14The Cold, and The Light
sequel to "Rose's House"
Chapter Three: We're forsaken
Adonis held the sheets in a tight-fisted grip as he moved steadily inside the woman beneath him. Each motion more frantic than the previous, he could feel his own release climbing rapidly to the summit. Moments later, he came deep with a strangled cry. He could see nothing else but red as he collapsed atop his lover.
Long fingers caressed his back gently. The digits travelled slowly up his spine until they threaded their way through his damp hair. After his heartbeat had slowed to its normal rhythm, he supported himself on his elbows and disengaged from the woman. He did not so much as glanced at her as he retrieved his clothes from the carpeted floor.
What they had shared had no love or obligations attached. It was pure physical release and they both understood it. There could never be nothing more. His heart belonged to someone else. Even if he had begun to doubt the promise he had from his love.
He heard a throaty chuckle from behind him and he swivelled to look at the woman. She sat looking at him at the edge of the palatial bed, her flaming red hair barely hiding her naked glory. A salacious smirk began to emerge on her sweaty face and he felt the hatred slowly taking shape in his chest.
He had never liked the woman. Since the day he met her, he had known for certain she wasn't someone to be trusted. No matter what they had given, no matter what they shared physically, they used the other as instruments to achieving their respective goals. He knew the rules of the game as well as she did.
It was what he did best, manipulating others to do his bidding. It didn't help that his philandering with this despicable woman helped him forget about his love for a brief moment. The gaping void in his chest was filled as he let carnal lust consumed him. The emptiness following thereafter was neither quite satisfying nor desirable.
Adonis adjusted his clothes and threw the redhead one final glance. Her voluptuous figure was tempting, yet it could not satisfy the longing in his soul.
He walked swiftly out of the dimly lit room, the door slamming shut behind. He quickened his steps to the transport department and entered the appropriate coordinates of the Moon.
He never felt more frustrated than he did now.
To say that the shitennou were mere humans without any magical abilities was an understatement. As their time on the Moon grew, each man had discovered they were all gifted with a particular power that corresponded to their skills they already possessed. When the magic had first surfaced, it had come as a total shock to them. After the initial shock had faded, they had all painstakingly mastered their newfound talents with the help of the Lady Minako.
A certain level of risk was undertaken as she could not yet control the Ginzuishou fully. While the ownership had been transferred to her, her Venusian heritage prohibited her to command the crystal as she wished. When she tried to force it, the magic would bounce back at her. She could also have been severely injured and most likely pronounced dead on several occasions. Bless be to the heavens, the shitennou were with her as she tried to bond with the crystal, no matter how futile her efforts. The four men had each taken a fair share of the blast when it happened.
The Lady Minako had become more of a sister than a friend as the years passed. Like they had sworn to protect Endymion, they had also sworn to defend the Venuisan from harm with their lives. It often made them wonder how Endymion would react to this piece of news.
The prince, now King of Earth, was someone the shitennou thought and worried about constantly. Regardless of where they were, the four men were aligned to the young man they had known since they were all youngsters. Endymion was also someone they vowed to master their new talents for. When the right time arrived, they could use their skills to protect him and retrieve all that had been lost.
It was in this regard and with this belief firmly imprinted in their heads that the shitennou trained to control their talents. From muttered incantations their skill level had progressed to a snap of their fingers. From there they had commanded and mastered their magic to a silent whisper inside their heads. Since they were not born to know these talents, the process was long and arduous. But they had overcome their obstacles within a short time with the Lady Minako's support and encouragement. They also knew they would need whatever skills they possess in the long run.
The shitennou practiced hard as soon as castle duty was over. They had to seize all the time they had. Being prepared was the imperative.
And they especially needed to keep their heads clear and alert now.
Time was of the essence. They had everything to lose. They couldn't forfeit more than they already had. Failure was no longer an option.
Nephrite folded his arms across his chest. He looked out the French windows. Outside, the stars sparkled against the inky darkness in their own glory. Once upon a time, he would have been stargazing. It was a gift he mastered after leaving his country. He had always heard the stars as a boy. They were like his mentor, guiding and showing him to the right paths. They had, in some ways, assisted him to ascend to the position as a shitennou. He wouldn't have met the most wonderful people in his life if it weren't for them.
He heaved a defeated sigh. The stars had deserted him since he was stranded on the Moon. He couldn't communicate with them no matter how hard he reached out. Tonight, the doors were again opened to him. The cacophony they made could have rendered the sanest man a lunatic. They clamoured for his attention like insistent children. Nephrite smiled. He felt alive having 'those little fiends' back. His friends had loved to tease his incomparable connection with them.
He shut out the world around him and listened. Everything seemed to dissolve into the void momentarily. A tall, slender female figure began to take shape in his mind's eyes. Luminous green irises set upon a heart shaped face. Long auburn hair tied up in a high ponytail. His heart skipped. He would never forget that face. He'd recognize her anywhere. In a dark room. At a masquerade.
Lady Jupiter. Nephrite believed that was what the lovely woman had called herself. He never had the chance to learn her given name. During her short stay on his planet, he had memorized all he could of her. He wanted to meet her again someday. He had never seen a woman, a young and attractive one for that matter, with such incredibly long legs. The noblewomen he had met on Earth's soil very rarely reach past his shoulder. He wondered what it would feel like to hold the Lady Jupiter, to breathe in her scent as they danced.
Nephrite shook himself awake. What was he doing getting himself worked up over a woman? He barely knew any of the senshi save the Lady Minako. Now wasn't even the best time to indulge in relationships. Direr matters were at stake. If they didn't act soon it would only worsen the current situation they were in.
Besides, he doubted the Lady Jupiter would recognize him if they met again. So much time had passed. She was perhaps in love with some adorable nobleman she met while she accompanied Endymion on his trips. There was little chance their paths might cross again.
It took under three seconds to drag his thoughts back to the now. Nephrite turned his attention to the other occupant in the room. Kunzite paced at the centre amidst the ruins. Looked deep in his thoughts, he did not notice the loosened threads on his dark slacks. Cut by the broken mirror at his feet, probably. Nephrite frowned. Kunzite's mind was veiled to him. The barrier his leader had built around himself again was much too powerful. The shitennou's telepathic link did not help much either. Unfortunately.
Kunzite stopped pacing. His head snapped up as if he had had an epiphany. He pressed his hand against his heart, his eyes closed in concentration. Almost as soon, the grey orbs reopened again, wide in an unreadable emotion. Nephrite thought he catch a curse from the silver-haired man. Kunzite fisted his hands and started briskly towards the half-opened door.
And he was gone from the room like the wind. Hurried footsteps echoing loudly down the halls.
Nephrite swore. He wanted to beat the crap out of his friend. That man had no right to leave unannounced. Pulling himself upright, he quickly rushed out to go after his friend. He had had a glimpse of Kunzite's thoughts before the latter left in a hurry.
The palace corridors had never felt more complicated. More twists and turns seemed to have sprouted overnight. Nephrite could barely recall the shortcuts he had taken. As he neared another corner, Zoisite and Jadeite's voices drifted into his ears. The two blondes looked to be having a heated argument. Anyone watching might have thought they were archenemies. Nephrite slowed his pace. He stopped two feet away from the blondes to catch his breath.
"Did it ever cross your pea brains what a scene you are making?" he panted, eyebrows knitted in a frown.
The blondes ceased throwing threats at each other instantly. Their faces flushed as they regarded him. Jadeite's face pulled into a grimace that matched the brunette's.
"Speak for yourself, Neph. You look you have finished a marathon panting like that." He put his hands on his hips, his foot tapping on the marble tiles impatiently. "Why are you here, anyway? I thought we were supposed to have a meeting."
"Save that for later. Have you two seen Kunzite by any chance?"
"I was going to ask you that, too. He rushed past us without a word. He looked annoyed, I tell you. What is it now this time?"
Nephrite's frown deepened. He raked his hand through his long hair to put them in place. "Jadeite, I want you to send word to Endy in person that we will soon overthrow Adonis. Do not go to the teleportation experts. No one needs to know." He trained his eyes to the silently scowling strawberry blonde. "Stop looking at me like that, Zoisite. You and I are going after Kunzite. I have a feeling that he is going to bring trouble upon himself. And give Jadeite what you have been working on. He will need it."
Jadeite slammed his foot hard on the floor. "HEY! Do I get a vote in this? First Kunzite had me retrieved from my walk. Now you are sending me away when I have not yet managed the trick fully?"
"Sorry, kid, but not this time. That is the only feasible method. Now hurry up!"
It was anarchic when Artemis set foot on Magellan Castle. The aggravated outburst of the Venusian King permeated through the golden walls, reverberating down to the lowest level of the abandoned dungeons. The cry was anguished, tinged with regret and cynicism. The castle's occupants knew only too well what had upset their King.
His only daughter was married to a lowly soldier who had mysteriously risen to be King of the Moon. And she was currently carrying his child.
The princess was beloved of the Planet Venus. Her father and brothers had doted endlessly on her since the death of the Queen on her third birthday. Before she fulfilled her duty as a sailor senshi, her family treated her with great care as if she was made of glass. Being the youngest, she was pampered, but she was neither snobbish nor rude. The populace absolutely adored her for her charms and pleasant personality. It was believed when she wed, the ceremony would take place on Venus and she would ascend the throne, as was the custom laid down by her ancestors. It knocked all sense out of the royal family when the unexpected message was received from the Moon's communication system.
Pandemonium had immediately ensued within the Throne Room. King Eros was in a deep grief. He hadn't approved of the idea of sending his daughter to serve the Moon; that decision had been made by his wife. Though she was now long dead, her essence continued to envelop him and his sons like a caress. He didn't dare besiege the satellite and demand for his daughter as much as he wanted. Dione would have blessed the marriage, since violence was uncommon to the Planet of Love.
Yet something about it all didn't quite fall into place to Eros. Venusian men might not have as strong an innate power as the women, but they were gifted regardless. The King felt an irritable tugging at the back of his head. He had the distinct notion that, somehow, his daughter was surrounded with danger.
"Father, you could not possibly have that premonition if Mina is so far from home," Aeneas, the eldest of his sons, said. No doubt having read his thoughts. Eros sometimes forgot his children were all gifted with special abilities.
Theodore nodded in agreement. "Unless we heard from a witness, it is too soon to presume she is in any form of real danger. What if our sister had married for love? These are dangerous times, Father. Communication among planets had become difficult since the death of Earth's previous rulers."
Anteros stopped pacing and tossed a disgusted look at his brother. "What about the blue planet, Theo? It was never a member of the alliance. Its entire population fears that the other planets will divide their land to rule among them, remember?"
"I remember, so? No doubt with the Moon Princess and her court of senshi – excluding our kid sister, that is – filling in for the current Earth King's famed warriors, too? Whereas the four lesser Terran Kings are now standing as protectors to Mina and her husband on the Moon."
"What are you talking about?" Eros exclaimed. Astounded beyond words.
He was becoming furious. He wondered how much his sons were hiding from him. He knew they studied relentlessly about the cultures and political systems of the other planets. They had expressed interest right after Minako's departure to the Moon. They claimed the knowledge would enable them to assist her rule when she was reprieved of her services. He had not, however, expected any of them to keep him oblivious after his daughter's abrupt excommunication five years ago.
Aeneas's serene expression deflated into a frown. He tried to ignore his father's displeasure by looking at his brothers. They were in deep trouble. It was only a matter of time before their father's anger bubble to the surface. "You couldn't have been serious, brother. The four—"
"Hold your tongue, Aeneas!" Eros's voice rang through the spacious chamber like thunder. Aeneas obliged and followed Eros's blazing gaze towards the giant double doors.
A pale-faced guard stood trembling beside a tall, lanky man with long starch-white hair and unreadable blue eyes. Dressed all in white from head to toe, the only colour on his ensemble beside his deep-set eyes was the small crescent moon at the centre of his forehead. By birth incredibly handsome and his face free of wrinkles despite his age, he would have startled any other person with the aura of sophistication surrounding his very person.
But the royals of Venus had known him far too long to be intimidated.
Eros dismissed the shivering guard with a quick gesture of his hand, who was only too glad to return to his duties. The King's wrath, once released, could render him fit for Lucifer's company. He had no intention to become ashes at so young an age.
Artemis stared forward and met Eros's gaze head-on. He noted suddenly his old friend seem to have aged since he saw him last. His mass of sun-kissed blonde hair still had its fine golden lustre. The emerald green orbs, which Aeneas and Anteros had inherited, were ablaze with a youthful, fervent gleam full of unanswered queries. Only the lines creasing his forehead and his sunken cheeks belied his true age.
The princes didn't seem to be in much better shapes either. Artemis could tell by the seriousness of their expressions that they were all vexed about their little sister, Minako. They were overprotective of her, if occasionally bordering on the edge of insanity. He knew from the blonde girl's account that her brothers loved her and would sacrifice for her the same way she would for Princess Serenity.
Eros touched a hand to his forehead, his face wan. "Have you come to explain to me what is befell my daughter, Artemis?"
His voice was crushed. Artemis, however, was certain of the authority and concern laced beneath those words. He bowed lightly before righting himself.
"Your Majesty, it is my deepest regret that I have not come to you with that purpose. I should like to inform you of the details, but time is held on a tight leash now." He cleared his throat. "I implore you, oh great King of Venus, to lend your assistance to my party to locate your ally, Selenity, who in the meantime—"
"Advisor, our primary concern is that of the well being of the Princess of Venus. We have no intention of giving help to a madwoman who banished Mina from her family and her planet. Your Queen took our sister's birthright from her." Anteros interjected.
Artemis paled, while Eros shifted his gaze to his son.
Anteros's eyes flashed with pure rage. "You don't honestly believe her home planet would be left out of this, do you, Advisor? I was the closest to her of us all. I felt it when it happened!"
Eros's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell your family about it, Anteros?"
"I couldn't, Father. Selenity must have known my special bond to Mina. She appeared to me one night and swore to wipe out Venus if I told a second soul. I can only tell you now she is nowhere to be found, when I know we are all safe. The wretched woman cannot threaten me if the Ginzuishou is not in her hands."
The chamber fell into silence. The royals perused the knowledge. Artemis composed himself and prepared for the onslaught of accusation and verbal attack that were about to come. He hadn't foreseen his coming to the planet would be disastrous.
This was going to be a long day.
Patience was not among her strengths. It wasn't common of her ilk to sit back and watch notwithstanding the circumstance. Knowing an enemy would not spare mercy on the battlefield, the Jovians were a people that chose to act before reason cross with their logic. Had Makoto not known the kitchen was not the safest place to convene, she would not have withheld the questions that threatened to explode from her chest.
Warily, she and the girls had followed Endymion to another part of the Golden Castle. Everywhere they went, Makoto felt watchful eyes glaring down their backs as if they were about to wreak havoc. To avoid Beryl's suspicions, Endymion had especially requested that he be left alone with his quartet of protectors, claiming he wanted them 'to make confession' to the High Priest, upon reaching the sacred shrine. To her relief, Beryl's servants had receded, albeit reluctantly, at his unyielding tone.
After explaining his presence to Helios, the current High Priest to the shrine, Endymion led the girls to a backroom overlooking the castle's lawns. The room was also the priest's office. Few ever came in except Helios himself and the two maidens who tended the shrine with him. Nonetheless, the doors were locked, bolted, and the draperies drawn. They needed all the privacy they could get to talk to their hearts' content.
"You are not serious when you said that, are you, Endymion?" her own voice reverberated in the spacious room. Even before the words had come out of her mouth, Makoto had known the dark-haired king would never lie to them.
Endymion looked at her, defeat evident in his chiselled features. "As much as I will it to be a mistake, it's the truth."
"How could this have happened?"
"How could this not have happened! Minako promised herself to Adonis as his Queen. Their marriage wasn't forced to all who knew of their union."
"But she doesn't love him. She only did it to save our lives."
"What does it matter to just about everyone else? They are not interested in the truth. Any unwary peasant is only too happy to know she has conceived and produced an heir to the Moon."
"How could you say that, Endymion? I thought Minako was your friend!" gasped Ami. "You know the situation is not within our control."
He grimaced. "Minako was more than a friend to me, Ami. Be assured of that."
Makoto hit her fist against her palm. "You better watch your mouth, Endymion. I don't care if you are king. If you ever said a wrong word again, I will see to your death."
"Mako-chan!" Usagi's eyes were as wide as saucers at her tall friend's outburst. "You wouldn't."
"Forgive me, Princess Serenity."
"Apology accepted. And please, it's Usagi. We are no longer called by our former names, remember?"
Rei, who had been silent the whole time, wrapped a sisterly and protective arm around the petite blonde. "Old habits die hard, hime-chan. We might be instructed to protect Endymion, but we will always be on the lookout for you first. You are our princess irrespective of our change in status."
Usagi squeezed Rei's hand and forced a small smile. "I am blessed to have you guys with me." She looked at the other three. "I wish I could be there for Minako-chan. Even though I felt she was paranoid at times, she almost never left my side."
Hell, yeah. Minako was always paranoid when Serenity was concerned. As the leader of the princess' court, the blonde guard would blame it upon herself if Serenity were unhappy more than a nanosecond. No assuring words could make her yield unless spoken by the princess herself. Makoto could only imagine the pain her friend harboured when Minako decreed their doomed fate.
She wished there was something she could do. Their helplessness irritated her beyond all reasoning. A sparring match or a punching bag would have allowed her to release her frustration, but all they could do was wait and plan without much progress.
Which only served to push Makoto's patience to her limits. And the tension that lingered in the sparsely decorated room could have suffocated her.
As it was, when asked about it later, none of the occupants in the room could describe their shock or surprise with coherence when they saw a distinctively male figure that was Jadeite seemingly materialise out of thin air and land himself unceremoniously upon Endymion in a tangle of flailing long limbs. Makoto often swore she had never seen Endymion in a more embarrassing situation in all the time that she had known him.
She didn't know how long she had been in this realm. She figured it must have been long, after travelling to and fro her planet and coming back. There she saw her father and her brothers, but they didn't seem to sense her presence among them. She had also seen Artemis, in his human form, and her guardian didn't acknowledge her either. They each had on a flustered expression and she wondered what could have worried them. Minako prayed it was nothing overly unpleasant. They were her family. It would break her heart if any devastating event should occur when she was so far away from home.
She continued to wander aimlessly in the limitless darkness. Without any sense of direction, she walked on, intuition her only guide. There was no telling where her destination was, and Minako could not tell what waited ahead. Finally, after looking and searching for what seemed like an eternity, she heard a very familiar, very concerned voice calling for her. She broke into a run, her feet adopting a quicker pace with each step. Moments later, a stream of white light penetrated the deep darkness. She reached out with her arms, eager for the warmth, until, she saw, with blurry vision, the familiar furnishings of her quarters.
Faintly, she realised she was lying on her bed, while a solid, warm arm was wrapped about her shoulders. Blinking away the remnants of her bizarre dream, she slowly took in her surroundings. Kunzite loomed above her, concern clouding over his usually passive expression. Zoisite and Nephrite stood closely by, their faces unreadable at her angle. Disoriented and her mouth dry, she shifted uneasily and rested her head on Kunzite's shoulder. She felt his hold on her tightened. Although she couldn't see it, she knew his brows must have furrowed to a deep frown.
A heavy weight settled on the bed on her other side. She turned her head slightly, and Zoisite entered her vision. He gave her a tiny smile before offering a glass of translucent liquid.
"Drink," he said, his voice gentle but brooked no argument. "This is for the dizziness."
She did as instructed and leaned back into Kunzite's warmth. Her eyes squeezed shut as the potion left an irritable tang down her throat. Nauseated, she rushed into the bathroom and emptied her upset stomach. When she came out, her legs felt like jelly. She was grateful Kunzite caught her in time before she pummel onto the carpet.
He re-deposited her subdued body onto the bed gently. His eyes held a deadly gleam, one intended to do harm. Minako tugged at his sleeve and he returned his attention back to her, his large calloused hand grasping her own small one. Her eyes pleaded with him silently to control his temper. Having known and been protected by the shitennou for years, she had grown to know the four men better than the lines of her hand. No words needed to be spoken to gauge what was running rampant in their thoughts.
Zoisite placed a cool, soothing hand against her face. The smile had now faded and replaced by determination. "How are you feeling now, Minako? And what happened?"
She was touched she had the shitennou to rely on. "I'm okay, Zoisite. I was only contemplating over something. Then I fainted."
"One doesn't faint just by contemplating. What was on your mind?"
"It was nothing … serious."
"You don't have to hide from any of us, Minako."
"I wasn't hiding. It's just…"
"Give it a rest, Zoisite. She will talk when she wants to," Nephrite expostulated. The strawberry blonde shot him a distasteful glare, but he easily dismissed it. "You should take good care of yourself, Minako. We need to be prepared for what is to come soon."
Kunzite seemed startled at this. His eyes narrowed and his tone was barely audible. "Don't speak of it so soon, Nephrite. We cannot be too relaxed about our environment. Nothing is finalised."
"I saw your plan, Kunzite. You let it slipped and …"
"Speak no more about it!"
Nephrite looked gobsmacked. "I know you don't want to say it out loud, Kunzite, but Minako has the right to know."
Minako firmly believed a massacre could have taken place. She was curious, yet she also knew she could trust any of them with her life.
Zoisite took it upon himself to bring this to an end. Deliberately, he knocked the empty glass onto the floor. As soon as the glass hit the carpet, the two men stopped their bickering at once. Silence never felt more uncomfortable than it did now.
"Perhaps we could take this somewhere else. Minako needs her rest." He walked over the bed and placed a brotherly peck on her forehead. "Sleep, pumpkin. I'll be back in a couple of hours, after the boys have solved their misunderstanding."
Nephrite huffed, bid her well, and left with the door unclosed.
"Rest, princess. I'll come again later." Kunzite said softly before giving her a quick kiss. She knew how much he yearned to stay, but he also knew Zoisite was right about her condition.
She sat up after Kunzite had left. Her eyes strayed over to where Zoisite was packing his supplies. Questions swirled like a whirlwind through her head. Some of her own conscience, others, of her own selfish desires. She knew her decision wasn't rational. She only hoped her mother and Selene would forgive her of her sin.
"Zoisite. Could you stay behind? I want to ask a favour of you."
It's finally here, this new instalment… Kindly forgive me for not updating in such a long time. I had had some issues with this chapter as well as some with my writing. And neither seems to work out the way I want. But don't fret, dear readers. I'll see to it that this story and "Interlude" both have their own endings, regardless of how long it is going to take.
