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DESERT DESTINY
Chapter 4
Sailor Galaxy

'I should tell her.' 

'No.' 

'But I think she should know.' 

'No.' 

'She has a right to know about the Moon Crescent.' 

'No.' 

'Will you stop saying that?' 

'No.' 

'I am going to tell her about the Moon Crescent and the murderer.' 

'No.' 

'Why not?' 

'She might not be the person you think she is.' 

'You heard who her parents are.' 

'How will you explain that you know her parents?' 

'I-' 

'See. You should not tell her.' 

'Okay okay.' 

'Good.' 

'But I will tell her someday soon.' 

'Fine.'

***********************************************************

" His Highness demands your presence in his office, Milady." 

Two days had gone by with no news from Aslum and Darien. Serena was surprised 
when she received this call. She nodded and followed the guard out of her 
chambers that she had rarely left the time she had been there. Serena tried to 
remember where she was going but they passed so many twists and turns and 
corridors, that she soon had no idea which way her room was. The guard
seemed to have no difficulty. He must have been here for many years. He did 
look middle aged.

" How many years have you worked in the Palace?"

The guard stilled before recovering.

" All my life, Milady."

He was curious. Many people talked about this lass. It was rumoured that she 
had spoken back to the Sultan and had received no punishment. He had not 
believed the rumours for no person could be mad enough to challenge the 
Sultan, but now he had doubt about that. Nobody, especially a Royal Guest 
talked to the guards with friendly intent and yet she had. She most probably 
had also talked back. He shook his head and smiled to himself. It would be 
interesting to have the young lass in the Palace.

Serena was thinking about the fact that the guard had lived in the Palace all 
his life. He must know something about what was going on. He must- here she 
stopped thinking for she had bumped into him. Colouring, she looked up and 
apologized to him.

" I am sorry. I did not see where I was going."

The guard smiled at her, and knocked on the door they had stopped outside of. 
Hearing an 'enter' he opened the door and announced.

" Lady Serena, Your Highness."

" Well, bring her in."

Bowing, the guard gestured Serena to step forward. She did as bade and 
nervously watched the guard walk back the way they had come.

" You wanted to see me Your Highness?"

Darien didn't reply but continued looking at her in a way that made Serena 
feel as if he was undressing her.

" Your Highness?" 

She really didn't like the way he was staring at her.

" Serena. I want to talk to you about the murder."

Serena looked at him wordlessly.

" Well, what are you waiting for? Sit down."

He gestured towards a high backed chair. She did as bade.

" We have not found any clue about the murderer but we have made some progress 
in the area about the Moon Crescent."

Serena didn't know what to say so she stayed silent. Somehow that answer 
seemed to really infuriate him.

" Well?"

" What would you like me to say?"

" Give some indication that you heard me!"

One of Serena's eyebrow's rose.

" I heard you."

Darien scowled and slashed a hand through the air.

" Well, I had Aslum check the word Moon Crescent through all our scriptures."

" What makes you think the Moon Crescent has anything to do with anything 
Royal? After all, I was the one most concerned and I am not related to 
Royalty."

" You are not. But Diamond was."

At Serena's blank look he sighed exasperatedly.

" Diamond was the Count of this country. Aslum found something very 
interesting. About two decades ago there were two family of Counts in this 
country. Diamond's family and Tranquillity's family. My Royal sign is a Rose, 
Diamond's was a Black Moon Crescent upside down and Tranquillity's was a Moon 
Crescent. Tranquillity's family disappeared twenty-one years ago. Him, his 
wife and his son."

" My father's name is Tranquillity."

Darien stilled.

" Oh?"

Serena nodded.

" Yes. I have told you before in the hall, the first day. But my parents have 
never been here so they can not be related to royalty."

" Well. Back to the Moon Crescent."

" How do you know that is the Moon Crescent the murderer referred to?"

" Can you think of anything else?"

" No." 

At Darien's smirk, she continued.

" But it is not my place to think and solve this case."

" What is that supposed to mean?"

" You heard me, Your Highness. It is your officials who should be thinking 
about the case. And to be honest, if I was living in the Palace and something
 as big as the Count's family disappearing had happened, I would immediately 
recognize the word Moon Crescent. In that case your officials have not been 
very fast have they?"

" You do not know how fast my officials are." 

Serena ignored him.

" And all you care about is the important people. You do not give a damn to 
the servants."

" Do you mind defining that?" 

Darien gritted his teeth.

" My hand-maiden's aunt was murdered a few days ago and your officials have 
already given up the search. Just because she is not very rich, does not mean 
she does not deserve justice."

" She was murdered? I did not know."

Serena relented a little for he looked extremely puzzled.

" Yes well, you should be better informed."

Darien thoughtfully looked at Serena.

" Please summon one of the guards."

Serena looked at Darien blankly and when he nodded towards the door with his 
head, she nodded and opened the door. Taping on of the guards on the shoulder 
she told him that His Majesty wished to see him.

" Yes?"

" Summon Hamzah Malik and tell him that I need to see him immediately."

" At once."

The guard left and Serena stood blankly looking at the closed door.

" A problem?"

She whipped around to face Darien.

" No I- yes. Who is Hamzah Malik?"

" He is the Head of the Crime Department. He is the one who sees to all the 
murders and robberies."

Serena nodded. The Sultan probably wanted to see him to ask about Diamond's 
Investigation. Soon a young man was admitted. He was handsome in a dark kind 
of way. Heavy eyebrows. Dark eyes. Thin lips. High cheekbones. A long nose. He 
stared at Serena and she shifted uncomfortably. There was something about him 
as if she had seen him before or knew of-

" Hamzah. Do you know why you are called here?"

" I can presume."

" And what is your presumption?"

" The Diamond case."

Darien shook his head. Hamzah stared at him. Serena stared at him. What could 
he have wanted to talk about? Not Rosina's aunt surely. But he hadn't known 
about it. He might have kept the case going if he had.

" It is about a woman who was recently murdered. Her name....."

Darien nodded his dark head towards Serena.

She supplied him the information.

" Diana Ibnam. She was a hand-maiden to one of the guests. She was found 
murdered two weeks ago."

Hamzah remained quiet. Darien spoke up.

" And I did not know about this. You know I always ask to be kept in report 
with what happens in the Palace. And I did not know until she told me." 

Here he pointed to Serena with an arm.

" I am sorry Your Highness. But it was not considered important." 

Hamzah's lips compressed at the look Darien gave him and his eyes shone with 
anger at Serena.

" That lady was murdered. Of course it is important."

" They did not find any signs of the murderer. The investigation was concluded
on the point that Ms Ibnam might have taken her own life."

" No! I spoke to her niece and she said that Ms Ibnam would never commit suicide." 

Serena spoke up with distaste aimed at Hamzah.

" It is not your business to go around asking questions."

" Her niece is my friend. I will talk to her, understand? And I will not do 
anything you tell me to do. I am a free person and believe me I do not take 
orders from people like you who are hypnotized by greed and have no proper 
concern for human life!"

" How dare you! You are just a little Nomad lady who is looking for a bit of 
sympathy from-

" I do not look for sympathy and I could not care less what you think about 
me."

" Good. Because believe me Lady, you would not like my opinion of yourself."

" Do not worry for what I feel for you is....." 

Serena shook her head.

" I can not even imagine describing it."

Darien had looked on in silence. Now he intervened.

" If you do not mind, may we get back on track here?"

Serena blushed. Hamzah's lips twisted in bitter mockery and he shifted 
uncomfortably. Darien eyed them until they had his full attention.

" Hamzah, order some of your men to restart the investigation on Ms Ibnam."

Hamzah's nostrils flared.

" I am sorry but we cannot afford to spare any more men. They are all tied up 
in Diamond's case."

" You will find some men to spare, understand? Or  will do just that for you."

Hamzah bowed and in a clipped voice answered.

" As you wish. May I leave now?"

Darien nodded. They both watched Hamzah stalk towards the door, wrench it open 
and slam it shut. Serena looked at Darien and Darien looked at Serena. The 
silence lengthened. 

Serena licked her suddenly dry lips. Darien's eyes darkened and they followed 
the movement of the little pink tongue. Serena was aware of every single thing 
in the room. The rugs. The tables. The chairs. The squeak of the wind in the 
windows. Darien. Especially Darien. The way his chest lifted as he exhaled. 
The way his eyes darkened when they were intent. Even his breathing. 

Serena didn't have much experience. But she knew. She knew that she was 
aroused. That Darien was aroused. That they wanted each other. And that lust, 
if acted on, led to pleasure and sex. Seemed as if that's where they were 
heading.


Why did Hamzah really hide Diana Ibnam's murder from Darien? What is the 
significance between Serena's father and the other family of Count? And what 
will happen between Serena and Darien?

Sailor Galaxy

sailorprincessuk@yahoo.co.uk