Title: Beautifully Terrifying

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Notes: I have some bad news. I'm leaving tomorrow for a short vacation and I won't be able to update while I'm up there. That means it might be two weeks before my next chapter. But don't get to upset because you have this chapter to tide you over until then. Sorry I couldn't get it out on friday, but late is better than never!


Serenity couldn't look away from him. He was so beautiful in that moment, radiating with power. His presence was cold, as cold could ever be imagined, and his eyes were terrifying. Time seemed to stop.

Serenity tried to breath.

"I told you to stay inside," he said darkly. His voice resonated through her.

Serenity couldn't speak. She could hardly move. The world seemed frozen.

"You could have died."

She saw the muscles in his jaw flex as he clenched them.

The ground shook with his anger.

"I will not hide while they're in danger," she said in a breathless voice.

He seemed to growl through the night in frustration, and turned to the great beast at the front gate and screamed into the night.

"GET OFF MY LAND!"

His voice echoed over everything, and the world trembled in fear.

The beast shrank back into the shadows.

The dead carcasses were sucked back into the night.

Serenity saw the look of panic in the four guards who where standing watching in awe as Endymion screamed into the night. Pain ripped through his eyes, and he shuddered with effort. It felt as if a storm had swooped in, surprising them with its terror. The shadows clouded in on him.

Artemis grabbed her quickly, and before she could react she was running towards the manor with Kunzite yelling at them to hide.

Power surged around her.

The ground seemed to uproot itself under them, tripping them.

Endymion screamed again in anger and the noise was deafening.

Debris whipped dangerous by them.

Andrew held the front doors of the manor open and screamed at them to hurry.

The wind nearly blew them down.

She heard Endymion cry out in pain.

Fear raced through her.

Artemis all but threw her into the manor, and spun around to pull the doors closed behind them as something slammed against them, shaking them dangerously hard.

The sound of a storm crashing against the house shook the entire room. Wind and debris whipped around, hitting the door and windows.

Serenity could hear her own ragged breathing come out in gasps.

The whole village huddled together, watching the trembling doors. Luna was by her side in a second, wrapping her arms around her tightly. Artemis hurried over to them, protecting them from something they could never imagine as the storm outside raged. Serenity could heard his voice still, screaming in pain, screaming into the night. The sound was terrifying.

And then everything just stopped.

All there was, was silence.

Even the air went still.

Nobody moved.

Serenity found herself breathing hard, as if she had just run a great distance. Her heart thundered in her chest and she couldn't get the image of him standing there out of her mind. His eyes dug into her, accusing her and angry. The feeling of him standing there clung to her.

"What's happening?" Luna asked in a soft voice.

Serenity didn't know how to answer.

"As soon as the sun comes up, we have to get out of here," Artemis said with fear in his voice. "It's not safe anymore."

"But where would we go?" Andrew asked. "Surely if we……"

"No," Artemis said firmly. "It's no longer safe. We have to make it somewhere before the sun sets, that's our only chance."

"Artemis, we can't," Luna said.

He looked at her with pleading eyes. "You don't know what he is."

Luna took looked at him with wide eyes.

"But he saved me," Serenity said in a whisper.

"Serenity," Artemis moved in front of her. "I know you have to many questions now to be able to trust me properly, but he's not what you think."

"He is," Serenity tried to argue. "You don't know him."

"He's dangerous."

"He doesn't have to be."

"Serenity please, I need to keep you safe."

"He chased those things away. We might not have made it through the night."

"He almost killed us all in the process."

Serenity felt tears springing to her eyes. "He won't hurt us, not purposely."

Luna stepped between them. "Stop this, now," she said firmly. "You're not achieving anything by arguing like this right now. We're here and we're alive, that's all you should think about. When the morning comes we'll look at the damage and agree on a course of action."

"Luna, we need…." Artemis started.

"No, Artemis," she said cutting him off and startling everyone. "We're going to talk to this mans guards and find out what's going on. We can't leave until it's safe for all of us to go home."

Serenity felt guilt wash over her at the hurt look in his eyes. Luna had never turned on him like that before and everyone could tell that it cut right through him. But he stood tall and strong.

Everyone watched in completely silence, waiting for Artemis to do something, to react. His proud stoic nature washed over him again, and Serenity saw him revert back to a soldier and completely hide his emotions.

"Serenity?"

There was a startled cry at the voice and every spun around to look at him.

Endymion looked haggard and warn, like he had been fighting for hours. There were cuts all over him, and his whole presence was weak.

Serenity immediately rushed over to him, and the four guards came into the room immediately moving to protect him.

His eyes were full of despair.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked reaching out for her.

She shook her head, letting him run his hand softly down her cheek.

Pain shuddered through him and he nearly stumbled.

Artemis stood behind her, but she couldn't help but reach for Endymion as he hunched over in pain.

"We have to get away," Zoicite said softly to Endymion. "You've seen her, she's fine. Let us take you away from this."

Serenity touched his chest softly, concern coursing through her. He looked so lost, so weak that it scared her. Her touched seemed to make him shudder, but he didn't move away. His eyes locked with hers.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," he said brokenly.

She shook head. "I'm not hurt."

He seemed to fade.

"Artemis, perhaps we should speak in closed quarters," Kunzite said calmly.

"If he's dangerous, we should all know," Andrew said angrily.

Artemis silenced him with a look and turned back to Kunzite. "I can't leave everyone if there is still danger."

"For now, I think you are safe," Zoicite said.

Serenity felt Endymions hand move softly down her arm. She couldn't help but be aware of how close she was standing to him. His breathing was even and calm, but his eyes were in turmoil.

"We won't go far," Artemis said to Andrew.

Andrew looked like he wanted to fight, but didn't say anything.

Luna took Artemis's hand, a sure sign that she would not be left behind again.

Kunzite put a hand on Endymions shoulder. "Come on, we'll go where you won't be able to feel them all."

For a moment Endymion didn't move, he just looked down at her. His dark gaze penetrating and tired.

"Endymion?" Nephrite said softly.

Endymion turned away from her and walked away into the shadowed hallway. His shoulders sagged, but he still held himself tall. Serenity felt his absence immediately, like he had been ripped away. But she would not be left behind.

She followed him, and Artemis came with Luna behind them as well as the four guards.

They moved quickly through the hallways until they were in another room.

"Sit down," Endymion said darkly.

Serenity couldn't believe how quickly he changed moods. His cold presence was lingering again and she wanted to smack him for it. But she could still feel how week he was, and his eyes wouldn't loose that darkness of despair. She wanted to go to him, to try and comfort him, but she didn't know how.

"Perhaps you should leave," Endymion said rudely.

"Endymion, stop this," Kunzite said.

When Endymion turned to look at him, the guards seemed to shrink back. Everyone except Kunzite who stood his ground.

"You're not dangerous," Kunzite said firmly.

Endymion crossed his arms across his chest, looking very human in that moment. "And I suppose what just happened meant what?"

"You didn't hurt anyone."

"I could have!" he said angrily.

"You're being childish."

"I'm trying to be smart about this Kunzite."

"By locking yourself away?"

"If I'm not near anyone, then there's nobody for me to hurt."

"Except you're only succeeding in being completely alone."

"I deserve to be alone!"

Kunzite clenched his jaw tightly.

Everyone else in the room stayed quiet and watched the two men fight. Endymion was livid, and yet he looked ready to break.

"I never asked you to stay here," Endymion said after a moment.

"Yeah well, apparently that's what friends do."

"So we're friends now?" He asked incredulously. "You call me master."

"It's the only thing you'll answer to when you're in one of your self deprecating moods."

"You call me that because you're afraid of me."

"I'm afraid for you Endymion. You're not what you think you are."

"I'm a monster."

"Yeah, sometimes you can be," Kunzite said angrily. "But you're also just a man."

Endymion took a deep breath, trying desperately to calm himself. Serenity could only watch in wide eyed amazement as someone stood up to him.

"You've been trying to keep me away from them all since they got here," Endymion said in a quieter tone. "You tried to stop me from hurting them."

"I tried to stop you from getting involved with her."

Endymion looked at Serenity in confusion.

"What?"

Kunzite tried to steady himself. "Because you talked about her after that first night, when you saw her at the gate. I could see it in your eyes that you were intrigued by her. We've had people at the gate before, and you've never let them in. Suddenly, a single girl says 'please' and you bow down to her every wish."

"I did not."

"Look at you. For years you're been calm and collected, and then she walks into your life and you're a mess. You don't trust yourself anymore because suddenly there's someone you're afraid to hurt. You're not dangerous Endymion, you're just afraid."

He didn't answer.

Artemis stayed perfectly still during the exchange and Luna looked confused.

The two men glared at each other.

"I don't understand," Luna said softly.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"It's just……I thought…." She cleared her throat. "Artemis said that you were part of a race that was dangerous. I thought that Serenity had just……perhaps she had been able to get through to you somehow. She has a nack for that sort of thing. But you've been trying to fight this for a long time now. Why?"

Serenity looked at Endymion, wanting to know the answer as much as anyone.

Endymion sighed tiredly. "Why is this about me?" He asked no one. "I'm not the one in trouble and I'm not the one out of home."

"You are the one who saved Serenity," Artemis said smoothly.

Endymion looked at him with exhaustion written all over his features. Serenity wanted to reach out to him, to get him to lie down. He looked so tired.

"Kunzite told me of you," Endymion said softly. "Even before you came here, I had heard stories of your banishment."

Artemis narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything.

Serenity felt her heart stop and she saw Luna go still.

"You were the highest ranked of your Queens army, a legend in your own race. There was nobody who rivaled you. Then your accused of a crime you couldn't have possibly committed and you walk away without a fight. You had everything, and you just let it all slip away."

Serenity felt her blood pumping through her ears.

"I do not need to make excused to you."

Endymion sighed. "You guard your past so tightly, and yet you're eager to know mine."

"My past does not paint me as a danger to those around me. Your very nature does."

"And it would settle your curiosity to know why I have not killed all of you yet."

"I don't care who you are," Artemis said. "If you and I were in a room alone, I wouldn't care to ask you anything. But you are now directly connected to the safety of the people I hold most dear, so it concerns me."

Endymion nodded slowly. "If you tell me why you left without a fight, I will tell you what I am."

Serenity held her breath.

She saw Luna stand eagerly beside Artemis.

For a moment Artemis didn't say anything. His even gaze was unwavering and stoic as always, and his tall frame was held straight and tall.

"I didn't commit the crime," he said finally, "but I was not totally innocent of the results. My Queen chose to punish me, and I will accept that punishment."

"You were a soldier," Endymion said. "You were trained to fight."

"I am loyal to my Queen," Artemis said. "Even if she is wrong, I will follow her."

Endymion shook his head softly. "You and Kunzite are the same. Both stubborn, and loyal to a fault."

"I answered you question," Artemis said evenly.

"My father was the king," Endymion said as an answer.

Artemis nodded in understanding. "Your mother was human."

"I am as dangerous as you say," Endymion said.

"But you have a conscience."

"It doesn't always serve me."

Artemis nodded.

"Does…..does that mean we can stay?" Luna asked.

Endymion looked at Serenity who hadn't moved since this whole thing had started. "You pushed me," he said softly. "I tried to scare you away, but you insisted on figuring this all out. You put yourself in danger when it wasn't necessary."

"We're alive because of it," Serenity said seriously.

"You're alive because I couldn't control myself," Endymion said.

"And if I hadn't escaped, you wouldn't have come after me and those beasts would have killed everyone eventually."

Endymion sighed. "I don't understand you."

"And I don't understand you," she said stepping towards him. "But I do understand that what you did tonight saved us. You have some sort of strange power that I can't understand, and am afraid to. But you can kill these things, and scare them away. You can save us."

"That's not true," Jadeite said.

"Yeah, he can scared them away because he's….well, terrifying to even evil creatures," Nephrite said. "But they'll keep coming until they find what they want."

"That's your only change," Zoicite said. "You have to figure out what they're after."

"But we don't have anything," Luna said. "I checked almost everyone. We don't' have anything."

"Then it must be a person," Jadeite said.

"Everyone here has been part of the village for awhile. The newest person is probably Artemis," she said.

"It could be someone who's been there for awhile," Kunzite said.

"Who would be so important to kill that someone would need to call on shaitan?" Nephrite asked.

"How will we be able to find out?" Luna asked.

"Someone must know something," Jadeite said.

"We've talked to them over and over again. Whoever it is, if they know, they know they're putting us all in danger," Luna said.

"Kunzite, go back to their village."

Everyone looked at Endymion in surprise.

"What?" Kunzite asked.

"Whoever it is, their house will be the one that was targeted. Take someone with you, and get them to point out what's missing."

"But Andrew said a bunch of houses were hit," Serenity said.

"There will be one worse than the others," Kunzite nodded. "Alright, I'll take Andrew then."

"What? No!" Serenity said startled.

Endymion looked at her and narrowed his eyes.

"I know you care for him, but he's……" Kunzite started.

"You don't know anything about who I care about," Serenity said angrily. "Andrew had been through enough. He's already been out there once, and he fought with us out there tonight. He's been through enough."

"We've all been through enough Serenity," Luna said soothingly.

"I'll go," Serenity said.

"That's not….." Jadeite started.

"I know the town as well as anyone. I grew up there. I know where everyone lives and I'll be able to tell which one was hit. I'll go."

"No," Endymion said.

"You can't stop me."

He was in front of her in an instant, nearly knocking her over as he grabbed her arm.

"Yes I can."

Serenity glared up at him. "You tried to stop me last time, look how well that turned out."

"If I have to stay with you, I will," Endymion growled.

"You're afraid of the day," Serenity bit out. "As soon as the sun rises, you'll go crawling back into your house and hide until night."

Endymion gripped her tighter.

"Serenity, you won't go," Artemis said softly. "Andrew will be willing and he is the best person to take. It is a good idea."

"No!" Serenity nearly yelled.

"Serenity, please," Luna pleaded. "He'll be fine with Kunzite."

"Let me go," she hissed at Endymion.

He didn't.

"I said let me go!" she demanded.

"Kunzite, perhaps you should leave at first light," Artemis said softly.

"No, Andrew isn't going."

"Don't worry," Endymion hissed at her. "Kunzite will protect him from harm."

The way he said it sent shivers down her entire body, but she refused to let him beat her. She glared at him, letting him know that she wasn't afraid of him. Even when she started to see the shadows circle in his eyes and the air go cold around them.

"Make sure everyone is in the manor," Endymion said to Artemis without taking his gaze away from Serenity. "I officially extend the invitation to include everyone. Zoicite will arrange for some food, and Nephrite will put together whatever we have in terms of blankets and clean clothes."

"There are some wounded as well," Luna said.

"We have medical supplies," Jadeite said. "I'll get it."

"You and I have something to discuss," Endymion said in a low voice.

"I'm not going with you," Serenity countered angrily.

"I'm afraid that I can't let you take her against her will," Artemis said. "You can make her stay, as I would do just as much, but she stays with us."

Endymion looked at Artemis. "She'll be returned to you shortly."

Before anyone could react, Endymion had pulled Serenity through the door and into the hallway.

Serenity dug her heals in as he dragged her through the darkness. She bit at him, and she clawed at him, but his grip was like iron. She screamed for Artemis, but he didn't come. She tried to grab on to anything around her, but Endymion just pulled her past it.

"Let me go!" She screamed.

Endymion flung her into a room and slammed the door behind him.

Serenity turned on him as soon as she staggered up.

"You can't keep me here," she said scathingly. He walked up to her, standing tall and looming in front of her. "You don't have any power over me. I'm not afraid of you. You can't keep me here against my will. I'll fight you. There's nothing you could do to make me not fight you. If you think….."

Endymion kissed her so suddenly that Serenity barely had time to react at all. He pressed her body against his, holding her against him and kissed her.

All her anger completely died.

By the time he pulled away, Serenity had forgotten what she was going to say. She could only look at his lips, remembering the feeling of them on hers. His breath came out raggedly as he looked down at her.

Serenity felt his presence all around her. It was intoxicating.

She ran her hands up his chest, feeling the warmth come from under his shirt. He still held her so close. She lifted herself up on her toes and kissed him again, softly this time. She barely brushed her lips against his.

She kissed him again, more this time. He reacted to her almost immediately, kissing her back softly. Pulling her tightly against him and running his hand firmly up her back as the kiss deepened. He pushed her head back slightly and she let him deepen the kiss even more.

She was at once completely absorbed by him. His hands on her back and the warmth of his body against hers. Her mind let go of everything except for the feeling of his kiss.

She felt light when he pulled away, weightless and tingling and breathing raggedly. She knew her cheeks were flush with warmth, and the feeling of his lips lingered on hers.

"If it means you'll be safe," he whispered softly to her, "I will force you against your will."


End of Chapter Nine!!!!

Please let me know what you think!!! I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I get back. Revews!!!!