Title: To Brave the Darkness

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Notes: My treat to all of you; another chapter for the weekend! Thank you all so much for reviewing.

Serenity hugged her knees to her, letting the hot water of her bath soak through her. The bright sunshine streaming through the window seemed paradoxical to her mood.

Yesterday she had felt so close to freedom, and today she felt farther away than she had been in a long time. She had no hope that Endymion would help her, and now she had to worry about what might happen if her stepfather ever found out that she was no longer pure. If he had been speaking honestly before, that would happen at the end of the week.

Her maid came in, finally allowed to aid her for only a short while, and lay clean towels on the chair beside her.

"Are you sure you won't tell me what it is he's done to you this time?"

Serenity knew her maid meant the best, but she didn't want to tell her about Endymion. She had warned her about him before, pleading with her not to do something stupid. But Serenity had anyway. Endymion was the one person that the entire kingdom apparently knew to be weary of, and she had blindly trusted him to do exactly what she expected.

She was a fool.

"It is a beautiful day out," her maid said. "Perhaps your stepfather will allow you to spend some time out by the lake."

Serenity nodded, leaning back in the tub and stretching her legs out. She didn't care anymore.

When she was clean, she dried herself off and let her maid dress her. It was nice, not having to concentrate this morning. She didn't think she had it in her to care about her appearance.

Her maid said little, obviously worrying over her. She had been Serenity's companion for many years, and very close to a friend, but not close enough to be told secrets of this nature. She went out into the town most weeks to visit her mother. She had often talked about what others were saying and what she had told them. She loved her maid, but she was a gossip.

When she was ready, she went down to breakfast, eating silently and politely deferring all conversation towards her.

Her stepfather glared at her.

She didn't care.

She didn't care about anything until after breakfast, when she excused herself and walked out of the room, only to be followed by her stepfather.

He grabbed her roughly, making her face him.

"I don't know what you're playing at, but this has gone far enough."

She looked at him, afraid. "I don't know what you mean."

"I thought that our talk the other night had convinced you to cooperate. Yesterday I was actually willing to give you another chance. Your actions were almost perfect. And today you act like this."

Serenity, after years of fighting against him, couldn't stop the immediate response to stand against him. "I am not yours to use."

"I thought we had an understanding Serenity. As long as you cooperate, I will wait until my guests are gone. If you cross me, I swear you will regret it."

She slapped him, hard.

For a moment, the world stopped.

Serenity felt her heart pounding in her chest as he turned to slowly look back at her, his eyes dangerously furious.

"That, was a mistake," he said, pushing her backwards so that she tripping and slid across the floor.

He walked away from her, back to his guests.

Serenity fumed, tears streaming down her face. She hated that man with every fiber of her being. She hated him for what he had turned her life into. She hated him for marrying her mother and becoming her guardian. She hated him for every single time she had felt worthless and used.

She got up quickly, and walked, fuming, into the garden, forcing her way through the doors until she was bathed in the bright sunlight of the morning. She walked, trying to stem the flow of tears unsuccessfully as she made her way to the lake where she had spent the only happy times she could remember with her maid, just pretending she were free.

She was so angry that she picked up a large rock and heaved it, as hard as she could into the tulips, which had just started to bloom, crushing them.

The lake was as smooth as glass, undisturbed by wind or falling leaves. She hated it. She threw in rocks, sticks and whatever else she could find, making the water ripple and shake. She was so angry she couldn't see.

And then it all faded away, and she sank to the soft grass, feeling sorry and desperate.

She was sure that her life wasn't supposed to be this way. She had so much love to give. There was no way she was supposed to be trapped here, with a stepfather who threatened to violate her while she carelessly gave herself to the one man in the kingdom dangerous to her.

She sat there, watching the lake even out once again.

Her mother had died when she was very young, but she did remember her. She had been beautiful and kind, and strong above all else. Serenity had always wished to be like her mother, but it seemed so far from her grasp now. She was trapped.

The sun shone brightly through the trees and little birds sang their spring songs, happy and content with the world around them. What she wouldn't give to be a bird, happy and carefree, flying around in the air, wherever they desired to be.

"Serenity."

Serenity jumped at the voice, startled to be so completely unaware of someone approaching her. Especially that someone.

She sighed, standing up and turning to walk away from him. "Not now my lord."

"Serenity wait," Endymion said, gently grabbing her hand to stop her.

Serenity turned to face him, thankful that her tears had stopped. She was surprised to see his eyes filled with guilt and pain.

"What do you want?" She asked, uncaring. "I already know I'm supposed to come to you tonight."

"Serenity, I want to apologize."

She stopped, looking at him confused.

He stepped towards her, still holding her hand gently in his, looking extremely sincere. The sunlight made his hair shine and his eyes look a little lighter.

Serenity felt a yearning to hear him out. Something told her that whatever he was about to say to her would be filled with meaning.

"I'm sorry," he said gently. "I didn't mean for things to go the way they did."

She opened her mouth to respond, but she had no idea what to say. Whatever she might have expected of him, this was not it. The man everyone knew Lord Endymion to be was filled with darkness and hate, and wouldn't care enough to apologize to her.

Part of her mind told her to leave, and the other part told her to stay. Yesterday she had really liked him, and she missed that.

"You're right," he said. "I usually do brag about whatever I've just done. It's hard to care when nothing can touch you."

She looked down, feeling her heart pull at his words. She hadn't ever expected him to care for her, but it hurt to hear him say that he didn't. He had been the first man she had ever been with, and she couldn't help but be affected by that a little.

She remembered that night. He had been so sweet and gentle with her. He had been everything she might hope for in a husband in the bedroom.

"But you were different," he said, making her look back up at him.

He smiled gently, his eyes soft. "Serenity, I have never, in my life, wanted anyone the way I wanted you the first night you came to me. It's true that I came here to pursue you, but I didn't expect to be taken so off guard. You were beautiful and strong, and took control. I watched you stand up to your stepfather in front of his guests. After that, when I couldn't stop thinking of you, you came barging into my room telling me what was going to happen."

She felt a little of her tension ease at his words.

"And then to top it all off, you were so much more desirable and passionate that night then anyone I've ever been with."

She blushed.

"I'm sorry I did what I did last night, but I allowed myself to get offended at what you expected of me. Of course you were right, I usually would have done what you needed, but with you, I didn't want to."

"It doesn't matter," Serenity said brokenly. "I'm sorry I used you, but I really didn't think you'd mind and I had no other choice."

"Why do you want me to ruin you?"

"I just want to get out of here," she said honestly. "My stepfather doesn't let me leave. I've never experienced any sort of life because I'm too useful to his business ventures. I've tried everything. I've tried running away. I've tried getting married. Endymion, I would try anything to get away from him. I didn't know you, but I saw an opportunity to find freedom."

"Even if the cost is your reputation?" He asked.

"What's the use of having a reputation if I never get to use it anyway?" She said. "I'm trapped in this house. I would rather be living on the street, or condemned to outside the kingdom walls to walk with the criminals. At least there I would be able to make my own choices."

He studied her intently, still holding her hand in his. She could only hope he was deciding to help her.

"No," he said finally, and any last remnant of her hopes sank. "I can't let you do that to yourself," he said. "I understand your position, but you don't know what it can be like out there. People are not forgiving."

She looked down, trying not to let the tears build up. "Then I no longer have a use for you," she said, pulling her hand from his and turning to walk away.

"What do you mean by that?" He called after her.

"Do what you want Endymion," she said back to him, her voice shaking. "I'm not coming to you again. I'll find another way to get myself out of this life."

Serenity couldn't help but feel like she wasn't walking away from him for the first time. But this time, she felt really bad about it. He was obviously trying to reach out and make her feel a little more comfortable. Why, she couldn't really know. Just because she was different than all the others, didn't make her special in his eyes. For him to make this sacrifice was a big gesture that she simply couldn't comprehend right now. There were bigger things at stake.

The rest of the day went by strangely. There was no longer anything for her to do that would make this situation any better. She prepared herself to leave, hoping that maybe this time she would be able to get through the guards. She knew it was fruitless, but maybe in her attempt to escape they would kill her and she would be free at least in one respect.

The problem was that she really wanted to live. She really wanted to experience what life had to offer, out there in the Kingdom. She wanted to know what it was like to meet knew people and make friends.

She couldn't do any of that if she were dead.

When dinner came, she didn't join them. Her stepfather sent up a servant, but she just ignored him. She put her little purse of gold tucked safely in her dress, and went down afterward, hoping her stepfather would be angry and send her away. At least then she could make a run for it without worrying that they'd check her room.

To her detriment, he was not angry. He just ignored her as she sat down next to the older man who had showed her a lot of attention over the last few days. At this point it was clear that he was hoping to ask for her hand in marriage. She would consider it if she didn't already know her stepfather would never allow it. Especially now that she knew he had other plans for her in regards to himself.

Serenity was sitting silently, trying but failing to listen to the man across from her, when Endymion stood up to gain her father's attention.

"I must commend you on your hosting abilities my lord," he said, smiling his cocky amused smile and raising his glass.

The rest of the room joined him, and her stepfather pretended to be flattered.

Serenity looked at Endymion, wondering why he had chosen this moment to address the room for the first time since his stay. From what she had seen of him, he had made a particular effort to keep a low profile.

"I have rarely been to a place where I have felt so easily accepted. That is perhaps my own fault," he said, making the other men laugh and cheer to him. Obviously being a man with his reputation wasn't as bad as a woman with the same reputation. The other men looked at him as if he were some sort of god. Perhaps that was why he was allowed to continue in his ways with so little resistance.

"But I do think I may have worn out my welcome."

Serenity tried not to be sad at his words. She didn't want his help, but she was saddened at the idea of his leaving so soon. Despite who he was, she liked having at least one person she might be open with.

"Nonsense Endymion," her stepfather said smiling, "you are always welcome."

Endymion shrugged, standing tall and proud in the middle of the room. "I am indeed grateful for that. But I admit I came to your home with one desire in mind. You will not be surprised to find out that it was to seduce your daughter into giving herself to me willingly."

Serenity looked at him wide eyed.

The men all nodded.

"Yes, I thought that might be the case," her stepfather said. "But we will not take merit away for intentions."

Endymion laughed, setting down his drink. "That is true. Intentions in themselves are not all bad."

"So what are you to do Endymion?" Another man asked. "Now that you see this objective is fruitless, you give in so soon?"

"Yes my boy," her stepfather said. "Just because she will not have you doesn't mean you should deny us your company."

Endymion looked at her then, his eyes dark.

Serenity felt breathless as he turned back to her father.

"My presence here no longer benefits me now that I have achieved what I wanted and had her."

The whole room stopped.

Serenity felt her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe he had just said that, so easily, with that same cocky smile on his face as he gazed calmly at her stepfather.

It was her stepfather who spoke first, in a choked, confused voice. "You've…..slept with my daughter."

Endymion's smile was filled with evil intentions. "You are to be commended," he said in a low voice. "She was one of the best I've ever had."

One of the men cleared his throat.

Serenity could feel eyes on her, but she couldn't look away from Endymion as he stood his ground, perfectly steady in his spot. His strong jaw relaxed and his posture casual.

She didn't breath when her stepfather looked at her. "Is this true girl?"

She wished she could answer, but she couldn't.

"There is one thing I would never do," Endymion said picking up his jacket from the chair beside him and draping it over his shoulder, "and that is lie about my conquests. It is much more satisfying to make the announcement with truth behind it. If you must ask her to prove it, fine, I am not concerned. Either way, she is one of my greatest trophies, and as you may know, I do love my trophies."

With that, he turned and strode out of the room, tall and proud, and too ridiculously good-looking for his own good.

Serenity watched him go.

As soon as she saw the look in her father's eyes, her heart beat in excitement. It was a look she had never seen before, and she couldn't wait to see what it meant. His temper flared up within him. It was his temper she was counting on.

"If you would excuse us," he said to his guests without looking at them.

Slowly, without another word, they filed out of the room.

Serenity looked at her stepfather, trying not to smile. She begged whoever was listening to make him to angry to even think.

"You gave yourself to him."

It wasn't a question, but she nodded anyway.

"Under my roof."

She nodded again, not trusting her own voice.

"You stupid girl," he hissed. "By tomorrow, the entire kingdom is going to know of your betrayal. You have brought disgrace into my house!"

"And violating your own daughter isn't a disgrace?" She countered.

"Get out of my house," he yelled.

Serenity smiled, but his anger was unaffected.

"With pleasure."

He rushed forward and grabbed her, hitting her hard across the face.

Serenity was distracted enough not to catch herself from falling out of her chair. She hit the ground hard, dazed, and he flew down to push her against the floor.

"No, you are not going to get away with this. Just because you've turned into a whore doesn't mean you should get what you want."

"Every time you bring someone into this house to conduct your business affairs, I will prove to them my reputation is true," she pushed back at him. "I'll show them why Endymion says I am one of the best he's had."

"You filthy slut, how dare you do this to me."

She kicked out, hitting him below the knee, causing him to hiss and move away from her.

"Get out," he screamed at her. "Get out! You are no longer my daughter. I will not cover for you. The whole world will know what you've done. If I ever see you again, I will make sure you are sent to the wastelands with the criminals."

Serenity pushed herself up, rushing out of the room. She was so excited she could hardly breath. She certainly didn't notice the men standing in the hallway, eager to ask her if she were all right.

Serenity grabbed her cloak from the closet, uncaring. She didn't answer them and she didn't stop to wonder why they seemed so concerned. She just went out the front doors.

The guards stopped her, but by the looks on their faces, they had heard everything.

"I have been disowned," she said to them, trying not to seem too pleased about it.

They hesitated only a moment, waiting for her stepfather to come after her. They were to follow his orders and keep her here, but they had heard him demand her departure. It took them a moment, but they slowly moved out of the way.

It was as if every bad thing in her entire life had melted away that instant. Whatever happened now, at least she was making her own decisions.

Her first decision was to hurry away from the thick walls encircling her home and walk directly across the street.

She looked back.

Serenity smiled. Only once had she ever seen the building from this side. Only once, when her mother brought her in, had she ever looked up at the place and smiled. She had smiled that first time to see how grand her new home was. This time she smiled because every step she took now was a step away from it, and away from him.

The elation she felt swelled within her. Behind her, stretching on for hundreds, possible thousands, of miles, was the entire kingdom. The king's palace was out there somewhere. The marvelous city markets filled to the brim with colors and food. Her new home was within reach, wherever it might be.

"I have to say," Endymion said, startling her, "I didn't expect it to work."

He walked out of the darkness of the night, the same easy smile on his face.

Serenity was so happy that she couldn't be angry with his company. She felt free. She felt ready to take on anything the world had to offer her.

"I knew it would," Serenity said. "The moment he threatened to take me to his bed I knew he would be too furious to think straight if anyone ever touched me. If there has ever been one thing I can count on, it's his temper. As much as he desired me, he would instantly hate the idea of something ruining his name and rank. Of course, once he's calmed down, he will think much differently."

Endymion's smile turned to concern when she looked at him, and she was surprised when he gently took her cheek and moved her head to the side. "He hit you?"

Serenity put a hand to her cheek. Now that she thought about it, the side of her face hurt a lot from where he had hit her. She nodded, frowning at the idea that she would start her new life with a bruise on the side of her face for all the world to see. She had a bad reputation and obvious signs of abuse. It would be hard, but it would be worth it.

"I'm alright," she said turning away from him and walking slowly away from her fathers house.

"Have you thought about your next move?"

"Of course not," she said with a giggle. "I don't think I ever truly imagined I'd get passed the guards."

"How long until they come after you?"

"I think my stepfather will come to his senses in an hour or two, and send them out to get me. His temper is bad, but recently I have discovered that his desire for me might outweigh what I've done."

"Maybe the best thing you could do right now is hide."

"I don't want to hide," she said. "I've been hidden away my whole life. I want to go out there and experience all our kingdom has to offer. I want to learn what it's like to live life without restraint."

He reached forward to take her hand softly in his, and pull her gently to look at him. "I'm serious Serenity. I don't want you to hide away, but your stepfather will be angry if he finds you. Maybe it's best if you find a place to stay so at least you have a retreat."

"Thank you for the offer," she said smiling, "but if you're suggesting I stay with you then my answer has to be no."

He grinned. "As much as the idea of you staying with me sends my mind into dark memories of our first night together, it wasn't what I was offering. I was serious earlier today. I have no intention of ruining your reputation."

"You already told everyone there what you did," she said confused.

"True," he said easily. "But the men there are all in business with me. By the time they leave your father's, they will be summoned to my house and sworn to secrecy. I will not tell another soul and neither will you."

She looked at him, unsure what to say. "Why would you do that? I thought you said I was a trophy."

"You are, in a sense," he said shrugging. "I'm sure it's hard for you to believe Serenity, but I am not all bad."

"You make sport of stealing the virtue of noble women."

"I find amusement in young ladies who are so held down by the rules and regulations of high society that they spring at the chance of breaking the rules in so scandalous a way as laying with me."

She looked at him curiously. "That's it?" She asked. "That's how you achieved your reputation? You go to women and allow them to work through the issues of being rich and beautiful on you?"

Endymion shrugged. "I rarely, if ever, have to put much effort into convincing them," he said. "And never have I ever taken a woman against her will. Last night with you, I regret."

Serenity lost her smile as she remembered it. "I am sorry about what I said to you yesterday," she said. "I didn't realize you would take such offense at being used."

"I don't blame you," he said softly, gazing at her. Then he shook his head, "but we're getting off topic. There must be somewhere you can go."

"I don't know anyone," she said. "I figured I'd stay at an inn on the other side of the city. I wanted to get as far away from my stepfather as I could so I might have some chance to hide from him. The kingdom is big enough that it would be easy to stay lost if I could only get far enough away."

"I know a place," Endymion said. "If you would permit me, I would take you there."

She looked at him cautiously. "How far away from your home is it?"

He laughed. "Far enough. The lady who lives there is a friend of mine, and I assure you, she'll fight me off with a stick before I'm ever allowed to touch you again. She'll be happy for the company."

Serenity hesitated. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Come on," he said, turning back the other way and pulling her with him. "If we leave now, we might make it before it gets light in the morning."

Serenity followed him back to where his horse was waiting in an alley just a short distance away from her home. She took one last look up at it and smiled, hoping she would never have to see it again.

He helped her up on the horse, sitting behind her so he held her on either side as he held the reigns. She could lean back against his chest and be relatively comfortable on the animal.

She smiled as he guided his horse out of the alley and quickly down the streets of the darkening city.

She signed into the fresh air and gazed up at the stars that were becoming brighter and brighter in the sky. He held her securely enough that she could look around without worrying about holding on. After the first short sprint to get them away from her stepfather's home, he slowed the horse down to a quick walk so it was not as jostling as it could be.

"Can you stay awake all night?" She asked, feeling warm in his embrace.

His laugh shook his chest slightly and she liked it. "I suppose we'll see."

She yawned. "Thank you, for what you did."

"For telling your father that I took away his daughter's virtue? Anytime."

She giggled. "You must think I'm crazy."

"I think you're brave," he said. "Much braver than I could ever be."

She smiled, feeling tired. The moon was out and it was casting an easy glow over the city. It was not too dark to see and she felt safe with Endymion. It was almost comical, riding away from her life with the man she had slept with in order to make her stepfather angry enough to lose judgment. But she didn't care. She was free, and that was all that mattered.

End of Chapter Four! Please review!