Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
To the Reader:
Chapter Two has been completely changed! Some parts may seem confusing, but I assure you, as the story moves on, you will be able to piece together all the bits and pieces.
On another note. HELP! If someone would be able to let me know what the usually pairing between the five sailor scouts are with Endymion's generals, that would be great. I've read so many different stories, with so many different pairings, that I am very confused! I'm ashamed to say that I'm not very clear with the appearances and personalities of the generals, so if anyone knows of a website that has a good character guide, it would much appreciated! Or, if someone would just mind giving me the general synopsis of each general's characterization, that'd be great too!
Thanks for reading!
Start Chapter Two
As the darkness passed through, the rocks shed tears. The winds screamed in anguish while the shadows joined together in front of a fire roaring in anger. And then, silence.
After a while, a light hum began to slowly emerge from the shadows, when suddenly, a gleam sliced through them all, and red was spilled on to the barren earth, fueling the vivacious fire nearby.
It was over. They had been born.
----------
"You are late."
"I had other business to attend to."
"You seem to be forgetting your priorities."
"I know my priorities!"
"Good. Make sure you do not forget them. It is a privilege to be among us. Or have you forgotten that as well?"
"I know very well who I am and what I am a part of! I would not be the successor to the Red Throne otherwise."
"I would not be so sure if I were you. Your future path is not guaranteed. Things can change. People can change."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Oh, no! I would never dare anger the one so loved by the Red One."
"You mock me."
"You were late."
----------
Present
"Serenity!"
"Endy, just a moment. I need to..."
"You're fine, dear. We need to go," he growled through the door of their bedroom.
"Yes, but..."
The door burst open. "We're leaving, NOW!" He grabbed her violently by the wrist, dragging her down the marble staircase. "Her cloak, Edward."
"My lord," Edward stated as he handed Endymion the velvet black cloak.
Endymion began to throw the cloak over Serenity's shoulder, but stopped. His anger gone as his eyes grazed over her slim figure, savoring her beauty. "Breathtaking," he murmured in her ear as he stepped towards her to fasten the ties of the cloak.
"If only you had let me..."
"Delicious," he whispered as his tongue tasted her neck.
A crimson red blush spotted her cheeks. Becoming flustered, she hesitantly said, "Perhaps we should go."
"Now you're ready?" he chuckled lightly as he moved away from her and offered her his arm. "Shall we leave now, milady?"
"But of course, my kind sir."
"Am I only, a sir, to you?" he asked with a cocked eyebrow as they walked through the great doors that Edward held open for them.
"Not even," she said audaciously.
Sweeping her up into the carriage, he laughed loudly. As he proceeded to join her, a figure rushed towards them. "My lord!"
Lord Endymion turned around and approached the figure. Serenity saw the servant speak hurriedly as if in great panic. And then, Endymion's face contorted in anger only for a moment before all emotions were controlled. With a slight nod of understanding, Endymion once more entered the carriage.
"What's..." she was silenced by a glare. There was no use in talking to him; his infamous mask had reappeared.
Serenity sighed in response, knowing to remain silent. For she had learned her lesson long ago, to never go against what Endymion decreed.
Flashback
"My lady, a letter."
"Thank you, Edward." Serenity lightly touched the seal as she opened the folded letter.
My Dearest Serenity,
How I have missed you! For years I only dreamed of seeing you again, and upon my return I learned that you had left me - but I do not blame you. As much as it pains me that you will never be mine, know now, that I will never stop loving you. You will always be my Serenity.
For now, I can only wish to remain your dearest friend. Meet me at the Blue Room at noon today, unaccompanied. I know it is strange to ask you this, but danger lurks, and I only wish to see you before I must take my leave again.
Please Serenity, for our friendship and love. I will wait for you.
With all my love,
Seiya
"It has been too long," Serenity whispered longingly. "I must see him. Molly!"
"Yes, my lady?"
"Please have a bath prepared, I shall be going out for tea today."
End Flashback.
What a fool she had been then! If only Serenity had known how she was watched, how her husband had seen through her lies when he had asked where she was going. If only she had known, perhaps the pain would have never come. A tear slowly weaved its way down her cheek as she began to live in her memories.
"Serenity!" Endymion's voice shook her out of her stupor. "We're here." Cupping her face, he asked gently, "Are you all right?"
"What? Oh, yes! Perfectly. Something in my eye," she smiled brightly.
Her husband only frowned in response. She sighed; she would never be able to fool him.
As the carriage rolled to a stop, Endymion said, "Come, we have arrived. Put on a pretty smile, darling. Everyone is watching."
"But of course," she said quietly. She was forever playing a part, and Endymion was forever putting her in confusion. One moment he was mad, another he was happy. One moment he was caring, the next he was indifferent. She could not live like this much longer.
She was tired. Tired of his numerous moods, tired of following his every want and will. She no longer knew who she was. She no longer knew who he was. Well, she had never known who he was. In their first week of marriage he had demanded to know every bit of her. He possessed everything. Her body, soul, heart, and mind. She had struggled at first, unwilling to let him have everything. But there was no use. He won. He would always win.
She was so tired. So tired of having to struggle. So tired of having to live. She wished it would all end.
The ball itself was glamorous. The people that attended it were too. Everything was perfect. Everything was right, except her.
As usual, Endymion played the role of the attentive husband by dancing the first two dances with her. Afterwards he strolled towards the group, leaving Serenity with the wives. After all, she was not allowed to socialize with anyone else...
"Serenity, darling! You look lovely."
She laughed, "Never as lovely as you, Mina dear!"
"Ha! You flatter her too much," Lita exclaimed as she joined the two.
"Indeed. Have you not noticed that I am the beauty of this room?" Rei smiled.
"You four are too much!" Ami quietly noted.
"No, my dear. We are all too much. Have you not noticed how every man gazes upon us with lust?" Mina asked.
"And yet is unable to act upon it due to the fear of our husbands," Lita sighed. "Husbands take the fun out of everything."
"Why darling! That's the price we paid!" Mina scoffed.
"But must we?" Serenity asked quietly.
Deliberately ignoring her question, Mina continued, "You made quite a fashionably late entrance tonight, Serenity. Spending too much time getting ready? Or just too much time in the bedroom?" Mina said with a wriggle of her eyebrows.
"Mina!" Ami blushed. "It's not proper."
"Since when was Mina ever proper?" Rei exclaimed. "Serenity, there's no need to look so glum. You must play your part. And Mina is right. It was the price we paid."
"So Shakespeare was right then. 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,'" she quoted sadly.
"Serenity. I know it has been rough on you. But it's been like that for all of us. You just must learn to move on. Don't get caught up in one event. If we all did that, then I don't think any of us would have gotten past the wedding night!" Lita exclaimed.
Nervous laughs circled the group.
She continued, "I am sure whatever Endymion did was only in rage, dear. Nothing serious. He cares deeply for you. It is very evident. Now cheer up and play your part, for he is looking this way."
Serenity gave a joyful laugh and thought, yes, play my part.
Serenity smiled at her friends, friends of her husband's choosing, of course. Every wife in the group was in a similar situation, and no one wished to bring it up. Serenity's glumness was not appropriate for the ball, a ball that society attended. After all, here, their only job was to laugh and smile happily. The comfort Serenity sought would not be found here.
"Do excuse me, darlings. I believe I need some fresh air," Serenity said as she made her way towards a balcony.
Her friends nodded in understanding. But if only they knew what she went through! Surely their husbands were not a bit like Endymion. Surely their husbands did not change their moods every second, always keeping them guessing, always keeping them in fear. Yet, surely they were not so loved, so held by strong arms at night with the promise of never letting them fall, never letting them go.
Never letting go, that was the problem that seemed to always be the problem...
Flashback
"Serenity! I am so glad that you came! For a while I feared that you would not show up," Seiya exclaimed as he stood up from the table to pull her out a chair.
"I must say it was a very unusual request on your part. The Blue Room? It's not exactly..."
"What you're used to? Yes, I apologize. After all, you have been living in luxury for a while and..."
"No, Seiya! I meant nothing of the sort. It's just that..." Looking around, Serenity was at a loss for words. After all, it was the Blue Room. A place that ladies or gentlemen, for that matter, never frequented. Oddly enough, many ladies and gentlemen were found there, for the Blue Room was infamous for housing the shady dealings of the upper society. Everyone went there, but no one was seen there. That, of course, was how society functioned in all aspects.
"Serenity, it has been so long," Seiya said gently as he changed the topic of conversation.
"Yes, it has been. You've changed so much," she commented as she looked at the face she once knew, the gay face had been replaced by one that had seen many dangers. His eyes no longer shone with innocence, but with knowledge and repressed anger. The male that sat before her was no mere boy, but a full-grown man.
"And you as well, Serenity. You have come to possess beauty that I never thought anyone but the goddess Aphrodite to have."
"You say too much, Seiya. I..."
"Serenity. I've dreamed of this day for so long. When I returned home, and found you gone, I was furious. You promised, and you..."
"My parents, Seiya. They wished for me to have..."
"A rich life?" he scoffed.
"Seiya. You don't understand, I..."
He took her hands. "I understand, Serenity. More than you will ever know. Now, I did not ask for you to come so we could argue. I only wished to see you, one last time."
"Nay. I have been in the country for well over a year. It's taken some time to seek you out. Your parents refused to speak to me, and your husband has you well hidden."
"Endymion?"
"Serenity, I wanted to warn you. Do you not understand? Do you not see the danger that lies waiting for you?"
Serenity paled. "You don't understand. He..."
"...doesn't love you! He's used you, and soon it will all be over. I fear for your life. Come, leave with me! We will be happy together! I never stopped loving you!"
"Nor I, but things have changed and..."
"I wish for you to say goodbye to your lover," a cruel voice interrupted. Startled, they both looked up to find, Endymion.
"Come, Serenity. I do believe tea time is over," he said with a mocking smile.
"Endy, it's not..."
She was silenced by a glare.
"She's not yours to have!" Seiya shouted.
"You're wrong. She very much belongs to me," he said maliciously as he tightly grasped Serenity's wrist to pull her up. "Now, there's no need to create a scene, sir."
"Endy! Really, I..."
"It's chilly outside. You should put on your cloak," he murmured as he gently placed it on her shoulders. "Good afternoon, sir," Endymion mocked as he tipped his hat to Seiya and ushered Serenity out the doors.
While walking towards the carriage, many of society's members commented on the perfection of their match. "Such a lovely couple!"
"It must have been a love match!" It seemed society never tired of watching the two.
"Oh, look! How sweet!" was commented as Lord Endymion was viewed kissing his wife gently by the ear.
Serenity, on the other hand, heard, "You will pay for this, you conniving bitch!"
End Flashback.
Tears trickled down Serenity's face as the memory began to play itself over and over again in her head until suddenly Endymion was by her side.
"Sweetheart. You are not yourself tonight," he murmured as he brought her into a tight embrace.
"I..."
"Shhh," he whispered. "I shall take you home. You are not well."
Serenity felt her tears wiped away and tried to manage a small smile as they entered the ballroom to make a last appearance. Endymion never let go of her hand as they left, giving her the support she needed. He never let go...
----------
Every step she took, every move she made, his eyes were on her. Always watching, always gazing, always there. It was not out of the ordinary for him to do so. He wasn't a stalker; he wasn't a crazed, delusional man. He was quite simply, her husband.
But he was not the only man to watch, to stare, to haunt her. There was another, quite unknown to the other two, but nevertheless, always there. He was waiting for the right moment to reappear in her life and reclaim what was once his.
End Chapter Two.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Praises? DO let me know! Post a review or email me at tinaetelfordyahoo.com!