Memory 18

Where had you been, Jupiter? A voice echoed through the darkness. Lita whirled around, searching for the owner of the voice. As far she remember, no one had use that name since she had been reborn. That was her name in her past life, her life as a lady. And now she was puzzled and felt awkward when somebody used the name.

Have you forgotten about me? Again the voice asked her. Lita took a step ahead, trying to locate from where the voice came from. But the surrounding was so dark that Lita couldn�t see a thing. About what you had done a long time ago? The voice was full of anger, accusing and hatred. So cold.

�I don�t know what are you talking about,� Lita shouted. What had I done along time ago? Lita wondered. The voice remained to be silent and it didn�t even bother to answer her question but Lita didn�t give up and she asked again, �I don�t even who you are. Show yourself,� she demanded. Truth to tell, she was scared. Who wouldn�t? She didn�t know where was she, how she got here and now a strange voice kept accusing her for something she didn�t even know. But she had never show her fear and she wasn�t going to show it now.

Living as a lady in a Silver Millenium certainly made you forgot your place. The voice returned but now it wasn�t asking her. It was a statement.

�I don�t have a slightest idea what are you saying,� Lita insisted. It was true. She really didn�t know and their conversation were getting nowhere as they kept talking in a circle. Lita was getting frustrated. The voice didn�t answer back and now she was all alone in this dark and quiet place. Just when Lita opened her mouth to call the voice, she caught a glimpse of a light at the corner of her eyes. Her heart was leaping with joy and she let out a relief sigh as her automatically ran toward the light. It felt that she had run forever and when she arrived, she was breathless. Eager to get away from the darkness, Lita stepped into the light.

After adjusting her eyes, she realized that she was in the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. Flowers were carefully arranged and the grass had neatly trimmed. But as beautiful the garden appeared to be, Lita realized that the garden lack of something. It was so empty and quiet. There are no birds singing and the wind didn�t even blow. As she admired the garden, Lita heard something. They were the voices and one of them was the same voice that had been talking to her. She quietly headed toward the bushes and separated them so that she could peek through it.

From her hiding place, Lita could see two figures facing each other and of them was kneeling. The girl couldn�t be more than 18 years old and she was frightened. Lita knew because the girl was shaking uncontrollably as her head was bent forward, making her heavy mahogany hair cascading against her cheeks. While the other person, a lady to be exact was wearing a beautiful aquamarine dress and diamonds were at her throat and ears. She obviously from higher ranks. With her greenish hair was beautifully styled, the older lady was very ravishing and she appeared to be very, very furious.

Suddenly the lady grabbed a whip. The kneeling girl snapped her head up but Lita still couldn�t see her face. She shook her head vigorously and unconsciously slide backward fearfully.

Lita wanted to get out from her hiding place and stepped between them to save the little girl but her legs seemed to be frozen. She tried with all her might but failed and all that she could do was watched. Never in her life, had Lira felt this helpless and this was the same feeling she�d had felt when she dreamed about a poor woman ran with a child in her arms. The woman�s face was so much in fear and hatred that Lita could feel the feelings too.

When the lady started to strike the girl, Lita could hear her sobs but the girl remained at her place as if she was willing to receive the punishment. Lita could bear to watch it any longer so she clamped her hands at her face. She wanted to help the girl so much, taking the girl away from that cruel lady but she couldn�t and it hurt her so much. Lita clenched her hands so tight that they hurt. The girl was bleeding and she appeared to be half-conscious but the older woman was refused to stop.

Suddenly another girl dressed in fine clothing, rushed in and hugged the weak girl tightly. Lita opened her eyes and saw a short and red hair girl, approximately at the same age as the brunette and it looked exactly like�Molly! Lita was bewildered. What in the world did Molly do in her dreams? This dream is getting more and more strange. I don�t know who or what will appear next! They seemed to be arguing and shouting at each and it made the older lady more and more angry. She changed her victim from the brunette to the redhead. Lita looked at the older lady, who was no longer, the beautiful woman she saw at the first time because her anger made her ugly, lifted her hand to whip the redhead. But she lifted her chin with much courage, which was so different to compare with the brunette. And Lita admired her. As the older lady whipped the redhead, the brunette had finally gained her consciousness and Lita could see that she was shocked to see the redhead been beaten. And she shouted so loud that Lita could hear what was she saying.

�CALLISTO!� Callisto? Why is that name seems so familiar and yet I can�t recognize her? Lita thought. She returned her attention back to them. Now the brunette was trying with all her might to pull the redhead away from the enraged lady but according to Lita�s observation, she was doing something that impossible. The brunette was bleeding all over her body and she was fatigue. How could she pull someone who was at the same size like her?

She was begging. Begging for the older lady for something, which was perhaps to let the redhead go. When the lady refused to stop and the redhead was clinging to the brunette, suddenly the whole place started to shake hard. The pillars were collapsing at each other and the flowers that was neatly organized started to fell into the ground as the ground separated, creating a deep abyss. The scene was horrible as Lita heard people shouted for help or maybe shouting because they had fall into the abysses. As the shouting and the sound of crashing continued, Lita suddenly remembered the people that she�d been watching just now. The older lady had gone but she could see the redhead and the brunette. Even though the redhead was in the better shape then the brunette, but the brunette was pulling her probably friend. And when she turned around, Lita almost fainted in recognition. The brunette, who was looking very pathetic just now, was herself! Then the world turned black.

Do you remember it now? Again the voice came back to her. Lita was so bewildered that her knees was wobbling, which they couldn�t support her weight and Lita was kneeling. Do you remember what had happened long time ago? Tears started to run down freely as one by one her long lost memories came back to her. All the horrible things that had happened when she lived in Jupiter and the fear started to come back to her. Her most fear was her master.

And the fact that you are my slave?! Slave! She was a slave! Not a lady as she was led to believe. She was someone�s property! Lita thought hysterically. I believe you had gained your memories back, my slave. The voice was certainly enjoyed herself tormenting Lita with her words. Lita didn�t hear anything what she�d said. Her mind was numb, her body was weak and her heart was broken into pieces. She was a slave and she didn�t have the right to be one of the scouts. All her friends were princess, prince, ladies and lords but she? Someone owned her! God! How was she going to face them now? So, I decided to get you back from them! At this point, Lita felt her heart had been clutched tightly like the fear gripped her body.

�NO!!!�

* * * * * *

Lita abruptly sat up. She was dreaming. She was no longer at the garden or in the dark room; she was at the generals� penthouse, in the balcony and on the sofa. Despite the cool breeze that blew slowly, she was sweating heavily and her heart was pounding fast. This time, she wasn�t relieved that it was merely a dream but she was devastated that she finally knew her past life.

Tears ran down to her cheeks uncontrollably. She still couldn�t accept who she really was. Yesterday, she was a lady but today, she was filthy and undignified slave! She remembered her best friend, Callisto. Lady Callisto. The rightful ruler of Callisto Moon. She was the only lady who was willing to befriend her while the other ladies were pointing up their nose at her. At that time Lita didn�t mind. After all she was a slave but Lady Callisto was different. She always defended her from anyone including her vicious and mean master.

Lita abruptly stopped her thoughts. Her master was the Queen of Jupiter. They thought she�d dead after the horrible incident but she wasn�t. She was still alive and wanted her back. She wanted her back so that she could punish her for that incident. Lita felt the familiar fear that she had never felt after she became one of Princess Serenity�s guardians. The fear for her master. Unconsciously, Lita shivered in fright. She didn�t want to go back to her master. She didn�t want to see the queen�s smiles that had never been sincere. She didn�t want to live in fear, wondering if she could survive that day without being punished. And she certainly didn�t want to feel that leather whip on her back again. Lita thought hysterically.

Not knowing what to do, Lita wiped her tears away. She could feel her master cold eyes watching her. All she wanted to get away from this room, away from this feeling. She didn�t know where to go but she didn�t care. As long as she could get away from her master. You can always run, my sweet slave, but you can never hide from me. Lita�s eyes widened in shock when she heard her master�s voice. Immediately, she got onto her legs and got ready to run. I�m going to get you and bring you back to Jupiter, where we can continue what we had left off years ago. Lita had enough. She couldn�t endure it anymore.

�No! I don�t want to go back! I�m sorry, my queen! I really am! Please don�t!� she cried helplessly. But the voice seemed to be reluctant to hear her pleading that she continued to threaten her. Lita had never been so frightened in her life. She was shivering uncontrollably as she clamped her hands to her ears, refuse to hear any word anymore and she kept on begging for her master. You had been a very bad. I shall teach you very well as soon as you get here. Don�t you eager to see me again? Her voice was getting meaner and meaner. �No! Please! Oh, please don�t! I shall be very good, my queen,� Lita pleaded. Her tears ran down, damping her cheeks again.

In the living room, the prince and princess with their protectors heard Lita�s voice. They looked at each other with puzzle. �Is that Lita?� Serena asked hesitantly.

�I don�t know, I thought she was sleeping,� Nephrite answered with his brows furrowed in worried. It was nearly 2 a.m. Andrew had left the party leaving them talking freely about their past life. Nephrite had gone to search for Lita and found her sleeping on the sofa. He decided not to wake her up because she needed that. �I bet she was probably dreaming. She told me she has nightmares and she was having trouble to sleep.�

�Maybe you should go and look. She didn�t sound like she was dreaming,� Ami stood up. When they arrived at the balcony, they were shocked to see Lita was curling herself at the corner of the balcony, with her ears closed and she was talking and crying hysterically.

�Lita!� Serena rushed towards her. �What�s wrong!�

�No! I don�t want to go back!� Looking up at her princess, her eyes were full of tears and pleading. She released her ears and grasped Serena�s shoulders tightly. �Don�t make me go back! I don�t want to go there anymore!�

�Go where? Lita! What�s wrong with you?!� Serena asked her frantically. She had never seen her friend this frightened and desperate and she wanted to know who made her like this. �Please make her go away!� Again Lita cried.

�Who�s her?� Serena was a little scared to see her friend like this. �Lita! We all can�t help you if you keep doing this!�

No one can help you, my slave. Not even this pathetic princess of Moon! Lita let go her princess�s shoulders and clamped her ears back. I shall get you back! �No! Get away from me!� She shook her head vigorously.

Lita quickly pushed Serena away and ran. She didn�t bother to take along her coat. She just wanted to be far away from her master. �Lita!� Nephrite called her and when she didn�t stop, without thinking, he snatched her coat and went after her, leaving the other dumbfounded.

�I�ve never seen Lita like that before. She was�desperate and very frighten,� Serena spoke up. �What do you think had scared her?�

�I don�t think there is anything can scare her,� Mina answered. Everything was happening so fast that Mina was having a hard time to catch on. �Whatever it is, I bet that what made Lita having nightmares every night.� She continued. The moment she walked in, the first thing she noticed was Lita�s weary face. She looked abnormally pale and she was losing her weight.

�Should we go along with Nephrite?� Rei sounded worried. �I don�t think we should,� Jadeite answered nonchalantly and somehow his remark made Rei angry. �And why is that?� Giving her a side-way look, which made her longed to slapped that face, Jadeite said, �Too many people can frighten her more than she already is,�

Before Rei could answer, Ami nodded in agreement. �You�re right. Maybe we should wait here until Nephrite is back.� Rei folded her arms irritably. �Sure,� she mumbled and Jadeite, who heard her mumbling, looked at her amusedly.

* * * * * *

Nephrite looked around. He was positive that Lita went this way. With help from the moonlight, it was still almost impossible to find her especially when she didn�t want to be found. Even though he was wearing his coat, he could still feel the coldness of the night. Lita had nothing except the thin fabric of her shirt. Clutching her coat tightly, his jaw tightened in determines. He was going to find her and wrapped her in the coat whether she wanted it or not. But then, he heard a sniffling sound. He thought he was imagining things but there was the sound again. This time it was utterly sorrow and anguish. And he found her, curling beneath the tree with her head bent.

Bath in the moonlight, she looked ethereally exquisite. Her hair gently teased her cheeks as if to comfort her. Her shoulders gracefully shook as she cried and the familiar feeling started to spread in his heart. Nephrite didn�t know what had gotten into him but only Lita could make him felt this way. His pulse leaped in joy at the sight of her no matter how dishevels she looked.

Quietly, Nephrite headed toward her. She still unaware of his presence and when Nephrite wrapped the coat around her shoulders, he could feel she stiffened. Daring herself to raise the shining emerald eyes, she saw the same handsome and grave man that had been haunting her days and nights. He sat down beside her and his eyes never left hers. His deep aqua eyes were narrowed in concern, which she thought was a pity. Lita didn�t want his sympathy, so she started to rise. But Nephrite held her down.

�I don�t want to chase you all the way again,� it was meant for joke but Lita was too distraught to share the humor. Seeing her so silent and blank, he shifted his place so that they were facing each other. �You won�t solve the problem if you keep running from it. Plus, you have many friends around you to listen to your problems.�

�No one can help me,� her voice was so soft that he had to strain himself to hear her words. �It is my fault and she is going to punish me,� her eyes started to water.

�Who is she? Why does she want to punish you?� Nephrite softly asked. He didn�t want to sound persistent but Lita�s statement puzzled him too much. When Lita chose not to answer his questions, his curiosity started to become impatient.

�Lita?� he insisted but she looked away instead of answering it. Lita couldn�t answer him. When she thought of the possibility of his reaction if she told him the truth, her heart twisted in agony and regret. He wouldn�t want to befriend with someone who was in the lowest standard, let alone to love her. What did she expect? That he would forget their differences and declared his love to her? This wasn�t a romantic novel, where the heroes loved the heroines more than anything else or a fairy tales, where miracles happened. Hell, she didn�t even know if he loved her as much as she did. But she did know one thing though; she couldn�t bear to lose him.

�Lita, please. I�We can�t help you if you refuse to answer me!� But he still hadn�t got the answer. Lita was stubbornly kept her mouth shut.

Swearing savagely under his breath, he gripped her upper arms and shook her a little. �Damn it, Lita! I hate to see you like this!� Lita couldn�t meet his undoubtedly blazing eyes. �Look at me! Look at me, Lita,� She timidly raised her gorgeous green eyes to meet his blue eyes. �Where does the courageous and spirited woman that I know? Where do the shining and blazing emerald eyes that used to mock at me? I can�t see them anymore when I look at you. Tell me that they aren�t missing yet!�

�I�� she opened her mouth to let out a retort to him but she was speechless. �I used to admire you for you are different from any woman I�ve met. But now, I don�t know whether you are pretending to be courageous like you did in the island or you are pretending to frighten like right now,� Nephrite watched her eyes started to narrow a little. That�s a good sign. Keep on pouring the oil, Nephrite.

�What happened to you? You used to snap back every word I said. Why do you so silent now?� he continued goading her. He could see her jaw tightened in anger and she was fisting her hands tightly, as if the suppressed the rage that she felt. �Perhaps, you did pretend to be brave when we at the island so you can get my attention.� That arrogant and egotistical remark was more than enough for her to push his hands away from her shoulders.

�First of all, I didn�t pretend to be who I am! I�m a free woman that wasn�t that desperate to gain your lousy attention. Secondly, I wasn�t attracted to you at all, so don�t flatter yourself in front of me!� she fired back every irritating words he had said to her. �Thirdly, I have every right not to answer your annoying questions!� She scrambled her legs to stand up. Nephrite smiled triumphantly when Lita had became herself back. Keeping her chin up, she turned around to walk away but Nephrite quickly caught her hand and pulled her onto the grass. He lay on top of her and pinned her against the grass by holding both of her wrists to the ground.

�God, you are so beautiful when you are angry,� he said huskily. She did. Her face was flush from the rage and her eyes were wild. Unlike the eyes when she was crying, wet and unattractive, when she was angry, her emerald eyes were glittering dangerously and they looked as if they were alive. Right now, she looked right into his eyes defiantly and her pink lips were inviting.

Unexpectedly, Nephrite lowered his head to taste her soft and sweet lips. He kissed her gently at first, nibbling her lips with his tongue. He released her wrists so that he could support himself from crushing her. As the wind blew softly at them, Lita unconsciously brought her arms around his neck and it pleased him immensely that she was responding to his light touch. Nephrite deepened his kiss and Lita tightened her grasp. They had forgotten everything as they drown into the sweet oblivion. The silence of the night, the sound of the blowing wind and the coldness brought them closer and closer. Lita didn�t want this kiss to end. She wanted it to last forever. She wanted to in his arms that offered the protection she needed. Her heart ached with tenderness and love as she drew him closed to her.

When they parted, their lips were flushed and they were breathless. For a moment they just looked at each other, drown each other into one another�s eyes. The word love hovered at her lips but she could never say it. Yesterday, perhaps but now, after discovered her true identity, absolutely not. Reluctantly, she withdrew her arms and pushed herself away from him. It hurt her whenever he was around. Everyday, her love for him grown and she wished she hadn�t met him.

�We�d better go. They all are waiting for us,� Nephrite spoke up. He had never kissed a woman as thoroughly and passionately as he kissed Lita. Whatever she did impressed him and everything about her pleased him. It had felt so right when he kissed her, as if he had found something that had been missing for so long. That made her looked mysterious.

He slipped his hand around her waist and it gained a surprised look from her. �We are going to teleport back. Besides, it is much quicker than walking,� he explained. Then, they vanished into a thin air.