"A Dangerous Affair" By: raqUMALI 7.18.01 "WHEN I CATCH YOU....... GALLI....... I WILL USE YOUR HEAD AS A TROPY YOU HEAR ME!" screamed Darien in the night air. Removing his coat he wrapped Serena and picked her up as gently as possible. Mina, Andrew and the others walked around, ushering people out of their way. Serena's face was hidden in another coat placed by Andrew. Once out of sight and inside their carriage. Darien removed the jacket and faced his love. She was crying and nothing he knew he could do at the moment could ease her pain. He let her cry! *** On with the next chapter *** Darien held his fiancée closer to his body as she weeped. He said nothing as she cried to her painful content. Darien said nothing as he felt the fright and the pain that generated itself in to him. He said nothing as he felt her worries and even said nothing as he caressed her hair away to reveal her bruises. He just said nothing and allowed her tears to fall freely. It was nearing midnight as the carriage made its way towards his castle. His telephatic warning had warned all of his arrival and of Serena's needs. And all was being taken cared of by his sister no doubt. Once the word mentally hit Rei, she had summoned Serena's wiccan sisters, whom she has grown fond of and are closer than ever. They also posses their own physic abilities heard the news. At once they set forth to the Langtry castle to help Serena back to her self. Seeing the castle and the lanterns were all in full blaze and as expected Rei and a few others awaited. One glance at Serena's sleeping figure in his arms made his heart melt and pained all at once. He allowed her to cry and allowed her to exhaust herself to sleep. The carriage stopped and the door was opened quickly by Jayson. Rei rushed to greet them when she saw Serena's battered and bruised face. "OH...my... Serena..." she whispered as she first looked at the sleeping figure than to Darien who's features were as hard as steel. Her own mind felt the anger that welled in Darien's body. "Is my chamber ready for her?" "yes.. Ami, Lita and the others are waiting to help with their healing" "GOOD" he lastly said as he hurriedly made his way inside and up the stairs with Rei following behind. The others, servants and all watched and moved out of his way. Lita and Ami waited as they heard the carriage. They can all feel Serena's pain as Darien came closer. The doors slammed open and Darien entered with Serena in his arms. As he entered the intoxication smell of herbal essence and calming incense filled the room. He nodded at each and everyone and carefully, gently placed Serena on his comfortable and magnificent bed. He then caressed her cheek once more before he slide away to the foot of the bed. The wiccan women began to undress her, bearing her down to her lacey panties and bustier. Usually the sight of Serena wearing only her intimate apparel would send Darien into a passionate frenzy but not this time. His concern was of Serena's health and it supercedes over any lust or wantings that his body wanted. His wildly mad eyes, inspected her body as he took note of every bluish and greenish tint that appeared on her usually milky skin. The anger rose as he distinguished hand marks on her arms, and imprints on her side. His mouth dry as Serena's hair was pulled back and a view of the injuries she held on her face, bruises clearly visible. His eyes turned red as he watched the witches clean her swollen lip and cleaned all open wounds. Veins throbbed in his neck painfully as one of the witches daub her with healing oils. Guilt finally rose as he realized his promise. He had promised her to never be hurt by the man again and here she was lying in bed painfully beaten and battered by the same man he swore he would protect her from. Rei eyed her brother carefully, noticing each and every change he was making as he watched. From eyes turning red to the veins that visibly started to rise she knew he was in pain as well. She felt the guilt and it was time to disturb him and send him away. "Darien.." she approached him carefully. No response came from Darien only a silence. "Go down stairs and see what has come from the others scouring. Let Serena rest... we'll be here.." she soothed as she caressed his back. Darien said nothing but nodded to his sister. After one last look he walked off. Downstairs in the library the men stood uncomfortably. They found no trace or no trail to go on and this was not going to set well with their royal prince. The doors opened harshly by magical force and Darien entered. Saying nothing and acknowledging no one, he made his way towards the liquor stand. Pouring himself a glass of brandy he welcomed the feeling of hot acidic feeling down his angered throat. It is when he turned that he looked at all their faces. From Michael who held Mina weeping to Andrew, Nathan, Kyle, Jayson and Zen, he said nothing. Their faces and eyes spoke their findings, nothing! Violently he threw his glass across the room yelling and making his anger known. "WHY ISNT GALLI HERE?" "Sir, we could not find a trace of him "WHY IS THAT" "It seemed that he has left no mark to go by, not by us or the wolves" "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT A MERE HUMAN HAS OUTSMARTED US... That's A DAM FIRST..." "Darien, Craig knows that you are vampiric, perhaps he knows ways that you and the others are unable to find him" Darien glanced towards Andrew first then agreed. "Perhaps..............." he thought. "Zen go to one of the witches and find out whether they know of anything that enables a human to not be trace by us and the rest of you.........go back to and repass all that you have gone through again. Sweep through the areas until you have come up with something... you got that?...now go..." "But Sir, how do you want us to..............." "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO....................................... JUST MAKE SURE HE IS SOMEWHAT ALIVE SO I CAN INFLICT THE SAME PAIN AND BRUISES HE HAS DONE TO SERENA...... NOW GO!" All the men with the exception of Andrew who now sat beside Mina comforting her left without a word. They all knew of Darien's temper when tested and it was not good when his temper was being toyed regarding Serena. A subject and topic he does not go easy on. "I ......... I ...... shouldn't of left her... I should of stayed by her side" murmured Mina crying with guilt. Andrew held her as he soothed her guilt. Darien watched and felt the same guilt as well. "Mina.. its okay.. Serena said she would be okay.. we know how stubborn Serena can be... please stop crying" "BUT... BUT if I was... there..." "MINA..." spoke Darien as he came closer "don't scold yourself... it is not your fault. It is no ones fault but the offender himself." Darien once again gritted his teeth and his fangs began to throb. "WE should have been all watching her... so don't blame yourself." Darien turned to not scare Mina nor Andrew. His eyes were burning, his K9s was fully erect, his veins were pounding. He needed to release his anger. Darien from the bottom of his stomach and from the gut of his deadly soul he screamed bloody murder. "grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooo" Loud and broad as it was, windows and mirrors shattered. Causing Mina to shriek and Andrew shielding her on the ground. For what seemed like minutes Darien lowered his growl and still his anger was so deep within. Rei came running through the doors and looked around. Mina and Andrew rose from their huddled position near the couch. "DARIEN........." Rei spoke "I BETTER SEE GALLI SOON BEFORE I START TO FEAST RANDOMLY AT ANYONE ......THIS TOWN WOULD SEE A UNFAITHFUL MASSACRE!!!!." Darien paced, and with full view, Mina and Andrew were given Darien's original being. For Andrew, he had seen similar with the search of the serum but Mina... this was the first. She gasp as she see him. Rei sensed her fright and again called to Darien. "DARIEN.." "I CANNOT STAY HERE... I NEED TO......" he walked out without finishing his sentence. The three watched Darien leave... his anger was filling his mind and body. "Where... where is he going?" asked Mina still surprised of what she had seen. "He needs to release his anger......" "I would hate to run into him at this moment" added Andrew "yes.. be happy that you didn't anger him for he would leave you no mercy". Mina gulped and held on to her brother. *** Serena eyes fluttered open, her eyes focusing on the deep crimson canopy above. The feeling of pain throbbed in her head as she remembered what had happened. Pictures of Craig abusing her till she was near consciousness. "Darien......" she whispered softly as she called for him. *** After leaving the home with a violent temper and very much craving for blood, he was in search for anyone that would be first to his eyes. Blood thirsty and ready to brutally erraticate anyone who come in his way. He found that it was easy to spot anyone as prey when you were angry. It didn't take long before he found his victim. The 'perfect' victim, a hustler and a murderer he recognized to victimize the women that were in his hold. The procurer of all the woman in the streets of England. Immediately he went to action and didn't waste his time. Capturing him and taking him to a hidden cave where he found to be a shelter at times. As the man woke, he was greeted with massive blows and strong hands tightening along his neck. Thrown around like a rag doll he was man handled the way his Serena was. "HOW DO YOU! LIKE TO BE HELD THIS WAY AS YOU HAVE FOR ALL YOUR OTHER WOMEN?" "Whoo...ar..you" the man chided as he tried to hold on to his last breaths. Darien's eyes remembered the hand marks on Serena's neck and painfully squeezed tighter on the already blackened neck. Still wanting to painfully inflict pain into this man, he threw him against the side of the cave. A loud thump was made and the man slid down from the height he was thrown on. Darien stared at the man with his eyes. It was dark and completely pitch. The man that sat still looking around didn't know which area Darien stood watching him like a hawk. Slowly he heard footsteps. The man threw a side glance. "What do you want?" he said "I AM YOUR EXECUTIONER" Darien dangerously added as visions of Craig touching Serena than hitting her numerous times. "grraaaaaaaaa" he frustratedly growled as he picked up the man with one hand. Arm stretched high and a firm hold on his victim, he spoke once more "The women of the streets shall take liberation in your death......... I shall take your bloody life you do not souly deserve." Darien began to squeeze and in no time the mans neck gave way and Darien's hand began to dig into flesh. The feeling of warm liquid dribbling down his hand was satisfaction. With one swift move... he threw the man to another part of the cave. His eyes staring at the unmoving figure, bringing his hand near his lips, he tasted the blood that soiled his hand. Then slowly, with the indentation of his fangs from his lips, made his way towards the blooded figure. Returning to his castle he quickly made his visit to his love. Sleeping quietly he caressed her features before giving her a soft kiss. 'I'm sorry!' he pressed to her mind as once again guilt ran through his veins. Darien was in his own little world as he sat inside the confines of his private office. The others where in the library discussing the ways to find Craig. His eyes closed as he tried to relax himself. The slaying he did earlier had left him somewhat satisfied, he had given no mercy to the man and indeed it would be the same fait Craig would endure once he had his hands on him but of course with more pain and slower process of torture. His cruel act is to be more atrocious and a bit more malaise, he was sure not give mercy and have pure satisfaction to Craig's suffering. Darien opened his eyes and looked at the blank pieces of paper on his desk.. He was worried and felt utterly to blame for not keeping a watchful eye on Serena. He pained as he felt the rotten guilt this was putting on him. 'what if she no longer wants to be with me' he thought. Darien sighed and placed his face within his hands. After a few seconds he looked up again to be met with the sight of a loose book along the wall of ledgers he held in his office. His arm extending and his palms opening, his mind called upon the book and magically it obeyed. Opening he recognized the writing, it was his own. Writings of since he's first met Serena, writings of his deep emotions and memorable nights as well. Many poetic compositions were written on many pages. Beautiful and infallible, mixtures of sonnets, stanzas, lyric and melic verses. Some could have been composed to follow a tune. Picking up the pen he began to write. Write his emotions and his feelings for the girl he love and what how he would suffer if she ever left him. 'baby you are everything good in my life' he scribbled... and went on. 'without you, their be no sun in my sky, their be no love in my life' After a good half hour of writing, the verses flowed within his mind, something natural it seemed. At the end he was done, and very poetic and very much real the poem was his confession. He signed the bottom with his initials 'D.L.' with a little excerpt 'for my love, my heart, my soul S.A.'. Putting the last periods down he sighed and leaned back to his satisfaction and closed his eyes. "Dariennn......" Serena's soft voice ran in his mind. "Serena......" he returned softly. Opening his eyes, he quickly stood and made his towards his love, hopefully... if nothings changed... soon to be wife.. Serena turned to face the fire that burned and waited for her lover. Her experiences have dimmed the light that had always lit her ways in life. But still even with it, she still remained hopeful that things will eventually turn bright again. Her lover responded to her call and eagerly she waited for him. The doors opened and Serena's eyes darted to the man that entered. Assuming her position, sitting up she held her arms out to him. Her stricken blues clashed with his guilty sapphires. Heart softening, Darien made his way towards Serena within a few long strides. "Serena..." he whispered as he kneeled beside the bed "I'm...so". "Darien.. there's nothing to be sorry about" returned Serena as she responded in a half whispered tone as well. "You weren't the one that did this to me.." "Still I should of kept a closer eye on you my love..." "Darien... I cant live in fright every time I leave, I wanted to... Its no ones fault" she added as she soothed him by the gentle caressing of his raven hair. "I promise to find him my love... I will make him pay for every single..." "Sh....h...h... I don't want to hear it. All I want is for you to hold me" Darien stared at her for a moment, Serena was indeed taking this a lot more lightly than the first time. "Serena..." "hold me?" Serena's eye shown with fright something that she wasn't trying to show. Having noting more than to abide by her wishes he stood and joined her in bed. Huddled together, she cried. Tightening his grip, once again he said nothing. *** With the disagreement of Darien, Serena returned to her cousins home. It was only right for the man to worry about his fiancée. Darien had wanted to keep her close and always with him at every move. That is until the bastard was caught and killed by his hands. By order of the Queen and the laws that govern the city, guards are to patrol the Carrington home at every hour. It was all they could do to protect the Duke's daughter. With that, Serena's pleading eyes and the promise of their life together once their married was satisfying enough. He allowed her to go back. As if everything was normal, Serena returned to her cousin's home, of course with again 24-hour surveillance. She was watched anytime and every time she went out and about. If not with Mina at her side it was Andrew. But most of the time it was Darien holding her company and Serena was not about to complain. With Darien, the world was nothing to fear, even Craig, the man that brutally abused her was nothing than a mere name. She wasn't frightened nor scared. As long as Darien was by her side, she was safe, safe in the arms of her love. ** It had been three weeks of passing and Serena allowed what had happen pass 'BUT' never forgotten. Nightmares plagued her mind at night and as strong as she perceives herself to be, it bothered her. "Serena" called her cousin. "Yes". Serena came walking down the stairs calmly. She knew it was Mina and Michael's anniversary and she didn't want to intrude on their intimate evening. "ARE YOU SURE that we can leave you alone?" asked Mina. "Yes I'm sure, besides I have the maids here, Mrs. Charles and Andrew said he would be here in an hour. Of course Ill be fine." She sounded happily as Michael thanked her. "Miss. Annesley, Darien said he too will be here later on as well" "See... nothing to worry about.. I will be protected by my favorite men" she paused "Not that your not one of them Michael..." she laughed to his playfully hurt feelings. "OH Mina... I forgot the tickets to the opera at the castle... we need to leave now if we want to go get them and make it to the opera house on time" "then off we should... bye Serena" "Bye you too and have fun" The two left hand in hand and Serena made her way towards the library where she retrieved a book for the evening. "Mrs. Charles" called Serena towards the kitchen. "yes. Miss" turned Mrs. Charles as she held a plate of sweets and a tea. "I was just about to bring you some tea" "Ill take that......... and If anyone needs me Ill be in my room." "Yes. Miss" Serena returned to her room with a tray of refreshments and a book. Upon returning she surveyed the room, always, she now checked her surroundings before she ever entered. Her evening started smoothly. ** "Marcus?" called the guard to the other. Their was no response, "for lords sakes are you sleeping again" he began to walk towards the other man who held his back turned. "Marcus......" The other guard turned to face not his partner but another. "Excuse me but you are not Marcus" said the guard in question. His eyes roamed to check the man. Slightly pale, brown eyes, and a mustache. He couldn't remember if he had seen this man before. "I have not seen you before?" "I am new" "Where is Marcus?" "He was called on to solve a different matter and I was sent to replace him". The other guard eyed him suspiciously then let it pass. Scotland Yard had done that to him before, switch his partners in the middle of the night and he wasn't about to go and leave his post. "I see very well, keep your eyes open. We don't want this maniac to abuse Miss. Annesley again" left the man. The man that was in question watched his supposedly partner walk off to another part of town. As the shadows of the man disappeared his face grew to a somber and deadly smile "maniac.. huh... I like the name" His eyes then traveled to the window that litted in glowing light. The profile of a woman reading quietly. Stay tune for the final chapter.. Umalific@hotmail.com