Okay! Will this be the last chapter? umm.. I have NO, idea. I guess we'll all have to wait and see where I end up stopping :) Thanks for reading this far, and to everyone who's emailed me reguarding this story - I'm very pleased that you like it! Enjoy.. ______________________________________________________ A Dark Lust - Chapter 9 ______________________________________________________ Why had Nebil done it? She didn't care as she pulled the crystal to her lips and gave it the softest kiss, sending it into a glowing frenzie. It knew her wish, whether or not it was to be her final - was up to them now. She had faith again, and that was enough. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien ran into his large living room at the sound of several screams. He stopped in his tracks wide eyed, staring at the four girls, all enveloped in bright light, becoming lighter and lighter. He ran towards them again now, worried. If he lost them he couldn't make it on his own to find her! NO! He needed their help... he reached out to Ami, right through her, more accurately. She was trying to say something, but her words were silent. Just then this powerful feeling swept over Darien. Pain? No.. no he didn't.. think it was really quit painful. Just powerful. Like being ripped from his body and guided elsewhere. The light surrounded him too now. But soon, he stopped screaming - no, it wasn't painful - but it was scarey, was, being the key word. He could hear her voice.. smooth as silk, soft as a feather... everywhere in his mind, all over his body. 'Try not to worry, my dear friends, my love. I am bringing you to me. To him. Please be careful, I am in no condition to help you - in fact, with this last surge, it's really all that I can handle... Please help me be free again.. I know I can count on you. Don't cry - save your tears for when we are together again, laughing happily. I love you all..' As soon as the feeling had begun - it stopped, with her voice. Darien struggled to open his eyes. He wanted to be dreaming, for all of this to be some horrible nightmare that he was now, just finally NOW, waking up from. But no.. he felt wind, cold, dead wind climb through his hair and brush across his face. He opened his eyes, before him stood a large, dimly lit doorway. He stood slowly, and glanced around him. His eyes only came across Rai, still laying still on the ground. Quickly he was at her side, and shaking her gently, she had to round everyone up, and meet him inside.. he had no time to waste, Serena needed him. Rai lifted her eye lids and was instantly aware of what must have happened. She smiled hopefully up to Darien, "She did it, didn't she? She brought us here to help her! We can't let her down... we - ...wait. Where are the others?" She pulled herself to a stand and quickly turned about. "Why didn't we all land together? Damnit! That lame-brain never does anything rig-" Darien put his hand over her mouth quickly, "Rai, I know how you deal with your worries, but please, I know we're all here, just... look I'm going in. I need you to find the other girls and have them find Serena and I. I know I can count on you - don't dispute - just.. hurry. And Rai? Be careful!" Rai nodded, "You too Darien.. you too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nebil paced quietly in her room, what was to happen next? She didn't know. It scared her. Would she lose the man she cared so deeply about from this deed? Gods, she hoped not. But he wasn't .. HIM anymore. He'd darkened... changed. He couldn't have meant all those things he said... It didn't matter new. Nebil shook her head, "It doesn't matter. What's done is done." "Why do you say that, Nebil?" Erebus walked in, an eyebrow raised. He moved into the room wit a proud walk, and stopped before her. "What has been done?" Nebil smiled nervously, "I.. am just accepting your marriage. I know.. there.. is nothing.. I can do now. I pray you can forgive me for all the troubles I have caused, and allow Xandria and myself to stay here to serve you and your Queen.." She bowed her head quickly, hoping the cover could give Serena more time... for what?! She just.. didn't know. Erebus grinned, what a fool, he patted her on the shoulder and nodded slowly. "Is she ready yet?" Nebil looked back up quickly, "No sire, she wanted.. some time to herself to get ready... It shouldn't be long. She was almost finished when I came here to get Xandria dressed for the wedding.." She lied. Erebus nodded, "Very well, please do check up on her in 10 minutes or so - the ceremony is to begin in less than an hour, she needs to be beside me beforehand. Perhaps I should check up on her? Be sure she's doing what you asked?" Nebil's eyes widened, should he go into that room, and see .. or not see? - the princess still in the state he left her in.. no.. Nebil shook her head and quickly, feircley brought her lips to Erebus', pushing herself against him with all her might. She thought bitterely, how this could be the last. He stood for a moment, surprised, but did not move. Then finally, he pushed her back and shook his head. "I'm being wed Nebil, this will have to wait for another day." He shook his head more as he turned and walked out the door. Nebil prayed he wasn't headed towards Serena's room. She couldn't protect her anymore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien crept silently through the hallways, he'd found a hat and coat hanging near the door he had entered, and decided it would be best to put them on. He couldn't afford to be discovered before he found her. He was so MANY things at once.. happy, excited, worried, scared... he could feel their link again. Though the weakness of it all frightened him beyond words. But by the Gods he would see her soon! Hold her in his needing arms once more. She needed him.. he would NOT let her down. He understood how much faith she put into them all, by letting all of her defenses down and using her energy with the crstal to bring them here. His moon angel.. his precious Serenity. He wouldn't fail her, not again. Quickly he took a left down a narrow hallway, his senses on fire now. He was getting closer. He pulled his hat down a little further as he passed two men, nodded slowly, and continued on his way. 'Where..where...where damnit!' His mind was racing as fast as his heart was beating. He was SO close. He turned once again, he knew she was down this way. He saw a figure, lurking beside a door. As if unsure whether or not to enter. He narrowed his eyes. 'Erebus.' He thought coldly. He put off his first feeling to run at him and remove his head from his body - no.. he couldn't do that, not yet, Serena needed him first. That would have to wait. Gods.. he REALLY wanted to do it. 'No.. no think of her!' 'I AM DAMNIT! He's the one that did all of this in the first place!' 'You can't do this alone with her unprotected first, Darien' 'Ah, Damn your reasoning. You're right..' Erebus looked up then, freezing Darien in his place. Erebus raised a brow slightly, reminding Darien that Erebus was 'royalty' (HAH), so he quickly moved into a short bow. Erebus nodded, then took one more look at the door, and decided against entering. He passed Darien and disappeared around the corner. Darien grinned. 'What a fool.' He walked, well, almost RAN, to the door Erebus had been standing by. Yes.. this was it! He looked around quickly, then pushed it open. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rai smiled to Lita and Ami - one more to go, and they were on their way. Ami knew where Serena was, in no time at all they'd have Mina and be on their way. Ami whiped a tear from her eyes, "Oh.. you guys I'm so happy we've found her." Lita put a hand on her back, "We all are Ame's.. when we get back, we'll have a big celebration! With lots of Serena's favorite foods.. haha what am I saying? ANY food is a favorite of Serena's!" Ami laughed. Rai smiled softly at the idea of seeing her princess again. But quickly stopped walking to peer ahead, "Hey guys! Is that who I think it is?!" Their smiles grew larger, "MINA!" Mina rubbed her backside as she looked up, a smile spread across her face that could brighten the darked alleyway, "GUYS! Oooh boy am I glad to see you! I was walking down this path there and then I tripped and fell hahaha, some root or something of the like - anyway so I got to this light and I'd tho- hey. Where's Darien?" They thought she'd never notice. Rai put an arm around Mina's shoulder, "Lets go get Serena, I'll explain on the way." The four girls transformed now, brilliant flashes of light and color lurked through the air, and soon the senshi stood in their place, running towards the doorway, ready to cause extreme chaos, and do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, to get their princess back, safe and sound. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So.. there WILL be a chapter 10 eh? It'll probably be out next week, I wanted to get this one out before the deadline. Stay tuned... Much love, Destiny.