Hrm. This will probably be the last chapter.. Unless there's an Epilogue. LOL. Who knows.. Anyway. thanks for sticking to the end *thumbs up* Take care all.. ________________________________________________________ A Dark Lust, Chapter 10. ________________________________________________________ The hallway light peeking through the open door was all that shone into the large room. Darien fumbled along the walls for a switch, when he finally found it, he pushed it up quickly while closing the door behind him. Glorious light illuminated the room before him, shapes shifted to furniture and the like. His eyes gazed wide around the room, and stopped when he saw the bed... saw her. She wasn't moving. Was that blood? He was at her side in a second, oh Gods how could they let this happen to her. She wasn't wearing any clothes, he quickly pulled off his cape and drapped it over her small body. Her.. nearly motionless body. He could just barely see her chest moving up and down, with the slightest movement. He put his hands on her face, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Gods..what has he done to you..that bastard! Oh Serena.. please.. please open your eyes..." Just then he noticed her hair. He couldn't help but allow the gasp to escape his lips, he'd cut - her HAIR? 'That SON OF A BITCH!' Darien clentched his jaw as he lifted a very light Serena into his arms and held her close to him. He would never let her go again, she could count on that. As he gathered her into his arms, he felt so much pain for her. What she must have gone through, how she could have possibly kept alive, and hopeful for them...she was so strong. Stronger than any of them. Darker thoughts passed through his mind as well. Erebus had touched her.. undoubtedly raped his Serena. He'd violated Dariens love.. stolen something SO unbelievably precious, and by the Gods Darien SWORE he would kill him. Even if it was with his own two bare hands, Erebus would die tonight. "Hey! Put her down? Who are you? What are you doing in my room!" A voice seethed. Darien grinned to himself darkly, looks like his time is sooner than expected. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nebil paced nervously in her quarters. Xandria sat on the edge of her bed, quietly humming a little tune Nebil had never heard before. 'What have I done?' Her mind raced on..'he will surely die tonight because of my actions - WHAT WAS I THINKING? ... What about our daughter? Ugh.. why did it have to come to this...why did he have to do it? He.. he changed so much..' She shook her head, 'STOP MAKING EXCUSES!', 'I'm not!' her mind fought itself, 'he IS different, and there's nothing I can do to change that. Maybe it's better this way..' Nebil stopped and put her face in her hands. Xandria stopped humming and hopped off the end of the bed, walking over to where her mother stood. "Mama?" Nebil spoke softly, "Yes baby?" Xandria put a hand up for her mother and smiled up to her, "You did a good thing mama, I can feel it. Don't be sad for daddy, he's been lost before. We'll have him back... don't worry!" Nebil looked down, awed at the small childs words. She was so young, how could she possibly know so much? Nebil smiled softly and knelt down, taking her daughter into her arms and holding onto her tightly. "Come on, sweety, we need to see if we can help." Xandria nodded and followed her mother out of the room quietly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's about time." Darien said cooly. Erebus froze in his spot. That voice.. he looked closer now.. the raven black hair.. the cape around his princess - oh gods. How did HE get here?! Erebus tried to regain his composure (yet not doing a very convincing job of it.) and cleared his throat. "In time for what, might I ask, Darien?" Darien turned around, Serena still craddled protectively in his arms. "Why.. in time to die, Erebus." Erebus almost fell backward. His tone of voice was so calm.. so FUCKING calm.. it scared Erebus, more than he could let on. He'd been spoken to in that tone before, and he didn't like the outcome. Granted - he was stronger now, but old memories are hard to lose. "You think so hm? Not while you have my princess in your arms like that." He smirked, then narrowed his eyes, new courage spilling into his viens. "Put her down, Darien." Darien almost laughts, "Put her down? MY princess? Dream on. She will never be yours. Cutting her hair won't bring Beryl back, Erebus. Perhaps you should join her in death. Hell is the only place you will ever see that witch again!" Erebus grit his teeth. "HOW DARE YOU speak of her that way!" Quickly, unexpectedly, he threw up his palms, dark energy flowing outwards slammed into Darien and Serena, sending both flying back against the wall. Serena, still in Dariens arms didn't stir at all as Darien slumped to the floor shaking his head. He gently put her on the ground in front of him and staggered to his feet. In his hand five roses formed, sharp and dangerous, beautiful, yet deadly. He dove aside, causing another one of Erebus' waves to miss him, and quickly shot out the roses from his palm. Erebus screamed as one pierced his left hand, two missed, the other grazed past his cheek, leaving a thin line of blood to trail down. He put a hand to his cheek, somewhat confused. The blood on his fingers made his eyes spark with hate. He glared up at Darien, "YOU TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME! And now you DARE to try to take the Princess as WELL?" Erebus moved his attention to Serena, who lay still on the floor. "I don't, THINK, so." Darien dove at Erebus, sending both of them crashing in a ball of fists to the ground. One..two.. ten.. a billion times over Darien punched with all his might. And at the same time, punches flew his way as well. Both men raging against eachother, waiting for one to fall. Finally, Erebus reared his feet under Dariens stomach and sent him flying across the room with a swift kick. Darien hit the ground with a sickening thud after crashing through a table in the corner. He groaned trying to pull himself off the ground, but it seemed fruitless. Erebus too, seemed unable to pull himself off the ground, breath ragged, he crawled towards Serena. He reached her, as Darien began pulling himself off the table, struggling desperately to get ot his feet and run to her side before Erebus reached her again - but he couldn't.. he'd failed her.'Oh gods..' Darien glared as Erebus pulled himself up, then pulled Serena up with him, letting Dariens cape fall lifelessly to the ground. He put his hand around her throat, she was still hardly breathing... "You're right Darien. She won't ever care about me.. will she?" Darien shook his head, "No. She won't.. let her GO Erebus.. this is between you, and me. " "NO! No.. you're WRONG Darien.. you're always wrong. She took my mistress.. my Beryl.. our world fell, HOW COULD YOU EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND? She's dead - and this little bitch killed her. And you! You're just as bad - but she will pay for killing Beryl. And so will you.. if I can't win her affections, no one will!" Darkness raged from his fingertips, dangerously close to her heart, Darien screamed and began running towards them, he couldn't let this happen. Not to her.. never to her. She'd been through enough! A flash of red zapped Erebus directly in the back, causing him to shoot forward, dropping Serena (poor thing!) once again to the harsh ground. Darien ran beside her, pulling her away from Erebus' still body. Red?..no.. a spark? Gods.. could it be?!? Darien turned his attention to the doorway. Four girls stood there, glaring at his opponent. Jupiter stepped forward and put a hand on Raye's shoulder, "Nice shot!" Mina and Ami stepped beside her as well. Darien almost smiled, he did need their help. She did. He looked down at her bruised face, tears once again filling his eyes. Would she ever wake up? They had to get her out of there... The girls ran beside him, all gasping and crying at Serena' current state. He picked his cape up once again and placed it around her shoulders. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Raye* Seeing Serena for the first time in days, gods it was such a relief - yet.. not. I could hardly stand to look at her, it hurt too much. I can't begin to comprehend what he'd put her through - what he'd done. But I assure you, we are not leaving this place until he is DEAD. He WILL pay for his sins to her. To all of us. He has no soul, he isn't human, and he did the unthinkable to my princess, my best friend. He will burn eternally in the flames of hell, I will SEE to it. *Ami* She is badly injured I can see. The silver crystal looks so dim. Perhaps she used all the rest of her energy to bring us here? Oh my.. we have to get her up.. without the power of the crystal, she cannot survive. We have come too far to see her die. I won't allow it. It's my fault she's been here so long. As I put my hand on her face now I can almost feel her pain. She's so thin.. when did she eat last? Sleep? There is blood trailing down her legs - oh.. gods he didn't! Tears mean nothing to me now, I hate him. My blood boils to think of what he has done. I hate him, and I want him dead. *Lita* My poor princess. Oh Serena. What did he do to you? Why couldn't he pick on someone his own size? You're so tiny... how can you be so strong inside? You amaze me... please don't leave us. How could anyone want to hurt you like this? He must be pure evil, the son of a bitch. I swear to you Serena, I will make him pay.. he must... He will die for what he's done. *Mina* Our little rabbit, how COULD he? The coward, he doesn't know what he's in for now. I can see it in their eye's Serena, they want to kill him. Could even you forgive him now, Princess? Should we? I have to admit, seeing you here, like this, I want to kill him. I want to make him hurt SO bad. What should we do? Please come back to us.. We need you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Erebus sat up silently, feeling the burning sensation on his back he held in a grunt. He could see the four girls and Darien hunched over his princess, weeping silently, promising his death to her.. he grinned. They are leaving themselves so open to him. He looked down at his bleeding hands and urged them to help him bring their demise. Darkness swirled in his palms. Someone was helping him, he knew it. Was it her? His queen? He didn't care - he wanted his vengence. He would have it! He couldn't be denied that as well! He stood, quiet still as energy gathered even more at his palms. He could feel the power surging through his tired body, it begged him to stop, but his mind pushed him on. He raised his hands over his head and glared with all the hatred he felt and - "LOOK OUT!!!!" All eyes moved from Serena to the doorway where Nebil shouted the warning from, then back to Erebus. But it was too late, the energy from his palms rushed at them, sending everyone flying. Silence. Erebus laughed at the motionless bodies all around, he'd done it! He'd won!! He could hardly stand, he was laughing so hard. He looked over at Nebil, the expression on his face made him laugh twice as hard, bringing him to his knee's. He'd done it... he'd done what Beryl and prince Diamond couldn't do! What NO ONE could do - he'd destroyed them! He looked over at Prince Darien, he wasn't even breathing. Erebus got up from the ground in a fit of giggles, and walked quickly beside him. He bent down, and looked intently at Dariens face. Nothing. He giggled again, and poked his cheek - nothing. He stood up proudly and kicked Darien hard in the stomach - no response. He really had won... Hadn't he? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHOA! Guess this isn't the last chapter! Though, hahah i can assure the next one will be. There isn't a whole lot more I can add in there ;) Pissed yet? *grin* Much luv, Des