Title:  On the Seashore
Chapter 3
Rated PG
By:  Mellibea

Here’s chapter 3 of this story, please let me know if you like it at
Mellibea@yahoo.com.  Thank you to those people who have written with their
support.  It is highly appreciated.

Disclaimer:  I don’t own sailor Moon or related characters.

On with the story…
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On the Seashore
Chapter 3

Serena stared at him, wide eyed, and then told him in a low voice:  “I
think you are either crazy, kyrios Xandreou, or your seducing activities
have gotten so out of hand that you can’t tell one girl from the other”
“How dare you talk to me that way?”  He burst furiously.
The girl looked him in the eye.  They were blue like the midnight sky and
hard like flint.  But in them she also saw a little flame… just like the
one she felt burning inside her.
“Oh, I dare alright” she angrily exclaimed.  “Because it wasn’t me who you…
seduced and abandoned a few months back in Athens.  It was my younger
sister, Mina” a sob escaped from her lips.  “And you can’t even remember
how she looks like… You damn bastard!”
Her words made the room fall silent, the tension almost palpable.  The
doctor intervened then.
“I think, my dear Darien, that there has been a mistake.  Now, if you’ll
excuse me, I’ll go check on my other patient” as he prepared to leave,
Serena held on to his arm.
“A moment, please.  Did you just called that man… Darien?”
“Yes, thespinis.  Is something wrong?”
“You mean… he’s not Andrew?”  The girl gulped.
“Andrew is Kyrios Xandreou’s little brother, thespinis” the doctor looked
at her surprised.  “He was also hurt in an accident some time ago, but his
was more serious than yours.  Actually, I should be with him now.  If you
want to go to the clinic tomorrow morning, I’ll prescribe you some
medicine… just for precaution, you know what I mean” he added noting that
she had gone pale.  “The warm climate of our country tends to promote
infections.”  
When he exited the room, followed by Raye, Serena was left alone with
Darien Xandreou.  She licked her dry lips.
“You thought I was Mina” she whispered.  “And I thought you were Andrew.
We didn’t understand each other from the very beginning.” 
“So it seems” he replied.
“But Mina is only eighteen years old” she protested.  “You should have
noticed that I was much older.”
“I thought you had lied to Andrew about your age” he looked her over.  “My
name is Serena” she informed him in a hush voice, fixing her gaze on the
floor.  “I’ve said some pretty harsh things to you.  I’m sorry, but I was a
bit upset about Mina.”
“You are obviously very loyal to your family” he commented.  “Is a trait we
share.”
“Did Andrew suffer really bad injuries in the accident?”  She asked him.
“He has a broken leg and a very bad blow to the head” he shrugged.  “Time
and rest will heal both things.”
“Good, it could’ve been worst” she paused and tried to smile, “and of
course, that’s why he never made it to the airport.  I only wish someone
had told us.  Mina will be so relived when she finds out what happened…”
she waited for him to say something, but since he didn’t, she continued:
“I’ll go back to the hotel immediately and tell her.”
“I don’t think you should go looking like that,” he finally said.
She looked to where his gaze was directed and blushed.  She tried to put
the sides of her torn shirt together.
“No, I guess not” she whispered.
“I’ll take you to my sister’s room.  Follow me” he told her brusquely. 
Serena gave one step and her knees gave way.
“What’s wrong now?”  He asked impatiently when he reached the door, turning
around to look at her.
“I think is the reaction…” she answered and tried to smile.  “If you could…
wait a moment.”
Angry, he whispered something under his breath and moved back.  Before
Serena could guess what he intended to do, he lifted her up in his arms,
walked across the living room and entered a wide hall.
“What do you think you’re doing?”  She burst, furiously.  She laid her
hands on his chest and tried to push him back, but it was like trying to
tear down a brick wall.  Except that a wall couldn’t be so warm… so
sensual.  Nervously, she felt his heartbeats under her fingertips.  “Put me
down immediately” she asked him breathlessly.  
“Stay put” he ordered.
He climbed the marble stairs with her in his arms, without stopping.  Once
he got to the upstairs floor, he pushed open a door with his shoulder and
went in.  It was a wide, sunny room, with furniture made of soft colored
wood and pastel curtains.  Raye wasn’t there and Darien tapped his foot on
the floor, obviously annoyed before setting her down on the bed, without
any gentleness. 
She saw him walk to a wardrobe, which occupied a whole wall and then opened
the door.  He took down a silk white shirt with a classic cut, and threw it
at her.
“Put it on” he ordered again.
“I think I’ll stay like I am” she replied quickly.  It was obvious that the
shirt was very expensive and the idea of having to fight to take off her
torn shirt, with an injured shoulder and arm, didn’t appeal to her.  
“Does something hurt?” asked Darien Xandreou.
“Yes, my muscles are tense” she recognized.
“Can you do this?”  He asked her extending his arms in front of him.
“I think so” Serena tried to imitate him.
Darien stooped over her and with a swift movement rid her of the shirt,
leaving her naked up to her waist.
“Oh” exclaimed the girl and taking Raye’s shirt covered her naked breasts,
blushing.  “How… dare you?”
“Is not a matter of daring” he replied in an almost bored tone.  “You
needed help and there was no one else.”
“That still doesn’t give you the right…”
He gave her a smile and answered softly:
“In my house, kyria Serena, I assume any rights I want.  I’ll wait for you
downstairs” when he got to the door, he turned around and gave her a
mocking smile.  “I’m happy to know that you won’t have any marks left.  You
have a beautiful body.”
He left a stunned Serena looking at him open-mouthed.  It took her a moment
to compose herself.  She had never in her life been treated that way.  She
had never felt this vulnerable, so disturbingly aware of her own femininity.
Darien Xandreou wasn’t only a powerful and attractive man, she thought
angrily.  He was also very dangerous in many ways.  Maybe she had said some
pretty harsh things to him, but he had taken his vindication with his last
comment, she thought while fastening the buttons of Raye’s shirt.  From now
on she will be more careful with the way he treated him.
On the side of the bedroom was a door that led to a bathroom.  She neared
the bathroom sink and when she looked in the mirror, she noticed that her
face was full of dirt and her hair was in tangles.  She was about to cry.
‘But that would be an absurd weakness’, she told herself while she washed
her face and fixed her hair quickly.  For a moment, she was tempted to let
her long hair flow down her back.  It made her face seem more attractive,
soft and relaxed.  However, she stopped herself.  What was she thinking?
She wasn’t there to relax, or to cause any impressions, let alone to
someone like Darien Xandreou, so she gathered up her hair again.
She went out to the corridor, and looked around her.  There were a few
doors to both sides, all of them closed, and between them there were niches
that exhibited some ceramic pieces and valuable objects.  A particular
figure caught her eye, so she got close to it to admire it.  It was a
bronze statue, about sixty centimeters high, of a young man with a
beautiful face, and proud expression.
She thought about its similarities with the house’s design.  It was a very
beautiful and impressive piece.  In fact, the whole villa was magnificent,
and maybe that was the problem, it seemed more like an exposition than a
house; luxurious but strangely cold, without any family touch.
She heard a door opening, and turning around, she saw Raye and the doctor
coming out of one of the rooms.  They moved away to the stairs.  Too
absorbed in their conversation, not noticing her, they went down the stairs
and out of sight.
‘That must be Andrew’s bedroom’, she gulped.  Andrew, whom she had never
seen.  Impulsively, she walked to the door and knocked.  There was a pause
and then a tired voice answered:
“Peraste.”
Making up her mind Serena walked in.  Andrew was lying down in a couch near
the balcony.  It was a less harsh and younger version of his brother.  In
his handsome face was a pained look.  His eyes were closed and his leg was
in a cast; his pale face gave him a vulnerable air.
“Andrew?”  Whispered the girl.
He opened his eyes and looked at her dumbfounded.
“Pya iste?”  He asked.
“I’m Serena… Mina’s sister” she smiled.  “We arrived today in Karthos
looking for you.”
He kept looking at her frowning.
“Then sas katalaveno” he answered and then added in English:  “I don’t
understand.  What do you want?”
“I’ve come with Mina” explained Serena.  “She must have talked to you about
me.”
“I don’t know you and I don’t know any Mina” he answered, his nervous
expression intensifying.
“Of course you do” she assured wistfully, although she felt worried.  “You
met her in Athens during spring brake and you promised her to go see her in
England.  But since you had this accident, we decided to come.”
“What are you saying?”  He raised his voice.  “Who are you?”
While the girl stuttered not knowing how to continue, the door opened
behind her and heard Darien’s angry voice:
“This is intolerable, thespinis.  My brother needs tranquility.  How have
you dared to come in here?”  He took her by the arm and dragged her out of
the room.
Serena resisted, but he guided her to the stairs.
“I’m sorry if I have meddled into your business” she apologized.  “But
after all, I did come here to look for Andrew.”
“In my house, you won’t see anyone without my permission.”
“And if I had asked, would you have let me see him?”  She asked.
“No” he answered brusquely.  “I hope your intervention hasn’t caused him
any damage.”
“I don’t see why a couple of words from me would affect a broken leg”
answered Serena, angrily.  “I know you’re worried about him, but I have to
think about my sister” she paused.  “Besides, I thought Andrew would like
to hear from her.”
“And did he like it?”
“Well, no” humiliated, she noticed that he led her quickly out of the
house, without letting her say goodbye to Raye or letting her ask the
doctor about Andrew’s condition.  “He seemed… confused.”
Darien pressed his lips together while helping her up into a jeep that was
parked in front of the entrance.  Serena noticed that her purse was on the
backseat, which left her without an excuse for coming back.  Obviously, the
man thought of everything.
“No relentless pursue will help Andrew recuperate” declared Darien while
starting up the car.
“I didn’t mean to do that” sighed Serena.  “I only wanted to greet him.”
“Well then, you’ve done that” he scornfully replied.  “So now we can end
all of this.”
This couldn’t be the end, thought Serena while the car moved along the
road.  It was only the beginning… She tensed when she suddenly spotted the
motorcycle to the side of the road.
“Oh, what am I going to do with it now?” she groaned.
“You won’t do anything” he sullenly replied.  “I’ve already looked through
it and it wasn’t in any condition to travel on the road, not even before
the accident.  Where did you rent it?  From whom?”
“From someone named Andonis” Serena pulled out a business card from her
purse.  “Someone gave it to me at the hotel.”
“Ah, yes, the Dionysius, of course” after looking at the card, he
exasperatedly punched the steering wheel.  “I’ve should’ve known.  How many
times have I warned that man?  But he won’t be doing this again.”
“I agree.  No matter how expensive it comes out to be, I’ll rent a car.”
“You’re thinking of staying in Karthos?”  He sternly looked at her.
“Of course.  Is only natural that Mina will want to spend as much time as
possible next to Andrew and that I would want to enjoy my vacation.”
“I’m sorry to tell you that won’t be possible” he replied emphatically.
“Why?  Is Karthos reserved only for the eccentric?”  The girl joked trying
to dissipate the shills she felt running down her spine.
“It’ll be better that you go back to your country and that you take your
sister with you.” 
“You mean while Andrew recuperates” she whispered hoarsely.  “But he’s not
gravely injured and Mina will want to take care of him.”
“Her services won’t be need it” he didn’t look at her.  His attention was
focused on the road ahead.
“Is not you who has to decide that”  Serena quietly replied.  “You seem to
have forgotten that Andrew and her are engaged to be married.”
“I’ve not agreed to that marriage” he replied brusquely.  “And I won’t
either.  It’s you who has a bad memory, thespinis.  Maybe we have solved
the problem with our confused identities, but believe me, that has changed
nothing.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I thought I had made myself clear” irritated, Darien drummed on the
steering wheel with his fingers.  “I’m not letting your sister, or her
unborn child, have any right to claim anything from my family.  A young
girl who is too generous with her favors before marriage has to accept the
consequences” he added accusingly.
“While the man stays unpunished?”  Serena exclaimed angrily.  “What a role
model!”
“Andrew is too young” declared Darien Xandreou shrugging his shoulders.  “I
won’t let him throw away his future over one stupid mistake.”
“And what about Mina’s future?”
“Is obvious your sister is a smart girl.  She’ll keep going forward.”
“You can’t just ignore this situation” she insisted with anguish.  “They’re
in love.”
“The first from a lot of other times for both, I’m sure.”  He smiled
cynically. 
‘Maybe for Andrew, but not for the sensible Mina’, thought the girl feeling
a deep hate for Darien and all of the arrogant males of the Xandreou
family.  Her sister had chosen her mate and had given him her heart.  Such
a rejection would leave a scar that would not disappear for the rest of her
life.
“Doesn’t Andrew’s opinion count?”  She asked shakily.
“He knows he has made a mistake” declared Darien.  “I’m the head of the
family and my brother will do as I say.”
“Is like a sentence of life in prison” Serena bit back scathingly.
“I’ve got my own plans for Andrew” he assured.  “And they don’t include
your sister, thespinis.”
“A marriage for convenience, no doubt” it terrified her to see her worst
fears come true.
“Yes, a marriage based on a solid foundation, with real moral values and a
shared cultural background” he explained.  “Some day Andrew will be a rich
man and I won’t let him be smitten away by the first pretty face that
crosses his path.”
“In other words if Mina was rich, the story would be different” she
whispered bitterly.
“I didn’t say that.  Andrew’s wife should be, above all, a sensible woman.”
“People in love aren’t always sensible” replied the girl.  “Haven’t you
ever fallen in love, Mister Xandreou?  Or are you like one of the bronze
statues I’ve seen at the villa… with a superficial attractiveness, but
without a heart?”
“You suppose too many things, thespinis” he spoke icily, “and besides,
we’re not talking about my feelings.”
“But they have to see each other… talk about the baby.  You can’t stop them
from seeing each other for that” insisted Serena, desperately.
“I don’t think there would be any good in doing that.”
“That’s your opinion, but maybe Andrew thinks something else” she said
tensely.  “I know Mina doesn’t think like that.”
“I’m not going to argue anymore.  Is useless that you and your sister stay
in Karthos, thespinis.  Go back to your country.”
“Not until Mina sees Andrew” she assured him.  “You have no right to
separate them with your commanding attitude.  Now I understand why the word
tirano is Greek” she added furiously while noticing that the first houses
of Karthos started appearing.
“We’re not going to talk about my rights” added Darien icily, “And I’m not
letting you insult me either.  Andrew doesn’t want to see your sister.  In
truth, he doesn’t even remember her name, or her existence.”
“I can’t believe this” whispered the trembling girl.  “You’re afraid of
them seeing each other again.  You don’t want to loose your influence over
Andrew… or let him live his own life.”
“They could see each other dozens of times and that would still not change
anything, I assure you” Darien Xandreou brusquely stopped the car in front
of the hotel.
“Why should I believe what you tell me?”  Serena saw him get down from the
car and then open the door for her.
“Because that blow to the head gave him amnesia, thespinis” he grabbed her
firmly by the arms and gazed into her eyes.  “Are you satisfied?”
“Oh, no” anguished, Serena raised her hand to her lips and looked at him
wide eyed.  “That can’t be true…”
“Do you think I would joke about something like that?”
“No.  Oh, God, poor boy.  What are we going to do?”
“*You* are not going to do anything” he declared.  “*I’m* going to take
care of my brother until he gets better.”
“That’s what you think” Serena straightened up.  “I’m not going to let you
push Mina away from Andrew’s life.”
“Do you think you can order me around, thespinis?  A woman, asserting her
wishes on Darien Xandreou?”  he laughed out loud, mocking her.  “Never.”
He tightened his grip on her and pulled her to him.  The pained whimper
Serena made when he grazed her injured shoulder was quieted under the
inflexible pressure of his lips on hers.  She felt her chest pressing
tightly against his.  She was filled with recognition of his tensed muscles
pressed against hers… like she already knew somewhere in her heart what it
would feel like to be in Darien Xandreou’s arms.  As if she had only been
born for that moment…
Then, with the same harshness, he let her go.  He breathed agitatedly and
the look he gave her was just as ardent and implacable as the Grecian sun.
“Don’t ever cross my path again… Serena Dryden… if you know what’s good for
you.”
He got on the jeep and drove away.  Serena incredulously kept looking at
the retreating jeep raising a hand to her lips.

On to chapter 4…
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Hoped you liked this chapter.  Please e-mail me at mellibea@yahoo.com tell
me what you think.  Until next time ^_~
Mellibea