Copyright © 1999-2000 All Rights Reserved. 'Day And Night: Evolutions' By Princess Destiny [ princessdestiny@hotmail.com ] http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/2588/Princess_Destinys_Fanfiction_Archive.htm ********************************************************************* Ugh! Chapter Four! I finally made it. Only Hmm...2 more Chapters left and then a break until I can get started on the 'Beginning' of the Book Two: Blood Moon. Have any of you ever had a great idea and you've written down a summery, a middle and maybe a Chapter near the end...Then have to go back and write Chapter 1 of it? Well, that's what happened with Book Two. *Wince* Don't worry, there will probably be NO delay at all between Books, since there's still two weeks before I have to post!*Grin* Happy reading! And remember-comments!!!! _____________________________________________________________________ DAY AND NIGHT: EVOLUTIONS By Princess Destiny [ princessdestiny@hotmail.com ] _____________________________________________________________________ ************************ * BOOK ONE: BLACK MOON * ************************ _____________________________________________________________________ Chapter Four _____________________________________________________________________ The night was dark, the Moon almost hidden behind the clouds. It was a beautiful night, perfect for riding along the bluff. The motor-bike was almost drowned out by the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below the cliff. Darian rode right up to the edge, till the front wheel was resting on the very lip of the cliff. Dirt fell, dislodged and he watched impassively. His eyes were unusually sharp, so the lack of moonlight was not a problem to him. He could every detail, almost etched into his mind. The dark water below, the white foam, the endless sound of the sea... "Well, who'd have thought" he mused dryly, staring with his blue eyes up at the silver Moon. "The night and the full Moon bringing out thepoet in me" He continued to stare at the night sky, mind drifting. The day had been...Unbelievable. He felt different. So completely different. A breeze swept over him, bringing with it a scent of flowers. Her scent. Darian's eyes darkened. Serena. She was constantly in his thoughts. He found he could barely think of anything else, not even School. Darian looked lingering at the Moon, almost hidden behind the white clouds lazily making their way across the sky. His thoughts went back to a few hours earlier. In the Arcade. He remembered crashing into Serena. That's when things went crazy. When he touched her. And then, even with a foot of space between them, his senses were still going into overload. He hadn't been able tobreath. His whole body had been going crazy with tingling and burning sensations. He could smell her scent acutely. Overwhelmed by her very presence and with no way to break their locked gazes. ["Not until that car had beeped"] Darian smiled wryly. Lucky for Serena that it HAD. Darian had been right on the verge of kissing her senseless! Right in the middle of the street. With a fourteen year old, no less! Was he going insane?! His hands clenched around the bike handles, till his hands were numb. Darian couldn't exactly recall what happened when she almost ran away from him. Serena had glanced back for a moment and then something strange happened. His senses deepened. The air seemed to blur for a moment and he had a sensation of falling. Then...Clarity. He could see EVERY detail of her pretty face. It was etched into his brain. The blue of her eyes. The innocence in them. A joy of life. The gold in her hair. The smoothness of her white skin. She'd run from him them and Darian had followed before he realised what he was doing. Serena had been afraid of HIM. Of them. He halted for a moment. Was there a 'them?' Darian strode into the Arcade and stopped dead. Serena was in Andrews arms. Being HELD by him. Darian's mind exploded. His body felt as if it were on fire. His eyes darkened. His fingers tingled with a strange sensation. And he had wanted to KILL. Actually kill his best friend. Over a girl he thought he hated. Darian felt an uncontrollable jealousy, fury and...Possessiveness. Serena was HIS! Darian blinked, coming out of the memory for a moment. What had he been thinking? Serena. HIS? And she had known what he was feeling. Somehow. When she'd looked up, fear in her eyes as she saw his expression. And also, something else. It answered the longing he felt. But it was there for only a moment. Then she coming between Darian and Andrew's locked gazes, as if she were some golden cloud. He watched with narrowed eyes as Serena placed a slender hand on Andrew's arm. Immediately, Darian felt the rage again. It almost overwhelmed him! If it hadn't been for Serena between them, he would certainly have killed Andrew. Merely because...Andrew had dared totouch Serena. "I don't understand" Darian whispered into the night air. He couldn't explain the killer rage he had felt, even now. Not completely. But it had something to do with Serena. Darian stared down at his hands unseeingly. When had things become so crazy? When had control been lost exactly? When had Serena become so much a part of his life that he'd kill another for being near her. And yet, when Raye had come, Darian had calmed almost immediately. Raye was special, he'd always known that. It was why he dated her. The Priestess-In-Training. Perhaps Raye was his salvation. When they had all gathered at the table, drinking, Darian became aware of Serena's scrutiny. She was staring at him so hard that she never noticed as he stared back. She had actually seemed to be memorising his features unconsciously. But avoiding his eyes. What she saw there obviously frightened her. For a moment, jealousy had flashed in those eyes, when Raye suggested a boat-ride. And an anger that made her fingers clench so hard on her thick-shake glass that it exploded. Darian knew he had caused this reaction in her and was pleased. That he had gotten to her. It meant that Serena was not as impervious to him as she would like to pretend. "And I pushed her. To see if she would retaliate" Darian said aloud. A smile curved his lips, lighting up his eyes. She was quite a little spitfire when provoked. He'd been so surprised when she'd given in, agreeing to ride with him to the hospital. And again, he'd pushed. He'd driven fast to scare her into clutching him closer, relishing the feel of her pressed again him. The electricity between them. Then, he HAD to open his mouth and insult her. She actually HIT him! Darian shook his head, recalling how her blue eyes had blazed such rage. Something in him had responded to that rage. A NEED to....Do something. Something he couldn't quite grasp. Something dark beat at his mind constantly now. Especially when the littleblonde was near. "I can't think about this now" Darian gritted his teeth, mind in turmoil. He started the bike up and spun around swiftly, riding away. Darian reached the road five minutes later, the ride becoming more smooth and fast. And fast he did go, the wind in his hair making him feel free. All worries seemed to disappear... "What the-!" he swore, breaking sharply. His headlight had picked up a shape in the middle of the road! It had come right out of nowhere. And it was too late-Darian pressed on the brake frantically, seeing the brief flash of a face, white in the headlights. There came the desperate squeal of tires. He felt his wheel slipping to the side from the back and then he hit something. A shriek sounded at the same time that Darian was thrown from his bike, right over the front wheel. He landed with a sickening crunch. Pain invaded his whole body and he knew that something was broken. Maybe his neck. He could also feel a trickle down his forehead and an overwhelming smell of blood. An explosion rocked the area, sounding painfully close. Though Darian knew he had flown a fair way from the bike. He HAD been going at a wild pace. The night was lit up with flames from his bike exploding. Darian kept his eyes open, knowing that if he closed them, he might never wake up again. Damn, what a way to go! The sound of footsteps came to him, clear even over the sound of small explosions and the blaze of fire. Darian felt a brief hope as someone staggered over to him, seeming to loom like an angel of death. From his position on the ground, Darian could only see a shadow against the flames. The person crouched slightly, seeming to hesitate as they saw the gleam of Darian's openeyes. "Ya dumb bastard!" a woman's voice suddenly hissed. Darian couldn't even flinch as a foot was raised-booted by the feel of it-and kicked him solidly in the side. He felt ribs crack, coughing up blood involuntarily. "Why weren't you watch'n where ya were going, huh? Ya could'a KILLED me!" Darian couldn't even draw the breath to answer her, or even scream at the pain he felt everywhere. Okay-he thought dazedly-this is your reward Dar, for all your hard work. Yeah right, studying to become a doctor huh? He should have been watching where he was going, he COULD have killed this woman. "Idiot" she sneered, kicking him twice more. Then she seemed to tire of the game-since he wasn't fighting back-and left. Darian listened till her footsteps disappeared into the night, wondering vaguely how he could hear her for so long. Then, he was alone. The smell of petrol and burning bush were smelt acutely by him and he knew he was in danger. If the fire spread...he'd been thrown clear of the road, lying in the bushes. But he also knew...there was no way he could walk, let alone MOVE. "So... *cough* this is how it ends, huh?" he gasped, finally speaking. It was so painful that he coughed up more blood, head swimming. God's, wasn't anything working for him lately? Where was a guardian angel when you needed her? His head sank back into the dirt, the feeling slowly fading, taking with it the pain. But Darian was panicking. He was training to be a doctor, he knew! The fading of pain wasn't a good thing, it meant...he was dying. ["Mom, dad"] he thought despairingly. ["Looks like I'll be joining you sooner than I thought"] Darian waited there, staring silently up at the Moon as his senses slowly faded. The smell of blood was suddenly acute to him. He could almost taste the coppery liquid...his life-blood. It was overwhelming! So much so that even the smell of burning tree's and bush was blocked out. "Wha?" He murmured in confusion. Then a horrible languor stole over him, stealing the pain away with it. He just...couldn't keep his eyes open. He was so tired. Strangely, the last thing he remembered was seeming a heart-breakingly beautiful face, super-imposed over the glowing silver of the Moon. An ethereal, flowing white dress and long streams of golden hair-glowing as brightly as the crescent Moon on her forehead."Princess!" He gasped with his last breath, then everything went dark. ******************************************** "Is all well, my guardian?" "All is well" Pluto answered, a soft smile playing about her lips. The woman in her view smiled uncertainly, her beautiful face thoughtful and concerned."Are you sure? I-sensed something" Pluto's smile faded slightly, her red eyes becoming sharp. If Serenity was feeling something was wrong...then something probably WAS. But she'd not let her Queen know. Nothing had to disrupt the Time Line. Sailor Pluto recovered her smile, though it seemed strained, even to Neo Queen Serenity. "Everything is fine, my Queen" Pluto repeated, trying to assure herself in the process. The golden-haired woman smiled gently, straightening on her throne. The crystal in her hands glowed in response as she stared into it, Pluto reflected in it's pure depths like a mirror. Pluto grimaced somewhat. She hated lying to her Queen, but there were some things...a shimmering in the Time Portal startled both the Queen and her Scout. "What?" Pluto exclaimed. Neo Queen Serenity looked worried, her crescent Moon glowing as she tried to keep the link open. But moments later, her vision faded to blackness. Pluto's eyes widened with horror as the Vortex shuddered, the Time Gate itself shaking with a violence that was scary to see. Abruptly, the spirit of Queen Serenity appeared, flung onto her knee's just as quickly. "What is happening?" the silver-haired woman shouted in fear. "It was like I was suddenly sucked into here, I had no will to resistit!" Pluto staggered, falling to her knee's beside Serenity. They clung to each other as the Vortex shuddered and twisted sickeningly. Finally, it stopped. Pluto remained on her knee's beside her Queen, looking slowly around. Her red eyes closed for a moment, too horrified to speak. She opened them and glanced again, just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. But no, they were there as they had been moments before. Never in all her millennium at the Gate, had she seen something that gave her such terror. The Time Gate had disappeared, the Vortex's-the billions that had existed in this place- were cracked. And she and her Queen...were trapped. ******************************************** The Great Fire burned steadily, throwing mad shadows over the small room. The heat was almost unbearable, but Raye was used to it. The fire had to be hot in order to induce the vision. It was almost like delirium. And Raye desperately needed answers. "Oh Great Fire, show me what I need to know!" She intoned, closing her eyes. Her mind swum in chaos. She could quite form a thought. A sensation of warning swept over Raye, making her eyes snap open abruptly. In the fire was...Someone. Someone strangely familiar, yet Raye could swear she had never seen the beautiful girl before inher life. She was tall and graceful, her long golden hair falling to her feet from two buns. Her dress was pure white and silk with golden edging about the bodice. Even the slippers were white silk. Her face was haughty and yet kind. An innocence radiated from the girl, who appeared to be about 18 years old. The vision faded, leaving Raye frustrated. Who had she been? "Who ARE you? What do you have to do with Serena?" Raye asked, irritated. She'd asked for help for a friend and gotten a vision of a complete stranger. Yet, it had not been the first time a totally frustrating vision had appeared in the fire. It usually connected later on. "Thank you" Raye whispered. She sighed and was about to turn away when the fire turned a blue colour. The flames shot up till they almost touched the roof. Raye threw herself backwards. Footsteps came quickly just outside the door. It was thrown open to reveal Chad and Grandpa. The old man glared at the demon fire, pulling out a protection charm. "Evil begone!" He shouted, throwing the charm towards the fire. Raye gaped as the paper was consumed. The fire not touched at all. That could only mean...That the fire had not been taken over by an evil being. "What are you trying to show me!" She called to it. A vision suddenly appeared in the blue depths. The fire turned a silvery- white. Raye, Grandpa and Chad gaped as they saw a wolf. No, two wolves. Black as the night. But surrounded by the pure white of the flames. The fire showed the vision for a moment longer, before going completely dead. Grandpa stared at the cooling ashes in horror. "The Great Fire has gone out!" He said, taking a step towards the pit. Raye reached out and stopped him just in time. From the dead ashes, the Great Fire abruptly sprang back to life. It roared up to the roof, glowing golden, then sank back to it's normal height. "Woah" Chad muttered, hanging onto the doorjamb for dear life. His eyes were wide under his mop of hair. Raye turned away from them both, leaving the room. She headed out to the Temple stairs and stared up at the silver Moon. "Two wolves. Dark within, but surrounded by light" Raye murmured to herself. Was this a vision of coming danger? Zoisite maybe? "I'd better call the other's. We need to have a Scout meeting first thing in the morning!"She raced back inside, the robes flapping about her legs wildly. Raye reached her room and closed the door, almost throwing herself at her School bag. Her hand fumbled inside and then touched the smoothness of the Communicator. She pressed all-call swiftly and waited. Amy was first to come on the screen, looking wide awake. "Raye? What is it, a monster attack?" The blue-haired genius asked quickly, dropping her pen. She'd obviously been studying. "Not yet. It think" Raye frowned, trying to gather her thoughts. Lita came on then, yawning. "What's up guys? Is there an attack....Zoisite?" The brunettedemanded. "No. A vision. Of a coming evil" Raye spoke quickly. Her eyes constantly swung down to the symbol of the Moon. Serena had not answered her communicator yet. "Where's Serena? Lita asked suddenly, as if reading Raye's mind. "Probably asleep" Amy commented, hiding a smile. Raye scowledfiercely. "That Meatball Head!" She exploded. "This is just like-" The screen flashed and Serena's face appeared. Raye stared for a moment. The blonde's hair was down, her face smudged with dirt. The screen split and all the girls appeared next to each other. Amygasped. "Serena! Where are you?" She asked. Serena closed her eyes for a moment, their blue seeming...Haunted. "I-I woke up and went for a walk" The tone sounded false, even to Lita. But no one said anything. Serena looked pale, the moonlight seeming to bleach the colour from her smooth skin.Raye was startled, suspicious, then furious. "You idiot!" She shouted. "Zoisite is out there and you decide to go for a walk.ALONE?" "Leave her be, Raye" Amy said quietly. Serena weaved for a moment, the screen moving crazily. Raye's eyes widened in fear. She felt uneasy, on edge. Something was wrong here. "I'm fine. I'm going home right now" The blonde said, face coming back into view. She smiled weakly, then her picture disappeared. The three others were quite for a long while. "Do you think she'd okay?" Lita finally asked, concerned. Amy nodded, but Raye was notconvinced. "I'm going to find her" She stated in determination. Lita shook her head, yawning."She'd probably in bed by now, Raye" The Brunette assured her friend. Raye hesitated, then sighed in resignation."I suppose you're right" "You can yell at her tomorrow at the Scout meeting" Amy murmured. Her eyes widened. "Oh my. Serena doesn't know about it!" "We'll tell her in the morning" Lita said confidently. She yawned again. "I'm outta here guys. I need some more sleep" "Yes and I need to study some more. Goodnight" Amy disappeared, Lita a moment later. Raye stared down at the blank communicator, eyes far away. She couldn't shake the feeling that Serena had been in danger. ************************************************* It was dark and wet. Cold. Serena shook her head, trying to open her eyes. Something was beeping insistently at her. She could tell where it was coming from though! "Come on, Serena" She groaned at the sound of her own voice. So dry-sounding. Like she hadn't used her voice in ages. Serena managed to get her eyes open, but what she saw was confusing. Something like a Forest. Sharp needles reaching for the sky. She frowned. That didn't sound right. Serena moved slightly, pushing herself onto her knee's. Oh. It had been grass. It was then that several things hit her. One, the beeping noise was her communicator inside her sub-space pocket. Two, she was in pain. All over her body, there were twinges and stinging. Three...She was naked. "Oh, this isn't happening to me" She whispered, tears flooding her eyes. Serena looked around and saw that she was in the Juuban Park. The water in the pond shimmered in the moonlight. But even the tree's in the dark were familiar to her. She could see them so clearly too. The beeping continued. Serena reached into her sub- space pocket and pushed the Symbol for Mars. Raye's eyes got wide when she saw the blonde. Serena just hoped she was holding the Communicator high enough that Raye could see she was naked. "Serena, where are you?" Amy asked. Worry was clear in all her friend's voices as they grilled her. Serena swayed dizzily, shivering as a wind blew through the park. It chilled her bare flesh. She told Raye she was going home and switched off the Communicator swiftly. Serena only hoped that none of the Scouts would come looking for her. She slipped the Communicator back into the sub-space pocket and looked around warily. The night seemed so alien. And fearful to a naked girl. Serena stared around at the ground. Where exactly were her clothes? She began to stumble towards home, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. What had happened here? She remembered fainting and then...waking up here in the park. Serena was grateful for the numbness spreading through her body and her mind. She didn't want to think about this. She only wanted to get home! It took what seemed forever, but she finally reached home. Serena headed around the back of the house and pulled the key from under the mat. She snuck upstairs, opening her bedroom door. Before she could go a few steps, the light was switched on. Serena almost shrieked, trying to cover her nakedness futilely with both hands. Luna's eyes almost popped out of her head as she saw her charge. "S-Serena!" Luna stammered. Her red eyes swept over Serena's for. Serena looked down also and saw the scratches and cuts. They covered most of her body. "By Serenity...Who did this to you?" Luna said furiously. Her teeth were bared, eyes blazing. Serena stumbled towards the bed, exhausted. "What's the time?" She gaspedto the cat. "It's just after midnight" Luna told the blonde, hoping up next to her. Serena was in too much pain to even throw her clothes on. She crawled into bed, groaning. "Your parents assumed that you were spending the night at Molly's, studying" "Good" Serena whispered. A shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Luna's furious and concerned eyes. :Who-" She began again. Serena closed her eyes, rolling away. "I don't know. I fainted and woke up like this" "Were you attacked...Serena?" Luna said, trying to lift the covers with a paw. Serena yanked the covers back. Her tearful eyes staredup at Luna. "I don't think so. My clothes are gone...But I don't think anyone...Touched me" The blonde managed. "I'm just tired" "Oh Serena" Luna whimpered. She settled down next to Serena. Serena's eyes suddenly flew open. "Not a word of this to anyone Luna" She warned. Luna looked shocked."But Serena-""No one!" "All right" Luna conceded, looking worried. Serena closed her exhausted eyes, trying to remember what had happened. But for the life of her, nothing could be recalled. ******************************************** The room was ablaze with a hundred candles, steadily burning all over the vast room. Silken buntings hung along the wall, in silver and gold and white. A long table covered almost along an entire wall of the hall, adorned with every sort of delicacy you could think of. Serena blinked as she stared around, confused as to where she was. The hall-as big as it was-was crowded with hundreds of beautifully dressed men and women, all wearing concealing masks of silk and lace. Every colour of the rainbow, Serena thought, catching her breath at the splendour. She backed away onto the long buffet table, involuntarily glancing down at the food. But nothing there interested her. That in itself, startled her more than her being in this place. Since when was Serena Tsukino NOT hungry? "Are you going to eat something, or stare at the pate all night?" a voice drawled lazily into her ear. Serena started violently, spinning around. The person who had spoken was a tall man. He had broad shoulders, fitting into his exquisite jacket beautifully. Serena's eyes lingered on his chest for a moment, knowing instinctively that her head would fit perfectly there...her hair resting just under his chin. The man before her was dressed in royal blue and gold, as strangely dressed as any other person in the room. ["Almost like this was another century"] Serena thought wildly. Okay, that was the LAST time she sneaked into her mom's room to read cheezy historical romances! The man smiled down at her, his deep blue eyes glinting with silent amusement. Serena straightened her shoulders unconsciously, her chin coming up. She looked him over haughtily, taking in his dark hair. The bottom half of his face was the only thing visible, a white half-mask covering the top. But his smile...oh, but how it made her heart thunder in her ears! "I see that you have lost your tongue, my Lady" he murmured mockingly. Serena immediately bristled. "I see that the gentleman has lost his manners!" She replied haughtily. Serena almost gaped with surprise. Has she really said that? And-and, that hadn't even sounded like her voice. well, sort of. But more...gentle and cultured. Like the rich English people she sometimes saw on old movies...uh, hazard of hearts, wasn't it? A Barbara Cartland novel made into a movie? Serena sighed inwardly. Who CARED what anyone said, she loved a romantic ending as much asany girl did! "I apologise" the man said softly, not looking in the slightest repentant. Serena gritted her teeth, but somehow summoned a gently mocking smile to her lips. "I'm sure you are sir, if you will excuse me?" She swept past him with all the bearing of an empress, astonished inside that she hadn't fallen flat on her face. And since when was she so cool around guys...and such a gorgeous guy as that one had looked! Serena swept out of the room, past the other guest and onto the balcony. "I feel I have offended you somehow, my Lady" a now-familiar voice said from behind her. Serena felt herself stiffen, but admitted to a secret delight. She turned when she reached the railing, leaning back onto it. She watched as the man approached with all the grace of a stalking panther. A slight twitch of alarm made her clutch at the silk of her dress. The action made her glance down, realising she had no idea what she was wearing. Serena's mouth almost fell open. The dress was GORGEOUS! Lucky this was a dream, 'cause there was NO WAY she could ever had afforded such a beautiful creation. The golden stitching along the edge of her modest neckline alone would have cost a fortune to stitch!"Lady?" "I do not believe that we have been introduced, my Lord" she said stiffly, mind in chaos. His blue eyes glinted strangely at her as he came closer. She moved backwards, but found she couldn't go more than a foot because of the balcony railing. The man stopped but a foot away, his eyes locked on hers. He seemed to sense her hesitation, her uncertainty at being out there alone with him. Serena watched with wide eyes as the man suddenly gestured. A gasp broke from her lips involuntarily as he held out single, pure white rose. Serena reached out for it hesitantly, certain she would break such a beautiful thing. His fingers brushed hers as she took it from him and an electric jolt ran down her arm and then the rest of her body. When she looked up, he was gone. She was alone on the balcony, staring down at a perfect rose, still moist with dew. It looked as if it had been freshly cut from the bush. Something clicked vaguely with Serena. ["Tuxedo Mask?"] she said. A moment later, she realised that her lips had not moved. Indeed, she thought with shock, her lips had not been her own the entire time she had been in the dream...and yet, the man had heard her speak and she had felt her lips moving, but not of her own violation! As if to prove the point that she was not herself, the body she was in moved, turning towards the edge of the balcony and the grounds below. Serena felt light-headed as her eyes gazed upwards. A silent scream erupted from her lips as she saw the sky. For it was not the Moon up in the dark sky, surrounded by brilliant stars....but the Earth... "SERENA! Wake up, Serena!" Luna's voice shouted in her ear. Serena bolted upright, her heart beating so fast that she thought it might jump from her chest. The Earth, in the sky! She felt how wide her eyes were, but she was not seeing her room, she was still seeing the Planet in all it's glory, the continents clearly visible. "Are-are you alright?" Luna asked in an unusually soft voice. Serena blinked, the vision fading. The black cat was sitting on her legs, staring up at Serena, who had apparently bolted into a sitting position when she woke up. She felt the air on her bare skin and remembered earlier. So that was why Luna was suddenly so nice. She still believed that Serena had been attacked. "I'm-fine, Luna" she whispered. Serena swept her adviser into a hug, holding her close. As if she were the last sane link in theworld. "Serena? You screamed, I thought we were being robbed" the cat attempted to lighten the situation with a joke. Serena laughed lightly, fondly and released Luna. "Luna" she asked suddenly, unable to shake the feeling that the dream had been real. That she had really met that man...and those eyes..."Where-did...What I mean is, did the Scouts go to the Moon?" "Of course! You all lived there with the Princess and her Mother. You had to be close to protect her" Luna said somewhat scornfully. As if it had been quite obvious. Serena sighed. She supposed it should have been obvious, the Princess was from the Moon! "I had a dream. Is it possible I was remembering?" Serena asked casually, settling back. Her heart thundered as she waited for an answer, she just had to know if she was going crazy or not! She felt, more than saw, Luna frown in the darkness of the room. "It's-possible I suppose" the cat said doubtfully. "What did youdream?" "I was at a ball" Serena mused dreamily. "There was this handsome man and he gave me a rose...Then he left and I looked into the sky and saw the Ea-" "Serena! Now I KNOW you were dreaming" Luna said with some disgust. "The handsome man was obviously your crush of Tuxedo Mask. And the rose confirms it!" Serena stared at the cat, seeing how the red eyes were filled with resignation. How could Luna dismiss Serena's dreams so easily? It wasn't that easy, was it...could it really have been only a dream. Okay, she remembered thinking that the man reminded her of Tuxedo Mask. Also his eyes, that they had been full of such warmth when he gave her the white rose. "I suppose you're right, Luna" Serena said suddenly, flipping over to face the wall. She pulled the covers up to her chin and pretended to sleep. But several things haunted her. The smell of the rose was still acute. How the scene of the Earth in the sky had scared her so and yet it felt as if she had gazed at it a million times before. And also, how her face still felt as if she were wearing a half-mask, like all the other masqueraders had been. As she drifted off, it suddenly occurred to her to wonder how she had seen Luna said clearly, though the room had been so dark. Just as it had been when she woke up in the park. ********************************************************************* One more! *Gleeful look* One more Chapter and then onto Book Two: Blood Moon! I can honestly say, that it gets better and better as it goes along! This has been SO much fun to write. I wrote almost all of Book One, some of Book Two and a little of Three in a week...Then I got writers block! *Wail* If anyone has any idea's forming in their head about future scene's in this Book, let me know. It's not completed and I'm open to suggestions. But NO FLAMES! Love, Princess Destiny