Tittle: Arabian Knight
Author: Lady Hiko
Rating: Pg-13 pushing R (sorry)
Email: ladyhiko@yahoo.com
URL: http://www.geocities.com/ladyhiko
Chapter Six: The Dance within the Flames

Yay! I finally got something posted! Who would have known it was a technical error? Eh, oh
well, let bygones be bygones. A special thank you to gz_moonie for always being a fan as well as
Marianya and one to Lunabelle for remaining a patient reader of mine and giving me my first critique.
Thanx guys.
I know it's been a while, so lets recap what happened last time. Be forewarned, this chapter is the
darkest I have ever written. If you find you can't handle it, go to the bottom of the page and I'll have a
summary of what happened. From after here, the story should be waaaaaay less dark, promise.

```Aerin Kageno```
I had won; it was all over. Serenity was in my possession as well as the added bonus of 'Lady
Hiko'. The brown haired woman warrior and the black haired one were bound and chained as well as the
brown and blond haired 'protectors' with heavy slashes into their sides. I guess they couldn't take it after
their 'leader' died; the rest of their 'Klan' killed by my men. Oh yes, this had been a very good day, a very
good day indeed as I packed my new servants into my caravan, the unconscious Hiko by my side.

Yes, this had been a good day.


````Endymion, at the balcony````

I peered over the edge of my father's balcony; my mother's screams no longer ringing in my ears.
All recognition of sound had left long ago, I didn't wish to hear anything anymore.
My hands clasped the rails as I pulled myself onto its thin edge, my body wobbling to gain
balance. Sturdily I looked down to the grounds below, the city across, the sands in between and the skies
above. I did not wish to rule that glistening city across, with its sandy streets and silken people walking
them. Why torture them with a Sultan whom has no heart left to live, yet rule? The thought didn't seem
too pleasant in my numbing mind, but oh, how I ached for the heavens above, the skies of which my father
now upholds. All I'd have to do is make one final jump to the grounds below, one final step, and let myself
fall, then it shall all be over.


````Meanwhile, Artemis ````

The sounds that clamored at the door terrified me. I could feel strong wind blowing in as I heard
the terrified Sultana shriek at the new terror that had commence. Her screams of, " Endymion! Oh my
god! Endymion!" made my blood run cold as the four guard rushed in behind me.
My blood plunged through my system as I saw Endymion standing on the ledge, one foot wobbly
on the rail; the other poised high in the air readying to take that final step, the plunge towards death.
Fearing for his life, I dashed towards him as his body tilted forward, his life marking to take the
plunge into the eternal darkness.
Time seemed to still as I wiped away the long strands white hair as his body fell further and
further off the ledge, his eyes closed in acceptance his ebony hair blowing in the wind. I could barely see
those hairs as I drove my hand down, barely catching the collar of his nightclothes, the sheer force almost
pulling me over as well.
"Endymion!" I could hear myself yell to him. There was no response as I could feel other hands
helping me to pull him in. I could hear the shredding of the fine material as we pulled our lost comrade in,
hastening our pace, and with a final thunk, the burden was procured. I began to tap his closed face to try to
get him to respond, but receiving none I backed off to only hear a loud crack behind my back.
I turned to see a white haired guard standing over him, gasping for breath, his hand and face
poised with rage…and a stirring Endymion rubbing his face.
Immediately the sultana ran towards her son, to only be stopped as her son slowly got up, showing
his hand to her in halt. He faced Kunzite, his face afire with rage and pain matching that of the ivory haired
guard.
"Why the hell…How the hell could you do that to me?!" Endymion yelled into the face of one of
his saviors.
"How the hell could we do that to you? How the hell could you do that to us, your people!?"
Kunzite railed back, obviously enraged.
"I have no people," Endymion spat.
"You have no people? YOU have no people! Why? Because your damn father is dead?! Well
what about us?!" Kunzite yelled, motioning at the other guards.
"Yes, what about you?" Endymion mocked. "Ever since you came here I haven't had a moments
peace. You never leave me alone, yet you have no reason to be here, no reason to be upset… NO
REASON TO BE NEAR ME!"
This seemed to kick the ivory guard into a rage beyond words as he berated back, " Why the hell
do you think we were chosen for you?! Because we look nice? Hell no! Don't you see, we have no
family, no fathers, no mothers! We were chosen because our fathers died and they knew so would yours!
So don't give me this crap about no people! We did not turn our back on them, and neither will you, even
if I have to turn you to face them myself!" Glaring at him one last time, Kunzite threw over his shoulder as
he walked out, "To hell with you! I don't care if I see your backside for a week!"
Somewhat appalled, Endymion stared as the rest of the guard walked out, following their angered
leader, each leaving their own expression to be engraved into his mind, whether sympathetic or vehement.
Stepping up to her now quiet son, the sultana began to usher her son out, speaking in a babying
tone, "Let's just get you out of here. You've had a rough day…let's just get you some rest and tomorrow
we'll just figure things out. Okay?"
And with that Endymion was lead out to his room by his mother as she let her gaze dwell on the
sheeted form that was once her husband as she went out the door.

I turned my gaze to where hers had left and watched as they carefully lifted his cooling form to be
taken away. Tentatively stepping up to them, I asked, "Where will you be taking him, what will happen
now?"
Lifting his head and grunting under the weight, one replied, " He will be taken to the crypt where
he will wait for tomorrow where his body will be burned in a public ceremony by the sacred flame that
flows in the crypt."
"And what about the Sultana and the boy?"
"Things will return back to normal. The sultana will rule, while the boy will be taught to rule.
Hopefully by the time her turn to go has come, he will be ready." Then shaking his head, he mumbled, "
Heaven help us if he isn't."
With that he left the room, burden in arm.

~~~~~ The next evening, Aerin, his estate just outside the city of Illiad. ~~~~~

The moon was full and high in the night's sky as I gazed out the window of my bedchamber, but
my attention was more firmly attached to the creature obstructing my view. An elegant creature none the
less, but still obstructing my view. Yes, that's right, my prize was sitting unconscious in front of my
window, the sheer curtains caressing her features. As I do recall, she was wearing her fire dancer's outfit,
not the red one mind you, but the leather one that scantily showed her midriff, hugged to her chest and
provocatively showed little glimpses of her long slender legs through her skirt. Yes, THAT fire dancer
uniform. I do remember I had sent one of my men back to retrieve a more…suiting…outfit for her, and
this is what he returned with. I should really give him a bonus for this.
Now I know she wouldn't want to see me, of all people, at the moment, so I took the liberty of
encasing her in coarse silver shackles. Though there is need to immobilize her, there's no reason to dirty
up those lovely features with rusty old chains, now is there? No, I think not.
Noticing that she was beginning to stir, I gingerly plucked up the object of which that doting man
of hers last held, and plopped on my bed, waiting for her to wake up. No, I was not holding the dagger, if
that is what you mean. No matter, my prize is waking up…

~~~~Angela~~~~
I awoke slightly aware of coldness against my arms and legs, my head feeling like a ton of bricks.
I could barely register the events that occurred the night before. All I could remember were eyes…blue
eyes with red hair, blue eyes with ebony hair…all just staring at me so lifeless, so accusing…so sad.
A glint caught my eye as I followed its trail across the floor, its light leading to a man…a familiar
man holding something small into that light.
"Who are you?!" I asked, instinctively trying to clutch something to my cold bare skin, but found
nothing.
Looking at me with a sadistic grin, he replied, " Oh you should know me, you should REALLY
know me, but to jog your memory, do you remember this?"
He jutted a small gold ring towards me, the thing that was glinting before. Seeing that it didn't
register in my mind as to what it was for, he pulled it back to himself and grinned as he read the inscription.
"Forever…hmm…you really don't know what this was for, do you?"
"No," I mumbled with unspoken fear, I didn't know who he was, but I definitely knew to fear him.
Continuing on in his little charade that seemed to amuse him, he replied, "I had on good authority
that he had intended on giving this to you." He paused for effect, perhaps seeing if he'd get a reaction out
of me. Seeing practically none, he continued with a laugh, "He actually had intentions on proposing to
you! I do believe that that mousy little man was actually in LOVE with you!"
He continued on talking, but memories, small and shredded, but still memories mesmerized my
mind. I could remember eyes, eyes as blue as the sea shrouded in the silkiest of ebony hair. Those
eyes…those eyes belonged to a man…A MAN WHO HAD DIED FOR ME.
I interrupted his little tirade of 'and it's not surprising considering how he went at me with that
dagger but…' and mumbled, "Anton…" I was shocked, anyone could believe it. I never, NEVER thought
he'd propose to me, but now he's dead…
"Aah…I see you finally remember. Good," the man replied, but then continued on. "Now it's
time you remember something else. Do you remember how you came into little Anton's custody?"
He was mocking Anthony and me but I had to recall that memory. It came through foggy at first,
but I eased the memory out, "I remember… I was bound in shackles…just like these…"
"Yes, just like those…" he coaxed, somewhat mockingly with that smile of his.
"I was bound on the street…bound to be sold to a man…"
"As what…?"
Then the thought hit me, like a ton of bricks right to the stomach as I doubled over.
"I was to be sold to a man as a woman of a harem, sold to…to…"
Leaning over to lift up my chin, he said, " No need to spit it out, but…do you know the name of
the man who was supposed to purchase you?"
Fear encased me as I tried desperately to wrench my face from his grasp as I replied, "Kageno,
Hafed Kageno…"
My head hung at that one. I knew that man looked familiar. When Hafed came to buy me, he
brought his son. A man with brown hair…green eyes…
I looked up with total fear in my eyes as he danced around the room, " Yes! Ding! You've got the
right answer! And guess who is son is!"
"You."
My voice was shaky as I spoke.
"Yes, you ARE correct. Now it is my turn to claim my prize…YOU!"
He advanced at me as I screamed. I let out an earth-shattering howl as I kicked and screamed. He
got close to me and I bit him.
Taking a step back to inspect whatever wound I may have left, he turned and squatted down near
to me as I scooted against the wall.
"Ah…ah… unnn..." He tutted at me, swinging his index finger back and forth in front of my face.
"I'LL be the only one doing the biting here."
With that he gagged me with some awful disgusting scented silk, and bound my legs tighter so I
couldn't kick him as he carried me off to his bed.

Securing me to the bed with those damn chains, he replied, "Too bad your little Anton couldn't
stop me. I guess he bought you in vain…Oh well, you're mine for the taking. He may have died a virgin,
but you won't!"

~~~ Meanwhile, Serenity… ~~~


I began to cry, for I could hear them, every word they said, every single word from my little cage
by the window. And now… now he was… Oh my god! I can't say it! I just can't say it!
"You're mine now bitch! Mine!" I heard the man yell from the other room and I began to wail.
My mom, oh god, Angie-mama!

I was suddenly brought from my tears as a rough looking man bashed a board against my cage.
"Shut up!" He slurred, obviously drunk. "You're going to have to learn the ways around here, so
you better stop your crying and get used to it. Your 'mommy' is the bosses biggest prize…And these," He
gestured to Makoto and Rei, "are OUR prizes." At this Makoto stared at Damion as he and Jarod struggled
against their chains, Damion's eyes on fire.
Stepping up to Damion, the drunken man hollered, "Shut up! She's not yours anymore!" He
slammed Damion against the wall, knocking him out, then Jarod.
"Damion!" Makoto yelled in tears as the rough man grabbed her ponytail and dragged her off.
I had to get my attention on something else, anything else as I stared out the window and at the
fire erupting from near the palace, the ashened flames mesmerizing my teary eyes, coaxing my silent tears
as my mommy screamed into the night.

```That same day, Endymion```

I had slept for most of the night, most of the day, my dreams being plagued by the little girl that I
had not seen since she was four. For some reason I kept on dreaming that she was drowning as before, but
I couldn't get to her, and she'd die. I'd always awake after that, only to fall asleep an hour later, not willing
to deal with my guard, or anyone else for that matter.
But now I couldn't avoid anyone anymore. I had to go to my father's funeral; he was to be burned.
I watched silently in my mother's embrace as my father's body was set a flame before my eyes. My guard
stood respectively to the side as well as Artemis and Luna to the other side, their translator, Mamoru,
behind them.
I will not let anyone know this, but I cried that night, my heart heavy not only from my own
misery, but also for the little girl I had seen drown repeatedly within my dreams.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Author's Notes ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Okay! I'm sorry! Don't hurt me! Please???
Send me whatever comments you like whether it is flames or tears, just please no viruses.

The summary:

Yes, Endymion did jump, but Artemis saved him. The Kunzite chewed him out for turning his
back on the world/kingdom. Angela was tormented by her captor about how Anton had bought her out
from under his father's nose, and that she was supposed to be Hafet Kageno's gift to Aerin, her captor. She
was then raped. Over in the next room, Serenity was held captive with the others from the wagon. Serenity
could hear everything in the next room over, and cried. A burly man told her to shut up and then attacked
Damion, Jarod, and Makoto. In order to blot out the world, Serenity stares out at the burial fire that
Endymion himself is staring at. Both are silently crying, but Endymion can feel Serenity's pain as he is
haunted by dreams of her drowning at the age of four while he slept hours before the ceremony.
That is all. It'll get less dark later. I promise!

~Lady Hiko