Turning Back By Ummster

--Chapter 6

A/N: Umm…

ok bear w/ me, cuz' this is a very depressing chapter. No happy stuff. None. Nada. Even more depressing than the last one.

This is also kinda short… sry!

Yes I changed the format…

Disclaimer: same

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"So Endymion…" the woman drawled, the words rolling off her lips seductively, "Care join me for a little…afternoon snack?" She quirked an eyebrow, brushing away thick bushels of violet that had snaked out of their hold, and clambered out of her throne. She bent towards him. "In my opinion…you seem like you need it." Beryl placed an unbelievably long, steady finger on his chest, the curling, black fingernails massaging, or rather scraping his tender skin.

"You monster," he muttered, clenching his ocean-blue eyes in disgust as the bust of her low-cut, revealing dress entered his viewing range. Her eyes narrowed as she watched his obvious apathy.

"I'll get you for this!" Beryl screamed, a thin mist of saliva issuing from between the two parted lips onto Endymion's flinching face. He shuddered as she grabbed hold of his shirt and clutched it inches from her own face, sensing the scalding heat of her fury burning through the cool air. "You'll do what I want," she whispered, her steaming breath raising the hairs atop his forehead in violent shudders.

"And what's that?" he asked, pushing her wandering hands aside and stiffly turning around. Beryl's eyes wandered across his tempting, luxuriously shiny raven-black head and with a slight brush of her lips against his shoulder sent him jumping her way again.

"I want you to be my new co-ruler of the Negaverse."

Endymion stilled, his expression curious and disgusted. "You know I'm only working for you to save my people," he began, still gaping, "because you threaten to demolish them if I turn against you."

"So you're saying…"

"I'd never accept such an atrocious offer."

Beryl's lips raised in a smirk. "I expected you to decline. But that's nothing we can't change…" She crossed her legs, letting her foot dangle against it. "After working a certain mission for me, I'm sure you've become accustomed with the ways of my rule."

"That damn mission hasn't even been completed yet!"

"You did discuss it, though, didn't you?"

His shoulders loosened and he shrugged carelessly. "The Lunarians didn't seem too willing."

"But you did do-"

"I did what you wanted! Your disgraceful warriors would be marched on the moon, taking over the planet at this moment -without suspicion- if the Lunarians had acknowledged the phony excuse you made up: that it was a matter of secession between the Earth and the Moon. But they didn't."

"It would have been so much easier," Beryl retorted, "if they couldn't detect our troops from afar." Endymion grinned.
A smile alighted Beryl's features as she attempted to wrap her sly arms around his torso. "The good news is that the Lunarian princess is finally captured. It seems you yourself took part in it? I applaud you, Endy. You're finally turning around."

Endymion shuddered, willing himself not to think of the pitiful situation his Princess was facing. "It's not like I had a choice, you hypocrite," he spat, "Seran practically cornered me at that damn ball, saying that if I didn't get her alone afterwards you'd…you'd abuse my people again."

"You care too much for your people, Endy."

"Too much for my people! They already blame me for letting you onto our planet, totally unsuspecting that I was…how can I watch them die before my eyes, and because of me? I know the things you can do…" He sighed and slowly carried his feet to the closed glass door of the throne room.

Beryl started. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To get some rest," he replied, half-closing his already heavy lids, "and try to wash out all memories of a certain princess." He left the enormity, leaving Beryl to figure out what he meant.

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Serenity glanced at the guards in a mixture of fear and annoyance, unable to understand why they hovered over her if she was already unbreakably chained to the cell. She cursed them silently; her eyes unexpectedly clear and dry. Mercifully, she had been unable to let out the drowning tears she'd come to expect from the simplest of predicaments. By far, this was her worst predicament yet...yet she mused that to some extent she had been expecting it. She thanked Selene she hadn't lost her head like the other mad and sullen prisoners in the chain of cells.

Oh, they were intolerable. She had been chained to the cell in the middle of all the others; which meant that she was constantly surrounded by rude people made crazy from permanent imprisonment. Goddess, she hoped she didn't stay here forever -it would be torturous to so long endure the unshaven, rogue faces and the inquiring eyes (not to mention dirty mouths) of her fellow inmates.

She guessed she'd been here, trapped in the cell, for about two days. It was unbearable to live without decent human company for that long. She missed her mother, as idiotic as it might have sounded -her mother, with her reprimandance, her encouraging…but most of all her knowledge. It was frustrating how all her previous training became irrelevant when it actually mattered –for some reason she had been unable to teleport, or at least slip out of the barring chains through magic. Possibly, too much was on her mind for her to concentrate, or more likely her abilities didn't extend to escaping from secure jail cells.

Without doubt, Serenity wouldn't have minded Endymion being here. Well…maybe she wished for it. She still couldn't bring herself to believe that Endymion worked for Beryl…it was true that he had been unwilling to help her personally, but he had given her hints and indeed, it had been he who had suggested for her to stay on her guard, as Seran was looking to kidnap her. Oh, she missed his warming lips, firm hands, and enrapturing eyes…those ocean-blue, crystal eyes, dancing with amusement…she could drown in them forever.

Serenity sighed and accidentally flung her hand against the hard wall, wincing as the cracks grazed the side of her arm.

"Hey, doll-face!"

Serenity whipped herself around and discovered a middle-aged man, tarred and battered, staring at her delightedly from the cell in front of her.

"Why don't you come amuse us?" he spat, laughter bellowing from the prisoners surrounding him.

Sighing, she turned away and buried her head in her arms.

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"Excuse me?"

In disarray, she made out the vague image of a lean man peering into her cell. Groaning in disgust, she settled back into a state of earnest dozing. Her fellow prisoners were purely disgusting. They seemed entranced by her –surely they had seen decent-looking women before? She shook her head sadly and whimpered in her unpleasant dream.

"Queen Beryl wishes to speak to you in private."

She looked again at the pale figure unbolting the cell hinges. Blonde bangs shadowed a petite forehead, atop hazel eyes, clearly dulled by age and weariness. His hand rested on what was clearly a deep red scar on his right cheek. As he led her up the cells leading out of the prison, he watched her surreptitiously in backward glances, averting his eyes every once in a while.

"Is something the matter, Jedeite?" Serenity asked politely, still envisioning the vultures swooping down on the poor servant.

"Nothing." His brows creased as he looked at her slyly. "How did you know my name was Jedeite?" He stopped and held her back with surprising strength for a man of his ill complexion.

"I –I just guessed," she stuttered.

"Right," Jedeite said sarcastically, "but it doesn't matter either way." They continued down the hall in silence, neither talking.

There was something odd about the man. He seemed familiar and distant at the same time –and Serenity was sure it hadn't come from her dreams. His pale complexion, startlingly soft blue eyes, and blonde, seeping bangs…they combined to create something awkward yet handsome. It was true -he might have been handsome had it not been for the demeaning way he carried himself and the fearful, darting look always evident in his eyes. She didn't reflect on it long; she had other things to reflect on –perhaps her life?

"Step right this way."

Serenity lifted her feet hurriedly into the still room and glanced around fearfully. It was mundane except for two magnificent plush thrones, sparkling gold in the center of the room. A few feet in front of the thrones stood a slick iron stool, chains and corresponding hand-cuffs bolted to the handles. The chains snaked around the edges of the room, finally linking into the handle of the rightmost throne chair. The contrast was awkward –a barren, dusty black room, decorated with a few marvelous structures. There was a menacing aura about the room, the same aura she had sensed from her dreams and from Seran.

Without a word, Jedeite forced her into the restricted seat, buckling the clamps tightly around her wrist and ankles. Her mind racing, she found that all she could maneuver was her neck; and that the rest of her body was pressed against the cold stool most uncomfortably. She shuddered, the freezing metal overcoming her.

Suddenly, she realized that in the moment of agony she had forgotten her dying prayers. What if she didn't go to heaven? Oh, Selene, please spare her on that. Quickly, she reflected over all the terrible things she had done in her sixteen years of life…half-cheated on her fiancé, questioned her mother's judgment and loyalty…the list was endless. Hopelessly, she clenched her eyes, fearing she would be transported to hell.

Instead, a voice rang out in the distance, a voice she knew but was truly hearing for the first time:

"It's about time you arrived, Serenity." She looked up tentatively to find herself falling into violet-red eyes…

Was this hell?

The monster laughed, reading her thoughts. "It's not hell. But it's as close as you'll ever get, you weakling." Serenity winced at the outburst and squirmed as the chains locked tighter around her wrist, Jedeite watching her with alarm in the hidden shadows of the room.

"Watch closely, moon princess," Beryl continued, smirking, "I brought you a treat. It's not what you're expecting, of course. But satisfying, none the less. At least for me." She cackled again, her eyes tearing from the belching force of the laugh.

Beryl closed her eyes, concentrating her energy on the distance. "Come to me, rightful King of the Negaverse!"

The girl watched with amazement as a blurry figure dissolved into the throne vacant next to Beryl. She gasped as she made out the face of the newcomer. Because she recognized it. The devilishly handsome features, the black, glossy hair, the midnight blue orbs…

"You?" She cried, startled, as Endymion looked around himself, jumping at the sight of the princess. "You! You the king of the Negaverse? So Seran was right!"

He looked angrily at Beryl, his teeth gritting, trying to vent his fury. "How dare you!" he yelled at her, "You said you'd make someone else do it! You said I didn't have anything more to do! And hell, I never agreed to be co-ruler of the Negaverse!"

"Oh, come on, Endy," she said, laughing, "It was too much of an opportunity to miss. Now please, we have to deal with her. Endymion."

He shook his head like a little boy, folding his arms together and turning his head up in haughty disagreement.

Beryl sighed. "Well, fine, then. But all you're doing is postponing the inevitable." She snuck out of her chair and leaned on Serenity's shoulder. The tips of her fingernails dug into the bare skin, tinglings of pain shooting down Serenity's spine.

"We aren't going to harm you, Serenity -just contort you in every possible way!" Serenity slumped in the chair, refusing to look into Beryl's hypnotizing eyes.

"Look at me!"

"I refuse."

"Don't talk back to me, you worthless little girl!" she bellowed, power surging from her outstretched hands. Pain lashing at her as Serenity yelped, her back twisting against the back of the stool.

Suddenly in a stroke of bravery she looked at the devil with a hardcore tenacity she didn't know she had. "You're a coward," she said simply, her eyes creasing and the crescent moon atop her forehead glowing in indignation.

Beryl glanced at it nervously, beckoning Jedeite out of his corner to take a look at the symbol. Tentatively, he rubbed a finger gently across the gold-plated crescent. Serenity trembled as a feeble vibration passed through her flesh, waiting for something to happen. Her mother had once told her that if anyone were to touch her divine marking against her will, she would be protected by a sudden shock of energy. Nothing happened.

"It only means more energy, your majesty," Jedeite sad quietly, looking down at the girl with interest. Smirking, Beryl walked back to her throne.

"Seems like the girl has a lot of energy, eh Endymion?" He said nothing, only looked away. Beryl again glanced her way, lips curling downwards impatiently. "So where's that crystal you always carry with you? The Imperium Silver Crystal? Hand it over, girl."

Serenity smiled brightly, grateful for the hidden pocket in her dress she had used to conceal the prized item. "I don't have it."

"You do," the monster repeated. Endymion winced, letting his hair fall over his eyes, now a mysterious shade of dark blue.

"I don't. I took it off before my ball."

"Did she? If she did there's no use checking," Beryl asked, directing the question towards Endymion, "You were with her before the ball, weren't you?"

"I was," Endymion answered firmly, "and she wasn't wearing it."

Beryl growled under her breath, tossing her purple hair in agitation. "That's one energy source lost. The only other option is draining her own energy…" She stopped and twisted the chain attached to the handle of her chair. Serenity screamed, the tears that had earlier refused to trail down her face bursting out in uncontrolled sobs.

"Oh, I was just warming up," Beryl seethed, "In fact, I think I'll have Endymion do the honors."

He was silent before he burst out, "It would be so much more satisfying to yourself if you did it."

She laughed. "You're wrong." Her glare turned deadly. "I want to see you, personally, destroy the girl you're so infatuated with."

She knew! Damnit, she'd known all this time! Endymion sat rooted to his seat, staring at Beryl in amazement.

"Don't think I haven't noticed, Endy. Seran told me all about your little affair." She turned her gaze to the girl straddled to the seat in front of her. "So this is the girl stealing my Endy away from me," she mused, "I thought you'd have better judgment, Endymion. She's a petty weakling, nothing beyond a pretty face." Beryl's cheeks reddened as she cupped her own face in her hands lovingly. "Don't you see what you're missing?"

Still amazed, Endymion turned his gaze away from the venting face of his companion and ventured to steal a glance at Serenity. Her mouth hung open, her sky-blue eyes widened above possibility. He could see her slightly blushing at Beryl's remarks. She was being modest, he thought with amusement. Just the time to lose your ego.

He lost his attention as Beryl snapped her fingers roughly. "Come now. I want to hear one of your endearing conversations."

Serenity didn't hesitate to begin. "You bastard! And all this time you were working for Beryl." She silently reprimanded herself for her colorful language, but dismissed it tiredly after a few moments reflection.

He started uneasily. "It's not what you think…"

"What do you mean it's not what I think? Then what is it?"

"I meant that I didn't do it because-"

"Did you or did you not come to our planet for the sake of some stupid Negaverse mission? And to think, I trusted you enough to reveal my personal dreams to you?"

"Do you want me to be honest?" he questioned nervously.

"You -you'd have the dignity to lie to me?" Serenity stuttered, chocking on her tears.

Endymion sighed. "Fine. The mission was to allow Beryl's warriors on the Moon Kingdom disguised as Earth soldiers."

"So the whole fiasco at the meeting was a total lie?"

"Yes." Serenity shuddered, the tears blurring her vision.

"How could you be so benighted!" she yelled, disgusted at the feeble expression on his normally handsome countenance, and the pitiful state he had been reduced to. He had long since crept out of the sanction of the throne, and was kneeling before her, his head bent humbly, silently begging forgiveness. If it had been any other time she would have complimented him on his lack of ego –the same ego that his mother had once asked her to monitor. Yet all she now saw was a hideous mass of black and white.

"I suppose next you're going to say that you kissed me only to trap me with Seran!" Beryl's eyes bulged in the background.

"No," he moaned, his head in her lap, "No. Don't blow this out of proportion. Please. I had certain emotions."

"Certain emotions?" She repeated, her tone softening as she took another look at the man she had been so quick to accuse.

"Yes," he repeated, "I liked you."

"You liked me," she whispered, uncertain of what she was hearing. He touched her hand lightly, rubbing the itching skin where the chains nettled her flesh. Suddenly she screamed and he retreated his arm in one swift movement, looking up at her, concern and endearment written in his eyes.

"I see now!" she yelled, blonde meandering strands plastering over her eyelids, "You're trying to take advantage of me again! You traitor! And to think I almost let you for the second time!"

Before Endymion could respond Beryl sent another searing lash her way, laughing hysterically. "You two are…pathetic!" Endymion retreated back to his seat next to Beryl, cursing his bad luck.

Beryl's smirk widened as a shadow in the far corner of the room shuffled across the hard metal floor.

"Jedeite."

He bowed, his hands clasped. "Yes, your majesty?"

"Don't you think it would be amusing for Serenity to meet her long-lost father?"

He gulped, his throat drying. "Whatever you say, your majesty."

"Wait," Serenity intervened, thoroughly confused. "You mean to say my father's still alive?"

"Of course," Beryl screeched, laughing.

"Then he's here." She blanked at the thought of her noble father seeing her in her present condition, fruitlessly attempting to smooth her sweat-stained dress and matted golden locks.

"Yes, he's here. Right now." Beryl paused, directing her glance towards a certain slumped man in her presence.

"And he's standing right in front of you!"

A/N: Review!

I don't really know how she's going to escape yet…obviously she is going to…so that'll take awhile. Which probably means there won't be another update soon. (