Savéol by Jessica Pendragon

Tumbling Further Down the Rabbit Hole

All my feelings exposed…

"Where exactly is here?"

A cathedral of dark stone loomed above them as they exited from the vessel. The building was square and sharp, nothing like newer Venusian architecture, and four towers encapsulated each corner. In the center sat a large triangular, golden top that shone with brilliance in the sun. Ribbons of darker color seemed to move across the surface like it was a molten contraption. It reminded Sailor Venus of how her planet looked when they were approaching from space.

"We are at a very special place," she answered his question, but gave no more.

Side by side, they strode towards the building with their armored entourage in tow. A pair of white robed men met them just inside the entrance and bowed to their former princess. They held chains of beads and trinkets in their grasped hands, and each had a ponytail of graying blonde hair that almost reached their heels. They looked as ancient as the building around them, and Venus knew that wasn't very far off from the truth.

"Greetings Senshi of Venus and Shitennou of the East, and welcome to Hatha," the tallest of them said.

"Greetings Master Sysani and Master Danus," Venus replied.

"Is everything as I hoped it would be?"

"Yes, my lady," Sysani answered. "Please, follow us."

They entered the triangular atrium and crossed over a vibrant seal made from small, glistening tiles. They formed an outstretched bird the color of sand and earth with a shimmering metal sword in its deadly talons. It was a regal bird, much like an Eagle or Osprey, and once was the symbol for this planet. Venus had always been afraid of it when she was younger, but found it comforting now. The triangle reached its sharpest point at the far end of the room, where steps seemed to go down into the ground and beyond.

"You should find no troubles below," Danus commented.

"Thank you," Venus said, bowing to them in respect. Then, turning to her guards, "you can remain here."

"As you wish, Sailor Venus."

"Ready Kunzite?"

"I am not sure what I should be prepared for, but I imagine by this hall it is something grand," he replied.

They left their guards and greeters behind and began the winding journey down the spiraling staircase which was wide enough to fit a dozen men across with ease. The heat gave way to a cool breeze as they descended, and she could smell the moisture in the air. It was old, earthy, but not unpleasant. When the daylight grew dim, their way was lit by orange electrical lanterns tucked inside the walls. Venus could see soot marks from where there had been fire torches long ago. A fair amount of time passed, their shoes echoing back to them in the silence like water dripping steadily in a cavern. Venus, for once, did not mind the silence. She was one to live in the flurry of court and the dangers of battle, but she felt calm with Kunzite walking by her side.

"How far do these stairs go?" Kunzite finally asked, filling her ears with the vibrations of his strong voice.

"About two hundred meters," Venus answered. “Do you have any places such as this? Places in the Earth that men live?”

“No, not where I am from. There are those that dwell on the side of mountains and have carved their homes out of the rock face. In the hottest places, some live just under the surface to avoid the heat, but I do not know of any that have built a whole city beneath the ground. Except for, well…”

“Except for what?” she prodded with a small smirk. Kunzite almost looked embarrassed, if that emotion was even possible for the eloquent ambassador.

“There are fairy tales, rumors, myths about a group of…short people with pointed ears and bulbous noses that live under the ground in caverns. They are called Dwarfs. Some swear by their existence, such as my master,” Kunzite ended with a small sigh. “He is a good man, smart and creative, but such things cannot exist.”

At this, Venus let out the first true, full laugh she had uttered in days. It echoed around the cavern like a chain of merry bells clinking against one another in a festive spirit.

Kunzite stopped and stared at her quizzically. “Sailor Venus?”

"Four years ago you thought you were alone in the universe...until a girl with white hair and a crescent moon on her forehead came down to your planet in a glistening space vessel. Your prince, with magic of his own, is surrounded by men gifted with strange abilities and who have matching, prophesied names. You’ve fought strange demons, traveled across the stars, and now you’re standing next to a woman that can control elemental powers at her fingertips. 'Such things cannot exist?'”

Kunzite’s questionable gaze turned into a humored expression as a short chuckle came from behind his lips. “Well said, Sailor Venus.”

The two exchanged bemused grins before continuing on in a more amicable silence. A few more minutes passed before the stairwell ceased and leveled off. It led to two large, golden gates guarded by ornately dressed soldiers. By the badges and medals on their uniforms, it was obvious that this position held great rank. When Kunzite and Venus stepped nearer, the men crossed their spears before pounding them against the dark slab beneath them. The clear crack sound of it was replaced by a deep groaning as the doors behind them swung inward. Venus nodded to the sentries before continuing onward.

What lay before them was similar to the atrium above, but was much larger and grander. The space stretched for almost three hundred meters in the same large triangular architecture, yet its narrowest point was at the door they had just entered. The same bird of prey spread its wings across the floor, but was faded from many footfalls over the vast years.

"This is our most fortified stronghold," Venus began as they made their way across the massive seal. "We have come here for many emergencies. The most recent was, of course, the Event. But long ago, this was the first city on Venus. Our ancestors found relief from the elements here; this planet was much hotter in its youth, and we only emerged at night."

"Your fair hair and skin seem sensible now. I found it peculiar," observed Kunzite.

"Yes; we spent half a millennium under ground."

They crossed the seal and made for an open archway ahead. Venus had not seen the sight that awaited them in many years and felt she was even more excited than Kunzite about what lay ahead. "Welcome to Hatha-Rai, the city beneath the world."

The enclosed tunnel they were in gave way to a tremendous cavern. Neither could see the end clearly enough, and the apex was hidden in shadows and smoke. The large city, bigger than the cities of the east combined, filled much of the massive expanse. It was carved out from the beige stone surrounding them and patched together with dusty red brick. It was much different than Venus' modern cities being more modular than sleek, but it was still magnificent. It housed the dawn of a new civilization and with it all the history of her people. They stood at the beginning of a large ramp which led to the base of the city and was big enough for many carts and vehicles to maneuver.

"It is quite amazing," was all Kunzite could say, and Venus chuckled to herself.

"Yes, quite."

"There are citizens still living here?" Kunzite asked, motioning to a group of flickering lights in the city below.

"A few hundred do; a lot of miners, a few ancient families and the adventurous. I could never live here despite its grandeur. I would miss the sun and its warmth," she said.

"You do seem made for the sunshine," he commented, and Venus felt her heart skip at the compliment. She looked at him from the corner of her eye, wanting but not wanting to know if he meant more by it. Yet he wasn't looking at her and instead was still staring out at the city in front of them. "You would do well in Zoisite's realm. It is hot there, I'm told, and the sun almost always is shining."

"I think I would like to see your realm the most," she ventured, and instantly regretted the decision as he turned his sharp eyes upon her. They were alarming in their clarity, but they were thrilling as much as they were frightening. Damn the sun; she would rather spend her whole life beneath his gaze instead. It was a completely hopeless thought, one that belonged in the most potent romance story, but she couldn't help thinking it nonetheless.

"And I would be glad to show you someday," he said. He smiled then, just a small smirk, but with that one genuine gesture she felt another chunk of her barrier shatter. There was a casual friendship in his tone and she could sense his feelings. They were not loud; it was like hearing a private conversation through a door, muffled and distorted, but the pitch of the voices always gave them away. He was letting his emotional guard down in front of her, but whether it was conscious or not mattered little to her. She knew where it would lead, since she knew where they were destined to end. This could not happen, but yet…

"Do you have your own place in your kingdom, or do you only live with the prince now?" she asked.

"Yes, although it is more of a fortress that I decided to inhabit and remodel. I rarely get to visit these days."

"Is there a forest nearby?"

"My home is surrounded by them. Why do you ask?" Kunzite replied.

"Ever since I was little and even way before that time, Venus has been mostly barren of trees. There are some here and there. The moon has more forests, but I doubt it rivals the density of them on your planet. Well, I know it for a fact; I can see your planet outside my window," she laughed, trying to clear her thoughts. "What I'm trying to say is that my princess is not the only one that dreams of the greenery."

"And what do you expect to find in my forests, Sailor Venus?"

"I don't expect to find anything. I expect I would get lost," she teased. She was thinking of the wolves running next to Kunzite's horse in her vision, and the look of sheer determination and exhilaration that was on his face. She wanted to feel what he had at that moment. She wanted to know that inner part of his life, even if he didn't understand why. He was fascinating; so refined and polite and yet quiet and introverted. It was like he was hiding his true self behind his role. She knew all too well about such things.

"I would keep you safe," Kunzite promised.

Venus tried to keep from blushing, but she feared it was proving unsuccessful. She was imagining just how he would indeed keep her safe, and it did not involve swords or shields, armor or helm. It did not involve much of anything at all.

She then prattled on about Hatha-Rai, drowning out her own thoughts with facts that had been drilled into her head as a youngster. Even when she had been far from this place, her father had demanded she learn the history of Venus. In her parents' hearts, she would always be their Venusian princess, and it was still her duty to know her planet inside and out. She hardly needed to be taught about such things; she could feel Venus in her veins, hear its slowing pulse and pain. Their destinies were intertwined.

"Fascinating, isn't it? I really wish I could show you the city below, but I'm afraid Hatha-Rai is more than today can handle. I just wanted to show you this place. It's important to every Venusian, and to know of it and see it, is to better understand us. If you want, we can however visit the museum above in Hatha."

"What is the difference between these two places?" Kunzite asked as they turned back.

"Hatha means 'entrance'. Hatha-Rai means 'no entrance'. There are ways to get into this city from below, of course, tunnels and airways for emergencies and ventilation. No one that wasn't supposed to has found them, however," Venus answered.

"Thank you for showing me this place, Sailor Venus. Perhaps someday you will be able to give me the tour of the city itself?"

It was Venus' turn to smile. "I would be glad to show you someday."

They began their lengthy trek across the massive space and were half way across when they realized they were not alone. Quickly approaching was a group of six in bright red tunics the color of a blood moon. They strode with purpose and it was obvious the fair duo was their target. Venus did not see any weapons and she could not see their faces beneath heavy black masks, but she did sense their emotions. They were all full of hate and contempt, irritation and outrage, and it was all focused on the man at her side. They halted a stone's throw away and the leader stepped forward to point at Kunzite, as if the Shitennou was being accused.

Venus knew who they were in an instant, for they were precisely who she had been trying so carefully to avoid on this excursion.

A deep, male voice came from behind the leader's mask. "How dare you bring such a foul creature to our most sacred place! He is not welcomed here, nor is his race welcomed to our brotherhood." The man spoke in an ancient Venusian dialect, one that had filled these very halls centuries ago when Venus and her people were new. The former princess could not speak it well, but she could understand it. Not that she needed to; this man's eyes spoke for themselves.

"What do you want?" Venus asked.

"Do not speak to us in such a barbaric language!"

"Then we will not speak at all. I have nothing to say to you as it is."

"Of course you don't," the leader sneered. "But you must realize what will happen. These Earthlings are ambitious, ruthless, and cold hearted. They will not stop with becoming our equals; they won't cease until they control us and reap the spoils we have left. They will bleed us dry."

"That won't happen," Venus swore.

"Why? Because he is your destined one?"

The sailor senshi could not stop herself from gasping out loud and taking an involuntary step backwards. She felt as if her heart had been cut from her chest and lay bare for all to see. He was reading her, as easily as a scholar reads a parchment, and the experience made her want to retch. They all laughed at her silently, their perverted joy radiating from their eyes. With a frustrated growl she raised her defenses, pushing the intruder from her thoughts and feelings. He was strong and Venus knew she could not hope to ward off all of them at once. She had not realized their powers had grown so much; it was a horrible mistake on her part, and she hoped Kunzite would not pay for it.

"Did you think such a thing could be hidden from us? We, who are the foundation of this planet and the essence of its strength. This...man hides secrets even greater than the one you hold in your heart. We have gazed at his true fortune. He will betray everyone he has ever loved in the end, you will see. That is, unless you do what is right and defend your world from these outsiders. It is enough we are under the Queen's control; do not abandon your people once more."

"What are they saying?" Kunzite spoke up beside her.

"They...they do not agree with you being here," she revealed, although that hardly needed voiced.

Then Kunzite did the one thing she wished him not to do. He stepped up towards the opposing force, opening up his hands in a sign of peace. "I'm sorry my coming here has upset you, but I assure you my prince has the best intentions. He-"

The red garbed man screamed and snarled. "He does not speak to us! We should rip out his tongue and feed it to him so he can taste his own deceit!"

He stepped out from the line of his friends as if he was going to attack the Shitennou. Venus saw Kunzite reach for his phantom sword out of habit, but it was her that reacted first. She stepped in front of Kunzite and raised her arms to her shoulders like a flower embraces the sun in the morning. Yet the warming power came from within, spreading from her chest to her long fingers. She let it flow in all directions around her, and it was not long before an invisible wave hit the confrontational commander. He seemed bewildered and now unsure of his rage, and paused in his advance.

"Leave," the senshi growled in Venusian, her voice dark and deep. For once, she was utterly grateful for her powers as a senshi; they were saving both of them from this unneeded battle.

The man took heed, retreating back into his line of companions. For a moment the two groups stood locked in accusing stares and tense postures before an unbidden signal sent the group moving back to where they came in a silent dance of red. The leader lingered and this time only had eyes for Sailor Venus.

"I do not envy the decision you must make, so let me help you in choosing: Do not bring him to the Savéol festivities and disgrace our most sacred of events. Send him away from this planet if you value his life and the sanctity of your home world. Nothing good will come of him being here. Make the right choice."

With that, the man cloaked in secrecy and hatred turned his back on the pair and disappeared into the long shadows. A heavy quiet filled the cavernous hall, as if all the eyes that had passed through this place were now bearing down on her, waiting for her final decision. She could hear her blood pounding in her ears, and realized she still held her power at hand. It was growing stronger, fed by the anger and frustration she was harboring. Sailor Venus forced herself to let it go, trying to calm herself with deep, steady breaths.

It was a few moment before she came back to her senses and felt Kunzite's gaze on her. She didn't want to face him and all the truths the indignant man had spoken. Her world was tilting beneath her feet, trying to throw her off into an abyss where dark things lurked. This was not how it was supposed to be.

"This…this is all wrong," she whispered.

"Sailor Venus?"

She straightened and steadied at his voice, but she still refused to glance his way. Her feet were moving before she realized it and were quickly taking her away from this place.

"Let's get out of here."

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