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Blood and Moonlight |
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Author: annlovedrew | |
Rated: PG13 | |
Chapter 2 email: Anonymous Reader:Censored Email Address rating: PG 13 title: Blood and Moonlight part: BOOK 1 - TALES OF THE PAST : Chapter 1 Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Sailor Moon nor do I own the concept of "vampire". I am just borrowing it but the story is mine so it prefer it stays that way... AN: okay, I realize I haven't written a word for some time *coughcoughthreemonthscoughcough* but I have been really busy... anyway, here is the first chapter of my story...I made it a bit longer ^_^ have a pleasant read and reviwe so I can know opinions on it... feel free to email! BOOK 1 - TALES OF THE PAST : Chapter 1 I was born. Yes, that is the proper way for me to start my story, with the beginning of my life as a human, with my birth in this ever-so-changing world and only then can I continue with my birth into darkness. As I close my immortal eyes, I can feel myself floating above the Atlantic, moving softly above the great ocean, alone with the waves, surrounded by blue. As your eyes get accustomed to it you suddenly see a speck of land in the horizon and your first thought is that your mind is playing tricks on you and that such island should never exist. But it does and it has a name that everyone has forgotten - Menihatos. A soft white light shimmers in the darkness and guides your steps, tired traveler, to safety, to beauty and peace, to a dream that seems ever so real, to a child's fantasy... As my mind takes me back to those times, I can see, feel, smell every detail of my past life, relive any moment, walk amongst anyone... That is the pain of an immortal - he tends to live in the past and forget about the present. But it's not our fault... The past seems so enticing with its promises and the happiness we see in it that we can not resist as a man lost in the desert can't refrain from running to a mirage though he knows it is not true and he only believes in a ghost... The past is our mirage as we walk in the cold, empty desert of our present... Please, step alongside me, walk on the never ending beaches with perfectly churned sands, take in the cool, salty sea air, look and marvel at what you see - a city made of pure white marble and with gold rooftops that shines like a diamond under the moon. Approach it with caution, head bowed in humility as you pass the two great alabaster statues of Poseidon with his dolphins that guard the gates - this is a city of the ocean and the god is our protector. Feel confident to pass through them and enter the city - it looks so white and surreal that you find yourself in doubt if it really is true or just a dream, a fantasy and you expect to open your eyes and see the same dull room covered by darkness and silence. But you don't. You walk on, moving through the crowded streets filled with men, women and children, all dressed in white, with startling blue eyes and golden locks. They are all warm and friendly, always smiling and bowing graciously before stopping to chat about trivial, pleasant things. They do not know about war, hunger or calamity. Their entire universe is formed of that small island, of fishing and gardening, of playing and reading. It was a sweet existence, a marvelous dream that wouldn't last. For, you see, small communities will always be attacked and conquered by others and their way of life will perish forever. In a way, that's what happened to my people as well but I'll get to that soon enough. As you move on, admiring the people and houses, feeling the warm breeze and smelling the diversity of aromas that haunt me ever since - tropical fruit and all sorts of exquisite flowers - you pass by the heart of the city - the gold statue of Selene. I've always loved that place for it truly represented the center of us. It was a tall fountain with gems incrusted in the fine white marble, filled with the purest water that fell in small drops from a height of about 5 meters, encircling the gold and silver statue of Selene in a permanent soft rain. The statue itself was quite a sight for it represented the goddess with long strands of silver hair sitting casually on a crescent moon and looking wise, kind and tempting all at the same time. It enchanted me. I remembered walking aside mother when I was but a child and admiring the city after nightfall. She loved that place just as much as I did and would stop to look at it for hours and hours. Once, when I was maybe 3 or 4, impatient as most children that age are, I started pulling furiously on her white gown to make her leave the trance and come with me to the celebrations. She kindly turned towards me, kneeling so she could face me better. She cupped my chin with her soft white hands and smiled warmly: "Do not be impatient or thoughtless, my dear... The best things in life are hidden and come to those who wait and know where to look for them... Never disregard something just because it seems to have nothing more to offer from the outside... Believe and trust into the heart for it will show you the way and it will lead you to a new solution..." I looked at her in confusion but she just smiled sweetly and kissed me on the forehead. "Don't worry, my child... You'll have time to understand..." My mother, the beautiful and fair Queen Serenity. It causes me pain to remember her as she was and how she left like it hurts me to recall the island and my friends but my story has to be known. I see her still, wondering the long marble halls, white dress shimmering behind her, feet barely touching the ground. She moved with such ease and simple elegance that made you think of a ghost, immaterial and invisible. She had dark blue eyes, always filled with a strong fire that burned endlessly and seemed to animate her whole being. They contrasted with her long silver hair, put in the most unusual of fashions that flew freely around her thin body. She seemed so fragile, so breakable but had an unearthly will, a stubbornness and independence combined with a caring and loving heart that was to cause her great problems. My father, on the other hand, the brave and wise King Ehlon was a coward that hid behind his great armies and his wife and was of the greatest stupidity as he couldn't understand anything else besides war and blood - he was a true barbarian. Why did my mother marry him? She fell in love with him, with his mysterious black eyes that seemed to promise so much and give so little, with his strong features, with the promise of love and protection... She was foolish and this mistake would make her life a living hell. My family must have seemed completely grand and charming from the outside but the truth is far from the appearances. There was a constant struggle between my parents, my mother trying to temper the urge of fighting my father had. He had taken hold of the kingdom and was slowly taking it to its downfall as my mother watched helplessly. She tried to object, to fight back, to say anything to stop her husband's insanity but nothing would come out of such fights. She would leave the castle, a cloaked figure in dark blue, disappearing in the night, sobbing and screaming as my father would simply shrug and return to his room, never trying to run after her or stop her flee. My mother always returned after a day or a week until one fatal night. I remember being woken up my screams coming from my parents' room one night after I had turned 7. It was louder than usual so I got out of bed and moved through the empty halls towards my parents' room. The door wasn't closed completely so I could still see a part of the bedroom. Most of my view was blocked by my mother's long white dress. She was screaming and moving her hands furiously. I could hear the words "hate", "people", "destruction", "treaty" and "anarchy" being repeated over and over by my mother amongst others that I can't remember. All of a sudden, I heard a loud noise and saw my mother falling on the floor. Now, I could see my father's figure, hair in disorder and fiery black eyes that seemed more of an animal than of a human. There was a moment of silence between the two before my mother got up and ran out the door, almost knocking me off my feet in the process. I'll never forget how she looked in that very moment - her face was as white as snow with strands of silver hair falling on her face and her blue eyes were shinning more powerful than ever, tears making them glitter while they rolled down her cheeks onto the red mark on her right cheek. She looked at me only once, our eyes colliding painfully as she seemed to want to make me understand something desperately. The moment ended and she nodded shortly before leaving me alone in the dark hall. I could hear her heals clicking on the marble floors and stood there, as in a trance, waiting for her to come back. In many ways, I'm still that 7 year old girl in the thin nightgown waiting barefooted on the cold floor for my mother to come back, the sound of her heals resonating in my ears like a death drum. Queen Serenity was found dead the next morning, wet and laying face down on the beach. Everyone believed she had committed suicide by jumping from the top of the 50m high lighthouse and being washed on shore several hours after. The people presented her with all the honors she deserved and the people grieved both for their beloved princess and queen but for the democracy and peace they felt was lost to them forever. And they were right... Looking back on my life, on the intrigues and quarrels that went on inside the Moon Palace, I see so many hidden clues that I, as a young girl, have missed in totality or have chosen to not pay them any attention. I can clearly see now, a redhead - a woman with long wavy red hair and the most unnatural emerald eyes I had ever seen. She moved quietly around the walls, no more than a shadow, a temptress that would enter my father's chambers at midnight and leave before dawn. After my mother's death, I began seeing her more and more often, a figure casually moving through the dark, without making any sound, dancing to a music that could only be heard by her. The woman frightened and worried me as I saw my father changing more and more under her influence as the years passed by. I soon turned 16 and became as beautiful and elegant as my mother was, a true princess, a reminder of the "golden days". By then, I had grown accustomed with my father and with the strange things that he desired or did. I didn't pay him much attention since I rarely saw him during the day and, at night, he was mostly drunk. I avoided the palace as much as I could as it gave me little comfort. Father had surrounded himself by mean and hateful mean, stupid and arrogant that I despised. I spent my days wondering around the island, relaxing on the beach or admiring the Amareni Gardens. I was basking in the sun of ignorance, knowing only what I liked and forgetting about what hurt until one day when the fates decided it was time for me to act. It all started - I know it might be foolish to think everything was planned ahead for me but so many things I've seen made me think otherwise and I must admit that there is a higher force that governs all - on a calm summer day, no different than any other lazy summer days I'd seen before it. I was returning to the palace after a day spent in the gardens and I was casually walking down the crowded streets, bowing my head every now and then to respond to a greeting. My mind was elsewhere as usual and my state of meditation was interrupted by a clear, soft, crystal voice behind me. I slowly turned, smiling and expecting to see her. I watched as a girl came running towards me and couldn't help not admire her thin athletic body covered by a simple white dress that had the strange attribute of making you desire more than you can have by showing through it her perfect curves and tanned skin. Her dark blue eyes were dramatically accentuated by the darling blush that covered her cheeks while dark blond threads of hair fell casually on her shoulders and down to her waist. She nodded and smiled as several heads turned after her - Menihatos' Aphrodite. "May Selene watch over you..." greeted the girl. "And may the moonlight guide your steps..." I responded with a hint of a smile. "How are you, cousin?" I continued and started walking together. "Good," she said. "We're pretty busy considering the fact that the Moon Celebrations are coming and the priestesses of Selene must be prepared!" she said proudly. The Moon Celebrations were very important for us. Though we celebrated every full moon, we only twice a year celebrated the big celebration, when day was equal to night and we could honor both our gods. There were 3 days of parties, rituals, prayers and even a parade. It was a big event that was given the greatest importance by everyone and also caused a bit of rivalry between the priests of Poseidon and the priestesses of Selene to see who would be better prepared. "I'm sure you will be, Mina! But I always said you were missing the whole point of those days..." "Sere, for a Daughter of the Moon, you don't seem interested enough in our goddess... We must win to show that she is greater and more powerful... and that we are more popular..." she said and winked. "I wouldn't have expected anything less of you, Mina... I'm sure everything will turn out marvelous as always and..." I would have continued if an obstacle hadn't suddenly appeared in front of me. I almost bumped into an old woman, with silver hair hidden beneath a black hood. She looked up at me and I felt shivers running up and down my spine as I gazed in her completely white eyes. She seemed to return my stare and didn't say a word. "Excuse me..." I started but the woman didn't pay attention. She made a beautiful red rose appear seemingly from nowhere and handed it to me. I reached for it, feeling it's soft silky petals and moving my hand downwards, taking the rose from the woman. Even though I took it gently, I felt pain in my hand and, upon looking at it, saw that it was full of blood. I looked at the rose but I couldn't see a single thorn on it. I looked in shock at the woman who had a faint smile plastered on her face. "Everything is about to change, Your Highness... Your life will be forever changed and millennia will await you... Red is the color..." she said in a mysterious tone. My eyes moved to the rose and up again but the mysterious woman was gone. I looked in confusion for her in the crowd but couldn't see a thing. Her words rang painfully in my head and I jumped as I felt somebody touching my arm. I turned with a scared look only to meet the familiar face of Minako. "Sere, are you alright?" she asked with concern. "The woman... Did you see the woman?" I asked. "What woman, cousin? I just saw you staring blankly and called out for you several times but you didn't seem to hear me... Are you certain you're alright?" I didn't answer her and looked at my hand. It was perfectly okay, not a trace of blood on it. I looked up still confused but nodded shortly before following Minako back to the palace. I entered the gates and walked up into the Great Hall, entering the sitting room. My father wasn't there yet but my brother, Damien was comfortably sitting on a chair and reading one of his precious scrolls. When he saw us entering he quickly jumped up and came to greet us. He kissed me on the forehead before turning to Minako. He seemed confused. "Good evening, Mina!" he said. "Damien..." she whispered softly before an awkward silence fell over the room. They both stood facing each other without saying or doing anything before Damien leaned in and planted a small kiss on Minako's cheek. I couldn't help not smile at the sight of the two of them blushing. I was more than happy for them - I was thrilled. I centered my gaze on Damien, my beloved brother, my raven Apollo with jadeite piercing eyes. He was truly a handsome prince, wise and strong, with a heart of gold and a powerful sword. He was the promise of our future, the present and the future; he was to be the King of Menihatos. I loved him so much for his kind words and comforting, for his help and tenderness, for representing the only light in the darkness of my world. Loud footsteps were heard and my father walked in the room, looking at the three of us. "You're too quite for the youth.... Were is the party, fights, bets, wine and women?" he said with a cruel smile on his face. "Never mind! Time for dinner! I guess sitting around doing nothing must make you hungry!" he said and exited. "Well, then, that explains his size!" Minako said and giggled as we followed him. Dinner was a boring time as father would only talk to Damien and, even so, only about fighting, war, blood, leadership and how to be a great man in his opinion. Minako and me sat quietly, eating and hoping the torture would end soon. We knew better than to disagree with King Ehlon so we just occasionally nodded and forced a smile. We were dismissed with the same words each night: "Drink, fight, procreate!" said by a wallowing king, red from wine and drunk beyond words. I said goodbye and went up to my room to get ready for bed. I stood in front of my mirror as always, combing my long hair and watching the red rose. Everything about it intrigued me. As I was staring at it I heard a soft music beginning to play in the background - it was my mother's moon box. I looked towards it and then back to the rose. The more I stared at it, the more it seemed less real. Cold air suddenly swept in, the music stopped and a whisper that might very well have been the wind was heard. I got up, slammed the window shut and threw myself on the bed, closing my eyes and trying to sleep but a cold voice chanted over and over in my mind: "Princess... Serenity... Lose... yourself... Find... Trust... Heart... Moon... Eternity..." | |
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