My real story begins when I'm eighteen. It was a typical night for me. Except this time I didn't wait until the rehearsal was over until I went to the kitchen. Normally I wait so that nobody walks in on me. However, on this particular night, I ended up not getting my food, despite my earliness. I was in the kitchen when I heard a girl scream. I realized that there was barely anyone left in the theatre and that nobody was rehearsing anymore. I quickly got to the top of my platform over looking the stage. When I arrived I saw a girl who was about to be killed by man who was obviously furious. I felt rage rip through my veins. I absolutely hated violence, especially when the attacker had such an unfair advantage. This was one emotion I never managed to suppress. I jumped on him. He turned just in time for me to hit him. He lost control of the bowl and it fell and shattered off stage as it flew out of his hands into the audience. Unfortunately, he collapsed and landed on the girl. She was knocked out with small cry, but he was still awake.
Mind you, this man was not the first person I would have injured. When I was seventeen, I caught a man following me through the vents. I pretended not to notice him until I got to my door where I grabbed a knife I had stolen a while back for just such a purpose and waited. I wouldn't have really stabbed him if he didn't pull a gun on me. That was the first person I had intentionally hurt. I could not have people just barging into my home. There was no way that guy would have kept my secret. I killed him and brought him upstairs after the theatre closed. I left his body on the auditorium isle. He was found the next morning, but since they did not know where I lived, or if I lived, they could not identify the finger prints and could not find a murder weapon. It was not something I was proud of doing, but it was necessary to keep him from informing anyone about me.
I quickly turned the attacker's face up and began punching him repeatedly. He took out a knife from his pocket and stabbed me in the shoulder. I got the knife away from him then I picked him up and threw him off stage. I did not know if he was dead. But anyone who beats anyone else for no good cause deserves to die. I did not know why I felt so passionately about batterers and abusers. I held my shoulder. I had never felt so much pain. I saw the deep red blood on my fingers as I removed my hand. Anyhow, I turned to the girl. She was very beautiful, but she gave me the strangest feeling of De Ja Vu. Well, I knew I couldn't just leave her there in case Blood Happy over there woke up. I groaned in annoyance. Maybe there was another way to insure her safety? Besides, I didn't even know her. She had probably provoked that man and gotten him angry, anyway. I battled with my judgement for several minutes, just staring at her. I clutched my shoulder. I would clean it out later. Finally, I decided I had better bring her with me. It took her around back and down into my home.
She was the first guest I had ever had. Mind you I was not happy about this arrangement at all. If she woke up and recognized me as 'Tuxedo Mask', I had no way of insuring that she didn't reveal my secret. Other than to kill her, that was. I could not believe I was housing one of these violent creatures. She was definitely rich. Which of course meant that I was dealing with a spoiled rich snob. I growled to myself. If she woke up and found me here, not doing anything for her, she will probably report me to others. It was for this reason the I tended her and tried to get her to wake up. I laid her down on my bed and got her a cold rag and placed it on her forehead. I covered her with a blanket as her shoulders were bare. I took off my jacket to tend to my shoulder in the bathroom. I unbuttoned my shirt and ran a rag under the water, which by now was running clear, although not warm. I pressed the rag against my shoulder the best I could, considering the man had stabbed me from the back. It hurt to strain that far. I replaced my shirt, even though it had a blood stain on it and I went back into my room. I picked up a book and read on the couch until I drifted off.
She stirred eight hours later. (I had also confiscated a clock a while back from the dance room. They had two anyway.) At first, she was very groggy. Then things seemed to set in with her. She turned her face slowly to the side and looked at me and was about to scream but I got to her first and closed her mouth by putting my hand over it. "Don't scream. If I didn't hurt you while you were asleep, why would I now?" I took my hand away and backed away from the bed to the table. She stared at me a moment. Then it all came out at once "Who are you? What is this place? Why am I here? Where am I? Did you kidnap me? What happened to Micah? Please tell me Micah's not here! Did he send you to keep me here for him?"
"Shut up." was my only reply. I could not believe the number of words this girl was spilling forth in such a short time. "When the Center closes you may leave. I do not want to take the risk of anyone finding out where this place is. I'm not going to hurt you. I saved you, Damn it. Show some gratitude." I was not going to baby this little rich spoiled brat as her parents and everyone else probably did.
"You saved me? From Micah??" Oh thank you!!!" she ran at me and threw he arms around my neck. AHH! My shoulder!!! I pulled her off and ordered her to contain herself. Soon she recognized me as Tuxedo Mask from the description given of me by one of her actress friends. She seemed quite surprised, as if she had never seen a poor person before in her life. Or it could have been the surprise that I was alive and not a ghost. I explained to her that she must keep it down. She complied with being fairly quiet but I had little luck in getting her to stop talking to me.
"So, this is where you live?"
"Yes it is."
"Is it not too cold during the winter?"
"Yes."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Read."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Why did you save me?"
"You would have died."
"Do you know who I am?"
"No."
"Do you wish to know?"
"No."
"Would you tell me your name?"
"I don't know my name."
"You don't know your name?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't remember what it is."
"Why?"
I was growing impatient. "Look. I do not wish to divulge the intimacies of my personal life with a complete stranger. For all I know, you'll run right out of here at closing and the next day you'll come in and have told everyone that I live here. Then they will kill me, at worst; but I will be out of a home, at least."
The girl looked at me a moment and then said. She was obviously caught off guard by my brash words. Then she got a calm expression and sighed. She became very practical. "You saved my life. What reason would I have to betray you? From what I can tell, you are harmless as long as you are not provoked. After all, you could have just let me die, or you could have killed me in my sleep. I think that I would have had to attack you before you would hurt me, and I sense that you are like that with everyone."
She senses. Great. I've rescued the daughter of a Ares Damned gypsy. For some reason I felt like I could believe her when she said that she wouldn't betray me. It was strange. She looked familiar. Perhaps I had seen her in a play?
"What is your name?" I asked. I decided to see if I knew her. She had the most beautiful blue eyes and the most gorgeous blonde hair. And her body... exquisite. What I did not expect was the shock she was about to give me.
"I am Princess Serena, of the Moon Kingdom. I really am grateful for your rescuing me and all. I wish there was something I could do to...". She said more but I had heard enough. Now the PRINCESS knew where I was. Royalty, the people who I despised most above all other humans. I felt a burning sensation as I felt rage at myself enter me. I should not have helped her. Now I was surely going to be kicked out of here. I no longer trusted her to keep my secret. I knew that I was doomed now unless I could GAIN her silence. If not, I would have to kill her; a task that could prove to be dangerous and one that I was not looking forward to.
"Your Majesty." I started humbly. "I only ask you not to tell anyone where I live or that I am here. Please. I implore you to speak of me to no one. Do not tell anyone that we have met or what happened last night. I fear if you did..."
"I promise. Nobody will have ever known that I was here." I turned away from her. I had been right in front of her, on my knees, begging her with my one good eye. I thought I might have just won her over, but I was not entirely convinced and I would certainly not count on this royal brat to keep promises. When I turned, she gasped.
I thought to myself, "Of course I will not tell anyone I was there." After all, he had saved me from that awful Micah. I told him that. "I promise. Nobody will have ever known that I was here." He turned away from me, but as he did I saw for the first time the stab wound in his shoulder. It was fresh. The blood had seeped through the his thin white shirt. I gasped, "You are injured! It looks bad. Let me help you..."
"NO!" he yelled angrily. "No. I'm fine. I do NOT need your help." He glanced at the clock. "You are free to go now."
With that, I was escorted out a stairway that led to the back of the center.
When I returned to the palace, I figured I had a lot of explaining to do.
"So where were you Serena?" Mother asked. She was not mean about it. More curious, actually. "Well, I stayed the night at somebody's house that I met in the theatre."
"Oh, that's wonderful dear. I am glad you made new friends at the theatre."
Then Mother turned serious. "Now Serena, I want you to sit down. I have some bad news."
"What is it Mother?"
"Micah was attacked by a thief at the theatre last night. He does not remember much and he is not in very good shape. I want you to be extra nice to him. Clear?"
"Yes Mother. Crystal Clear." I replied. I was relieved that he did not remember what had transpired that night before. It made explaining things a lot easier. I did not even really have to lie. I merely said I stayed the night with someone I met at the theatre. It wasn't technically lying, but I still felt guilty. I wiped the small line of perspiration that had formed along my brow. This was the first time I had ever attempted to cover up the truth from my Mother. Luckily they assumed it was a thief attack, and Micah's fine clothes had made him a prime target. They then deduced that the thief found nothing on him of value, and so they left him for dead in the theatre. There was going to be an investigation into the mugging, but Tuxedo Mask must have known how to cover his tracks. After all, he had spent his whole life in that center undetected.
Then it dawned on me. If Tuxedo Mask was not a ghost, he must have a family somewhere. Where did he come from? Why is he living there? I decided to go to sleep. I looked around my room. I had a huge white satin canopy bed with white drapes, a balcony over looking the flower gardens and waterfalls, a long white marble dresser with an antique mirror above it, a writing desk with matching chair, a big overstuffed couch and two over stuffed chairs by the window which surrounded a circular coffee table. I noticed for the first time how much I had. I had never glimpsed first hand that there were people who didn't have all this. Tuxedo Mask had affected me more than I thought. I entered my bathroom and realized that even IT was larger than the room Tuxedo Mask lived in. I had a large, pearl sunken bath with spa jets, a long counter with two sinks against the wall, )the water handles were in the shape of cherubs), and an incredibly long mirror above the full length of the sink. This all sat upon pearl white tile. Then I of course have what everyone else has in their bathroom.
I took a long steamy shower and washed my hair with my favorite coconut shampoo. That always made me feel better. I didn't realized how achy I was until they started leaving because of the hot water. I got out, got in my satiny lace nightgown and curled up in bed.
I could not seem to get Tuxedo Mask out of my mind all night. I kept thinking how lonely he must be. He obviously did not have many friends or talk with very many people. "He certainly did not know how to speak to a lady!" I said allowed to myself. Then I thought of that stab wound on his shoulder. He had gotten it trying to rescue me, I was sure of it. The least I could do was bring him some bandages or something. "Yes. I will bring some bandages to him after tomorrow's rehearsal."
It must have been the longest day of my life. I got up from bed an hour early as to be able to sneak in to our doctor's office. Yes that's right. There is a doctor in the palace in case one the visiting Court has an emergency. Normally I could have just requested the supplies, but I did not want to have to explain the reason for needing the iodine and bandages. I fully intended to keep my promise that I had made Tuxedo Mask and tell no one of his where abouts. Just outside the supply room, I used my disguise power pen and transformed into a nurse. I just walked in and took everything I needed and put it into the duffel bag that contained my costume, script, make-up, etc. Luckily I did not run into any one so once I was down the hall, I looked around, transformed into Jasmine, and left for the rehearsal.
When I got there our director was having a huge fight with our orchestra. It seems that the music the orchestra had and the music the cast had been practicing was different in several places. They were arguing about which one to use. I walked across stage to the dressing room and began to chat with a girl I met named Molly. Molly had short red hair, green eyes, and an accent that was most peculiar. It was from Earth I knew that much, but it was most interesting. Molly and I got along famously. We helped each other with make-up and then went out onto the stage to start voice warm-ups.
After running through the first three scenes about ten times each, we decided to break. Everyone went outside, except for me. I wanted to see what the new music would sound like later on. (We had 'decided' that we should learn the orchestra's music after they threatened to quit.) As I was following along in my head, I heard a bumping noise coming from what looked like the ceiling. I stopped and looked up, but there was nothing there. 'Maybe that's where Tuxedo Mask is? Is that him?' I thought. Now I couldn't wait to see him more than ever. There was just something about him that made me want to be close to him all the time. 'Well, it's impossible to tell now. There is no way he would talk to me. After all, I look like a completely different person. But I will see him soon enough."
I glanced at the clock. I only had three hours to go until closing!
I started to get butterflies in my stomach. Then I had a thought that sent my emotions to a screeching halt. What if he did not wish to see me again? What if when I get there, he yells and throws me out? Should I go or not?
I thought of nothing else the next three hours. I had the hugest lump in my throat and began to falter on a few of my lines, where as earlier, I had spoken perfectly. The moment I had been looking forward to all day, I was now dreading. The rehearsal ended early for a change, so I went back to the dressing room after everyone else had cleared out and changed back into my normal self. I took off my shoes and sat down on a folding chair. I started to rub my feet. I had been standing most of the day and they ached so badly, I thought they would fall off. I glared down at my duffel bag. "Well, Serena, you were thinking about doing this for two reasons. One; you want to him again because you think he is exciting. The second; he was hurt trying to save you and you owe it to him to do something to help him. Besides, who says that he will definitely be mad? He might be happy for the company. Maybe we could be friends, even."
That was that. Even if I had decided it was not worth the risk just to see him one more time, he needed help. He had the wound because of me, and I was the only one who knew about him, so I was therefore the only one who could help him. I gathered my stuff and headed out back. I was nervous. I did not have any idea how he would react. I reached the back of the center. I knew about where the door was. I squatted down and felt for some kind of handle. I could not find it. "That's strange, I knew the door was around here." I said aloud.
I was beginning to think that maybe it only opened from the inside when I got an idea. I sat down, closed my eyes, and concentrated. I kept thinking of the handle lighting up in my mind until I knew my telekineses had worked. I opened my eyes to discover a yellow-glowing metal ring. I grabbed hold of it and the glow died down and left. I began to lift it up. This door was heavier than I thought. "I wonder what he will say when I walk in..."
Finally I could relax and get some peace and quiet. It had been an interesting day. I had spent most of the night and day worrying that Serena might have told someone and that they were going to come in her after me. All I knew was that if somebody dared step foot into my home, I would cut them limb from limb with my knife. I had not left my room all day for fear that when I got back, I would return to people going through my stuff and waiting to kill me for stealing food, clothes, water... I did not know the reaction people would have towards me. Especially considering my face. I liked the patch, but my eye was the part of my body I vowed to never let anyone see. Even if I someday managed to let someone get close to me, (God, Forbid!) they would never see my eye.
Now I shed my jacket and laid it on the couch. I unbuttoned all the buttons of my shirt and grabbed my rag. I filled a bowl with water and went back to my couch and began nursing my stab wound. I thought for sure it was going to take forever to heal, and most likely not correctly. the laceration stung as I washed it. I thought it might be getting infected. But there was nothing I could do. I could not go out and seek treatment and have them put me on record. Besides, I could not pay them. I had no money.
It was there that heard creaking. I realized the outside door was opening. Serena had broken her promise! They were going to kill me! I threw down my rag and grabbed my knife and stood against the wall at the edge of the stairs, so as not to be seen. My heart pounded as I prepared to attack. I felt a pang of anger at her for breaking her promise and telling. I heard footstep getting closer... and closer... then someone came off the last step and I pushed them down onto the couch and raised the knife to kill my attacker.
"Please!! Tuxedo Mask!! Stop! It is Serena. I am not going to hurt you!!"
I looked at her and let my breath out. I set the knife down, starting to let my adrenaline get down to its normal level. Now I wasn't threatened, but I was furious.
"What are you doing here!!??" I yelled, probably more harshly than I had intended. I did not want to terrify her, but she did not deserve to be treated with kindness for scaring me to death and barging in unannounced.
"I-I was worried about you... Your arm, I mean. Yes, well I felt I should help you since you helped me, and I - uh brought you some medicine and real bandages. Now you won't have to worry about it getting i-infected."
She was stuttering from fright. Or was she lying? Were there a bunch of people behind her waiting for her to lure me out. I was sceptical of her truthfulness. I did not want to go up and shut the door for fear of a raid. Yet, I had to explain to her that she could not just come over uninvited.
"Go shut the door and come back. I need to speak with you." I ordered gruffly, communicating to her that I was still angry that she had come again without notice. Serena shot up from the couch and went to the stairs. Her feet made a 'clip' sound as she walked on the stone floor in her heels. She was having some difficulty walking. I had scared her more than I thought. She then turned to me and asked, "How do I close it?"
"You'll see a torch holder on the wall near the top of the steps. Press the button inside the holder and it will close." She ascended the stairs. I took the opportunity to glance through her bag. I picked it up and opened the zipper and found iodine, pain killers, and bandages. Maybe she was telling the truth? And in that case, I had a good chance of getting this cut to heal better.
I was not sure how to go about dealing with Serena. What could I say or do to make her not come back here again, without scaring her to death. She most certainly could not be permitted to just show up uninvited. 'Well Tux, you probably put an end to that the minute you threw her on the couch and almost stabbed her to death.' I thought. I heard the door shut. Then I heard her light footsteps sailing down the stairs. She had removed the heels apparently. 'She must be light as a feather. She hardly makes a sound.'
Serena appeared at the bottom of the staircase, shoes in hand. She set them down by the foot of the stairs. I had long since reclosed her bag and I was now facing her, half turned on the couch. She looked at me and smiled, but then diverted her eyes and said, "I am sorry for barging in on you again."
I looked at her. She was playing with the bracelet on her wrist, tugging at it and rolling the beads across her skin. I could tell she was upset and a little scared. "I just wanted to help you. That wound could get worse. See, I brought you some medicine and bandages for it." She came over to me and sat down next to me on the couch. She pulled her bag onto her lap and began taking out the bandages, pain killers, and the iodine. She began telling me what each was for as if I were two. I didn't seem to catch much that she said though. For the first time I looked at her. I mean REALLY looked at her. She was by far the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. But it wasn't only her physical appearance. Her body just seemed to radiate goodness, kindness, and innocence. In all the books I have read and all the plays I have seen, all the conversations I over heard, and everyone I had ever encountered myself, I had never heard of someone who was or who could be so pure of heart. Either she was as pure as I took her to be, or she was the best actress I had ever seen.
"So would you like me to?" Serena asked. It was only then that I realized she had been talking to me about the medicine the whole time and now was looking at me in my one good eye.
"Would I like you to do what?"
"Clean out the cut."
"Well, since you are here, and I have been fairly unsuccessful myself, why not?"
My shirt already unbuttoned, I slid it off and turned my back to her so she could see better. I heard her small intake of breath as I took off my shirt. I almost laughed outright at her innocence. I did not think even royalty sheltered their children THIS much! I saw her reach for a cloth in her bag and pour some bottled water on it. She patted so gently, I hardly knew she was there. Then she reached for the iodine bottle. She poured some on a separate rag.
"This shall sting. Do you need a rag or pillow to grip?"
"I'll be fine." I growled. Imagine! She thought that a guy like me couldn't...,"AHHH!" I screamed. It burned and stung so badly I got tears in my eyes.
"It is alright. It will only last a minute." Yes, Princess, but a minute in pain may as well be an eternity. She blew on my wound and the stinging stopped.
I turned to her angrily. "Why didn't you warn me?" I demanded. Then remembering that she did I turned again and grumbled, "Never mind." She giggled. It was the most contagious laughter. I could hardly keep from smiling myself.
"Do you do this often, Princess?" I asked. I was trying to poke fun at her. But having little experience in this area, I doubt if that is how it came across.
"Normally the nurse would care for wounds like this. But since I am the only one who knows that you are here, and not a ghost, it was rather up to me." She stopped.
"Tuxedo Mask?" she said tentatively.
"Yes?"
"How long have you lived here?"
"Close to nine or ten years now."
"Well then, how old are you?"
"I don't know exactly how old I am. I would guess eighteen or nineteen."
"You don't know? Didn't your parents tell you?" I paused. It took everything in me to keep from yelling at her for asking questions, especially ones about my parents who I figured abused me and that's why I ran away.
"I don't know."
"Why not?" All the while she had been bandaging me up and with her now done, I turned to her. "Princess, with all due respect, I would prefer if the line of questioning came to an end." There. I was nice. But I wanted to rip out her throat.
She was quiet now. She looked away but then spoke, "I wanted to thank you once again for saving my life. I am certain that if you had not come along when you did, I would be dead."
"I am glad I was able to help you, Princess." I replied.
"Please, call me Serena."
"Alright, Serena." I put my back against the couch now. I laid my feet on the coffee table in front of me. I figured I had better ask her something before she started trying to converse. "So how do you like being the Princess of the whole universe?" Lame question.
She looked puzzled. She thought a moment and then replied, "I am not sure how to answer the question. Up until now, my life has been spotless. Nothing has really ever gone wrong for me. I basically live to ice skate. Ever since I was a child, I loved picking flowers from the garden and then throwing them of the ice and leaving trails and designs." She blushed. "Oh how silly I must sound to you!" she said nervously. Yeah, you do.
"No. Not at all. You are simply different from most people who I've heard of." Serena appeared intrigued by this and cocked her head to one side and then asked, "How so?"
"Well, I have not had much human interaction. But from the ones I have and from studying history, literature, and psychology, humans for the most part a violent creatures who put themselves above all else. Just look at the way we slaughter each other in wars and with the murderers, and criminals out for their own personal gain. You, however, seem to be exactly the opposite. You are the type of person that more people SHOULD be." I congratulated myself. I had paid her a great compliment even though I figured that she was different on the inside than she appeared to be. After all, she WAS royalty. But I was intrigued by the fact that she had humbled herself and came to help me. A lowly commoner. Now I was almost to the point where I wanted to learn more about her. How was it that she was raised with everything handed to her and she still found herself able to talk to someone like me?
She seemed thrilled with this compliment. She looked at me and said, "When can I see you again?" I glanced at the clock. We had been talking for almost four hours. She had to be getting home.
I was about to say never come here again, but looking into those blue eyes, I couldn't say no to her. She looked so excited and hopeful. I couldn't take that happiness out of her eyes, and risk her Mother questioning her. Besides, I had to oblige her so she wouldn't tell anyone I was here.
"How about tomorrow? Same time?" At least she had been smart enough to come under the cover of darkness.
Serena lit up. "Oh yes! I shall see you then. I hope the pain killers work. Try them. It will help you sleep. Goodbye!" She got into her shoes and raced up the stairs. She was out the door faster than I had ever seen anybody go. She just had such a glow. I figured that she wanted to go before I changed my mind. I laughed.
As she l closed the door I got up from my couch, walked to my bed, and fell asleep.
Tuxedo Mask had made me the happiest I could ever remember being. I realized he had not really done all that much. Everybody was always pleasant to me, my being the Princess of the Moon and all. He, if anything, had been harsher then most people I had met. But there was something about the way he acted around me. He used to be really cold. Now, he was not so rigid. Maybe that is why I felt so elated. He softened up to me, and from the sounds of it, it was something he had never done before. I was happy that I could do that to someone and that he had opened up to no other.
When I first walked in the door, I was of course frightened. I mean, would not you be if you were thrown down and had a knife put in your face? I suppose he had a right to react the way he did. Here was a man who always felt threatened by humans. Then I go and barge in, late at night, unannounced. He probably thought I was an ambush. He calmed down quickly though when he saw it was me. I tried not to look or act too shaken. I think he noticed I was frightened, though, and tried to make me feel better and not so scared.
When I got back from closing the door, I noticed how attractive he was. I had never seen a man's chest, in person that is. Especially not one so well defined. I scolded my self inside, "Stop it Serena. You are letting your emotions and whims get the best of you." But THEN he took off the shirt completely so that I could help clean his wound. I thought I was going to faint!
Well, he certainly could not hate me. After all, he invited me back tomorrow night. I had a feeling he was doing it out of pity for me, but I had no proof. Was it possible he wanted to get to know me as much as I wanted to get to know him? Maybe this would lead to us eventually becoming close friends... or lovers? "Oh Serena you are terrible! That will never happen, so do not even think it." I said aloud.
I was now sitting in my room on my bed, trying to get some sleep. "After all. What would Mother think?" Mother! I had not thought of her. It was treason to love me, and I would be held accountable for being irresponsible. It was not anything compared to what would happen to him though. He could be executed for it. I would never want that to happen to Tuxedo Mask. Then it hit me... What if Mother already knew? She is telepathic. But no. She would have confronted me with the situation. Would she not?
Serena confused me. All of my life, I had spent avoiding people. I avoided them for two reasons. One, I could be discovered to live under the center. That had to break some rule. Trespassing... Paying no rent... Not a licensed living area...? If that happened, I would have no place to go except jail. Second, humans were supposed to have these incredibly violent tendencies. Even children's stories were filled with death and violence. Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, The Boy Who Cried Wolf... Sure, some of them had morals, but wasn't there another way to convey them? Then there was History. History is full of wars between The Moon Kingdom and the Negaverse. Murderers, robbers, abusers, rapists... It was too much.
Then I had this girl who was none of that. She was a genuine innocent. I might have been able to say she was just sheltered as a child but she was the Princess of the Moon Kingdom. She knew what had gone on everywhere. Still she remained so sweet and loving. It was more than I could comprehend. This one girl threw a giant hole in my entire theory about mankind. She made me question my entire lifestyle.
There was one downside to her innocence. She asked too many questions. I did not like even thinking about my past, much less want to divulge it to an almost complete stranger. But then, what harm could her questions do? I knew what they could do. If she ever got angry with me, she could run off and tell everyone everything about me. Was it not enough that she was the only one who knew where I lived? The only one who knew I was even alive and not a ghost or just some myth? "No "I decided. "I must keep my distance from her and ot reveal too much about myself. I have to keep myself from harm at all costs."
I went around to the back of the center. I was able to find the ring this time quickly. I had a bit of trouble with the door though. It was heavy, and I was very tired from a long rehearsal. I wondered if Tuxedo Mask had seen it. I knew that even if he did he would not have recognized me.
I finally got the door open and ventured down the stairs to his room. There I found him sitting on the couch and reading a book. "Hello." He greeted me, not looking up. I did not know how to take this greeting. Either he was really enthralled with his book, or he just did not care that I came over. He set the book down and looked at me. He invited me to sit down on the couch. I accepted the offer and crossed the room. He poured me a glass of tea and offered me a plate with a dessert on it.
"Chocolate cheesecake? This is my favorite dessert."
"I know. Practically your whole life is recorded Serena, including your favorite dishes."
I was puzzled. Had he actually gone to all the trouble of reading up on me to find out my favorite dessert? He seemed to be reading my mind when he answered, "I read a book once on the royal family, everyone from your Mother's Grandmother to you is written in. Then when I saw the cheesecake in the refrigerator tonight, I remembered that it was one of your favorite desserts. I take it that the information was accurate.
I was shocked. I did not realize until now that authors had written about me in such great detail. It was unnerving, actually, to think that someone, anyone could simply pick up a book and find out about anything that I had ever done.
He sensed my disbelief and laughed. "What do you expect? You are a public figure. Everything that goes on in your life is news." It was then that I realized he probably knew a lot more about me than I did about him. I smiled at the notion of my first word breaking headlines and took a bite of the cake.
"This is delicious." I told him. "Where did you get it?"
He looked at me cautiously. I could tell he did not care for my asking questions. I decided to not ask anymore. "There are tunnels that reach all around this place. I crawl through them to get anywhere in the center except the dinning hall and the theatre's backstage. I can gain access to the library, theatre, dance room, and the kitchen. That is where I get my wealth of books. I always return them though. I do not want to rouse suspicion that 'The Center Spector' has a soft spot for books. The cooks however, despise me. Each night, I steal my food for the next day. They can never seem to figure out where all their creations go. I never take anything that I know they can't easily replace though. They have attributed the loss of food to the dance classes. The cooks figure that after all those people work off a meal, they figure they are entitled to another."
I laughed. The thought of all those people raiding the kitchen just after they worked out for hours was hilarious.
"So what kind of books do you read Serena?" he asked me. I could tell he was desperately trying to get the conversation off himself.
"I basically only read the books that are assigned to me by my tutors. The classics, mainly. I never liked school. I would much rather be involved with my learning and applying it to my life rather than sitting in a classroom taking notes on things I'll never need to know. The only time I enjoy school is when I have it with my friends from the Court."
"Which friends?"
"Well, let me see... There is Michelle of Neptune, Amy of Mercury, my best friend Mina of Venus, Lita of Jupiter..." I continued on but when I said Mina and Lita's name he got a strange look on his face. Like it triggered a memory. I did not lead on that I saw the change of expression. I merely continued on my list and when I got done, he snapped back into reality. I took another bite of cake.
"Which one of them taught you to ice skate?" he asked. He did know a lot about me. I felt like I was at a disadvantage. But at least this way by my being open with him, he might open up to me and be able to trust me more. He raised a bite of cake to his lips and ate it.
"None of them. I went skating for the first time when they invited me, but I got out on the ice and skated like I had been doing it since the day I was born. I enjoyed it so much that my Mother brought an instructor to the palace to coach me. I have been skating competitively ever since. I love to skate. Have you ever done it?"
"No." he replied. "I have not been off these grounds in nine years."
Nine years! I could not believe it. I doubted from the paleness of his skin that he had not even been out much, but for nine years???
"Your parents did not ever take you?" I asked.
"No." He gruffly replied, lowering his gaze. "Yours?"
"Oh, yes. Mother has gone with me on occasion but not often. She and I mainly take walks in the garden and around the palace. Sometimes we vacation on Earth or Venus and spend a week or so relaxing. We are very close. She has always been very supportive of me and what I do. She always used to make time to tuck me in at night . Now she and I spend a few hours talking on Saturdays considering neither of us have time during the week."
He asked some more about my mother and Lita and Mina. As I was talking, I glanced around and noticed all of the clippings on the wall. I stopped.
"What are all these clippings of?"
Tuxedo Mask looked around him. "The community center history, I guess. They were here when I found the place. The previous owner of the apartment helped build this place and therefore was able to specially build the center to accommodate his living there. I guess he was tired of paying for things too. See his diary is over here."
Tuxedo Mask got up and walked over to a writing desk and opened a drawer. He brought out an old worn book. He turned to me and signaled me over. When I reached him he showed me a page where there was a blueprint of the center with the tunnels all charted, including what was now Tuxedo Mask's house. I noticed there was a platform overlooking the stage and I asked him, "So do you watch the performances from here?" I pointed to a platform above the stage. Tuxedo Mask nodded. He looked at me and said, "I watch rehearsals, plays, and any other function held in that auditorium. I love the theatre."
"I do also." I remarked. It was the first truly common ground I had found between us. From this moment on, we looked at each other differently. The looks seemed to say, "I was desperately looking for a reason to like you, now I found it." I looked into hs good eye and thought it was the prettiest blue I had ever seen. I wondered what happened to the other one, but I knew better than to ask him. If he was uncomfortable opening up to someone, he certainly would not want to talk about an old injury. After all, he was a man, and they do not ever seem to want to admit they are in pain. I figure this was the case if he covered it up. Perhaps he himself did not want to remember. Maybe he got in a fight or was attacked. Oh well. If I was ever going to find out, I had to be patient. I certainly was not going to find out tonight. He returned to the couch after putting the book away. I followed him.
"I have watched every show that has been here since I moved in. There have been many performances held in the last nine years."
So, not only has he not gone outside the center in the last nine years, but he has not gone out since he had been there. I pitied him. There was so much beauty on the Moon that he could not see for himself. I would have invited him to come to the palace gardens, but I knew he would decline.
"Did you see many plays before you moved in here?" I asked.
"I don't know. I do not remember anything of my life before I moved in here. If you will excuse me Serena, but it is getting late. I wouldn't want to get you into trouble."
I asked how his shoulder was before I left and he said it was doing better now that he had the proper medication for it. He thanked me for taking the time and going through the trouble to get it for him. As I left there I got the feeling that we had somehow connected.
Back to Chapters One through Five
Chapters Eleven through Fifteen
