Hope you like this chapter! But you know, I'm not getting as many reviews as I
had hoped. And that's making me loose my inspiration. 

DESERT DESTINY
Chapter 8
Sailor Galaxy

Serena walked beside Seiya with panic raging inside her. What was the boss 
going to say? What was he going to do to them? And as Afzal had implied that 
his boss wasn't totally into it, didn't that make him more dangerous? More 
unstable? And when an evil person was unstable well... that was bad. Because 
that made him unpredictable.

After a moment, they came to a closed door where two Desert Pirates were 
standing on attention. Just like in the Palace when Serena had gone to see 
Darien. She had a wild desire to laugh hysterically but quenched the need. It
was very inappropriate and who knew what Latif would do. He'd probably use it 
as an excuse to hit her. 

One of the two Pirate guards opened the door and gestured them in. Serena 
glanced at the guard as she went in and was disconcerted as she realise that 
he was staring straight at her. Not at Darien, even with him being the Sultan 
and all, but at Serena. Glancing at the other guard, she saw him staring at 
her as well. They both had an expression on their faces which Serena didn't 
recognise. But then, did she want to? It'd probably be lust. The same sort of 
humiliating lust Latif had shown her. That was all men these days seemed to 
do. Lust.

Serena looked at the room. There was nobody inside. No person who could have 
been the boss. But seeing Seiya stride of towards another door, Serena 
presumed that the boss was inside there. Turning her head, she encountered 
Darien's gaze and the calmness in his eyes gave her courage. If Darien wasn't 
afraid- or not displaying it anyway- then she wouldn't be scared either. 

Putting up her chin, Serena gazed around the room. It was very different from 
the stark and bare walls everywhere else where she had been. They were covered 
with tapestries depicting battle scenes. Serena recognised them as the battle 
between invaders and them a couple of hundred years ago. 

The floor was shrouded by long plush mats with richly coloured designs. The 
furniture was heavy and dark, undoubtedly exported from the Western countries.
That told you that the boss was used to luxury and no matter how he did it, he 
surrounded himself with expensive goods.

There was a window on one wall and but it was too high for Serena to see 
anything. All she could determine was that wherever they were, it was dark 
outside. There was no light coming in. She looked back at Darien and saw that 
he had followed the direction of her eyes and was busy looking at what was out
of the window. Serena couldn't tell what he saw, whether the view surprised 
him or not. But maybe it did neither, as she was sure that he couldn't see 
anything because of the darkness.

Latif noticed the way Darien was staring and snorted in amusement. They both 
glanced at him and saw that the man's face was alight with glee and he was 
struggling to control his mirth.

" Recognise where you are your highness?"

Darien didn't say anything and Latif sniggered at him. But before the man 
could say anything, the sound of a door opening caught their attention, and 
their heads snapped towards the sound. Seiya walked out first and Serena 
unconsciously held her breath as another man followed. 

She sensed more than felt Darien tense behind her. Her eyes were glued to the 
doorway and she frowned a little. She was going to see the boss of the Desert 
Pirates. The man who was behind the slaughter of hundreds of innocent people. 
The man who was the object of bedtime stories as mothers sought to protect 
their children with the knowledge to stay away from the bogey man.

He slowly came into view. And Serena's eyes widened as she saw the sight he 
presented. A short, thin man. A short, thin, old man. He was bent over a 
walking stick and Serena could see the shiny surface of his bald head and the 
small tuft of hair which resided above his ears. He lifted his head as though 
he sensed the two pairs of incredulous eyes which were staring at him with 
unconcealed amazement. He smiled a little crookedly as if he knew their 
thoughts. Was this weak little old man really the person whom everybody was 
most afraid of?

" Well well. If it is not the Sultan and the little lady."

Seiya moved in front of the man and pulled out a chair from under a table. The 
man spared Seiya a glance and he nodded. Walking over to the door, Seiya 
turned and bowed to the man once before he and Latif walked out of the room, 
shutting the door behind them.

Darien stared at the man, who quietly sat in the chair provided. Serena 
frowned a little. Why had Seiya and Latif left them with the boss? Alone. And 
the boss being an old man. Weren't they afraid that Darien might hold the boss 
hostage or something? Freedom in exchange for the boss?

Evidently, the boss had been reading the expressions on Serena's face and he 
smiled a little as he rocked back against his chair.

" You are a clever young lady. But we know you and the Sultan. We know what 
you would do. And you would not hurt me. An old man. It goes against your 
morals."

Darien paused before stepping forward, towards the man, in a threatening 
manner.

" What makes you think that? A lot of people, if in our position, would ignore 
their ethics and do what they had to do to escape."

The boss just nodded and Serena shifted on her feet nervously as the old man's 
intent dark eyes swivelled in her direction and stayed there. There was 
something familiar about his eyes... as if she had seen them before somewhere.
But if she had, she couldn't remember it. 

The man rocked back in his chair as he watched Serena's brow furrow. He might 
be old, but he wasn't stupid. Serena could feel his brain working inside his 
head. 

" But you will not do that. Even though I am the enemy, you were told to 
respect the elderly. And you will respect that."

Darien didn't say anything but just took another step towards the man. Serena 
kept quiet but watched the small drama unfolding in front of her. She didn't 
interrupt. She didn't want to. Something important was happening. Something 
that would effect the future. 

" What do you want?"

It was a single sentence but Serena could sense the wealth of power in the 
words. The superiority behind them. Obviously Darien hadn't lost his arrogance 
even in the circumstances they were in.

The man fingered the arm of his chair.

" Well now. That is a hard question. Harder still with the way that you and 
the Lady are hovering around. If you would sit, we can get on with business."

Darien tensed and then turned around to head towards the couple of chairs just 
behind Serena. She was surprised. He had done what the man had suggested. Not 
usually. As far as she had been able to determine, Darien did not take orders. 
He gave them. And expected them to be carried out. Immediately.

Darien grabbed her arm and propelled her towards a chair which he had set 
beside his own. Serena obliged him and sat down. She sensed that this wasn't 
exactly the best time for defiance. What was happening? It all seemed so 
weird. Shouldn't they be screaming, shouting, yelling, fighting? And here they 
were. Doing nothing. Just behaving like polite guests at a party. But this was 
no party. This was a matter of life and death. Truth and lies. Deceit and 
murder.

" What do you want?"

Darien repeated his question after he sat down. His face remained 
expressionless and Serena wrinkled her noise in slight irritation. Why did she
even bother looking at his face? He never gave anything away. Turning her 
attention back to the man, Serena sat up straighter in her chair as the Desert 
Pirate's boss stroked his chin. 

" First of all, I think I have you at a disadvantage. I know who you are, yet 
you know nothing of me."

Darien scowled.

" We know all we would wish to know about you. Now if you would tell us why-"

The man interrupted Darien and shook a finger at him. Serena saw Darien's jaw 
clench and she concluded that he wasn't as calm as he appeared to be. He was 
angry. But then, who wouldn't be? After being kidnapped and now knowing when 
their life was going to end, any man would be in a rage. Darien just hid it 
well. Why wasn't Serena surprised at that?

" Really your highness. You have been taught more than that."

Before Darien could come back with any blistering remarks, the man sat up in 
his chair and continued.

" My name is Hasid. As I am sure you know, I am the leader of the Desert 
Pirates."

They waited for Hasid to continue. He didn't. Darien exhaled impatiently and 
slashed his hand through the air.

" Tell us what you want. I do not think that you kidnap people like me simply 
for fun. But then, every-one knows the foolish and wild ways the Desert 
Pirates keep."

Serena watched Hasid with bated breath. With an insult like that, surely he 
would blow up. Any minute now, he'd yell and give the order for their murders. 
Guards would come running, lift their scythes and bring them down straight 
towards their head...

But no. Hasid didn't say anything. He just sat there with a little smile on 
his face as if the whole fiasco amused him.

He was playing with them. The sudden realisation came to Serena in a flash. 
First by saying that Darien wouldn't hurt an old man. Then by biding them to 
sit down. And now by appearing nonchalant. His teeth flashed in his face as he 
gave them another smug smile.

" You have not guessed what we want?"

Yes. He was definitely playing with them. Serena moved in her chair uneasily. 
When a Desert Pirate- or any villain for that matter- started playing with 
victims, something was going to happen. Something bad. But then, if you were 
in the position to be victim to the villain, then something bad had already 
happened. And would happen again. It was a no win situation. 

" Guesses are just that. Guesses. Now, the truth is something else."

There was silence for a while and Serena watched as Hasid lowered his eyes-
lids and observed Darien through narrowed eyes. The look reminded her so much 
of Darien that she nearly gasped. The look of arrogance. Haughtiness. Self-
importance. Pride. The same look. It was so similar that for a moment, 
something jiggled at the back of Serena's mind. But when she tried to grasp 
it, it went away. 

She jumped a little when Hasid turned his regard towards her. An intent look 
appeared in his eyes and Serena froze as she saw the way his eyes swept over 
her. She waited for the fear and disgust to sweep over her but it didn't. The 
look Hasid had gave her wasn't lecherous. Instead, it had seemed almost as if 
he was... assessing Serena. Checking to see her quality. But what for if not 
rape?

Suddenly a frightening though popped into Serena's head. Was Hasid going to 
sell her? She couldn't bear it. Not a second time. Even though Hasid was 
nothing compared to her parents to her. He'd sell her to people and they'd 
keep her in order. She'd be a slave again. Wasn't she going to be allowed to 
be free? Was she to spend all her days doing what others told her to do? 
Ignoring her own wishes? 

But then, her common sense intruded. Hasid wouldn't do that. If he sold her, 
then she'd be free. Well, she wouldn't be free exactly but she'd be away from 
the Desert Pirates. And she'd be able to give the country officials 
information. Important information. The Desert Pirates couldn't risk that. 
They wouldn't. So the idea of selling her was out. 

Unless they sold her in their own little group. It wasn't unheard of. Many 
young girls had disappeared after the Pirates had raided their village. It was 
said that the girls were made to serve the men. Doing anything and everything. 
Cooking. Cleaning. Sex. Not that it would be that. Rape more like.

Serena's mind jumped back to the woman who had brought breakfast for Darien 
and her in the cell. Was the woman a slave? Was that why she had looked so 
bitter? But if she was a slave, wouldn't she sympathise with other people who 
were captured by the Desert Pirates? Instead... instead, she had ignored them. 
Shown no sign of friendliness.  Of wanting to help the two. 

But maybe, after working for the Pirates for years, her sense of loyalty was 
towards the Pirates. After all, people did say that after a time, the 
kidnapped person began to depend more and more on the kidnapper. It was a 
psychological reason. Perhaps that had happened to the woman. She was wary of 
strangers and felt... safe with the Pirates. Weird but maybe it was true. And 
entirely possible judging from the way the woman had behaved.

Looking up, she found that Hasid was staring at her; in fact he'd been staring 
at her the entire time she'd been thinking. There was a thoughtful expression 
on his face and Serena wondered wildly whether he'd guessed her thoughts. He 
had earlier when she was thinking of the fact that he was old. And if he knew 
of what she had been thinking of, he might get ideas that hadn't been there 
before. He might really give her to his Pirates. And she didn't want that. But 
then, who did? Who wanted to cook, clean and be raped by men who were 
murderers, scoundrels and crooks? 

Hasid frowned a little and looked at Darien. Serena let out a little sigh of 
relief as she felt the heavy burning gaze lift off her. 

" I want you to abdicate your throne."

Darien stared at Hasid for a while before letting out a snort.

" Oh? And who do you propose will take my place? I have no brother, nephew or 
son."

Hasid leaned back in his chair and joined his hands by the tips of his 
fingers. He said nothing but waited for Darien to catch on. And Darien did. He 
flew up straight in his chair and glared at Hasid. Serena looked nervously 
from one to the other. Maybe she should say something. Anything. 

" I do not think so. I would rather watch my country drown in the sands than 
give you the throne. A man like you would be no good as a leader. A Sultan. 
And the people would not accept you. They would not listen. And in return you 
would torture them, make their life a misery and basically make them wish that 
they were dead. I do not care what you do to me. And there is nothing that 
will make me even think about giving you the throne."

Serena bit her lip as she wondered whether Hasid was going to blow up at 
Darien. Or maybe call the guards. But he did nothing. Instead, he smiled.

" You are honourable. And loyal. You speak the truth when you say that you do 
not care what happens to you. But can you say the same for other people?"

Serena frowned. Other people? Did Hasid mean the people in the country or... 
did he mean her? 

' Of course he means you, you idiot. Can you see other hostages here?'

' No but he could mean that he was going to start killing the citizens of the 
country-'

' Don't be so stupid. He does that already. It's you. He's going to do 
something to you to make Darien give over the throne.'

Serena's eyes glazed over. What would Hasid do? Would he give her to his men? 
Latif? Serena trembled at the thought. No. Not Latif. Anything but him.

' Stop panicking. Hasid might mean a very different thing.'

' Oh? And what can he mean that's better than Latif?'

' Well, he can kill you.'

Serena closed her eyes as she inhaled air through tightly clenched teeth. What 
was she doing to herself? Nothing had happened yet and she was practically 
having a panic attack. She needed to save that for when she really needed it 
and get a hold on herself. If Hasid wanted to give her to Latif, then so be 
it. She would do anything for her country. 

Serena opened her eyes and sighed. The thought was there. But would the action
be there as well when the time came? She really didn't want to find out. 

Serena looked up to find Darien standing in front of her with his tall frame 
tense and his hands clenched. She blinked and shook her head slightly. She 
kept on loosing concentration, going into her own thoughts and missing what 
was happening in front of her. 

" Would you be willing to sacrifice other people to stay on the throne?"

Serena looked at the back of Darien's head as she waited for his answer. Would 
he say yes or no? Did he care about the people or not? 

' Of course he cares. He's a really good Sultan.'

' Yes but-'

' Just because he's a conceited jerk doesn't necessarily make him a bad ruler.'

' Yes but-'

' Come on. The whole country thinks he's the best person who's come on the 
throne for centuries.'

' Yes but-'

' Stop saying that would you? It's giving me a head ache.'

' So?'

' That means that you're giving yourself a head ache.'

Serena scowled as she caught herself spacing out again. What was wrong with 
her? But then, maybe that was a stupid question. She knew what was wrong with 
her. The whole wretched deal was what was wrong with her, starting from the 
time she had witnessed the murder.

Darien still didn't say anything but Serena could see the corded muscles 
through his shirt and she could tell that they were taut with tension. Hasid 
sneered at Darien.

" Well? Do you care or don't you care... son?"


Why does Hasid seem so interested in Serena? Will Darien give up the throne? 
Why did Hasid call Darien son? Are they really father and son? The Sultan and 
the Leader of the Desert Pirates?

Sailor Galaxy

sailorprincessuk@yahoo.co.uk