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DESERT DESTINY
Chapter 5
Sailor Galaxy

Serena shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The air was thrumming 
with tension. She didn't know what kind but it frightened her as well as 
excited her. She wanted to go, run, but she also wanted to stay. She didn't 
know what to do. What to say. Darien solved that problem.

" You really care about people do you not?"

Serena stared. She could not say anything. She was afraid of what she would 
say.

" I like a Lady who cares about others. And I especially admire a Lady who is 
not afraid to speak up her mind when injustice is involved. You did right by 
telling me about Ms Ibnam."

" Thank you." 

Serena croaked out. She cleared her throat and tried again.

" I was just doing what I thought was right."

" And I am impressed."

" You are?"

" Yes. I am very impressed."

Even Serena could tell that he wasn't only talking about Diana. He wasn't even 
talking about Diana but something else. Something else entirely. 

Darien's eyes wandered over Serena in intimate detail. The way her silver hair 
framed her heart shaped face. The way her eyes sparkled and her cheeks glowed. 
The way her breasts fell and rose with each breath she took. The way she- he 
groaned. He couldn't take it anymore. Springing up from the chair he walked 
towards Serena. Serena took a step back, startled. Her head lowered. He 
reached for her chin with his thumb and forefinger. He lifted her face up to 
his. He enveloped her in his free arm. And he kissed her!

He kissed her! The nerve! Serena struggled, resisted, tried to stop the kiss 
and- kissed him right back! She eagerly parted her mouth under the pressure of
his. Her arms wound up and around Darien's neck as he tightened the hold on 
her chin and waist. He angled her head further back to give him greater access 
to her mouth as he deepened the kiss. 

The tips of Serena's fingers brushed the silky curls at Darien's nape and she
buried her fingers in the them. Darien growled and pulled her closer. It was 
as if he didn't want any space to part them. As if he couldn't bear for them 
to be separated. But that was ridiculous. They had only known each other for a 
couple of days. They couldn't feel this strongly about each other. They just 
couldn't! And here she was, Serena Yafisah kissing the Sultan as if they were 
long parted lovers!

Serena stilled and pushed at Darien's chest. He sprang back. They stared at 
each other. Darien's eyes softened as they took in the tousled hair, flushed 
hair, and swollen lips. Serena's eyes filmed over with unshed tears. What was 
she doing? How could she do that? How? She was not going to take a risk and 
wade into the dangerous waters of love and passion again. She wasn't. The 
silence continued only to be broken by the couple's heavy breathing.

Darien attempted to break the tension.

" I- I am sorry. We both got carried away. It is a natural reaction to all 
this tension that we have been facing for the past few days."

Serena nodded, outside calm and inside a mess. He thought it was mistake? He 
wasn't effected by the kiss? 

'Of course he is not. He does this with every beautiful women who crosses his 
path.'

'But this kiss was so different.'

'For you yes.' 

'Why is it so hard to believe that he was not effected?' 

'I was practically going to faint at his feet and he says that it was a 
mistake.' 

'Ignore what he says then. He's a jerk to let you go. You deserve better. 
Anyway, it really means nothing you know. It's the tension.'

'Probably.' 

'You should be glad he feels this way.' 

'Why?' 

'You will not have to enter into a relationship.' 

'Think fast don't you? Who says he'd be after a relationship if interested?' 

'Maybe not.'

" Yes. It was a mistake. It will not happen again. I promise you." 

Serena smiled, curtsied and turned around before he could see her trembling 
mouth. She hurried out of the door and in a quiet voice, asked one of the 
guards if he could show her the way to her chambers.

Darien sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn't gotten carried 
away like that since he was a teenager, and not even this passionately then. 

'What have I done?' 

'Kissed her?' 

'Why?' 

'Because you were attracted to her?' 

'Well yes. But she's younger than me.' 

'Five years.' 

'And she's a Nomad' 

'Big deal.' 

'I have to marry nobility.' 

'No you don't.' 

'Well, I have to.' 

'Hey, you kissed the girl and now you're talking about getting married?' 

'You're right. It was just a kiss.' 

'Yup. Forget about it.' 

'Okay. Fine.' 

'Don't even think about the kiss much less talk about it.' 

'Great idea.......weren't her lips soft?'

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

'*Sigh*. I'm so bored. '

A week had gone by and there was still no sign that Serena would be allowed to 
leave. Darien had kept his distance and Aslum had been vague about the murder 
case. Darien. He had been avoiding her. He seemed to be going out of his way 
to avoid her. 

'Why would you think that?' 

'I've hardly seen him except one time.' 

'Well, you're a Nomad.' 

'Yeah but I think that's better than being a slut!' 

'Quit being so bitchy.' 

'That's what people are who-'

'Who what? You have no claim over Darien.' 

'I know.' 

'And you see what type he is. Walking around with any passable attractive 
woman on his arm.'

Truth be told, Serena was in a bad mood. Earlier that day, she had been going 
for a walk in the Palace when she had heard laughter. She had thought nobody 
was in the garden. Standing behind a pillar, she had looked down over the 
garden. 

It was Darien and another women. Gorgeous. Sleek black hair, high cheekbones, 
sparkling violet eyes, full lips and a curvy luscious body that had been 
barely covered in a silk evening wrap. Serena had had to fight off a rage of 
jealousy. How dared she stand so close to Darien! Smile at him! Pucker her 
lips at him! Grip his arms! Press herself against him! How dared she!

'Well, why shouldn't she?' 

'Because...' 

'You don't know do you?' 

'No.

'But it feels like Darien's being unfaithful and it hurts so much.' 

'It's probably because of some late psychological reason.' 

'Really?' 

'Yup.' 

'Alan was- well because of him I'm being overly possessive of Darien.' 

'I guess so.'

Serena sighed again and pushed down the memory of what Alan had done to her. 
He wasn't worth it. She might as well go for a walk again since she couldn't 
sleep. Pulling a heavy cloak out of a trunk, Serena quickly donned it and 
silently opened the door and peeked out. Nobody was there. Good. 

There was a full moon tonight. It looked so beautiful sparkling in the night 
sky. The dew twinkled from where they shone from the leaves. Beautiful. Why 
couldn't people just forget about war and hatred and power? Why not appreciate 
the things they already have? 

'Because that's life.' 

'Yes but life is great when you don't fight and live together happily.' 

'I don't think there's anything like world peace where everybody is happy with
what they have.' 

'Maybe not but-'

A twig snapped behind her. Serena froze. It couldn't be anything really. Her
head slowly turned around. Nothing was there. Her breath rushed out of her 
lungs in a long hiss. She was just getting paranoid. It was just a twig, no 
need to pan- There it was again. A twig snapping. Serena stood frozen in 
terror. She had to get inside where she would be safe. She had to before 
somebody got her. It would be all right inside. 

Taking a deep breath, Serena turned towards the door she had come out of and 
started to tip-toe towards it. But then she broke into a full out run. But 
alas, she was not meant to escape. Just before Serena could reach the doorway, 
she tripped on something and fell heavily. Before she could as much as gasp, a 
cloth was thrown over her head and she was bundled into something rough. All 
she could hear was breathing. And then everything went black.

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

Serena moaned and then started when she heard a voice.

" Are you all right?"

Darien's voice. What was he doing here? She turned her head. Darien was 
leaning against the wall with one of his feet tied to a large barbell. His 
face showed concern. Serena winced. It hurt to move her head. In fact it hurt
to move anything but she had to have answers.

" Where are we?"

" I do not really know."

" What are you doing here?"

Darien's eyebrows shot up.

" Same thing you are, is my guess."

Serena groaned again when a sharp pang went through her head.

" Okay then. What am I doing here?"

Darien sighed.

" I had thought maybe you would be able to supply me the answers to these 
questions."

Serena shook her head and then winced again.

" No. I do not know anymore than you do." 

She paused.

" In fact, I would go as far as saying that I know less than you about what is 
happening."

" You are the one who saw the murderer."

Serena's eyes opened wide.

" Are you saying that we are here because of the murderer?"

" Is that not what you think?" 

Darien raised his eyebrows questioningly.

" I suppose so. I have not really thought about it."

Darien nodded.

" I can see that."

Serena scowled at him.

" You know, if we are stuck here, the least you can do is be civil."

" Civil is wasted on you."

Serena gasped.

" How dare you?"

" Look at you now. Look how you behave in front of a Sultan. Why should I care 
about how I am in front of a Nomad?"

" It is a question of simple decency!" 

Serena cried out a him. He was a Sultan. He was taught all the manners. He 
should know this. Darien frowned, annoyed.

" Look Lady! Since we seem to be stuck here, together, I suggest you get your 
temper under control and stop behaving so childishly."

Serena gaped at him. How dare he! How dare he say that to her! She would show 
him that she could be as elegant and quiet as anything. She would. Pasting a 
smile on her face, she nodded.

" I am sorry Your Highness. Forgive me. I am not used to being kidnapped."

Darien's eyes narrowed. What was she up to now? Well, if she could be 
civilized, so could he. He was going to do it if it killed h-

Their heads snapped around when a door that they hadn't noticed before, 
opened. A woman came in. Was she going to tell them about what was going to 
happen? Was she going to free them? Serena's and Darien's heart thudded as the 
woman looked there way with barely disguised disliked. They waited with bated 
breath for her to make the next move. What was it going to be?


Who was the woman who was with Darien? How were the kidnappers able to get to 
Serena and Darien? And why did the woman come into the room?

Sailor Galaxy

sailorprincessuk@yahoo.co.uk