Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.
Blood on the Moon
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Part Seven: Deception in the Darkness
Rating: PG-13
Sapporo, Japan: Spring, 1899
Nikolai Malakhov had literally travelled the four corners of the Earth. His ruse as a man of the cloth (although he never carried any religious artifacts) enabled him to enjoy the company of kings, queens, statesmen and celebrities for uncounted years. He also had adventures fighting all manner of vampire hunters during his long life, all seeking to end his evil existence. All of whom had miserably failed.
Malakhov had power, wealth, immortality, he seemingly had it all, except for one thing: the ability to enjoy a sunrise.
From when he was but a child, Malakhov loved to watch the sun rise in the morning. He thought that to be the most glorious show that God put on each and every day, a show he never grew tired of seeing. But when he was initiated into the ranks of the undead, Malakhov could no longer enjoy a sunrise because it meant death for he and his kind. That revelation filled him with bottomless hurt and pain, emotions he fought to keep buried under an exterior that became cold, hard and cruel.
Then came his encounter with a Shinto Priest he befriended who told him stories of ancient Japanese lore. Stories Malakhov, now alone and without his flock who returned to Europe against his wishes and had fallen prey to vampire slayers found fascinating. One story in particular the priest told was of a terrible demon named Kiragama who possessed great magic powers which he used to rule Japan a millennia ago. After Kiragama was defeated, stories told how the demon anticipated it's own death and wrote instructions, in his own blood on a scroll to his followers on how to resurrect him, then the demon, out of gratitude would a grant a single wish to his savior.
Malakhov considered what he had heard. Despite being a cynic, he could not dismiss the story. If the tale was true, if Kiragama actually existed and could be brought back to life, and if the demon were to use his magic to grant any wish....suddenly, Malakhov had a dream. A great and burning passion to see the sun once again. All he had to do to make his dream a reality was to find the sacred scroll of Kiragama.
However, he had no idea just how long it would take to find it....
"One hundred years," Malakhov muttered as he stared intently at the scroll in his hands. Darkness had arrived and he was anxious to carry out his grand plan. "But then, what is time to the likes of me?"
Malakhov smiled. He had the scroll, and, with the addition of Molly, his Circle of Five, which was crucial to resurrecting Kiragama was complete. His smile grew wider as he thought about how Molly's selfless love would help him bring his wonderful dream to life.
He almost felt sorry that Molly won't get to enjoy the fruits of his labors. Chuckling, Malakhov left his private chamber and went into the main hall where his flock, Roy and Molly at the head patiently waited.
"My children. The time is at last here. When the dawn arrives, so too will a new phase in our existence!" he shouted fervently to his followers, not unlike a preacher at his pulpit. "No more will we have to skulk like thieves in the dark to find the nectar that we seek. Soon, we will be able to hunt in the daylight as well. Once I have secured the services of the one who will perform this miracle, our ranks will swell to uncounted numbers, and the people of this planet will be ours for the taking!"
His flock, looking delighted smiled and nodded happily. Malakhov then took Roy and Molly aside.
"Before I can perform the act that will ensure us everlasting victory, we have an annoying loose end that has to be tied up," he said.
"The Scouts," growled Molly.
Malakhov nodded. "Yes. There is no doubt in my mind those accursed females and their tuxedo clad friend will find us. If there is one thing I have learned after having lived for over seven centuries is that humans can be unrelenting as the tides when properly motivated. And Sailor Moon in particular is driven by the oldest motivation known to man....revenge. That makes her a lethal, implacable foe."
Molly snorted. "Serena? Don't worry yourself. She's nothing."
"Do not scoff, Molly! Sailor Moon is not an adversary to be taken lightly! If anything, she might be the most dangerous mortal on this planet!" Malakhov snapped back. "I felt the searing flames of her hatred when we fought last night. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Her rage, stemming from my having turned you into a vampire is without limit. That woman will not rest until either I am destroyed, or she is. Sailor Moon is a serious threat we cannot afford to ignore."
"What can we do, Father?" Roy asked.
"The Scouts must be kept....occupied. The ritual I have to perform can only be done at midnight. That leaves far too much time for those meddlers to interfere. You must see to it that they don't."
"How?" Molly asked.
Malakhov grinned. "By using a well worn but highly successful military tactic. Here is what we are going to do...."
Raye, a fairly light sleeper awakened with a jolt at the sound of motorcycle roaring past on the street. She started to rise but couldn't as an arm was draped across her chest. Confused, Raye was shocked to find that arm belonged to a still slumbering Serena, lying next to her on the bed. Then she remembered Serena asking her to stay, so she did.
Never thought I'd find myself sleeping with Serena, thought Raye, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she gently lifted Serena's arm away from her. Thing was, it actually felt....good. Pleasurable, even. Wow! Some slimy hentai writer would have a field day with that!
That got Raye to thinking about Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, two members of the enigmatic Scout team of the outer planets who were deeply in love with each other and were the perfect couple. For a brief time, Raye wondered if she and Serena could ever develop such a deep and special bond of intimacy that only two women could share, if the two of them could go beyond being just friends and find true love together.
Serena? A lover? Whoa! Time out! Full stop, Hino! That's insane! My duty is to protect the Moon Princess, not share my bed with her, Raye thought angrily. Besides, she and Darien are destined to marry, become the rulers of Crystal Tokyo and have a child. A child we've already met. I can't allow my crazy fantasies to get in the way of destiny!
Yet, for reasons Raye couldn't explain, or even comprehend, having to acquiesce to the demands of fate saddened her greatly. Her throat tight, a single tear trickled down Raye's cheek as she stared fondly at Serena, looking innocent as she slept. Choking back a sob, Raye's heart ached with a vengeance over a dream she knew could never come true.
Oh, Serena, my love. I know it's impossible, but I wish you and I could be together. Together forever, thought Raye. Then, Raye's communicator beeped. Focusing on business, she checked the time. It was half past eight. Raye gasped. She and Serena had been asleep for more than seven hours. Raye looked out the nearby window and saw it was dark. The night had arrived, and with it, the ultimate horror she and the other Scouts feared. Raye jumped up and activated the transmitter.
"Raye here! Go ahead!"
"This is Amy! I've found Malakhov's hideout!"
"Where?"
"Sixty miles northeast, near the water like you said. It's an old mansion once owned by a reclusive millionaire who died in 1995. It was just purchased two months ago by a Boris Gorbachev, an amalgam of the last two Russian Presidents. It has to be the place."
"Have you contacted the others?" Raye asked excitedly.
"I was just about to. If you're right about Malakhov having to wait until midnight to perform the ritual, we have plenty of time to stop him. Is Serena still with you? Is she alright?"
"'Rena's just fine. Give me the coordinates and we'll be there!"
"Acknowledged!" Map coordinates appeared on the communicator's tiny LCD screen. Raye committed them to memory. She then jostled Serena hard, knowing full well how difficult it was to wake her.
"'Rena! Wake up, girl! Wake up! It's time to move!"
"What....what did you say?" a groggy Serena mumbled.
"Amy just called! She's found Malakhov!"
The sound of Malakhov's name snapped Serena out of her stupor. Feeling rested and full of energy, she bolted straight up and stared at Raye. "Where?" Serena demanded.
"Sixty miles northeast of town. It's eight thirty, but we still have time to get there and stop that madman."
Serena jumped out of bed and produced her brooch so she could transform. "Then let's get cracking!"
Before the girls could shout their morphing phrases, they heard scratching at the door. "Serena! Raye! Open the door! Please!" came an urgent cry. Raye ran for the door to open it, and a panicked, wide eyed Luna rushed inside.
"Luna? What is it? What are you doing here?" Serena asked.
"Thank God you're here! It's bad! It's really bad!" cried Luna.
"What's bad? What's wrong?" a worried Raye asked.
Luna looked to be on the verge of a breakdown, if such a thing was possible for a cat. "Serena, your family! They've been taken!"
For the last 24 hours, Melvin, tired and weak in his hospital room tried to sort out the events of last night when he was attacked by Molly. After all this time, he still had trouble accepting that he had been assaulted by a creature who was murdered a week ago. And since she tore open his throat and drank his blood, Melvin arrived at the only logical conclusion possible, though he had a very hard time accepting it.
I was attacked by a vampire. Molly....is a vampire.
Try as he might, Melvin could not apply logical, rational, real world solutions to a situation that had no basis in fact, or truth. Or sanity for that matter. Vampires don't exist, yet I was nearly killed by one. That means the Deep Throat Killer's a vampire too. And all the murders he's responsible for, Roy's among them....This is seriously unreal.
Even more unreal to Melvin was what he had been told by his doctor this morning after he woke up, that he had been given an emergency transfusion of blood from Sailor Venus, a selfless act that saved his life. But even that left Melvin troubled.
The Scouts, with their powers can't possibly be human. They're probably aliens. And I've got three pints of Venus' blood in my veins, thought Melvin. No telling what might happen to me. Anything from turning into a mutant from whatever's in her DNA to growing a monster pair of boobs! Now wouldn't that be a hoot? Melvin, the class nerd with a chest like Dolly Parton! I'll be the first boy in school to wear a bra!
That made Melvin chuckle, and the laughter felt good to him, allowing him to relax. Suddenly, he felt a chill as a cold breeze wafted into the room. Melvin didn't like the feel of that breeze, it felt sinister, even malevolent to him. Spying a shadow to his left, Melvin craned his head and gasped at seeing Molly standing him, a smirk on her lips.
"Hello, Melvin. How are you feeling tonight?" Molly asked sweetly.
Melvin, his eyes wide was terrified and couldn't speak
"Come now. Surely you have something to say to me."
"What are you doing here?" Melvin whispered.
"Finishing what I started. You know what that means, don't you?"
Melvin nodded. His spirits sank. He was dead and knew it. "Why?"
Molly's grin widened, exposing her fangs. The look in her eyes was pure malice. "Because I can."
"Molly, please. Don't. I loved you."
For a moment, Molly was caught off guard, never expecting to hear those words from Melvin of all people. That served to bring back old memories of her past life and of her many experiences with Melvin over the years she had known him. Experiences of their friendship, and of the two occasions when he fought courageously to save her life from evil forces. The pain, and the heartache associated with those memories frustrated and angered her. She glared hatefully at Melvin.
"Sorry, Melvin, but that won't cut it. Maybe when I was alive, but not now. However, for old times sake, I'll make this fast."
Melvin shut his eyes tight and waited for the end, saddened that his life was ending so soon. He had so much he wanted to do, so many dreams he had for his future. Melvin wept because it was all over. At first there was blinding, terrible pain as Molly sank her fangs into his throat, and then numbness as Molly drained him. In a few minutes, her old classmate, her old friend was dead. Ignoring the sound of monitors going off when Melvin flatlined, Molly snapped his neck and stared wistfully at him. A look of deep regret lined her face as her eyes filled up.
"'Bye, Melvin. I loved you too."
Molly's reverie was broken by the sounds of glass breaking and people screaming out in the halls. The undead who came with her were already hard at work causing mayhem, killing and maiming at will. That should have pleased Molly, yet it didn't. She was numb from having killed Melvin. So, it's started. The police won't be able to stop us. Only the Scouts can. Just as Nikolai planned.
The Tsukino house looked to be perfectly normal. Everything was clean and neat and in its proper place while nothing was missing. Except it's inhabitants.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars stood in the empty living room and looked around while an anguished Luna paced the floor.
"Run this by me again, Luna. What the hell happened to my family?" Moon demanded, her mind and emotions, calmed and under control while at the temple were once again dangerously chaotic.
"It happened thirty minutes ago. I was waiting for you to return when I heard the phone ring," Luna began. "At the top of the stairs, I overheard your mother talking and looking terribly worried. She nodded and said 'Officer' several times before hanging up. She then told your father and Sammy that you were in an accident and that they were to come down to the hospital right away. Not knowing what was going on as I thought you were still at the temple, I just left for there when I saw five men waiting outside. They grabbed your family, bundled them into a waiting van and drove off. Serena, I'm so sorry. There was nothing I could do."
Moon stood ramrod stiff, her mind a blank, her heart pounding so hard she thought it would explode out of her chest. She didn't know whether to cry or to scream. She felt blistering hot and freezing cold. Her nervous system was both numb and on fire. Moon's worst nightmare, the one she dreaded each and every day for four long years since she first became a Sailor Scout had finally come true. Her family became the target of an enemy who knew her secret identity.
"Shit! This has Malakhov written all over it!" growled Mars. Just then, the Scout communicators started beeping. Moon, unmoving, her eyes glassy ignored hers, so Mars answered. "Mars here! Go!"
"This is Mercury! I just got a frantic call from Lieutenant Fukoda saying Tokyo General Hospital's come under attack by vampires! The police are on the scene, but haven't been able to even slow down the monsters, much less stop them! The others and I are nearing the city limits now! What do you want us to do?"
Moon, hearing Mercury's report took a deep breath and activated her communicator. While stopping Malakhov's mad plan that would make he and his legions nearly invincible was of utmost importance, innocent lives were threatened, lives she and the Scouts were sworn to protect. In the end, there was only one decision she could make. "Turn around, Amy. Get to the hospital and stop the bloodshed. Do you copy?"
"Affirmative. We're on our way. Will you and Mars be joining us?"
"No. We've got another problem. My family's been kidnapped. Probably by Malakhov."
"Oh, my God."
"You and the others deal with the mess at the hospital. That includes Darien if he's listening. Drag him to Tokyo General by his cape if he even thinks about coming after me. You'll need numbers there to help Fukoda stop the carnage. Raye and I will rescue my folks, then we'll meet at Malakhov's hideout."
"Understood. Good luck, Serena."
"You too. Out."
"First Serena's family, now this. What in blazes is Malakhov up to?" Luna wondered aloud.
"He's buying time. He knows we've figured out what he's up to. This is a ruse to keep us from getting to him before midnight," said Mars. She checked the time on her communicator and scowled. Twenty minutes after nine. "And it's working! Damn him!" At that moment, the phone rang. Moon rushed to pick it up.
"Hello? Tsukino residence."
"Hello, dear Serena. I believe you know who this is," came back the sinister voice of Malakhov. Moon stiffened at the sound. "And I'm sure you know why I've called."
"Malakhov! You bastard! What have you done with my family?" screamed an outraged Moon. "I swear, if you've hurt them, you'll never be dead enough! No force on earth will stop me from tracking you down and tearing your fucking heart out! Do you hear me?"
"Oh, I most certainly do," said a chuckling Malakhov. "You can rest easy, I haven't harmed your loved ones. They are quite well, for now. If you want to rescue them, you'll have to meet me."
"Where?"
"At a place where young minds are enlightened. I can't wait to see you." And the phone went dead. Furious, Moon slammed the receiver down, shattering it. Mars looked at her in concern, fearing Moon was about to go off the deep end. She wouldn't blame her one bit if she did.
"Where did Malakhov take your family?" Luna asked.
"To a place where young minds are enlightened. A not so subtle reference to school," snarled Moon. "But which one?"
"That's easy. Your school," said Mars. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Molly's sold you down the river. I'll bet my life Malakhov's taken your family to Crossroads High!"
Moon nodded. "Then let's go! We haven't a minute to lose!"
9:50 PM
Lieutenant Fukoda hated war movies. As a cop who dealt with death and violence on an almost daily basis, he never understand how people could glorify the horrors of war for the sake of commercial profit. And now that he was literally on a battlefield, he hated war all the more fervently. Especially since he was on the losing end of the conflict.
When the call came in that Tokyo General Hospital was under attack by terrorists, the last thing he and Hiyata expected was to find themselves face to face with a pack of marauding vampires, slaughtering anything that moved. The halls were already red with blood when the detectives and two dozen officers stormed in, and quickly joined the dead and dying as their weapons were next to useless against the undead.
While he hated to run from a fight, Fukoda fled outside to his car, realizing he needed special help. Remembering the special frequency Sailor Mercury gave her, Fukoda called for the calvary, then to cover all the bases, a SWAT unit as well. He prayed that both teams would arrive in time to prevent was becoming a mounting massacre. No sooner had he finished his call when a cop was flung out a second story window to his death. Angered, Fukoda rushed back in to rejoin the battle.
Guns were going off everywhere, the sounds mingled with the shrieks, cries and screams of the injured and dying. A crack shot, Fukoda scored hit after hit on the pale skinned, bloodthirsty horrors, and while he hurt them, he couldn't stop them. Suddenly, the veteran cop felt something slam into his back, knocking him to the floor. Fukoda looked up into the red and menacing eyes of a vampire, a woman who hissed like a snake, her fangs bared and ready to strike. Fukoda tried to squirm free, but the creature's strength was too great for him.
"Die, human!" the creature snarled.
"After you!" came an angry shout. The creature turned its head at the sound of the voice, then screamed from pain as the stem of a red rose pierced each eye like a dart, blinding it. Fukoda used the respite to jam the barrel of his gun under the creature's jaw and emptied the clip, literally blowing it's head off. Rolling out from under the headless thing, Fukoda, his clothes soaked with blood and gore heard a rustle of cloth and turned around to see Tuxedo Mask several feet away in a defensive stance, a pair of roses in each hand. The detective sighed from relief.
"Just in the nick of time! Thanks!" said Fukoda, trotting up to the caped hero. "I assume the Scouts are with you?"
"Most of us, Lieutenant," said Mask in a growl, not wanting to reveal to the cop that Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars were on a mission of mercy to rescue the kidnapped Tsukino family. He tried not to think about what the abduction must be doing to Serena's already fragile state of mind. Mask yearned, ached to be with her, but knew his duty was here, protecting the innocent. "How many creatures are we dealing with?"
"I stopped counting after twenty! They're all over the damn place! I've got a SWAT team en route, armed to the teeth, but we can't wait for them! C'mon, man! We've got to stop these monsters before they turn this place into a slaughterhouse!" Without waiting for a response, Fukoda pushed off, reloading his gun on the fly.
Mask nodded. Fukoda's courage under fire impressed him greatly. "Right behind you, friend!"
On the third floor, Hiyata burst through a fire escape door with three officers behind him, guns at the ready. Spotting two vampires attacking a helpless nurse, literally trying to devour her, the young detective saw red and leaped at them, using the butt of his gun to get their attention onto him and away from the nurse whom he saw had nearly been torn apart.
"Animals!" Hiyata yelled, pumping two rounds directly into the right eye of one vampire, remembering words of wisdom Fukoda gave him nearly four years ago: 'Aim for the head. It always works in the movies.' The creature's head was reduced to pulp before it had a chance to scream, but its partner, furious, slashed Hiyata's chest with his long nails, ripping open his jacket and shirt and scoring his exposed flesh.
Hissing from pain, Hiyata tumbled to the floor, dropping his gun in the process, but the cops with him saw the opening they needed and opened fire, filling the creature full of holes. Yet, despite dropping to its knees, its face twisted from pain, it wouldn't die. Reaching into his back pocket, Hiyata removed a switchblade he kept for self defense, flicking open the blade, he rammed it into the creature's heart, killing it instantly.
"Just like in the movies," Hiyata whispered, smiling grimly.
Before the young detective had a chance to recover his weapon, three more vampires rounded the corner with blazing speed and barreled into the surprised cops who were busy reloading their weapons. One monster leaped onto Hiyata and slashed his throat open with his claws. Hiyata, like the creature he killed never had time to scream before his life was brutally cut short. The creature laughed and began to feed while the beasts with him overpowered the other cops and killed them.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed a horrified Sailor Jupiter, bursting onto the scene with Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus. Seeing the creature looming over the ravaged body of Hiyata, Jupiter went berserk. The Scout of Thunder pulled the creature off Hiyata, slammed it to the floor and began pounding her fists into its face. Over and over and over, like a machine, Jupiter's fists rose and fell like pistons while she screamed like a banshee and tears streamed down her face.
"LAUGH THIS OFF!" Jupiter roared as she continued to pound away. "C'MON, MONSTER! LAUGH....THIS....OFF!"
By the time Mercury and Venus pulled the frenzied Jupiter away, there was nothing left of the creature's face and skull which had been completely shattered, it's brain reduced to pulp. Jupiter, grief stricken, didn't notice her aching fists, wet and dripping blood and gore. She broke free from her friends and stumbled to Hiyata's side.
"Shiro! SHIRO! Answer me! Please, answer me!" Jupiter yelled.
"It's no use, babe. He's gone," said a weeping Venus, barely able to get the words out as she rested a hand on Jupiter's shoulder. Just then, more vampires appeared and stopped short when they saw the Scouts. Spotting the creatures, Jupiter, angrier than she'd ever been in her life rose to her feet as her antenna rose on her tiara.
"Lousy, murdering motherfuckers! You're gonna die for this!" Before Jupiter could summon the lightning, a panicked Mercury stopped her.
"No, Jupiter! You can't! Not here! Not here!" Mercury shouted.
"Are you crazy? Look what they did, Amy! They killed Shiro!" the anguished Jupiter yelled back, her heart in pieces.
"I know, Lita. I know. I liked him too. He was a good man," said Mercury who was in tears as well. "But you can't use your powers in here. A lightning strike would severely damage, if not destroy sensitive electronic equipment that's keeping critical care patients alive. We'll have to stop these monsters the hard way."
Jupiter nodded and with a mental command lowered her antenna. But nothing was about to do the same to her terrible wrath.
"Hand to hand is fine with me," she growled, feeling her humanity slip away as the rage took over. "Let's waste these slimeballs!"
The vampires, spoiling for a fight charged the Scouts who, as one, channeled their fury over Shiro's death in a frightening, bloodcurdling scream as they met the creatures head on. Even the levelheaded Mercury who always kept her emotions tightly in check while in battle succumbed to the blazing heat of madness and longed to kill. In essence, the Scouts cried havoc and let loose the dogs of war.
10:22 PM
Crouched behind the wall of an office building across the street from Crossroads High School, Moon, Mars and Luna surveyed the building which was dark and seemingly devoid of activity. They all knew that was not the case.
"It looks quiet. Too quiet," Luna observed.
"And then some. I don't like this, not one bit," growled Mars. She turned to Moon and gave her a hard stare. "You realize of course this is probably a trap."
Moon, her eyes fixed on the building slowly nodded. "Of course I do. After everything we've been through, I'd almost be disappointed if it wasn't. That's why I'm going in alone."
Mars and Luna, wide eyed, gasped from horror.
"You can't be serious!" Mars said.
"I'm dead serious. Malakhov's playing the old game of divide and conquer. He wants to get me in there alone so he can kill me while you and the others are busy fighting his creatures at Tokyo General," said Moon. "That madman's been one step ahead of us from the very start. This time though, we're gonna get the jump on him!"
"How?" Luna asked.
"I'll activate the homing device in my communicator before going inside. Mars, there's a fire escape door on the roof, you enter the building from there and track me once I'm in." Moon paused and a fierce, menacing scowl creased her face. "Malakhov thinks he's getting a lamb on its way to slaughter, but with you watching my back, I'll have him for dinner instead! That's bloodsucker's gonna pay for endangering my family!"
Mars nodded while Luna beamed from pride, both in awe of what they saw, that being the true Sailor Moon, hero, defender, champion....warrior.
"Time's growing short. Let's get on with it," said Moon, activating the homer on her communicator. She then looked deep into Mars' stormy dark eyes and smiled. "See you inside, best friend."
Mars returned the smile and squeezed Moon's arm. "You bet. Come hell or high water, I'll be there. I won't let you down."
Still smiling, Moon placed her hand on Mars', savoring the special moment she and her friend shared. Then, her features hardened into a grim mask and, taking a deep breath, Moon stood up and casually walked across the street to the school.
Mars, watching Moon approach the building silently prayed she'd be all right. "C'mon, Luna! Let's get to the roof!"
Reaching the front door, Moon cocked an eyebrow at seeing Roy standing on the other side. With a nod, Roy opened the door to let Moon in.
"Welcome. The Father is waiting for you," said Roy.
"I'll bet he is," Moon growled. "Take me to him."
The walk was conducted in silence, the only sound being the sharp clicking of Moon's high heels, loud as gunshots in the stillness. The short journey ended at the school gymnasium. Roy motioned to the double doors. "The Father, and your loved ones wait inside."
Moon shot Roy an evil glare. "Don't plan on surviving past tonight, Roy. The next time I see you, you're dead meat."
Roy merely smiled. Putting him out of her mind, Moon pushed the doors inward and entered the gym. What she saw froze the blood in her veins. In the center of the large, expansive gym, Moon saw her mother, father and Sammy, their arms bound and held high over their heads by ropes connected to pulleys on the ceiling. Tied to their ankles were large, heavy barbells and, standing behind them at a far wall, a vampire held each rope that bound her loved ones, all of whom were terrified. Standing next to the Tsukinos was a devilishly smirking Malakhov.
"Dear Lord," whispered a wide eyed Moon.
"Welcome. I'm so glad you could join us," said the vampire lord.
"Wow! Sailor Moon's come to save us!" an excited Sammy cried.
"I....I had no idea Serena knew Sailor Moon!" said an awestruck Mrs. Tsukino.
"Neither did I, honey!" said a puzzled Mr. Tsukino.
Hearing that, Malakhov arched an eyebrow and chuckled. "Well, well, isn't this interesting? They don't know. They honestly don't know, do they, my dear?"
Moon wouldn't answer. She knew what was coming next and hated it. But her silence spoke volumes to Malakhov who clucked his tongue.
"I'm ashamed of you, Miss Moon, keeping such a terrible secret from these poor people. Well, I do believe the time has come to reveal all, don't you? Show them! Show them who you really are!"
Moon, still silent, refused to budge.
Malakhov smirked. "Stoic as the statues on Easter Island. I admire that in an opponent. And you are the most valiant enemy I have faced in my lengthy existence. Very well. It seems I will have to....coerce you into fulfilling my request." He then nodded to the creatures holding the ropes.
The vampires pulled hard on the ropes, roughly hoisting the Tsukinos off the floor who screamed in mortal agony from the brutal counterweight of the barbells tied to their ankles. Their cries echoed loudly throughout the gym while knifing through Moon's heart.
"Stop it! Please! Let them down!" Moon shrieked at the top of her lungs. She then dropped her head, for the second time in an hour, fate forced her into making a grim choice. "You win. I'll show them."
Malakhov nodded to his creatures who gently lowered the sobbing, pain wracked Tsukinos to the floor. "Go on. Do it."
"Show....us? Show us....what?" a confused Mr. Tsukino asked from behind gritted teeth.
"This. I'm so sorry." Closing her eyes, Moon's concentrated on her morphing power and her brooch glowed from blinding, silvery light that enveloped her body, altering her Scout uniform into a t-shirt, jeans and running shoes. In an instant, Sailor Moon was gone, replaced by a sorrowful, teary eyed Serena Tsukino. Her family gasped from shock and wide eyed disbelief.
"No! Oh, God! No! It can't be!" a horrified Mrs. Tsukino cried. "Serena? Is it really you?"
Serena slowly nodded. "Yup. Hi, mom."
Mr. Tsukino gulped, his eyes wide. "Pumpkin? You're Sailor Moon?"
"'Fraid so, dad."
Sammy, despite his pain grinned from ear to ear. "Cool!"
Serena, her heart broken from the anguished looks on the faces of her parents turned to Malakhov to vent her now growing anger. "Satisfied? Got what you wanted?"
Malakhov shook his head. "No, not quite, my dear. There's one more thing you can do for me."
"What's that?" asked Serena, her eyes narrowed to slits.
"DIE!" roared Malakhov, leaping straight at Serena.
Next: A Time To Kill