AN: As promised, I have uploaded this next chapter quickly. Four days for the same story is a record for me so far. I did have one reviewer commenting that this story should be rated PG-13, rather than R and coincidentally this chapter that I have written is the reason I choose to rate it R. I have intended the story to be R rated but it was a slow start. Since we are on the subject, I do want to make it clear that this is a R rated story, which means I wrote this story for mature readers. When I say mature, it doesn't necessarily mean age. Rather, I intend this for readers who are able to appreciate violence and sexual content in the story as plot devices or as a way of developing a character through giving them such experiences. This will be a very intense chapter with violence and sexual content, so consider this additional warning on top of the R rating. I wanted to build up relationships wroth with agony and tension. Well enough of my ranting and on with the story. Please tell me what you think.

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Chapter Five

"The guards!" said Endymion, grabbing Serenity's hand and pulling her towards the bed. Serenity allowed herself to be led under the bed as fear invaded her limbs.

"Hurry, hide," said Endymion as he pulled the coverlet of the bed up and guided her under the bed once more. Quickly, Serenity obeyed, rolling under the bed and trying to still her fear. Endymion surveyed the floor with a quick glance to make sure nothing peeked out from under the bed which could give the Princess away before turning to face the guards.

Once again four uniformed men, their faces devoid of any expression entered the room. Without any preliminaries, they seized the prince, clasped new bindings on him and hauled him out of the room.

"Not again," muttered Endymion to himself, recognizing the hall where Beryl's room was located. The brainless guards pushed him into the doorway, a particularly rough push propelled him onto his knees, jarring his kneecaps painfully.

Endymion found himself staring at the hem of a dark blue dress. Several rough hands held his head down so that he could not even raise his head to look beyond the floor and Beryl's gown. He tried to struggle but the grips of the guards only strengthened and his head began to throb as they tugged on his hair mercilessly to keep him on his knees.

"Endymion, you have disappointed me," said Beryl, her voice calm.

Endymion stopped struggling at the tone of her voice.

"You leave me little choice Prince, but to teach you a few lessons. Namely that no one disobeys the Queen of the Negaverse. Your life and the lives of your people are all in my hands. Your pointless resistance has greatly angered me, and now you will have to be punished."

Endymion felt a deep foreboding at Beryl's confident words. She had control of herself again and that made her dangerous. His mind frantically raced to think of a way to extricate himself from this predicament but came up blank. He was held too tightly and Beryl was too near. He had no further time to think as he heard her instruct the guards to take him to the bed.

He was dragged to the bed and then swiftly rendered on his back. His limbs ached from his struggles and the lack of nourishment. Before he could even begin to struggle again, the leash that the guards used to drag him to Beryl's presence were removed but instantly replaced with sturdy iron cuffs connected to the posts of the bed. Endymion found himself spread-eagled on the large four poster bed, each limb stretched uncomfortably.

"Leave. I will take care of the rest myself," Beryl said, dismissing the guards. The door closed behind them with a wave of her hand and she calmly made her way into the darken bedroom where Endymion was chained helplessly.

Endymion craned his head as much as he could in his position to keep his eye on the witch. The dimly lit room made it difficult to see much, but he could not miss her silhouette which steadily stepped towards him.

She stopped near his head and looked down upon his face. A glint of satisfaction lit her eyes as she surveyed his magnificent body stretched out before her. Bending down, she stroked his cheek leisurely, savouring the fact that he could do nothing but lay there and await her pleasure. She dipped her head and gave him a swift hard kiss on the mouth, pulling away as he turned his head to break the kiss.

Her anger was banked by the knowledge that he could not escape her. She felt a thrill surge through her at the thought of what she was going to do to this man. Climbing onto the bed, she trailed her fingers on his chest, feeling the taunt muscles tightening underneath at her touch. His heart was racing and although she hoped it was with desire, she was also pleased if it was fear. She would be feared if nothing else.

Endymion gritted his teeth at the touch of the hated woman. He felt fury and rage, blending with frustration like an endless whirlpool in his brain. His arms and legs were strained and stretched with tension, wanting to unleash their strength to hurl this woman from his presence but prevented from doing so as he was helplessly strapped to the bed. His forehead beaded with perspiration at his restrained exertions.

"You damn bitch, you make me sick," he spat, hoping to enrage her once again to send him from her sight. Beryl continued to sweep her hands across his chest. Endymion felt greater apprehension as his taunt went ignored.

Delighted with the Prince powerless under her, Beryl began to strip the clothes from him. Her long, painted nails raked aside the fabric of his pants effortlessly like the sharpest knife cutting into silk. Endymion growled in helpless rage at her violation as she stopped to stroke every part of him that she uncovered. He had never, in all his life felt such a shame as this moment, where his very body was at the mercy of another.

He had enjoyed many sexual escapades in the past with countless lovers, but in all those times, he had always been the one in control. He had thoroughly enjoyed himself with each of his partners and never had any of them been unwilling. Endymion had made sure to pleasure the women with him and they had always parted on good terms, although many of them had been disappointed at the farewell. This violation gave him no pleasure, only stripped the last bit of dignity that he had.

Straddling the struggling Prince, Beryl rubbed herself against him, feeling a surge of lust that weakened her limbs. Endymion bucked underneath her, attempting to dislodge her but she sat firmly atop of him. By now he was hurtling insults at her unceasingly, cursing her to all the hells he could think of. She glanced at his still limp organ and felt the bitter rage of humiliation build again at his disinterest in her. It was inconceivable that she could feel such bone searing lust for him and yet he none for her.

Clamping down on her mounting rage, she unhooked the clasp that held her dress from the back freeing her large breasts, then climbed forward to present them to his view. He snarled still attempting to dislodge her in his struggles, his teeth bared like a wild animal in rage. She got off the bed to allow the gown to completely slide off her body, pooling in a heap at her feet. Even with her voluptuous body exposed for his eyes, his sex laid flaccid with disinterest.

Beryl struck her fist into his stomach in wrath as her frustration and anger at his latest insult overflowed like a kettle boiled too long. "Insolent man!" she screamed and turned to wretch open a drawer of a small cabinet with jerky hands. He has insulted her for the last time, she seethed.

Endymion felt the cool, startling touch of metal against his manhood and looked to see Beryl's hands quickly and efficiently securing a metallic ring against his organ. She turned to look at him her eyes wide with fanatic triumph.

Lifting up an elaborate jewelled bracelet she began to laugh almost insanely. "This is your punishment Prince, one that I have especially designed to unman you," she screamed, laughing again uncontrollably. Sliding the bracelet onto her arm, she pressed the jewel on its center with her other hand.

A burst of pain struck Endymion in his lower regions, wrenching an agonizing cry from his lips. He could hear Beryl laughing uncontrollably at his cry of pain. Her fingers pressed the jewel again and other wave of pain, as powerful as the previous ripped through his loins and Endymion felt himself jerking upward, attempting to curl up to shield himself but unable to as he was still helplessly chained down. The searing pain seemed to explode in his abdomen as well. Endymion bit down on the sides of his mouth to prevent himself from crying out as another wave of pain hit him. The agony tore through him like a thousand daggers and he struggled to keep from passing out from it, the feeling of nausea also throbbing in the back of his brain.

Beryl continued to laugh uncontrollably as she continued torturing the Prince, his cries echoing in the halls.

***

Serenity paced the room feverishly, stopping every few strides and balling parts of her gown in her fists in worry. She had spent breathless moments underneath the bed after Prince Endymion had been led away and only came out after a long time had passed with no sound from the room. The door had been sealed after the guards led the Prince out, leaving her trapped alone within the room.

Pushing her bangs off her forehead, Serenity starred unseeingly into the carpet, trying to still her nervous motions. A dark and terrible fear rolled in the pit of her stomach for the Prince who had been led away so suddenly. Something was happening, and it was so terrible that she could not even imagine it. This horrifying sensation grew with each passing moment.

He had been gone a long time and Serenity knew that she would never stop agonizing until she saw him again. The possibility of never seeing the Prince again clawed at her tender heart, bringing tears into her eyes. Although she had just met him briefly, she felt deep in her soul that she would never be complete unless she could be with him again.

Serenity jumped to alertness as the faint sounds of metal scrapping the floor was heard from a distance. She quickly hurried back to hide under the bed, once again pulling her endless hair and dress in and tucking them from view. The sounds neared and Serenity shook with fear as she heard the low moan from what sounded like a wounded animal.

The sounds entered the room and after several moments of movement that sounded like chains being unhooked and then hooked again, the footsteps left the room, leaving only the sound of loud breathing with a low moan occasionally interrupting the breathing.

After waiting for several more moments, Serenity cautiously crept out from under the bed to see what was in the room with her. Her heart squeezed painfully in fear at the thought that it might not be the Prince.

A gasp of horror escaped her lips and her eyes widened in shock at the sight of the Prince curled into a ball, on the floor, naked. His hands and feet were each bound again to the chains that attached to the holders in the room. Low moans of pain came from his prone body. Without thinking Serenity quickly rushed to him calling his name.

"Endymion! Endymion!" She touched his arm tentatively but he struck out at her and gave a low growl, pushing her away from him. She could not make any sense of what he was moaning but the sight of his obvious pain brought fresh tears to her eyes.

The sight of Endymion's continual pain propelled her in action. Running to the bed, she pulled the blanket from it and rushed back to Endymion's naked form. She threw the blanket around him and tightly embraced him from behind, holding on despite his struggles. He resisted like a wild man fighting a trap, the chains shaking and clanking against the floor as he struggled. She spoke softly to calm him, smoothing back his sweat matted hair from his forehead.

Under her gentle persistence, he finally calmed, his breathing evened out until it was back to a normal rhythm. Eyes closed, he laid curled on his side, clutching the blanket which wrapped him from the neck down. Serenity continued her soothing murmurs and stroking his hair for several more moments. He stirred slightly after a while, his dark lashes lifting to reveal a wary pair of eyes which stared numbly before sharpening on Serenity's face. He sat up alert, still clutching the blanket.

Serenity felt her whole body ease with joy at his look. Unshed tears of relief shimmered in her eyes and she smiled almost shyly at him. He seemed to recognize her. He was back to his senses. Her happiness faltered at his grim, stony expression.

"Endymion, I was so afraid for you," she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. She buried her face against his shoulder. "I was so afraid that I would never see you again."

"Serenity...." he said hesitantly, his voice hoarse from his screams. She was still hugging him, her warmth pressed against him, comforting him.

"Endymion. What happened?" she asked, pulling back to look at him.

He stiffened at her question, the mind numbing pain that seemed to strip him of his sanity still painfully fresh in his mind. He looked away from her concerned face, unwilling to let her see too much in his eyes.

Serenity felt him withdraw from her and knew that he was not going to say anything. She stood up and walked over to the water basin and wet a small face towel. Walking back to Endymion who still sat on the floor, she gently wiped his face.

Endymion's heated flesh welcomed the cool feel of the towel on his face. He tried to block out the nightmarish memory of Beryl's unending laughter as she repeatedly pressed the jewel on the bracelet that sent shocks of pain rocketing through him. At one point, it felt like it was never going to end. Just when he thought he was turned inside out and was almost ready to beg for mercy, she had stopped abruptly. Even without her sending fresh pain through his system, his body still shuddered with aftershocks. His limbs had been drained of all strength and the guards had carried him back to the room.

The haze of pain he had experienced had been so intense it was almost too painful to be true, but the heavy weight of the metallic ring still imprisoning him was evidence that it had been all too real. Just then another aftershock of pain rocked through him and he curled up once again in agony.

Serenity rushed to him, seeing the tremors seize Endymion as he groaned hoarsely. "Endymion, what is wrong?" She looked at him clutching his stomach. "Are you wounded? Let me see," she said attempting to draw the blanket down.

"No!" he shouted, pulling the blanket around him tighter. He could not let her see him like this, strapped with that thing. "No," he said, more calmly, aching at the sight of her terrified expression. He did not want to hurt her, but he just could not expose her to what he had been through.

"It is all right Serenity. Please, go to the wardrobe and get me something to wear," he said trying to sound normal so as not to frighten her.

She nodded, uncertainty still in her eyes, before walking to the wardrobe. She pulled out a shirt and a pair of pants, similar to the ones he had been wearing before, and gave them to him. Walking into the next room, she made sure to turn away so that he could dress.

Endymion struggled with the shirt and pants Serenity brought him. The pants were ingeniously designed so that he could put them on even though his legs were shackled with the leg irons, but his shaking hands made it more difficult than it should have been. After struggling for a few more minutes, he was dressed again as before. He shrugged off the blanket and stood unsteady on his feet. His strength was slowly returning as the pain subsided.

A dull throbbing headache still beat in the back of his skull, but the latest encounter with Beryl left him more determined than ever to escape this hell hole. Walking towards the bedroom where Serenity had gone to give him some privacy, he gently called her name.

"Serenity, I am fine now," he said, trying to sound as normal as possible despite his strained throat, hoarse from his cries of pain.

"Prince Endymion.. ."

"We must escape Serenity, before we can be separated again. You have been gone from your room a long time now and it is a wonder that no one has found out yet. We have no time to loose, you must help us escape this place," said Endymion, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"But I might not be able to-"

He silenced her lips with a gentle touch of his fingers. "I have seen your power. You have released me before and you can do it again. There is no other choice," he said, his stormy blue eyes, filled with determination.