Levana Ceri (Moon Love)

*Author Note: I'm really making a bad habit of taking long breaks between chapters. What ca I say, writers block sucks. Anyway, I forced myself to sit down at the computer and surprisingly this chapter just flowed out. Leave reviews and let me know what you think. enjoy. ;)

Chapter 15

rin pyou tou sha kai jin retsu zai zen...
rin pyou tou sha kai jin retsu zai zen...
rin pyou tou sha kai jin retsu zai zen...

The last word from her chant was ripped from her throat with a startled gasp. The screams and chaos surrounding her made her stumble backward. She could see it everywhere. Scouts from the nine other systems hacking away at whoever crossed their path. The golden bands on their wrists confirmed Ray's suspicions. They were Galaxia's minions.

Ray had heard the rumors...everyone had. But she had refused to believe they were true. Scouts from the other systems, turning their backs on their oaths and beliefs to save their familie's the torture promised once Galaxia had control. As soon as she had conquered a world she would immediately find the families, friends and neighbors of the scouts who had dared to fight against her. All were mutilated beyond recognition and the women were crucified on their lawns. The children were hung on the arms of the crucifex and the mothers had to watch in agony as their children slowly strangled to death. The men were castrated and skinned alive. The first few worlds scouts never gave in...and as a result anyone who was acquainted with them were severely punished. Once the horror stories reached the other systems fear ran rampant, and many of the scouts would submit immediately to Galaxia's demands for fear of their loved ones safety. Galaxia spared their families and friends but put them to work as slave labor...loading bodies. In order to gain their freedom Galaxia made the scouts serve in her armor and help her conquer the next world. If they balked, or she even suspected they were not fighting to the full extent of their abilities, she had her loyal soldiers rape the little girls first. If the scout would still not comply the little boys would be next, and finally the murders would begin. And they were never quick either.

No one had been able to confirm or deny the rumors, many dismissed them as scare tactics Galaxia had implemented. But to see the proof before her, the once proud and chilvalrous scout women now killing mercilessly left and right, nearly brought Ray to her knees. Flames engulfed all the near by buildings and thousands of scouts ran the streets butchering everyone in sight.

"Ha ha ha! Bow to me you worthless curs!" Ray looked up to the voice and saw Galaxia herself, in all her golden beauty, hovering above them all on a golden chariot. Randomly, she would throw a bolt of lightning from her hand and strike down the fleeing population. It was a massacre.

"Attack!!"

Out of nowhere swarms of men burst into the fray from their hiding places among the rubble and attacked the scouts destroying their homes. Though they fought bravely, their efforts were in vain. The scouts easily leaped above them and used their unique powers to slaughter them.

"DIE!!" Ray heard the familiar yell and looked up in horror as her father and his remaining soldiers took on Galaxia head on. Galaxia smiled and leaped off of her chariot with her sword drawn. She cut through them like paper. The only one remaning was Ray's father and he fought valiently. Galaxia laughed and played with him. "What an honor. The king of Mars deigning to try and defeat me." She laughed again and easily ducked his swords swing to her head. Infuriated, Ray's father surprised Galaxia by kicking her in the stomach causing her to lose her grip on her sword that clattered to the ground below. He raised his sword quickly to finish her but Galaxia quickly flew backward to evade his blow. Despite her maneuvar the tip of his sword found Galaxia's chin and sliced a deep wound from there to her left eye. Galaxia cried out in pain and covered her cheek. He had missed her eye but she would walk forever with his mark on her. Galaxia yelled her hatred and blasted him out of the sky. Ray screamed as she watched her father plummet from the sky. Galaxia followed him and stabbed him through the heart with a dagger she kept strapped to her thigh. When they hit the ground they sank a good five feet into the soil and waves of dirt splashed outward. Ray covered her eyes to keep the dirt from hitting them but screamed again when Galaxia rose with her fathers head in her hand.

Galaxia turned towards her screamed and pointed to her. "Grab her!"

Before she could run Ray was seized by two scouts and despite her best efforts was hauled to Galaxia's side. Blood streamed from her open wound on her face and Ray spit into it. Galaxia hissed at the sting and backhanded Ray across the face. "You are not part of this world princess. Where are you?" Galaxia grabbed her head between her hands and focused her energy. Ray felt Galaxia flipping through her memories, uncovering locations of the last wave of troops her father would have had, the people who would have escaped routes planned out, and the names of who to talk to should any civilian uprising would commence. Galaxia spoke quickly with another scout that had walked up to her and gave her all the information she had taken from Ray's mind. Galaxia turned back to Ray and smiled. "Thank you princess. You've just conquered your own people more thoroughly then I would have." Ray slumped in defeat and felt tears burn her eyes as she thought of all the people she had just betrayed. Galaxia grabbed her head again "Now, what other usefull information do you have in here?" Ray tried to fight her but she was too strong. Suddenly Galaxia stilled and breathed quietly, "Queen Serenity's daughter is lost on Earth?"

Ray turned into a wild woman and kicked and scratched as much as she could. Galaxia punched her, nearly knocking her unconcious and grabbed her head again. "Where exactly did you see her last?"

Ray released an agonized scream and suddenly felt herself pulled roughly into the arms of oblivion.

"Ray! Ray snap out of it!" Lita slapped Ray across the face and she gasped in terror. Ray looked around anxiously, only to find herself in her room, sitting in front of the fireplace where she had first began her meditation. Mina and Amy sat close by and were very worried. "What happened Ray? I never saw anything like that happen to you."

Ray felt tears she couldn't stop flow down her face. Sobs racked her body as she pulled Lita into a fierce hug, needing comfort but knowing nothing would make things right. "My father is dead. Galaxia killed him."

Amy and Mina made sympathetic sounds and rubbed her back soothingly. Ray pulled back, all ready pushing the memory of her slain father aside and focusing on what else happened." I didn't know Galaxia had telepathic powers."

"What?" Lita asked in shock.

"Galaxia...she sensed my presence. I was in sur-corpereal form. No one should have been able to detect me. I had been having bad premonitions about my father and decided today to check on him and my people."

"You should have told us Ray." Amy said.

"My world has been destroyed. They burned everything...killed everyone." Ray said in a haunted voice. "But that's not the worst part."

"What else could be worse then what you've just said?" Mina asked incredulously.

"She scanned my mind...she now knows the princess is not on the moon but on Earth."

Horrified gasps filled the room. "Oh my god. We're doomed." Amy said in a broken whisper.

"Don't say that! We're not screwed yet, we just have to find Serena before Galaxia does. She knows she's on Earth but she doesn't know where."

"But with Mars out of the way she can easily bypass the moon and come straight here." Mina said.

"It's going to take her time. Time we have to use to our advantage. I don't know if she was able to get the general area of where Serena should be since you were able to pull me out but in case she did we have to move quickly. I think I can find Serena but I need your help."

"How are you going to find her? And why didn't you try it before this?" Lita demanded.

"Galaxia's connection ran both ways. I was able to get some information out of her while she did the same to me. I don't have her control and its not my ability to read other's minds so its all still very fuzzy, but I was able to decipher a few things. She knows of a way to enhance ones own telepathic ability with the help of others. Don't you see? If I can enhance my abilites, I might be able to find Serena."

"You're talking forcing doors open in your mind that are not meant to be opened, maybe not now or ever. It could kill you Ray, and the effects will be permanent."

"I'm willing to take the risk." Ray said with steel lacing her tone.

"Well I'm not Ray." Amy said just as determined as she stood and walked out the door. "I won't help get yourself killed."

Ray flinched at the slam of the door before she turned to Mina and Lita. "I need at least one of you to help me. If you have any objections then now's the time to voice them."

"Objections? Hell, I'm telling you right now I'm totally against this." Lita said.

"I think this is beyond stupidity." Mina agreed.

Ray sighed and pulled away from them. "But," Mina said before Ray pulled completely away. "I don't think we have a choice here. We're almost out of time. We have to do this Lita."

"I don't like it."

"Neither do I but at least this way we're trying something instead of doing nothing."

Ray positioned the two of them on either side of her and sat indian style in front of the fire. Ray instructed the three of them to clear their minds and focus on the tiny flame Ray made appear before them. The flame sizzled then rushed into their bodies. Ray told them to close their eyes and to focus on the warmth of the flame inside of them.


rin...pyou...tou...sha...kai...jin...retsu...zai...zen...

With each whispered word Ray had the flames twirl within them. When the last word was whispered the two flames within Mina and Lita leaped from their bodies and slammed into Ray's heart, making her fall backward with a heavy thud.

"Ray!"

Images flashed through Ray's mind. A moonlit park, a man approaching her with long silver hair. A bedroom with curtains, another man being thrown through a window, a great cascading lawn in front of a grand mansion. And finally a tall gorgeous man leaning over her and kissing her senseless. His hands raking her body and making her quiver. He lowered his weight above her and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. He laughed into her ear and leaned away to lower the straps of her nightgown. Her breasts were bared and he admired them for a minute, before his thumbs smoothed over them and flicked them back and forth. She moaned deep in her throat and used her legs to flip him on his back. She tore open his shirt and quickly removed his pants. She lifted her nightgown and rubbed herself shamelessly against him. He growled and pulled her down for a fierce kiss that stole her breath. When she was sure he'd take her as savagely as they both wanted he tenderly stroked her neck and whispered in her ear. "I think I'm falling in love with you..."

She sighed against him. "Oh, Darien..."

"Who's Darien?" Lita asked quizzically.

Ray shot up right and heat suffused her cheeks. Looking at Mina and Lita she shook her head. "I don't know."

"Well you were moaning his name rather passionately and you even got me horny so what gives?" Mina said playfully.

"I think I was in Serena's head."

Lita eyebrows shot up. "You mean to tell me she was doing it?"

"She wasn't quite there yet." Ray groused, totally embarassed and still highly aroused. Whoever Darien was he was a complete hottie....and apparently in love with her princess.

"Then she's found her mate!" Mina said in excitement. "We're saved!"

"No Mina. I was in her head but I could still sense him. Whoever that guy is he is not her mate."

"How could you know?" Mina said, not willing to give up on the idea.

"Because there was no sharing of powers. From what I've heard mates can't help but meld their powers and essences into one when they have sex."

"But we've discussed this. If he's human then that explains everything. Even if he is her mate he can't share powers with her he doesn't have."

"Besides," Lita interjected. "We're pretty sure she doesn't have a mate anyway, at least not one born. We brought her to Earth so she could fuck and awaken her powers. As long as her powers are awakened it doesn't matter who he is."

"Yes it does!" Ray screamed. "I saw with my own eyes what Galaxia can do. She is very powerful, I don't think the crystal alone can do the trick now. She even has scouts working with her."

Mina's mouth fell open in shock. "The rumors are true then?"

"Yes, they are. From what Queen Serenity told me of mates, a true mate not only re-energizes but also infuses the other with power. We only have one shot at this. If Serena has sex with anyone else her first time besides her mate, the window is closed. Even if she finds her mate afterwards her powers will not become stronger or re-energize. Meaning in a few years time or even days...her powers could extinquish. We can't take that risk."

"We just can't cut a break. Why the hell didn't we know about this sooner?"

"Because the Queen figured she'd tell Serena with more then enough time. The only reason she told me all about this yesterday was because I called her to inform her about Serena being missing."

"Ray, how did the Queen take it?" Lita asked concerned.

Ray bowed her head in shame. "I didn't have the heart to tell her. Then she started talking to me about the her king and that's when she told me all this."

"So now we're rooting for Serena not to get laid? Isn't even a little power better than nothing?" Mina asked.

"Not against what I saw." Ray said, her eyes remembering the horrors she had seen and the death of her beloved father. Tears stung her eyes but she shook them away. There'd be time to grieve later.

"But if you were in her head then she's close to doing it right now." Lita said anxiously.

"No, I think I was in her subconcious. She was dreaming. The images were too sporadic to be anything she was seeing."

"What are we going to do?"

"First we have to catch Amy up on everything. Then tomorrow...we pass the park and look for a Mansion nearby with a grand lawn and a silver haired man."

"What?"

"I'll explain later. Let's go."