Title:Love and Bitter Memories.Chapter 4 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought This story was inspired by a really cranky mood. Dedicated to my brothers in England!!!Luv ya bros!!! :) Inside a speeding red porsche,two people sat in uncomfortable silence. Serena Lunaria and Darien Terra Shields....two people who ran businesses. Yet travelled in different circles. "So...Miss Lunaria....did you enjoy the evening??"asked Darien,his eyes on the road. "It was...comfortable."replied Serena staring out the window.Her eyes fell on a small playground as the car sped back to the city...` ~FLASHBACK~ "Serena!!Push me!!"laughed a young girl. "It's my turn on the swing,afterwards,Theresa!!"smiled Serena. The girl smiled at her friend... ~END FLASHBACK~ "Mr Shields...would you be so kind as to drop me off at the park???"asked Serena turning to Darien. Darien looked at her slightly."Sure."he replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Moments later... Serena got out of the car and walked towards a wooden bridge,over a small stream.The moon shown down brightly....it's light hitting the still surface of the water. Staring down into her reflection,Serena sighed.... "Why so glum??"asked Darien. "None of your business,Mr Shields.Working hours don't start fo another,.. 9 hours."said Serena,looking at her watch. "You come here often??"asked Darien changing the subject. "Not really...."whispered Serena staring at the water. ~FLASHBACK~ "Serena...tell me one thing...what do you see in the water??"asked Mina. "Water,Mina."said Serena. "No..look at your reflection."said Mina. "I see....me.."said Serena. @@@@ ( change in flashback ) "Lady..can you spare a five dollars???I haven't had a decent meal for so long..."said a dirty man. "Oh you poor dear...of course."said Mina. After the man left... "Oh Mina...you're such a softie.For all you know...that man just conned you out of 5 dollars!!"exclaimed Serena. "Serena...that man is poor and pitiful!!Didn't you see him????"asked Mina. "Mina...it's a dog eat dog world...you can only trust yourself.That man should work for money instead of begging!!!He could be a crook!!" "Serena...." ~END FLASHBACK~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's late,Mr Shields...perhaps you should go."said Serena. "I always escort my dates home."said Darien. Serena scowled."I am NOT your date,Mr Shields...besides...don't you have.. some problems to take care of???" A shadow passed over Darien's features. "Tell me something,Serena Lunaria...were you born cold and hard or did the world make you this way??"asked Darien unfeelingly. Serena merely blinked...she wasn't hurt by his words...perhaps she should have....but no...she was dead inside... "That,Mr Shields...is something I do not need to tell you.."replied Serena walking away. Darien watched as Serena Lunaria walked down the street back into the heart of the city.Smirking,he got into his porsche and drove down... He spotted Serena walking at a steady pace. "Lunaria...Get in!!"said Darien from his side. Serena frowned.*Why did he have to pester her???Why??Why??Why??This devil of a man...arrogant and proud. "I can walk back,thank you...."snapped Serena. "Get in or I make you."bit out Darien. "Do that and I'll scream.This IS a neighbourhood." "That would only shame us both,Lunaria...I believe your personality is... you DON'T cause scenes???"drawled Darien. *Damn him...he was right....she wasn't one who liked to cause scenes.* "Shields....this is going to cost you..."snarled Serena as she got into the car. "Anything you write out,I can pay,darling."smirked Darien. Serena was seething....She had the sudden urge to do nothing but strangle her client....but that was out of the question....Serena decided to sit silently and stare at the road with burning eyes..... Darien smirked slightly....his lips turning into a mocking smile. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Next day.... "I tell you Mina...that man is Satan!!When we finish this project,I'm going to make sure,Moonlight Designs does not accept another job from the Shields Enterprises."said Serena. "Serena...don't you think you're taking this a bit too far?????"asked Mina. "So how's the baby???It's been,what??8 weeks??"asked Serena. "Oh...the baby's healthy!!And actually,it's 10 weeks."smiled Mina. Serena smiled slightly.She was happy for her friend.But her eyes didn't shine with happiness for her friend...it couldn't....she was just dead inside. "You're attracted to him,aren't you??"asked Mina suddenly. "WHAT??"exclaimed Serena. "You are attracted to Darien Shields...that's why you're so protective. Pulling that shell of yours even closer around you."said Mina. "I AM NOT!!Mina Ashley Venusa,you must be joking!!"laughed Serena bitterly. "Oh Serena.....why can't you just let go of the past???"asked Mina sadly. "Because I can't...the past is part of me...the past IS my future." whispered Serena. ~FLASHBACK~ "Serena Laura Lunaria,young lady....the school tells me you've not been behaving or studying in class again!!You are an insurbodinate child!" shouted Miss Terrence at the 10 year-old girl."They say you don't socialize with anybody." "I don't like the other children."spat Serena venomously."And the adults are stupid..." "Child..you are going too far....who shall not have dinner for the next two days."grounded the orphanage warden. "See if I care!!!"bit out Serena. @@@@ "Give me the money woman!!!"shouted a drunken man. A 13 year-old Serena watched with hatred and disgust for her adopted father.....the drunked...Serena watched as the man hit her adopted mother. "Jono!!Please!!The money is for the rent!!!"pleaded the woman. "Stupid wench!!Give me the money!!!"spat the man as he slapped Ilene Russell... Serena ran in front of her adopted mother's fallen form,blocking another blow that came... "So...you want a beating too huh???"shouted the drunken man. "Get away from her!!"hissed Serena. "Serena..."pleaded Ilene. "Don't you tell me what to do,girl!!!"shouted Jonothan Russell as he slapped,Serena hard on the face. @@@@ An 18 year-old Serena watched in horror as Ilene fell to the ground dead....her face bloody and her body bruised. Jonothan stood there,his hands bloody and his eyes wild. Serena ran.....ran to the police....ran..... @@@@ "Serena...I have something to tell you."said a man. A 16 year-old Serena looked up adoringly at the man....Conner Simmons. She'd fallen in love....and for awhile...she'd actually seen the world in beautiful colours....until he dropped the bomb... "Serena...I want you to meet Denise Lynch....my girlfriend. Serena's heart lurched.Mina gasped. "G-g-girlfriend...??Conner...." "Sorry,I lead you on,babe."drawled Conner mockingly. Mina saw the old Serena come back......the Serena she'd known since 14. The cold Serena...not the 16 year old Serena who saw the world happy... for once... The light in Serena's eyes died...her expression cold and blank.The wall was back... "Conner....you can go to hell..."spat Serena as she slapped him hard. Stunning Conner.The Serena,Conner had known was the sweet,demure shy and lovable Serena.The Serena that was here was the cold,hard,uncaring Serena. "Denise Lynch is it???I hope you're happy with him.Oh by the way,Conner.. I heard Kimberly and Joan were looking for you about those dates you had with them."laughed Serena walking away. Mina cringed....it was a laugh,she had not heard Serena laugh....in a VERY very long time.A bitter laugh. Mina followed Serena.Behind them....Denise was shouting at Conner. ~END FLASHBACK~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Mina...would you mind??I have some paper work to catch up on."said Serena,..her expression blank....feelings....what was the word known as warmth???Love??Happiness???She'd known it once....perhaps....but it was forgotten or had been snatched from her when she had amnesia.... Mina nodded. As Mina walked out of the office,Mina turned back to her cold silent friend whose eyes were focused on the documents in front of her..... "Oh Serena...."whispered Mina. Serena stared at the papers in front of her,when the phone rang... startling her. "Hello,Miss Lunaria." Serena sighed....how could she not recognize the voice??? "Good Morning Mr Shields." "I trust you slept well,Miss Lunaria???" "Very,thank you." "I would like to make an appointment,Miss Lunaria."said Darien. "Oh??Whatever for???"asked Serena curiously. "Slight change of decor..."drawled Darien lazily into the phone. "Alright...what time??"asked Serena. "3.30pm."stated Darien. "3.30pm???But Mr Shields..."protested Serena.But all she got was the cold click of a reciever..... Serena stared at the reciever angrily.Slamming it down hard.The arrogant, self-absorbed tyrant of a man.....she would have pulled it down to 3.00pm, but now she wasn't going....Mina would have to go by herself... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien frowned at the phone.He'd just put down the phone on his interior decorater....turning back to Andrew,Darien looked at his best friend expectantly. "Well..??Have you found the mole???"asked Darien. "Yes,we have...Dare...though I don't think you're going to like it."said Andrew. "Who is it???"growled Darien. "Malachite McKenzey." Darien frowned....*McKenzey...McKenzey....the director of programmers!!* "Does he know he's been found out???"asked Darien,his eyes hard and icy. "Not yet...shall we send security to arrest him??"asked Andrew. "Yes....press charges too........I assume you have the evidence,right?" said Darien. "We do....I'll get right on it,Dare.."said Andrew as he left the drab bland office... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien stared at the closed door......his eyes shifted to the walls.... bland colouring....just like his soul.... It wasn't his fault....it wasn't his fault.....his mother had died....his parents had died... ~FLASHBACKS~ A 12 year-old boy sat weeping by a woman's bed.... "Mommy....please don't die!!"wailed the boy. Suddenly,...the machines that were connected to the woman,who was obviously the boys mother went crazy.... People came rushing in....everything happened so quickly.....his parents were dead..... @@@@ "Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust.... Twelve year-old Darien stood by his grandfather....silent and cold.... Darien Terra Shields died that day....but in his place....a darker..colder Darien had been born.... @@@@ "Look Shields....we hope you understand...we just don't mix well with oprhans."said the boy. Darien's expression was blank....it was strange...."You were friendly with me because of my money and name weren't you?"asked Darien bluntly. "Yes.."replied the boy. Betrayal.... @@@@ "Richard....you want to that brat of a grandson of yours????"protested one of the advisors of Shields Enterprises...a man who'd hoped to be able to gain assets from the old man. "I am....he is my grandson...I cannot abandon him to the world out there all alone."said Richard sternly. Twelve year-old Darien watched at the man and his grandfather...silently. The man despised him... ~END FLASHBACK~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien clutched his head.....so many bitter memories hounded his past... the death of his parents....the laughter of happiness of other children... disgust from adults except his grandfather...betrayal....disappointment. He knew it all....Been there...done that.... Staring at his watch..it was 10.00am....5 and a half hours to 3.30pm... Darien Terra Shields sighed....*Serena Lunaria....what are you doing to me????*wondered Darien to himself as he watched the clock tick slowly.. Agonizingly slow.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mina walked into Shields Enterprises....Serena was not here with her... she had an appointment....Mina sighed....so here she was...alone in the office building of the Lone Wolf.... Riding up and elevator to the top most floor,Mina sighed again.Serena was going to owe her big time..... "Excuse me...Is Mr Shields present??"asked Mina to the secretary that sat at the desk. "Do you have an appointment??"asked the woman who had raven hair and queer violet eyes. "Err...My employer had an appointment...but I'm afraid she couldn't make it..."said Mina. "Name??"asked Raye. "Mina Venusa." "From??" "Moonlight Designs." "Yes,Miss Lunaria had an appointment....please wait a moment while I inform Mr Shields,please."said Raye. "Mr Shields...a Miss Venusa from Moonlight Designs to see you."said Raye. ( Mina uses her maiden name in the business..) "Send her in."said a gruff voice. "Yes sir." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Good Afternoon Mr Shields...I'm sorry,Miss Lunaria couldn't make it... as I believe she explained to me that,you had hung up on her before she could say anything."explained Mina. Darien stared at the woman in front of him.She wore a pale beige suit with her flowing hair tied in a neat bun. "I see..Miss Venusa is it??"said Darien. Mina nodded."Yes,...Sere-I mean,Miss Lunaria said something about you wanting to make a slight change in the decor,sir???" "Yes....please have a seat and we'll discuss."said Darien,remembering his manners. "Thank you." An hour later.... "And you'd like to change the 32nd floor to beige sir???"asked Mina. "Yes...that's correct."said Darien. "Mmm....I'll inform,Ser-Miss Lunaria of the changes."said Mina,looking at the documents. "You know Miss Lunaria very well???"asked Darien,catching Mina off-guard. Looking up,Mina wasn't sure if she'd heard him right."I beg your pardon?" "Do you know Miss Lunaria very well,???"repeated Darien. "Y-Yes....Rena's my best friend."explained Mina."I've known her since she was 13 years-old." "I see..."said Darien intrigued. "So...what is she like as a friend??"asked Darien curiously. "Serena???Well....she's uh...same as she is at work."stuttered Mina. "And you can put up with it??" "Well..I'm used to it.I understand why her personality is the way it is. Serena's not had a very good life.She's...suffered a lot.."said Mina sadly. *Suffered a lot.......* "I don't know why I'm telling you this,Mr Shields...if Serena finds out I've been telling you about her,she's going to skin me alive."said Mina standing up. Darien smiled slightly. "It's out little secret then."joked Darien. "You remind me alot of Serena,Mr Shields....ironic.."whispered Mina. "Well...I must be going.Good day,Mr Shields." "Good Day,Miss Venusa." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that day.... Darien sighed as he reached his penthouse apartment.Pulling off his tie,Darien headed to the bar to get a drink. Clicking the answering machine to rewind,Darien headed to the kitchen to get look for something to eat. *Well...Shields...your talk with Miss Venusa about Serena,was certainly.. educational...*he mused to himself. Opening the fridge,he found stale and leftover food.Wincing at the putrid smell that came from some stale food in the fridge,Darien closed the door of the fridge with a look of disgust.*I have to clean out the fridge sometime...* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena wrenched her blue pumps off and threw them somewhere into a corner. She sighed....her day had not gone so well...the new clients were bossy and demanding.Serena hated those type of clients. A purr made her look down at her feet. "Oh,hi Luna."smiled Serena scratching her ear. *Animals are my bestfriends...they never disappoint you...or hurt you.* She's also found all day,she'd been sitting at her desk,wondering how the appointment with Mr Shields went.This of course she found strange. When Mina walked into her office.Serena wanted nothing more than to grab her friend by the coat lapels and shake her hard on the details of the appointment.....'TELL MEeee!!!!' *I couldn't actually be falling for him,could I???It was unthinkable.. unimaginable...unacceptable....intolerable....abominable...terrible.... and a massive headache*thought Serena as she rubbed her sore head. "Serena Laura Lunaria....who have offically become a loony."mumbled Serena to herself. *It's better to be alone.Nobody can hurt you that way.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Only human... As a human....Would we be better if we could not feel? Could not cry?? Would it mean the end of our humanity? When we stop feeling, When we stop caring, Pain,everbody feels it... Suffering,nobody can avoid it... Tears,it's only natural... Loneliness,it's part of life... Fear...doesn't everybody fear?? Doubt...doesn't everybody doubt?? Dreams and Hopes....two different sides of a coin... Fear of the unknown... Fear of loneliness... Are we destined to be forever alone?? We may never know... Greed,hate,fear,pain,loneliness,doubt, All feelings we know.... Feelings we cannot stop, No matter how hard we try, After all... ....we are only human. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... What do you think???Write!!write!!write!!My inbox gets lonely you know.<:) Don't laugh at the words above....please... Visit my Shrine and send some poetry or stories in.(Be sure to read the guidelines) http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Lights/5079