Thorny Remembrances

Chapter Four

	Darien revved his bike in return.  He wanted to see what the 
other engine could do.  Maybe he wanted to taste a little adrenaline,
he thought to himself.
	The light changed and both bikes squealed their tires, as the 
acceleration was more than the cold pavement could handle.  Off the 
start the other bike seemed to leap ahead, but Darien?s superior 
driving skills quickly evened the race.  Soon the two were danger-
ously weaving in and out of the busy Tokyo traffic.  Darien felt 
guilty breaking the law, but now he had to know?who was this other 
driver and could he beat them.
	The road took a sharp turn ahead.  Both drivers quickly reduced 
their speed to compensate, but as quickly as they did, a car pulled 
out in front of them.
	Darien swung hard to the right avoiding the vehicle.  The other 
bike had managed to miss the car, but out of control it skidded 
towards the opposite curb.  It hit the curb with a hard crack.  The 
driver flew over the machine and landed on the sidewalk, the helmet 
bouncing on the hard concrete.
	He?d expected the worse as he unsnapped the injured bikers 
helmet.  He raised the dark face shield to reveal a girl?s face.  
Her eyes were squeezed shut.
	?Can you hear me?? he asked.
	Her eyes opened.  She seemed a little shocked, but not serious-
ly injured.
	?Can you move?? he asked again.  ?Move your hands if you can.?
	She reached both hands up to Darien?s chest and shoved him.
	?What the?? Darien said, shocked.
	?That?s what you get for cutting me off.  I was on the right.  
You should have cleared the car on the left.  I wouldn?t have wiped 
out if I?d gone to the left,? she said removing the helmet and 
sitting up.
	Her long red hair fell around her shoulders.  She turned and l
ooked over at Darien.  Suddenly her eyes glazed over. 
	?Prince?? she said, sounding confused.
	Darien had heard her, but hadn?t processed the strange title.  
He was busy trying to get his strength back.  When she?d shoved him 
across the pavement, he?d felt suddenly weakened.  
	?Are you okay?  I didn?t mean to hurt you that bad,? she stood 
over him.  ?I?m gonna move my bike out of the road.  You want me to 
get yours??
	He stood slowly.  
	?No, I can get it.?
	The moon was just slipping behind the downtown skyline.  Night 
had replaced dusk darkening the day?s bright light.
	Darien looked at the woman as she rolled her bike over the 
curb.  She was familiar.  He tried to remember where he knew her 
from, maybe the university or the hospital, or maybe the other day 
at the coffee shop.
	?Say, you wanna grab a cup of coffee?  I know a place,? she 
asked as she checked her bike for damage.  ?This thing will need some 
love, but it?ll still handle okay.?
	?Prince?? he said.  ?Did you call me Prince??
	?Yeah.  Must have been the whack on the head.  I was a little 
scrambled for a minute.  Why?  Is that your name??
	?No, it?s Darien.  Darien Shields.?
	?I?m Rose Mason.  Nice to meet you Darien Shields.?
	The two shook hands and Darien felt the unmistakable drain of 
energy again.  Luna and Artimus had been right.  There was another 
awakening.
	Suddenly Rose doubled over on the pavement.
	Darien left her bike parked on the sidewalk.  After making sure 
she wasn?t injured from the accident, he drove her to his house.  
Holding her in front of him, all the way there he could feel her 
pulling in his energy.  She was conscious, but disoriented most of 
the trip.  His first instinct had been to take her to the hospital, 
but didn?t want her calling him ?Prince Darien? in front of the 
doctors.
	By the time they?d arrived at his apartment, he had to struggle 
to stay awake himself.  She was out cold.  He carried her to the 
elevator.  
	Once inside, he laid her on the sofa where he?d napped earlier. 
 Forcing himself to stay awake he checked her vitals one more time.  
He?d been right; there were no injuries.  Twice she?d risen up and 
said things that made no sense.  
	Before he could call the Scouts or Luna and Artimus, he 
himself passed out on the floor in front of the sofa. 
	
	Rose Mason slept on Darien?s sofa.  She slept soundly and 
dreamed.  In her mind?s eye she could see the Earth of the past.  
She was walking in a garden and he was watching her.  He stood on 
the other side of the trellis believing he was concealed, but she 
could see his black clad form through he vines.  He was always 
watching her, keeping her safe.  It had been his solemn vow to her, 
that she?d never be alone.
	She called his name aloud.
	Darien woke.  He was groggy, but though he?d heard his name.  
He listened for her to say it again, but she didn?t.  He looked at 
his watch.
	Man, it?s after midnight,? he said rubbing his head.
	They?d both been asleep for over an hour.  He looked at the 
young woman, the mystery sleeping on his sofa.  
	?Moon Princess, huh.  She doesn?t look like a princess.?  
	Then he reminded himself that neither did Serena.  He went to 
the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
	A voice from the living room drew him back.
	?It?s not fair.  When I find them, I?ll make things right.  
They?ll all die?? said Rose before rolling over.  The rest of the 
sentence was lost in the sofa pillows.
	Darien stood over her holding the pot of water.  His mouth 
gaped as he recalled what Luna and Artimus had said about the 
possible threat this new awakening carried with it.  But even hearing 
her utter what seemed like a threat, he still couldn?t believe this 
girl would be very threatening.
	He returned to the kitchen and finished the coffee.  When he 
returned, he reached out for Rose?s arm to see if there would be an 
additional transfer of energy.  Nothing.  Rather, he felt a surpris-
ing spark.  She stirred under his touch.
	?Kite?? she said, her eyes fluttering open.  ?No?it?s you, the 
motorcycle guy.?
	?Darien,? he reminded her.
	?Yeah.  Darien.  Where am I??
	?My place.  You passed out.  I brought you here.  I hope that?s 
okay.  You didn?t seem to be hurt, just exhausted or something.?  He 
started to stand but she stopped him.
	?I wasn?t talking in my sleep, was I??
	?A little, something about Kite.  Who?s Kite?  Your boyfriend?? he teased.
	?No, he?s not anyone. Just some name.  Where?s my bike??
	?I left it on the sidewalk.?
	?What!? she exclaimed jumping to her feet.  ?You just left it?  
What if someone steals it?  I?ve got to get it, now.?  She wobbled a 
little, having risen too quickly.
	?Hey, wait a minute.  You?re in no shape to go out.  You won?t 
be able to ride a motorcycle like that.?
	?I?m fine, just a little weak.?
	Darien reached out to steady her.
	?At least have a cup of coffee.  Then I?ll take you to your 
bike.?
	She sat back down on the sofa as Darien disappeared into the 
kitchen.  Soon he reemerged with two cups.  He sat next to her.
	?So, what happened to you?  Why?d you pass out?  You didn?t 
seem hurt.  Do you pass out often??
	?What are you?  Some kind of doctor??
	?No, not yet.  Hopefully though.  I work at the hospital and go 
to school,? he answered.
	?Oh, I thought I was being rhetorical.  No, I don?t have a 
history of passing out.  But, I?ve been feeling a little weak lately, 
maybe the flu.  Maybe being forced off the road by a careless biker 
took more out of me than I thought.?  She winked at him from over her 
coffee cup.
	?Well, you might check with your physician,? he said, knowing 
she wouldn?t.
	?Yeah, after I get my bike.?
	Darien stood and walked around the sofa.  He stared out the big 
window into the night sky.
	?So, Rose, do you ever think about astrology or astronomy??
	?What an odd question.?
	?Not really.  I was just looking out at the sky.  Look how big 
the Moon is.  And off to the left, that bright dot is the planet 
Venus.  Even with the city lights, some of the planets are still 
visible; almost as if they?re trying to be seen.?
	?Okay,? said Rose standing, ?now you?re starting to freak me 
out.  I shouldn?t be here in your apartment.  I don?t even know you.?
	?Don?t worry.  I?m not dangerous.  Just trying to make light 
conversation.  Geez, your suspicious.  C?mon, I?ll take you to your 
bike.?  He sat his empty coffee cup on the counter.
	She stood and walked around the sofa towards the kitchen 
pausing in front of the window.
	?It nighttime sky is beautiful,? she admitted.  ?I?ve never 
really paid much attention.?
	Darien stood behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder.  He 
bent down a little and pointed with his other hand.  ?Over there, 
above the tower, that red looking dot is Mars.?
	?Really?  How can you tell??
	?It?s red.?
	?Oh, duh,? she laughed and leaned back against his chest.
	Suddenly, he felt guilty.  Conversation with Rose had come so 
easily to him, and physical contact so natural.  He reminded himself 
that he might have grown up with this young lady in another lifetime.  But did she understand that as she leaned against him, starring out at the stars?  He almost wrapped his arms around her shoulders, but stopped himself.
	?Okay, class is over.  Let?s get that bike before someone else 
does,? he said taking her cup.
	The two went downstairs to Darien?s bike.  Rose hopped on back 
after he started it.  He carefully pulled the bike out of the 
apartment?s parking garage and headed back towards the hospital.
	Rose kept her head pressed against Darien?s back so her long 
red hair wouldn?t sting her face in the wind.  He could feel every 
breath she drew through his jacket.  
	?This isn?t right,? he mentally kept telling himself.
	Soon, they pulled up in front of Rose?s motorcycle, still 
sitting on the sidewalk where they?d left it.  The scratched helmet 
sat on the seat.
	?Start it up and see how it handles before you try getting it 
out in traffic,? he suggested.
	She did.  After pronouncing the bike fit to ride she thanked 
Darien for helping her.
	?Look, I don?t usually do this,? he said, ?but here?s my number.
Call me and let me know you made it home all right.  I?d offer to 
follow you, but that might ?freak you out? again.?
	Rose smiled and took the piece of paper from him.  As she drove 
away, he scribbled the plate number of the bike on a second slip of 
paper and put it in his pocket.
	On his way home, Darien drove past Lita?s apartment building.  
He could see the light was still on.  A shape moved across the window.
Knowing that the girls had stopped spending the night a few days 
prior, he decided to go up and check on her.  He was concerned that 
she might be considering slipping out.
	Lita looked flushed when she answered the door.
	?Darien!  What are you doing here?? she asked.
	?I was heading home and saw your light on.  I wanted to make 
sure you were feeling all right.  May I come in??
	?Oh,? she hesitated, ?sure, I guess.?  She opened the door 
wider so he could enter.	
	?You?re still in street clothes.  Thinking about taking a 
walk?? he asked.
	?Well, I can?t say the thought hasn?t crossed my mind.  But, 
I?m still here aren?t I??
	He smiled; glad he?d stopped by.
	?Look, fundamentally I think keeping secrets is a bad idea, 
but I?m keeping yours.?
	Lita started to interrupt him, but he stopped her.
	?I?d like to tell you about something that happened this 
evening, and I?m not ready to share it with the others.  If you 
don?t want to be put in this position, I?ll understand.?
	She shook her head indicating he should continue.
	He sat down, not sure where to begin.  For a moment he 
reconsidered.  He?d never kept anything from Serena before.  He told 
her things in his own time, but this?this felt like a secret.  And 
by telling Lita and asking her to keep it under wraps, this would 
confirm his deceit.  Still, he sensed that Lita needed him to 
confide in her.  He wanted to share his secret with her.
	?I think I met the other Moon Princess.?