Savéol by Jessica Pendragon

Self-Destruct in 3,2,1...

As desperation takes hold…


“To be here with you is the only thing I desire. I see the world in a haze of colors and they mean nothing to me, but you shine bright, clear and steadfast. In my darkness times you will be the star guiding me home, giving me the will to press on. Nothing will make me stray.”

It was during his third day in protective exile that Kunzite began perusing the shelves of Venusian literature. He was permitted to leave his rooms with an armed escort, of course. The Shitennou had explored most of the palace and its surroundings over the last two days, but he had not been summoned to any state functions, brunches or dinners since the council meeting. He could only wonder at what level of panic those within the inner palace were currently experiencing, but he could not blame King Marceneau for keeping him out of affairs. Kunzite was sure his death or dismemberment at the hands of a radical Venusian cult would not look good for anyone involved in these alliances.

He hesitated to tell his prince, but for whose sake he didn’t really know. Endymion had been displeased and worried, but his love for peace and his forbidden princess would keep Kunzite there a little longer. Still, the Golden Prince vowed to speak to Marceneau personally and if necessary, send Jadeite to Venus. Kunzite could only imagine the horrors that would follow such an act.

He returned to the book he was browsing, glancing over its finely printed narration. To his surprise, only a few shelves were occupied by romances such as this. There was quite a prominent amount of philosophy, scientific theories and handbooks on anything from Venusian plants to proper table manners. He had spent a few hours the previous night reading a very interesting mystery written by a Venusian named Eugen Placar.

Some of the titles were written in Epherian, the universal language spoken throughout the Solar System. It amazed many Terrans to meet aliens that spoke their language, but it made Kunzite suspicious and curious. The Lunarians must have been spying on them long before anyone ever realized. Kunzite replaced his current selection and picked up one of the Venusian books written in their own tongue. Their letters were wispy and flowed in a delicate pattern so intricate he would never understand. He wasn’t all that much for prose or poetry, but he appreciated art and that’s what this book seemed to him.

He was about to close the book when one word, the only one he could recognize, seemed to pop out of the page before him. It startled him, even though he could not grasp its meaning: Loni. It was the name the royals called Sailor Venus, but hushed, like it was something revered, forbidden, or perhaps both. Curious, he flipped through its pages and discovered the word appeared a few more times. Further searches led him to find it again in other books. It seemed to be a popular term, but he could only wonder at its meaning.

A gentle knock at the door almost made him jump. “Come in, please.”

He expected another faired haired servant, but a woman with chestnut hair and eyes hidden by long bangs entered the room. He could see she held a tray of tea and fruit and a blush on her cheeks. She put the tray down before addressing him with a small curtsy.

“Te ralai ano miro,” he greeted.

“Strong winds,” she returned his greeting, but not in any way he expected. Kunzite couldn’t help but stare for a moment as she raised her dark eyes to his. Kunzite had heard that greeting hundreds of times on a planet he called home. She gave him a small, apologetic smile. “I’m from Portia.”

Portia was a place he’d never been to, a city by the sea in Nephrite’s realm. He had heard many tales about the place from his friend, however, that he could almost taste the salt on the breeze and hear the gulls in the harbor.

“You’re a Terran.” He felt ridiculous for stating the obvious, but for the time being he was stunned by this turn of events. He never expected to encounter his own kind on this trip, but to be the only alien in an even stranger place.

“Yes, we’re both a long way from home. My name is Lelaine and my father was a trader in Portia who couldn’t resist the opportunity whenever Venus opened up its arms to us. We’ve been here ever since.”

“What does your father trade?”

“Silks mostly, but anything he can.” She touched the delicate blue ribbon wrapped around her curvy waist. “The Venusians couldn’t even dream of such a material. It was all the rage when we first arrived.”

“And you are a palace servant here?”

“Oh no! I’m apprenticing with the royal alchemist. It’s been interesting mixing our cultures’ knowledge together.” Kunzite hoped their culture’s secrets weren’t being exposed by her work, but the humble smile on her face stopped him from questioning his fellow Terran. “Yesterday while we were working, Sailor Venus came into the laboratory. I have never seen her in person before, but anyone can recognize those uniforms. She asked if I would assist you for the duration of your stay. There’s not many Terrans here on Venus and I do miss talk of home.”

Kunzite smiled kindly. “I imagine so.”

“My father never wishes to return though. I fear I may be stuck on this planet forever.”

“If your father were to allow it, I would be more than happy to take you back home when I leave in a month’s time,” he offered.

Lelaine’s eyes grew wide with hopeful excitement. “Really? I do love it here, but I miss the sea and my friends. I feel like my life’s been put on hold for so long. I will have to ask my father. Thank you for the offer, my lord.”

They talked for the rest of the afternoon and shared Kunzite’s lunch of fruit and porridge. He told her news from home while she told him secrets about the Venusian court. They took a walk to Lelaine’s family store and traversed through a forest of silks. For a few hours Kunzite felt like he was home. The way Lelaine moved and talked was so comforting in this world full of strangers and strange things.

By the time they returned to his rooms, Lelaine finally remembered what it was she had been sent.

“I almost forgot! Sailor Venus wishes to have dinner with you tonight. She said she would have the servants come in and set up a table on your patio. I was supposed to relay your answer hours ago, I feel horrible now!”

“I’m sure she will be prepared either way, and I accept her proposal. It was a pleasure to meet you, Lelaine.”
“I will go tell her right now. Goodbye, Lord Kunzite!”

Shortly after her disappearance a stream of servants came bustling into his rooms, carting tables, dishes, chairs and sparkling silverware to his private patio. He was getting so used to their dithering about he was startled when there was an abrupt break in activity.

Sailor Venus stood in his doorway, framed by the soft gold light pouring in from the hall. Her Senshi outfit encased her body and he wondered if she was ever permitted to wear anything else. She held a careful smile on her face, as if she had done something wrong and waited to know if she had been caught. He thought back to how their previous meeting had ended in a streak of confusion and blonde hair.

“Good evening, Sailor Venus.”

“Hello Kunzite. I hope your days of captivity have been treating you well?”

“I’ve been treated like a king.”

“I hope not or then you’ll just grow fat and miserable.”

He chuckled. “Perhaps you’re right.”

Looking at her now, he finally understood the meaning of her smile, of what happened today. She had sought out Lelaine for him, knowing she would bring him some comfort in these darker times. She could have picked any handsome servant to assist him, but by picking a Terran, Sailor Venus made it personal. It was her way of apologizing, of making things right, and Kunzite could do nothing but graciously accept.

“I wanted to thank you for sending Lelaine to me. You cannot know what a relief it was to see a familiar face here, as it were.”

“I do know, but you are most welcome. I hope she was satisfactory?” There was an off tone to her question and Kunzite longed to hear jealousy in it. He could not wrap his mind around any reason why she should be jealous, but he felt compelled to defend his actions just the same.

“Yes, it is good to know I have a friend here I can talk to when things become too strange,” he said, emphasizing the correct words.

She seemed to realize herself too late and dismissed everything with a casual, practiced wave of her hand. “Well, shall we dine?”

They walked outside and into the warm air. A short, rectangular table covered in sparkling gossamer fabric the color of a sunset rested in one corner. Silver trays of fruits, vegetables and rice awaited them with amber colored liquid resting in jewel-encrusted goblets. They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the distant sounds of the city below them. Even though the sun still shone brightly, a feeling of night and rest echoed in the air.

“I have noticed something peculiar during my last few days here,” Kunzite said as he picked up a piece of red fruit, holding it between his fingers.

“Oh? I’m sure you’ve noticed more than one thing peculiar,” she said with a laugh. “What is it?”

“Every meal I’ve had has been fruit, vegetable or the like. I have not had a piece of meat since I arrived.”

“We only eat meat on the rarest of occasions,” Venus answered. “On your planet you probably have fields of livestock and rivers full of fish. We do not have that luxury anymore. So much of what was has been lost to us. We preserve what life is left and do not eat our animals except for special occasions, like Savéol. There were, of course, some underground groups that bred livestock to be sold on the black market, but since our population has dwindled it has been easier to root out these weeds from our society.”

“A planet populated by vegetarians,” he mused, causing Sailor Venus to laugh more heartily this time.

“I suppose it is strange, but no one alive on this planet today has lived any other way. You told my family about some of your world, but I wish to hear more. Ashani informed me you live in the shadows of great mountains.”

“I also said I lived in the plain lands. To the east the grass grows as far as the eye can see until you reach the edge of a thick forest so dense they almost seem black instead of green. To the west the trees are much closer and reach all the way to the north where our great mountains lay. If you continue south, the grass eventually turns to sand and then becomes harsh rocky terrain.”

“Where did you like to go as a child? Was there some place you liked to escape to?”

“There was a small stream that ran through the west forest from the mountains. I used to follow it for a mile and find a cave in the hills. It was too small for a bear and perhaps too large for anything else because I never had to compete with any animals for it. I used to go there to carve wooden statues or just read until the light grew too dim. I only shared it with a few people and my friend, Raza, painted animals and people on the walls. We used to sit and tell stories by the campfire and watch her drawings come to life.”

Kunzite had only told the story of the cave to a select group of people, but something in Sailor Venus’ eyes compelled him to speak. Some part of him knew he shouldn’t trust her in this turbulent political game, but the way she looked at him now spoke nothing of espionage or ill intent. It was as if she was trying to soak as much of him up as she could, and her interest was genuine. Few people asked about his life or how he was, and was truly interested. Suddenly, he wished to know more about her as well.

“Did you have any place like that?”

She stared at him for a moment, perhaps thinking the same thoughts as he had. “Yes, there is a place I went to, and still visit, that is all-mine. I can be myself; no more fake smiles, empty words, or monsters to slay. It is a comforting place, but I am always alone there. I am sorry I cannot be more descriptive. You have shared a part of your life that I cannot completely return. I should not have asked. I just…”

“I imagine this place must be kept secret for a reason?”

She gave him a thankful smile for his understanding. “Yes, perhaps when we are closer allies I will be able to share.”
So the game was still afoot. It was likely never to end. Kunzite was a fool for thinking any different. Yet she had thought of him when she picked Lelaine to be his companion; did she do that for leverage, or because she cared whether he felt alone? She had shown him Hatha-Rai, the city beneath the world that was a sacred part of who she was. Maybe she was doing the best she could, given their circumstances. He wished he could know for sure, just this once.

“My favorite color is red,” she said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

“Pardon?”

“My favorite color is red, that’s something I can share. I used to wear nothing but red and my bed cover was a beautiful deep red like a ruby. I pretended it was lava and used my pillows as rocks to make my hasty escape. Sometimes I used to try and swing across the canopy, much to the chagrin of my nursemaids. I turned my bathtub into a boat where I sailed the great oceans escaping from pirates and monsters, who were usually my nursemaids.” She laughed at the memory, her eyes turning a clear, beautiful blue. They turned sober just as fast at her next thought. “Many things changed when I moved to the moon.”

“Has your life been hard there?”

“In some ways, but in others I am eternally grateful for what it has given me. I have true friends and a purpose, but I have lost much in the process. As your prince’s right hand, I’m sure that you have felt the same as I have,” she said, and he could not deny it. Was this why he could open up to her, because they shared the same burdens? He wondered if Sailor Venus knew of their prince and princess’ star-crossed romance, which only added even more strain to Kunzite’s position. In public they were close friends, brought together to symbolize the unity of the Silver Millennium and Earth. But Endymion had been promised to another long before he met Serenity, a fact that brought Kunzite’s master pain above all other things.
He wished he could confide in Sailor Venus, to understand her thoughts and ideas on the matter. Kunzite wanted his master to be happy, but he could find no solutions. He imagined Sailor Venus knew, being Serenity’s closest guard and Senshi of this interesting planet. He had tested the waters when he brought up his master’s betrothed on the ride to Hatha-Rai, but she had not shown any inclination either way then. He could not risk it if she were not wise to this dangerous tryst.

“This is the first time I’ve been home for a very long time. When was the last time you were home?” she asked.

“Three years. Leaving in the prince’s stone city, I have not seen much of nature lately.”

“I’m sure you’ve found ways to escape,” she said with a conspirator’s grin. “Do you hunt?”

He felt emboldened by her story, her willingness to share herself with him, that he pushed all thoughts of conspiracy from his mind and answered her truthfully. “It is one way I can get away. A forest lies to the north of the central city that has good game in the summer. Sometimes I must ride with my master and the other Shitennou, but I relish the days I can go alone. The woods come alive without other distractions. You can smell the pine, the dirt, hear the trees move and grow. Even the smallest sounds seem to move through you.”

“I bet your wolves love to escape as well.”

As she said this, her eyes opened wide with alarm. It was as if she had revealed the secret location of the Lunar treasury and for a moment he could not understand why. Many people knew of the war-wolves he kept constantly at his side. They were large beasts, grown in the expanse of the plains and massive forests of his home. His father had managed to tame an abandoned litter of three pups, a feat said impossible by nearby neighbors. But they were loyal and loving and struck fear in his adversaries when Kunzite and his wolves came charging into battle.

Thinking of them now, he wondered if they had destroyed half the palace in their rage at being separated for so long. His master had never mentioned if they had, but Kunzite doubted he would. Did Sailor Venus think they were a secret? He couldn’t say with absolute certainty that the Silver Millennium knew nothing about his companions, but the look on her face told him she had just revealed something best left unsaid.

“Sailor Venus…?”

“I-I should go.” Swiftly she rose from her seat, almost knocking over her untouched wineglass. Yet she had to pass him to escape his company, and Kunzite reacted instinctively when she drew near. He stood up just as fast as she did, gripping her wrist. As they touched, an impossible spark seemed to run from his fingers to his heart. They both gasped, caught unprepared by such a feeling, a feeling that should only exist in fairytales. He tried hard to understand this.

Was it because of her Senshi powers? For some reason that conclusion didn’t sit right. He had felt her powers briefly in the underground meeting with the Delars, and it had felt different. Kunzite hardly believed in love at first site or soul mates, but touching her glove-covered skin warmed him to his core. They stood, transfixed and silent, staring at the place their two bodies met.

It felt altogether right and terrifying to hold her. He wondered what her skin felt like beneath its encasement, and dared to move his hand farther up her arm. He could not say what compelled this outrageous behavior, but he was like a man possessed. She did not move, holding her own breath as his hand crept closer to her exposed flesh. When his fingers caressed her skin a light seemed to explode behind his eyes. He rocked unsteadily on his heels, now grasping her upper arm for support. The light accompanied by a warmth far stronger spreading through his chest. Nothing like this should ever happen, it couldn’t. They were mortals, not ones immortalized by some romantic’s notions of true love and destiny. It scared him to think what this meant, but at the same time he longed for it to be true.

He suddenly had the urge to kiss her, to see what would happen when such a delicate part of their bodies combined. He imagined the event would create sparks, a sumptuous inferno that no amount of water could extinguish. As he moved closer it was as if he had no control over his thoughts or actions. It was like before in the council antechamber, but he knew he could not stop himself this time. He needed her suddenly, as if a kiss from her would give him life, a life he had forgotten like an old, favored song. He realized he should not be doing this, knew he should pull away, but all ideas of reason were beyond him now.
As their lips were about to touch, so close he could feel the heat of them, it was Sailor Venus that finally saw sanity. She merely jerked her head slightly, inhaling a sharp breath of air that seemed to release reason back into his mind. For the first time since they touched he looked at the short distance between them with unclouded eyes, but he still could not comprehend.

“What…?”

“I need to go,” she whispered in a rush, trying to pull free from his grasp. But he didn’t let go, not this time. He needed answers, answers to why he felt so different around her, as if he were a babe fumbling for its first words. Why he could only stare at her the first day they met, why he could share things so easily with her. Was it some spell, some magic? Why was she so different from all the rest? It frustrated him to no end, and his grip on her arm tightened unconsciously.

“What just happened? Please tell me!” he demanded, his voice rising with confusion.

Then she pinned him a look so sorrowful and anguished all his selfish emotions disappeared. When she wrenched her arm free this time he did not resist. It was as if her heart were breaking and her eyes shattered with unshed tears. Now more than ever he wished he could see into her mind, but also was hesitant to know what could cause her such pain.

“I wish…I can’t tell you, Kunzite! No matter how much I wish I could. I’m so sorry; I should not have come here.” She sobbed her last words, pushing passed him before he could recover completely.

“Wait!” But it was too late.

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