Title:Dark Angel
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R 
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
28/5/02

AN: SailorMoon characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
    The vampire's abilites are based on Christine Feehan's Dark Series.

"Woman was created from the ribs of man
 Not from his head to top him
 Nor from his feet to be walked upon
 She was made from his side to be his equal
 From beneath his arms to be protected
 From very near his heart to be loved."
         --Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 He was of a dark and ancient race on the verge of extinction,
 She was a mortal thriving on the light and beauty of the world,
 They met on a night of unspeakable horror...
 With her strange abilities, she ensnared him in a web of desire even as 
 their souls called out to each other,
 Promising eternity and a passion more fulfilling than anything on earth.


 ~ Chapter 2: Demonspawn or Fallen Angel?

  Serena James stood under the shower head that blasted her mercilessly
with hot water. She wanted to wake up from this nightmare that had frozen
her clear to her bones.

  A chill that seemed permenantly embedded into her very being, her very
soul. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the screams that no
one heard except her. Trying to block out all the blood that had spilled
onto the concrete ground. The blood that had spilled onto her...

  Her eyes flew open. A silent cry falling from her opened lips. Her eyes
going wide with fear. Blood...God, all that blood.
  She rubbed herself harder, scrubbed her skin harshly as if trying to get
rid of all the unseen marks the blood of her friend had left. She scrubbed
until her skin was red and raw.

  Her mind was in chaos. She was sure to be going insane...

  The horrible flashes just would not go away. They danced before her eyes,
before her mind until she was sure the memory had been etched and entrenched
into her soul, her mind.

  The hot water continued to pound on her as she slid silently to the tiled
floor of the shower stall. Tears flowing down her face as well as water.
The tears seemed to burn her skin more than the water. It was her fault...

  It was then she felt it again. The comfort. The curls of energy enveloping
her and soothing her hurt. Kindling a fire in her that chased away the 
cold blackness that was suffocating her. She could have sworn she felt 
strong arms wrap around her, enfolding her into a tender and loving embrace.
But there was no one in the stall with her...

  Him.

  It was him. He kept her sane, he was her anchor. Keeping her demons and
fears away as surely as he had saved her. But dear God, she should not 
even be alive...

  *Don't even think that!!* came a sharp reprimand that was shouted straight
into her head.
  She jumped. *Stay out of my head!*

  *Oh, this is a fine way to treat your saviour and the person who's 
comforting you now. I save you and take away your demons and what do I get
in return?? A sassy mouthed lifemate that tells me to go away.*

  Serena frowned even as the hot water continued pounding on her head.

  *For someone who's an ancient and a vampire, you sure sound like a woman.
Besides, I don't see anyone in my head who's your lifemate.* she retorted.

  *I told you, darling. My kind has no name. Vampire is such a harsh term.
Mortals have such a different concept of vampire. Any blood sucker is 
considered a vampire. Besides, you are my lifemate as I am yours.* replied
the infuriating man.

  *Really?? Mate for life, huh?? I'm not YOUR mate and you can't make me.
All I see is some bossy male running about in my head where he's not 
wanted.* hissed Serena like a little girl.

  Silence...

  A cold spider of fear rose up. Why didn't he answer?? Her panic grew when
the silence was not broken, but instead, seemed to grow louder in her ears,
deafening her.
  She gave a whimper of fright, hugging herself. Where was he?? Why didn't
he answer her?? Had he left her alone?

  Alone...she couldn't bear that. The horror would come. Swallow her into 
it's black endless abyss.

  The shower stall door burst open.

  A long piercing scream burst from her lips as she saw a dark figure 
looming over her where the stall door once stood...

  Dear Heaven!! It was a demon, he was going to kill her...

  *Darien!! Darien! Please, where are you??!*

  Serena tried to push herself further into a corner. Curling herself and
wrapping her arms around herself. God, she was going to die wet and naked
in a strange bathroom of a vampire. So why was she thinking of the oddest
things like eating strawberries and cream at a time like this??

  "Little one, stop screaming. I am not going to hurt you." came a deep
silky voice.

  Darien!!

  The water was shut off and Darien was wrapping her in a fluffy white towel
like a baby as he lifted her into his arms.
  She hid her flaming face into his chest as he carried her out of the 
bathroom. She didn't care if she was naked. At least, he hadn't abandoned
her. Her long slim fingers curled and uncurled, grasping handfuls of his
elegant silk shirt.

  "Of course I wouldn't abandon you. You are my mate for life. Where you go,
I go. I'm never going to let you go." he whispered into her wet hair.

  "Why didn't you answer me?"

  "You said I was to stay out of your mind. Besides, I was coming to get you
anyway. You were staying too long under that shower. If you don't turn into 
a prune, you're sure to make yourself ill, turning the water to hot." he
reprimanded, cuddling her to his hard body.

  She glared at him and kicked her legs.

  "Be still, baby. Or I'll drop you to the floor." he growled.

  Serena stuck her chin out. "Just try it!"

  The damn man merely grinned that darn hateful infuriating smile and 
cuddled her closer, if that was possible.
  "You're calling my bluff, baby. You know I could never hurt you."

  "Stop calling me, baby."

  He merely chuckled as he stared down as his cuddled little mate. His
prize. Right now, she looked like a wet spitting little kitten. And she was
the one thing in the whole world that would keep him from turning into a 
monster. Keep him from becoming undead. She was his, and he would find a 
way to keep her with him.
  At that moment, he decided a path for his future...

  Serena looked up at his handsome face. He didn't look like anything the
way cheesy horror novels described vampires. They were supposed to have
pale white skin that was usually stretched over a face making them look 
gaunt and ill. They were supposed to be tall and bony!!

  But no...

  The darn 'immortal' just had to come looking like a hot male model right
off a fashion magazine. The epitome of masculinity. His face was not gaunt 
or white, rather it was a nice golden tan with beautifully sculpted 
features. He was tall, but he wasn't bony. Damn man. Maybe it wasn't his 
real features...

  "Sorry, baby. These are my real features. But the undead can look just as
pure and handsome as we do." came his voice that slid over her like water,
pure and silky.

  "If so, how do I know you aren't really 'undead' just waiting to rip my
internal organs out and make a big bloody mess out of me??" she snapped
irritated.

  He grinned. "You are my mate for life." he answered, like that was 
supposed to explain everything in the world.

  It was strange, but he made her forget the nightmares and the horror of
the night. Forget about the murder of Claire...

  "Stop it, baby. Don't think about it anymore." he whispered laying her
down on a bed with black silk sheets.

  "I can't help it." choked Serena. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep
tonight, Darien..."
  "Of course you can. I'll help you." he whispered.

  She blinked up at him as he wiped away the tear that had fallen from her
eye. She shivered when she realised the silky material of the bedsheets were
cool against her naked flesh.

  "Could I- could I-...?"
  "Of course, baby." he whispered.

  Before her eyes, a silk shirt appeared in his hands and he held it out to
her. The shirt was large, reaching her knees as she tugged it on, shyly.
  "Whose bed is this?"
  "It's mine."
  "But where will you sleep?" she asked confused.

  He merely smiled at her, not answering.

  Darien brushed her golden bangs out of her eyes and planted a tender kiss 
on her forehead.
  "You will sleep, my heart. You will sleep tonight with no dreams. Sleep 
until I awaken you. This I bid of you, lifemate." whispered Darien, using 
his abilities to push at her mind.

  He shifted her down onto the bed. She gave one sleepy smile at him, and
slept, her eyelids coming down swiftly. Hiding her blue eyes.

  Satisfied she would sleep 'til the next rising, he got up and left the
room. Once outside, he stumbled, puzzled at the strange sharp wrenching he 
was experiencing in his being. His internal organs felt like they were on 
fire. The blood in his veins seemed to turn into a boiling fury, scorching
his insides.
  When the feeling had passed, he frowned and made his way towards his 
study. He was unsure what had happened, but he had an inkling...

  On his way to his study, he encountered a worried frowning Jayden and a 
solemn faced Raye. The feeling made sense all at once. Raye had felt it too,
which meant...Dear God.

  His eyes met Raye's. She merely nodded.

  Darien staggered backwards as if he had been struck by one of his kind.
Dear Lord, it couldn't be...but it was.
  Sweet heaven, why??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Darien sat in the large chair behind his desk in his study, contemplating.
It would be morning soon. Not that he was going to shrivel and die from a
little sunlight. But of course, he could if he stayed until it was 
afternoon.
  That was one advantage the undead didn't have.

  The chemistry of the undead was different from the one of his own kind,
thereby making sunlight anethema to the undead, no matter the weather,
cloudy, rainy or snowing. Undead could not travel during the day.

  He looked out at the stars twinkling. He couldn't understand or comprehend
how it had happened, but now...their lives, everyone in his family, even
his father was in danger. He was sure his father, the leader of their 
people had felt it too and was sure to be ordering hunters in search.

  Running his hands through his hair, he cursed. He had to protect Serena,
his lifemate, his mate for life, no matter what the cost.

  He shouted his anger to the skies.

  Outside the study, Raye closed her eyes and hugged her mate as a single
blood red tear fell from her eye.

  The study door opened moments later and Darien stepped out.

  He only said four words...

  "I am going hunting."

  Raye nodded and clutched Jayden tighter, fearful of that expressionless
and emotionless mask that was being worn by her brother.

  As she watched his stiff and erect frame walk away, she wanted to call out
to him but a hand restrained her from doing so...

  "Jayden?"
  "Let him go, beloved. He is hurting more than you." whispered Jayden into
her ear.
  "But-"
  "I know. But you would never know the feeling he is experiencing, love."

  Raye sighed and looked down the empty hallway where her brother had just
walked down.
  "I guess you are right, Jay." she sighed, leaning back into strong warm
arms that enveloped her, holding her and merely comforting her like a 
considerate lover.

  *I AM a considerate lover.* he blew into her ear, sending tingles down 
her spine.
  Raye sent him a superior look. *Really??*

  Her husband scowled down at her, snatched her up and headed for their
bedchambers. *I'll show YOU considerate. We'll see who cries 'uncle' first,
my little spitfire.*

  Raye laughed, her sorrow temporarily forgotten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Darien flew over the rooftops of the still busy city even though it was
almost dawn. He was in the form of a large owl. Feeling the cold night's air
beat on him brought a measure of peace.

  His mate was well under his protection, tucked safely in the wing of his
home. The danger was still far away and perhaps his father would have wiped
out the threat already.
  Perching on a tall building, he sent himself seeking into the night.
Searching for any news or scent of an undead. He knew there were plenty of 
them in the city.

  The police had already found the remains of Claire Roland. His mate's
friend. The police were now starting investigations and searching for the
last person Claire had been with...Serena.

  Serena.

  His thoughts turned to the precious woman back at his great mansion. It
was difficult to tell how she really was at the moment. Their bond was
strong, but not strong enough for him to tell if she was in distress when
he was a great distance away. 
  They needed the safety of a blood bond.

  His mind turned to the events that had taken place an hour ago. She had
been having a shower when he had picked up thoughts of distress and guilt.
He had also been appalled at the temperature of the water.

  He remembered her wet and naked screaming for him in her mind. He nearly
chuckled at that. He nearly reverted to his original form when he remembered
her pale smooth skin. He reprimanded himself. He had to retain control of
his mating urges that ran so strongly in every male of his kind that had
found their mate. His mate was still going through a brutal trauma.

  Hunger beat at him. He nearly forgot he had come out to feed. The battle
with the undead had hardly been fierce but he had spent a bit of energy
erradicating evidence and bringing his mate back to his home.

  Darien sent a call out into the night as he landed, shape-shifting into
his normal humanoid form. Two men were standing in a dark alley way, a 
dreamy dazed expression on their faces.

  He felt his fangs lengthen at the sound of hot rushing blood, nourishment
flowing in their veins.
  Standing close to the first man, Darien bent his head and sank his fangs
into the man's neck. Hot flowing blood rushed into him, replenishing his
great strength. Closing the wound on the first man's neck, he moved onto the
second. Drinking slowly and carefully to make sure no blood spilled on the
man's imaculate clothing.

  After taking his fill, he moved further into the dark shadows and made
himself invisible, releasing the men from their trance. They blinked at
each other, stumbling like drunken men out of the alley way, dazed.

  Satisfied, Darien launched himself into the night sky, shape-shifting
once more into the form of the owl. Flapping his wings, he made a quick
patrol around in the air instead of walking around as he did earlier that 
night.
  When it was one hour to sunrise, he made his way towards home, his wings
beating a steady pace. He made a note in his mind to rise earlier, one hour
before sunset. Serena was a woman wanted by the police for investigation,
therefore the police would want her statement.

  He landed lightly on the same balcony he had landed on earlier that night.
His eyes were drawn to his bed where his mate slept, curled like a little
child.
  Moving to the side of the bed, he saw her clearly, curled over on her
side, tucked under the blankets and wearing the white silk shirt he had
given her. She looked tiny compared to the size of the large bed.

  A small tender smile crept on his face as he crushed golden strands of
flaxen wisp back from her face. His finger traced the smoothness of her skin
and the shape of her lips.
  Desire flared strongly in his body. He wanted her. Bending and placing a
swift kiss on her forehead, he made his way out of the bed chamber.

  Moving silently down the hallway, he grimly pushed aside the heat and 
desire burning him, tamping down the sudden erotic images in his mind. He
gritted his teeth, relying on his strict discipline that had helped him
through his battles with the demon within, which was currently raging at
the injustice of being unable to claim it's mate.

  Darien made his way through the mansion, down to an underground passage
he himself had specially built for his own personal use.
  Each member of his group had their own safe haven. This was to ensure 
their safety and privacy in case any one member became undead. That way,
the undead would not be able to find their resting place in the day.

  Though he was underground, he could sense the rising sun. It was a new
day, and tonight...was a new rising.

  Contrary to popular belief, his kind and the undead did NOT sleep in
coffins as the movie makers and writers had imagined. They slept in the
soil. The earth was their mother, the one that healed all wounds and gave
rest to his people.
  Waving a hand over the soil, it parted and he sank deeply into the soil.
The soil moved over to cover him, hiding his presence from any other of his
kind. Peace and comfort immediately assailed him. The last thought in his
mind before he slept, was of his mate...

  Serena.

  His eyes closed, his body relaxed as the flow of blood in his veins slowly
came to a halt and the steady rise and fall of his chest stopped, becoming
as still as the dead.

  Silence ensued in the chamber as above ground, his housekeeper went about
her work and the sun rose into the sky, lighting up the sky. Birds sang 
brightly and the morning mist slowly disappeared heralding the start of a
new day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  It was an hour before sunset when Darien woke from his slumber and burst
from the ground. His appearance was immaculate despite having spent the
daylight sleeping in the earth.

  His abilities allowed him to listen to everything that was going on above
ground in the mansion. Quickly, his senses probed at his mate, finding her
still in the dreamless sleep he had sent her into.
  With a sigh of relief, he checked with other members of his group. He kept
his presence to a minimal, not wanting to disturb them. They were all still
sleeping. That was good.

  He glided silently to his chamber where Serena slept. His movements silent
and sure. Like a predator stalking it's prey.

  Silently entering the chamber, he came to once again stand beside the bed.
Her golden hair was spread out beneath her like a blanket. The light of the
setting sun that hit her hair made it look like a mass of molten gold around
her head.
  Sitting down onto the soft bed, his hand tenderly traced her face. He
surprised even himself. His hand was so gentle even when he knew his hand
had a strength no mortal man possessed. With one hand, he could break the
jaw he was carressing so tenderly. With one hand, he could also crush the 
bones in her slender frame to the size of matchsticks.

  He watched her slumber for awhile longer before giving her the command to
awaken to him. She was so beautiful, sleeping peacefully like a child.
Hungry need slammed into him, the demon within growling for release.

  *Wake, my life, my heart... Wake and come to me.*

  He watched as long lashes fluttered, rising to expose bright blue eyes,
dazed with sleep. She turned to look at him with utter trust, stealing the
breath from his lungs. Desire flared.


  Serena awoke, her mind still fuzzy from the healing dreamless sleep. She
blinked in confusion, looking at the ceiling before turning her head, her
vision resting on HIM....

  Her breath caught in her throat. He was beautiful. An Old World sort of
charm mixed with a modern bit of respect in his damn bedroom eyes. The
blasted being practically oozed a masculine sort of sexuality and 
sensuality. Her bones felt like they were melting as she saw the desire
flare hotly in his eyes. He seemed so unreal.

  She raised herself on her elbows, his arms helping her. Looking out the
window, the sky was an orange-red colour.

  "What time is it?"
  "Almost sunset."
  "Why did you not wake me?" she cried.
  "You had a terrible night. I thought it best you rest."

  She tried to glare at his unrepentant face but shivered at the look in his
eyes. Need and a wanting...

  Before she knew what had happened, he was kissing her. No, he was 
ravishing her mouth, his tongue brushing her lips which opened automatically
to his invasion, his body pressing her into the bed.
  Her thoughts blurred at the sensation as her hands came up hesitantly to
grip his shoulders. It was a little difficult to think when his lips were
doing such things to hers and his hands coming around her waist to hold her
closer, pushing her to feel the hard frame of him. Dear God! He was so hot,
she felt as if he was scorching her skin wherever he touched.
  She was lost.


  Darien knew he had to stop or risk taking her, but he just could not find
the will to release her as he continued to ravage her mouth, his lips 
starting a downward trail to her neck. He heard the rush of blood in her
veins, the rapid beat of her pulse.

  The call of her blood lured him, his fangs exploding in his mouth. He 
wanted to taste her, to gorge himself on her. But he could not. She wasn't 
ready to accept all that yet. She still had to forgive herself over the 
murder of her friend, Claire.
  That thought brought him to a halt. The murder. He had to take Serena to
the police station so they could take her statement.

  With great strength of will, he reluctantly disengaged himself from her
neck, but not before giving her neck one last lick. She shivered and looked
at him, her eyes pools of confusion and fear, a pink flush rising in her 
cheeks. He nearly frowned. He did not want fear in her eyes. Where was her 
spitfire spirit?

  She was pleasantly rumpled, the top button of the large shirt was 
unbuttoned and the shirt falling to one shoulder, exposing it. When he had
unbuttoned the shirt was anybody's guess. He was almost shaking with the
intensity of his need to take her, body and soul. Her mind was already his.

  "Darien?"

  "You must get up now, baby. We have to go to the police station. They are
searching for you." he stated.

  Her eyes widened.

  "They only want a statement, baby. You have nothing to fear."
  "But what do I tell them?? I can't tell them the truth! They would think
I was off my rockers." exclaimed Serena.
  "It is alright. I will be there with you. You are to tell them you parted
company with Claire and left with me when we bumped into each other. That
was the last you saw of her."
  "But, Darien-"
  "Trust me, baby." he smiled planting a butterfly kiss on her nose.

  He watched her wrinkle her nose.

  "That was ticklish. You smell earthy, Darien."

  He threw his dark head back and laughed.


  Serena watched him laughing unrestrained. He was so handsome, his voice
so pure and velvety. Low flames of desire still licked at the pit of her
belly and flared at the husky sound of his laughter.
  She wanted to bury her head in the crook of his neck and breathe in his
scent. It was a strange mixture of an earthy smell and roses.

  Deciding against hugging him, she gave his face a light slap to catch his
attention. He blinked in surprise at her.

  "If I'm to change, where are my clothes and privacy?"

  A sly look entered his eyes. "The clothes are in the closet, but I do not
see why the need of privacy? I have seen you naked, before." he spoke softly
and teasingly.

  A blush of embarrasement bloomed on her cheeks. He was purposely trying
to unnerve her. The damn 'immortal'. She wanted so much to smack that grin 
off his face.

  *Tut tut, my darling. Such violence does not become you. Besides, you are
beautiful when you are flustered. The blush becomes you.* came his silky
voice in her mind.

  She glared at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sitting in the limousine, Serena crossed her arms over her chest glaring
at the man seated across her, a lazy smile on his face.

  "I want to go home after this, Darien."
  "My mansion is your home."
  "No it's not! I may not have any parents, but I have a nice apartment and
a nice life which I intend to live out. In fact, I've been planning to go
out with my nice nextdoor neighbour for some time now. He's always been
asking." exclaimed Serena heatedly.
  "You can't even stand the man. You think he's an octopus who can't keep
his hands to himself."
  "But he's normal and doesn't call me baby or say I'm his mate for life."

  She watched his mouth quirk in a smile. Oh, and what a sensual mouth it
was...

  "Darling, you cannot keep running forever." he purred. "Just accept it.
You're not going anywhere, baby. You're mine."

  "Am not! You know, I really can't decide  if you're a demonspawn or just
a fallen angel."
  He grinned and leaned close to her face. She could feel his warm breath
on her lips. Darn it! He was disconcerting her.

  "Oh, I'm a demonspawn to my enemies, darling. But to you, I'm your fallen
angel. All yours." he whispered at her lips, his brushing over hers with a
feather light touch.

  "Darien.."

  His mouth captured hers in a long hot drugging kiss.

  The car stopped. They were at the police station...

  He broke the kiss easily and smiled. "Well! Here we are. Let's go. The 
sooner we go in, the sooner we can leave." he smiled opening the car door 
and stepping out.

  She stared at him in confusion, blinking. "What?"

  He turned back to her with a secret sensual smile, catching her breath.
She was supposed to be mourning her friend, dammit!

  "Come on, baby." he spoke softly, extending his hand to hers.

  Breathless and confused, Serena placed his hand into his, as he helped her
out of the limousine.

  "It'll be alright, darling. I'm here, and nothing will ever happen to 
you." he whispered, bringing her close and bringing her head under his chin.


  Both of them entered the police station and were escorted to an office.
They sat for awhile, Darien's arms around her shoulders while Serena 
clenched both her hands together in anxiety.

  A tall lean man entered the office, in one hand he held a folder.

  "I'm Detective Reynolds. I'm in charge of the investigation regarding the
death of Claire Roland. Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss James." said the
man.
  His eyes fell on Darien who stood beside her.

  "Mr Alessandros."
  "Just take your statement."

  The detective nodded, turning to Serena.

  "Miss James, you were the last known person to have seen Miss Roland. 
There are witnesses who saw you leave a club together. When did you last see
her alive?"
  "Before I bumped into- into Darien." she answered.

  Darien's hand curled round her neck, massaging her neck soothingly. He
clearly felt the waves of distress emenating from her. Her face pale.
  "11.15pm. I bumped into her at that time." answered Darien.

  "What was the nature of your relationship with Miss Roland as well as
your relationship with Mr Alessandros?"
  "Claire was my bestfriend!" exclaimed Serena.
  "We are dating." answered Darien

  Serena blinked at his calm face and picked up his thoughts...
  *Do not contradict me, baby.*

  "No one knows of your relationship, but Miss Roland was fine with that?"
  "What?!"
  Darien frowned. "Miss Roland did not know of our relationship. I am a 
private man, detective." said Darien coldly, his eyes flashing.

  *You will cease these questions.* Darien pushed at the man.

  "Of course, of course. You are one of the wealthiest men in the city,
Mr Alessandros. It is natural you are secretive of who you date." mused the
detective.  "Anyway, did Miss Roland have a boyfriend?"
  "None that I know of. Claire wasn't dating anyone at the moment."

  The questions continued on for nearly an hour until Darien put a stop to
them the moment he noticed her pale and wan complexion. He sensed her
unhappiness and distress. The questions the detective asked were unnerving
her.

  *You will release us now and know that Miss James was helpful in your
investigation and is without a doubt innocent.*

  The detective responded to the compulsion once more, standing up and
thanking them.


  Serena stared sadly out the window as the limousine pulled away from the
police department.

  "Do not be sad, darling. The worst is over for now." came Darien's voice.
  "I just wish Claire could have lived. She had so much life to give,
Darien. So much love. You would have liked her." sighed Serena.
  "I'm sure I would. I would like any of your friends simply because you 
like them." he smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face.

  Serena gave a weak smile.

  He frowned then.

  "You are tired, baby. Do you want to return to the mansion or would you
like to go eat dinner and stay out for awhile?" he asked tenderly.

  "I stayed out to party once and look what happened...Claire died. I'd
rather return to the mansion."

  She was just to weary to fight with him about taking her back to her
apartment. There would be plenty of time to argue with him over that...
Right now, she just wanted not to be alone. To pretend for a moment, Darien
was indeed merely a fallen angel and not a demon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...

Reviews and emails please!! I never thought I'd finish this so quickly. :)
Ciao~
31/5/02