The beginning seems benign but later parts will likely get really dark
really fast. I generally don't send draft stuff (especially small draft
stuff) out but this was sort of an inspirational idea so I won't be too
worried if people don't like it.

-------------------------------------------------------------
                                Mama's Hand
                                    By
                               Douglas Helm
                                Rated : R+

Part 1

The room was dimly lit, a fire burned low in the hearth. A gentle
August breeze rustled the curtains, making a whispering sound.
The room's lone occupant stood at the bay window, staring out
into the clear night. However the lateness of the hour did not
make her tired, on the contrary it made her worried, nervous,
fearful.

The clock sounded the hour, it's bell mournful, sounding as if
from a distance. The woman turned, glancing at the clock. Five
hours and his plane would be back, and things would be back to
normal. 

As she turned she saw her reflection, even with the dim light she
could see his mark. The bruise had turned from an angry purple
into an ugly yellow-brown. She could almost see out of the eye
again. Unconsciously her hand moved to her ribs and through the
thin night gown she could feel the bandages put there to keep her
ribs from moving.

Oh Kami-sama why hadn't she seen it? Looking back upon it know
she knew that love had blinded to the events that had unfolded.
She felt a lump form in her throat. It was of sadness but that
lump was also frightening, it brought back images of him griping
her around the throat, squeezing until all she had stopped
breathing, until the blackness took her. And that blackness was
no comfort because there was another he could turn his rage upon,
and she cared for that person more then she cared for herself.

Fighting off the images of the recent past she sought comfort in
the distant past as she had done some many times before. But
tonight was different. Something had changed, something had
snapped. She did not retreat into the past to find comfort but to
find strength and courage.

She remember the that day so long ago when her friend, a very
true friend, had died. Hino Rei had been twenty-two when the
motorcycle she had been riding slid underneath a transport truck.
The police had first suspected Yuuichiro of tampering with the
breaks but he had no motive.

She gave a little sob and stepped away from the window. It was
too painful, she was trying to remember the bad times and it
hurt. It hurt more then his kicks, punches and slapping. She
receded into her mind and had become accustom to acting the role.

Sliding into a chair She struggled to gain back that fleeting
ounce of confidence. The fleeting glimmer of hope that had
carried her through all this time. Aino Minako had disappeared
some five years after Rei's death. No trace of her body was
found. The case remained open but inactive.

There! She felt the cold fury start to build, she knew who had
slain her friend but she had found out to late. Quickly before it
slipped away again she called up the other image. Makoto... Kino
Makoto had always had a fear of planes, so what ever posses her
to join the Japanese Air Force was a mystery.

Makoto had acted like her support, her pillar. when that pillar
fell away any hope, any fighting she might have made died with
the brunette. Unlike her other two friends thought Makoto died
with honor while seeing in action some forty years after Rei's
death.

Serenity bore down on the edge of her chair as racking sobs shook
her battered body. She was supposed to be Queen, a very powerful
Queen but that was simply a lie! Mizuno Ami had been Serenity
last line of defence. She pushed Serenity to fight back, to do
something, leave Endymion.

But Endymion was intelligent, he used Serenities love against
her, turned her against Ami... And when it finally came to it
Endymion simply banished her on a trumped up charge. Ami had
fled, and shortly afterward had been slain in a gang land style
execution.

Where was Serenity's great power? The Ginzuishou? She didn't
know, Endymion had told her that he would put it in a safe place.
Had CONVINCED her that she would be able to reach it when she
needed it. More lies and threats. He was free to do as he liked
after that last obstacle had been removed. The Senshi were gone,
the Outers Senshi lost in the battle that started the Great
Darkness, Pluto exiled to the time stream and her Royal guard
broken, slowly over the years so she wouldn't notice.

Hearing the clock chime again Serenity sat still listening, seven
o'clock. She only had an hour to put her plan into action before
Endymion returned, only an hour... Would she have the strength?

To be continued...

Doug

"I write in broad tapestries, interweaving characters lives leaving
 the little details to the reader unless the detials are important."
	- Anne McCaffrey

"I am Sailor Chibi-Earth! And I will sit you in the corner!"
	- Tsukino Misako, ToYV#6

http://log.on.ca/users/helm/anime/index.htm
http://log.on.ca/users/helm/sako/sakohome.htm
http://log.on.ca/gbaac/index.htm