slr_europa@yahoo.com

http://www.geocities.com/slr_europa/

AIM - ropachan

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Love Through Time ~ A Serena and Darien Saga
Volume III, Chapter iv

By Sailor Europa


	I gaped outwardly and blatantly at the darkening back as it disappeared in 
front of me into the raven sky. I couldn't make a coherent word escape my lips, a 
few inaudible sputters and mutterings all that seems to emit. I was paralyzed with 
anger and pride, a dangerous combination, only intensified by the Southern blood 
that seemed to course even harder through my veins. 

	My foot tapped impatiently and despite the fatigue and exhaustion I was 
suffering from my trip that day, I felt the aching souls of my feet begin to move 
beneath me. Not quite as cautiously as the present time called for, I tripped 
awkwardly through the brush on the outskirts of the road, following almost 
blindly after the group of tall, brooding men, hoping in vain to trail their voices, 
only to find that they seemed to be enveloped as much by the moon as the bright 
sun. 

	I didn't bother to think through my plan, and even as my legs pounded in 
pain and my ankles twisted on the uneven terrain, I wasn't contemplating my 
actions. The fact that the journey was an involuntary reaction seemed to carry 
away all thought and anything necessary for any kind of planning. My mind 
focused bitterly on the words "soulless" and "spoiled", and each time the words 
rolled from my thoughts, his voice uttering them perfectly in each instance, I felt 
the raging fire boil in obscene amounts. I wasn't sure what I planned on doing 
should I actually catch up to them, but I ran that discouraging thought from my 
consciousness as soon as it made itself known. If I had to wrap a branch around 
his neck to pay him back, I would do it. So help me God, I would do it. 

	It was mere moments before I caught a glimpse of the clearing a few 
hundred feet ahead of me, that lead to the abandoned ditches and tall brush. The 
field had yet to be cropped for growing, and I felt an aching, lingering twitch deep 
down that told me I'd find the rogue there. My eyes locked on the glimmering 
moon that shone through the trees, almost appearing to point out exactly where he 
was hiding. I didn't bother to smooth down my jagged temper, the flames and 
anger were only heightened presently. I nursed the emotion and fed it with each 
step, resolved not to let him get the best of me this time. Vengeance was sitting 
royally in my subconscious and I could feel it smile with each foot I progressed. 

	Within seconds, the clearing surrounded me and I slowed considerably, 
the voices finally becoming audible in the open night air. My eyes frantically 
skimmed the muted greens, blues and glowing yellows of the field and caught the 
make-shift trail to my far right, leading along an ancient gulch I hadn't known 
existed. I scanned the darkened horizon that stretched out for miles in front of me 
and I could see the trampled grass and weeds inching out the whole ways. Judging 
by the wavering voices dancing on the breeze, I could determine that the same 
group of men was farther away than I had originally thought. I shrugged off the 
creeping fear that was crawling up my spine and trudged on. 

	It wasn't very long until I was close enough to catch snippets of 
conversations, although I admit I didn't understand anything they were about. But 
I immediately was able to discern that, along with the handful of similar criminals 
Darien was traveling with, were several more bodies. I blinked uncomprehending, 
suddenly struck with the question as to where the extra people had come from so 
quickly. 

	I wasn't even paying attention to the fact that the seething mass of 
bubbling rage was dying down, too caught up in exactly what the surprisingly 
large band was trying to accomplish in my family's orchards. My curiosity carried 
me farther north, following the deep gulch that stood less than one hundred feet to 
my left. My every step was tempered slowly and deliberately, taking me on a 
practically noiseless journey the whole way, until I could hear whole speeches 
and define different voices and dialects. The wind blew warmly on my bare arms 
and I stood perfectly still, listening in an inspired silence to the oblivious speeches 
traded back and forth. My jaw hung as a distinctly feminine voice rose above the 
rest and I almost screamed at the horrid implications of the matter, but I calmed 
the emotions rumbling inside. The voice was thicker and richer than I would have 
expected, had I expected a female tone to be included. It broke inconsistently and 
I began to trap bits of other tones and lilts, which I could connect with similarities 
to that of the woman's….

	Somewhere buried deep within me began to stir, as piece-by-piece I 
collected a whole picture, woven together with each clue. My stomach tightened 
and I stopped my determined, albeit handicapped, watch of the scene in order to 
mentally solve the mystery. The strange yet familiar voices, appearing from 
nowhere, just seeming to come from the southern breeze, the hoards of people I 
hadn't noticed but an hour ago….

	"What the hell do you think you're doing here, missy?" 

	The cold steel burnt against my bare throat, and the knot in my stomach 
trapped up any breath that wanted to escape as the words trickled against my ear. I 
couldn't have moved a muscle, even if the bear of a man had decided to let go. 
My fear-inflicted paralysis crept to my jaw, impairing my speech and eventually 
ceased all coherent thought in my brain. Even the perpetual winds of the South 
paused in shock, the atmosphere just as surprised by the attack as I was. 
Everything was waiting for me. 

	"Ya' heard me Lass! What're ya' doing, traipsing around here? Huh?" The 
slight, thick Irish accent filled my ear and gave my thoughts something to wrap 
around, allowing the small detail to filter in and break through the defenses. My 
body still refused to move, protest this assault, so afraid of just breaking down 
upon any kind of movement. My bottom lip trembled suddenly and I focused on 
the small miracle of speech again. 

	"Th…. These are my family's groves, sir." I mumbled out, amazed I had 
managed to string a sentence together at such a time. I felt a well of strength build 
up and my bones seemed to return to my limp limbs. My captor just chuckled, 
obviously amused, even his laugh sounding as foreign and mocking as before. I 
was deflated immediately. 

	"Not tonight, they ain't." He jerked the arm that was clamped around me 
in the direction of the crowd and I felt every ounce of oxygen leave my body. I 
found my fear killing me once again and I could say a thing once again. I wasn't 
even sure how I allowed my legs to stumble the 50 feet to the collective, but as we 
arrived, my knees ached as if I had run several miles. 

	"We got ourselves a stalker tonight, men." His voice was laughing once 
again, enjoying my misery as the same oversized knife blade was unknowingly 
coming closer and closer to the delicate voice box in my throat. I cringed and 
gulped unsteadily. I couldn't even bring my eyes to focus on the others that now 
enveloped me, the very ones I had been guarding so intently just moments before. 
The same voices had stopped and I could feel my blood run cold. It occurred to 
me just then that I was very close to a very horrid death, if this man was as 
ruthless and mean as he appeared. 

	"Too attractive to be disposed of immediately, though, don'tcha' think?" 
He cooed into my ear and I felt a sob burst inside my rib cage. His hands fondled 
my stomach tighter and my skin beneath my clothing crawled. I prayed to God at 
that point and had my voice been working, I might have cried out loud to him as 
well. But nothing made a move and my insides began to weep hopelessly. 

	I felt the hot tears spill over onto my cheeks, and I mourned the situation 
surrounding me, not knowing anything else I could possibly do. I listened to the 
silent sobs ring in my head until they were shattered by a deep, throaty chuckle 
emerging from the darkened citrus trees. Distracted and hurt at the disrespect, my 
eyes shot up to meet black. 

	"Let the little field mouse go, Charles." My eyes widened and I felt an all 
too familiar emotion creep up inside of me. The man, Charles, howled with 
laughter as he released me. The lead weights he called arms fell and all my fear 
and timidity flew into the strong breeze that had picked up almost immediately. I 
stood up straight, every muscle locking in place as my formerly retreated anger 
and loathing returned. 

	I watched expectantly and unsurprised as Darien sauntered from the 
binding shade of the groves, arms folded defiantly, not even a hint of a smile on 
his face. 

	"It's a bit late in the evening for one of Atlanta's finest to be out roaming 
in the fields, don't you think?" He asked mockingly. I seethed. My breathing was 
shallow and quick at that moment, the only fitting response I felt appropriate 
being an ear-shattering screech. I refrained however; my emotions content with 
letting my eyes bore heated into his, focused, unblinking for what seemed like an 
eternity. 

	"I would think one would be able to 'roam' upon her own grounds 
whenever she feels fit." I retorted, not allowing my eyes to leave his. He met my 
gaze fully, just as intently and with just as much passion. My view narrowed and I 
spat at the ground. "You're feet aren't welcomed on this soil. I believe it's time 
you journeyed elsewhere, sir." 

	"I wouldn't touch your land, unless it were absolutely necessary." He said 
sternly, with just as much scorn as I had fed him. My jaw clenched tightly and my 
fists balled at my sides under the discretion of my controlling mind. But suddenly 
he let a self-righteous smirk slide onto his face and he titled his jaw upwards. 
"And right now it happens to be absolutely necessary." 

	All my anger boiled to the surface and I opened my mouth, but as the 
momentum built up, he took a long stride forwards and brushed impatiently past 
me. My eyes widened in shock and utter amazement and I spun around, sputtering 
half-obscenities and semi-curses, spitting one before I had a chance to finish the 
last. I finally landed on one very fitting term and I growled it under my breath, 
just as his ears were parallel to my body. 

	"You disrespectful, treacherous *bastard *…." 

	That caught him, if only slightly, and he paused. I whirled around to face 
him, my face hardened and still, taught with anger and loathing. Without giving 
me the satisfaction of seeing him upset, he spoke without turning around. 

	"I am treacherous to *you *, miss. But I am not bound to you in any way, 
nor do I owe you my allegiance or trust. I will save those for people who deserve 
them." His tone was steadied and calm, an underlying current of emotion just 
barely poking to the surface. I blinked at another one of his befuddling comments. 
I wasn't sure how to protest that, and I let the anger deflate only to be replaced by 
confusion. 

	But as I watched his retreating back, my moods swung back around. 

	"And just who do you owe yourself to?" I asked defiantly. Apparently, the 
question was of enough interest that he decided to face me and he spun around 
slowly. 

	"Those who have shown me the respect and kindness I don't deserve." He 
responded after some thought. Once again, my argument was deflated and the air 
flew from my lungs. I didn't know how to reply; I was in complete disarray. I, 
reluctantly, glanced up and caught his eyes and paused. For a rare second, a 
fleeting moment, I could almost see a pool of tears swim through his gaze, 
clouding his vision. I stopped and stared, blinking, convinced that I must be 
imagining the visions. But it was only a moment, and with the rustle of clothing, it 
was gone, and he turned his back on me once again. I let the anger leave me for 
good then and I just stared in amazement. One moment, I'm being held in fear by 
a hulking brute, the next, all over-powering emotions have left my thoughts and 
body with a disappointing air. I blinked. It was almost too much to even witness, 
let alone comprehend. 

	 "We need to keep moving…." I was jolted from my state and I blinked 
once more in order to focus. 

	"Darien, what –." Charles began after his companion began a quick step 
farther along the gulch, leaving me behind like a gutter rat. I felt my forehead 
wrinkle once more in distemper at the blatant disregard and I picked up my pace 
to follow, but ceased immediately when my ears recognized the soft trampling of 
footsteps on grass behind me. 

	"Darien! Darien!" I whirled around as soon as voices joined the padding 
and stared blankly at the large figure approaching stiffly and swiftly. I felt 
separated from the group, as it should have been, as the larger man dropped his 
load from his arms carefully to the flattened brush. Through the darkened tones I 
tried to make out the newly lain person, but found it impossible as the collective 
gathered around, apparently just as curious as myself. Unwillingly and 
unknowingly I made my way hesitantly closer to the people, not even bothering to 
give any of them a second look. In the shaded and blackened hues of the night, I 
found the bulk seeming to appear similar to Darien, I assumed. Noting anyone in 
particular never occurred to me. 

	"She just arrived at the door." The husky young man who had just carried 
her, the woman apparently, said, his breath quick and shallow; A combination 
from the exertion and…a hint of anxiety? I wasn't sure. I just stood by idly, 
hardly even concerned with the fact that I had been pushed aside, like a sack of 
grain. I found myself enthralled with the secret world I had found. I was amazed 
that no one had discovered these meetings, let alone that they seemed to be taking 
place on our own property. 

	"How long ago? Do you know?" Within seconds, Darien's tone shifted 
dramatically, and my eyes widened as the limp body moaned sharply as she was 
rolled onto her back. With gentle, steady hands, Darien unfastened the simple 
cotton dress that blocked the skin from view. I was involuntarily focused wholly 
on the situation at hand, despite the obvious obstacle of being completely 
ignorant. I worked my way closer, just feet and then inches from the circle that 
had formed around Darien and the unknown form. My breath was swift, erupting 
from my chest and exploding outside my lips. I let my emotions carry me away 
just then, still oblivious to the fact that I was almost entirely unwelcome. I didn't 
look away and forgot that it was Darien Jacobs, my self-proclaimed foe that I was 
watching so intensely. As I got closer and closer, I let my guard drop. Totally. 

	"Dammit." 

	My eyes shot up automatically at the single word and for a moment, the 
scene came into complete perspective. The group, the field, the gulch, the voices, 
the footsteps…Darien. And a fleeting thought blinked in my mind, too quick for 
me to grasp it in its entirety. But for that single second, my heart pummeled my 
rib cage painfully. Each detail was hammered into place and it formed a whole 
picture…. But I wasn't as accepting as I might have hoped. The drama played out 
longer than it should have. 

	I watched in slow motion as the fabric was ripped away from the back of 
the girl. The flesh was apparent and she became more than just a figure, lying 
motionless in the dirt. However, the flesh and the quivering skin and limbs didn't 
make her anymore real to me than before. But the wounds did.

	Horrible, bleeding, crimson gashes a foot and a half long, intersecting 
carelessly throughout the fold of her back grabbed my attention like nothing I'd 
ever seen. They lit up the night sky, cried out for notice. And all of a sudden, the 
world jolted. 

	My sight, wanting to be anywhere but on the frightening figure before me, 
bolted from side to side, suddenly curious as to what I had stumbled upon. And it 
was then that my mind clicked on, whirring and buzzing in my ears at an almost 
deafening rate. For the first time, the hues separated and the blacks and grays and 
whites sharpened. The landscape was illuminated and the faces became clear. 

	Slaves. All of them. Dark, shaded skin screamed out at me, slapping my 
cheek and punching my gut. The girl, not even a woman, on the ground, dirtied 
from months before in the same place, shook in suppressed fear. The wounds 
were open and oozing liquid, marring her defenseless back. 

	I'm not even sure I really noticed specifically as Darien patted a wet towel 
to her broken flesh, but the screams that followed felt like an earthquake beneath 
my footing. I closed my eyes tightly, wishing I could scratch the orbs from their 
sockets to prevent the inevitable that was taking place in front of them. I 
whimpered, drowned out in an incessant bellow that surrounded me and swallowed 
my consciousness whole. I wasn't aware of anything going on around me, 
couldn't distinguish one thought from an impulse, nor an instinct from a guess. 
Nothing made sense. 

	With a renewed strength that only controlling fear and panic could fuel, I 
fled. Eyes still refusing to watch, heart still reluctant to understand, I ran. No one 
noticed, or just didn't care. I didn't give it a second thought. My mind was 
bombarded with images of whips and screaming lips, unseeing eyes that were 
shielded by an unimaginable pain. The tears fell, and in my wide-open mind I saw 
the blood dripping from my lids, falling onto my cheeks. I wiped them, rubbed 
them raw, and ridded my face of the unclean marring. The blood, the sweat, the 
tears… it all dirtied my face, my hands, my image. 

	The screams drifted from my hearing not long after I had left, but I heard 
them with a renewed loathing with every foot I traveled. Each step that took me 
away from there only made the scenes more concrete, more impossible to deny. 
The panic and adrenaline that followed my fear propelled the fresh ideas, 
conjured up explanations. I wanted to escape to my home, to my room, to my bed, 
forget the reality that was taking place all around me. Return to innocence; to 
ignorance. 

	But I had stayed longer than fate had intended; seen more than I was 
suppose to. The wheels were spinning and the rate was gaining speed with each 
passing minute. It had been started and nothing short of death would stall it. My 
heart wept. Wept for the past, my youth and the things that wouldn't satisfy me 
any longer. I had taken a path, witnessed something that I couldn't have possibly 
understood. Not until later. 

There was no turning back now. 


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slr_europa@yahoo.com

AIM – ropachan

http://www.geocities.com/slr_europa