XXXV

An: So since I've been remiss in updates, I've decided this one will be long for you guys. Hope you enjoy.

Endymion found the valley. The cave was how it was depicted in all the texts he read, reading between the lines nobody knew to look. The cave wasn't really a cave, but an inlet underground. It opened up to him without him saying a word or touching it. He knew he was going beneath the emerald lake and as he lowered himself through the door, he found himself in a room pitch black and his entrance closed up, cutting off any of his escape plans.

"Ah little king, how much you do not know." A voice clicked its tongue.

Endymion whipped around, but there was no lady standing behind him.

A tap on his shoulder had him turning again.

There was no one.

"What source of trickery is this! I've come for the secrets!"

"The secrets do lie within this tavern." The female voice echoed. "But it also lies within that of which you seek and in yourself. Why had you not listened to the stars?"

"I had listened; I asked if I should seek you out."

"And you have, but you had not listened."

The voice kept moving around him and he gave up looking for it, for it was the wind, nothing more. "What riddles do you speak?"

"No riddle, for where is the love you swore to protect? Had the stars not warned you to keep her with you at all times? Why had you not brought her?"

"Only the king can access these chambers."

"The king can bring whomever he pleases."

"I hadn't brought Serenity because of that, she's safe in my palace."

"Is she now?" The voice sounded disappointed. "How do you know? You are not there to protect her. The stars weep."

"The stars said I needed to protect her until she'd made up her mind if she was going to betray me or not, until she proved herself."

"That is what you wanted to hear." The voice was full of sadness.

"What do you mean?"

"For because of your ignorance, the prophet suffers, even now, even more, than ever for you are not near it."

"Serenity's in danger?" Endymion looked around for the exit, but the voice was suddenly angry.

"Fool! You can not go and protect her now, for even as we speak, the damage is done."

"I have to go to her!" Endymion's heart clenched in his chest.

"You cannot." The voice was calm again. "You must now let things unfold as they never should have. Had never had before and you will now learn what you came to learn. This is your destiny. The only way to leave this place is forward."

Those few days later passed too quickly for Serenity and she purposefully avoided Damon and she managed to hide from him long enough to receive a quite different shock. She was walking the hallway when she heard a familiar voice she hadn't quite had the pleasure in hearing for the last few months. She turned and saw Malachite standing there talking to Jadeite, who was looking rather perplexed.

"May I help you General Malachite?" She asked. "I had thought you were to be still at the border. Endymion had but left a few days ago, I would have thought he'd found you before you'd left. Why have you, by the way?"

"Endymion was never to come see us." Malachite frowned. "I had written to him a few times now telling him that we were going to come home. The matter had been resolved and conquered. I do not see his need to run off by himself to us."

"Everyone is home?" She was looking forward to seeing Zoicite as well.

"Yes, and I heard that I missed your coronation." He was disappointed; he'd been looking forward to a new Queen, especially her. "You look lovelier than ever, your highness."

Serenity grew angry. "Where the hell is Endymion then? Where has he gone, and gone in a lie to me?" She demanded.

"I am sorry, I haven't a clue." Malachite took a step back; he'd never seen so much fire in those depths. "But wherever he is, he's there for a reason, a damned good one to not take a general with him." Malachite too had grown angry with his king, but he refrained from commenting more.

Serenity relaxed at Malachite's words, today would not be for anger, and tonight would be a celebration. Everyone grew happy with the drink, except for Serenity and Rei. Rei and Jadeite had headed off to bed early, they were soon followed by all the happy couples, and Serenity waited until all of them left, except the singles, they'd be fine, before she headed out herself, her queen and hostess duties fulfilled.

She had barely taken two steps away from the party when Damon, in Serenity's eyes, emerged from a wall, but really it had been the shadows next to it. She stopped short, surprised. "Damon." She said without full strength. She was tired and wanted to go to bed. The last thing on her list of things she wanted to do or even think of doing, was dealing with Damon.

"I've been looking all over for you." He began.

"I've been at the party this entire time. Had you looked in, you would have seen me." Serenity was not ready to be duped into anything when she was in plain sight, where everyone knew her to be at. Damon looked at her and then over her shoulder at the party with a frown. He had known it, she was sure of it. None of the family though had been in attendance. "Where are your siblings?" She pressed, looking for an escape route, though the most logical would be going back into the party. She would too, if she didn't like his answer.

"Where are you heading?"

"To my chambers." Serenity stated shortly. He gave her the creeps when someone was watching them, being alone with him was not on her priority list, especially with Endymion so far away.

"Shall I walk you there?"

Serenity's eyes narrowed. On the one hand, it got her to where she wanted to be most right now, faster, on the other, it meant time with him, but that same time seemed to be eating up the process of getting to her bed, and so, despite her better judgment, she agreed. It took care of two things at once.

"Good." He held out his arm and Serenity hesitated for a long moment, before she put her hand over his arm, but not linking arms. "I have been missing our time together these last few months. You keep managing to miss me whenever I sought you out."

"I'm sorry. I was not aware of that. I have been very busy these last few weeks." He made a soft sound, either in agreement or trying to hide his disbelief in her words. Whatever it was, she couldn't call him on it.

"Perhaps tonight would be a better time to approach the subject."

"Not tonight." Serenity disagreed. "Some other time." She was unfamiliar with this part of the castle and looked about confused, they were passing through a stone archway that would lead them into one of the gardens she hadn't gotten to yet as the season turned to a heavy snow fall. She had promised herself to look into it when Spring came. "Where are you taking me?" She stopped suddenly, and he tugged her a little before he too came to one and snatched her hand before she could move it to her side. "Let go of me, Damon."

He laughed at her. "I think not. I want my time with you, and I'll have it now." His hand locked around her small wrist and he continued on his path, dragging her along behind him.

Serenity glanced behind her but could no longer see or hear the party. "Damon quit it, quit it or I'll scream!" It was a threat that she knew didn't have much merit, tugging on her hand trying to loosen his grip or slip out of it. Nobody would hear her, nobody would probably even look for her, probably thinking that she'd gone to bed, which is where she said she was headed to a few of the patrons. He kept laughing at her, and pulling her along, she tried to fight, tried to struggle free of his grip, and even tried running in the other direction, tried kicking him but nothing worked.

Why she hadn't been trained in anything, even self-defense, had been her father's doing. He forbade it, for her and her mother and sister, thinking that if one of the other two got it, they'd teach it to her or each other and probably feared they'd use it on him. She now wished she had asked Endymion for battle instructions, or at least enough to get away from an attacker. She hadn't thought of it, he hadn't either, as they were always together and no harm was likely to befall her. But now he was gone, the one protector who truly kept an eye on her. "I command you to unhand me!" It was a last ditch effort, and she didn't know if his sense of country would stop whatever he had planned. She just didn't know that was the problem.

Damon whirled towards her, pulling her into the backhand across her cheek. "You command me?" On top of everything else, she now noticed he seemed drunk. There was pure anger in his eyes. "First of all, my queen." He said on a sneer. "I am not in your husband's royal fleet, not worthy of the commission. Second of all, I am neither of yours servant. Not when my father should be the true king and I the Prince who was to take over for him! You should be answering to me!"

"Your father?" Serenity looked disturbed. "How does he have anything to do with the line? I thought the contention was between Endymion and his step-siblings, or... whatever they are. You have no blood line to connect you to the throne."

"No, perhaps not. Not that you could see at any rate." Damon hissed. "With your head and bed filled with every male but me, why would you look deeper into my affairs, when you didn't even think about me?"

He looked around and continued on, his hand punishing on Serenity's wrist. "I have only had one man in my bed." Serenity hotly denied. "No other man in my head either."

"I've seen them, whore!" This slap had her off her feet and crashing down to her knees painfully, he jerked her up again.

"Let me go and I might have Endymion spare your life." She pulled herself up to her full height, trying to look authoritative, but she wasn't all that intimidating.

He laughed in her face, his breath reeking of alcohol, clearly not impressed. "That pansy couldn't harm me, he cows to all my father's demands. The man is nearly 80!"

Serenity was not impressed either with Damon's exclamation, but at least they had stopped. "Unhand me at once and never come near me again. It is a crime against sovereignty I am willing to overlook just this once." Serenity tried to walk away but was yanked back, very roughly and landed on the ground again. She tried to use this position to her advantage to pull him over her like she'd seen Jadeite do with Nephrite, but she couldn't move him and he grabbed her hair near her scalp and pulled her back up, one hand still on her wrist.

He pulled her close, so his hot sticky breath washed over her face and she grimaced in disgust. "I wish I could have just one taste of what so many have had. But you are poison and there is not time in the plan." Damon looked behind her and raised a pleased eyebrow. "Oh good, right on time."

Serenity twisted her head around, but it was difficult with him still having a lock on her hair. "Sapphire." She breathed, he always hated her, but maybe not as much as she feared. "Please talk sense into him. He's sounding quite insane." She felt like it was a losing chance, but it was one she still had to try.

Sapphire ignored her, not even glancing in her direction, but instead at his brother. "This is not the agreed upon location."

"Please? It looks so delicious." There was hunger in the now slurring speech, and Serenity prayed that would be a weakness in Damon, but now the two men was impossible for her to conceive a happy outlook.

Sapphire shook his head. "There is no time for that. Where is she?" Serenity knew they weren't talking about her, Sapphire while being blind to her, could clearly see her and she kept attempting to slip away but Damon's grip was tightening at every flicker her body made.

"I don't know, but while we're waiting..." Damon pleaded, his grip on her wrist felt like her bones were breaking and the one on her hair was pulling strands out.

Something sharp and cold suddenly appeared at her neck and she followed the long blade to the hilt then to the hand holding it, then the long arm connecting to Sapphire's cruel gaze. "Unhand her, she won't run, but she is casting a spell on you, the witch." Any help she had thought she'd get from him went out the window as it pressed closer to her throat. He might have even been the mastermind behind all of this. "You wouldn't do anything so stupid, would you?"

"What's your great plan?" Serenity asked instead, now released and counted that one small blessing. She would not give them any hint of the turmoil bouncing around in her insides. She was a Queen and she would not give them any satisfaction to act anything other than dignified. The whole time she was fervently praying someone, anyone, would see this and get help. She just had to hold these two off long enough for that to happen. She really wanted Endymion to come galloping in, even though she was torn in wanting to keep him away from this danger, but she figured he could probably handle these two worthless crumbs.

Sapphire smirked. "Oh, you want to know, do you?" He questioned, walking around her, messing with her head, the blade always skimming across her skin but not cutting in. There was a red line forming she was sure, just no blood yet. "It's not going to matter to you in a few minutes anyways."

Sapphire gestured Damon back to her, this time though his hands were on her arms, but it lasted only a moment though. Damon held her tightly against him and he was rocking on his feet. He took a deep breath in through his nose, smelling her hair. Serenity was facing Sapphire, with no idea what Damon was doing behind her except for what she could feel. It wasn't pleasant. Serenity scowled at the dark haired man. "And to think, he's the more honorable one."

To strengthen her point, Damon clamped an arm around her neck, holding her against him, while his other hand slid towards her front. She didn't correct herself when he began exploring ground.

Sapphire growled. "You wouldn't be saying that if you knew what he wanted to do to you first."

"Oh thank you for protecting my honor." Serenity's words heavy with sarcasm. She had a pretty good idea where Damon imagined this going. However he had to get completely loaded to go through with it. Sapphire was cold stone sober.

"He wouldn't hesitate to do it or kill your king, even without a drink. This is only unpleasant for him now, because he's got a soft spot for you, you filthy whore. It'll be cut out of him tonight. Then we will take back what is ours, one by one starting with the sister." Sapphire sneered. He looked around and his mood darkened. "Where is she?"

"Sorry my love, it took me longer than I thought it would. The other guards were pretty insistent, not wanting to drink the water. I just hope I didn't give them too much." Crystal draped herself over Sapphire from behind. He pulled her around and they kissed passionately. Damon's hips jerked against her.

"Disgusting." Serenity gagged.

Crystal pulled away and glared at Serenity. "No one will find her until morning and by then, it'll be too late."

"A family affair-" Serenity sneered, but Damon's words over took hers.

"Then I would have plenty of time to-"

"You can't risk it. Someone can come at anytime who isn't a guard. We can't be spotted here or it will blow everything." Sapphire argued, looking at the gleam on the metal appreciatively, the moon reflected off of it and Serenity knew he was admiring the craftsmanship of his sword.

"But just once-"

"No." Sapphire and Crystal barked.

Damon groaned and pressed himself against her, wishing things played out differently.

Crystal's hand snapped back and slapped her across the face, sending her sideways into the snow. Damon's hands only served to bruise her before letting her go.

All three of them took turns beating her, kicking her and Sapphire's foot came down on her leg, breaking it, she could feel it vibrate up her entire form. She tried to defend herself, tried to fight back, tried to leave and escape the torture that the three of them were bestowing upon her. They surrounded her though, attacking her from every side and there was no way through. They just as suddenly stopped.

Crystal took one of Serenity's arms in a grip that still managed to surprise her by its strength. One glance and it showed Crystal's eyes were wild and it didn't sit right with Serenity and she only had a second to process that before her face was roughly torn away and in another direction and hard lips were pressed against hers, taking what she wasn't giving. "Enough!"

Damon followed Sapphire's command and held her other arm, and both looked away from her as she watched Sapphire plunge his sword into her chest. She gasped and her hands ripped from the bone crunching hold on her and she tried to pull it out. She couldn't believe him to be so cold, at least not this cruel as to actually take her life. He was a member of Endymion's soldiers and guards. Serenity dropped to her knees, breathing was hard and painful.

It was ironic as the snow settled around them, removing Damon and her's path to this location, that it was a beautiful night, the snow adding to that errant thought. There would be no way to find her unless someone happened by chance across her and no way to prove anyone was involved once she was dead.

Damon crouched in front of her, a smile on his lips. He touched hers tenderly before turning to his brother and punching him in the face. Serenity watched confused as Sapphire seemed to enjoy it as his head came back around with a grin on his face and returned the hit in Damon's chest. They were all laughing and walked off, without once looking back at her, assuming her already dead.

She missed the all out tussle first at the perimeter, then near the castle where the party was no doubt winding to a close, where Damon then laid down, 'pretending' to be passed out. Though the alcohol probably accomplished it for him. Sapphire returning to his post, also feigning unconsciousness. Crystal went back to her room to sleep for the night. She'd come 'find' Sapphire later. This way they all had alibis as someone would find Damon as they left, no bruises marring his features.

Serenity meanwhile looked down at her blood coated hands, they'd done nothing in pulling the blade out, only slipped as they'd gotten soaked and cut up for her efforts. She barely recognized her dress' yellow color beneath the red. The sword caught the light and familiar lettering reflected back at her. She looked closer at the handle and realized it was her father's sword. It was strangely fitting. She always knew her father would somehow kill her in the end.

She'd tried to fight and run, but Damon was too strong, she couldn't do anything. Then there was three of them and the attack too quick and unexpected. She couldn't have done anything else, she couldn't fault herself, nor should she. The only regrets she had was that she couldn't say goodbye to everyone she loved or see the child she failed.

The light slowly faded from the bright moon that allowed her to see so clearly, reflecting off the snow. She didn't even feel cold as she tipped to her side, sending all her love to Endymion as her eyes closed, missing the puddle of red seeping below her, staining the white snow scarlet.

–

EAN: Erg, I've rewritten this chapter a hundred times... I hope you like it, if not, tell me what I could fix, but I'm not getting rid of the attack all together, its needed in the future...

As for the next chapter... it has been rewritten a few times as well, but it hasn't been as much as this one. It might be again before I release it to you guys... depends how well this one goes over.