewhere inside, she always knew she loved you, and that you

loved her. Raye’s…” she smiled, eyes glowing with a sort of genuine

happiness. “Raye’s like that…Serena teased her…Raye was always

reading about damsels in distress, you see, and Serena called her ‘Rescue

me Raye’. Raye hated that.” She laughed quietly.

“I can believe that of her. Her hot temper always got the better of

her.”

“Oh, but she could tell the most beautiful stories. I was always a

painter. Serena could sew the prettiest fashions and embroidery. Lita

would carve beautiful little figures out of wood or marble…anything, and

Mina, she was our…”

Jed completed for her. “Mina was your nightingale. She could

sing tapestries…”

Amy nodded. “Above all else, Raye was the story-teller.

Knights…dragons…evil magicians…wicked fairies…everything. She

could talk about anything, she always had something interesting to talk

about…” Amy smiled. Tears started to threaten her eyes. “She and

Serena used to get into fights about the possibilities…Serena…the loyally

concrete reader. Always the scientific observer. I think Raye liked

thinking optimistically, you know…into the possibilities…”

Jed nodded.

“I think, from the first evening when she met you…she couldn’t

talk of anything else, except for you perfectly annoying you were…I think

she knew, in her heart though…”

“I hope so,” he looked distantly.

Amy said. “They always do…” she said. “But watch out, Jed.

She’ll…use it against you…” A tear slid from under her already moist

lashes. “She’ll hurt those dear to her…to serve…but it won’t be her that

you’ll be fighting, will it?” she looked at Jed.

“No,” he took Amy’s hand. “She’ll be fighting against herself as

well…there’s still good in her. There’s still good in HIM.” He looked at

her.

Amy nodded slowly, doubting him. “I know I sound like a

coward, but I am glad I wasn’t there when…”

“I’m glad you weren’t as well…I don’t know what he would have

done.”

“Would I have…”

Jed shook his head. “I don’t know…”

“I keep on thinking, you know…if I’d been there…would she still

be all right? Would he…”

“Don’t do that to yourself. You couldn’t help your situation…”

“You’re not at fault either, you know,” she whispered softly. “You

didn’t know…and she can get really nasty at times. You know with all the

stories she can tell, no one knows what can come true or not.”

“I should have trusted her…” he muttered. “It IS my fault. You

know, she was in my arms, when I still didn’t get it, when I told her she

was an idiot, and asked her, why she did it. I was so blind…”

Amy squeezed his hand. “We’ll get them back. They’re out there.

And we’ll get them back.”

“I can’t do this…” Mina quivered. “Your Highness…”

Prima sighed. Minalle was the only way. She soon saw that

during dinner, when she looked around the table. None of the men would

help. Amy and Lita were overwhelmed with the emotions and joy of

seeing their mothers again, and also, they were…were…not what she was

looking for. But to see the passionate restraint Mina held, she knew her

niece would be the only one who could do it. She had the determination,

the fire. They now sat in Prima’s room, where Prima had invited Mina for

an after dinner tea.

Sure, she had been furious at Serena for this, but…this was not the

way to solve things. Serena would kill her with a glance if Mina fell

through.

And what about Kunz?

*What about Kunz?* No one would put a MAN in front of her

ideals. So why did he hurt her so much?

And now, the Queen of Venus?

“Please, you have to, in order to save their love…we haven’t much

time. The ceremony’s tomorrow night.”

“I’m saving their love?” Mina whispered. “They love each other?

But they absolutely hate each other. We’d always tease her about it too.”

“You understand, don’t you, Mina?” Prima said, stroking the girl’s

hair. Prima sat in an arm chair, and Mina sat on the floor, her head now

buried in Prima’s gold velvet skirts. “You understand that love should be

the leading force. It is strong. I can’t be denied.”

Mina nodded, understandingly. She understood perfectly.

“So you have to do it.”

“But Serena’s my friend. I can’t possibly.”

“One day, she’ll thank you…”

Mina looked up into Prima’s eyes. She found an understanding

that she had not seen in her mother. It upset her and thrilled her at the

same time. Her mother didn’t understand her. Mina choked up now,

ready to cry.

Prima, reading her thoughts, petted Mina’s hair again. “There,

there, Serenity just has a different way of showing her love. She’s always

been a little more held back.”

Mina settled comfortably. Her Aunt understood everything. She

was probably right. Wanting to believe it, she nodded her head slowly in

Prima’s lap, and sat back, looking straight into Prima’s eyes. “Then I’ll do

it. For them.” *For me.*

Strangely, Mina thought that her aunt heard it as well.

“Are you all right with this?”

Mina looked at her former brother. Jed was lanky with lack of

nutrition. “Jed, what’s going on? Are you all right?”

She had not been able to talk to him until now, and frowned as she

tried to understand. What had happened to him?

“I’m fine,” he said, automatically.

“No you aren’t. Now please, as my brother, tell me what’s wrong.

I have a right to know…”

Jed looked at her, and smiled artificially. “I’m fine. I came here to

ask how YOU were. Are YOU all right?”

“I know what I have to do…” Mina replied, frankly.

Jed frowned. “I hope so, Mina. Because I think that ever since

this whole thing began…we didn’t really know…what we were supposed

to do…”

She entered the dark room, tired, exhausted. She wanted to sleep,

and forget everything…

“Surprise!” She heard.

Matches went off, and the candles lit. The faces of her three

friends were smiling. They were making the best of the situation.

“It’s the last night you’ll be ‘on your own’.” Lita explained. “We

wanted it to be a good one.”

Mina smiled weakly.

She had been in debate since she had talked to Prima. In

indecision. She just didn’t know if she could go through with Prima’s

plan.

And if she did…what would Kunz think of her?

That was the heart of the matter.

She CARED about what he thought of her. She wanted him to

believe in her. She wanted to be…worthy? Worthy of his trust.

*Have you no honor?*

The words stung in her mind, as she could hear them, over and

over. Repeating in disappointment.

Why was he so important anyway? She’d ask herself. Why did

she have to care what HE thought?

Because he had one night, almost killed her friend, and her brother

under the impression that she was in danger. She. Mina. He cared about

her THAT much.

He would kill dragons for her.

And somehow, her romantic heart beat that that meant he loved

her.

HA! The man who would place Honor above all else. How could

she?

And yet…if she upheld his rules…he’d be pleased with her…and

she’d be married, to someone else. He didn’t care about her, did he? He

just sent her to be engaged to someone else.

Her heart stung. He DIDN’T care about her. She told herself,

once more.

Her aunt did, though. Prima understood, and Mina didn’t want to

disappoint her, either. The woman believed in such ideals as hers, so

strongly. And if she was right, she’d break Serena’s heart.

She looked at Serena.

Serena who looked like she was trying to be happy. Serena, who

was hiding tears inside. She knew that look on Serena’s face. Hidden

disappointment. Anger. Sadness. Hadn’t Serena always preached that

she’d be alone in life, because of what she did?

And yet, Mina could see how strong love could be. Strong enough

to change the stiffest hearts.

What was she going to do?

Well, right now, she was going to appreciate her night.

*Wipe your stress from your mind!* Four women in the room told

themselves, as prepared to have a night like…like they had before all these

changes.

“Are the preparations ready?” Her dark eyes were sad, tired.

Serenity answered the goddess. “Selene. I am not sure if this is

right.”

“We cannot control. I cannot see everything. I’m not as powerful

as I once was. Once we defeat Hecate, only then, Serenity. I can’t even

see what happens about the palace. How can you expect me to see what is

inside her mind?”

“I don’t know…I just want…”

“You want your daughter to be happy. I understand.”

“I want my people to be happy too, though.”

“A very sensible thought as well. But Serenity, the decision is up

to the young generation now. We cannot make their choices for them

anymore. We do not decide what is right for them.”

“She is so grown away from me…sometimes, I think she’s more

Prima than myself…”

“They’re very alike. They believe in the same ideal. But Mina is

your daughter. She always will be.”

“Right…” Serenity said quietly. “My daughter…your

granddaughter. Why haven’t you talked to her yet?”

Selene sighed. “I have seen her, when she has been alone…I

Serenity. She is not my granddaughter. I don’t feel it. I am afraid of her.

I am afraid for her. Seeing her will acknowledge that she is also a product

of my sister, and myself, and acknowledge her abnormality. I think she

wants to be a normal girl. She doesn’t need more pressures. She already

KNOWS f her descent, but…I’d rather not have her confronted with it.”

Mina looked at Jed.

“You’ve decided to go through with it?”

Mina nodded slowly. “I’m sure of it now. Tonight. The

ceremony.”

Yes, no matter what. The ceremony would go as planned.

She just didn’t know whose, yet. Kunz’s, and the whole

kingdom’s…or Prima’s?”

“Jed…”

Jed looked at his sister.

“Did Darien ever talk about Serena?” she asked, curiously, leaning

against her brother’s shoulder, as they walked around the gardens.

“Yes and no. He did before she came back from finishing

school…I think he admired her and hated her. More hated her. But to be

properly whipped by a girl…yeah, I think he respected her, though he

would have killed himself before he admitted it.”

“And when she came back from finishing school?”

“Hardly. The first time he saw her again, of course he fumed and

decided that she couldn’t possibly any more lady-like than before.”

“Do you think he…felt something for her?”

“He definitely felt SOMETHING…just what? We’ll never know.”

Mina kept silent at his side, problems still unresolved.

The dark cavern was silent. Two people stood at opposite ends, in

capsules, resting. In the center, there was an obsidian throne, crusted with

black diamonds. Sitting on it, cloaked in black silken robes, her fiery hair

pouring about her, sulked Beryl.

The ceremony was today. She was actually going to let the

ceremony occur. Metalia had told her to wait…until tomorrow.

Beryl was upset. If she wanted to take care of this, she would have

attacked today. Her warriors were strong enough.

*No, Beryl…patience. Tomorrow…* she heard in her head.

Beryl sighed, finally conceding to her mistress’s wishes.

*Tomorrow…*

Dear Mother and Father,

I haven’t written since I left, and I feel horribly about it, but…I

couldn’t before. I couldn’t because of reasons that I will explain later. I

just couldn’t. But today, I have to.

Today, Mina will be engaged to a man she does not love.

I feel ashamed about making her do this. This will be the most

heartless thing I’ll ever do…and I know I’ll hurt her.

But it’s for a good, that I must know will occur.

I miss you both so much. Lately, extremely, as I see my friends,

finding their parents. I feel…alone. I have always said that I do not mind,

but…

Fortunately, there is so much to do. I can’t stop moving. But even

though I am so busy, I just find these moments when I stop. Stopping

means time to think and I know that if I keep on thinking my thinking will

break my heart even more. Look. I’m already starting to cry again.

Queen Serenity has been very generous with me. She has visited

me every day in the last few days, and made sure I was all right. At times,

I think she’s as lonely as me. I think Mina hurts her, with all the time she

spends with Queen Primavera, from Venus. Queen Prima is Mina’s aunt,

and apparently the two get along together very well. In fact, Mina’s taken

with her more than she’s taken with her mother. It seems that Mina even

avoids Queen Serenity.

I know that Queen Serenity must cry when she is alone. She

misses her husband, and she misses her daughter. I know she does. And I

just feel so bad for her, and when she feels especially lonely, I think she

seeks me out. I don’t mind, because up here, I think all we have is each

other.

I love her very much. She’s so caring of everyone and everything,

and she’s so understanding. She just knows when to be quiet, and just let

us savor the moment. She lets me lay my head in her lap, just like you do,

mother. She’s concerned about her daughter to the point that she wants to

call off the whole thing.

Finally, I have written around the subject long enough and I’m just

going to admit it right now. Mother, father, you won’t be proud when I

admit this, and I know I am not either. I hurt him. I hurt his so deeply that

he hurt me right back, and now it hurts so much I can’t breathe.

I won’t tell you what I told him, but only that it hurt him. His face

became so pale, and his eyes! His eyes. I still see his eyes whenever I

close my own, and I can only keep telling myself it’s for his own good. I

love him, but I’m not about to let him throw away his kingdom on the

account of a foolish young love.

Yes, Mother. I love him. This is why I haven’t written you.

Because I know you’d tell me that I was being foolish, letting him go. But

Mother, if you know just how much I love him. I love him enough to

know that this is the only way that I can make sure he’s all right. I love

him so much. Even though he did hurt me. Oh Mother, he hurt me so!

Queen Serenity says that he hurt me because I hurt him. That he loves me.

But he can’t anymore. Not after what I said to him.

Today, Darien’s going to be engaged in a very formal ceremony.

It’s sacred. It’s said that the vows taken today are more serious than the

ones taken on the day of the wedding, because it is on this day that the

engaged are bonded spiritually. No, not a legendary “soul bond” as King

Terrence and his sister had, but a bond. Something that can’t be broken.

No matter who wants to break it.

Take care. I miss you. I love you, irrevocably.

Always With Love,

Serena

She found Serena in her room, finishing a long letter to her parents.

“Good day, your highness.” She got off the bed, to curtsey docilely.

“Come walk with me, Serena. I want you to be with me as I prepare for

the…” she choked on the last word “…ceremony.”

Serena didn’t want to, having written such strong words for and

against it, but obeyed, only because she wanted to reassure her friend that

she was doing the right, no proper, thing.

This morning, Mina resignedly sat for breakfast, and sat through

her mother’s outlining of the ceremonial procedures. Serena did as well,

but couldn’t concentrate on the words, and therefore completely missed

them, knowing that HE was in the same room. The girls went through the

connected doors into Mina’s room. Mina sat down, and Serena grabbed a

brush to put up Mina’s hair into the royal hairstyle. Mina took the brush

out of her friend’s hand, and took Serena’s cold fingers in her hand, and

guided her to a chair next to hers.

Serena, confused, sat.

As Mina looked at her friend, she realized just how tired Serena

looked. “Do you miss it?” she asked, quietly, sympathetically.

“Miss what?”

“Being a normal girl?” Mina said, walking away to the window.

“I never was…” Serena said quietly. “Remember? I never acted

like one, never WANTED to be one…” she looked at her princess’s

beautiful white wedding gown, and solid white silk veil, embroidered with

gold that Mina played with nervously in her hands.

“Serena, I’m sorry I’ve been so hard on you.” Mina said, stiffly.

“You are?” she asked in surprise.

Mina nodded, reluctantly. “I understand the sacrifice a ruler must

make for her kingdom. I wouldn’t acknowledge that earlier, but…”

“I understand. I know that you’re holding out for something

bigger…but Mina…” *It doesn’t exist. It brings you nothing but pain and

torture…*

Mina sighed. “I know I have. But, who knows? Maybe I’ll…fall

for…Darien…” she said, quietly.

Serena felt something choke inside of her. “Of course. He’s

handsome…and…”

Mina looked at her friend. *If you’re right Prima…* “And

what?”

“And…I don’t know. I bet there’s a soft part of him.” *I thought

there was. But not for me. Not anymore.* She turned away.

Mina watched her friend. *She DOES love him.*

An unknown feeling of anger fell across her mood. *SHE loves

him, and yet, SHE won’t marry him.* Mina got off the chair.

“The ceremony is in a few hours…are you coming to it, Serena?”

Serena looked at her friend, quivering, but also determined. “Yes.”

“Then let us drink to the…future,” she said, bitterly, as she poured

the drinks at a table. She was so upset, she almost forgot…but she

remembered.

Serena remembered that Mina always drank to love. Quietly, she

lifted her glass. “To the future…” she said, hoarsely, sipping the wine, and

smiled to assure her friend she liked it. She got out of her chair, “Mina, sit

down so I can do your hair.”

Getting up made her feel light-headed. She recalled another

instance with champagne, and Mina’s husband to be…

But shook her head as she started to feel dizzy. “Come, let me

prepare you…” Serena started to push herself past this dizziness. “I’m so

tired…” Serena yawned. “Haven’t gotten much sleep lately. I’ve been

helping your mother prepare for the ceremony…” Serena sighed, leaning

back on Mina’s bed.

Mina smiled sadly. “Serena. Rest. Sleep for a while. We’ll wake

you when it’s time…”

Serena reclined onto Mina’s soft bed, and closed her eyes, nodding

to Mina to confirm her intentions, and losing herself in a sea of

comfortable, dreamy sleep. Her sleep had not been so deep, nor so restful

in a long time.

“To the future…” Mina said, raising her wineglass again, as she

started her preparations.

“Wake up!” Amy shook her.

Serena opened her eyes. “Is it already time?”

“Yes, and if you don’t drag yourself out of bed, you’ll be late for

the ceremony!” Lita begged her, dropping the veil over the blonde’s hair.

Serena sighed, her voice hoarse from sleep. “Am I supposed to

wear this veil?”

“Yes! Weren’t you paying attention this morning?” Amy said,

distressed. “Queen Serenity was quite upset when you didn’t appear, and

we have five minutes to ready you. Now come on! To summarize what

you have to do tonight: don’t say a word.”

“Look I know this is hard for you…” Lita said softly. “It’s been

hard for everyone. But I want to say, we’re all very proud of you for

holding up this way…”

Serena was touched. “Thank you…”

Amy placed a band on Serena’s head, planting the veil firmly over

her head and kissed her forehead. “We are VERY proud of you.”

“Now come on, before we’re late! The moon’s almost up!”

The ceremony took place in moonlight. The air was filled with

tension, though. Serenity stood at the middle of a rotunda of moon marble

columns. The space between the columns had leaded diamond windows,

with stained glass images of goddesses. In the middle, there was a

diamond dust sculpture of Selene, the goddess of the moon. Serena’s

guardian goddess, Darien remembered. Serena, who wasn’t here, yet.

When the ceremony’s preliminaries were about to begin an hour

ago, Serenity had been distressed to find that Minalle had not yet shown

up. She sent Lita and Amy to look for her. Serena was no where in sight.

He looked up into the dome of pure diamond. It was perfectly

curved, flawless, crackless, and pristine clean. Through it, he could see

the night sky, and Earth…

He still hurt from seeing her. A part of him hoped that Serena

would not be here tonight. But another one wanted her here, so that he

could physically let her go out of his mind, as he began a life with

Minalle.

He still wondered if he could do this.

But as he looked at Kunz, and his determined encouragement, he

knew he could.

He had tried to talk to his head guard before this, to console him

about Mina, but the guard did not listen. He talked about some gibberish

about duty and honor, and how he hoped the princess would have enough.

Darien had given up, because apparently, Kunz did not care about

Mina.

“She’s here,” he heard Luna whisper to Serenity.

Darien drew in a breath.

At a distance, Mina drew her breath. Was this right for her to do?

Torn between Kunz’s words, and Prima’s words…she didn’t

know…what way was the right way? Prima had been convincing…she

COULD do this, but could she really?

Could she pull through this, when her mother, her friends, and her

honor were at stake?

She didn’t know. She didn’t know what would happen. She took

one step forward…then another…and another…

There was no music. There was no sound, except for the footfall

of her friends, and herself. She felt someone else take her arm and guide

her to her place.

Serena wished she could see. The veil was too thick to see

through. In a way, she was glad she didn’t have to see Darien being

eternally bonded to someone else. But…she wanted to see him. She just

did.

She felt a poke at her arm, and she continued to walk, and her

thoughts redirected to nothingness. The steps of her friends beside her

stopped, and she stopped as well, only to be taken by the arm of another,

and to another place. The place where the queen’s family, she supposed,

if she would be considered family.

Luna looked about her. So beautiful, the setting was, and she

wished, in her heart, that this was Serena’s ceremony. She looked at

Artemis, and he looked understandingly at her. Luna closed her eyes and

breathed, and looked about her.

In the room, gods and goddesses graced the halls. It was a day

when one of their children would be engaged. Selene’s granddaughter.

They stood in royal sections. The Lunar and Terran court graced the altar;

the Mercurian court, with Hermes was next; and after Venusian with

Aprhodite; on the other side of the temple were the Martian court, with

Ares; and the Jovian court, with Zues. It was, Serenity supposed, an

illustrious event, as spectacular as her own wedding. However, it did not

seem so glamorous; there were missing daughters, missing queens…

Primavera apparently was not going to advocate this whole

business, and she knew Serenity felt disappointment at being on her own.

However, she was going through with it. Firmly, she heard Serenity set

her voice.

“The ceremony begins.” She could hear Serenity saying.

Serena drew in a breath.

Despite every grain of logic in such a match, she yearned to call it

off. They were now approaching the threshold of the agreement. Beyond

this…there would be no chance at regret.

“I call upon the goddess Selene to conduct this holy ritual.” Her

voice resonated in the halls, passing through the silence like a knife.

Although it was expected, people still jolted in surprise.

The word holy rang through Mina’s spine.

Serena felt the air around her grow thick as she tried to breath. She

felt a glow, and a warmth inside her. He was going to be Hers soon.

Selene was here. And when she left, Darien would be engaged.

“Goddess Selene, I present to you my daughter Minalle Rhysterial,

and her suitor, Darien Wyndica.”

“Kneel.” Selene addressed the whole court.

Serena kneeled, feeling her heart pounding.

“Do you wish to marry this woman, Darien of Earth?” Selene

asked, almost choking on the words. *Please say no.* It was breaking

Serena’s heart. *Don’t you see?* He looked at the young man’s still and

heartless, feelingless eyes. Darien, now having lost everything but his

kingdom and this woman whom he would marry, responded the only

logical, rational response. “Yes.” *It IS the only way.*

Selene felt her heart break.

Serena felt her heart fall…out of her body, out of the moon, just

fall, and fall until it hit somewhere deep where it writhed in pain. But

speechless, she let herself hold her head high. It was her idea. She’d force

it to fall through. She supposed that she felt happy, relieved, but

happiness, nor relief, never felt so stinging. Her mouth tasted ginger. All

flavor and color seemed to turn into ginger as she continued to hold her

head high.

Selene turned to the veiled daughter of the moon. “Do you wish to

marry this man, Minalle of the Moon?”

The whole court was in silence to hear her response. For days,

they had debated…would the princess follow her extreme ideals and

refuse? She WILL do it, right? Kunz clenched his teeth. *Don’t

disappoint me, princess. I didn’t almost kill Raye AND your brother for

weak-hearted girl, did I?*

Serena felt her throat constrict. *Just do it.* She forced Mina to

acknowledge. She nodded her head in physical wish, to telepathically

force Mina to nod as well.

*Just do it.* Mina thought, nodding. Her task was now set. She

would go through with it.

Everyone sighed with relief as the princess’s head came up and

down in decisive yes. The air now settled with one clear truth, one clear

result; the engagement was set, and the alliance was as good as sealed. All

that was left was formalities.

At the princess’s side, Darien felt surprised, and…now…distanced.

Very distanced. Set apart form everyone and everything. Set apart from

Serena.

Kunz never felt a more bitter pride in his friend. He had spent the

last days in agony over whether or not to support her actions or not, no

matter what they were…the final decision was hurting and difficult,

because either way, he lost; his friend, or his pride. If he had told her

to…disregard it all…he would never, ever be able stay in his post, if he

had any honor left after doing such a crime, he would have had to defend

it…by resigning. But that wouldn’t’ have been all. He’d have lost so

much more. The honor his parents had instilled in him, from youth,

destined him to always be true to his name.

While Mina always told him to be true to his heart.

Something he never tried to believe.

He had never, deliberately allowed himself to care for a friend as

much as he did for Mina. He only hoped she knew how difficult his

decision had been. And he knew how difficult this decision was for her

now.

Serena was speechless. What was going on? What had happened?

Did she do it? Did she refuse? She yearned to pull this veil from her face,

to see what was going on.

Selene continued. Prima, in the unseen shadows, felt her throat

constrict.

Selene, now struck with sadness, but still formal, continued. She

looked to Serenity. “The water.”

Serena breathed in relief. Mina followed through. The decision

was precise now. The result was clear and apparent; the engagement, the

marriage, were both going to occur. Her face was pale as she continued to

listen.

Amy and Lita felt disappointment. Why hadn’t Serena done

something? Why hadn’t Mina protested? Why? Every single thing that

they had ever believed of their friends…all uprooted. Put in new

definition.

“The water…” Selene repeated again…looking at Serenity.

The water was taken from the sacred snows from Lunarian

mountains to the east of the palace. It was taken by Selene herself and

melted by the sun’s court, and bottled carefully. From melting, it was

stored in Selene’s own home, deep in the moon for at at least a hundred

years before its use.

Serenity had held the bottle of the water through out the ceremony,

but now handed it reluctantly to Selene. She felt wrong in doing this.

There was nothing right in breaking her daughter’s heart, in breaking her

ward’s heart. But her ward didn’t care, did she? Especially if she

wasn’t…

Selene took the water from Serenity’s hands, and took a gold,

diamond-studded bowl from the altar, and poured the water in there. She

drizzled the water slowly over the prince’s hair, just at the right way so

that it would fall across his forehead, and trace down his harsh features,

which were locked in concentration.

Darien felt he water trickling through his hair and shivered. It was

a lot more sacred than he had thought. He could not stand at the side of a

woman whom he did not was to marry, could he? Even for the sake of his

kingdom? He was ready to cry against this ceremony. But he couldn’t.

He just couldn’t. BUT HE WOULD. But the way she hurt him. He had

to go through with this, right? He loved her, but…

He looked at his princess, and continued the ceremony.

Selene continued the ceremony, by taking a gold ring from the

altar, and dropping it into the water. She took a gold, sterilized needle that

had been melted and sharpened in the sun. She gently pricked the his ring

finger. A single drop of his blood dripped from his finger, into the bowl.

The sudden prick startled him. Serenity had warned him of it. The

prick came as a revelation to him, though. He loved Serena. After

everything was said, and done, and considered, he loved HER. He loved

her more than he loved his kingdom, he loved her more than he loved his

honor. Was there anything else? Would there be anything else?

Selene saw the water glow as she took the princess’s hand.

Serena was confused. What was going on? Everything was silent.

Selene took the glove off of the princess’s hand.

Mina held her breath. Oh…mixed emotions. She wanted this to

work…but…

The needle pricked the princess’s finger, and a single crimson drop

emerged, and dropped into the bowl.

Mina recoiled with guilt. Guilt of the dishonesty of this holy

ceremony. Wrong. Whatever honor there was in such a ceremony, it

was…still wrong.

Serena’s thoughts were spinning. Total silence…what was going

on? Was he already…ENGAGED to her? Oh, Serena loved him! She

loved him, she couldn’t let this happen, but… No, she had no but. She

loved him. That was why she was doing it. Out of love. She felt

something in her sting, from her toes to her fingers, as she felt part of her

slip through her fingers, as she let go of her past, her future.

Mina felt uncomfortable. She ought to speak out against this. She

ought to. It was wrong.

The blood mingled inside the bowl, and the ring inside glowed

with the bond that had been forged. Now, Serenity took the ring out,

carefully, and took the princess’s hand, slipping on the ring, ensuring the

lock.

Mina couldn’t allow this. She…she had to let it happen. But it

was deceiving. How could she let this happen?

“I can’t allow this.” he stood up…too late.

The ring now glowed on his fiance’s hand, and it looked magically

sealed. On his head, he felt a warmth shimmery impression on his

forehead, and almost cowered in fear at what he had done.

Serena felt something sink and burn inside her. Although she

could see nothing, she heard the words as sure as she could envision him,

bold, standing up, and pleading so diplomatically. Hope burned like a

phoenix, rejuvenated, playing fierce throughout her blood. It seemed to

meet something inside of him, even though she knew he wasn’t even

looking at her at this moment. It was a strong bond that would not break,

even with his matrimony to another woman, no matter how “sacred” it

was. It gave her so much. Her heart, was sealed at this moment, to his.

She loved HIM.

But how could he? How could he spoil every single thing she had

done for HIM out of love? Furious she wanted to beat him over the head.

Darien saw the ring sealed on his future bride’s finger. It glowed

…as if it were now magically locked. He felt a part of him come out of

himself, and fuse with his bride. He tried to stop it…but…there was no

control. None. Just the tugging of his heart, and heat and fusion. Now, it

linked with something…someone. The timing of their beats. He could

hear her hard, quick heartbeat in her head. Pounding the definite in his

head. No, this was wrong. It shouldn’t be so holy, now when he didn’t

love her…

On his forehead, from the shimmer, he felt something burn, and

retained frustrated and pained silent tears as it seared across his mind, this

emblem that was sealing his final fate…

Mina was cowering in fear and pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. It was

crushed into every beat of her heart. She heard it pounding in her heart, in

her head. She felt strangely free at his words; he had just called the whole

thing off…but she was imprisoned in his timing.

Selene looked pitifully at the young man now. *If only you’d done

something sooner!* She wanted to yell at him. In the bowl, the water was

illuminated gold, swirling, ready to be bottled once more, for use thirty

days from now, at the wedding. Now, the prince of the Earth stood before

her, the crest of the moon royal family. The golden crescent.

“It’s too late.”

Serenity could mouth the words for him. Oh. Foolish, foolish

man! Why did he wait until it was too late to stand up for what he knew

the whole time?

The murmur ran through the crowds, but Serena was silent, and

confused. She continued to knee, and did not say a word. Just thought.

HE REFUSED. But it was by far too late. What was he thinking? What

was he doing? What was she feeling?

Hope. Anger.

“I can’t go through with this,” he said again, firmer. “I…I just

can’t.” He wanted to say that he loved Serena, the ward…the ward who

was so cowardly…she wasn’t even…

Selene, speechless with conflicted interests could say the only

thing she knew. She repeated, ironically soullessly, emotionlessly, “It’s

too late.”

The three words were as hollow as her voice, and echoed

throughout the hall, bringing finality. The end of the ceremony. The end

of all protest.

But then…

“I can speak for him,” the princess stood up beside him.

Mina was stunned.

What was going to happen now? It was too late, and he had

spoken, as had…She.

Surprise. She had spoken. Finally, the courage of the heart was

powerful, and prevailing in this room.

Serena felt her heart pounding. She felt, on her hand, the ring that

Selene put on Mina. It was there as if it belonged there. She felt it, even

though she knew in her mind she didn’t wear it. It was so close to her, it

was around her heart.

She had spoken.

Speechless, they stood suspended in silence for seconds.

Gradually, murmurs rejuvenated.

Mina gathered her courage and stepped forward. “As a third party.

I speak as well.”

The attention of the crowd pivoted to the girl, in golden silk

courtier dress, who stepped from among them, into center aisle.

Serena felt relief. Mina agreed. She didn’t desire this either!

The crowd was confused. Darien felt his throat choke. Mina was

out in the crowd. Who had he just become engaged to?

The crowd focused on the girl, veiled next to the prince. Talk was

flying and the discussion came fast and furious.

Serena was upset. She heard the words “Princess Mina…ordinary

clothes…imposter bride…who was she?” What? Did Darien marry

someone else? Was this Beryl’s sick joke?

Who did he marry? Darien swore, under his breath. He reached to

draw the veil back to his false fiance.

“Screw Amy’s rules…” she muttered. “It’s not turning out to be

traditional anyway.” She whipped off her veil, and let her eyes scan about

her, trying to focus. Where was she?

The veil drifted to the floor, but the solid gold crown made a large

clang, piercing through the disruption.

His eyes locked with those of his fiance, and he grabbed her hand

before she could run away. She wouldn’t, though. She was entangled in

his gaze as much as he was locked hers.

There was silence in the court. No one moved. Breathing stopped.

Serena turned pale.

The Princess Mina stood in the center aisle. The Prince Darien,

stood at the altar. By him stood his now unveiled fiance, dressed in the

princess’s wedding robes, with the golden ring still glowing at her finger.

She was Serena, the queen’s ward.

To be Continued…