Once in a Dream Part 4 --- Who are you? By: Neo-Queen Serenity E-Mail: serenausako@hotmail.com webpage: http://crystaltokyo.cjb.net Serena sat in her chair beside the fireplace. She was all dressed up and ready to go. Her thin hands were encased in a pair of white lace opera gloves matching up the rest of her dress. A fan stitched with strands of silver and gold rested on her lap. Serena turned around to look at her own reflection in the full-length mirror. She leaned her head on her elbow as she feel satisfied with her charming appearance. A gentle knock came and the door to her room open slightly. "Serena?" Mina walked in with her evening dress on. She hugged by a dress of bright orange, and looking as pretty as always. Serena thought the color suited her friend's complexion well. The orange material fitted tightly against her pale, white skin. Her hair was pinned up on top of her head and tied with a orange scarf. Two shining hearts shaped earrings made of pure gold tipped her earlobe. Serena looked up with admiration and smiled warmly at Mina. " you look beautiful, I think Charles will be very proud of you tonight." Mina stepped closer and made a full turn in front of Serena, a circle of orange trailed around her delicate figure. "Charles Charles, Charles..." She looked at her left hand lovingly. On her fourth finger, a diamond wedding band sealed her marriage to Charles for seven years rested on it. Mina picked up the white mask resting on top of Serena's dressing table and hand it to her. "Come on Serena, put on your mask now. The dance will start in just 10 minutes, Charles asked me to escort down the queen of the night and his fair cousin." Serena giggled and adjusted her mask. After checking her appearance in the mirror once more, she followed Mina and stepped out of her room. ******** Darien stood beside Charles and Ken by a grand dinning table. He sipped some red wine from the crystal glass that he held by his gloved hand and smiled to two of his friends beside him and the chatting crowd around him. The Wales and Hudson family had arrived during early evening. Few relatives of Charles and Mina were also present at the party. Nearly 30 guests filled the grand ballroom. Darien himself was subjected as the prince of the night. Every lady's eyes were focused on him, unable to tear away from that handsome face. Young and naïve girls looked at him with starry eyes and thoughtful fantasy. Few attempted to invite him for a short waltz or start a conversation with him but all got turned down coldly by their stonehearted "prince". Some ladies' companions and partners at the dance looked at Darien with draggers in their eyes. Darien was dressed in a black suit and a shirt made of flowing white silk. A pair of highly polished black dress shoes made him stood firm and rigid on the floor. A white silk cloth folded neatly in shape of triangle and placed neatly in the pocket of his black tuxedo. His midnight dark hair was combed neatly, few strands of silky black that fell from his forehead brushed against his deep ocean blue eyes and make him even more intriguing and mystery. He had a plain white mask, though it covered no advantage of his handsome feature. His lips were pressed firmly together and curved into a mischief smirk. A straight and shapely nose finished the rest of his facial structure. Darien stood there straight and proud, his whole appearance made his feature more irritating and irresistible. At least most ladies thought so. Ken tapped Darien lightly on the shoulder and teased, "Darien? In case you haven't notice, every lady in the room seems to agree you're the prince of the night. It occurred to me that you are not interested in any of them. What's the matter with you tonight? Who are you waiting for?" Ken finished up and eyed Charles with a chuckle. Both knowing but pretend to tug along with the charade. Unnoticed to Darien, he looked at him and shrugged his broad shoulder. "it's not any of my concern." He then picked up a red rose from the crystal vase on the table. Inhaling the sweet scent lightly and placed it neatly in his tuxedo pocket beside the white cloth. He suddenly felt Ken nudged him at the elbow. He rolled his eyes impatiently and looked to the direction Ken was pointing and was greatly amazed as a nearly unreal image of two fairies walking down the steps of the great circular stairs jumped into his eyes. Two beautiful young woman hand in hand walked gracefully down, one covered in orange, the other in pure white silk. Smiles and tenderness were all displayed on those youthful faces. Ken eyed Darien with a grin across his face, "What a beautiful princess, I say you should go and court with all your charms. Or else I suppose you are too late since you're not the only man here." Ken hinted secretly at Darien's surprised facial expression who looked around him to notice other men in the room were greatly impressed by Serena's beauty as well. ********* Serena sat on a chair beside the dinning table, a glass half filled with red wine in her gloved hand. Her eyes wondered around the ballroom while sipping her wine slowly. Mina had gone off to greet Charles; Ami and Rei were dancing with Greg and Chad; Lita smile contently in Ken's deep embrace, his lips pressing against her soft temple in a lover's fashion, sending sweet and loving words to her delicate ears which cause Lita to blush and giggle; and Molly was nowhere to be seen. Serena smiled at whirling happy couples around the ballroom, sharing their happiness and joy. Unexpected, a woman dressed in lavender silk materialized by her side. "Your Highness-" she blurted happily. "No, Alice, not here! Not everyone here knows who I am." Serena frowned to stop her. "But-" "No buts, Alice." "Why wouldn't people ever leave me alone. Your highness, your highness, and your highness! I am not yours and not high anything. I am Serena, S-e-r-e-n-a." Serena ordered impatiently. Alice was a countess of England, her father had been a great hunting companion to Serena's own father. All have changed after his sudden death when Serena was no more than 10 years old. Alice herself was a childhood friend of Serena, cheerful, happy, and always willing to share her princess's problems. She is 2 years older than Serena and was engaged to a Spanish Count last month. It was thought to be a marriage of happiness and wealth, Serena was happy for her. Again, unexpected, a hand tapped her shoulder gently. Startled by it again, Serena jerked around and instantly found herself starring into a pair of mysterious deep blue eyes, the deepest pair she'd ever starred into through her entire life. Her white dress whirled with her turning body, making a vision of white lace and silk. Her lips parted lightly, startled by their awesome beauty. A hue of rosy pink raised upon her cheek as Serena gazed at the who gazed at her with obvious admiration. He was a tall handsome young man at 6 feet. He offered Serena his hand. "My lady, would you care to give me the pleasure and honor of dancing with you?" He was polite and courteous. Serena blushed. Unable to tear herself from the spell of those piercing blue eyes, she whispered softly, "I'd love to, my lord." The man led her to the dance floor and they whirled together with other couples around on the marble floor. Serena looked around, envious eyes filled with jealousy focused on the finest couple in the crowd. Men starred with envy at the beauty dancing in Darien's arms, young ladies looked on with great longing at Serena's handsome dance partner. 8 pair of smiling and friendly eyes settled on them from different parts of the room. Smiling, Ken gave Lita a reassuring kiss on the forehead. "They made it. How about you stop worry and show me your best move?" Lita sunk deeper into her fiancée's protective embrace, smiling and wishing her cousin good luck. Darien and Serena were having a wonderful time in the presence of each other. They were enjoying everyone else's attention in the room and others' longing stares. Both unaware of each other's true identity and their vows of despising and disgust. He tried to guess who she was but failed miserably, only feeling somewhat familiar with her bright, jewel eyes. She did the same but with no success. Serena and Darien stood in front of each other's very own eyes, unknowing that he or she was actually the person they vowed to hate and despise. It didn't matter at all, under those attentive and admiring gaze, nothing truly matters. Serena was experiencing the greatest time she ever had since birth. This mysterious stranger made her felt light and full, her heart danced with her moving pace, her body whirling under his lead. If someone was to point out she was dancing in paradise, she'd have believed her. He was a good dancer, Serena concluded when she lowered her body and he dipped forward. she had been a good dancer in the palace, in fact, the best, but she haven't seen anyone equally as good or amazing to be with. When she whirled and danced in his arms, she felt protected and loved. Problems, complains, curses and sadness were all thrown to the back of her mind, completely forgotten and vanished, only happiness and tenderness existed at that moment. It's a weird feeling, she didn't even know who the man under his white mask really was, but some how her heart told her this handsome stranger was special, very special, as if she has some kind of bond connected to him, as if her entire life depended on him. As for Darien, time seems flying when you enjoy it to your heart's content. He was greatly amazed by this beautiful and charming girl in front of him. Young, beautiful, interesting, and full of energy, the perfect girl every man ever wanted and wished to have. As midnight approaches, the dance drew to an end. Revelation must once take place... Charles and Mina announced the end of the ball and asked their single guests to take off their dance partner's mask. Mina threw Charles a knowing smile and nodded toward the place where Darien and Serena stood. Darien took the red rose he had placed in his suit pocket earlier and placed it gently in Serena's blonde hair, waving it with other delicate red petals. He scooped her face tenderly between his warm fingers and leaned down to gave her a smooth kiss on the lip. Serena was caught off guard, but when he deepened it, she couldn't help but kiss him back. Time lingered... It was the most wonderful feeling in the world, Serena thought silently as she felt she's going to melt under his kiss and its warmness devoured her whole being. His lips tasted like wine and honey. She felt protected when Darien slid his hand to her back gently, holding her tighter against him with tenderness. He broke the kiss and slowly removed Serena's white mask as she did the same to his. At the same time, their friends gathered around the two and teasing smiles spread across expectant faces. Startled, Serena looked up to see Darien's blue eyes filled with the same surprise and astonishment. "You are..." they both gasped. To be continued...