Don't know why this chapter couldn't be seen. I submitted it again, so hopefully it should be okay!
Author's Notes: Sorry about the long delay. I had to move apartments and with the holidays, life got in the way. I ended up re-writing this chapter a few times, because I wanted to take a different approach with what I had originally planned. I noticed that the writing style changed a bit from the previous chapters, but hopefully nothing too drastic. I'm planning on going through the old chapters and editing some of the awkward dialogue, so hopefully there'll eventually be more of a cohesive style.
For those wondering about the mystery woman who Endymion loved, she will play her part later in the story. Also, because the dynamics between Endymion/Kunzite x Serenity are slowly building, I wanted to focus more on them first than the politics brewing within the kingdom. In the next few chapters, (in particular, the next one) it becomes more plot driven than character driven (more or less), but I know I'm slow. You'll see a bit of other characters in the next few chapters.
This chapter has been edited to fit fanfiction dot net's ratings. Check my profile for the unrestricted version.
If you leave a question in either the reviews or my PM, I'll try my best to reply as soon as I can, but life seems to get the best of me. Thank you, and enjoy the next chapter.
When evenin' shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
"Make you feel my love" ~ Bob Dylan
Chapter 7: Touch
His hand reached forward to move the hair from the small Princess' face. Her eyelids grew heavier with each passing minute as a wave of drowsiness fell upon the exhausted child. It had been a tiring day, but the last thing she wanted to do was sleep. "Tell me another story, father," the young girl pleaded with her big, bright blue eyes.
An amused, yet skeptical smile formed on his lips. "Again? It is time for you to sleep, dear." He tucked the sides of the sheets to secure her snugly into the bed. "Besides, your mother would kill me if she found out I let you stay up past your bed time."
The young child frowned, her eyebrows furrowing deeply. "I cannot stop thinking about that boy, father."
He knew that children grew fast, but could it be that his precious daughter had already chosen a suitor? He stared down at his young child in disbelief. "Dear, you are much to young to be falling in love-"
Her soft giggles eased his tension as the young princess smiled lovingly up at her father. "Not like that, father. I meant that I cannot stop thinking about how horrible his father must be." The Princess sighed deeply, pulling the covers closer to her face. "It sounds like a horrible fate is in store for him."
His shoulders dropped low as a sigh of relief passed his lips. "Ah yes, the young prince from before. Yes, his situation is unfortunate."
"Is there anything we can do to help him?"
Her question was pure and full of innocence. A part of him hoped his daughter would forever stay that way. "I am afraid there isn't much we can do for him," he said sadly, his hand returning to stroke her face. "I know he hurt you today, but I am sure he will remember the kindness you showed him today."
"What kind of person do you think he will become?"
It was such an innocent question; much too complicated for the average six year old child. However, he knew his daughter was special. She was intelligent, intuitive, and mature beyond her years. "Remember what I said earlier? We all have our monsters to bear. Some bigger than others. Some, too small to be seen. It is up to him how he will let that monster affect the man he will become."
The young child blinked a few times, trying to comprehend her father's words. "There is hope for him?"
"There is hope for everyone, dear. It is not about how one's story begins, or how it ends that makes them a good person. Trying to be a good person is what defines you. That young prince is going to have to eventually make a choice. Be the same as his father, or be something more. There is light in everyone, as well as darkness."
She tilted her head slightly. "Is there darkness in you, father?"
He paused, unsure of how to answer her, but knew he could not lie to her. "Yes, my dear. There is darkness within me," he said sadly. "But, I have nothing to worry about."
"Why is that?"
"Because, my dear daughter," he began, leaning close towards the young child. "I have the brightest star in all of the galaxies by my side."
Those big blue eyes widened once more. "You do?"
"Yes. You, my dear." The king's lips curled into a smile before leaning forward and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Now, off to bed, before your mother kills the both of us."
The child nodded before snuggling beneath the covers. "Good night, father."
"Good night, my dear Serenity."
There was something very satisfying about tending to the horses that Serenity enjoyed. They were such calm, majestic creatures, despite their size and strength. Carefully, she brushed the horse's long, feathery mane. How she wished she could turn into one of them and gallop away without a single fear away from her Earthen prison.
A week's time had passed since that fateful night of the ball and she had not seen the Prince since. Whether it was the grace of the Gods or she had become incredibly skillful at avoiding her problems, she would never know. She despised herself for being unable to forget his warm lips crushing hers, the tightening grip around her trembling shoulders as if she were about to break in his arms and his tender gaze as his ocean blue eyes peered into hers.
She took a graceful step away from the creature, a deep sigh passing her lips. As she bent down to pick up her basket of tools, her breath stilled in her chest when her eyes fell upon the navy blue cloth by her feet that had fallen from her pocket.
The rush of emotions came in waves, each one crashing against her chest like the cruel ocean waters claiming its shipwrecked victim in the night. The blood drained from her face, slowly depriving her face of fleshly colour as her delicate fingers grazed the thin material.
Traces of him haunted her wherever she went; in the marbled halls where he took her hand and lead her to safety. In the star-filled night sky, where his eyes glistened as he gazed into her eyes. In the depths of the burning fires, where the heat of his embrace surrounded her, capturing her heart within his hands. Serenity attempted to occupy herself with mundane tasks to erase him, but the tears burned through her eyes, threatening to be released upon realizing the futility of it all.
It was doomed from the beginning, for the man she cared about cared for another. Despite his pure, unadulterated bliss that he must have been indulging surreptitiously, she hoped he would not forget her.
His dark azure-blue eyes that were filled with betrayal ripped through her dreams at night. He would not forget her, for he would always remember her as the Moonling who had deceived him. That is how he will forever see it as. A betrayal. Would she ever see him again and explain to him the truth? She shook her head. She needed to focus on a means of escape. Kunzite was no longer there to save her, and the more she depended on her mother to retrieve her, the more futile her escape seemed to become.
The sharp clamor of one of the gates opening ripped her from her reverie. Thrusting the material in her pocket, curious eyes followed the source of the sound as she carefully peered over the restless creature's back. Her grip around the brush handle tightened. She would not make the mistake again of lowering her guard. She could not take any more chances, not without... anyone, by her side.
Her eyes fell onto the culprit of the ruckus and her feet immediately shuffled away from the horse. Was it relief or surprise she felt when she saw the raven-haired figure begin to prepare the black stallion for mounting? Even though she was able to avoid him for a glorious week, Serenity knew that any longer was be too good to be true. But what where was the Prince going?
Standing before her in his black and silver armour with his cape fluttering behind him, his ebony hair glistening in the light, Serenity drew in a deep lung of of air, holding it for a second before expelling it from her lips quietly. The blood rushed to her cheeks as she recalled their first encounter; her eyes crawling across his sculpted flesh, igniting a burning sensation within the depths of her belly she would not dare to admit existed. She despised that he was so devastatingly handsome, for it made it all that much harder to remove him from under her skin. It was all his fault. This never would have happened if he had not kissed her!
Inquisitive eyes reluctantly returned to admiring the Prince before her eyebrows furrowed across her forehead. Although the horse was still there, the Prince was no where to be seen.
"Spying is beneath even you, is it not, servant girl?"
His low, baritone voice crawled up her skin as shivers cascaded down her arm. She could feel the heat of her skin rise from the mere presence of her enemy. Her rosy lips pursed into a line across her face before she spun around, her spiteful words as her weapon, ready at hand to attack. "Servant girl? I suppose originality has never been your strongest suit, Prince-" Her voice came off as a strangle in the end, lacking the assertive edge she needed to battle the Earthen Prince when her eyes fell upon his.
The dark, midnight eyes that tightened in her direction were nothing like the tender ones she witnessed the week before. Instead, she was taken back to their first meeting; those frigid, blank, detached eyes that punctured through her. The strong front she often put before the Prince faltered slightly. Did... did something happen to him?
"What is it that you want, maid?" Endymion inquired, not bothering to feign the irritation in his voice. His tone was as unwelcoming and cold as his eyes.
Without breaking his stare, Serenity bent down to put the brush in the bucket of tools by her side. She did not like the way he was looking at her. "Are... are you alright...?" she asked hesitantly, while fidgeting in her spot. "You look... tense."
He looked away from her, his eyes settling on a single spot on the wall. "I do not recall the need to explain my actions to servants."
The anger continued to rise within, her hands settling firmly on her hips. Could he not even look at her? Perhaps it was best he did not. It would make walking away from him and the whole situation that much easier. "Fine. I shall leave you be, your gra-"
"Get on," he commanded, the wind rushing over her as the Prince nonchalantly walked past her.
"Get on what, your grace?"
His dark eyes beckoned her to the horse now in front of him. "You will accompany me into the city."
His words were blunt, but sharp enough to make her irate. He had done the same thing when he asked, no, demanded she attended the ball.
"I will not repeat myself again," he growled.
Her feet firmly planted to the floor, she folded her arms across her chest. The idea of leaving the castle walls was tempting, but was it worth being alone with the Prince in his fowl state? Finding the courage to meet his gaze, a heavy exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "Why is it that you always seem to be ordering me to accompany you to things, Prince?"
Her soft blue eyes roamed upwards tepidly to meet with his. Her heart stilled once more when the antagonizing stare he wore as a mask briefly shattered, revealing a tiny glimpse into those tender eyes she thought she had imagined in her mind. "Because," he began, his face softening for a moment. "For some bizarre reason, you are the only person I can stand to be around right now."
No matter how hard she wanted to deny it at that moment, her heart had swelled within her chest; a small breath of air quietly passing her parted lips. For once, within her many encounters with this confusing man, she had no words.
"Fine," Endymion grumbled, and immediately, the mask returned to his face. "Stay here with the horses-"
"I will accompany you, your grace," she finally spoke, after gaining a small amount of control over her erratic emotions. "However, you must promise nothing like last week shall happen again."
If it were possible, she swore Endymion's eyes had blazed a fiery red, only to be accompanied by a similar tint slowly splashing across his face. Her eyes widened as she witnessed his reaction to her, igniting a similar one across her face as well. Shaking his head, Endymion's fingers rubbed his throbbing temples. "You are a difficult one. Fine. There will be no kissing, even though I had no intention of doing so. Now will you get on already?"
Serenity sighed heavily as she hung her shoulders in defeat. There was no getting out of this. Hopefully, she would walk away from today with more of her dignity than she had the week before.
"How much... further is it?" One hand held on dearly to the jagged rock above her while the other one held onto the edge in front of her.
"Will complaining bring you there quicker?" Endymion grumbled both mockingly and irritatingly from above as he navigated the rocky mountain with ease. "Almost there."
"Whose idea... was it to... climb this absurd... cliff?" She groaned between gasps, pulling herself further up the side of the mountain. "If I had known we would be climbing, I would have-"
The rock she had stepped on without warning slipped out from its crevice. A high-pitch scream passed her lips when she felt her body plunge. Adrenaline took over her body and her hand shot out desperately and grasped the boulder above her, the other also frantically reaching for something to hold. Her foot felt around for another ledge to gain leverage and she pulled herself further up.
Serenity clenched her eyes shut, pressing her trembling body against the rough surface beneath her. Her heart roared within its captivity, threatening to explode at any minute. She choked back a sob that found its way up her throat, thanking the Gods for sparing her life.
Once the imminent danger of falling to her death had subsided, Serenity glowered at the figure above her, who had not stopped. "I could have died!"
He paused for a moment, a curious gaze peeking from behind his shoulder. "A shame you did not," he replied nonchalantly.
Pursing her lips and furrowing her brow, Serenity scoffed as the blood boiled throughout her veins. Why... did she bother with him? He clearly did not harbour a single care for her! She needed to stop feeling sorry for him and just leave him alone. "One of these days, Prince, you are going to regret speaking to me that wa-"
Suddenly, the ledge she reached for slipped once more through her grasp. Her blood chilling scream echoed throughout the land when she felt her body fall again, but this time, she did not have enough time to grab a hold of anything. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched helplessly as the edge of the mountain drew further and further away from her.
Her body came to a sudden halt when she felt something grab hold of her hand. Serenity quickly looked up, and stared at the Prince in utter disbelief as he hovered above her, one hand gripping onto a jutted edge, the other wrapped around hers. Her eyes grew wide as the tears uncontrollably began to fall from her glistening eyes. "P-Prince," she cried, never more thankful to see him than that moment.
"Gods, you are heavy," Endymion groaned, his breath ragged as he glared down at her.
Serenity couldn't even feel the humiliation from his words. "Please, do not let me die, Prince," she begged.
"You will not die before I exact my revenge on you, servant girl." With all his strength, Endymion pulled her over the edge. Once she was able to hold onto the flat surface with her arms, the Prince pulled her up and over by her underarms, before he went tumbling backwards, landing on his behind with her in tow.
As the dust settled around them, Endymion examined the shaking girl in his arms with concerned eyes. In an instant, Serenity's curled fists began their attack on his chest, pounding one after the other on his armour, each time the clang of the metal echoing through the trees.
He held her wrists in his hand, holding tightly even when she still tried to hit him. "What has gotten into you?" Endymion searched for her face that she desperately tried to hide from him.
"I almost died you... you... you...!" She cried, continuing to pound away at him. It did not take long for Endymion to over power her before he placed her bent arms in between their chests. He did not need to see her face, for the sound of her chokes and sobs were enough for him to know he had done wrong. He wrapped his arms around her trembling form, pulling her tiny body closer to his. "I'm sorry," he whispered regrettably in her ear, while his hand traced her spine up and down her back.
The tears burned through her eyes as his warmth enveloped her once more. She stared with wide eyes at the metal armour before her in disbelief before the sobs wrecked through her body. He did not say a word as she cried everything she had into his arms, instead offering her gentle hushes and the soft brush of his lips on the top of her head.
Her eyes stared listlessly at the crackling fire before her as the heat from both the fire and the cape wrapped around her settled her nerves. The Prince returned with branches and pieces of wood which he threw immediately in the fire. "That should suffice," he commented, eyes darting in her direction.
His attempt at small talk went unnoticed. Serenity pulled her knees closer to her body, eyes focused on the orange and red in front of her, which blurred within the canvas of her tears.
Endymion frowned, his eyes narrowing at the blonde. She had not spoken to him since they arrived at the top. He knew he was at fault; it was a rare occurrence to him, but when it happened, Endymion was not the kind to waste time agonizing over it. He said his apologies; what else was left for him to say? "You are going to have to speak to me eventually, maid."
Her silence was agonizing. His treatment of her was harsh—no, it always had been, but it was certainly easier that way than dealing with the possibility of this insatiable hunger that rumbled in the pits of his stomach for this bloody, aggravating woman.
Shaking his head, Endymion ran a hand through his ebony hair. He did not have time to think about that possibility. Despite what his father thought, he had a kingdom to look after, and a war to win. He would not accomplish anything if he was chasing after an infuriating servant girl.
Just as he was about to leave, he stopped in his tracks when Serenity finally lifted her head up from her knees. Rising to her feet, she casually dusted the dirt off the back of her cape. "I certainly hope what you are about to show me is worth me almost losing my life."
He would not dare show her the relief that exploded in his chest. Clearing his throat, Endymion held out his hand. "My cape."
Suspicious and narrowed eyes flew in his direction. "I'm cold."
"We will stay near the fire-"
"No," her tone sharper than he had ever heard. She knew her defiance was more than abnormally defiant of a servant, but her rage had not yet fully subsided. At this point, nights in the dungeon appeared to be more favourable than with him.
Endymion closed the distance between them before wrapping his hands around the smooth material. "Why is it that you think my orders can be questioned, maid?"
He tugged the material towards him, but her grip was tight. "Take your hands off, Prince!"
"This is my cape, wench!"
"You almost killed me! At the very least, I deserve this!"
"What you deserve is a night in the dungeons, you ungrateful witch-"
The cape's demise soon arrived as the sound of the cloth ripping reverberated through the woods, the two of them stumbling backwards with half of the black fabric in both of their hands.
Endymion's eyes widened as he stared at the material in his hands, his mouth dropping. "I've had this since my adolescence."
"It can be replaced, Prince."
"The wars and battles I won with this around me..."
"Surely, you are not saddened over the loss of a cape..."
"The blood, sweat and tears of my enemies are soaked in its fibres. You cannot be suggesting that this is replaceable, ma-"
The sound of her soft laughter echoed throughout the lands as Endymion words came to a halt. He stopped to marvel at her reaction, observing her curiously. Her face exploded into a smile as the melodic and infectious sounds of her laughter penetrated every part of him. The white rage that consumed him only a few moments ago had dispersed as he watched her with entranced eyes, unable to pull himself away from the siren's alluring song.
The soothing melody came to an end, leaving the Princess in tears. After wiping a drop from the corner of her eye, her lips curled into a rueful smile. "I suppose that will make us even, Prince."
Her voice shook him out of his trance. What was he angry about, again?
The Prince lead her towards an edge of the mountain, not too far from the fire. The remnants of the cape were used as seats before Endymion extended his hand to her, offering his assistance this time to her. Serenity turned her gaze away from his hand, not quite yet ready to forgive him and sat herself down. His eyes grew narrow before he sat down next to her, sighing with frustration.
Serenity's breath came to a standstill as her eyes drank in the sights laid before her. Nothing could be seen in all directions except the endless, ocean blue waters reflecting the light of the setting sun, making it appear as if the water was on fire. Such a fiery, blaze of reds, mixed with the blurry shades of blue and green; it was breathtakingly beautiful. She had never seen anything like it before on the Moon. Her fingers slowly touched the lips of her open mouth, unsure if what she was seeing was real, or if it was merely just a beautiful, life-sized painting, like the ones she had seen in her father's chambers. "It's... beautiful," she finally breathed.
Endymion studied her reactions carefully. Her eyes lit up light a child, as if this were her first time seeing a sunset. He dismissed that thought from his mind and propped up a leg, while the other dangled over the edge of the cliff. "I used to come here as a child," he explained, resting his elbow on his knee. "When I needed time away from the castle."
"What were you running from?" Her head tilted to the side. Serenity leaned in closer, pausing to examine his face. The orange light from the sun contrasted his midnight blue eyes, almost like the waters they were staring at. It was those eyes that had lured her to follow him in the first place. "Was it from the King?" she found herself asking.
He remained silent, his eyes unwilling to move from the mesmerizing light. "Do not ask about things you cannot understand." He snapped, not bothering to look at her.
She glared at him as the anger began to flare up once more within her belly. "Then why are we here, Prince? Why am I here? You could have chosen any woman to your liking. Why did you choose someone who you despise?"
Serenity was met again with a dreadful silence, just when she was on the precipice of forgiving him. The familiar welling of her tears burned in the corners of her eyes, leaving her to wonder why they were being summoned for him of all people. Frowning, she looked away hurriedly. "If you wish not to speak with me, then I do not see the point of bringing me-"
"You make it easy," Endymion finally spoke up, but still not turning to look at her. "Easy to forget about... everything."
The blood rushed to her cheeks once again, her pulse quickening beneath her skin. She bit her lip, wondering why her body reacted so strangely to his words.
"As annoyingly defiant, loud and bothersome you may be," he continued, before finally turning to look at her with his alluring eyes. "I suppose.. I do not truly despise you."
Like the wings of a butterfly, her eyes blinked rapidly, unable to fully comprehend the extent of his words. Serenity slowly turned her head to face him, her eyes cautiously meeting with his. "So, my purpose is to entertain the great Prince Endymion?"
"Is that not everyone's purpose?" The corner of Endymion's grinned, his eyes flickering with a playfulness that made her chest tighten. "Since the night of the ball, I have come to realize that perhaps you are not as annoying as I once thought you were." His smirk disappearing, Endymion's eyes remained firmly on hers.
She saw something that had changed in his eyes, a flicker of that elusive warmth mixed with something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. Had she known at that moment it had been desire, she probably would have stood up and returned to the castle on her own.
Her eyes betrayed her and fell to his lips, an effortless breath escaping as the memory of their sudden kiss played through her mind. Her hands fidgeted with the material of her skirt in her lap, her mind swimming with the images of his lips on hers. She turned away, flustered. When did it become so difficult to be around him?
"Why were you running from the King, your grace?" Serenity knew she was charting on dangerous territory talking about his father, but perhaps anything was better than dealing with that fluttering in her stomach.
Endymion pondered her question for a moment, his face hardening as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You wouldn't be able to understand the complexities between a king and his son, servant girl."
Serenity rested her hand in the palm of her hand, a brief smile flashing on her face. "Try me, Prince."
Endymion had just lost his third match against Nephrite when his father and two guards of the watch approached the four. As he placed his sword in its sheath, Endymion sighed heavily. He was in no mood to deal with his father.
"Your grace," Nephrite, Jaedite and Zoicite all greeted in unison.
The King appeared restless. "Where is Kunzite?" he demanded brusquely.
"I have not seen him since the night of the ball, your grace," Nephrite spoke, eyebrows drawing across his eyebrows upon realizing his companion's disappearance.
"He sailed for the East last night to gather intelligence concerning the Moon Kingdom," Endymion explained, running a hand through his hair as nonchalantly as possible.
"Under whose authority?" the King asked, his eyes narrowing.
"He went on his own, to further serve you, father. He wished not to trouble you and that he would be back as soon as possible." Endymion held his father's suspicious gaze for a moment, knowing that any break in contact, and he would be able to see through his lies. Eventually, the King's stern, cold face softened; a face that was never made for him.
"Now there is a soldier you can be proud of. Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from him, boy." The King's words wounded him, but Endymion had years of practice learning how to conceal his pain from his father. Or perhaps it was that his father became incredibly skilled at claiming ignorance to his son's emotional well-being.
Endymion continued to glare at his father but remained silent. At least he believed his lie, for now. Kunzite could do no wrong in his father's eyes. "Inform me the minute he returns. As delighted as I am that he is taking matters of the kingdom into his own hands, I need my best soldier by my side."
He was unable to hide the flinch at his temple. Best soldier? Kunzite's skill was indeed beyond his, but the amount of wars and battles he had won for his father... his clenched fist trembled at his side, nails threatening to draw blood.
"Have we been able to locate the Moon Princess, your grace?" Zoicite asked.
"No sign of the wench yet, however, I am starting to believe this is some attempt on the Queen's part to keep us occupied. Nephrite, Jaedite, Zoicite; Grab a few of your best men. There has been talk of a group of rebels in the south that I want you to take care of."
The three nodded, bowing respectfully. "Yes, your grace."
"Shall I lead the brigade, father?"
The King turned to his son, his eyes grew narrow in his direction."Did I mention your name, boy? No, you are to remain here in case that Moonling decides to make her presence known."
He clenched his jaw. "Yes, father."
"And how has that maid been? Serena, is her name? Is she keeping you in line?"
Jaedite's lips curled into a smirk before glancing over at his Prince. "You could say that," he teased, the others smirking in response.
They all were recipients of Endymion's glare. Jaedite would pay for that comment later.
"What happened?"
"Nothing that should concern you," Endymion grumbled.
"Do not tell me that black eye you had was from her. My, what a strong son I have raised." The three could not help but chuckle, but were soon silenced by Endymion's glare. Did his father find it absolutely necessary to demean him in front of his men?
"You raised me? Quite a bold statement even for you, father."
The King's face did not react to his retort. Endymion always wondered if his father was even capable of feeling emotions anymore.
"Despite your insolence, I cannot blame you for wanting her hands on you, boy. She is quite an extraordinary creature. Perhaps I should send for her to my chambers tonight." The King's darkened eyes remained fixated on the Prince, carefully waiting for his reaction.
Endymion's fist clenched and unclenched at his side, as the white, hot fury of rage rumbled within him, the hand shaking around the hilt of his sword. "Do not touch her," he threatened through his bared teeth, using all his strength not to cut his lips off for his crass words.
"Have you forgotten who you are talking to, boy?" The King's voice exploded with fire as he took a step forward. "If I want to fuck your whore of a maid, I will do so."
Any rationality that had lingered in his mind went out the window, and just as he was about to pull out his sword, Nephrite's hand covered his, his eyes giving him a disapproving look.
"Although, I suppose I should refrain from doing so. You could use a strong, womanly figure in your life, considering you tend to drive all of them away."
Endymion had had enough. He drew in a sharp breath to clear his head, fearing he would slice off his own father's. He threw his sword to the ground for the last time that day and stormed off into the distance.
"He blames me for it," he found himself finally saying out loud.
"Blames you for what?"
"Killing my mother."
Even though his words horrified her, the Prince's face did not waver. Her eyes brimmed with the tears she had been holding back, the vision of the stoic Prince becoming a blur of colours. Is that what he truly believed? He killed his own mother?
"How do you know the King blames you?" she asked without thinking.
"He spent his life reminding me what I had taken from him. I would probably do the same if I were him."
If she had been told her entire life she was a monster, would she believe she were one? "It is not your fault, Prince. Her death. You are not to blame."
He had only seen what his mother looked like from paintings and what others had told him about her. The inhabitants of the castle had told him she had been a kind, loving queen, and he was the one that ended her. Only monsters kill kind, loving people. Only monsters hurt the ones they love.
"There may have been a point in time that I believed that. The truth of the matter is, she is dead because of me."
She peered into his eyes, suddenly drawing back from what she saw. Those eyes she hated returned. She wished he would not look at her with those eyes. Those eyes, like his words, devoid of any kind of emotion.
"She did not die because of you. You did not kill your mother." Her voice trembled with each word.
If he had not been paying attention, her words would have actually made him feel something he had not felt in a long time. "For once, maid, I appreciate your words. However, it is too late to change anything now."
"It is never too late to change anything."
"You of all people understand the evils I am capable of, maid. Do not speak to me as if every part of you does not despise me."
Serenity opened her mouth to speak, but the words would not come. He was right; she was horrible to her. There was no changing that. Her eyes darted back and forth across his face as she searched throughout her mind and heart for a response.
"I do not hate you, your grace." She found herself saying.
"I must applaud the writer who has been feeding you these pretty lies-"
"I admit, our first meeting, you were horrible, cruel, and quite insufferable. Actually, the more I think about it, the meeting after that as well... and the meeting after that... and I suppose today, you almost had me killed..."
Endymion's eyes narrowed at her. "Where are you going with this, maid?"
"Your reputation and actions did not paint you in a favourable light. I thought you were a heartless monster incapable of feeling any kind of sympathy for others. I was convinced I knew everything about you. But, I saw how you care for your soldiers. I can see it when you talk to them." Her eyes traveled down to his, their eyes meeting as she held his stare as she finally found the courage to tell him what had been on her mind for days.
"The night of the ball, when you sent Kunzite away, I knew then, you truly cared for him. You allowed him happiness, despite the ramifications it may have for the kingdom." Her lips slowly curled into a gentle smile, as the tears she had willed herself never to release before him streamed down her face, one after the other. "We all have darkness and light within us, Prince. Despite your flaws, which are many, you are not a monster. A monster cannot be capable of love. If the Queen were alive now, I am sure she would be proud to know you."
He slowly turned to face her, as a bewildered look fell over his features; his eyes widening at the sight of the tears sliding down her face. His heart swelled within his chest. She shed tears for him? After all he had done to her? No matter how many walls he had spent years building, she always somehow managed to push through. And for some reason, as he delicately wiped the tears from her face with the back of his finger, a part of him was starting to feel at peace with that.
His eyes grew wide from his sudden realization. No, he would not allow another woman to sink their talons into him. He would not allow another the chance to emotionally shatter him.
His hand recoiled from her face as if her tears had burned his skin, much to her confusion. "If you ever tell anyone what I told you today, I will throw you in the dungeons." he threatened as he stood from his seat.
Serenity watched as he began to walk away from her, the wind whipping through her like an icy chill. The tears continued to fall from her lashes. Her stomach tightened at the jarring bleakness of his voice. What if she was wrong? What if the Prince was as lost to her as she was?
Without bothering to look back, Endymion paused in his steps. "But, I will not forget the kindness you have shown me today." he mumbled, almost inaudibly.
Serenity stared at him incredulously. "Are... are you trying to say 'thank you', your grace?"
Endymion scoffed. "Do not be so arrogant, maid."
Serenity gave him once last fleeting glance as he walked away before her lips curled into a smile. She would not dare.
As the two began to prepare for their journey home, Serenity winced when she felt something wet drop on her cheek. Her eyes squinted into the sky, gasping when she saw large, dark, ominous rain clouds slowly looming in over them.
Without warning, they were suddenly doused in the heavy rain. Quickly, the two scrambled to their feet, covering their heads with their hands in a futile attempt to protect themselves from the rain. In just a matter of seconds, she could feel her clothes were already soaked. "We must find cover!" she exclaimed, not wanting to be under the water any longer.
Endymion nodded, turning his head to see where they could go. "Follow me!" he ordered, before grabbing her wrist in his and pulling her into the forest of trees behind them.
Her heart fluttered yet again when he grabbed her wrist in his hands as she followed him helplessly between the trees. Why did her heart always beat erratically when he did that?
The tall Prince lead her towards a large, grassy rock, where the top of it protruded out enough that it could cover them from the rain. He quickly pulled the two beneath it before resting against the boulder to catch his breath. Serenity bent over, resting her hands on her knees as she gasped for air. "Are... you alright?" Endymion asked in between breaths. She nodded, falling to her knees and leaning against the stony surface behind her. "I have not had that much fun in a long time!" he exclaimed, his head leaning back and a smile slowly forming on his lips.
"That was fun for you, Prince?" Serenity's head shot up to gawk at the Prince in disbelief, but halted when she saw his childlike smile. It wasn't until that moment she realized she had never seen him truly smile before. She turned away the moment her stomach began to quiver uncontrollably. She proceeded to ring the water out of her hair, hoping that feeling in her stomach would cease.
Endymion peered out into the sky before taking a deep breath. "We shall take cover until the rain dies down. It would be too dangerous to climb down now." His throat went dry as he watched her scrunch the material of her skirt to squeeze out the water, unknowingly revealing the a portion of the creamy skin of her thigh. Clearing his throat, Endymion's eyes quickly darted away before clenching his jaw in frustration.
Serenity frowned, knowing her face must have been covered in water droplets. Feeling around her skirt for her pocket, Serenity pulled out the material that was inside.
The Prince briefly glanced back, wondering why she had become so silent. His eyes loomed in on the navy blue cloth in her hand, his jaw suddenly aching from clenching his jaw too hard. "That cloth," he began, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling of his stomach hardening. "You still carry it around?"
Serenity scrambled to put the cloth back in her pocket. "W-what do you mean?"
"Kunzite's handkerchief," Endymion explained, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice. "He is gone. Why do you still carry it with you?"
Wiping away the bangs from her eyes, Serenity fumbled nervously with the material of her skirt. Perhaps a part of her thought as long as she carried it around, there would be a small, miniscule chance he would return to retrieve it from her. That maybe, as long she had it with her, she would be safe, like he made her feel when he was here. Maybe, as long as she had it, he would never forget about her...
"It's useful, is it not?" Serenity lied, pulling her knees to her chest.
Endymion sighed heavily, before taking a seat next to her on the ground. "The night of the ball," he began, propping his knee up once more to rest on it. "When you fell to your knees, begging me to let him go... I thought, you were absolutely pathetic. However, I understand now, it was because you cared for him. More than I thought possible," Endymion muttered bitterly before he drew in a breath through his clenched teeth.
Serenity's eyes widened. "I just wanted him to be happy-"
"It is pointless to care for him." His stern expression softened when he saw her big, bright orbs widen brightly. "You know he loves another."
The Princess slowly lowered her head, averting her eyes away from the Prince. Pressing a fist to her trembling lips, Serenity bit down on her bottom lip to stop the tears from falling from her eyes. "I am well aware of that, your grace. However, Kunzite was very kind to me since the day I arrived. He was my only companion, and all I want for him is to be happy."
Endymion sat in silence for a brief moment. He finally understood why she had been so drawn to his general. She was all alone in the castle, and he was all she had. "Kunzite... always has to be ahead of me one way or another," he mumbled to himself, resting his arm forward on his knee.
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since we were young, Kunzite had always excelled in everything, whether it was in fighting, studies, my father..." Endymion glanced briefly in her direction. "...amongst other things. My father clearly favoured him above everyone else. He was the son he never had." His voice was devoid of any snark or arrogance that she was so used to hearing.
"However, as much as I want to despise Kunzite, I am unable to," the Prince admitted, before drawing out a long and low sigh. "He was always by my side, ever since I can remember. He is the one person I would trust with my life."
His ocean blue eyes were never as bright as they were now talking about his friend. Without realizing it, Serenity leaned closer to the Prince, wanting to hear more of their past. "He is like a brother to you, is he not?"
He looked at her as if she had said something incredibly stupid. "He is my brother. Perhaps not by blood, but by a stronger bond. I know he would never betray nor abandon me."
Abandon? There was something different in his eyes that she had seen before, similar to the look on his face when he had been talking about the mysterious woman and the ribbon. "Whose room was that, Prince?"
"Whose room?"
"The room with the ribbon. Who did it belong to?" She knew she was treading on dangerous territory, but she needed to know. Who was able to wrap themselves so tightly around the Prince that he would keep an entire room dedicated to her? "It was someone important to you, was it not?"
He was unwavering for what felt like an eternity, before Endymion decided to speak. "She... was someone I cared about, a long time ago." His eyes closed shut, hoping to be able to remember her soft skin and gentle smile that he felt he was slowly forgetting. He opened his eyes, and just like the day she left, the red haired woman of his dreams disappeared. "And one day, she left, without a single word."
A sad smile formed across her lips. "Do you miss her, Prince?"
His eyes darkened and his expression slowly tightened, before pushing himself off the ground onto his feet. "I never want to see her again," he grumbled bitterly, walking away as far as he could while still being covered by the rain. Why was he telling her all of this?
Silence fell over them with only the sound of the rain pattering against the ground. Perhaps she was being too nosy. Deciding to change the topic all together, Serenity also stood up from her seat. "Has... Kunzite sent any word to you since...?" she asked as casually as she could, while linking her fingers together before stretching them in front of her.
The dark-haired Prince scoffed at her feeble attempt to shift the topic. Nevertheless, he would rather talk about Kunzite than her. Shaking his head, Endymion glanced over his shoulder at her. "No, and I am not sure how long I can continue to lie to my father. However, Kunzite has always watched over me, so it is time I return the favour."
Her lips slowly curled into a smile as she stood next to him. "You are fortunate to have him, your grace. And... in some strange and bizarre way, he is fortunate to have you."
Endymion watched her with curious eyes. Her words and carefree and bright smile did all sorts of interesting things to his heart, and without any control over his actions, he could not help but smile as well.
For the second time that day, Serenity found herself blushing from his boyish smile. Looking away, Serenity brushed another piece of hair behind her ear. "He cares for you, Prince, and wishes only for your happiness."
He turned to face her, eyes searching for hers as she slowly turned to face him as well. "You care for him as well," Endymion said with all seriousness while holding her gaze.
Serenity blinked rapidly, eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a bird. "This again?" She asked disparagingly, before turning away from him completely. "Perhaps... there were a small part of me that... cared for him. He is with Venus, is he not? He loves her." The last sentence almost came out as a strangled noise. She wrapped her arms around herself, sighing deeply as she returned to her seat against the boulder.
He watched her embrace herself and resisted the urge to hold her as well. Hands clenching at his side, Endymion stepped towards her, also returning to his seat beside her. "Even if there is a small part of you that truly loves him... he will fall for you. Undoubtedly."
Eyes wide, her body immediately tensed from his presence. Her heart quickened in her chest as her lips parted, unsure of what to say to him. Ever so slowly, Serenity turned around to face him, shyly looking at him from beneath her lashes.
His hand was the first to move, finding its place beneath her chin, tilting her head up with a gentle push of his curved fingers. Endymion searched her eyes once more, but for some reason she was unable to meet his. Ever so delicately, he tugged the trembling maid closer to his face, his lips aching to touch hers. Serenity watched helplessly as he drew closer, her thundering heartbeat deafening in her ears. "You need not concern yourself with my matters, Prince," she said as firmly as she could, eyes briefly meeting his for a brief second before closing shut.
Endymion blinked, his heart stopping in his chest and his movements stilled for what felt like an eternity. She was right. This should not matter to him at all. Besides the fact that Kunzite was his guard, and she was a servant, Kunzite was free to pursue whoever he deemed worthy, regardless of class.
Yet, there he was; the image of her and his guard together consuming him like a raging fire. The mere idea of them made him sick to his stomach. Gods, what was wrong with him? There was no doubt he wanted her, but why did he want her all to himself? Why did the mere idea of her and his guard make his blood boil?
Releasing her chin, they stared silently into the distance, watching the rain continue to soak everything in its path. It did not take long for her to succumb to the alluring draw of exhaustion and darkness. Endymion stiffened when her head rested gently on his shoulder, but he did not push her away. He rested his head against the top of hers, slowly closing his eyes and allowing the darkness to overcome him.
"You didn't have to accompany me to my room, your grace." Her fingers grazed the handle of the door as she looked over her shoulder at the Prince, who hadn't said a word during the entire trip back. They awoke in the middle of the night. The cold had become too much for them, as Serenity was surprised to find herself in the Prince's lap with his arms draped around her shivering form. They scrambled away from each other, both equally flustered and embarrassed by their intimate position.
"Do not be mistaken; it was simply on my way." His arms folded across his chest, shoulders flexed back in a feeble attempt to appear nonchalant.
Frowning, Serenity shook her head as she opened the door to her room. Endymion shot another glance through the corner of his eye, watching her as she walked through the door. Immediately, his hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her to stop moments before she stepped through. "What?" she asked, frustration visible in her voice. It had been a long and very confusing day, and she was exhausted.
Pulling her hand towards him, Endymion turned her hand palm side up and nonchalantly as possible, he placed an object in her hand. "A thank you, for accompanying me today," he explained, before releasing her hand from his.
In the midst of her palm was a golden rose pin that sparkled beneath the light. Serenity stared at the object in her hands while her mouth slightly parted. "What... when did you...?"
"While we were in the market," Endymion explained. "You were busy looking at ridiculous trinkets."
Her big, doe eyes blinked rapidly, trying to understand his intentions. "Why did you...?"
"I am not a man to have a debt held over my head, although I suppose in actuality, it is you who should be thankful." He shot her another quick glance, unamused by her bewildered reaction. "What?" he demanded.
"I just..." She blinked again, making sure that what she was seeing was real. "I am not used to you being so... thoughtful." Even just saying the word felt strange to her. Who was this man in front of her?
"It is simply just a gesture of good will." He waved her off with his hand, trying his best to feign an apathetic appearance. "However, if I find out that you've lost it, I will kill you," he threatened, eyes narrowing as he took a step forward towards her.
Serenity's lips pressed into a line while curling her fist around the pin. Biting the inside of her cheek, Serenity shoved her fist into his hands, intending to drop the object back into his hands. "Then, I wish not to have it, Prince."
His mouth dropped open, but words were unable to form. "You dare refuse a gift from your Prince?!" Holding her hands in his, he pushed it back while trying to ignore the electric jolt that ran through his body from her touch.
"Not if it is accompanied with a death threat!"
"You are an absolutely ungrateful, insufferable woman!" he growled through bared teeth.
"Ungrateful?! Insufferable?!" she shrieked, her mouth dropping aghast.
"Yes, you are!"
"Perhaps that is because you have not had the unfortunate circumstance of spending a day with yourself!"
"It cannot be worse than being with a rude, insufferable, barbaric simpleton from the east, who does not know a thing or two about manners!"
Serenity seethed with anger, clenching her fists so hard, her knuckles began to turn white. "You were the one who asked me to accompany you today! If I am so insufferable to you, why do you always insist on being in my company?"
Endymion blinked, his heart stalling again for a few moments. He watched her chest rise up and down as she strove to catch her breath and that pouty lip tremble even though she desperately tried to appear calm and collected in front of him. His throat thickened and his heart quickened in his chest as he too felt short out of breath. Endymion's eyes stared deeply into hers as his hands slowly and gently held her face in his hands.
The blonde's narrowed eyes immediately softened as her face suddenly relaxed. That trembling lip stopped as her lips parted slightly; her blue, doe eyes searching for any kind of answer to his actions in his eyes. Serenity swallowed when her heart began to flutter once more from his piercing gaze, and without warning, Endymion closed his eyes and pulled her face towards him, crushing his lips on hers.
Serenity's eyes widened when their lips touched, a gasp escaping as his tongue gently glided over her lips. Her hands instinctively reached for his to try and pull him off, but Endymion had already begun to to work his magic. Her hands stayed hesitantly on top of his, trying to debate whether or not to pull them off while her mind was swimming in the pleasure from his kiss.
Endymion moved slowly against her lips, groaning in pleasure when she decided to allow him to kiss her. Serenity trembled beneath his grasp, holding on desperately to his hands, afraid that her legs would give out beneath her. He held on tightly to his self-control and kept his hands on her neck, but desperately he wanted to press her against the wall and hear that delectable moan he loved.
Instead, Endymion pulled away slightly, lips almost touching but not quite, and he could hear Serenity gasp for air the moment they parted. Her eyes slowly fluttered open as she stared straight into his eyes, both searching for something in each other they couldn't quite explain. She wanted to say something- anything, but she couldn't think straight. The Prince had kissed her once more, and for the fourth time, she didn't stop it.
She could not stop him even if she had tried when he claimed her lips once more, pushing her gently past the door and into her room, closing it behind him. Her heart tensed when his tongue passed her lips, exploring the wet and soft boundaries of her mouth. His hands skimmed the curves of her body to her hips, grasping at the flesh behind her and pressing her against him. His groan was guttural as he felt every shiver, every sigh, and heard every sound she made as caressed her virginal flesh. His arousal pressed against her, giving her every indication, erasing any doubts she may or may not have had that he wanted her.
Her gasp had been his undoing as she clung to his neck, seeking more of that glorious friction. They somehow found their way to the bed in between his powerful kisses. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Serenity knew she had to put an end to this, but her mind was clouded in the passion and consumed by the pleasure his body brought her.
He had her in his arms, his legs settled between hers as she wrapped a leg around his waist, driving him further into him. A delectable cry left her lips as she felt his arousal rub delicately against her core, driving up and down the sensitive bundle of nerves. Her eyes fluttered open when he pulled away from her lips. Endymion's dark eyes flickered with a desperation and carnal hunger she had not seen, or perhaps didn't truly notice until then. "Serena," he groaned, taking her lips once more within his.
His right hand held the back of her neck, keeping her grounded against his onslaught of kisses. His left hand glided down her chest, settling on her breast, each pinch and gentle tug evoking that delectable moan from Serenity's lips. She tasted like honey, their sweet breaths mixing as he ground his hips faster against her.
There was nothing virginal about the way her body reacted to him. Perhaps she has had lovers before. "P-Prince...!" Her cries only made him lust for her more, as he watched her body writhe and squirm beneath his. She would forever be the undoing of him.
He was bursting at that point as he released himself from his constraints. Poised at her entrance, Endymion was about to drive into her, finally freeing her of her innocence, before Serenity's eyes widened in horror as she shook her head. "P-prince, I-I-"
Her words would not come out, but Endymion knew at this point, she was asking the impossible of him. Was she truly a virgin? Why would it matter if her virginity were not in tact? More importantly, why did it matter that he cared? It took all of his strength not to plunge into her heat as he groaned through bared teeth and reluctantly pulled out of her tempting warmth.
Serenity exhaled deeply, her innocence still intact, but her body still felt like it was going to burst. "P-please," she begged, not quite sure what she was begging for. She was glad to still have her virginity, but her body begged for any kind of release. Endymion hung his head in defeat before leaning in to kiss her once more. Even in the throes of passion, she still manage to drive him utterly insane.
He collapsed on the other side of the bed, spent from his exertions. Serenity laid in silence, the last of the pleasure fading, her muddled mind no longer fuzzy, but running with thought after thought, regret after regret as the reality of the situation dawned upon her. She had almost, if not practically given herself to the Prince, and as much as she wanted to deny it, a part of her continued to crave for his touch. Her body turned away in shame from the Prince as the tears returned, falling from her face as she shielded herself from his gaze.
Endymion looked to the side, seeing her curl into herself, before his strong arms eased her worries as they pulled her into a warm embrace. His hand gently grazed down the side of her body, the corners of his lips curling into a smug smile. He brushed aside the blonde curls which stuck to her heated face and the tears that streamed down her face. "I am impressed. Most women usually offer their virginity to me on a silver platter." He would be lying if he said he were not offended by her refusal, but it made the challenge all the more exciting.
His crass words always had a way of making her blood rise. How did she let her touch him with that mouth? She pushed him away before she sat up. "I am not like most women, your grace."
"Oh, I am well aware of that fact. I don't normally try to bed my servant girls."
He rose next to her as his hand began to stroke her face with the back of his finger, his eyes watching her every move observantly. Her breath stilled as her eyes met with his. "I do not love you," she said suddenly.
Endymion stopped, his eyes widening briefly, before his hand dropped to her lap. "I never said I loved you either."
"This will not happen again," she spoke, even though he started to trace his finger along the side of her leg, venturing to the midst of her inner thigh.
"Oh?" he asked with an amused tone, smirking as her legs began to spread willingly for him. "And why not, servant girl?"
"B-because..." Her eyes avoided his, mortified that she was unable to stop him even then. "I..." She could not let him do this to her again, for many, many reasons; ones she couldn't quite recall at the moment. Her hand grasped around his wrist, ready to pull him away from her.
But that pesky mind of hers slipped out the window once more. He was captivated by her breathless moans as she clenched her eyes, trying so desperately to shut him out. In seconds, she was coming apart against his hand, her fingers digging into his arms as she moaned his name.
Her body settled as he placed a soft kiss on the furrowed part of her brow. "Rest your eyes, maid. We can argue in the morning," he whispered before pulling her once more into his arms.
Serenity awoke that morning to the sunlight beaming through her window alone as she stared in silence at the rose pin that laid gently on the pillow.