Once in a Dream Part 2 --- a bet with Lita By: Neo-Queen Serenity E-Mail: serenausako@hotmail.com webpage: http://crystaltokyo.cjb.net "My lady? My lady. Wake Up." Molly shook the slumbering Serena gently. Serena slowly opened her blue eyes as she started to gather her sense. "Oh my lady, Lady Mina ordered me to come to you and tell you that Lady Ami, Lita, Rei and Lord Ken, Chad and Greg had arrived." Her voice urgent and exited. "What? They are here already? Oh, Molly get me dressed, quickly!" Still feeling sleepy, Serena shook her head and stuck her feet into the silver slippers on the floor. She ran toward her huge bay window and draw the pale green curtains aside. Glancing down across the water fountain and the little rose garden she noticed that there were three carriages by the front gate. Mina and Charles were greeting and laughing with Lita and the rest of the party. "Lita, Ami, and Rei. They're all here." She looked dreamily at her friends downstairs. Serena ran down the staircase in a rush and hugged Lita as hard as she could when she entered the foyer with Rei and Ami. "Rei, Lita, Ami... I missed you all!" A sudden surge of happiness twisted her heart. "See how the ice beauty forgot about us huh, my dear?" Greg grinned at his wife Ami and back at Serena. Serena smiled brightly at her cousin, "Of course I didn't Greg, and you too Chad... You guys haven't changed much though, still so hateful..." Serena hid behind Ami's back as Greg raised his fist at her, then smiled to indicate she didn't really meant that. "Don't dare hurt me Greg! You should know that mom would kill you if you did." She threatened, suddenly straightened her back to display a vision of dignity, and smiled. Greg chuckled and then looked toward Chad and Rei. "ohhhh, I dare not mess up with my Great Great Great Aunt herself, or I will go to hell after I die." He groaned, pretended to be very scared. "Where is Ken?" Serena eyed Lita as she noticed that her dear cousin's "beloved" fiancé was not around. Lita smiled brightly, "Ken has some business left to attend, he will be here tomorrow afternoon with a friend of his." Mina cut in with a loving smile. "I say we go in for some hot tea shall we? Lita and Serena can go up stairs if they wish, I will send a servant to bring up you tea set." ********* Serena walked Lita to her room as she stole some glances sideways. Lita, Rei, Ami and Mina were all her childhood friends, but Serena thought them as big sisters since she had none herself. Lita was always frank and honest with her, who stand up to fight with boys who dared mess up with Serena. Lita was always boyish, dressed in her older brother's clothing and boots, she looked tall and brave.. There was a time when she was greatly obsessed with the idea of been the castle's guard, and was heartbroken when her plan was interrupted by parental decree. Ami was kind, smart looking and very quiet. She preferred listening rather than do the speaking herself. At a very young age, Ami excelled in poetry and art. Serena thought her wonderful to be with. Out of four of her close lady-friends, Lita had been Serena's favorite play mate. Rei and Mina were the daughters to the good friends of Serena's mother, born to very rich families with very high social status. When they were nothing but very naïve young girls, the four of them shared everything: dresses, toys, bed, book, governess, etc. They stick together as a group, humored by their parents---castle's "Five Gang." It was such a glamorous chapter of Serena's childhood. But starting when Serena passed her sixteenth birthday, her mother became more strict and serious with her little daughter. Attending her with best governess for good quality education and preferred to shower her with expansive gifts. Four girls each followed a different path: Mina married Charles; Ami and Rei to Greg and Chad, now Lita was engaged. But Serena firmly believed, there was no force on this planet which could separate her friend her best friends. Nothing. Obviously, the other girls thought so as well. Greg has been a charming protector of Serena and Charles when the children were young. He was a very handsome and daring gentleman, a true knight and a perfect match for Ami as well. Serena was majorly upset 2 years ago when Ami's wedding date was set up, because her mother wouldn't let her attend the wedding. She cried, whined, cursed, but none of them worked. Her mother firmly insisted no. Lita was still single then, but she was engaged to Ken a month ago, and was going to be his bride someday. What about me then? I am all alone, no one cares about me, no one loves me... Mom does, it's different. Serena pondered sadly. During those earlier years, she had tried to comfort herself about that fact that Lita was still single and she was the youngest of them all. But now, Lita was soon to be a wife. What am I talking about? I am still young, I am only 17 now. Lita was the youngest next to me, and she's 19 already. On the other hand, I don't need anyone, LOVE! Love is a weakness, a nightmare! Serena frowned at the emotional words. Disgusted. Her thoughts drifted from her friend to her lady in waiting. To Molly, Serena was a kind mistress and loyal friend; to her friends, Serena was a loving girl and charming young lady; to her mother, Serena was an obedient and beautiful daughter; to others, she was a cold and rigid ice statue. She refused to let any one else to understand her mind and heart, except for her best friends. She was once deeply hurt when she was a young girl. Refusing to let it get to her again, Serena froze her heart for protection at her vulnerability. Many thought she was distant and tough. Serena knew, she wasn't. She was lonely and scared at times. And all those, only her friends could understand. Been born noble, Serena never had a sense of disgust over people who were lower than her in status. She was well-bred, poised, and very well taught as girl of her class. For her, titles were nothing, they were given to her by birth, they were her parents' honor, not hers. "Serena? Serena?" Lita's voice rang gently. Serena suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Lita. Lita was facing her, concern written in her sincere brown eyes. "A penny of your thought?" "My thought?" Serena repeated, staring blankly at Lita. "You seemed deep in thought, and you haven't talked to me since we started upstairs. I was wondering if you want to share it with me?" "Never mind that. Lita, where is Ken?" Serena quickly thought up a topic which would distract Lita from questioning further. Lita giggled, "I already told you about that downstairs. You seemed to care about Ken's whereabouts more than I do." She teased. Serena was slightly embarrassed, "Well then I must have been very bad at listening." "Or daydreaming as always? Well, we passed Leeds on our way here and Ken decided to stop by so he could have a few words with Endymion. Perhaps he would decide to invite him to come as well." "Endymion?" Serena blinked at the unfamiliar name. "Of course, Duke Endymion actually. Although we all call him Darien or Endy for short. He was a very handsome and charming young man. I couldn't help but start liking him." Lita tilted her head, trying to picture Endymion's handsome face with a sigh. "Serena?" she gathered her gaze and looked back, "I think you will like him too if you actually meet him and get to know him more. May be you will fall in love with him, like other young ladies did, because he's way too handsome. I would sure take the chance if I didn't promise Ken already." Something glittered in Lita's frank brown eyes which made Serena laugh, "Not for me Lita, did you forgot who I really am? I am the number one "ice beauty" in the whole country after all! And been "icy," I am not suppose to fall in love. I can't imagine how you will pity him if I turn him into a icy statue." "Well, you haven't really meet him yet, love is never predictable in the first place, who knows what will happen? Besides, he was already the prey of many beautiful noble young ladies. Rei told me that he had lost count of he numbers of mistresses he had!" Lita giggled at that, "He's very proud and cold too. He never keep them longer than 10 days. Darien just got bored too quickly. No one, even his parents actually believed he could find a wife someday, knowing her charms wouldn't have kept him interested for so long." Serena rolled her eyes sarcastically and sat herself in a chair after they enter her room. "That description gave me an image of an arrogant young man who likes to flirt with every women he sees! Lots of mistresses right? Ha, those idiot girls, what a pity. And his name, Endymion. He's parents named him after Endymion of the Greek Mythology youth I suppose?" she tried to criticize everything Lita told her about this man, who she had never seen before. "Yeah, I suppose you were right. But it's romantic don't you think? That myth about Endymion and Serenity..." Lita looked at Serena, trying to remember the Greek Mythology she studied. Suddenly her eyes lit up, "Serena, your name is Serenity! A perfect match. I think you guys are destined for each other!" Lita tried to convince her friend that fate had already plotted her life. Serena blushed. "It's not true Lita! What does names do? My name is Serena, and we're not in love, nor never will." "May be you will. You will just fall on your knees and beg for mercy when Cupid's arrow hit you deadly on the heart. When time comes, don't come crying and swoon to me." Lita tried to act serious about what she said. "It's impossible! I despise him already, falling in love with a hateful and arrogant man? I think destiny has something better installed." "You never know, perhaps, HE was what destiny installed for YOU." "Come on Lita, I am not that romantic. I will certainly refuse to be his mistress. I can kill myself before I even let that idea get to my mind." Serena looked away angrily. "he will love you Serena, I promise. You're so beautiful and poised. Perhaps," Lita beamed childishly at her perfect plot, "he will want to marry you, and you can end up like those fairy tales-happily ever after." Serena blushed again. "Please don't tease." "You don't have to believe me right now, but give a chance. let's bet then, if you insist you don't like him. I dare you to dance with him during the Christmas ball. I would bake your favorite chocolate cake." Lita tried to lure Serena with her famous cake baking, and smiled. Serena thought about it for a moment and decided it was a good idea. She held out her hand, "Deal." "Deal." Lita took it. Serena tossed back and forth on her warm and comforting bed. She was still thinking about her bet with Lita. She was certain that she would win. How could I love HIM? I despise him already! A handsome, arrogant noble young man who discards his mistress every 10 days? Disgusting! And those pitiful, mindless girls. Dancing with him won't do my any harm, besides I can teach him a if he's really that hateful." She was determined to categorize this Darien with other soulless, boring, and arrogant noble men she met in the past. What she didn't expect, was that fate had already started plotting for the destined two. To be continued....