New Enemies
        The Dark Lord Saga - Chapter One
                 by Rick Federle
                         
     
     
          The first thing Mina became aware of when she woke was
     the warmth around her, its comforting presence filling her with
     contentment.  She became aware of the gentle presence of
     William's arms around her waist, keeping her close to him.  She felt
     the nearness of his body, the warmth of his skin against hers, the
     gentle pulsing of his heart beating in unison with hers.
          She felt his skin under her hands and the softness of his hair
     against her thumbs, the reassuring presence of his forehead resting
     against hers.  The gentle tangle of their legs caused by their sleep,
     and the touch of her skin against his, every curve of her body
     molded up against him.  She felt the gentle rise and fall of his chest
     against hers caused by his slow, deep breathing as he slept.
          She let herself enjoy the nearness of him, his warmth around
     her, luxuriating in his closeness for a moment before she opened her
     eyes to look at his face.  Her eyes focused on his dark eyelashes
     then the rest of his face.  Her eyes absorbed the look on his face,
     memorizing every detail, his closed eyelids and his slightly parted
     lips that indicated that he was still asleep.  She leaned forward, her
     nose coming to rest next to his as she pressed her lips against his, a
     small smile of contentment on her lips.  She felt him gradually
     return the kiss as he slowly became aware of her, and closed her
     eyes again as she felt him respond to her.  She felt his body respond
     to the closeness of hers and was aware of the response of hers to
     his as the kiss lingered.
          She felt the slow withdraw of his lips from hers and she
     leaned forward to touch her lips against his briefly one more time as
     his lips parted from hers.  She opened her eyes to gaze into his,
     aware of the small smile around the corners of his mouth.
          "Good morning."  She greeted him, her lips curling upward
     to share his smile.
          "Morning."  He agreed, his eyes filled with love and
     twinkling with amusement.  "My favorite wake up call."
          "I know."  She touched her lips against his briefly then
     snuggled back against him with a content murmur, closing her eyes.
          "You packed for the trip today?"  He asked as she snuggled
     up against him.
          "Yes."  She murmured into his chest.  "I managed to fit it all
     in one suitcase."
          "Then we can leave after breakfast."
          "Good."
          "Shower?"  He asked after a minute.
          She opened her eyes and looked up at him, gazing into his
     eyes briefly before answering.  "Yes," she agreed.
          "Last one there has to wait for the soap."  He commented,
     throwing off the sheets and rising out of bed.
          "Hey, wait!"  She called, scrambling across the bed after
     him.  "No fair!"
     
     
     
          Mina stopped next to her chair at the little table they shared
     when they dined.  "What do you think?"  Mina asked as she twirled
     gracefully around once for her husband's inspection.  The hem of
     her dress spun all the way around until it was tight against her legs,
     forcing it to stop.  It then fell to its proper place just above her
     knees.
          William looked up from breakfast at her, his mouth forming
     a smile as he caught sight of her.  "Perfect."  He stated as his eyes
     took her in.
          Mina giggled happily, then she pulled out her chair and
     dropped into it.  "You always say that."
          "It's true."  He insisted as he leaned back in his chair, the
     fingers of his right hand curled around his juice glass, his eyes
     watching her.  "You're exactly what I want.  You're perfect."
          Mina swatted his free hand playfully before retrieving her
     utensils.  "Stop it."  She commanded lightly, her eyes on her
     breakfast as she started to eat.
          "As you command, Highness."
          She looked up to see the playful twinkle in his eyes before
     he glanced away to finish his glass of juice.  She swallowed her
     mouthful then waggled her forefinger at him.  "You promised me a
     week in the mountains to do whatever I want."  She reminded him. 
     "That was your graduation present to me."
          "Yes, love."  He agreed, not looking at her as he put down
     the now empty glass.  "It was."
          "So quit it."
          "Quit what?"  He asked, looking up at her, his eyes wide
     with innocence.
          "Never mind."  She giggled again then resumed eating.
     
     
                      * * *
                         
          "It's so beautiful up here."  Mina said from where she was
     looking out a window.  They were checking in at the lodge, which
     also doubled as an assembly hall.  The two rooms were seperated
     by a wooden door, so as not to mix business with entertainment. 
     They were staying in a cabin for the week.  The only phone around
     was in the lodge, and William hadn't given out the number to it, so
     she didn't expect anyone to be calling for the whole week.  A week
     for the two of them to be together.
          Outside, the sun hung just above the tree line, causing the
     snow seem to glisten, making the forest seem to glow with light.
          "It looked like it," she heard him agree.
          Mina crossed back to the counter, taking her place at his
     side.  She slipped her right hand into his left, squeezing his fingers
     once when he wrapped his fingers over hers.  "It is."
          "And there you go, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson."  The clerk
     interrupted as he placed the key on the counter in front of them. 
     Mina snagged it before William could.  "It's cabin twelve, at the
     end of the trail.   The most private one we got, just like you asked."
          "Thanks."  Mina flashed the clerk a smile as she slipped the
     key into her coat pocket.  The couple crossed to the door, fastening
     their coats, and pulling back on their gloves for the short walk to
     the cabin.
          The two walked in silence to the cabin, stopping only briefly
     over at the car to retrieve their luggage.  The cabin was set back a
     little from the others, down an incline, nestled in a cove of trees. 
     Mina drew to a halt at the top of the incline to take in the view,
     feeling William stop next to her.
          "Thank you."  Mina whispered as she turned to hug her
     husband.
          "Anything for you, my heart."  He whispered back, setting
     down the suitcases so he could put his arms around her, hugging
     her in return.
          She looked up into his eyes, seeing the love and adoration
     filling them.  She hugged him again.  "Let's get inside."  She
     suggested as let go of him.  "I'm getting cold."  She lead the way,
     pausing only long enough to retrieve the key from her pocket so
     she could open the door.
          The inside of the cabin was all one big room, with a
     curtained area set aside for the bathroom.  Mina tugged off her
     gloves, absently dropping them to the floor as she checked the
     thermostat near the door to see if it was set at the right
     temperature.
          She heard the soft click of the door being closed and locked
     as she toed off her boots.  She shed her coat, hearing the faint
     thump of their luggage being set on the floor.  She headed for the
     bed, taking in the room as she crossed it.  When she reached the
     bed, she spun around once, then plopped down onto it.  She
     bounced once then flopped on her back, closing her eyes. 
     "Perfect."  She whispered.
          "Yes."  She heard William agree as he sat down next to her.
          She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him, her
     eyes meeting his.  She read in his eyes just how much he really
     loved her.  "Come here."  She demanded softly, holding out her
     arms to him.  She felt her own lips curl into a smile to match his as
     he lowered himself into her arms and she locked her hands together
     behind his neck as he entered her embrace.  She felt his right hand
     slide up her left leg to rest on her thigh as their lips pressed
     together, their hearts suddenly pounding.  She threw herself into the
     kiss, pulling him on top of her, as her desire for him threatened to
     overwhelm her.
          The two promptly froze at the sound of pounding on the
     door.
          "I forgot to tell you."  The clerk called through the door. 
     "There's a dance tonight after dark.  Everyone's invited."
          William pulled his lips from hers and rested his forehead
     against hers.  "Someone's got perfect timing."
          "And I was just getting warmed up."  Mina sighed.
          "I noticed."  He agreed.  "Are we going to the dance?"  He
     asked after a minute.
          "Eventually."  Mina declared.  "When I'm ready."  She
     explained, raising her head and pressing her lips against his.
     
     
     
          Mina twirled gracefully to a stop, nestled comfortably in
     William's arms as the dance finished.   She snuggled against him as
     the two came to a halt, resting her head against his chest.  She felt
     the presence of his lips on the top of her head as the music faded. 
     "I love you, Mina."  She heard him whisper.  "More than I ever
     thought possible."
          She squeezed him tight, giving him a reassuring hug, then
     looked up into his eyes.  She reached up and touched his left cheek
     with the fingertips of her right hand.  "And I you."  She whispered
     back.
          He leaned toward her ear.  "Bathroom break."  He
     murmured.
          Mina nodded.  "I'll be over by one of the banquet tables."
          "Don't fill up."
          "Of course not," she agreed.  "Then how would I keep you
     up all night?
          He chuckled softly, then kissed her on the nose.  "I'll be
     back."
          "I'll be waiting."  She smiled at him.  She watched him head
     toward the back of the building and then moved off the dance floor,
     headed for one of the tables set toward the front of the room.  She
     began to pick at some of the appetizers while she waited.
          The main door to the lodge exploded inward and she
     shielded her face with her arms.  A black shadow creature with
     glowing red eyes hung only inches from the ground just outside the
     shattered doorway.  It was about human sized, and it radiated
     malice.  It looked like one of the seven shadows in their true form,
     but this was more sinister, more ominous, more evil.  It had hatred
     wrapped around it like a cloak, as dark and concealing as the
     shadows that made up its body.  The fingers were curled into claws
     and ended in sharp nails, which gleamed blackly despite the bright
     lighting.
          Mina dived under the table, nearly colliding with a couple in
     the process of escaping out the patio doors which were toward the
     back of the building.  She ignored the milling panic while she
     scrambled for a place to transform, ducking into a nearby coat
     closet and after shutting the door willed her power pen into her
     hand.
          "Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!"  She commanded and
     power filled her.
          Sailor Venus burst from the closet and back into the main
     room, her eyes looking toward the doorway where she'd last seen
     the shadow creature.  It was just now moving into the main room,
     moving as if it was looking for something.
          "Hold it right there."  She demanded as she skidded to a
     stop, leveling her right forefinger at the shadow creature, blocking
     it from further entering the room.  "I am the guardian of love,
     Sailor Venus!  I don't know what you are, but you're not allowed
     to be here."
          The shadow drew to a stop and the red eyes grew brighter
     as they focused on her.  "Where is the Warrior of Light?"  It
     demanded, its voice a hiss.  "His power enfolds and protects you."
          "I don't know what you're talking about."  Venus declared,
     a confused look crossing her face for a second only to be replaced
     by determination.  "Leave these people alone."
          "I'm not after them, only the Warrior of Light."  It hissed,
     seeming to gather the shadows of the room to itself.  "I am here to
     destroy him."
          "Over my dead body."
          "As you wish."  The shadow agreed, its eyes suddenly
     glowing brilliant with power.  Fragments of shadow burst from the
     creature's body, hurling towards her.
          Venus leaped up and over the creature, avoiding the attack. 
     She somersaulted in midair, landing facing the creature.  "Try this;"
     she stated.  "Venus Cresent Beam Smash!"
          The golden energy beam leaped toward the shadow creature
     at blinding speed, but not fast enough to hit it.
          "A parlor trick."  The shadow stated as it drew to a halt.  "I
     am a Shadow Warrior in the service of the Dark Lord.  My power
     is greater than yours."  It declared, starting to draw the shadows
     from the room into itself.
          "I'm not impressed."  Venus disagreed.  "Venus Meteor
     Shower!"
          The spray of golden energy beams lit the space between the
     two and the Shadow Warrior, intent on whatever it was doing,
     failed to dodge the attack successfully.  It twitched repeatedly as
     the beams slammed into it in rapid succession, forcing it backwards.
          "Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
          Disoriented, the Shadow Warrior couldn't get out of the
     way in time and shattered in a spray of black light.
          "You're not so tough."  Venus commented, lowering her
     hand to side.  She suddenly felt a presence at her back and in the
     sudden stillness, she tensed as she prepared to turn and face
     whatever it was.
          Pain shot through her body as her attacker slammed into her
     just below her left shoulder, sending her flying, and she let off an
     involuntary scream of agony as she crashed into the far wall.  It was
     cut short as she collapsed to the floor, her breath knocked out of
     her by the impact.
          As she fought for breath, she heard her true love's bellow of
     rage and pain, feeling his outrage that something would dare strike
     her like it belonged to her.  As she struggled to her knees, she heard
     the thunder of an explosion and the sharp ringing of his blade
     striking the ground near her.
          "Hit my wife in the back."  She heard him declare.  "I'm
     going to kill you."  His fury washed over her like water, giving her
     something to focus on besides her own pain.  She struggled to her
     feet and turned toward the middle of the room, pushing aside the
     pain caused by every movement.
          Her husband stood a couple of paces from her, his body
     between hers and whatever had thrown her across the room.  Her
     eyes turned toward the new threat, assessing it.
          It was a large hairless humanoid, easily eight feet tall.  Its
     body, except for the hands, head, and tail, was encased in a suit of
     black plate armor.   An opaque force field surrounded it, like a
     second skin, extending several inches from the armor covering it. 
     It's skin, what she could see, was covered with light green scales,
     snakelike in appearance.  The tail had the same snakelike
     appearance, and was only long enough to touch the ground under
     it.  The nose was triangular, yet flat looking as if it had been
     scrunched into the face.  Small green eyes, too small for the rest of
     the face, were filled with hatred and locked onto the Guardsman. 
     Dark red nails, the same color as blood, gleamed evilly on the end
     of the claws that were its hands.  It extended those claws toward
     the Guardsman.
          "I am the Champion of the Dark Lord, Warrior of Light." 
     It declared.  "I am here to destroy you and any who stand with
     you."  The large, hulking form of the Dark Champion shifted it's
     stance, the red nails gleaming evilly in the lighting.  "I haven't had a
     challenge in a long time."  It hissed as it began to move toward it's
     right.  The Guardsman smoothly mirrored the motion, and Venus
     forced herself to follow him, protecting his back.
          "Well, I'm not going to bore you to death, that's for sure." 
     The Guardsman agreed, his eyes wary as he continued to circle
     toward the right, his entire body tensed and ready.
          The serpentine eyes of the Dark Champion narrowed as it
     shifted its weight slightly.  "I'm going to have some fun with you." 
     It stated, raising its claws from its side.
          Venus paused as her right foot came to rest next to the hilt
     of his sword.  She backed away from the combatants, then leaned
     over to snatch the sword from the ground.  She backed toward the
     wall, her eyes shifting between the two combatants and the
     doorway, her fingers wrapped around the hilt of the sword, holding
     it ready.
          "Come and get me, then."  The Guardsman challenged, his
     feet making virtually no sound as he padded softly to his right,
     placing one foot over the other as he went.
          With that, the Dark Champion charged, its body an opaque
     blur as it leaped into motion.  The Guardsman spun away from the
     Dark Champion's claws, his body spinning gracefully to the right in
     a circle, the motion ending with him slamming his right palm into
     the back of the Dark Champion.  A brilliant display of rainbow
     sparks appeared as his hand slammed into the force field.  The
     Guardsman winced slightly backward from the display of energy as
     the Dark Champion went over on its face.
          The Dark Champion rolled away, uncoiling itself as it rose
     back to its feet, using the motion of the Guardsman's blow to assist
     it.  It spun toward him before he could press the attack and began
     circling toward its right.  The Guardsman mirrored the motion, their
     eyes locked as they watched each other.  "I'm going to rip you up
     good."  The Dark Champion promised.
          "You talk entirely too much."  The Guardsman complained
     as he leaped forward in a jump kick, missing as the Dark Champion
     sidestepped the attack.  The Guardsman rolled to his feet, whipping
     his foot out in a spin kick as he spun around.  His right boot
     smashed into its back and it gave a grunt as it fell over on its face.
          The Dark Champion lashed out with its tail, which the
     Guardsman jumped over.  The Guardsman closed as the Dark
     Champion came to its feet and he pressed the attack, placing a
     sharp triple strike into its abdomen, a right, then a left, then another
     right.  The Dark Champion grunted involuntarily at the impacts. 
     More sparks flew at the touch and both opponents winced
     backwards from the energy display.
          "End game."  The Guardsman commented as he slammed
     the heel of his hand into the Dark Champion's throat, and there was
     another shower of sparks as his hand connected.
          The snap of bone and cartilage breaking followed and the
     Dark Champion staggered backward, clutching at the shattered
     remains of its throat and then began to curl up toward the ground. 
     As the body of the Dark Champion fell to the ground, it vanished.
          "What the?"  Venus began.
          "Later."  He declared, moving toward her.  With a wordless
     nod, she held out the blade to him and he accepted the blade from
     her then sheathed it.  The two vanished out the shattered doorway
     and into the night, leaving the empty room behind.