The seas rocked the ship calmly during the night, and the count rested in his private cabin below. It was a nice night. The sky was filled with uncountable twinkling stars. The count laid in bed looking at the moon from his nearby window.
'It is so beautiful tonight.' he thought to himself. He yawned and turned away slightly. His eyelids grew heavier, and he nodded off to sleep.
He began to dream. A beautiful woman wearing a long white shimmering robe began to dance gracefully. She twirled around and round.
'Who is she?' he wondered. He began to draw closer to the dancing stranger. Soon, he heard voices calling out to her. But the name was muffled in the air. "who are you?" he asked her. She laughed at my question. "Why is that funny?" he said to her. She laughed again. His spine tingled at the wonderful sound. "Do that again." he told her. But she didn't. Instead she stretched out her hand and he immediately accepted it. They began to dance trusting him in every movement. Music began to play. A hauntingly beautiful music. Then she stopped him suddenly. The music ceased. He couldn't see her face clearly. Her hand gently caressed his cheek. She didn't seem to be afraid of the awful scars, and he knew right then that she had to be an angel.
Darien was confused and awestruck. He was lost in a place of wonders, yet he felt complete. His subconscious mind wanted him desperately to stop this madness, but his feet were cursed with a spell and didn't want to run away from her no matter how hard he tried.
Night after endless night this dream reoccured to him. Not knowing what to do he decided to write it down in his journal. The past weeks had gone by very fast, and he was now approaching his destination-London, England.
Darien was happy to see his friend again-Andrew Messenger, Earl of France. Darien arrived at the Earl's lavish castle. It was covered with unusual purple flowers springing up everywhere. The butler announced to the Earl of France of the arrival of Count Desmond.
Darien entered the room where the bulter had said Andrew was. He was surpirsed to find the handful of women entertaining the Earl.
Andrew looked up and saw Darien. "Darien!" he said as he pushed one of women aside. He got up from his seat and walked over to Darien.
"My friend. How are you these days?" Andrew said shaking his friend's hand.
Darien shrunk back and hid his face with his hooded cloak.
"Andrew...I thought we were supposed to be alone discussing what you wrote to me." Andrew shook his head.
"Darien, it's alright. These girls are very trusted. I've already told them about it. Come and make yourself at home." he cooed taking Darien's hood off and exposing his face.
"But Andrew my scars..." Darien began.
"Tut, my friend. I'll explain to them." Andrew said clapping his hands together. "Girls. My friend, Count Darien Desmond has been deprived of his beauty when he was but a child. An accident really. Monsterous beast killed his father and left him with scars. Now I'm sure that we all can overlook that." he said. "Is that good for you, Darien?"
But Darien was silent.
"Now, now, enough of that!" Andrew said. "Let's get down to business. Jaclyn, go and fetch the box from my chamber." he told the woman to his left.
Jaclyn pouted and fetched the box for Andrew. It was an ordinary box with a seal that looked much like the emblem on Darien's medallion--a broken star.
"You see why I've called you here, Darien." Andrew said pointing at the seal. Darien's brow srunched. He bent down and opened the box. "Where on earth did you find it?" Darien asked him. Andrew cleared his throat. and told his story:
"You see on my way to France on board my ship, Antazima. My crew and I came upon an unhibited island. Noticing that the piece of land was nowhere seen on the map we decided to explore it. Instead we found nothing, but sand and this box. I was surprised when I saw the seal for I only knew of one person who I've known that wears that same emblem. I opened it and I found this scroll with funny looking symbols on it. I tried to figure out the enigma, but I have failed. So, I wrote to you and I hoped you could find an answer to this mystery." Andrew finished his story and took a sip of his drink.
Darien picked up the scroll and slowly opened it. It was only three lines long, and the symbols were unliked anything Darien had ever seen. Still something in him knew that it was worth his while to find out what it meant. "I'll take it back to Caspian with me, and try to see if I can make out a word or two." Darien said as he closed the box. Darien looked up to find the girls looking at him strangely with eyes widened. Andrew began to notice also, then, immediately shooed them away to leave them alone. As soon as they the girls left Darien said, "You really trust them, Andrew?"
"Of course not. Never trust a pretty face." he answered nonchalantly. "The scroll is worth nothing, and I made those foolish girls think it does. Now, that you have it, they will think of you as an important person, power attracts them. If you solve the mystery they will worship you even more. You should be thanking me, Darien."
Darien smiled at his friend then said, "Thanks but I will get by on my own."
"I'm sure you will, Darien. I'm sure you will."
That night, the Earl of France held a ball honoring Darien's Visitation. All the very important members that had titles came that evening. Darien didn't enjoy parties. It devestated him inside whenever people looked at him with somewhat curiosity like some circus show. Most of the time, the ladies in court sneered at him and called him names behind his back. He hid his feelings by not showing any emotions or reactions. Darien felt the icyness in the crowds, so, he decided to leave the party.
"They only look at my face and turn away." he told Andrew.
"I know they are superficial people, but I can't help it I have to invite them or they'll destroy my whole career." Andrew replied then added, "Please stay a bit longer."
"No, Andrew, I think I'll turn in. My ship leaves early tomorrow morning, I need to get some rest, and I..." Darien began, but his excuse was cut short when he caught sight of a woman who was descending the stairs. Andrew followed Darien's gaze.
"Lovely, isn't she?" Andrew whispered in his ear. Andrew looked back at Darien who didn't answer then explained to him. "She is the princess of Belgium."
"Princess?" Darien asked.
"Yes, Princess Serena."
"Serena?"
"Yes_now_will you stay?" Andrew asked again. The woman was now drawing nearer to both of them. Darien thought of the angel in his dreams. 'Could this be her?' he thought to himself.
"Andrew! My dear, why haven't you seen me this week?" she asked him. Andrew gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Business as usual, my dear." he replied. Then turning to Darien he said, "This is my friend, Count Darien Desmond. Please persuade him to stay, won't you, sweetheart. I'll talk to you later. I have to discuss something over with Lady Verna."
Then he left the two alone.
Darien immediately saw the ring on her finger and said, "It was nice meeting you." and started to walk off. But Serena caught his arm and said, "Aren't you at least going to ask me what my name is?"
"Oh, well, I didn't think it was necessary. I'm terrible about remembering names."
"It's Serenity. But you can call me Serena for short." and she said it with such genuiness that somehow made him turn back around to face her. She searched his eyes and gazed in them deeply. "You have beautiful eyes. I can't seem to tell what color they are though, since the light is so bad." Then she turned away and blushed hating herself for being so blunt. Darien couldn't believe what she had said. 'She said my eyes are beautiful? No one has ever said that. Could she be my angel?' he thought to himself.
Soon the orchestra began to play a familiar tune to her ears.
"I love this song." she said. "Would you...Would you care to dance with me?..Just until the song is over."
All Darien could do was nod, and soon took her in his arms.
Well what did you think? Please oh, please oh, please tell me if you like it or not.
Stay tuned for Chapter Two: The price of beauty which is in progress.
Thanks for reading it!
