The pretty rose dress matched her hair perfectly. Serenity smiled at her reflection in the mirror and decided she looked perfect for the ball. She had connived her mamma and pappa into inviteing Helios and her father had actually insisted the yuong preist should come. Her dress was low cut and tight, it accentuated all her curves and features perfectly. She would convince Helios to dance every dance with her and he would re-think his decision. Serenity went down stairs to the main ball room. There were already many guests there sampling the orderves and danceing a little to the orchestra's warming up music. Serenity saw Helios standing in the corner with his arms crossed. Serenity made her way over to him and picked up a martini to take him. "Hello Preist Helios." she said cordially.
"I'm assume my comeing was your idea."
"Perhaps. But it was King Endymion who made it impossible to refuse our invitation."
"This wasn't a good idea Serenity." Helios downed his martini in one sip.
"We'll see." Serenity opened a fan and fluttered it allureingly before flounceing off. Helios sighed. Why did he have to be such a fool? He hated hurting her, but it was a matter of priority, and his oath to King Endymion was far more important than any personal feelings, however powerful. As the ball progressed, Helios saw Serenity dance and flirt with many court men. It tore at his heart, and he realized he had made the mistake of thinking of Serenity for even a short time as his and his alone. Would she give up on him? Why did he hope she wouldn't? That was so unfair, that he would distance himself from her but then will that she would never love again.
Serneity danced the first couple of dances with various court men and a few dukes. These dances were slower waltzes, the older dances. Her long pink hair flowed out around her as she spun slowly in the arms of one duke, Jack. Her eyes occasionaly flicked to meet his eyes but they were usualy darting back and forth to watch other couples, danceing happily with eachother. Her eyes fell most often on the silent Helios, leaning stiffly against a wall with another martini in his hand. "I'll go make him dance." Serenity thought.
The slow waltz ended and a more modern dance begain. Serenity remembered this tune, it was one of her favorites. King Endymion had told her about how long ago such melodies and the accompning dances were common in Spanish speaking countries like Spain and Mexico. The princess hurried over to Helios and took his hand. "At least dance with me."
"No." Helios glowered at the princess and his purple eyes turned away, they were thin like a cats.
"You wouldn't dare refuse the royal order of a princess would you?"
"Stop tormenting me. I wish you and Endymion hadn't conspired to drag me here. Every move you make is sheer torture for me because I want to be the one by your side. Don't you get it? I love you Serenity, but I'm bound by my own honor."
"You are insulting your king by refuseing to dance with his daughter and enjoy his hospitality. Now come dance." wheedled Serenity.
Helios sighed and took Serenity's gloved hand, leading her out onto the dance floor. Serenity gasped slightly as Helios pulled her very close, closer than Serenity should have allowed. But this might be the last time she could get him to hold her in his arms. The dance was not the fastest the princess could dance, but she was breathless just the same, both from the intricet steps and whirling movments but also from the feeling of being near her love. "You realize this is only going to cause us more pain Serenity?"
"You are the one who can determine that." Serenity's voice was icy. Helios only held her tighter and made her dance faster.
"You said you love me Serenity. Why do your words bite?"
"Helios, you betrayed me. Made five year's worth of dreams become a lie. But I still love you." Serenity buried her face in his shirt collar. The top two buttons were undone as usual and the princess felt his warm skin against her cheek, the other cheek felt the cool smoothness of silk.
"It would be easier if you hated me." whispered Helios.
"I can't." Serenity looked up into his eyes and saw pain in them. Had she caused that suffering? But she could bear to even think of being without him now. It hadn't been a childhood delusion. Their love was real and now it couldn't be... she had to at least get a last memory. One last sweet moment. But he wouldn't let her. Never. But she could trick him.
In a flash the dance was over. All too soon. Helios didn't realease his python grip on Serenity's waist at first. He lingered for a moment, takeing in the scent of her hair and her perfume. Was he too looking for a last sweet memory? He finally let go, slowly untwineing his arms from around Serenity's waist and leting his fingers brush the silk of her gown for the last time. Serenity let herself fade into the crowd as Helios turned to down two or three more martinis.
Serenity ran up the stairs to her chambers. She had to get an old friend, someone she thought had been put away for good as a relic of babyhood. Luna P. Luna P was the only one who could help her. Help her win Helios. She took the black sphere and ran back down to the ballroom. She saw the punch bowl was empty and went to Helios. "Will you come help me get some more punch from the kitchen?" Serenity's mind was raceing. She didn't quite know what in hell she was doing. It was crazy. Helios knew servants did things like get more punch, but he followed Serenity. He didn't want to get in a fight. He had hurt her too much already. In a dark corner of the vast kitchen Serenity weilded Luna P, bounced the ball on the ground. In a puff of pink smoke a spirle patern umbrella appeared. It begain to spin and then Serenity cast it aside. She leaned foward to kiss Helios....
NEXT CHAPTER: Serenity's crazy plans get twisted around and plummet Helios into ill favor with King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity. Will Princess Serenity atone for her mistakes or will she let Helios suffer at her hand for crimes he didn't commit?
"I'm assume my comeing was your idea."
"Perhaps. But it was King Endymion who made it impossible to refuse our invitation."
"This wasn't a good idea Serenity." Helios downed his martini in one sip.
"We'll see." Serenity opened a fan and fluttered it allureingly before flounceing off. Helios sighed. Why did he have to be such a fool? He hated hurting her, but it was a matter of priority, and his oath to King Endymion was far more important than any personal feelings, however powerful. As the ball progressed, Helios saw Serenity dance and flirt with many court men. It tore at his heart, and he realized he had made the mistake of thinking of Serenity for even a short time as his and his alone. Would she give up on him? Why did he hope she wouldn't? That was so unfair, that he would distance himself from her but then will that she would never love again.
Serneity danced the first couple of dances with various court men and a few dukes. These dances were slower waltzes, the older dances. Her long pink hair flowed out around her as she spun slowly in the arms of one duke, Jack. Her eyes occasionaly flicked to meet his eyes but they were usualy darting back and forth to watch other couples, danceing happily with eachother. Her eyes fell most often on the silent Helios, leaning stiffly against a wall with another martini in his hand. "I'll go make him dance." Serenity thought.
The slow waltz ended and a more modern dance begain. Serenity remembered this tune, it was one of her favorites. King Endymion had told her about how long ago such melodies and the accompning dances were common in Spanish speaking countries like Spain and Mexico. The princess hurried over to Helios and took his hand. "At least dance with me."
"No." Helios glowered at the princess and his purple eyes turned away, they were thin like a cats.
"You wouldn't dare refuse the royal order of a princess would you?"
"Stop tormenting me. I wish you and Endymion hadn't conspired to drag me here. Every move you make is sheer torture for me because I want to be the one by your side. Don't you get it? I love you Serenity, but I'm bound by my own honor."
"You are insulting your king by refuseing to dance with his daughter and enjoy his hospitality. Now come dance." wheedled Serenity.
Helios sighed and took Serenity's gloved hand, leading her out onto the dance floor. Serenity gasped slightly as Helios pulled her very close, closer than Serenity should have allowed. But this might be the last time she could get him to hold her in his arms. The dance was not the fastest the princess could dance, but she was breathless just the same, both from the intricet steps and whirling movments but also from the feeling of being near her love. "You realize this is only going to cause us more pain Serenity?"
"You are the one who can determine that." Serenity's voice was icy. Helios only held her tighter and made her dance faster.
"You said you love me Serenity. Why do your words bite?"
"Helios, you betrayed me. Made five year's worth of dreams become a lie. But I still love you." Serenity buried her face in his shirt collar. The top two buttons were undone as usual and the princess felt his warm skin against her cheek, the other cheek felt the cool smoothness of silk.
"It would be easier if you hated me." whispered Helios.
"I can't." Serenity looked up into his eyes and saw pain in them. Had she caused that suffering? But she could bear to even think of being without him now. It hadn't been a childhood delusion. Their love was real and now it couldn't be... she had to at least get a last memory. One last sweet moment. But he wouldn't let her. Never. But she could trick him.
In a flash the dance was over. All too soon. Helios didn't realease his python grip on Serenity's waist at first. He lingered for a moment, takeing in the scent of her hair and her perfume. Was he too looking for a last sweet memory? He finally let go, slowly untwineing his arms from around Serenity's waist and leting his fingers brush the silk of her gown for the last time. Serenity let herself fade into the crowd as Helios turned to down two or three more martinis.
Serenity ran up the stairs to her chambers. She had to get an old friend, someone she thought had been put away for good as a relic of babyhood. Luna P. Luna P was the only one who could help her. Help her win Helios. She took the black sphere and ran back down to the ballroom. She saw the punch bowl was empty and went to Helios. "Will you come help me get some more punch from the kitchen?" Serenity's mind was raceing. She didn't quite know what in hell she was doing. It was crazy. Helios knew servants did things like get more punch, but he followed Serenity. He didn't want to get in a fight. He had hurt her too much already. In a dark corner of the vast kitchen Serenity weilded Luna P, bounced the ball on the ground. In a puff of pink smoke a spirle patern umbrella appeared. It begain to spin and then Serenity cast it aside. She leaned foward to kiss Helios....
NEXT CHAPTER: Serenity's crazy plans get twisted around and plummet Helios into ill favor with King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity. Will Princess Serenity atone for her mistakes or will she let Helios suffer at her hand for crimes he didn't commit?