Author's notes: In response to a few questions in regards to Serenity's behaviour towards the Prince, I wanted to clarify a few things. Serenity knows she's a maid, but it hasn't fully sunk in. She was raised as a Princess to stand up for herself, and standing up to the Prince was a natural reaction for her. From this point, she struggles with who she was and who she needs to be now, especially in regards to the Prince. While I do agree that striking a male Prince back in the days would result in beheading or something worse, Serenity was just lucky that the King really didn't care that much about his son to punish her, which will be explained why in later chapters.
If that explanation doesn't satisfy you, that's fine. I do take the criticism seriously and I keep it in mind when I write my chapters, so please keep writing in if something doesn't quite sit right. However, this story definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea and that's totally fine, too. I appreciate people who take the time out of their lives to write in with ways to improve, so I thank you.
Head down
As I watch my feet take turns hitting the ground
Eyes shut
I'm in love and I'm racing the Earth
And I'm soaked in your love
And love is right in my path, in my grasp
And me and you belong
"Smash into you" Beyonce
Chapter 2: Pull
It had been only a few days since the young Princess Serenity found herself caught in the tangle of lies that forced her to become a maid in order to protect her childhood friend, Princess Venus, and the affair she was having with the silver haired general, Kunzite, from being discovered. The punishment at the very least would have been imprisonment and Serenity knew she couldn't let that happen to her friend. It was difficult serving the enemy, but with the support of Kunzite, she was able to get through the first few days being so far away from home and living in a such a strange and foreign land.
Immediately, her cheeks flared at the mere mention of the general. Kunzite arrived promptly at her door every morning with a list of tasks to do. The sight of him on the second day, hair slightly disarray, uniform daringly more open than usual, never left her mind. He looked like had just woken up, yet she found herself slightly flustered by his handsome appearance.
"You need to be more cautious, Princess," he warned her earlier that morning. "I know the Prince can be quite... difficult to get along with, but if you go around slapping him every chance you get..."
"Did you not hear what the King said, Kunzite? He requested, no, demanded, I keep his son in line!" Serenity tried to argue.
"The King and Prince's relationship is very complicated," Kunzite began while rubbing his temples. "As nice as it sounds that the King would turn a blind eye to your... misgivings, the more you bring attention to yourself, the more likely someone will discover you're not from here. At that point, not even the Prince himself could save you from the King's wrath."
A heavy sigh escaped Serenity's weary lips. While she understood what he was saying, how could she just stand by and let the Prince treat her like that? How could anyone let someone treat them like that? She didn't care if he was the Prince of the galaxy! Her father had always taught her never to put up with disrespect, and that just because she was a female Princess, that didn't mean she had to keep her head down and be quiet. Her mother didn't always agree, but perhaps that was why Serenity tended to side with her father.
But, Kunzite was right. She wasn't a Princess here and these people weren't her subjects. She was a maid, a worker, and most importantly, an Earthling, according to them. As much as she wanted to strike the fear of the Gods into that arrogant and selfish weasel of a Prince, Serenity had to act appropriately. As much as it killed her to do so.
The soldier slowly walked up to the Princess and placed his hands gently onto her heavy shoulders. Eyes fluttering up to meet his, a slow smile spread across Kunzite's lips, making her blush slightly."I promise I will get you out of here," he vowed. Even though she had only known him for a little while, Serenity wondered how it was he was able to calm and soothe her with his gentle words and smile. The urge to look away became great when she felt her heart suddenly start to thrash against her chest.
Serenity shook her head in an attempt to shake herself of those invading thoughts and feelings. Kunzite was her best friend's lover and a Terran general! She knew he was a devastatingly handsome man, but what Serenity hadn't expected was to be so nervous and flustered around him. He's just being nice, the Princess reminded herself over and over again, yet there was something at the back of her mind she couldn't quite shake off.
The Princess waited patiently in the kitchen for the dishes of food to serve for breakfast. Feeling hot from the room, Serenity placed her hair up securely in a bun, relieved that it wasn't too short to put up. Glancing at the list in her hands, she was relieved she didn't have to serve breakfast to the Prince's room again. However, the first recipient on the list was not a person, but rather a place. "Meeting room?" she wondered out loud.
"That's just down the hall where the Prince and the generals go to meet," the chef explained from behind the hot pass. Serenity looked up to smile at him in gratitude, but the chef quickly looked away and returned back to work. Frowning, the Princess wondered why everyone she met so far, besides Kunzite, met her with such apprehension. Perhaps they could tell she wasn't from here? Suddenly she missed the smiles and warm greetings her people would give her as she walked down the marbled halls of the Moon palace. Would she be able to see her people again someday?
Shaking it off, Serenity offered her thanks, and made her way to the meeting room. A feeling of dread washed over her, knowing she would have to see the Prince yet again. But if the generals are there, then that must mean... A smile unknowingly formed on her lips as she began to think of the silver haired soldier.
She entered the room from the other side of the room and was taken aback by how vast the room was. In the middle was a long, white marbled table, sitting about thirty five or so men, so Serenity needed to move fast if she wanted to complete the rest of her tasks. As she began to make her way to the other side, a flash of silver hair caught her eye. Her gaze wandered over to the other side of the table, where she saw Kunzite, and a short blonde young man next to him. Across the table sat a pensive looking brown haired gentleman and a slightly younger golden haired ponytail gentleman beside him. All four were dressed in a similar fashion to Kunzite, but the lines on their uniforms were all different colours. Suddenly, it dawned on her who these four gentlemen were.
They called themselves the Four Heavenly Kings, or, the Shitennou. The four Earthen soldiers who served and protected the Prince, known across the galaxy for their abilities in battle and their strikingly handsome looks. She remembered hearing the tales of their battles from her own soldiers. Jaedite, the youngest of the four, looked like he was the smallest and the weakest, but was quick to learn. He only needed to see something once in order to learn how to replicate it, which made him an excellent soldier. Zoicite, who looked almost the same age as the Prince, was known to be the biggest womanizer of the group, but also the smartest, and relied mostly on his wits rather than his strength. Serenity immediately recognized the brown haired soldier as Nephrite, a face she remembered seeing when she was young. Princess Jupiter once told her how she challenged him to a fight and how he took her down with a hand tied behind his back. Although he didn't look like he was the strongest, she said he was known to take down his enemies with a single blow.
Why didn't I realize this before? Serenity wondered. Perhaps it was seeing them all together that made her recognize the four, but the one she wanted to know most about, she knew nothing. Kunzite would remain a mystery to her; an intriguing enigma she would never be able to quite understand.
"Where is Endymion?" she heard Nephrite asked, pulling her from her thoughts. Serenity kept her head low and averted her gaze, hoping they would not recognize her.
"I saw him last night at the bar," Zoicite grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Found himself a pretty little bird, so I'd imagine we won't be seeing him for a while."
Kunzite sighed, looking unamused at his watch. "He needs to be here soon, or the King will be furious." The Princess watched with amusement as Kunzite tapped his fingers impatiently on the table. His long, pearly white hair laid neatly along the side of his face with his fringe dangling over his eyes as Serenity found herself staring in awe. The more she found herself staring, the more she realized just how handsome the soldier really was.
Suddenly, her body froze when his eyes caught hers by chance from across the room. Confused yet intrigued eyes stared at her curiously, before his lips curled into a smile that made her heart stop its course. The only thing that brought her back was the sound of the annoyed general beside her, demanding to know where his food was.
By the time she made her way to the other side of the table, her heart had been beating faster than she had ever felt. Why did she feel so nervous? Serenity allowed herself a few brief stolen glances before she inevitably looked away from nerves. As she placed the tray of food gently down in front of him, the Princess noticed a rattling sound, only to realize it was coming from the tray because her hands were shaking. "My apologies, Sir Kunzite...!" she bowed, before pulling her hands away.
That was when she felt the stares of three intrigued soldiers on her at once. Jaedite was the first to speak, immediately getting out of his chair. "Who is this beautiful woman, Kunzite?" the young blonde general asked, holding his hand out to shake hers, before Kunzite swatted it away dismissively.
"Compose yourself, Jaedite. This is Serena, a new maid from the East," Kunzite explained, slightly worried by his comrades sudden interest in the blonde.
"The East, huh?" Zoicite asked, before standing up to greet her. He extended his gloved hand towards her and grabbed Serenity's hand gently in his. Before she could say a word, he pressed his lips softly against the back of her hand, and smiled sweetly at her. "My name is Zoicite. It's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman, Serena." As he released her grasp, Serenity remained unphased by his advances, despite his charmingly handsome good looks. She had suitors approach her many times on the Moon, but none of them even began to peak her interest. Yet again, she had to remind herself that here, she was an Earthling, and there was a role that needed to be played.
Bowing her head slightly, Serenity's lips curled into a gentle smile. "The pleasure is all mine, Sir Zoicite. Sir Nephrite, Sir Jaedite, if you will allow me to serve your breakfast, I will be out of your hair as soon as possible." Kunzite smiled at her in approval, relieved that she finally started to listen to his advice.
"Why, there's no rush to leave, Serena," Jaedite chimed in. "Come join us!"
Suddenly, the doors to the chambers flew open, as a familiar, tall and dark figure approached them in a hurry. Serenity's eyes grew wide as the figure came closer into view, filling her with dread and annoyance. "Sorry I'm late. These southern women don't know when to get out—?!" The man paused immediately when his eyes met Serenity's, staring at her incredulously as if she had popped out of no where. "You?! What the hell are you doing here?" The Prince demanded.
Endymion scowled at the blonde menace before him. Although it had only been a few days since their last unfortunate meeting, Endymion had not forgotten how she not only humiliated and embarrassed him in front of his father, but his women as well. Now here she was, serving food to him and his generals?
"She was simply serving us our food before Zoicite and Jaedite interrupted her with their mindless chatter," Kunzite spoke up. Even he could already sense the tension between the two.
"You need not concern yourselves with such filth." His face remained unwavering as he glared at the blonde. "Let her finish quickly. Those toilets aren't going to clean themselves."
The Princess glared back at the Prince and watched as he folded his arms defiantly across his chest. Oh, how she hated his sense of entitlement and mockery and that just because he was a Prince, everyone was below him and should be bowing down to him and hanging onto his every word! She was a Princess too, and even she didn't expect that kind of behaviour from her subjects! Yet, it was only a day ago that she had been mesmerized by that arrogant smirk and raven hair. Just thinking about it made her sick to her stomach.
"And yet, your father would rather side with a piece of 'filth' than his own son," she mumbled beneath her breath. Her body froze when she realized her slip. Had he heard what she said? She knew the answer right away when her eyes glanced up to look at Kunzite, who shook his head in disappointment.
The Prince's normally stoic and merciless face faltered for a quick second. A brief glimpse into the strained and awkward relationship he held with his father splashed across his face, but was gone in an instant. If Serenity hadn't been paying attention, she wouldn't have noticed it. Her eyes widened slightly as she felt her heart sink a little. Wait, she wasn't feeling guilty now, was she?
She had no time to think as the Prince took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Her body immediately tensed and her heart quickened as he drew nearer to her. Before she could even think, the Prince's hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm, reeling her in towards him. The Princess cried as a jolt of pain ran through her arm as his fingers dug into her arm. "What did you just say?" he demanded, infuriated by her disrespect. "I don't know how your parents taught you to speak, but here in the west, you show your royals respect with your words."
His cold and stoic eyes pierced into her with an iciness that sent chills down her spine. She had seen those eyes before somewhere, long ago. They looked like the same ones she saw when she found her dead father on the floor... She struggled harder against his grip when the painful memory forced itself out of hiding, but his hold was strong.
Jaedite watched with both amusement and fear at the scene unfolding before him. He had never seen anyone provoke the Prince the way this maid did. Who in the world was she? Even she wasn't as defiant as her. Still, he knew the limits of his Prince, and if this mysterious woman kept provoking him, it would lead to disastrous results. "Alright, Endymion. Maybe we should let her go. Wouldn't want to break the pretty girl in half, would we?"
The Prince's grip didn't falter. Everything about this girl annoyed him to his core. The way she spoke so rudely to him. The way she revelled in the victory of gaining his father's respect. The way her eyes narrowed with contempt. The way she reminded him so much of her...
Serenity's first reaction was to reel her leg back and shove her knee right in between his legs for gripping her so tightly. But at that point, she could feel the entire room's eyes on her, especially Kunzite's. The Princess knew she had to be careful about her next move. Instead of struggling, Serenity instead lowered her head apologetically. "My profound apologies, your grace. My words and actions have not been befitting of a royal as yourself. I hope you will find it it in your mercy to accept my humble apologies." As she lifted her head up, every word made her sick to her stomach, but she knew if she wanted to get out of here, she'd have to play her part.
Eyes strong, lip trembling slightly, Endymion examined the blonde beneath him. The dark prince was well aware her words were not genuine and that the fiery blonde he met in front of his room would never stoop so low to apologize. He had expected her to throw some more nasty words at him, not bow her head to him. Why the sudden change? He wondered. Still, even if she was genuine, she still needed to pay for humiliating him, and a simple apology wasn't going to be enough. He knew with the eyes of the room on them, he too, had to becareful about his next move. Under any other circumstances, he would have this annoyance thrown into the dungeons or beheaded. Yet, for some reason, it was was his father's life mission to make his life hell, and the wench had to be kept alive and working. Endymion didn't quite understand why his father decided to side with the wench, but it only fuelled his resentment for her even more. No one defied him the way she did and lived to talk about it.
Yet, his eyes betrayed him and glanced down briefly at her heaving chest and he felt that all too familiar stirring inside his stomach. He knew from the moment he saw her, she was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. But once she opened her mouth, her annoyance began to overwhelm his initial feelings of lust and desire, and her defiant nature killed any sense of attraction he once felt for this mysterious beauty. However, up close...
Releasing her immediately as if he had burned himself, Endymion backed away, confused by what that feeling was. There was no way, that after all the embarrassment and rudeness, he was still attracted to her!
Kunzite took this moment to step in and grabbed a hold of the Princess by the arms. "My apologies, Prince. Serena is simply not used to the culture and customs of the West. I will make sure she understands we do things... differently, here." As he lead the Princess out of the hall by her arm, Endymion glanced back and called over his shoulder.
"Don't think I'm going to let you off so easily, maid. I'm going to make your last days here on Earth a living hell," the dark haired Prince vowed, giving her one last glare. Serenity felt her body grow cold from his cold and empty stare, before Kunzite nodded and whisked her out of the room.
He lead her as far as he could from the room before he released his grip on her arm. Sighing with frustration, he shook his head at the Princess. "Was that really necessary?!" he asked, resting his arm against the wall next to her head.
"I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me! He just makes me so... so... angry!" Serenity yelled in despair.
"I know that, but... you just can't do things like that, especially in front of all those generals and soldiers." Kunzite sighed and lowered his head. "Now everyone will know the Prince will be out to get you. It's going to be harder to protect you."
"I don't need your protection, Kunzite," she replied. "I'm not afraid of the Prince and his empty threats."
The silver general sighed heavily as he looked at the determined Princess. While a large part of him admired her courage, he knew that the more the Prince was provoked, the harder it would be to get both of them to stand down. "Why can't you just keep your head down and stay silent?" he asked, but already knew the answer. The reason why the Princess was so intriguing and so different from all the other women he had met was because she was raised to not be silent. She was raised to stand up for who she is and what she believed was right. "I guess that's what's so admirable about you, Princess."
Her eyes slowly rose to meet his as she felt that all too familiar blush splash across her cheeks. He... admired her? Her heart began to thrash against her chest, suddenly realizing how close he was to her. Wait—she shouldn't be feeling this way towards her best friend's lover!
"Although I must admit, it was quite amusing to see the Prince all flustered like that." He gave her a grin that made her heart stop for a split second. Why was she feeling so nervous around him? "Next time, try not to embarrass him in front of so many people." Serenity nodded as he pulled away from her. While a part of her was glad she at least has the respect of Kunzite, she couldn't shake off that feeling of dread as to what would come next.
It was her dreams that night that woke her up throughout the night. She couldn't remember exactly what it was that plagued her sleep. Vivid images of a burning castle, distant screams of horror, and a dark figure with cold eyes looming towards her. As the moonlight shone into her room from the window, Serenity wondered how many hours she managed to get that night. One? Two?
Feeling exhausted, she sat up and rubbed eyes while her new room came into view around her. Slightly feeling relieved that the memories of her life on the Moon didn't haunt her sleep that night, she couldn't help but shake that ominous feeling from her heart. What was that kingdom? And who was that figure with those eyes? And why did they look so vaguely familiar?
Unable to sleep, the Princess stood up from her bed and walked over to her vanity mirror. Brushing her hair to the side, more and more, Serenity was getting used to her short hairstyle. It didn't shock her as much to see the person staring back at her in the mirror, but it still needed some getting used to. Suddenly, she winced in pain when she lifted her arm slightly above her head. Her eyes glanced over at the spot where the Prince had yanked her arm roughly that morning, which had turned slightly dark purple and frowned.
What was it about the Prince that made her so frustrated? The way he flaunted his status, the way he treated those he thought were beneath him, the way he walked around like he was the Gods gift to women; who in the world did he think he was? She couldn't stand the way his voice and demeanour mocked every fibre of her being. If she could get through her time here without having to see him ever again-
Just as she was about to get up, she heard the faintest sound of rattling and scratching at the door. "Kunzite?" she asked hesistantly, but knew it couldn't have been him. Not at this hour.
Her eyes grew wide in horror when the sound of the lock being turned filled the air with dread. Before she had even a moment to react, the door swung open with loud crash, as two masked soldiers stood at her doorway. Scrambling to her feet as fast as she could, Serenity tried to run from their grasp, but they were too quick for her. Two pairs of large hands grabbed her painfully by the arms. "Let me go!" she cried, but they ignored her pleas.
"Let me go!" she cried again, before one of them covered her eyes with a cloth, immersing her in darkness. One arm wrapped around her tiny body, pinning her arms to her sides and lifting her up off the ground, while the other wrapped firmly around her mouth. Serenity panicked as she felt herself being lead out helplessly of the room by the two unknown figures. She struggled desperately against their grip, but they held on strong. Who had taken her? Where was she going? What were they going to do?
Although Serenity couldn't see anything, she could feel the air getting colder and colder as she was being dragged further away from her room. The fear ripped through her body as she felt the tears begin to fall from her eyes. "Please," she begged, her voice muffled by the hand, yet her pleas went unanswered yet again. Her body shook slightly as she felt herself being brought down a flight of stairs, each step making her more and more afraid.
She heard what sounded like a metal door being opened before she felt the arms around her toss her to the ground. A groan escaped her lips as the side of her body hit what felt like a cold, cement floor, wondering if she was going to bruise the next morning. Once her hands were free, she removed the blindfold from her eyes. Serenity was unable to see at first where she was; her vision blurred from the tears, yet once her eyes began to focus, Serenity screamed in horror as she backed away in fear.
Next to her feet was the skeletal remains of a captured soldier, reaching for her feet, as if pleading for freedom. Her hands flew to her mouth in absolute horror as she backed herself into the wall, as far as she could. Suddenly, her lungs were filled with the smell of death and decay, and the urge to vomit began to over take her. It wasn't until she heard the sound of a door opening that she was able to push past it. "Who's there?" she demanded, but even before the words left her mouth, she already knew who the culprit was. She could practically see his arrogant smirk through the door.
"I told you it wasn't over, maid." Serenity's eyes narrowed as the dark haired Prince approached the cell, arms folded arrogantly across his chest. There was no empathy in his voice, but she could feel his icy cold tone pierce right through her, frightening her as much as the dead figure next to her. Was he really intending to lock her in here forever? The mere idea of it alone made her body start to shake with panic.
"Let me out, you-" Serenity paused, knowing that name calling wasn't going to get her anywhere. "Please... your highness, let me out of here," she begged. "If this is about this morning, I apologize-"
"Cut the formalities act," Endymion dismissed flippantly. "Disobedience and disrespect do not go unpunished around here, maid. Maybe some time alone in the dungeons without food will teach you a thing or two about respect."
Serenity wasn't sure what it was about the tone in his voice that made her skin crawl. The harsh tone in his voice, the coldness in his words... this wasn't a joke to him at all. "You cannot seriously leave me in here..! There's... there's a-"
"Ah yes. A Moonling prisoner from long ago, no doubt," the Prince mused as Serenity's eyes widened in shock. That was one of hers?! The Princess had to will herself not to shed a single tear in front of the sadistic Prince. Rushing up towards the Prince, Serenity grasped onto the metal bars of her newly made prison. Her eyes searched for his desperately, trying to find any part of him that resembled being human.
Instead, all she could find was the emotionless, cold and icy pair of eyes staring back at her. His words, filled with such animosity and hate, almost seemed detached from his listless stare. Realizing the futility of it all and fully understanding now why Kunzite had begged her not to be so defiant, Serenity's face loosened as she accepted the current reality of the situation. "How long do you intend on keeping me in here?"
"That's up to you to decide, Miss Serena. Enjoy your new chambers," he replied. Endymion gave her one last glance, before turning on his heels, cape fluttering behind him. The moment she heard the door to the dungeons close, Serenity struggled desperately to open the door. Once the futility of her escape sunk in, her legs gave up beneath her as she crumbled to the floor. The tears she desperately willed to hold back betrayed her body and fell from her eyes as she vowed to exact her revenge on the arrogant and heartless Prince.
"You did what?!" The three generals chimed in unison, staring at their leader with both shock and amazement. Endymion threw his legs up onto the table without a care in the world, and leaned back into his chair.
"If father doesn't want to help me teach her a lesson, then I'll have to take the matter into my own hands," he replied casually, leaning on the back legs of his chair.
"I must admit, it must be a crime to throw such a beauty into the dungeons," Jaedite added while resting his chin in his hand.
The blonde pony-tailed man next to him scoffed. "It doesn't matter if she's beautiful or not. Disrespecting the Prince is considered treason and a punishable offence," he countered, glancing briefly at his fingernails. "By that logic, I could say whatever I wanted, considering I'm the most beautiful one here."
"You say whatever you want anyways, Zoicite," Jaedite teased while an arrogant smirk formed on his lips. "You must admit though, Endymion, she is beautiful."
Endymion recalled the first time he had laid eyes on the golden haired maid. Standing in front of him with a plate in her hand, doe-eyed and flustered, even he had to admit she was beauty and innocence defined. But looks alone only take a person so far, and the moment her mouth opened with her defiant words and rebellious stature, Endymion knew he was going to have a problem on his hands. Not to mention, his own father refused to take his side against her? He wasn't going to have it.
"She's alright," Endymion replied nonchalantly, but the image of her heaving chest and lips from the day before suddenly pervaded his thoughts.
Nephrite glanced over at his Prince. There was a calmness and wisdom in his eyes that Endymion could never quite explain. "Do you really think it is wise to lock her in the dungeons with no food or water?" His voice was slightly calmer than the other two, as the young general spoke with a grace similar to Kunzite's.
Endymion had always respected and listened his general's council, but Nephrite and Kunzite were the ones he listened to the most. Nephrite was only a year older than him, but he had a sense of maturity that Endymion couldn't quite understand. Nephrite's father was the second in command of the King's watch, so perhaps he inherited it from his father. The Shitennou had been with him ever since he could remember, with Zoicite and Jaedite acting more like younger brothers, while Nephrite and Kunzite were always the voices of reason.
"What would you do in this situation, Nephrite?" Endymion asked, curious as to what he would say.
Nephrite sighed wearily and leaned back in his chair. "True, her actions were deplorable. However, she is still a human being, Endymion. We used the dungeons to imprison rebels, treason activists, prisoners of wars... not, maids."
"The matter of the fact is, those who defy the Prince need to be punished. Endymion is simply sending a message that treason will not be tolerated." Zoicite added in, almost bored of the fact they were still even arguing this.
A frustrated sigh escaped Nephrite's lips. Even after so many years of knowing him, he could never understand Zoicite's black and white view of the world. "You and I have different views of treason, Zoicite. I believe this was all simply a misunderstanding, and a calm discussion can resolve the issue." The raven haired Prince frowned at his words. He never was able to understand the way Nephrite's mind worked. He truly believed everything could be fixed with words, yet couldn't understand that the world they lived in didn't function that way.
"Why are you so compassionate towards this maid, Nephrite? She's just a maid and is easily disposable." Jaedite asked. "Don't tell me you've fallen for her!"
Nephrite rolled his eyes at young blonde. "Compassion doesn't rely solely on one's looks. She may be beautiful, but that's not the only reason why she deserves compassion."
"True, but this is the first time anyone has openly defied Endymion," Zoicite added. "Well, ever since her, I suppose..."
The mere mention of her almost made Endymion fall back in his chair. How was it that after all these years, she still managed to get under his skin. "I thought I was clear that we do not ever mention her, Zoicite." The golden soldier froze in his spot immediately, mentally hitting himself for his slip up.
"My apologies, Prince. I was just saying that, since this is the first time this has happened since, never, she needs to be punished appropriately to send the message that defiance will not be tolerated."
"There are different ways besides incarceration to assert one's authority," Nephrite replied, glancing over at his Prince. "The best kings show their strength through their compassion and mercy."
But before Endymion even had a chance to reply, the doors to the room swung open as the silver haired general stormed into the council chambers in a fury. "Prince Endymion!" Kunzite roared, his voice bouncing off the walls. "What in the Gods names do you think you're doing?!" Slamming his fists on the table, the silver general's eyes narrowed at his stubborn Prince, trying his best to control the rage that boiled inside of him.
"Kunzite," the Prince smiled casually, hands going behind his head. "How good of you to finally join us!"
"Endymion, do not patronize me," Kunzite growled, voice stern as ever. "You need to remove Serena from the dungeons immediately." Endymion glared slightly at his general as the legs of his chair planted firmly on the floor. Kunzite was five years older than him and was the closest to him out of all the Shitennou. Kunzite was the one that was there for him since he could remember, and he always looked at him more as a brother than a general. While he respected Kunzite's council above all others, the Prince was not impressed with his demanding tone.
"Miss Serena needs time to think about her words and actions next time she speaks to a royal. Also, last I checked, your role is to advise your Prince, not order him around," he replied, looking at his general with a firm gaze.
A low chuckle escaped Kunzite's lips as he fought the urge to wipe that arrogant look off his Prince's face. He loved this boy like a younger brother, but sometimes, even he had to admit, he was a selfish brat. "Well, your highness, I advise you to reconsider your actions in regards to Serena. The King assigned me to ensure her safety, and this is not the way to do it." When he went to pick up the Princess that morning, he couldn't believe it when he found out she had been thrown inside the dungeon. This is exactly what he had hoped to avoid when he decided to disguise the Princess as a maid.
The Prince flashed him his signature boyish grin. "I'll take your council into consideration, Kunzite."
Angered by his arrogant attitude and disobedience, Kunzite slammed his fist into the table, surprising all four men around him. The silver haired general's eyes widened, surprised as well at his own actions. Why had he reacted so strongly? This wasn't the first time the Prince challenged him like this. Why was he so emotionally involved this time around?
Kunzite remembered seeing the Princess' soft cries from behind the prison door as she begged him to take her home. The sound of her pleas tugged at his heart; a reaction he wasn't quite used to, yet for some reason, stuck with him. Slowly, he removed his hand from the table, lowering his head apologetically. "I apologize, Endymion. I just..." Kunzite paused briefly, trying to gather himself together.
He knew that with a father like the King, it was inevitable for Endymion to fall into the same downward spiral as his father. The King was never someone who wore his heart on his sleeve, and was very stoic and cold, most especially to his only son. Despite all of that, Kunzite tried desperately to guide the Prince down another path; one where he didn't have to rely on his good looks and ice cold glare to get what he wanted. He wanted him to be respected for his compassion, his mercy, and most importantly...
"Your humanity, Endymion. Do not forget you still have it," Kunzite reminded him softly. Endymion's eyes grew wide as his words triggered the memory of a person who said something similar. "I've always admired your humanity, Endy. No matter how small or hidden it may be. It's there." a soft, familiar female voice rang throughout his ears. Why was it that after all these years of trying to forget her, she still managed to claw her way into his thoughts?
Endymion's eyes met Kunzite's briefly, unable to read the expression on his face. Instead, Kunzite placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder, before nodding his head at the others and turning around to leave. As he walked away, Endymion wondered if it had been Kunzite's true intention to release the Princess or to bring up a part of his past he couldn't ignore...
He wasn't sure what it was that compelled him to release her. Whether it was Kunzite's words, or the memory of the woman who shall remain nameless, either way, Endymion felt the need to prove to the both of them that deep down he did have his humanity, and that he wasn't anything like his father. Still, he couldn't have a maid constantly defy him, especially in front of the others, as it would slowly diminish his authority over his people. Since his father wasn't going to get rid of her anytime soon, the intention was, as Nephrite said, to negotiate and discuss calmly; to find out what exactly set these two on a destructive path. However, the moment the Prince opened the door to let himself in, he was faced with a pair of vengeful and unwavering eyes glaring at him with a fiery rage he had never seen before.
Bathed in the moonlight from the window, Endymion felt his heart stop for a moment as she stared at him through tear soaked eyes. Her golden hair was slightly ruffled, yet she still managed to maintain an air of elegance and beauty that captivated him for a slight moment. The Prince shook his head, reminding himself he was only here to talk to her, and that Zoicite was right: no matter how beautiful she may or may not be, she needed to be reasoned with.
Not wanting to show any kind of weakness in front of her captor, Princess Serenity quickly wiped the tears that fell from her eyes and continued to glare at him from across the cell. It had been almost all day he locked her in the dungeons, which she had spent fighting the hunger that gnawed at her, as well as thinking of the many ways she intended to exact her revenge on the selfish Prince. The worst part was the solitude, and the stench of decay and death had made her vomit at least twice. She watched him carefully as he slowly approached her, stopping at about an arm's length away. Even his walk had a flare of arrogance to it! How was it that this man hadn't even said anything to her yet, and she was already fuming with rage?
"Serena," he began. "I believe we got onto a bad start."
That is an understatement if there ever was one, she thought, but bit down on her lip to stop herself from saying something she would regret.
"I would like to know what it is you have against me, so that we can discuss ways in which we can move past-"
"You'd like to know what I have against you?" Serenity asked in disbelief, trying her best to maintain a polite and calm tone with the Prince, but he was making it very difficult. "Why, I have absolutely nothing against you. You're my Prince, after all. To have something against you would be treason, would it not?"
The dark haired Prince found his patience slowly growing thin with this maid. Her choice of words were wise, but the vindictive and sarcastic tone was not missed by him. The Prince took a cautious step forward. "For some reason, my father thinks it would be amusing to keep you around to keep me in line. If it were not for his mercy, you would not be standing here so defiantly, maid. Your lack of respect is something that is not to be desired."
"Lack of respect?!" Serenity screeched, infuriated by his hypocrisy. Who this Prince think he was?! She was trying so hard to hold back her anger, but her self-control was deteriorating. "My lack of respect, your highness? If it would please you, please kindly elaborate."
His eyes narrowed even more. Oh, she was absolutely infuriating! He almost wished she would speak to him normally, and not use these formalities to annoy him even more so. Endymion took another heated step forward, trying his best to control his anger, but she was able to press the exact buttons that made him tick. "Does physically assaulting your Prince ring a bell? Throwing food in his face and afterwards, embarrassing him in front of the King and the guards?"
"You're right, my Prince. I do apologize for assaulting you. I merely thought I was defending myself against unwanted advances, but you're right. I was disrespecting you. May the Gods forgive me for displeasing my Prince." She didn't mean to sound so sarcastic, but there was something about him that just made her sound that way.
"Do you enjoy hiding behind your words, maid?" Endymion demanded, eyes narrowing at her.
"I don't know what it is you speak of, your grace. All I know is, I'm thankful to the Gods that the King was merciful enough to take the side of a lowly maid over his own son, and that without the grace and glory of my King, I would not be standing here." Serenity knew the moment the venomous words left her mouth, it would cut him more than usual. She watched as his face faltered slightly, revealing that vulnerable and saddened look she had only caught a glimpse of before. This was supposed to be her winning victory. It was supposed to make her feel proud knowing she had hurt the Prince in ways many of his enemies weren't able to. Yet, the more she thought about it, the more she didn't feel victorious at all.
Somehow, she managed to do it again. This tiny, 95 pound, doe-eyed blonde menace managed to pierce through his defences, again. Endymion didn't like it when someone knew his weakness. That's why he never lost a battle on the field. Yet for some reason, this tiny maid was giving him more difficulty than any of the enemies he's face. Closing the distance between them, he began to back her into the wall behind her, eyes never leaving hers. She glared up at him fearlessly as he towered over her, inches away from her face.
It wasn't until then she noticed just how close he was to her. Up close, Serenity could truly see those cold, dark, emotionless eyes stare into her, reminding her too much of his father. Not liking the sudden proximity, the Princess tried to move, but the Prince suddenly grabbed a tight hold of her wrists. "Let me go!" she demanded, but his grip was strong. He continued to stare at her with those empty eyes that seemed to stare straight through her. Frightened by his grip and the proximity of his body to hers, Serenity struggled hard against him, but couldn't shake his hands off.
Pinning her arms on either side of her head, Endymion leaned in closer as his large body almost engulfed hers. He wasn't quite sure what possessed him to hold her in such a dominating manner, but there was something about her brash behaviour and hidden insults that made him angered to the point he couldn't think straight. "Listen. I've tried to be rational with you and discuss this like adults, but-" He readjusted his grip on her wrists and pinned them above her head in order to get her to stop moving so much. "Clearly, I'm dealing with a child."
Serenity gasped as her arms were thrown above her head. Frightened by his aggressive hold on her, Serenity also felt an unfamiliar feeling in the pits of her stomach as he held her close to him. It was that same, warm, tightening feeling when she had seen Venus and Kunzite kissing heatedly in the courtyard. Gods, what was that? Looking up into his eyes from beneath her lashes, she couldn't help but notice the way his hair dangled dangerously above his eyes, reminding her of that mysterious expression she had noticed when she first saw the Prince. Shaking her head, the blonde tried to push the pervading thoughts out of her head. Now was not the time to be thinking of the past. "My grace; have I upset you?" she grumbled, while struggling more.
As the Princess struggled against him, Endymion found it incredibly hard to concentrate as she writhed beneath him. His concentration wavered even more so when he glanced down briefly at her body, still dressed in a white nightgown that revealed a great portion of her creamy, white chest. It was then he noticed that his body was only a few centimeters away from hers, and every movement she made, he could feel her thinly, clothed skin brush against him. Each brush sent a jolt of pleasure throughout his body straight to his groin that he had to stop himself from groaning out loud. What in the world was that? "Stop moving," he ordered, one hand letting go of her wrists and rested on her right hip, gripping tightly in order to get her to stop moving up against him. He was here to talk some sense into this girl, yet Endymion was finding it difficult to focus.
Serenity's eyes grew wide in panic as she felt his fingers dig into her waist. It was the first time any man had touched her there, and the fact that it was him of all people, made her infuriated. Yet his touch not only angered her, but also sent a spark of electricity throughout her body, right in between her legs. The Princess gasped, not sure what that was. She didn't want to admit it, especially because it was him of all people that made her feel that way, but... it felt really good when that happened. All these new emotions and feelings frightened her, yet a small part of her felt excited; something she would not allow herself to fully admit. Her gaze met his and the Princess noticed he was no longer looking at her with those cold and empty eyes. Instead, he stared at her with a hard, fiery and hungry look she had never seen before. His eyes blazed with an emotion she couldn't quite understand... She needed to get out of here, fast!
Endymion bit back a moan as she continued to writhe and brush against his body; his fingers dug harder into her skin in response, making her gasp near his ear. Endymion was losing control over the situation and found it difficult to concentrate with all this unwanted pleasure she was making him feel, just from a simple touch. He paused to look at the blonde and wondered if she felt that same feeling he had.
Suddenly, he felt his arousal harden against her stomach; something he wasn't expecting at all to happen. Endymion knew she was beautiful, but after all the fights and yelling, he hadn't expected to still be aroused by her. But there it was, settled up against the warmth between her legs. Good God, he was attracted to the maid? It couldn't be! Serenity gasped again, unaware as to what that offending object was pressing against her core, but only knew that whatever it was, felt amazing every time she brushed against it. A whimper escaped her lips as she felt him press further into her, making her curls toe. Gods, what was that?
The pleasurable sound of her whimper managed to rip the Prince out of his trance, and Endymion was finally able to pull away from her, amazed and frightened by the pull and desire that overcame him.
With her newly freed hands, Serenity covered herself instantly, trying to make sense of the flood of emotions racing through her. One minute she was boiling with rage, and the next he was making her feel things she had never felt before. Good feelings, too. Embarassed and humiliated by his dominating grip and the way he made her body feel, the Princess instinctively reeled her hand back to slap him across the face, but stopped when she remembered that was what got her here in the first place. Serenity stumbled to the side and avoided his gaze, almost wishing he would stare at her with those scary eyes from before, instead of the ones she had seen earlier. At least those ones she knew how to respond to.
Not liking both the emotional and physical effect this maid had on him, Endymion took a step back from her tempting hips. What in the world was that? Only by a mere touch, she was able to fluster him like this? He had been with many beautiful women in the past, but none made him feel this... this... "Listen; I'm going to make this very clear. Either show a bit more respect, or spend the rest of your days here." The Prince was surprised he was able to speak, considering his throat was parched and all he could think about was getting rid of his flaring erection.
Wondering if he too had felt those same feelings she did, Serenity eyed him curiously. Endymion was avoiding eye her gaze and was turned slightly so he didn't have to face her. "I-" Before Serenity even got a chance to make sense of his words, he turned and walked out in a hurry, away from those dangerous hips and doe-eyes, motioning for the guards standing by the door to escort the Princess back to her room. Closing the door behind him, Endymion paused to catch his breath. There was absolutely no way that he was attracted to that maid! Yet his aching erection proved otherwise. Determined to prove his lack of attraction to the annoyance, he stormed off in search for a way to relieve his frustration.
A few days later...
Endymion wasn't sure what it was about the water that made him feel at ease. Perhaps it was because underneath the water, he couldn't hear the sounds of the daily hustle and bustle of the castle. Underneath the water, he couldn't hear his father's disappointed tone. Underneath the water, he couldn't hear her say goodbye...
A heavy sigh escaped Endymion's lips as he stared listlessly at the pool water in front of him. Sitting on the ledge with his left leg dangling in the cool waters, he rested his arm on his right leg. He started thinking about her again. Just when the Prince thought he had finally forgotten about her, there she was in his thoughts, like a leach clinging to his body. Perhaps he had never forgotten about her in the first place and that he only managed to block out the sound of her voice in his ears. Maybe he would never be able to forget about her...
It's that blasted maid, he thought to himself bitterly. She reminded him too much of her. Why couldn't father just get rid of her? Of course, that would mean siding with him, and of course, that was never going to happen. It was as if his entire life would be spent fighting to gain his father's approval, yet the more he tried, the further it got away from him. No matter how many wars he would win for his father, he would never respect him as a son.
The dark haired Prince's eyes gazed over his hand as the memory and sounds of the maid gasping as his fingers dug into her skin played through his head. The pleasurable sound never left him, like a movie that would never end. Endymion tried his best to forget about that blonde menace after leaving the dungeons, but his mind could not stop thinking about her. The way she gasped as he held her hips, as if she had never been touched there before. The feeling of her warmth around him felt more pleasurable than any woman he had ever been in, and the way her chest would rise and fall the closer he got to her. Everything about her was innocence and naivety defined! It was all he could think about last night at the bar when he tried to find a woman to make him forget. Even after bringing her to his room and having his way with her, all he could think about was Serena gasping in his ears...
It must have been something I ate, Endymion noted. Otherwise, why would he have felt an attraction to that nuisance? He was determined to make sure whatever it was he felt was purely coincidental. Frustrated, Endymion jumped up from his seat. Just as he was about to grab his clothes, his body stiffened suddenly as a strange, yet familiar feeling overcame him. There was someone watching him.
Eyes darting across the gardens, he spotted a familiar blonde haired figure who immediately turned around the moment she was discovered. Why couldn't he shake this blasted woman off?! Why did she follow him when he wanted peace? And why was she staring at him? He needed somehow to get rid of this nuisance, or somehow break her down enough to get her to leave the castle. His lips curled into a devilish smile when an idea suddenly came to his head as he glanced over the waters. What if he...?
"Oi, maid," Endymion beckoned in her direction from his seat. "Stop staring at me bring me my towel."
Serenity flinched when she heard his arrogant voice. "I wasn't staring," the Princess mumbled, annoyed that she had been discovered. It was not her intention to spy on the Prince at all. She had been tending to the roses, her last task of the day, and just happened to spot the dark Prince as he emerged from the waters. Water droplets clinging to his hair and skin, the Princess couldn't help but be mesmerized as he got out of the pool, drenched in water. The moonlight reflected off his skin, almost making his defined muscles shine. Gods, she hated how annoyingly gorgeous he was.
Ever since being thrown into the dungeons, Serenity fully realized the importance of keeping her head down and keeping her mouth shut. She did not want to go back to that place. The place that smelt like death. The place where the remains of a fallen soldier sat rotting away. The place where he made her gasp. She hated the fact that she still had to interact with the conceited Prince, and wanted nothing more than to lock him up in the same dungeon so he could have a taste of what a horrible place that was. However, the Princess bit her tongue and did as she was told.
The reluctant Princess slowly made her way towards him, pausing briefly to pick up his towel. She tried her best to avoid his eyes as she offered him the material, to which he accepted just as reluctantly and without any eye contact. Drying his face off, Endymion kept his focus on the water in front of him, finding her uniform all too distracting. "How long do you fully intend on doing your little song and dance?" he asked dryly, ruffling his hair with the towel.
"Song and dance? Whatever do you mean, your grace?" Serenity asked, trying her best to maintain a respectful tone; but it always somehow came out a bit sarcastic.
"That. You can save the act, maid; it's only me here. All this 'your grace' nonsense sickens me," the Prince growled, tossing the towel at her. Caught off guard, Serenity quickly grabbed the material before it fell on the floor. "I know who you really are."
Her body stiffened at his words as she watched him stand from the ground, finally facing her. Did he figure out her identity? Does he know she's the Moon Princess? From here, if her eyes allowed her to, she could see his defined and muscular body up close, only an arm's length away from her touch. The Princess eyes briefly glanced over in his direction and widened when she was greeted with his half naked body, glistening in the moonlight. His chest, not too muscular but was sculpted in all the right areas. Serenity shook her head and looked away immediately. This was the same man who had thrown her into the dungeons and disrespected her on several occasions! Shaking her head, Serenity kept her eyes focused and determined on the Prince's cold and emotionless expression, finding it less distracting than his toned chest. "I don't quite understand, Prince."
"I know the real you," Endymion replied, eyes narrowing at the blonde. "I saw it the first day I met you. All this sweetness and 'your highness' is all just an act." He took a step forward, closing the distance between the two, and Serenity immediately felt her heart stop in its chest. How in the world did he always make feel so tense? "You're not really a maid, are you?"
Serenity tried her best to remain calm and not let her reaction show on her face. Was the Prince catching on? Is this what Kunzite meant when he said the Prince would figure it out? There's no way he knows I'm the Moon Princess, though. Right? The Princess took a deep breath and took a determined step forward, ignoring the weird feelings from getting too close to the Prince. "I'm from the Eastern continent, your grace. My father sent me here for work. I do apologize if I acted inappropriately to you before, but it was a misunder-" His hand rose in front of her face to silence her.
"Save your breath. That'll work for my father, and that'll work for the guards, but I see through your act. You're hiding something, and I'll find it." The Prince was determined to find out her secret. No maid in the world would act as defiant at her.
Serenity tried her best to remain as stern and unwavering as possible, but inside, her heart was thrashing against her chest. What if the Prince found out her identity? What would he do to her? More importantly, what would they do to Venus? Kunzite? She couldn't let him figure it out. It wasn't just her life on the line. The Princess' lips curled into a smile before bowing apologetically. "I apologize, your grace, but I assure you, I am hiding nothing from you. Now, if you will excuse me, your grace..."
Just as she was about to bid him goodnight, Serenity gasped when Endymion's hand wrapped around her wrist like a vice. "Don't think I'm letting you go just yet, maid." His voice was as cold and frightening as his grip. Before Serenity could react, she squealed when he yanked her forward into his arms, and blushed when she felt his large arms wrap tightly around her waist. Her face and body were pressed up against his wet, muscular body that Serenity could almost taste his skin. What in the world was he doing? Suddenly, she felt her body being lifted off the ground, and a sudden realization hit her as he began to walk towards the waters next to them.
Her eyes widened in horror as the waters began to approach her. "P-prince, please don't!" she begged, looking up at him with wide eyes in fear. "I can't... I can't-"
Endymion stopped in his tracks and stared down at the frantic maid in his arms. He remembered Kunzite's earlier words about his humanity, and the fleeting memory of that woman who admired his compassion. Yet, as he held the tiny blonde in his arms, Endymion could already feel his body reacting to hers. Endymion did not like this at all. No woman this defiant or annoying should be able to make him feel so... His eyes stared down at her emptily his urge to humiliate her overcame him. God, Serenity hated those eyes so much. They reminded her too much of his father.
Serenity began to panic, trying to ignore the fact that his face was so close to hers. She never learned how to swim and the Prince was determined to get rid of her; one way or another. The moment he began to toss her over the ledge of the pool, the Princess immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs winded around his hips, pulling him ever so tightly to her body. It was Endymion's turn to blush when he felt the Princess' breasts against his skin, and his arousal pressed snugly into her core. In that split second, his body was on fire from her touch, but it was too late to react. Before he knew it, they were both tumbling, entwined, into the depths of the water.
All she could feel was the cold water all around her. Her limbs were flailing about and her initial instinct was to open her mouth to breathe, only to be met with water invading her lungs. Never being taught how to swim before, Serenity moved her arms and legs as fast as she could to reach the glittering surface above her, but found herself sinking further and further to the bottom. The Princess struggled more, but soon found her body growing weak from the lack of oxygen. Is this how she was going to die? Would she never get to see her friends again? Her mother? Her home?
Endymion resurfaced soon after. Consumed with outrage and infuration, he searched for the blonde to knock some sense into her. Who did she think she was, doing something like that?! When I get my hands on her... Yet no traces of her were to be seen. Endymion's brows furrowed as he saw no sign of the maid surfacing. "Oi, maid," he called, but no response. What in the world was she doing? His body began to fill with a sense of panic and alarm as he recalled the maid's earlier words and the look of fear in her eyes that he had ignored. Don't tell me she can't swim? What kind of person from the East doesn't know how to swim?
After a moment passed and there was still no sign of her, Endymion a rush of dread washed over him. Immediately, he dove into the waters, desperately searching for the blonde. As he spotted her near the bottom of the pool, he frantically swam towards her as fast as his body could take him. His large arms wrapped around her body, pulling her up above the waters. The moment her body sensed she was out of danger, Serenity began to cough profusely as her lungs propelled the water out. She felt herself being dragged to the edge of the pool, before being hoisted up over the edge. Resting on her back, Serenity tried to cough out the rest of the water left in her body, and once she was able to breathe, her body started to calm down.
The sound of her coughs filled his body with an overwhelming sense of relief as the Prince watched the blonde cough up the water in her lungs. He wondered why he was so desperate to save her. If he had just left her there, she would have no longer been a problem to him. Yet for some reason, the moment he realized she hadn't resurfaced from the waters, his whole body began to panic and fill with a need to save her. Before he knew it, his shaky hands were brushing the wet hair from her eyes as he watched her with concerned eyes. Was she okay?
As the coughs subsided, Serenity squinted up at the Prince, trying to make sense of what had just happened. One minute she was infuriated by him, then consumed by his heat; the next, she was drowning in the cold waters. Now, the same person who made her life a living hell, not only saved her but was also... trying to comfort her? Serenity's eyes hesitantly met his and was surprised to see a warmth and a sense of relief in his eyes. What happened to those cold eyes she had just seen earlier? And—wait, was he stroking her face?
Endymion saw the look of shock in her eyes and it was only then he realized exactly what he had been doing. Immediately reeling back as if he had burned his hand on something hot, Endymion looked away in shame, wondering what had momentarily come over him. Was he... comforting the blonde? Reacting the only way he knew how to in this situation, his eyes narrowed in her direction. "Were you dropped on your head as a child? What made you think that was a good idea?! And what kind of person doesn't know how to swim?!"
Her body stiffened for a moment when she sat up. A part of her was relieved that he reacted so angrily because it was easier to deal with than when he looked at her like that with those eyes. "You were the one who tried to pull me into the water! It's not my fault I never learned how to swim. I never thought someone might throw me into a pool like a-"
"Like a what, maid?" He baited, glaring at her.
Serenity was relieved he had stopped her from saying something she might regret. "Why are you getting angry at me? Was this not your plan in the first place?"
Endymion couldn't believe the audacity of this woman. "You think I wanted to murder you?! If I truly wanted you dead, maid, you would not be sitting here having this discussion in the first place," he said coldly, as Serenity watched his eyes stare at her with the eyes she hated, yet for some reason, it was easier to respond to. The Princess glared back. Oh, how she wanted to wipe that look off his face!
"My apologies, your highness. I thank you for saving my life; as meaningless and small my existence is to you, I thank you, your grace." She tried to make it sound as genuine as possible, but it was becoming difficult to do so around him. She stood up too quickly as a wave of dizziness hit her and she began to stumble. Before she could even react, similar to to in the waters, two large arms wrapped around her immediately as she was hit with an onslaught of his warmth.
Faster than she could even react, her face was met with the sculpted chest of the Prince for the second time that day. His large arms held her securely, before almost instinctively resting at her hips. Her hands rested on his chest, as if trying to brace herself from his touch. Serenity wasn't sure if it was from the warmth of her cheeks or his body heat, but it was suddenly all too hot.
It was the second time that day, Endymion found himself running to her rescue. He hadn't even had time to think before he was standing up to try and catch the blonde. For some reasons, his arms around her felt so... right. The scent of her hair consumed him, and the warmth of her body captivated him. The feel of her small yet alluring body against his skin made his whole body stiffen as he suddenly realized her breasts had been pressed up against his chest. His grip on her hips tightened slightly. He wondered if she too had noticed the same confusing feelings he was being bombarded with.
Serenity gasped when she felt his fingers dig in, similar to the other day. She refused to look into the Prince's face, unsure what kind of eyes she would see. Did he not realize he had been holding her for quite some time now? Why had neither of them bothered to move? Why did this feel so...oddly... nice? It wasn't until then she noticed her breath had become shallow and her heart was thrashing against her chest. Why was her body reacting to his so wildly?
The Princess needed to see what he was thinking, and why he hadn't pulled away from her. Slowly, she raised her head; her hair slightly brushing his chin. Shy eyes glanced up from beneath her lashes, and found herself staring into the eyes of the Prince. Yet nothing was cold at all about his gaze, as his deep blue eyes began to pierce into hers with a strained look of hunger she couldn't quite understand. Her thrashing heart began to beat even wilder against her chest. She needed to get out of his heat and his arms; This was the Prince, after all! The Prince of all people should not be making her feel this way!
Her hands pushed firmly onto his nicely sculpted chest in an attempt to get herself out of his embrace. Endymion had not been paying attention and suddenly lost his balance. Since his hands were still at her hips, he accidentally pulled her down with him, before releasing her body to brace himself for the hard fall. Endymion grunted as his backside impacted with the ground beneath him but didn't have time to fully react because immediately after, he felt a pair of warm lips against his.
Serenity's eyes widened in absolute horror when she felt her lips come into contact with his. Not to mention, her entire body was pressed up against his so closely, she could feel his muscles through her clothes. The entire world stopped around her as she stared down incredulously at the man beneath her. Suddenly, she felt the grip on her hips tighten, making her gasp against his lips. The pair of eyes beneath her slowly closed, and soon she felt the lips beneath hers move against hers. Her whole body felt like it was on fire as he began to move his lips. Oh god, was he... was he kissing her back? She tried to push herself away from his lips, but was unable to get out of his grasp, as his vice-like grip returned to her hips and she was trapped.
The Prince didn't know what came over him. One minute he was falling, and the next her sweet lips were touching his. What surprised him most was how good it felt to have her lips on his. It was a light and feathery touch, but awoken a hidden desire within him. His hands settled at her hips, gripping them as if bracing himself. The feel of her body against his was so captivating, he found himself unable to resist her pull. Instinctively, he attempted to deepen the kiss but immediately felt her pull away. As she stared down at him with confused and angered eyes, hands flat on his chest, Endymion couldn't help but admire how delicious she looked. Cheeks flushed, her milky white chest heaving dangerously above him, and her peachy lips quivering above him. He wanted nothing more than to feel those lips against his again, even if it was just for a second... His eyes widened in horror. Wait... he wanted to kiss her again?
In the midst of his trance, Serenity pulled herself away from his grip and hoisted herself up onto her feet. She couldn't believe what just happened. The Prince had taken her first kiss! Eyes narrowing at the man beneath her, she wiped her mouth off on her sleeve. "Why... why did you do that?!" she demanded, no longer caring about fake identities or formalities.
Insulted by her reaction, Endymion stood up from his seat and glared at her. "I did that? If I recall correctly, you threw yourself onto me!"
"I did no such thing, your grace," she replied back, infuriated by his arrogance. "That... that was my first kiss!"
The Prince was at a loss of words. Had she never been kissed before? Had she never been with a man? Suddenly, it all made sense. The reason why she was so sensitive to his touch. A woman that beautiful has never been with a man? Well, I suppose her personality makes up for that... "Why am I not surprised?" he found himself saying.
The Princess' eyes glared at him. She tried not to let the tears fall from her eyes, but found that one or two managed to escape. Not wanting to show him any weakness, as well as not wanting to be anywhere near his dangerous lips, she turned around and stormed off, not wanting to deal with him all. How could someone so arrogant, so conceited, and so egotistic make her feel so.. nervous and confused and so... Shaking her head, she knew hoped she would be able to forget the whole ordeal and move on. Just the idea of it made her sick to her stomach.
As the Prince stared after her, his fingers brushed against his lips, unable to forget the warm feeling he felt when they kissed. There was no way.. no way he could be... Shaking his head, Endymion quickly grabbed his towel and change of clothes, before storming off in the opposite direction.