Pretty Little Liar

Disclaimer: I think you all know by now that I don't own Sailor Moon.

AN: Just so we're clear, this has nothing to do with a book series or TV show that has a similar name. This is purely Sailor Moon.

Prologue: A Deal With the Devil

Serena faced her father, trembling from the power of the emotions she had rushing through her. Rage, pain, sorrow, and betrayal crashed down on her with the force of a massive tidal wave. Tears were trying to tear their way out of her, but by some divine power's grace, she was able to hold them back. The blonde regarded the man in front of her with a sense of both loathing and love. Loathing for what he'd done, was doing, but love because he was her father. 'Hate the sin, love the sinner,' she thought faintly.

"Serena," her father spoke her name shakily, eyes lowered in shame. He reached out a hand towards his daughter, who backed away. "Let me explain," he begged.

"What is there to explain?" the blonde asked softly. Her tone was cold. "It's hard to misinterpret anything that resembles what I saw back there." She pointed a finger in the direction they'd come from. Her right eyebrow was raised skeptically. Even though she loved her father, her rage at him was still making a small manifestation of itself.

"You're right…I keep forgetting you're not a little girl anymore."

"What, you're trying to make me forget the problem we face by going sentimental? Stop. It won't work. Do you have any idea what this would do to Mom, your wife, if she heard about this? God, I should tell her this minute!"

"No! No, don't do that. I'll pay you. How much do you want?"

Serena's eyes narrowed. "You're despicable," she hissed. She wasn't sure who was more surprised that she knew the word; herself or her father, "I'm telling Mom." She pulled out her cell phone. Mr. Tsukino grabbed her arm.

"Do you want to be responsible for tearing the family apart?" he asked.

The question took her so much by surprise that she stopped. She regarded her father with confusion.

"Listen to me, Serena. You think you're doing what's right, but you're not. I can guarantee you that if you tell your mother, you will be tearing the family apart. Do you want that burden resting on your shoulder?"

Numbly, Serena shook her head. Would she really cause that much trouble? Her father's logic made sense somehow, even though her conscience irked her. Could she truly tear her family apart by telling the simple, cold truth? Yes, she realized. She could. Could she do the right thing for such a high price? The blonde felt completely lost. She didn't know what to do or how to react. This was over her head in the most extreme sense.

"Serena, trust me on this. If you tell your mother, the family will fall apart. You wouldn't be able to live with yourself. I don't want you to bear that kind of guilt. I only want what's best for you. You know that, right?"

No, at this point, she really didn't. Nevertheless, the girl nodded dumbly, unable to speak. Word wanted to come out, but she couldn't figure out how to organize them.

"Good. So this will be our secret? You won't tell a soul?"

Helplessly, Serena shook her head again, unintentionally indicating that she would remain silent. She didn't know what else to do.

"Good girl. You won't regret it," Mr. Tsukino smiled at her. "Anything you want, name it. I owe you, and you deserve something for making you the right choice. I noticed you eyeing a pink chiffon dress. It would look lovely on you. Does that sound good?"

Shocked, the blonde nodded her head before she even realized what she was doing. Her conscience was screaming at her not to listen, not to accept the bargain her father was offering her. She could have anything she wanted in exchange for her silence. Everything she desired could be hers…the only cost was her honesty. She didn't want this, but she'd already made the deal. She was officially trapped.

"Your new dress will be waiting for you on your bed tomorrow afternoon. If you want anything else, say the word and it's yours." Her father was smiling brilliantly at her as if she'd made his day.

The blonde walked away from him, feeling miserable. 'Oh, God,' she thought in horror, 'I've just sold my soul to the devil!' Her guilt rankled within her, and she feared that she'd made the wrong choice. She wanted to go to Trista or Amy for advice; surely one of them would know what to do! Alas, she could not do so. She'd promised to remain silent, however inadvertently, and her morals would not allow her to break any promise. Even if it was a dark one. Besides, if she went to either Senshi, she would have to tell the whole story, and it would get back to her mother somehow, and her conscience would burn her for tearing her family apart. 'What have I done?' she thought miserably.