"Father…" said Endymion as he stared at him wide eyed but not letting go of Serenity.
"You step away from her this instant! You will go back in there and tend to your fiancé!" yelled Damien as he glared at his son in anger. He did not once look at Serenity as she was almost in tears.
"No…" said Endymion as he held onto Serenity tighter. Serenity looked up at him in shock from what just escaped from his lips. Rini covered her hand with her mouth as she knew that this was about to get ugly.
"What did you say to me?" said Damian as he approached his son angrily. Endymion turned around and shielded the princess. Damian abruptly stopped as his son turned around to face him with a look of anger and almost hate.
"I said NO! I'm done with everything father! I want nothing more to do with this idiotic plan of you wanting me to marry the princess of the new moon! I will not be forced into something I do not want!" yelled Endymion. Serenity grabbed his shoulder to try to calm him but he still continued to stay tense with her touch.
"My darling please, calm down." Said Serenity softly. It was as if she were speaking to a wall because he neither heard nor responded to what she said.
"You will not speak to me in such a manner! You will, as duty of the heir to the throne, do as I say! How can you care more about this moon garbage than your own people?!" said Damian as he tightened his fists. It was like something triggered in Endymion. He could feel his blood start to boil and his fist clench tightly. The comment that his father made about Serenity was the last straw. Before Serenity could react to anything that was about to happen; Endymion had already left her side.
"Don't you ever disrespect her again!" yelled Endymion. His voice so course with anger and his eyes a darker blue than normal. His hands were trembling and he was breathing roughly like a bull through his nose as he charged for his father. Damian went wide eyed as he watched his son approach him. He froze in place as he was in shock that his son was actually about to attack him until he heard someone yell behind him.
"Endymion STOP!" yelled Sophia as she ran to her husband from inside the palace and stood in front of him. She could hear everything that was happening outside from inside and so could all their guests. Endymion immediately stopped and his eyes softened. His face went from rage to disbelief as he just realized that he almost hurt his father.
"What has gotten into you my son?" asked Sophia frightened at the look Endymion had. He continued to stare as he didn't know what to say.
"Answer me!" yelled Sophia. She was at the brink of tears. The two most important men in her life were about to hurt one another and it scarred her.
"I…I didn't mean to…I'm sorry." Stuttered Endymion. An apology was all he could say even though he knew it was not going to be good enough. Sophia looked at her son sadly then turned to face her husband. His face still had a look of shock and disbelief. Sophia lowered her head sadly as she grabbed her husband's hand.
"I think you should leave son." Whispered Sophia as tears started to slip from her auburn eyes.
"Mother…"
"I said go Endymion!...please." said the Queen. Endymion's fists tightened once again and looked at his mother's back angrily. He turned around and walked towards Serenity. Serenity looked at him sadly as she could see the hurt in his eyes.
"Come with me." Said Endymion. Serenity nodded. Rini took a few steps toward them scarred from what just happened a few moments ago but also wanting to go with them. She stopped when she saw Serenity look at her.
"Can Rini come with us?" asked Serenity. Endymion turned around to face the young pink haired girl. His eyes immediately softened as he saw the fear in the young girl's eyes. For some reason it pained him to see her look at him in fear.
"Of course." Said Endymion. Rini slowly approached them then grabbed Serenity's hand.
"Serenity wait!" yelled Mina as she ran towards her. Mina was about to protest to it all but noticed how sad she looked. She then turned to Endymion and looked at him in the eyes without a trace of fear in her despite what she just witnessed between him and his father.
"Bring her back safe." Said Venus as she walked away back to the other girls. Serenity looked at her in shock then a thankful, small smile crept onto her face. With her free hand she held onto Endymion's hand and they walked away.
"Venus? You're just going to let her go with him? Are you crazy?" asked Mars looking at her angrily.
"I don't know much about him but I know one thing, he won't let anything bad happen to her and will bring her back safe. That much I know." Said Venus. "Come on girls, I don't think they will be back 'til morning." The girls looked at Venus shocked. They couldn't believe that she was taking everything so lightly, it was not like her. Instead of arguing with her they just followed her lead.
Venus looked at the king and queen seriously and bowed her head as she passed them. Sophia glanced at the girls and nodded in response as she watched them leave. When she turned around she saw her husband look at her in the eyes.
"I cannot believe him. That moon princess is turning our son against us." Said Damian. Sophia looked at him in disbelief and shook her head.
"And I cannot believe you can be so ignorant." Said the queen as she stormed away from him and back into the palace. Damian watched her retreating form and decided to follow her back inside. Once he walked into the ballroom; he noticed that the music had stopped playing and that all the guests were watching him. He walked towards to where his throne was at and looked over at the crowd.
"Forgive me everyone but the ball has to be cut short. We have an emergency that we need to settle so if everyone could leave in an orderly fashion that would be greatly appreciated." Said the King. Everyone immediately obeyed and left without so much as a question to what had happened. He looked at his wife who was not even looking at him, watching the people leave the ballroom.
"I'm going to retire to mybedroom, excuse me." Said the queen putting an emphasis on the word "my" to let him know that she wanted to sleep alone tonight. Damian didn't say a word as he watched his queen leave the ballroom to their bedroom. He looked at the stairs that his wife was just on to see Nehelenia at the end of them.
He walked towards her as she watched his every move. She walked down the last few steps as he was close to her.
"I need you to do something for me. I want you to seduce Endymion when he returns. Get his mind off of the moon princess and more on you. If we are to join our kingdoms in our own alliance then you need to get him to think of nothing but you, understand me?" said Damian firmly. Nehelenia fought the urge to tear him to shreds right then and there. Nobody told her what to do, especially any Earthling. Instead she gritted her teeth and gave him a fake smile.
"Yes your highness." Said Nehelenia bowing to him. He quickly went up the stairs to one of the many guest rooms that they had to sleep in. Nehelenia lifted her head back up and rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"What a fool. Endymion will be mine once I have the crystal. I will need him anyway to wield it. Who better to be by my side than the one who can control the legendary golden crystal?" said Nehelenia to herself. She laughed to herself almost psychotic like as she went upstairs to plan her scheme that is about to come into play really soon.
The whole walk was completely quiet as they walked through the forest and towards a meadow. If it weren't for the glow of the moon the meadow wouldn't have been visible to them. Rini let go of Serenity's hand and ran through the meadow towards a group of fireflies. Serenity smiled as she watched her try to catch them. A warm feeling came to her as she watched Rini twirl around in a frenzy while laughing.
Serenity and Endymion saw a tree close by and sat down leaning against it while she snuggled into him. He had his arm protectively around her as he caressed her arm to sooth her. She looked up at him to see him watch Rini in the distance.
"I like this. I wish we could always be like this." Said Serenity still looking up at him. He looked down at her and smiled warmly.
"Me too." Said Endymion as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I always feel so at peace when I'm with you. Like nothing in this world can bother me as long as you're here by my side." Serenity looked at him lovingly and snuggled her head to his chest.
After a few moments of silence Endymion looked down at her once again.
"I'm sorry." Murmured Endymion. Serenity looked at him with a raised brow.
"Sorry for what my darling?" asked Serenity. Endymion breathed in heavily.
"For what you saw earlier." He said as he moved a strand of hair from her face. "You should not have seen what you saw. It was not like me at all but…I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm tired of him controlling my life and what I do and…and when he called you…" said Endymion feeling the anger come back to him when he remembered what his father called her. "I couldn't handle it. It was like something triggered in me and I lost all self control." Serenity lifted her hand and caressed his cheek.
"It's alright. Just don't think about it right now. We're here together and I want to enjoy the time that we have right now." Said Serenity. Endymion sighed then nodded as he held her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him to return the embrace. Rini looked up and noticed them sitting close by so she ran towards them.
"Hey Rini, tired already?" asked Endymion chuckling as she approached them out of breath.
"No…way, I'm…just taking…a break." Said Rini in between her panting.
"Oh I see, well will you like to take a break with us?" asked Endymion. Serenity released herself from his embrace and patted the spot next to her. Rini sat down next to her and began to play with the flowers on the ground. This reminded her of when she use to go outside with her parents and play in the open field.
"Mommy, daddy I miss you so much. When will I see you again?" said Rini mentally to herself as she was trying to hold back the tears. Serenity noticed she was in deep concentration.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Serenity as she started to undo Rini's hairstyle so it would pool down to her back once again.
"My mom and dad; I miss them a lot." Said Rini as she kept her gaze to the ground. Serenity moved some of Rini's hair behind her ear. Endymion looked at her with pity.
"Don't worry sweetie they'll find you; I just know it." Said Serenity as she tried to comfort the young girl.
"Yea, before you know it they will be here to take you back home." Said Endymion trying to give the pink haired girl some comforting words as well.
"I hope so…" mumbled Rini. "Serenity, Endymion do you think everyone's mad at us?" asked Rini.
"No, I don't think so. Why do you ask?" said Serenity still playing with Rini's hair.
"I don't know. I just don't like when people are mad at one another, it upsets me." Said Rini as she plucked a flower from the ground. Serenity stopped playing with her hair and lifted her chin up so she could look at her.
"Don't worry about a thing. Everything is going to be fine." Said Serenity as she brushed Rini's bangs with her fingers.
"Hmm…let's do this. How about tomorrow, after everybody stops being concerned with what happened here tonight, we come back here and see Helios." Said Serenity. Rini turned beet red in the face.
"Serenity..."mumbled Rini in embarrassment and frustration. Serenity giggled as Endymion looked at Rini with a smirk.
"Oh yes, I know Helios is very fond of you. He speaks to me about you." Said Endymion as he chuckled at the shade of Rini's face. Rini quickly hid her face in embarrassment with her hands.
"Stop it you two. You guys are embarrassing me." Said Rini. They both continued to laugh as she looked up at them with a pink shade still evident on her cheeks. Serenity's laughing turned to soft giggling as she put an arm over her shoulder.
"You know Rini, if I were to ever have a daughter; I want her to be just like you." Said Serenity. Rini smiled sheepishly at her. Then leaned into her as she felt her eyes start to get heavy. Serenity did the same as she leaned into Endymion's chest and slowly closed her eyes. Endymion looked at them and shook his head. He looked off into the distance as he watched the fireflies swarm all around in the night sky. He sat with his arm wrapped protectively around Serenity as he thought about what she just said to Rini. He thought if she were to ever have a daughter like Rini, if he would be the one to give one to her. He slowly felt his eyes start to get heavy as sleep consumed him.
Everything was gone and destroyed. Everything that he loved most was no longer there. His kingdom was in pieces and ash flew everywhere as he heard people's screams. He looked over to his left in the distance and saw a body lay on the ground next to another one. He squint his eyes to see who it was through the ash and gasped. His mother and father lay on the ground dead, their bodies positioned oddly on the ground.
Endymion started to panic as he continued to look around to see what else was happening. He then looked to his right and felt like his whole being was shattered. Serenity laid there covered in blood and dirt. He slowly approached her and with trembling hands touched her face. It was cold and pale; the color of pink that he loved so much that use to rest on her lips was no longer there. Her rosy cheeks were now as white as her dress and her sapphire blue eyes were now hidden by her eyelids knowing that he will never see them again.
Tears started to stream down his eyes and began to breathe heavily. This couldn't be happening to him, not now not ever. He picked her body up and looked around to find some shelter but before he could even think of where to go he saw Rini stand in front of him.
"Rini are you alright?" asked Endymion as he tried to reach for her the best way he could without dropping Serenity. He went wide eyed as his hands went right through her.
"Don't let this happen please. I need you both." Said Rini as she tried to reach for him but only touched nothing as her hand went right through him. Before he could even react he saw a woman. She stood behind Rini and wrapped her arm around her chest to pull her back. Endymion could not make out who she was as a shadow hid her body and face.
"I will take your most precious treasures from you, I will not allow you to be happy." Said the woman as she held on tightly to Rini. She tried to get away but her body started to pulse. The woman laughed evilly as Rini's body started to disappear.
"My precious treasures?" asked Endymion still confused. There was fear in his eyes as he watched Rini continue to disappear.
"Don't let this happen!" yelled Rini as she tried to reach out for him.
"How do I stop it? Rini!" yelled Endymion as she faded away.
"Daaa...!!" yelled Rini but disappeared before she could finish. Nehelenia continued to cackle at the pain in his eyes. She walked towards him and slashed him in the face with her nails.
Endymion quickly woke up wide eyed and out of breath. The sudden movement from Endymion's body woke Serenity up. She looked up at him with worry.
"Darling are you alright?" asked Serenity as she reached up to cup his face.
"Huh? Oh I'm sorry; I did not mean to wake you. I'm alright, go back to sleep." Said Endymion smiling down at her as he brushed her cheek with his thumb.
"But it's morning." Said Serenity. Endymion looked up and saw the bright sun shine down on them. He looked back down to see Rini sleeping soundly leaning next to her. He stared at her as he started to remember the dream that he had. Remembering her screams, the bodies; Serenity's body.
"What's going to happen to my kingdom? What does Rini have to do with it?" said Endymion to himself as he continued to look at Rini's sleeping form. Serenity looked at him then looked down at Rini confused as to why Endymion was staring at her with a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Endymion are you alright?" said Serenity but no answer came from him. "Endymion!"
He quickly snapped out of it at the shout of his name, which at the same time woke Rini up.
"My apologies my love. I'm just a little distant minded, maybe it is because I just woke up." Said Endymion as he brushed his hair back with his fingers. She looked at him intently then ignored it.
Rini rubbed her eyes as she took in the morning sun that glared down on them.
"Maybe we should head back before everyone goes on a hunt looking for us." Said Serenity. She slowly got up and brushed the pieces of grass and dirt that were on her dress. Rini got up and did the same thing along with Endymion. Endymion grabbed Serenity's hand and led them back to the area. As they walked away; they didn't notice that someone has been watching them from a short distance since last night. The pair of eyes focused only on Rini as they watched them walk away.
"It's her…" said the mysterious person before they disappeared back to the palace.
Okay, there's chapter 9 for ya. Sorry so short but I tried to make it as long as I could. Also, I need a beta for my next few chapters. If somebody could please message me I would greatly appreciate it. I'll let you know the problem once I get a message so if you could please message me soon then that would be awesome. Thanx everyone!