Chapter One

"Bring him in; I would like to see this bold prince of Earth, Jadeite." The woman issued the command with a careless wave while atop her opulent throne. She lounged there content and exuding a lazy sexuality. Her figure flashed with a harsh sensuality with high breasts hugged in a strapless gown that seemed to have been just poured onto her figure from the breast downward making it a second skin. Her skin like all those tainted by the Negaforce had a purple-grey tinge. A jewel encrusted diadem encircled a high forehead and a mass of rippling red hair framed a beautiful face with sharp all seeing eyes that promised pleasure and pain. As Queen of the Negaverse, her command extended to the entire solar system now that the Moon Kingdom was crushed by the power she had harnessed from the people of earth and from the dark power of the Negaforce.

Jadeite bowed and gave the signal for the prisoner to be led in. Prince Endymion, prince of Earth and Illysion was unceremoniously dragged into the Queen Beryl's presence. It took four men to achieve this, even though the Prince was restrained with chains and had been imprisoned for days without food.

His eyes surveyed the dark throne room with contempt. For all of its high ceilings and breadth of space, the dark distorted mass of colours on the walls made the room a stifling place. Those midnight blue eyes marked the Queen with the same contempt, unyielding in its scorn.

Queen Beryl's slanted eyes appraised the struggling prince with an appreciative eye. Her lazy gaze swept over sleek and at the moment, strained muscles that showed between a torn shirt. Black fitted pants molded his legs that had the same lean muscle tone as the rest of his body. His hair was rumpled and stood in windswept disarray, shading his forehead and his eyes that despite this cover still blazed out at her with all his passionate anger. He was a fine specimen of a man. She chuckled at her own trite observation.

She rose from her throne and gracefully glided just in front of Endymion. "Beautiful Prince, your people have happily joined the Negaverse, your own generals have proclaimed the wisdom of this profitable alliance and yet you still resist," she cajoled with a siren's voice, her hand brushing across his left cheek.

Endymion jerked from her touch and shifted his intense glare to Jadeite. Betrayer, the look accused, but Jadeite continued to look towards the Queen. Endymion returned his glare to Beryl.

"I will not be a part of your doings witch, my people have been foolishly seduced, but I will not be so easily led and I will set them all free from your spell," the promise uttered in a growl.

Beryl threw back her hair as she laughed with delight. This beautiful prince was under her power, it was too wonderful. She will enjoy this. And she must have him.

"Seduced? And you cannot be dear Prince? Oh but do not be so sure of yourself. You are a man and by nature easily seduced. Do not claim a power that you do not hold. I know of many ways of seducing a man and how to make him beg for it." She laughed again.

"Take him away," she waved her command casually to the Jadeite and the guards. Turning from them she returned to her throne to think. The strong-willed prince could be a great challenge. She will consult with the great Negaforce for guidance and more power. It might be necessary when dealing with the prince of Earth.

***

Endymion flexed and stretched his arms to relieve the tension he felt from the guards jerking his chains. The chains still bound his arms, legs and around his neck, each then attaching to ornate chain holders on the back wall. They were long enough allowing him to move around the room dragging them. He surveyed his prison. It was not like the bare, dark one he had previously been kept it. This one was not like any kind of prison he had ever seen. The room was draped with heavy burgundy velvet from the coverlet on the bed, to the canopy top which seemed to merge with the wall hangings of the same fabric. The chest at the foot of the bed and the two large armchairs were upholstered in the same colour velvet. A few lighting orbs casted a dim light over the windowless room and a large oak armoire stood to the left of the bed. It almost looked like a normal room except for the chain holders that decorated the walls in a few strategic places.

Endymion gave his chains a good tug testing the chain holders on the wall. Solid. What did he expect? He walked over to the armoire and opened it, hoping to find something, anything that might help him out of these chains. The sound of metal on stone as his chains dragged on the uncarpeted parts of the floor made him grit his teeth in anger as the reality of his situation once again hit him. He had to find a way out at all costs.

He thought back to the events of the last few days that had happened so fast it was still a blur to him. His people had been restless for some time as rumors of the power of the Moon Kingdom had spread throughout his lands. He himself had felt a ripple of unease to find out that such a powerful kingdom looked down upon them in the heavens. To have such powerful beings possibly judging him and his people had raised his apprehensions, but he had been determined not to let a few rumors reduce his existence to fears of the unknown. As long as they left his people alone, then he would concentrate on the other duties he already had as Prince of Earth.

But it was not to be left alone as more and more people questioned the intentions of the Moon people. Matters became worst when people started reporting sightings of strange, beautiful beings appearing suddenly on Earth. Beautiful women would suddenly materialize in the forests and then vanish just as quickly when the villagers tried to pursue them. The villagers were sure they were the Moon people here to spy on them, or laugh at them.

Endymion had to listen to countless villagers and members of his court tell him about the mysterious women that were appearing, and how they possessed the power to appear and disappear in a moment. This was just a small amount of power of the Moon they said. They lived a life that was almost as long as eternity whispered the people. Their military power was so great that the people of Earth must be prepared to defend themselves from the Moon.

Endymion had done the best he could to quell these dangerous whispering and fears, but his efforts could not stem the tidal wave of fear building up. Even his closest generals Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite and Kunzite began to question him, at why he was not preparing to defend against the threat of the Moon.

It was then that this strange Queen Beryl appeared amongst his people feeding their fears and bringing it to the feverish pitch that led his people to launch a full attack on the Moon. She had approached him with offers of limitless power and the spoils from the Moon with her at his side as his Queen if he joined her. He had coldly rejected her ordering her from his court. His generals already loosing faith in him were seduced into following this false Queen and in a desperate and powerful battle, the Moon was destroyed, its people slaughtered but fighting to the bitter end with powers that he had never seen. Controlling the very elements, they had defended their Moon with all their might, but their few numbers could not defend against the multitude of war driven people from the Earth. Queen Beryl had also imbued his people with an aura that took away their fear of death. It made them fight like savages.

Endymion battled his own people that day, as they ruthlessly tried to kill anyone in their way, even him. The bloodlust in their eyes blinded them to everything despite their allegiance to him. He had desperately wanted to do something to stop the madness, he had even reached the beautiful ruler of the Moon, had seen the truth in her eyes which told him it was too late.

Then he was engaged in battle by creatures of sheer evil, demons that obeyed Beryl. She stood amidst the battle looking at him and offering him the chance to join her again. He responded by slaying one of her demons. He had slain two maybe three more before a powerful blast by Beryl herself slammed into him and then there was just darkness.

Endymion shook himself out of his reverie. Pulling the armoire doors opened, he rummaged around in it but found nothing but a few tunics which looked, from their size, like they were intended for him. They were also designed so that he could slip them on despite wearing chains. He shut the armoire doors in disgust.

The only other thing in the room was the bed and a small vanity table with a pitcher of water and a large bowl for him to wash his hands. He went to the pitcher of water and poured it into the bowl. Cupping the water in his hands, he washed his face and raked his wet fingers through his hair pushing the front locks away from his forehead. He surveyed the room again and then plopped down on one of the large chairs. As much as it pained him, he could do nothing but wait to see what Beryl had planned for him.