Hey people! Sorry this took so long, but I've been busy with
school..etc...anyway I hope you enjoy, if you have any questions or
suggestions please feel free to review and let me know about them...love you
all!!
To: SilverMo, my secret and Eo, Lady of Enchantment: I'm so glad your enjoying the story, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. Oh, and my secret you are right, Serenity will not be happy with this. And Lady of Enchantment, your reviews give me a lot of inspiration, which makes me want to write, so yeah, your reviews make me write faster. Thanks so much for your reviews, it means the world to me.
To: ConstantElation, Chikara, eternalfantasie: Thank you so much for your comments about my writing. You have no idea what your words mean to me. I try very hard to keep my story original and I've placed a lot of my own interpretations on the characters especially Endymion and Serenity. Thankyou once again.
To: me, duh: I will admit your review was less than flattering. I have read the story a "glass house." And after your comment I re read it. I can see what would have provoked your comment but you seemed to imply that I was plagiarising. If you read both stories carefully you can see the differences very clearly. I did not intentionally take that stories ideas. However many fan fic stories have influenced my writing. These include Moonlight Midnight Glory, Pyre and Redemption.
To: Deadly Diva. Endymion's true motives. As you said there are many possible reasons for his actions, and yes, that was the out of character behaviour that I was referring too. He can better explain his motives to you, and I will develop his character more in the upcoming chapters. You'll see why he's cold and manipulative, but not in this chapter. Not yet. I'm glad you enjoyed the new details about the scouts and generals, and I've gone into that further in this chapter. I apologise in advance for the cliff-hanger. I'd love to know what you think will happen. And once again, thankyou so much for your reviews, they mean so much to me.
Alright people, I'm sure your all sick of me by now. So on with the story.
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Fear not the men who swear you allegiance. They shall fight by your side to the day you die. Fear the men who fight under no flag, who have no loyalties. These men have no weakness.
From the diary of King Aura II Emperor of the Moon.
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He paced up and down, his dark boots clanging against the cold white marble. He could hear the sounds of the ocean below. The waves crashing on the jagged rocks in a rhythm as old as time itself. He tilted his head and let the salty winds scrape harshly against the bare skin of his face. It left his jet black hair dishevelled. He took another sip of wine from the crystal glass.
Empty.
He let his fingers trail along the glass, admiring its vulnerability, delighting in the power he possessed over the inanimate object. A sigh escaped his lips, coinciding with the memory of her soft skin. He knew only too well that his actions would provoke her. Yet it had been the only way for him to get what he desired.
The only problem was now, he did not know what he desired. His primitive instincts told him that all he desired was her body. Yet his inner voice told him he wanted more from her. This woman was more than a challenge, she was an equal. Her wit amused him, her elegance seduced him and her intelligence left him in awe. He swore quietly to himself. He had intended to confront her after the Queen had announced their engagement, to present her with an ultimatum that he would break the engagement if she honoured their bet.
He let the glass fall from his hands and watched as it fell on the rocks below. His resolve had shattered much the same way as the elegant glass had. Yet another sigh escaped his lips. The woman had poisoned him. He closed his eyes and let the sound of the ocean calm his nerves. A smile graced his lips. Perhaps the marriage he had suggested was not such a bad idea. For a moment his eyes darkened.
It was the only way she would consent to be his.
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That night all that could be heard in the dinner hall was the sound of knives and forks clattering on china. I refused to look at him. I was still fuming from our fight during the masquerade. I let my eyes roam the room, and they settled on the Queen. A dangerous smile was dancing on her lips, one that implied she had gotten what she desired.
A shiver ran up my spine.
"The stars are uneasy. I have a strange feeling about tonight." Nephrite slowly whispered in my ear. I let my glance fall to Jadeite, who was running his index finger along his chin, something he only did when waiting for the unexpected. Malachite was scanning the room slowly, his body tense waiting for attack. Zoicite was deep in thought, his eyes darting towards the different exists of the room, planing a manoeuvre. Damien's gaze met my own, a grim frown on his lips.
We all sensed something was wrong.
And we were right.
The Queen slowly took up her crystal wine glass and nudged it gently with her fork, gaining the attention of the table. The menacing smile never left her lips.
"I have an announcement to make." I glared at her, letting the many possibilities run through my mind. My breaths were getting short and hurried, my senses stretched to breaking point.
I could never have expected what happened next.
"I have the pleasure of announcing the engagement of Princess Serenity to The Prince of Earth, Endymion." There was an unmistakable glee underlying her words.
Silence.
For long moment I stared at her, the shock running through my veins. It was followed by a burst of red hot anger. My hands twitched for a sword. How dare she do this? How dare she make me her pawn? I forced myself to stay calm, to remain seated. I would not let her have the pleasure of me loosing my temper.
"I have never entered into such an agreement." I whispered, my voice shaking with rage. I could feel the eyes of the entire hall join mine on the Queen, waiting to see her next move.
"You have no right to question my authority. Is it not enough that I let you, a murderer, come into the palace? I shall not let you further contaminate these walls. You should be on your knees thanking me, you ungrateful disobedient wench." Her words were said with a calm indifference, her gaze meeting my own. She was attempting to provoke me, to force me to react in front of the entire court and prove her words true. I could see through her trap. I had to remain calm to out-manoeuvre her, for it was the only way I could avoid the engagement. I rose silently and let my eyes pierce hers.
"Your highness, I advise that you do not offend the leader of your army. If you recall, it is to me that their loyalties lie. I recommend that you not do anything that would jeopardise our relationship. But perhaps I am too hasty. You are well aware that if you did so, you would quite likely loose your army and thus your power over this planet." For an instant she flinched, unsure of how to respond. Her eyes burned with a riddle of anger and hate.
"If you do not comply with my agreement with the Earth, I will execute all those who defended you when you returned from exile. I shall force you to hear their screams as they beg for their lives. By the time you get to the army it would already be too late my dear." Her lips had not moved but I could hear her voice clearly. I quickly blocked off my mind, for I had not been aware that the Queen had telepathic powers. I could feel myself trembling and tears of anger and frustration welling into my eyes. I turned slowly and removed myself from the hall as calmly as I could. Once outside I ran.
It seemed that only after I had left the rest of the room regained their senses. Damien threw his napkin onto the table, gaining the attention he desired. He gazed at the Queen, the anger only too plain in his countenance.
"If you force her into this, you shall break any form of emotional tie that we share." The words were whispered through clenched teeth. The Queen gazed at him like an insignificant servant.
"You gave up all our emotional ties when you defended that criminal." She let her gaze fall onto the entire room "I shall not tolerate anyone challenging my authority." She sat down and resumed eating. The rest of the night passed in awkward silence, with the Promised Knights directing heated gazes towards the Terran prince.
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He had gone to the palace training grounds in order to find her. Yet the room had been cold and empty. A sigh escaped Endymion's lips as he walked towards the wall and let his gloved fingers run over the steel blade of a sword. Before the Queen's announcement he had believed marriage to be the perfect solution to his dilemma. For he would finally be able to bed Serenity, and when he tired of her there was nothing stopping him from seeking comfort elsewhere.
Yet her reaction had surprised him. He had not expected her to fall to her knees and accept the marriage. Although he would not admit it, the fact that she had fought the engagement so fervently had hurt. He had expected her to be mad, to yell at him, to scream her outrage. Yet she had left the hall without acknowledging his existence.
"What have I done?" For the first time in his life Endymion was beginning to doubt his actions. He did not believe that he had feelings for the woman, yet he could not dismiss the notion entirely.
The sound of the doors being thrown open cut through his thoughts. He let his gaze fall on the intruders, and there stood Damien and Jadeite. The mere sight of him seemed to evoke anger in both men. For a moment it seemed that the two men were conversing silently with each other. This did not surprise Endymion, for he knew that the Promised Knights were granted gifts of telepathy. After a few moments the two seemed to reach an agreement.
Endymion watched as Damien took long strides towards him, his golden hair that so much resembled his sister's flying around him. His jaw was clenched and his green eyes ablaze. He stopped no more than a meter in front of him. Damien slowly removed his pristine white glove. For a few moments the two men stared at each other no words passing between them. Then suddenly Damien slapped Endymion across the check with his glove. He then slowly let the glove fall from his hands to the floor.
Endymion could feel the sharp sting in his check but his expression did not change. He knew well that he had no hope of defeating a Promised Knight, yet he was not one to take his honour lightly. He removed his own black glove and let it fall to the floor.
"You are a fool to think you can fight me." Damien's voice hissed, cutting through the tension.
"And you lack sense if you think fighting me will endear you to your sister." He let his gaze fall on Jadeite. "I presume that he will not intervene?" Damien let a soft chuckle caress his lips.
"He will not. Go home to Earth, Prince, and all shall be forgotten. For I will not let you harm my sister."
"I was under the impression that your sister made her own decisions."
"So you force me to fight you. Pick your weapon carefully." Damien's voice was cold, his patience running thin. Endymion drew his sword and the two men circled each other. Damien's superior skill was evident from the very first strike. Yet Endymion managed to hold his own against him. After some time Damien's lack of patience caused him to falter, and Endymion used this moment to trip Damien. The moment Damien made contact with the ground Endymion felt something warm slowly severing his flesh.
The force of the unknown attack caused him to fly backwards and hit the back wall. When he looked up he saw Jadeite with his arm extended, glowing. Endymion ignored the pain shooting from his abs and got back to his feet. He watched as Jadeite slowly prepared for another attack. Endymion braced himself for the impact. Yet it never came. He watched as Jadeite was slowly lifted from the ground and thrown to the back wall.
"Hardly a fair fight." My words echoed off the marble walls as I gazed angrily at Jadeite.
"He was about to harm your brother." Jadeite replied out of breath from the attack. His hair was dishevelled, otherwise he showed no injury. I let my gaze fall to Damien who was sitting groggily on the floor his hand on the back of his neck.
"You know well that Damien could have handled him." I was about to continue my lecture when my gaze fell to the two gloves side by side on the floor. I can't begin to describe the anger that went through me at that sight. I closed my eyes and forced myself to retain my composure. Slowly I walked towards Endymion, he was clutching his stomach in an attempt to hide his injury. I didn't understand the emotion that went through me when I saw that he had been hurt. I reached out to help him but he moved passed me and left the room. He had believed it to be pity.
I slowly moved to the door. I had no intention of following him; I knew well enough that his pride needed time to heal as well as his body. Yet his absence allowed my anger to return. As I reached the door I let my gaze fall on my brother and best friend. Jadeite turned away, avoiding my eyes while Damien rose to his feet and swore under his breath.
"Never again." I uttered the words just with enough volume for them to be able to hear. As I walked down the corridor I could hear the sound of Jadeite's fist making contact with the wall in frustration.
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Mina closed her eyes and let her instincts guide her. Slowly she pulled the bow a little further and then released it. She opened her eyes to see her arrow fly straight towards the centre of the target. Again.
"Impressive, but your stance is weak and needs improvement." Mina turned quickly at the sound of his voice. Malachite had uttered the words with pure indifference. He slowly pulled his hands through his hair, and tied it back. He then proceeded to gather his equipment and move in another direction. Mina tossed her hair with arrogance.
"I suppose you could do better?" A smirk crossed his lips, and slowly he made his way back towards her.
"Take it back another 500 meters." He commanded one of the palace pages. Mina stared at him for a few minutes. She had been shooting it from a distance of 100 meters. She began cursing herself silently as she remembered he was one of the Promised Knights. "Now take your shot." He commanded quietly. She placed another arrow into her bow. She tilted her head, her lemon blonde hair swaying to her movements. She closed one eye aiming carefully. Then she let the arrow fly. To her great embarrassment she missed the target.
Malachite smiled gently at her. He then took his own bow, loaded it carefully, pulled it back and let the arrow fly. Mina stared at him in shock; he had not even aimed properly. She watched as the arrow flew towards the target.
Dead centre.
"I think I've proved my point." He smirked, and then started to walk away from her.
"Can you teach me to do that?" Mina could feel a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. It was not that she didn't want to learn, far from it in fact. It was just that her flirtatious nature couldn't let an opportunity like this pass either.
"Alright." Malachite stepped behind her and instructed her to load her bow. When she did he placed his hands on her hips and slowly turned them, he then let his hand slide to her stomach and pushed it back a little. Mina closed her eyes for a moment, relishing in his touch. After a few seconds she quickly opened her eyes, realising how foolish she must look. She prayed that he hadn't seen her. Unfortunately for him he had. She could feel his breath on her cheek and his body pressed into her back as he corrected the grip of the bow. "Let it go." She let the arrow fly, this time it just missed the target.
"The princesses of Venus were never meant to be warriors. They're made to love, and be loved, by men." He gently squeezed her waist. When she turned around to face him, he was gone.
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"There have been more than five attacks in the past week in the following villages." Artemis pointed to several locations on the map. They were in a small room, unfortunately due to the recent events only Malachite, Zoicite and Nephrite were present. Malachite slowly read the reports and shook his head in disgust.
"What could be the motive behind such ruthless attacks?" He asked, his eyes darkening with anger.
"The usual reasons. Slaves, money, greed." Zoicite replied, studying the map closely. Already he was beginning to identify a pattern.
"It seems that someone is trying to feed a rather large army." Nephrite whispered, as he glanced at the three other men.
"If that is the case, then we have a large battle on our hands." Malachite replied, his eyes grim.
"Do we know who is leading the attacks?" Nephrite asked.
"I believe it is a small group situated in the shadow realm. They call themselves the Nega-moon family. I believe the leader goes by the name of Diamond." As he was explaining this he took a picture out of his coat and placed it on the table. The photo was of a handsome man with blazing silver hair.
"He has interesting eyes." Malachite remarked, his tone detached.
"Indeed. They are the colour of ice."
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"I'm sorry, I did not mean to intrude on your privacy." Zoicite stated sheepishly. He had gone to the library in order to drown out the events of the day. He let his eyes wander over the princess of Mercury. Her short blue hair was clipped back and dark rimmed glasses sat perched on her petite nose. She was intently reading an ancient novel.
"Not at all, please, you are not disturbing me sir." She said without looking at him. However he did not fail to notice a faint blush staining her cheeks.
"My friends call me Zoicite. Sir makes me sound terribly old don't you think?" Amy could not help but chuckle at this. Zoicite's gaze fell on an antique chess table, and a smile danced on his lips. "Would you care to play?" For a moment she hesitated, and then she simply nodded. For long moments they played in silence, each occasionally stealing glances at the other. Both believed themselves to be very subtle, although both failed miserably.
"What's troubling you?" Her words were unexpected.
"There have recently been attacks on Mafajar, Sirocco, and Toldistine. All three locations are believed to have been attacked by the same men. I'm trying to predict were they strike next." He remarked while still half concentrating on the game.
"Well, what were the men looking for?"
"Supplies, men." He answered his tone detached.
"Davenport."
"Excuse me?"
"Davenport holds an abandoned armoury. The Queen believed the weapons held within it to be old fashioned so she abandoned it."
"Yet old fashioned weapons can still be effective." He gazed at her with newfound respect, and smiled. They played until the early morning and then both were forced to leave their game unfinished in order to obtain some sleep. As she was walking away Zoicite caught her wrist and gently pressed her knuckles against his lips.
"It has been a pleasure princess." He smiled as she hurriedly returned to her room, slightly flustered.
Only a black king and a white queen remained on the board.
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I stared at his door for what seemed like an eternity. I was in a heated argument with myself debating whether or not to enter. In many ways I feared that if I went in I wouldn't have the strength to walk back out before the night was through. A sigh escaped my lips as I remembered the sight of his hand clutching his wound. Slowly I opened the door, and stepped in with my head held high. He was standing on his balcony in black breeches. A white shirt was hanging carelessly over his shoulders unbuttoned at the front. The wind slowly ruffled his hair and danced with the soft material. He slowly raised a small glass to his mouth and let the liquid caress his lips ever so slightly.
The mere sight of him was enough to set my senses on fire.
"So the only way to lure you to my bedroom is through pity." His voice caused me to jump slightly. His voice held no regret or underlying sadness. He was merely stating a fact. I walked up to him slowly and gently stood beside him, tilting my head allowing the breeze play with my hair. After long moments I gained the courage to speak.
"I didn't come here out of pity." I could feel his gaze on me, yet I continued to stare out to the vast ocean. He cupped my chin gently and turned my face so I was looking up at him.
"Then why did you come here?" His voice was soft, like a sensual wine flowing from his lips to my ears. I turned my head away refusing to answer his question. A sigh escaped his lips at my silence. I slowly glanced at him from under my lashes assessing the cuts that were on his skin and the bandage that hung around his waist.
"Do I pass your examination, chère?" Though smirk on his face was infuriating I smiled at the nickname. This time he had uttered the words with something that could almost pass for tenderness.
"Let me see that." I nudged my head towards the bandage.
"It's nothing." He replied, smiling slightly.
"Then there would be no reason to keep me from seeing it." Slowly I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed off the white shirt. My heart started racing as I felt his warm breath on the skin of my neck. I gently unwrapped his bandage trying hard not to cause him any pain. I could feel my insides churn at the sight of his wound. The skin had slowly been severed from his flesh. The surrounding skin had been burnt badly and had erupted in blisters.
"It's not as bad as it looks." He whispered calmly, flinching slightly as my hand accidentally touched the wound.
"This may feel a little strange." I looked up at him to see confusion flicker through his eyes. As the Galaxy Knight I had the power to call on any of the powers of the other knights. Although during the time I had their power they would be unable to use it. I closed my eyes slowly and called on Damien's healing abilities. I knew he wouldn't be pleased that I had taken his power without permission, but he was the one who had started this mess. I could feel his power slowly seep into me and intermingle with my own. I opened my eyes knowing that they would now be a blazing green. I gently laid my hand on Endymion's wound, within seconds we were both drenched in a green light. Slowly the burnt and scared flesh started to peel off and in a matter of seconds it had fallen away completely without leaving a trace to show that it had once existed.
"Thankyou." He whispered the word quietly. For long moments we simply stood in silence gazing out into the see, watching the never-ending cycle of waves.
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"You're not very good at taking advice." He cringed as he heard her voice. He looked up to see the Martian princess, draped in red flowing silk, her black hair sprawling around her, rubies adorning the soft supple skin of her neck. He closed his eyes in anger. When he opened them he had regained his composure, a smirk slowly began to form on his lips.
"And your patience is something of palace legend." He could see her roll her eyes at his comment. She slowly began to circle him, a single black brow arched, her amethyst eyes staring at him intently.
"Tell me, oh wise one, where do you think Serenity is now after seeing you so chauvinistically standing above Endymion with him clutching a wound?"
"How did you find out?" He asked, the irritation clear in his voice.
"Its amazing what you hear in the kitchens." She watched as Serenity's whereabouts slowly dawned on him. His skin flushed red and his eyes darkened. He started to make his way towards Endymion's room, but she quickly stepped in front of him. "Don't be a fool. She has to make her own decisions when it comes to Endymion."
"I cannot allow it to happen." He growled at her.
"Do you know nothing about passion and lust?" She whispered heatedly. "You are powerless to stop it."
He snapped.
Before he could comprehend his actions, his hands had wrapt around her waist and his lips had crushed on hers. In those few moments they were able to relish in the feelings they had both been trying to suppress. When the kiss was broken they were both out of breath and in a daze. Once again the barriers of their pasts came down between them like liquid ice. Jadeite pushed Rei away in frustration and swore under his breath as he stormed away. Rei on the other hand was tempted to transform and fry the skin from his bones. The thought brought a smile to her lips, and she walked away slightly satisfied.
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Lita was amidst the kitchen chaos shouting at the kitchen hands. No matter how many times she told them they never seemed to do anything right. She turned only to see one of the palace pages drop a large bowl of flour to the floor then merely step over it and walk away. Her patience was at its end. She grabbed the boy by the collar and pinned him against the wall. She was scolding him intensely as a deep chuckle broke her away from her thoughts. She turned to see a man with long curly auburn hair leaning causally against the kitchen door.
"Short tempered people are always the first to act, and the last to think." Lita opened her mouth to make a sharp retort, when she noticed that he was gesturing to the boy in her hands and then a dustpan that he had been heading toward. She could feel a blush creep up her cheeks. She released the boy immediately and apologised repeatedly.
"It's been a long day." She said simply, giving Nephrite a sheepish smile.
"Let us take a walk. The fresh air will calm you down." Nephrite knew well that she was one of the Sailor Scouts. He had always had a fascination with warrior women, although Serenity was an exception. The Princess of Jupiter looked like a true Amazon with her long brown hair and chocolate eyes. They talked of Serenity, each telling each other embarrassing moments of their mutual friend. They spent most of the day in each other's company, Nephrite's calm demeanour serving to cool Lita's nerves.
"This could be interesting." He whispered to himself quietly as himself as he watched he returning to the kitchens.
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"I want to make one thing very clear Endymion." As my voice cut through the silence he tilted his head and gazed at me softly. "Even if the Queen's plans are enforced and we do marry, I shall not be a trophy wife. I shall not forsake my intelligence, position, or self respect for you or any other man." He smiled and shook his head at my words.
"And what of me?" His question had a clear sarcastic undertone.
"You may do as you wish, we have no attachment Endymion. I will not hold you to the traditional roles of a husband, or the confines of a marriage bed." I could see that my words sent anger running through his veins. He emptied the remains of his wine glass in one mouthful then glanced at me angrily, his eyes darkening slightly.
"If we have no attachment then why are you here tonight?" He stepped closer to me as he uttered the words. I moved back getting closer and closer to the wall behind the balcony.
"A gesture of friendship." I replied trying to keep my tone indifferent.
"Friendship?" He uttered the words with ridicule, a chuckle escaping from his lips. He pinned me against the wall with his body, his hands resting on either side of my head. He brought his lips inches away from my lips, "Tell me chère, if we have no attachment then why do you..." his voice was husky from the effects of both anger and alcohol. A moment after he uttered the unfinished sentence he let the tips of his fingers trail along my shoulders and down my arm. His lips slowly left a trail from my ear, down my neck, to my collarbone. He then slowly pulled away and kissed me softly on the lips. "Shiver at my touch."
I pushed him away slightly, not being able to think clearly because of his close proximity. As I was walking away he grabbed my wrist and spun me around so that our bodies were pressed against each other. He slowly rubbed his cheek against my own. It wasn't fair, I thought. He was too good at seducing women with simple touches. I was already melting in his arms.
"Stay with me tonight."
To: SilverMo, my secret and Eo, Lady of Enchantment: I'm so glad your enjoying the story, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. Oh, and my secret you are right, Serenity will not be happy with this. And Lady of Enchantment, your reviews give me a lot of inspiration, which makes me want to write, so yeah, your reviews make me write faster. Thanks so much for your reviews, it means the world to me.
To: ConstantElation, Chikara, eternalfantasie: Thank you so much for your comments about my writing. You have no idea what your words mean to me. I try very hard to keep my story original and I've placed a lot of my own interpretations on the characters especially Endymion and Serenity. Thankyou once again.
To: me, duh: I will admit your review was less than flattering. I have read the story a "glass house." And after your comment I re read it. I can see what would have provoked your comment but you seemed to imply that I was plagiarising. If you read both stories carefully you can see the differences very clearly. I did not intentionally take that stories ideas. However many fan fic stories have influenced my writing. These include Moonlight Midnight Glory, Pyre and Redemption.
To: Deadly Diva. Endymion's true motives. As you said there are many possible reasons for his actions, and yes, that was the out of character behaviour that I was referring too. He can better explain his motives to you, and I will develop his character more in the upcoming chapters. You'll see why he's cold and manipulative, but not in this chapter. Not yet. I'm glad you enjoyed the new details about the scouts and generals, and I've gone into that further in this chapter. I apologise in advance for the cliff-hanger. I'd love to know what you think will happen. And once again, thankyou so much for your reviews, they mean so much to me.
Alright people, I'm sure your all sick of me by now. So on with the story.
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Fear not the men who swear you allegiance. They shall fight by your side to the day you die. Fear the men who fight under no flag, who have no loyalties. These men have no weakness.
From the diary of King Aura II Emperor of the Moon.
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He paced up and down, his dark boots clanging against the cold white marble. He could hear the sounds of the ocean below. The waves crashing on the jagged rocks in a rhythm as old as time itself. He tilted his head and let the salty winds scrape harshly against the bare skin of his face. It left his jet black hair dishevelled. He took another sip of wine from the crystal glass.
Empty.
He let his fingers trail along the glass, admiring its vulnerability, delighting in the power he possessed over the inanimate object. A sigh escaped his lips, coinciding with the memory of her soft skin. He knew only too well that his actions would provoke her. Yet it had been the only way for him to get what he desired.
The only problem was now, he did not know what he desired. His primitive instincts told him that all he desired was her body. Yet his inner voice told him he wanted more from her. This woman was more than a challenge, she was an equal. Her wit amused him, her elegance seduced him and her intelligence left him in awe. He swore quietly to himself. He had intended to confront her after the Queen had announced their engagement, to present her with an ultimatum that he would break the engagement if she honoured their bet.
He let the glass fall from his hands and watched as it fell on the rocks below. His resolve had shattered much the same way as the elegant glass had. Yet another sigh escaped his lips. The woman had poisoned him. He closed his eyes and let the sound of the ocean calm his nerves. A smile graced his lips. Perhaps the marriage he had suggested was not such a bad idea. For a moment his eyes darkened.
It was the only way she would consent to be his.
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That night all that could be heard in the dinner hall was the sound of knives and forks clattering on china. I refused to look at him. I was still fuming from our fight during the masquerade. I let my eyes roam the room, and they settled on the Queen. A dangerous smile was dancing on her lips, one that implied she had gotten what she desired.
A shiver ran up my spine.
"The stars are uneasy. I have a strange feeling about tonight." Nephrite slowly whispered in my ear. I let my glance fall to Jadeite, who was running his index finger along his chin, something he only did when waiting for the unexpected. Malachite was scanning the room slowly, his body tense waiting for attack. Zoicite was deep in thought, his eyes darting towards the different exists of the room, planing a manoeuvre. Damien's gaze met my own, a grim frown on his lips.
We all sensed something was wrong.
And we were right.
The Queen slowly took up her crystal wine glass and nudged it gently with her fork, gaining the attention of the table. The menacing smile never left her lips.
"I have an announcement to make." I glared at her, letting the many possibilities run through my mind. My breaths were getting short and hurried, my senses stretched to breaking point.
I could never have expected what happened next.
"I have the pleasure of announcing the engagement of Princess Serenity to The Prince of Earth, Endymion." There was an unmistakable glee underlying her words.
Silence.
For long moment I stared at her, the shock running through my veins. It was followed by a burst of red hot anger. My hands twitched for a sword. How dare she do this? How dare she make me her pawn? I forced myself to stay calm, to remain seated. I would not let her have the pleasure of me loosing my temper.
"I have never entered into such an agreement." I whispered, my voice shaking with rage. I could feel the eyes of the entire hall join mine on the Queen, waiting to see her next move.
"You have no right to question my authority. Is it not enough that I let you, a murderer, come into the palace? I shall not let you further contaminate these walls. You should be on your knees thanking me, you ungrateful disobedient wench." Her words were said with a calm indifference, her gaze meeting my own. She was attempting to provoke me, to force me to react in front of the entire court and prove her words true. I could see through her trap. I had to remain calm to out-manoeuvre her, for it was the only way I could avoid the engagement. I rose silently and let my eyes pierce hers.
"Your highness, I advise that you do not offend the leader of your army. If you recall, it is to me that their loyalties lie. I recommend that you not do anything that would jeopardise our relationship. But perhaps I am too hasty. You are well aware that if you did so, you would quite likely loose your army and thus your power over this planet." For an instant she flinched, unsure of how to respond. Her eyes burned with a riddle of anger and hate.
"If you do not comply with my agreement with the Earth, I will execute all those who defended you when you returned from exile. I shall force you to hear their screams as they beg for their lives. By the time you get to the army it would already be too late my dear." Her lips had not moved but I could hear her voice clearly. I quickly blocked off my mind, for I had not been aware that the Queen had telepathic powers. I could feel myself trembling and tears of anger and frustration welling into my eyes. I turned slowly and removed myself from the hall as calmly as I could. Once outside I ran.
It seemed that only after I had left the rest of the room regained their senses. Damien threw his napkin onto the table, gaining the attention he desired. He gazed at the Queen, the anger only too plain in his countenance.
"If you force her into this, you shall break any form of emotional tie that we share." The words were whispered through clenched teeth. The Queen gazed at him like an insignificant servant.
"You gave up all our emotional ties when you defended that criminal." She let her gaze fall onto the entire room "I shall not tolerate anyone challenging my authority." She sat down and resumed eating. The rest of the night passed in awkward silence, with the Promised Knights directing heated gazes towards the Terran prince.
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He had gone to the palace training grounds in order to find her. Yet the room had been cold and empty. A sigh escaped Endymion's lips as he walked towards the wall and let his gloved fingers run over the steel blade of a sword. Before the Queen's announcement he had believed marriage to be the perfect solution to his dilemma. For he would finally be able to bed Serenity, and when he tired of her there was nothing stopping him from seeking comfort elsewhere.
Yet her reaction had surprised him. He had not expected her to fall to her knees and accept the marriage. Although he would not admit it, the fact that she had fought the engagement so fervently had hurt. He had expected her to be mad, to yell at him, to scream her outrage. Yet she had left the hall without acknowledging his existence.
"What have I done?" For the first time in his life Endymion was beginning to doubt his actions. He did not believe that he had feelings for the woman, yet he could not dismiss the notion entirely.
The sound of the doors being thrown open cut through his thoughts. He let his gaze fall on the intruders, and there stood Damien and Jadeite. The mere sight of him seemed to evoke anger in both men. For a moment it seemed that the two men were conversing silently with each other. This did not surprise Endymion, for he knew that the Promised Knights were granted gifts of telepathy. After a few moments the two seemed to reach an agreement.
Endymion watched as Damien took long strides towards him, his golden hair that so much resembled his sister's flying around him. His jaw was clenched and his green eyes ablaze. He stopped no more than a meter in front of him. Damien slowly removed his pristine white glove. For a few moments the two men stared at each other no words passing between them. Then suddenly Damien slapped Endymion across the check with his glove. He then slowly let the glove fall from his hands to the floor.
Endymion could feel the sharp sting in his check but his expression did not change. He knew well that he had no hope of defeating a Promised Knight, yet he was not one to take his honour lightly. He removed his own black glove and let it fall to the floor.
"You are a fool to think you can fight me." Damien's voice hissed, cutting through the tension.
"And you lack sense if you think fighting me will endear you to your sister." He let his gaze fall on Jadeite. "I presume that he will not intervene?" Damien let a soft chuckle caress his lips.
"He will not. Go home to Earth, Prince, and all shall be forgotten. For I will not let you harm my sister."
"I was under the impression that your sister made her own decisions."
"So you force me to fight you. Pick your weapon carefully." Damien's voice was cold, his patience running thin. Endymion drew his sword and the two men circled each other. Damien's superior skill was evident from the very first strike. Yet Endymion managed to hold his own against him. After some time Damien's lack of patience caused him to falter, and Endymion used this moment to trip Damien. The moment Damien made contact with the ground Endymion felt something warm slowly severing his flesh.
The force of the unknown attack caused him to fly backwards and hit the back wall. When he looked up he saw Jadeite with his arm extended, glowing. Endymion ignored the pain shooting from his abs and got back to his feet. He watched as Jadeite slowly prepared for another attack. Endymion braced himself for the impact. Yet it never came. He watched as Jadeite was slowly lifted from the ground and thrown to the back wall.
"Hardly a fair fight." My words echoed off the marble walls as I gazed angrily at Jadeite.
"He was about to harm your brother." Jadeite replied out of breath from the attack. His hair was dishevelled, otherwise he showed no injury. I let my gaze fall to Damien who was sitting groggily on the floor his hand on the back of his neck.
"You know well that Damien could have handled him." I was about to continue my lecture when my gaze fell to the two gloves side by side on the floor. I can't begin to describe the anger that went through me at that sight. I closed my eyes and forced myself to retain my composure. Slowly I walked towards Endymion, he was clutching his stomach in an attempt to hide his injury. I didn't understand the emotion that went through me when I saw that he had been hurt. I reached out to help him but he moved passed me and left the room. He had believed it to be pity.
I slowly moved to the door. I had no intention of following him; I knew well enough that his pride needed time to heal as well as his body. Yet his absence allowed my anger to return. As I reached the door I let my gaze fall on my brother and best friend. Jadeite turned away, avoiding my eyes while Damien rose to his feet and swore under his breath.
"Never again." I uttered the words just with enough volume for them to be able to hear. As I walked down the corridor I could hear the sound of Jadeite's fist making contact with the wall in frustration.
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Mina closed her eyes and let her instincts guide her. Slowly she pulled the bow a little further and then released it. She opened her eyes to see her arrow fly straight towards the centre of the target. Again.
"Impressive, but your stance is weak and needs improvement." Mina turned quickly at the sound of his voice. Malachite had uttered the words with pure indifference. He slowly pulled his hands through his hair, and tied it back. He then proceeded to gather his equipment and move in another direction. Mina tossed her hair with arrogance.
"I suppose you could do better?" A smirk crossed his lips, and slowly he made his way back towards her.
"Take it back another 500 meters." He commanded one of the palace pages. Mina stared at him for a few minutes. She had been shooting it from a distance of 100 meters. She began cursing herself silently as she remembered he was one of the Promised Knights. "Now take your shot." He commanded quietly. She placed another arrow into her bow. She tilted her head, her lemon blonde hair swaying to her movements. She closed one eye aiming carefully. Then she let the arrow fly. To her great embarrassment she missed the target.
Malachite smiled gently at her. He then took his own bow, loaded it carefully, pulled it back and let the arrow fly. Mina stared at him in shock; he had not even aimed properly. She watched as the arrow flew towards the target.
Dead centre.
"I think I've proved my point." He smirked, and then started to walk away from her.
"Can you teach me to do that?" Mina could feel a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. It was not that she didn't want to learn, far from it in fact. It was just that her flirtatious nature couldn't let an opportunity like this pass either.
"Alright." Malachite stepped behind her and instructed her to load her bow. When she did he placed his hands on her hips and slowly turned them, he then let his hand slide to her stomach and pushed it back a little. Mina closed her eyes for a moment, relishing in his touch. After a few seconds she quickly opened her eyes, realising how foolish she must look. She prayed that he hadn't seen her. Unfortunately for him he had. She could feel his breath on her cheek and his body pressed into her back as he corrected the grip of the bow. "Let it go." She let the arrow fly, this time it just missed the target.
"The princesses of Venus were never meant to be warriors. They're made to love, and be loved, by men." He gently squeezed her waist. When she turned around to face him, he was gone.
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"There have been more than five attacks in the past week in the following villages." Artemis pointed to several locations on the map. They were in a small room, unfortunately due to the recent events only Malachite, Zoicite and Nephrite were present. Malachite slowly read the reports and shook his head in disgust.
"What could be the motive behind such ruthless attacks?" He asked, his eyes darkening with anger.
"The usual reasons. Slaves, money, greed." Zoicite replied, studying the map closely. Already he was beginning to identify a pattern.
"It seems that someone is trying to feed a rather large army." Nephrite whispered, as he glanced at the three other men.
"If that is the case, then we have a large battle on our hands." Malachite replied, his eyes grim.
"Do we know who is leading the attacks?" Nephrite asked.
"I believe it is a small group situated in the shadow realm. They call themselves the Nega-moon family. I believe the leader goes by the name of Diamond." As he was explaining this he took a picture out of his coat and placed it on the table. The photo was of a handsome man with blazing silver hair.
"He has interesting eyes." Malachite remarked, his tone detached.
"Indeed. They are the colour of ice."
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"I'm sorry, I did not mean to intrude on your privacy." Zoicite stated sheepishly. He had gone to the library in order to drown out the events of the day. He let his eyes wander over the princess of Mercury. Her short blue hair was clipped back and dark rimmed glasses sat perched on her petite nose. She was intently reading an ancient novel.
"Not at all, please, you are not disturbing me sir." She said without looking at him. However he did not fail to notice a faint blush staining her cheeks.
"My friends call me Zoicite. Sir makes me sound terribly old don't you think?" Amy could not help but chuckle at this. Zoicite's gaze fell on an antique chess table, and a smile danced on his lips. "Would you care to play?" For a moment she hesitated, and then she simply nodded. For long moments they played in silence, each occasionally stealing glances at the other. Both believed themselves to be very subtle, although both failed miserably.
"What's troubling you?" Her words were unexpected.
"There have recently been attacks on Mafajar, Sirocco, and Toldistine. All three locations are believed to have been attacked by the same men. I'm trying to predict were they strike next." He remarked while still half concentrating on the game.
"Well, what were the men looking for?"
"Supplies, men." He answered his tone detached.
"Davenport."
"Excuse me?"
"Davenport holds an abandoned armoury. The Queen believed the weapons held within it to be old fashioned so she abandoned it."
"Yet old fashioned weapons can still be effective." He gazed at her with newfound respect, and smiled. They played until the early morning and then both were forced to leave their game unfinished in order to obtain some sleep. As she was walking away Zoicite caught her wrist and gently pressed her knuckles against his lips.
"It has been a pleasure princess." He smiled as she hurriedly returned to her room, slightly flustered.
Only a black king and a white queen remained on the board.
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I stared at his door for what seemed like an eternity. I was in a heated argument with myself debating whether or not to enter. In many ways I feared that if I went in I wouldn't have the strength to walk back out before the night was through. A sigh escaped my lips as I remembered the sight of his hand clutching his wound. Slowly I opened the door, and stepped in with my head held high. He was standing on his balcony in black breeches. A white shirt was hanging carelessly over his shoulders unbuttoned at the front. The wind slowly ruffled his hair and danced with the soft material. He slowly raised a small glass to his mouth and let the liquid caress his lips ever so slightly.
The mere sight of him was enough to set my senses on fire.
"So the only way to lure you to my bedroom is through pity." His voice caused me to jump slightly. His voice held no regret or underlying sadness. He was merely stating a fact. I walked up to him slowly and gently stood beside him, tilting my head allowing the breeze play with my hair. After long moments I gained the courage to speak.
"I didn't come here out of pity." I could feel his gaze on me, yet I continued to stare out to the vast ocean. He cupped my chin gently and turned my face so I was looking up at him.
"Then why did you come here?" His voice was soft, like a sensual wine flowing from his lips to my ears. I turned my head away refusing to answer his question. A sigh escaped his lips at my silence. I slowly glanced at him from under my lashes assessing the cuts that were on his skin and the bandage that hung around his waist.
"Do I pass your examination, chère?" Though smirk on his face was infuriating I smiled at the nickname. This time he had uttered the words with something that could almost pass for tenderness.
"Let me see that." I nudged my head towards the bandage.
"It's nothing." He replied, smiling slightly.
"Then there would be no reason to keep me from seeing it." Slowly I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed off the white shirt. My heart started racing as I felt his warm breath on the skin of my neck. I gently unwrapped his bandage trying hard not to cause him any pain. I could feel my insides churn at the sight of his wound. The skin had slowly been severed from his flesh. The surrounding skin had been burnt badly and had erupted in blisters.
"It's not as bad as it looks." He whispered calmly, flinching slightly as my hand accidentally touched the wound.
"This may feel a little strange." I looked up at him to see confusion flicker through his eyes. As the Galaxy Knight I had the power to call on any of the powers of the other knights. Although during the time I had their power they would be unable to use it. I closed my eyes slowly and called on Damien's healing abilities. I knew he wouldn't be pleased that I had taken his power without permission, but he was the one who had started this mess. I could feel his power slowly seep into me and intermingle with my own. I opened my eyes knowing that they would now be a blazing green. I gently laid my hand on Endymion's wound, within seconds we were both drenched in a green light. Slowly the burnt and scared flesh started to peel off and in a matter of seconds it had fallen away completely without leaving a trace to show that it had once existed.
"Thankyou." He whispered the word quietly. For long moments we simply stood in silence gazing out into the see, watching the never-ending cycle of waves.
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"You're not very good at taking advice." He cringed as he heard her voice. He looked up to see the Martian princess, draped in red flowing silk, her black hair sprawling around her, rubies adorning the soft supple skin of her neck. He closed his eyes in anger. When he opened them he had regained his composure, a smirk slowly began to form on his lips.
"And your patience is something of palace legend." He could see her roll her eyes at his comment. She slowly began to circle him, a single black brow arched, her amethyst eyes staring at him intently.
"Tell me, oh wise one, where do you think Serenity is now after seeing you so chauvinistically standing above Endymion with him clutching a wound?"
"How did you find out?" He asked, the irritation clear in his voice.
"Its amazing what you hear in the kitchens." She watched as Serenity's whereabouts slowly dawned on him. His skin flushed red and his eyes darkened. He started to make his way towards Endymion's room, but she quickly stepped in front of him. "Don't be a fool. She has to make her own decisions when it comes to Endymion."
"I cannot allow it to happen." He growled at her.
"Do you know nothing about passion and lust?" She whispered heatedly. "You are powerless to stop it."
He snapped.
Before he could comprehend his actions, his hands had wrapt around her waist and his lips had crushed on hers. In those few moments they were able to relish in the feelings they had both been trying to suppress. When the kiss was broken they were both out of breath and in a daze. Once again the barriers of their pasts came down between them like liquid ice. Jadeite pushed Rei away in frustration and swore under his breath as he stormed away. Rei on the other hand was tempted to transform and fry the skin from his bones. The thought brought a smile to her lips, and she walked away slightly satisfied.
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Lita was amidst the kitchen chaos shouting at the kitchen hands. No matter how many times she told them they never seemed to do anything right. She turned only to see one of the palace pages drop a large bowl of flour to the floor then merely step over it and walk away. Her patience was at its end. She grabbed the boy by the collar and pinned him against the wall. She was scolding him intensely as a deep chuckle broke her away from her thoughts. She turned to see a man with long curly auburn hair leaning causally against the kitchen door.
"Short tempered people are always the first to act, and the last to think." Lita opened her mouth to make a sharp retort, when she noticed that he was gesturing to the boy in her hands and then a dustpan that he had been heading toward. She could feel a blush creep up her cheeks. She released the boy immediately and apologised repeatedly.
"It's been a long day." She said simply, giving Nephrite a sheepish smile.
"Let us take a walk. The fresh air will calm you down." Nephrite knew well that she was one of the Sailor Scouts. He had always had a fascination with warrior women, although Serenity was an exception. The Princess of Jupiter looked like a true Amazon with her long brown hair and chocolate eyes. They talked of Serenity, each telling each other embarrassing moments of their mutual friend. They spent most of the day in each other's company, Nephrite's calm demeanour serving to cool Lita's nerves.
"This could be interesting." He whispered to himself quietly as himself as he watched he returning to the kitchens.
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"I want to make one thing very clear Endymion." As my voice cut through the silence he tilted his head and gazed at me softly. "Even if the Queen's plans are enforced and we do marry, I shall not be a trophy wife. I shall not forsake my intelligence, position, or self respect for you or any other man." He smiled and shook his head at my words.
"And what of me?" His question had a clear sarcastic undertone.
"You may do as you wish, we have no attachment Endymion. I will not hold you to the traditional roles of a husband, or the confines of a marriage bed." I could see that my words sent anger running through his veins. He emptied the remains of his wine glass in one mouthful then glanced at me angrily, his eyes darkening slightly.
"If we have no attachment then why are you here tonight?" He stepped closer to me as he uttered the words. I moved back getting closer and closer to the wall behind the balcony.
"A gesture of friendship." I replied trying to keep my tone indifferent.
"Friendship?" He uttered the words with ridicule, a chuckle escaping from his lips. He pinned me against the wall with his body, his hands resting on either side of my head. He brought his lips inches away from my lips, "Tell me chère, if we have no attachment then why do you..." his voice was husky from the effects of both anger and alcohol. A moment after he uttered the unfinished sentence he let the tips of his fingers trail along my shoulders and down my arm. His lips slowly left a trail from my ear, down my neck, to my collarbone. He then slowly pulled away and kissed me softly on the lips. "Shiver at my touch."
I pushed him away slightly, not being able to think clearly because of his close proximity. As I was walking away he grabbed my wrist and spun me around so that our bodies were pressed against each other. He slowly rubbed his cheek against my own. It wasn't fair, I thought. He was too good at seducing women with simple touches. I was already melting in his arms.
"Stay with me tonight."