On the seashore
Chapter 6
Rated PG
Mellibea

Here’s chapter 6, I hope you enjoy as much as you seem to have enjoyed the
other ones ^_~!  Thank you so much to those of you who write telling me to
keep going.  Trust me, it helps!  Keep those emails coming!

Disclaimers:  I don’t own Sailor Moon or related characters.

On with the story…
*********************************************************************
On the Seashore
Chapter 6


Serena pushed back her chair and stood up, very aware of her trembling state.
“I see that you have come to throw us out of the hotel personally, Mr.
Xandreou” she dared him as he made his way to her.
“No, thespinis, I’ve come to get my sister” he replied furious, glaring at
her.  Then he turned to Raye.  “I saw your car parked in front.  What are
you doing here?”
“I decided to save kyria Dryden the burden of going all the way back to our
house just to return the shirt she borrowed yesterday” answered the girl
showing him the piece of clothing.  “Remember?”
“Yes, I remember” he nodded after a short pause.
“And now we’re having a drink before saying goodbye” explained the Greek
girl a bit suggestively.
“Is it true that you’re leaving?” Inquired Darien turning back to Serena.
‘He still has the nerve to ask me’, thought Serena.  She gave a vindictive
look to the red mark staining his cheek; she only regretted not giving him
a black eye.
“You should know.  After all, it was you who planned everything, right?”
“Me?”  He frowned.  “Of course, I approve your wise decision but, what does
that have to do with me?”
“Because of you, they asked Serena and her sister to leave the hotel” Raye
informed him.
“That’s absurd,” exclaimed Darien giving Serena an ironic look.  “You
suppose me more authority than I have, thespinis.”
“Of course, you deny it” she dared him tensely.
“I don’t usually lie” he declared, “nor do I have any reason to do so.
However, I’ll talk to Kostas Philippides to convince you of it.”
Kostas neared them with a gloomy expression in his face.  Serena didn’t
understand much of their conversation, but it was obvious the man was in
the defensive and grimaced in anger.  Darien dismissed him with impatience
and gave Serena a sullen look.
“Is Maria, his wife, she insists that you leave, thespinis.  Because of
you, one of her family members was insulted and, therefore, she refuses to
let you stay in their hotel.”
“Because of me?”  Exclaimed Serena.  “That’s ridiculous, I haven’t done
anything.”
“You rented a bike” Darien reminded her as he sighed.  “I talked to
Andonis… and told him that I would denounce him to the police if he kept
renting bikes in those conditions” he pressed his lips together and
continued.  “It wasn’t a very friendly conversation.”
“Andonis is Maria’s relative?”  Inquired Serena.
“Is her nephew.  And another one works here as a waiter.”
“Yes” she answered, “I know him.”
“Andonis complaint to his aunt.  Maria witnessed your arrival to the hotel
yesterday; she told Kostas that you would only cause problems and that your
morals were doubtful.”
“That’s absurd” the girl raised her hands to her cheeks as she remembered
the insulting goodbye kiss that was still tormenting her.  “And she wants
us out of the hotel… just for that?”
“She has lived her whole life in Karthos” Darien explained.  “She has a
very narrowed mentality, but the root of her anger is my warning to
Andonis.  I’ve assured Kostas of your innocence, but Maria has a very bad
character and venomous tongue.  She would make his life miserable if he
doesn’t do as she asks.”
“So it’s true.  Because of you, they’re throwing Serena and her sister out
of the hotel!”  Exclaimed Raye.
“Yes, I guess so” he replied and made an angry gesture.  “But I couldn’t
have known that what I told Andonis would have this repercussions.”
“Then we must do something, Darien” suggested Raye.
“What do you mean?”  He asked brusquely.
“We can’t let two young girls be thrown out to the streets; besides, one of
them is pregnant” declared his sister.  “We’re responsible for this,
therefore we must let them stay at the Villa Apollo.”
Serena was stunned and was surprised to hear Darien’s sharp intake of breath.
“No” they both negated at the same time.
“Well, you two finally agree on something, even if it is only to say no”
laughed Raye.  “But I think you two have no other choice” she turned to
Serena.  “If is not at the villa, then you can lodge at the beach house.
We never use it and Amy can take care of you.”
“That won’t be necessary” protested Serena.  “The only thing we need is a
room in another hotel…”
“Is not so easy” declared Raye.  “Karthos is full this time of year.
Besides, what has happened to you is an insult to the philoxenia… The Greek
hospitality towards foreigners” she turned to her brother.  “You explain it
to her, Darien.”
“Raye is right” he answered coldly.  “You have been harmed because of me
and I must repair the damage.  I offer you our… hospitality for the
remainder of your stay.”
“I would rather sleep in the beach” she replied through her teeth.
“That wouldn’t be good for your sister” interrupted Raye “Besides, the
police wouldn’t let you do that.  It would be best if you come with us.”
There was silence.  Darien’s face was hard to read, but Serena was under
the impression that he could barely restrain his emotions.
“The beach house is at your service, thespinis” Darien said finally.
“You’ll move there tomorrow” he paused.  “Is far from the villa, so we’ll
be able to respect our mutual privacy.”
Serena understood that his warning was unmistakable.  The villa and Andrew
were out of her limits.
“I understand” she convened raising her chin.
“I knew you would” nodded Darien.  “I’ll go make the necessary
arrangements” he looked at his sister.  “And you, Raye?”  
“I have to go buy some things” she answered innocently.
“Then I’ll see you later” he replied brusquely and turned to Serena again.
“Until tomorrow, thespinis.”
“You want to stay in Karthos, right?” Raye told the girl when they were
alone again.  “Because that’s all that matters, not your pride or that
silly fight with Darien.  I’ll never forget his face when he ran after you
with a hand on his cheek” she added maliciously.
“Your brother and I are better off away from each other, believe me,” added
Serena.
“Then, the house at the beach is perfect” declared Raye, “because Darien
never visits it.  It was there he spent his honey moon and it brings up bad
memories.”
“Oh, God” exclaimed Serena.  “This keeps getting worst by the minute.  Mina
and I are the last persons he would want to see in a place with so many…
memories.”
“Is one more reason for him to stay away” declared Raye.  “And Amy will be
happy to have someone to take care of.  She was our nanny and was with us
in Australia and United States, so she speaks English.  And once you’ve
settled there, we’ll find a way for your sister and Andrew to see each
other.  That won’t be a problem” she stood up.  “Don’t you think it would
be good if Mina and I met?”
“Yes, of course” answered Serena.  “We’ll go get her.”
Her legs shook when she stood up.  She started to understand the
implications of what she had accepted.  She was about to become Darien
Xandreou’s guest, even though she wouldn’t live under his roof.  ‘That
won’t be a problem’; that phrase, the Greek motto for everything, resounded
annoyingly in her mind and made her shiver.  ‘My God, if it were only true…’

****

They found Mina at the beach.  The girl listened in silence while Serena
told her everything that happened since they arrived to Karthos, not
without leaving out certain details, of course.  She paled when she heard
of Andrew’s accident and of its effects, but she seemed to accept Raye’s
assuredness that he would be healed completely in time.
“I should be by his side” she exclaimed anxiously.  “He needs me.”
“Of course” Raye patted her arm.  “Unfortunately, we first have to convince
my big brother.”
Mina gave her a quivering smile.  For Serena’s surprise, the two girls had
sympathized instantly.  Raye had more experience than Mina and Serena
suspected that she also had more wickedness.  They shouldn’t have anything
in common and however…
“A younger sister, just what I’ve always wanted” commented Raye at that
moment, smiling.  “Andrew had told me I would like you.”
“He told you about me?”  Mina asked her nostalgically.
“Of course, he knew I would be happy for him” Raye sighed.  “But with
Darien it was a whole different story.  Dear God, what a fight.  All
Karthos must’ve found out.”
“Andrew told me there would be… problems” murmured Mina a bit worried.
“My brothers are always fighting” Raye informed her.  “Is nothing new.
Darien has a very strong opinion about marriage.  He says it must be
between equals, or they won’t be happy.  And he already had a wife for
Andrew” she interrupted herself to add:  “He had talked to the young girl’s
family, so he wasn’t very happy when Andrew made his own choice.  But
Andrew reminded him that he had done the same thing and that infuriated
him.  Even after five years, it still hurts him to remember.”
“Fine, that’s understandable” interrupted Serena.  Although she thought
Darien Xandreou didn’t look like a grieving widower, she wondered how his
wife was like.  A sweet young Greek girl, no doubt, that treated him like a
God.  Then she added:  “If he wanted that marriage so bad, then why didn’t
he marry the girl himself?”
“Don’t people say that once you get burned you’re afraid of the fire?”
Smiled Raye.  “Besides, Darien amuses himself greatly.  There’s a girl in
Athens and I think another one in New York.  Why choose from only one plate
where there’s a whole banquet waiting for him?”
‘Yes, why?’ thought Serena with discouragement as she stood up.
“I think I should go start packing.”
“Do you want me to help you?”  Mina offered.
“No, stay here” Serena forced a smile.  “Enjoy the sun.”
“I’ll stay as well” declared Raye.  “We’ll talk, Mina since we’ll be
friends ands sisters.  You have to make Andrew happy.”
While she walked back to the hotel, Serena thought that Raye knew the right
words to say to make Mina happy.  It was obvious she would be a good ally
in the fight to reunite her sister and Andrew.  ‘Then why do I have the
impression that in all of this there’s something more?’ she asked herself
worriedly.
The hotel seemed deserted as she made her way through the patio, but she
had the weird sensation that she was being observed when she walked up the
stairs.  She looked over her shoulder, but didn’t see anyone.  Maybe Maria
was watching her from afar, she thought, and immediately scorned herself
for being so imaginative.
The inside of the room was cool, with the windows open.  Stubborn, Serena
deposited the empty suitcases on one of the beds.  She didn’t expect to
make them so soon, but if she was honest, she hadn’t expected anything that
had happened in Karthos so far.
Darien’s face came to her mind so clearly that she felt him by her side, so
near that she only had to turn around to touch him, to feel the heat
emanating from his skin under her fingers.  She shivered with longing and
wondered what was happening to her.  How could she let her mind wonder off
like that… and take a path that should be forbidden?  ‘Remember that you’re
not the only one’ she warned herself furiously.  ‘Perhaps at this very
moment there’s someone in Athens and in New York having the same
fantasies…’ the girl told herself.
‘Xandreou’s women’, she thought with scorn and walked to the bathroom.  She
turned on the shower.  She told herself she had to fortify her pride, and
forget about Darien Xandreou.  She took off her clothes and entered the
shower, raising her face to enjoy the water.  When she got out, she felt
more relaxed and peaceful.  She wrapped a towel around her body and left
her hair pool down her shoulders and graze her back.
The knock at the door startled her.  She thought Mina had come back before
she expected.  Seeing them chat so animatedly, she thought that Raye and
her sister would stay longer at the beach, she thought with irony as she
opened the door.  But her smile fell off her lips as she saw that it was
the waiter, Maria’s nephew.  He wasn’t wearing his uniform and he seemed
set on causing problems, she thought alarmed.  The smile he gave her was
full of mischief and insolence, and the girl wished she had on more than a
simple towel.
“What do you want?”  She asked brusquely.
“I’ve come to visit you, thespinis” he looked past her.  “Are you alone?”
“Yes but I don’t want any company” she tried to close the door, but he
impeded it.
“Unless it’s Darien Xandreou, right?  Tomorrow you’ll leave with him… will
live in his house… will sleep in his bed.  Did you think no one would find
out?”  He smiled with lust shining in his eyes.  “He himself told Kostas
where you would go” his tone became suggestive.  “You should thank me,
thespinis, for telling you where you could find him.”
“I already did” she was scared, but she was set on not showing it.  “Now
get out of here, before I tell your aunt.”
“Do you think she will care?”  He laughed.  “She knows what you are, an
English prostitute that will heat Xandreou’s bed.  But he’s not the only
man here in Karthos” he took a step towards her, with his gaze fixed on her
naked shoulders.  “Who would find out if I too sampled the honey Xandreou
has chosen for himself?”
“I would find out” Darien’s voice was threatening when he suddenly appeared
at the door’s threshold.  “And I know how to punish a thief.”
“Kyrios Darien” the young boy paled.  “I… wasn’t talking seriously, it was
a joke…” he went out to the hall, wanting to escape.
Darien Xandreou quickly followed him.  Serena could hear the sound of a
fight followed by a shout of pain before seeing Darien appear again,
rubbing his knuckles.
“You… hit him?”  She asked weakly.
“He has a bruised lip” he replied brusquely.  “From now on he’ll think
twice before insulting a woman again.”
“But nothing happened” she protested feeling relieved and ashamed at the
same time.
“Not thanks to you” he looked her over.  “How can you let someone like him
come into your room… when you’re not even dressed?  Or maybe you were
waiting for him and my appearance was the real intrusion.”
“How dare you?”  Exploded Serena.  “You know that’s not true.”
“I do?”  In his eyes shone a twinkle of amusement and with irony he raised
a hand to his cheek.  “You didn’t treat him like you did me.”
“I didn’t have the chance” replied the girl.  “I didn’t think it would be
him… nor that he would think…” she interrupted herself blushing.  “Well,
you yourself were able to listen to him.”
“Yes” Darien was silent for a moment.  “That’s what I came here for… to
tell you that maybe it would be better if you didn’t stay here tonight,
since someone could bother you.”
“What made you think that?”
“Something absurd” he smiled sardonically.  “I thought… almost believe I
heard you screaming… for help.  So I thought I should come back” he
continued and pointed to her suitcases.  “Finish packing your belongings,
thespinis, and let’s get out of here right now.  You can’t stay in this
hotel any longer.”
“I’ll have to go look for Mina” whispered Serena.  “She’s at the beach,”
she added shyly, since she didn’t want to say she was with Raye, since she
already knew Darien wouldn’t approve of that friendship.
“I’ll send Kostas to get her” she told her frowning.  “I’ll also tell him
it’s time he controls his wife’s relatives and to be the head of his own
home” he added severely.
“Don’t you think that’s a very chauvinistic point of view?”
“You ask me… after what just happened?”  His tone was very harsh.
“I would say it under any circumstances” she pointed out.  “And I think you
don’t impose many limitations to your own conduct” she commented trembling.
 “After all, we’re in this mess because of you.  If you weren’t so
predominant… kissing me in front of Maria, my sister and I would’ve stayed
here.   But now we have to move to your house and people are going to draw
the most obvious conclusion.”
“You’ll be here for less than two weeks” he assured her.  “Is it really
that hard for you?”
“Yes” she looked at him angrily, “because I know they’ll see me as one more
in a long line of… willing women” she indicated with bitterness.
“No one has ever dared to talk to me the way you do” he burst.
“Then it was time someone did.  It was time someone told you you’re a very
predominant and egotistical man” she declared with passion, and started to
cry.
Darien cursed and Serena felt how he led her to the nearest bed and made
her sit down on the edge; then he put a handkerchief in her hand.  She also
discovered her head was resting on his shoulder and felt him tenderly
caress her wet hair, whispering words in his own language.  She moved away
shyly and dried her tears.
“I’m sorry” she whispered.
“Me too… more than you think” he answered darkly.
Then he tipped her chin up with his hand and kissed her lips.  His lips
were warm, soft, and his touch very sensual; Serena felt all of her nerves
coming to life.
When Darien pushed her away from him, she could’ve cried in disappointment.
 She looked at him and noticed that he smiled sardonically.
“Young Stavros was right” he declared.  “You’re honey, agape mou.  Honey,
wine and ripe fruit, all the things that seduce a man” he slid a hand his
fingers by her naked shoulders and stopped millimeters away from the
beginning curve of a breast.  Then he continued in a low voice:  “But I
won’t be seduced, especially because you’ll be leaving in two weeks
forever.  I hope that calms you down.”
He kissed her again, but in this second kiss was something estrange,
conclusive.  Then he stood up and walked to the door.  The girl felt a
tinkling in the skin where he had touched her and suddenly was able to
breathe again.  She felt a pain…
‘I’ve got to get dressed.  And I have to finish packing before Darien comes
back.  Then I’ll have to go with him’, she remembered.
‘Xandreou’s woman’, she thought.  That’s what they all would think, what
they would say when she left.  That name would follow her until she left
Karthos, and maybe even after.  And it wasn’t even true; she told herself
angrily…and suddenly understood, ashamed, that Darien Xandreou wasn’t the
only one regretting something.

On to chapter 7…
********************************************************************
What do you think, do tell, I love getting email! Write to
mellibea@yahoo.com, thanks!