****************************************************************************
**********
Author's Note: Sorry that this is late!! My laptop crashed and would not boot up! It's thanks to Peter-the-Computer-Fixer-Guy that this is up and restored and nothing is missing!! I hope you all enjoy!!
Be warned: this may loose some of you as I've taken some turns that I have always been planning but, perhaps, did not prepare for well enough. I do hope that you all find it in your hearts to forgive me if that is the case.
I don't own Sailor Moon (no sob story this time!)
THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!
**************************************************************************** **********
Beryl stared at the light outline of the moon in the afternoon sky from her balcony. There had been a time when such a sight would have delighted her--to see the most beautiful symbol of nightfall in the daytime- -but those notions, those childish delights, had long since been disposed. She had been only seven when she had come to Earth; the planet had delighted and enthralled her--appealed to her every childish joy. The sorcerer Hamish had discovered her by the forest leading to the castle. He appeared then as he did to this day: youthful, mysterious, dark, and intelligent. He had known that she was not from Earth; he had even named the origin of her extraction. Beryl had been impressed by his promises, by his devotion to her. To this day, Hamish had never done anything to make Beryl question his loyalty.
When the two had originally crossed paths, Beryl had been distracted by her romantic notions surrounding the palace and had answered all of Hamish's pointed questions without a thought. Hamish had knelt beside her and promised her that she would have the palace--that she would be the queen and ruler. He had never named a price, and instead, had always faithfully protected her, helped her.
She never questioned his loyalty, although--over time--his presence had begun to disturb her.
Hamish had taken her from the forest that surrounded the castle all of those years ago and trained her in some dark arts, trained her in the ever-changing ways of the court. . .trained her to seek out, manipulate, control and use the power found in the Negaverse: her original home.
She had been waiting for this moment. . .for so long. . . .
Beryl had managed to destroy the previous rulers, the previous protectors of Earth, but that action was not enough for her rule to remain unquestioned. The people of Earth accepted her as their rightful leader (she had "after all" been Queen Shina's cousin), but there was a race of beings that were not as easily subdued. Queen Selenity of the Moon Kingdom, a mere myth among the mortals of Earth, had vowed that she would rectify the wrongs that had befallen the Shield family. There had been a note--just a note--on Beryl's bed. Had Beryl not the counsel of Nariko and Hamish, she would have dismissed the note; she would have thought it to have come from an angered Earthling.
Nariko and Hamish had shown her the truth. Without their ability to foresee the future and receive visions, the lunarians would be set to deal a fatal blow to Beryl within the year following the eclipse.
A fatal blow. . . .Beryl shivered and pulled her velvet robe tighter around her bony shoulders. They had come too close for her liking.
Even with the annihilation of the entire lunarian race, Beryl's life was still at risk. The Moon Kingdom balanced the Earth Kingdom; Queen Selenity and Queen Shina balanced the two worlds and—sometime long, long ago--allowed earthlings to visit the moon, and lunarians to visit the earth, without the consequence of death. The two queens had created a bond between the planets; it was through this bond that Beryl was able to continue to exist. The mutual strength of both planets provided Beryl with protection—and strength. Just as no lunarian could exist on Earth without this protection, no child of the Negaverse would have been granted life without the security of the bond. When Hamish and Beryl had purged the planet of most of the Shield family—namely Queen Shina--the balance had been disrupted.
The effects were immediate. Beryl felt her life begin to fade and slip.
Hamish, however, proved ever helpful, and taught Beryl how to take the protection—the energy—directly from the Earth. Years later, Selenity would try to take on both sides of the bond herself, and Beryl could feel her own life returning to her. Why Selenity had done so was unanswered; to the knowledge of the earthlings, no one had been to the moon, and no lunarian had come to Earth, for millennia. The bond's establishment did cause great concern at first. However, both Nariko and Hamish began to have visions of Beryl being killed by a lunarian—suddenly, the unification of the two worlds was justified; the lunarians meant to attack.
After the Moon Kingdom was destroyed, Beryl would never again be threatened: no one else could kill her. . . or so the visions explained.
However, the lunarians' annihilation was not enough to keep Beryl well and healthy. Once the lunarians were dispelled into non-existence, the bond would break, and Beryl would suffer greatly for the loss.
She could not continue to drain the earth's energy, to drain Gaia. Hamish and Nariko were both most helpful in discovering the solution to the problem, though.
The royal family had always protected Earth; the family had been chosen for the position because of their connection with the planet. Hamish had told Beryl that she needed to bond with someone who had a strong connection with the planet. Few earthlings had established a connection with Earth at all— much less a strong one. Nariko had dealt with the tyrant queen's fears and had told her that the child who had escaped her grasp so long ago would serve as the perfect bond candidate. Endymion Shields, the lone surviving member of the Earth's royal family, would be linked to Beryl.
Hamish knew the magic that would make Endymion's connection with the Earth link to Beryl, but the queen had asked for more. For long nights, Hamish worked his dark books over in search of a mind drain spell— something to make Endymion 'loyal' to Beryl. Hamish had hesitated over the task. He had presumed that Beryl would take him as her. . . .
Hamish worked hard to make the process fail-safe. The best spell he could find involved the blood of Endymion's wife. . . a wife that could not be Beryl. A messenger had been sent out to Endymion— one of Hamish's own creations, a speedy youma with the ability to transmogrify. The letter had been received just as Nariko had predicted; Endymion was resistant, but in the end, he would be Beryl's and she would do with him whatever she pleased. . . and her mind was already full of ideas inspired by the muscular youth.
"My queen."
Beryl tore her eyes from the moon and her mind from her thoughts. "Hamish."
"We are ready to begin, my queen. We must start now. Nariko is in the room. She has begun."
Beryl nodded and extended her hand. Hamish took her hand and led her to the throne room. Nariko stood in the center of the room; her rod spun between her hands, the ends sharp. The throne room's roof had been pulled back, and the night sky seeped in from the outdoors. Hamish cast his arm towards the moon where the eclipse had covered half of the glowing orb. Beryl moved to stand under Hamish's palm. His hand clamped down on the top of her head.
"Take into yourself as of the Negaverse's energy," Hamish hissed.
Beryl raised her arms. Ice spikes raced through her body, crawled beneath her skin. Darkness ebbed from her form in thick waves. Spirals of the dark cloud wrapped tightly around the red-haired queen's extended arms and began to snap and crackle at the tips of her fingers, her long nails.
"Take back your life, Beryl," Hamish crooned. He wrapped his left arm around her waist and squeezed her tightly into himself, into his skeleton- thin body. His hand tightened on her skull. "Destroy them. Destroy the Moon Kingdom."
Black lightening shot out from her outstretched hands towards the beautiful glowing orb that hung peaceful in the sky. The dark shadow of the eclipse moved to envelope the entire planet. More lightening. More power. A bright beam of light— sharp and definite, strong and purposeful, striking and yet sorrowful—blasted out from the moon. Beryl fingers flinched to counter the beam, but her movement was unnecessary. In her dying moments, Queen Selenity had misaimed her final strike. Beryl let the dark power roll through her body; it was ecstasy. The moon was black with the Negaverse. . . black with the eclipse. . . black with death.
In her mind, Beryl imagined the screams of pain and torment that the lunarians would have expelled before they shuddered their last strained breath.
Hamish enveloped Beryl in his cloak when she collapsed. The Negaverse's energy dispersed, becoming nothing more than wisps of clouds, memories of domination and success, memories of death. She was weak, and her recovery time would be delayed because of the missing bond, but she would return to herself in a few days. And, within a few months—if not sooner—she would link herself to Endymion and never fear death again.
Earlier to Present:
Queen Selenity watched the black Negaverse power build in one concentrated spot on Earth. She knew the spot well; she used to go there quite often to visit the Earth Queen Shina-- but no more. The lunarians were gathered in the Moon Kingdom's main courtyard; the whole population stood with their heads bowed, the half-moons on their foreheads glowing against the darkness of the eclipse. Queen Selenity stood between two pillars at the tip of the courtyard. Her petite feet rested on a marble base that was raised above the swarms of people. Her crystalline eyes that were so close to her daughter's were harsh with determination, but clouded by an unspoken inner sadness. Selenity needed to be strong—if not for her people who were praying and gathering their energy and strength to donate to her daughter Serenity, than for Serenity, whose journey was only going to become harder.
Queen Selenity clenched her hands on her wand and tore her eyes from Earth. She turned to the lunarians and poised her wand above their heads. Without words, the lunarians pushed their gathered energy into the wand. Queen Selenity grasped the wand and struggled to keep it still. . .so much energy.
Queen Selenity could hear the roar of Beryl's magic but did not sway in her task. Lunarians fell dead on the smooth marble stones in the courtyard from their sacrifice to Serenity or from the black lightening that Beryl had sent crashing into the once peaceful Moon Kingdom. All around the strong queen there was death. . .just death.
The last lunarian fell onto the lifeless bodies in the royal court and died. Queen Selenity stood alone, Beryl's fatal lightening charging for her heart.
She released the energy that had gathered in her wand along with her own life's force. Beryl's lightening slammed into her abdomen, sliced through her stomach like fire tears through desert-dry paper. The light from the wand shot towards the planet, towards Serenity.
The grand queen of the Moon Kingdom lay on the marble slate, her flowing white dress covered in oozing, thick red blood. Her long silver hair stuck to the marble, drenched in her life fluid; the once beautiful strands were red like Beryl.
Pain. . . . Selenity watched calmly with determined and proud blue eyes as the last of Beryl's power slammed into the planet.
"I am sorry, Serenity. Be strong."
Beryl's power sliced through the Moon Kingdom and tore every lunarian apart, ripped their body into indiscernible random slabs of flesh that disintegrated in the heat of the Negaverse's power. The grand pillars that had led to the magnificent castle were the last to fall, but no one was left alive to observe the horror. The lunarians died just as Beryl wanted, but there was one who could still challenge the power of the tyrant queen. . .if she was strong enough.
Left side. Right side. Left side. Right side. Front View. Left Side. Front view. Back view. Back View. BACK view. BACK VIEW.
Endymion pulled the tails of his black suit jacket up and examined his back end closer. The folds on the seat of his pants made his bottom look-- Endymion moved closer to the mirror-- his bottom looked much larger in these pants! He pulled at the side seams to better center his rear in the mirror. Something was definitely wrong with the pants; he could not have possibly been parading about with such a bottom and not have at least noticed! He slapped the excess material down, tried to calm the pointy folds.
"Do you always do that to yourself when we're not around? Shouldn't you be saving that for whatever wench you bed tonight? I'm sure she wouldn't mind a playful slap. You seem quite vigorous."
Endymion dropped his jacket's tail and glared at Zoicite; his brooding blue eyes demanded an immediate explanation for her invasion. "I presume that you have a good reason for barging into my room."
"Well, Endymion, I just thought that I'd get you out of those pants," Zoicite moved close and tried to pull the pants down; Endymion countered her movement with a single hand-down-block. She smirked.
"Zoicite. . . ," Endymion growled.
"You're no fun, Endymion," Zoicite said. "But, you are wearing my pants."
Endymion looked down, his ebony hair falling into his eyes. He had been so preoccupied with the seat of the pants that he had not noted that they were short on him. The cuffs ended above his anklebone. Endymion glared. He stripped out of the pants and threw them over Zoicite's watchful eyes.
"There. Now where are mine?"
"No lack of confidence, hmm, Endymion?" Zoicite teased as she ran her eyes up his bare legs. She watched the muscles in his legs flex and tense when he moved closer.
"My pants, Zoicite."
"They're on your doorknob. Nephrite put them there; he had tried them on, but they were too small for him in the waist and too long for him in the legs. I still think he looked better than you, though."
"Goodbye, Zoicite."
"See you when you're ready, soldier," she said and walked from his room. She snatched his pants from the doorknob and tossed them at his feet before returning to her own room to change.
Endymion quickly pulled the pants up his legs and secured the button and zipper on the front. He grabbed his mask from his bedpost and moved to meet the others who would have grouped in the kitchen. He paused with his hand on the door. Endymion ran back to the mirror.
Left side. Right side. Left side. Right side. Front View. Left Side. Front view. Back view. Back View. Front view. Try out a smile. Good.
He went to meet the others and ride out to Snowball.
Lord Tsuniko slammed his fist into Serenity's door. The young girl flinched and struggled with the clasps on the back of her dress. Columbia had been rewarded with dressing ladies for her good repertoire with Lord Lui Chai, but Serenity had no one to help her dress and ready herself for Snowball. Needless to say, she was much slower than her sister who was waiting— impatiently— with both lords in the den. Another rumble echoed in Serenity's mind as Lord Tsuniko slammed his fist again.
"Serenity!"
"I'm almost done, father!" she said; her fingers fumbled, and she lost the clasp. "I'll just be a few more minutes."
"You do not have 'a few more minutes.' If you are not down the steps and ready within the next minute, you will be riding your horse to Snowball!"
Serenity cringed when she heard his feet stomp down the hall and down the stairs. Her fingers fought to reach the clasp again and secure it in place. She fumbled. Downstairs the door slammed closed. Loud footsteps tread heavily up the stairs. Serenity fought for the clasp.
"The lords have left with Columbia, Serenity! If you make me wait much longer--"
"I am almost done, father!" Serenity called over her shoulder. "I just have a few more clasps to do up."
"At this rate, the weather will be too poor for us to ride in! Do you realize that it will have already started?! Or are you too ignorant?" he hit the door again.
Ride in? Serenity paused and looked down at her dress. The saddle and horse would mar the dress's flawless white fabric. She groaned. What did it matter? There would be no one there she wanted to impress. . .Endymion would be at Snowball. Her eyes unfocussed as she tried to envision what he would look like. . .would she recognize him? Would he recognize her? Jedeite had not. . .she could barely recognize herself when she put the mask on. Her hair was down and dripped over her shoulders in long golden-silver waves; the tips pooled onto the floor in spirals and gentle twists. No, Endymion would not recognize her. No one would. She hoped such luck would extend to encompass Lord Toshio Yiio.
Serenity's fingers found the final clasp and secured the pin in the eyehole. She straightened and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were so sad. The twin crystalline orbs seemed wet with tears and yet she had no intention of releasing the build-up moisture.
"I am ready, father."
Lord Tsuniko went into the room. "Where is your mask?"
"Oh!" Serenity picked up the feathered mask and stood before the mirror to place it over her face.
"I would not be able to distinguish you from the crowd. You present nothing that is of you," he said and turned away from her to leave the room.
"Father?"
He did not turn around. "You will go immediately to Lord Yiio and present yourself to him. He will think that you did not come if you do not give him knowledge of your appearance."
"Yes, fath--" Serenity stopped her speech and let out a heart- striking scream similar to dry nails being raked across a dusty chalkboard.
Lord Tsuniko turned. A blinding light punctured Serenity's body, sliced through her abdomen. Her back arched in pain and felt as though it would break from the pressure. She fell to the ground; the light continued to penetrate her, moving deeper and deeper into her skin. Two long slivers of light glowed from beside her shoulder blades.
Blood.
The light forced its way through Serenity's skin, through the tough layers of her soft flesh. Her voice lost its ability to vocalize her pain and all that came from her gaping mouth was a silent scream, a rush of unarticulated air.
Lord Tsuniko scrambled for the door when the two streams of light came out of Serenity's back. The light did not touch him. Instead, it curled back and dove to the floor, just touching the ground. The light lifted Serenity, and the petrified young woman could do nothing to resist its power.
The light dove again, until it was floor length when she was standing. It expanded and grew, solidified and took form. White feathers burst free of the light and covered the glowing form. Serenity screamed as the feathers materialized; pain burst anew with every plume. The blood that had speckled her shoulders dissipated, and the light faded until Serenity stood, looking very much like she had before the light had wrenched itself through her body, only now. . .only now a pair of white wings tipped in gold protruded from her back's once-smooth skin.
Serenity collapsed onto the floor; the wings moved around her body to protect her from outward harm. She flexed them experimentally; they were very much a part of her body. She could feel tension in the wings, feel each sinew and movement. She knew how they would respond to her, how to control them, how to move them and use them. They were just another part of herself that she had not known existed, but she always had the knowledge to use them. She knew this. . .somehow, Serenity knew this.
Lord Tsuniko sat on the floor in stupefied fear. His anger told him to lash out at her, to call Serenity a blasphemous demon and whore. His instincts told him to run and not upset the empowered Serenity.
Serenity found strength to stand and look at her father. He met her searching eyes with a glare. She shuddered and bowed her head. "I-I am sorry, father. I do not know what to say."
"Get outside. We are going to the ball."
"What??"
"Get outside now!" he shouted, anger colouring his tone. "If I don't have you gone by the end of Snowball, I will have you burned for witchery! Now get out!"
Serenity held the feathered mask to her face with one hand and lifted the front hem of her dress with the other as she ran from the room. Outside, a carriage was waiting for them— her father's threats of riding were apparently idle. Lord Tsuniko assumed the position of carriage driver and raced them towards the town, towards Snowball. Above them the moon was black. Serenity's eyes gazed at it in a mix of horror and fascination.
Funny Serenity thought. I thought that the darkness would not occur until later. . . .
Candles with dripping wax. Clinking of champagne bottles. Boisterous laughter. Bodies: masses and masses of dancing bodies. Endymion sat in a corner seat and nursed a glass of champagne. He had half a mind to drink himself silly and drown his misery in the white bubbly. He refrained; there was-- even in the slightest portion-- the chance that Serenity would come to Snowball. Her sister Columbia had arrived in the company of two older men. Endymion had tried to talk to Columbia to find out whether or not Serenity would be there, but Nephrite had raised a warning hand and Endymion reseated himself. He now stared at the door.
Stared at the door. . .
. . .at the door.
Endymion cringed. This was horrible. The other generals were dancing, aside with Nephrite who had been charged with watching Endymion and keeping him away from Serenity, and he was sitting at a nearly empty table at the back of the room taking baby sips of champagne.
"I'm going to find someone to dance with."
Nephrite raised an eyebrow. "No."
"She's not here, Nephrite," Endymion said.
"I don't care."
"It's just a dance."
"No."
"One dance."
"No."
"You know what? I don't have to listen to you. I don't know why I am even bothering playing along with your stupid babysitting games," he said and rose from the table.
"Sit down, Endymion."
"No."
Endymion started to walk away from the table but stopped short when he looked at the main entrance. An angel had walked into the room.
His heart stuttered and stopped, stuttered again. . . . It suddenly did not matter if Nephrite was tugging on his sleeve. . . . It didn't matter that Jedeite and Kunzite and Zoicite would seek out his blood for rising from the table. . . . All that mattered was getting to the woman before anyone else.
Serenity looked around Snowball with wide eyes. Gizbourne had held true to his promise, and many of his troops were out on the dance floor or casually sipping wine and nibbling on one treat or another. The town's main hall had never been as full as it was now. Children wove between the crowds calling out to one another in cheerful jest; couples spun together across the hard wood floor and shared secretive smiles and nods that only they could understand. Serenity could find no one she knew. The costumes seemed much more elaborate and complete than they had in the years before; she suspected that the presence of the single officers and handsome soldiers played some role in that fact.
Lord Tsuniko grabbed her forearm and began to pull her through the crowds gathered by the door. She did not struggle against his grip, but hoped Ami would find her and cause her father to leave. He had never enjoyed being around the two when they talked-- too much energy for his comfort level. Ami, however, was just as lost amongst the masses as anyone else.
"Excuse me?"
Both Serenity and Lord Tsuniko turned to face the voice. A tall man stood in front of them in a wolf mask. His eyes shone blue from beneath the layers of fur covering the mask, a soft, gentle blue traced with something. . .something cold. Serenity bowed to him, her wings spreading out around her for balance.
"That is a stunning costume," the man whispered, his breath seemed stolen. "I barely have the courage to ask you to dance, but if I don't, I know that I will regret it. Will you grant me a dance, sweet angel? I will wait all night if it is your preference, or I can escort you to the floor now if it is your desire."
Lord Tsuniko harrumphed and tightened his grip on Serenity's arm. She continued to stare into the eyes of the wolf. His presence made her dizzy, as though everything was sliding in or out of place so quickly that she had lost all her orientation and was now drowning in her mind. She felt suffocated and shocked, content and safe. He was waiting for her answer but was not rushed. She tore her crystalline eyes away from him and refocused her concentration on breathing. . .on simple breaths. Her father tightened his grip; she stepped forward against his restraint.
"I would like to dance."
From beneath the black mesh that covered the man's face just below his nose, Serenity could make out a smile. . .an innocent, sweet smile. . . . Serenity resisted the urge to pull away his mask and see his face, although he could not be the one she had hoped to find—had feared to find. She pulled away from her father who stood in angry silence. He would not be able to say anything without risking offense to the man who now extended a gloved hand to Serenity. She stepped forward again and accepted his simple touch. His hand swallowed hers, and she stared at the conjoined hands for a moment. Why could he not be Endymion? Why could Endymion not hold her hand in such a way as to make her believe that their grip was the only thing that kept her alive? Why did she have to think about him at all?
Endymion pulled the angel closer to him and watched her hidden face as he began to lead her through the first steps of the dance. His left hand grazed the small of her back, and the angel responded by moving closer to him. He had never excelled at dancing, but now it was so easy. . .she offered him no resistance and followed whatever step he chose to take. Her wings had spread when she had bowed, and Endymion had been thoroughly impressed by the advancements made in costumes. To think that she could have hidden a string to pull them-- or placed weights within the feathers-- so that they would expand when she bowed was creative and intriguing. But the wings were not what enthralled him.
She enchanted his mind and tainted his everything thought; it was her, just her. He was rapt by her presence, just as he had been when they had first met. Endymion had never gotten to hold her like he embraced her now. She was shorter than he was; her head was crowned with long golden- silver hair that swam down her back in long waves that nearly brushed the floor. Her crystalline eyes were welled with innocence-- lipid purity. He knew who she was and could only hope that no one else did. He hoped that the generals did not recognize her.
The song changed: another waltz.
He swung her out, and immediately regretted his decision to do so. He was raped of her presence, and although they never broke from each other's contact, Endymion felt panicked. Serenity spun out, her wings moving and shifting slightly. She held every eye spellbound, and Endymion felt proud, yet possessive.
Endymion faltered when Serenity returned to his embrace and rested her head on his chest. His heart pummeled his chest and ribs in an attempt to free itself and give itself to Serenity. Endymion heard a soft laugh, a tiny giggle, come from the silken lips. He opened his mouth to ask her what had amused her.
"Lord Shields?"
Serenity's body went rigid against his.
(Oh, please, no. . . .) he thought. ( Please not yet. Please don't take her away from me yet. Let her think that I am someone else. . .anyone else. . . any other man who just coincidentally has the last name Shields. . . . It could be a common last name, right?)
He squeezed her hand and continued to dance. He brought his face closer to the top of her had and inhaled. The air he exhaled stirred the golden- silver strands and brought a small gasp from Serenity's mouth. Her flesh prickled with goose bumps, and Endymion smiled at her innocence. She reacted to everything about him as though he was the first person to ever touch her or pay attention to her. His happiness was cut short, however, when he notice that her movements were weighted. She knew.
"Lord Shields?" the voice asked again.
Endymion stopped moving, but would not release Serenity's hand. He held it with care, but applied a firm force to let her know that he did not wish her to leave. He turned to face his addressor. The messenger from the barn months ago stood before him. He wore the mask of an oxen's head, lifelike and frightening. Serenity stood her ground although many other people who looked at him shied from the hideous costume. Endymion's cold eyes challenged the messenger, challenged his presence.
"I am not a lord. Leave us alone."
The short man's mask seemed to leer at them with its black beady eyes laced with red hues. He thrust a letter into Endymion's face. Serenity shied away from the letter, a moan flew from her soft lips, and she pulled on Endymion's firm arm.
"Endymion. . . ," she whispered.
"My lord I must insist that you take this letter. I come directly from Queen Beryl who requests your immediate response," the messenger said. His voice carried over the music and clawed into the ears of every person in attendance. Endymion's friends started towards them; Jedeite was the first to reach the group.
"Take this outside," Jedeite said.
"I do not have time for your games, general," the messenger said. He struck Endymion's shoulder with the letter. "You will open this now, Lord Shields."
Serenity extracted her arm from Endymion. He looked away from the messenger. Jedeite stepped up to the white-clad angel. "Serenity, perhaps it would be best for you to leave us."
Serenity tipped her head in acknowledgement of Jedeite's request but did not move. Endymion took the letter from the messenger. Aside from a few wary glances, their small gathering had not drawn much attention from other Snowball-goers. Endymion fingered the wax seal; the seal seemed familiar-- not familiar because it was the same as the other letters-- something about the royal stamp tickled his memory, further than his initial introduction to the letters from Queen Beryl. . .but what?
Endymion pushed his mask away from his face and tore the wax from the paper. Serenity walked away, her wings surrounding her shoulders. Endymion swiped his dark ebony hair from his forehead.
"I told you to stay away from her."
"I didn't know it was her."
Jedeite's eyes thinned. "You knew."
"No. Not until we were already dancing," Endymion said. He began to read the letter, but stopped after discovering nothing more than repetition. He turned to the poorly clad messenger. "I have heard all this before!"
"Keep your voice down, Endymion. Some of us are enjoying this party," Zoicite sneered as she and Kunzite neared the same gathering.
"It is a reminder. Just in case you stray from your path. You have little time left before you are to begin traveling. You will need to have been wed by then."
"Would you just leave me alone? I'm not a lord! I'm not whatever it is that you think I am! Just leave me be!"
"Take it outside, Endymion."
"There's nothing to take outside!"
"Then go there to cool off!" Nephrite snapped as he approached. "You're a bloody idiot to think that you can make a scene like this here!"
Endymion wanted to say more but noted the drawing interest they were creating from the other guests. With a frown, Endymion left the confrontation and stormed towards the large French doors. Pushing them open, he found himself on a balcony surrounded by stinging cold. It was unusually dark. He looked to the sky. The moon was still in eclipse. Endymion frowned; it seemed too long for an eclipse. He pulled his cold blue eyes from the sky and let them rest on the silhouette of an angel shivering and leaning over the balcony. Her innocent eyes were skyward, watching the curiousity of the moon. Endymion's breath was weighted. He approached her. The soldier moved with silent stealth. He didn't wish for her to anticipate his advance and run.
"You knew it was me," Serenity's small voice spoke into the night sky. She hadn't turned around, and she couldn't have heard his advance. Endymion stopped walking. Serenity's eyes remained on the sky. Endymion was close enough to hear the quivering of her breath in the cold.
"You shouldn't be out here," Endymion said firmly. He moved closer but stopped again when her body tensed with the sound of his footsteps.
"I will decide that," Serenity said. She shifted so that Endymion could no longer see her face. There was a long silence before Serenity spoke again. "There is something wrong with the moon."
Endymion looked up and saw the looming darkness where the milky moonlight used to pool in the sky. "It is probably nothing. The eclipse is just longer," Endymion said. Serenity wheeled to face him. Her eyes were filled with fear.
"No, it is more," she said before her blue eyes averted to the ground. "I-I don't know how to explain this to you. . . . I don't understand it. . . . Something feels. . .wrong."
Endymion opened his soft mouth to speak but was cut short by another voice. "Serenity, what are you doing out here!"
Serenity lifted her head and looked past Endymion. Endymion turned to see Lord Tsuniko standing at the doors. The noble considered Endymion with a withering glare before curtly bringing his gaze back to his daughter. "Get inside. Lord Toshio Yiio has been waiting long enough, and I will not tolerate this nonsense any longer. If he doesn't take to you, I will keep my promise, Serenity. I advise that you do what is in your best interest."
"Yes, Father," Serenity said in a meek voice. She kept her head bent when she brushed past Endymion and walked into the confines of the ballroom.
"Promise?" Endymion asked quietly.
"That is none of your concern, soldier," Lord Tsuniko snapped.
"You mean 'Lord,'" the messenger said appearing behind Lord Tsuniko.
"I am not a lord!" Endymion growled at the fumbling messenger. "Shouldn't you have left? Your purpose here has been served. I have your message now leave me in peace!" His dark eyes glowed with venomous contempt.
"Yes, of course, my Lord," the messenger nodded with a smug grin before he slipped behind the doors again. Endymion did not bother to correct him.
"Stay away from my daughter."
Endymion turned to Lord Tsuniko in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Stay away from my daughter! She does not need a soldier to scar her reputation before she is married. No one would consider her if you stained her."
Endymion forced his mask off his face and held it in his hands. Lord Tsuniko shriveled beneath Endymion's gaze.
Who was Lord Tsuniko to tell Endymion to stay away from Serenity? Who were the generals to depict who he could and could not. . . could not lo-- Why was everyone telling him to stay away?! Why did the people who he was closest to not support him in. . .in. . . . Why was everyone so against him?!
Lord Tsuniko had raised his hands in defense. Endymion's features had darkened into anger. Lord Tsuniko believed that Endymion thought to strike him.
The soldier forced his way back into the ballroom, shoving Lord Tsuniko out of his way in the process. He slammed his wolf mask back over his face; the bottom ended just beneath his nose. Serenity twirled out on the dance floor in the arms of another man. Endymion presumed that it was the lord her father had spoken of-- Lord Toshio. . .Ying Yeng or what it was. Jedeite's head popped up to look at Endymion and a shadow crossed over his face when he saw the soldier's direction. Jedeite sat at the back of the room at the general's table. He stood up and began to weave his way through the crowd. He could not move fast enough. Endymion reached Serenity.
"Serenity."
"Excuse me, but we are dancing here. Why don't you stop embarrassing yourself and leave us alone."
"Serenity."
"Excuse me, did you not hear me?"
Endymion snatched the noble's wrist off Serenity's waist and distanced the two from each other. The noble stormed away in anger; he had no wish to bring the larger, younger man to rage, besides a gentlemen would not never quarrel or fight in the presence of ladies. Endymion turned his back on the departing noble and clutched Serenity's hand in his. Serenity's eyes were wide from beneath her mask. Endymion pulled the feathered obstacle from her face and saw the full force of her beauty unhindered. A kiss of rose tinted her cheeks, and the angel tried to look away from Endymion but found herself utterly helpless beneath his intense gaze. His fingers traced her jaw and came to rest on her lips. They were wet and soft against his fingers, and he moaned, the sound practically inaudible.
Serenity trembled as Endymion lowered his mouth closer to hers. She inhaled his scent: roses and leather, spices mingled with sweat. His hands brushed over her bare shoulders, over her untouched milky skin, and traced down her back in slow sensual circles. His fingers trailed over the buttons on the back of her white dress with gentle implication but no intent. He surrounded her body in his strong arms, protected her from everything, and drew her small form into himself. Her petite frame pressed into his solid, sinewy body, molded to his own form in ways that no other had ever done, and he fought a loosing battle with his raging arousal. He dipped his head lower and quipped her neck with his wet lips quickly. . . so quickly.
Serenity leaned into him; her hands outlined the muscles on his arms in distracted desire. His breath tickled her kissed skin and prickled the soft flesh. He moaned into her neck in accompaniment with his second kiss. A low whimper dripped from her lips and pooled in Endymion's ears. He pulled his head back and penetrated her vision with his own blue-eyed stare. Serenity wished she could see his entire face without the wolf mask.
The space between them was nonexistent as they danced. Endymion's ebony bangs brushed against Serenity's forehead as they drew closer to each other, moving her own golden-silver bangs back. Their breath intermingled and played. The heat rose into their faces, a private fire that only the two could share. Endymion paused when he saw a half moon on her skin, glowing strong in the center of her forehead. He frowned and studied it closer. It was obviously a part of her skin, but how. . . .
Serenity followed his eyes and pushed away, taking his notice as rejection. Endymion stepped towards her, but the angel moved farther away, her wings extending. They stared at each other for a moment, judging looks and postures, positions and appearances. Serenity stepped backwards again, and her father grabbed her wrist. Her mouth opened in silent cry as Lord Tsuniko's fingers drove into her skin, and she was escorted away from Snowball. Jedeite came to stand beside Endymion who could only watch with confusion as she fled his vision.
"It wouldn't have worked, Endymion. I am sorry, but it cannot happen."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Author's Note: Sorry that this is late!! My laptop crashed and would not boot up! It's thanks to Peter-the-Computer-Fixer-Guy that this is up and restored and nothing is missing!! I hope you all enjoy!!
Be warned: this may loose some of you as I've taken some turns that I have always been planning but, perhaps, did not prepare for well enough. I do hope that you all find it in your hearts to forgive me if that is the case.
I don't own Sailor Moon (no sob story this time!)
THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!
**************************************************************************** **********
Beryl stared at the light outline of the moon in the afternoon sky from her balcony. There had been a time when such a sight would have delighted her--to see the most beautiful symbol of nightfall in the daytime- -but those notions, those childish delights, had long since been disposed. She had been only seven when she had come to Earth; the planet had delighted and enthralled her--appealed to her every childish joy. The sorcerer Hamish had discovered her by the forest leading to the castle. He appeared then as he did to this day: youthful, mysterious, dark, and intelligent. He had known that she was not from Earth; he had even named the origin of her extraction. Beryl had been impressed by his promises, by his devotion to her. To this day, Hamish had never done anything to make Beryl question his loyalty.
When the two had originally crossed paths, Beryl had been distracted by her romantic notions surrounding the palace and had answered all of Hamish's pointed questions without a thought. Hamish had knelt beside her and promised her that she would have the palace--that she would be the queen and ruler. He had never named a price, and instead, had always faithfully protected her, helped her.
She never questioned his loyalty, although--over time--his presence had begun to disturb her.
Hamish had taken her from the forest that surrounded the castle all of those years ago and trained her in some dark arts, trained her in the ever-changing ways of the court. . .trained her to seek out, manipulate, control and use the power found in the Negaverse: her original home.
She had been waiting for this moment. . .for so long. . . .
Beryl had managed to destroy the previous rulers, the previous protectors of Earth, but that action was not enough for her rule to remain unquestioned. The people of Earth accepted her as their rightful leader (she had "after all" been Queen Shina's cousin), but there was a race of beings that were not as easily subdued. Queen Selenity of the Moon Kingdom, a mere myth among the mortals of Earth, had vowed that she would rectify the wrongs that had befallen the Shield family. There had been a note--just a note--on Beryl's bed. Had Beryl not the counsel of Nariko and Hamish, she would have dismissed the note; she would have thought it to have come from an angered Earthling.
Nariko and Hamish had shown her the truth. Without their ability to foresee the future and receive visions, the lunarians would be set to deal a fatal blow to Beryl within the year following the eclipse.
A fatal blow. . . .Beryl shivered and pulled her velvet robe tighter around her bony shoulders. They had come too close for her liking.
Even with the annihilation of the entire lunarian race, Beryl's life was still at risk. The Moon Kingdom balanced the Earth Kingdom; Queen Selenity and Queen Shina balanced the two worlds and—sometime long, long ago--allowed earthlings to visit the moon, and lunarians to visit the earth, without the consequence of death. The two queens had created a bond between the planets; it was through this bond that Beryl was able to continue to exist. The mutual strength of both planets provided Beryl with protection—and strength. Just as no lunarian could exist on Earth without this protection, no child of the Negaverse would have been granted life without the security of the bond. When Hamish and Beryl had purged the planet of most of the Shield family—namely Queen Shina--the balance had been disrupted.
The effects were immediate. Beryl felt her life begin to fade and slip.
Hamish, however, proved ever helpful, and taught Beryl how to take the protection—the energy—directly from the Earth. Years later, Selenity would try to take on both sides of the bond herself, and Beryl could feel her own life returning to her. Why Selenity had done so was unanswered; to the knowledge of the earthlings, no one had been to the moon, and no lunarian had come to Earth, for millennia. The bond's establishment did cause great concern at first. However, both Nariko and Hamish began to have visions of Beryl being killed by a lunarian—suddenly, the unification of the two worlds was justified; the lunarians meant to attack.
After the Moon Kingdom was destroyed, Beryl would never again be threatened: no one else could kill her. . . or so the visions explained.
However, the lunarians' annihilation was not enough to keep Beryl well and healthy. Once the lunarians were dispelled into non-existence, the bond would break, and Beryl would suffer greatly for the loss.
She could not continue to drain the earth's energy, to drain Gaia. Hamish and Nariko were both most helpful in discovering the solution to the problem, though.
The royal family had always protected Earth; the family had been chosen for the position because of their connection with the planet. Hamish had told Beryl that she needed to bond with someone who had a strong connection with the planet. Few earthlings had established a connection with Earth at all— much less a strong one. Nariko had dealt with the tyrant queen's fears and had told her that the child who had escaped her grasp so long ago would serve as the perfect bond candidate. Endymion Shields, the lone surviving member of the Earth's royal family, would be linked to Beryl.
Hamish knew the magic that would make Endymion's connection with the Earth link to Beryl, but the queen had asked for more. For long nights, Hamish worked his dark books over in search of a mind drain spell— something to make Endymion 'loyal' to Beryl. Hamish had hesitated over the task. He had presumed that Beryl would take him as her. . . .
Hamish worked hard to make the process fail-safe. The best spell he could find involved the blood of Endymion's wife. . . a wife that could not be Beryl. A messenger had been sent out to Endymion— one of Hamish's own creations, a speedy youma with the ability to transmogrify. The letter had been received just as Nariko had predicted; Endymion was resistant, but in the end, he would be Beryl's and she would do with him whatever she pleased. . . and her mind was already full of ideas inspired by the muscular youth.
"My queen."
Beryl tore her eyes from the moon and her mind from her thoughts. "Hamish."
"We are ready to begin, my queen. We must start now. Nariko is in the room. She has begun."
Beryl nodded and extended her hand. Hamish took her hand and led her to the throne room. Nariko stood in the center of the room; her rod spun between her hands, the ends sharp. The throne room's roof had been pulled back, and the night sky seeped in from the outdoors. Hamish cast his arm towards the moon where the eclipse had covered half of the glowing orb. Beryl moved to stand under Hamish's palm. His hand clamped down on the top of her head.
"Take into yourself as of the Negaverse's energy," Hamish hissed.
Beryl raised her arms. Ice spikes raced through her body, crawled beneath her skin. Darkness ebbed from her form in thick waves. Spirals of the dark cloud wrapped tightly around the red-haired queen's extended arms and began to snap and crackle at the tips of her fingers, her long nails.
"Take back your life, Beryl," Hamish crooned. He wrapped his left arm around her waist and squeezed her tightly into himself, into his skeleton- thin body. His hand tightened on her skull. "Destroy them. Destroy the Moon Kingdom."
Black lightening shot out from her outstretched hands towards the beautiful glowing orb that hung peaceful in the sky. The dark shadow of the eclipse moved to envelope the entire planet. More lightening. More power. A bright beam of light— sharp and definite, strong and purposeful, striking and yet sorrowful—blasted out from the moon. Beryl fingers flinched to counter the beam, but her movement was unnecessary. In her dying moments, Queen Selenity had misaimed her final strike. Beryl let the dark power roll through her body; it was ecstasy. The moon was black with the Negaverse. . . black with the eclipse. . . black with death.
In her mind, Beryl imagined the screams of pain and torment that the lunarians would have expelled before they shuddered their last strained breath.
Hamish enveloped Beryl in his cloak when she collapsed. The Negaverse's energy dispersed, becoming nothing more than wisps of clouds, memories of domination and success, memories of death. She was weak, and her recovery time would be delayed because of the missing bond, but she would return to herself in a few days. And, within a few months—if not sooner—she would link herself to Endymion and never fear death again.
Earlier to Present:
Queen Selenity watched the black Negaverse power build in one concentrated spot on Earth. She knew the spot well; she used to go there quite often to visit the Earth Queen Shina-- but no more. The lunarians were gathered in the Moon Kingdom's main courtyard; the whole population stood with their heads bowed, the half-moons on their foreheads glowing against the darkness of the eclipse. Queen Selenity stood between two pillars at the tip of the courtyard. Her petite feet rested on a marble base that was raised above the swarms of people. Her crystalline eyes that were so close to her daughter's were harsh with determination, but clouded by an unspoken inner sadness. Selenity needed to be strong—if not for her people who were praying and gathering their energy and strength to donate to her daughter Serenity, than for Serenity, whose journey was only going to become harder.
Queen Selenity clenched her hands on her wand and tore her eyes from Earth. She turned to the lunarians and poised her wand above their heads. Without words, the lunarians pushed their gathered energy into the wand. Queen Selenity grasped the wand and struggled to keep it still. . .so much energy.
Queen Selenity could hear the roar of Beryl's magic but did not sway in her task. Lunarians fell dead on the smooth marble stones in the courtyard from their sacrifice to Serenity or from the black lightening that Beryl had sent crashing into the once peaceful Moon Kingdom. All around the strong queen there was death. . .just death.
The last lunarian fell onto the lifeless bodies in the royal court and died. Queen Selenity stood alone, Beryl's fatal lightening charging for her heart.
She released the energy that had gathered in her wand along with her own life's force. Beryl's lightening slammed into her abdomen, sliced through her stomach like fire tears through desert-dry paper. The light from the wand shot towards the planet, towards Serenity.
The grand queen of the Moon Kingdom lay on the marble slate, her flowing white dress covered in oozing, thick red blood. Her long silver hair stuck to the marble, drenched in her life fluid; the once beautiful strands were red like Beryl.
Pain. . . . Selenity watched calmly with determined and proud blue eyes as the last of Beryl's power slammed into the planet.
"I am sorry, Serenity. Be strong."
Beryl's power sliced through the Moon Kingdom and tore every lunarian apart, ripped their body into indiscernible random slabs of flesh that disintegrated in the heat of the Negaverse's power. The grand pillars that had led to the magnificent castle were the last to fall, but no one was left alive to observe the horror. The lunarians died just as Beryl wanted, but there was one who could still challenge the power of the tyrant queen. . .if she was strong enough.
Left side. Right side. Left side. Right side. Front View. Left Side. Front view. Back view. Back View. BACK view. BACK VIEW.
Endymion pulled the tails of his black suit jacket up and examined his back end closer. The folds on the seat of his pants made his bottom look-- Endymion moved closer to the mirror-- his bottom looked much larger in these pants! He pulled at the side seams to better center his rear in the mirror. Something was definitely wrong with the pants; he could not have possibly been parading about with such a bottom and not have at least noticed! He slapped the excess material down, tried to calm the pointy folds.
"Do you always do that to yourself when we're not around? Shouldn't you be saving that for whatever wench you bed tonight? I'm sure she wouldn't mind a playful slap. You seem quite vigorous."
Endymion dropped his jacket's tail and glared at Zoicite; his brooding blue eyes demanded an immediate explanation for her invasion. "I presume that you have a good reason for barging into my room."
"Well, Endymion, I just thought that I'd get you out of those pants," Zoicite moved close and tried to pull the pants down; Endymion countered her movement with a single hand-down-block. She smirked.
"Zoicite. . . ," Endymion growled.
"You're no fun, Endymion," Zoicite said. "But, you are wearing my pants."
Endymion looked down, his ebony hair falling into his eyes. He had been so preoccupied with the seat of the pants that he had not noted that they were short on him. The cuffs ended above his anklebone. Endymion glared. He stripped out of the pants and threw them over Zoicite's watchful eyes.
"There. Now where are mine?"
"No lack of confidence, hmm, Endymion?" Zoicite teased as she ran her eyes up his bare legs. She watched the muscles in his legs flex and tense when he moved closer.
"My pants, Zoicite."
"They're on your doorknob. Nephrite put them there; he had tried them on, but they were too small for him in the waist and too long for him in the legs. I still think he looked better than you, though."
"Goodbye, Zoicite."
"See you when you're ready, soldier," she said and walked from his room. She snatched his pants from the doorknob and tossed them at his feet before returning to her own room to change.
Endymion quickly pulled the pants up his legs and secured the button and zipper on the front. He grabbed his mask from his bedpost and moved to meet the others who would have grouped in the kitchen. He paused with his hand on the door. Endymion ran back to the mirror.
Left side. Right side. Left side. Right side. Front View. Left Side. Front view. Back view. Back View. Front view. Try out a smile. Good.
He went to meet the others and ride out to Snowball.
Lord Tsuniko slammed his fist into Serenity's door. The young girl flinched and struggled with the clasps on the back of her dress. Columbia had been rewarded with dressing ladies for her good repertoire with Lord Lui Chai, but Serenity had no one to help her dress and ready herself for Snowball. Needless to say, she was much slower than her sister who was waiting— impatiently— with both lords in the den. Another rumble echoed in Serenity's mind as Lord Tsuniko slammed his fist again.
"Serenity!"
"I'm almost done, father!" she said; her fingers fumbled, and she lost the clasp. "I'll just be a few more minutes."
"You do not have 'a few more minutes.' If you are not down the steps and ready within the next minute, you will be riding your horse to Snowball!"
Serenity cringed when she heard his feet stomp down the hall and down the stairs. Her fingers fought to reach the clasp again and secure it in place. She fumbled. Downstairs the door slammed closed. Loud footsteps tread heavily up the stairs. Serenity fought for the clasp.
"The lords have left with Columbia, Serenity! If you make me wait much longer--"
"I am almost done, father!" Serenity called over her shoulder. "I just have a few more clasps to do up."
"At this rate, the weather will be too poor for us to ride in! Do you realize that it will have already started?! Or are you too ignorant?" he hit the door again.
Ride in? Serenity paused and looked down at her dress. The saddle and horse would mar the dress's flawless white fabric. She groaned. What did it matter? There would be no one there she wanted to impress. . .Endymion would be at Snowball. Her eyes unfocussed as she tried to envision what he would look like. . .would she recognize him? Would he recognize her? Jedeite had not. . .she could barely recognize herself when she put the mask on. Her hair was down and dripped over her shoulders in long golden-silver waves; the tips pooled onto the floor in spirals and gentle twists. No, Endymion would not recognize her. No one would. She hoped such luck would extend to encompass Lord Toshio Yiio.
Serenity's fingers found the final clasp and secured the pin in the eyehole. She straightened and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were so sad. The twin crystalline orbs seemed wet with tears and yet she had no intention of releasing the build-up moisture.
"I am ready, father."
Lord Tsuniko went into the room. "Where is your mask?"
"Oh!" Serenity picked up the feathered mask and stood before the mirror to place it over her face.
"I would not be able to distinguish you from the crowd. You present nothing that is of you," he said and turned away from her to leave the room.
"Father?"
He did not turn around. "You will go immediately to Lord Yiio and present yourself to him. He will think that you did not come if you do not give him knowledge of your appearance."
"Yes, fath--" Serenity stopped her speech and let out a heart- striking scream similar to dry nails being raked across a dusty chalkboard.
Lord Tsuniko turned. A blinding light punctured Serenity's body, sliced through her abdomen. Her back arched in pain and felt as though it would break from the pressure. She fell to the ground; the light continued to penetrate her, moving deeper and deeper into her skin. Two long slivers of light glowed from beside her shoulder blades.
Blood.
The light forced its way through Serenity's skin, through the tough layers of her soft flesh. Her voice lost its ability to vocalize her pain and all that came from her gaping mouth was a silent scream, a rush of unarticulated air.
Lord Tsuniko scrambled for the door when the two streams of light came out of Serenity's back. The light did not touch him. Instead, it curled back and dove to the floor, just touching the ground. The light lifted Serenity, and the petrified young woman could do nothing to resist its power.
The light dove again, until it was floor length when she was standing. It expanded and grew, solidified and took form. White feathers burst free of the light and covered the glowing form. Serenity screamed as the feathers materialized; pain burst anew with every plume. The blood that had speckled her shoulders dissipated, and the light faded until Serenity stood, looking very much like she had before the light had wrenched itself through her body, only now. . .only now a pair of white wings tipped in gold protruded from her back's once-smooth skin.
Serenity collapsed onto the floor; the wings moved around her body to protect her from outward harm. She flexed them experimentally; they were very much a part of her body. She could feel tension in the wings, feel each sinew and movement. She knew how they would respond to her, how to control them, how to move them and use them. They were just another part of herself that she had not known existed, but she always had the knowledge to use them. She knew this. . .somehow, Serenity knew this.
Lord Tsuniko sat on the floor in stupefied fear. His anger told him to lash out at her, to call Serenity a blasphemous demon and whore. His instincts told him to run and not upset the empowered Serenity.
Serenity found strength to stand and look at her father. He met her searching eyes with a glare. She shuddered and bowed her head. "I-I am sorry, father. I do not know what to say."
"Get outside. We are going to the ball."
"What??"
"Get outside now!" he shouted, anger colouring his tone. "If I don't have you gone by the end of Snowball, I will have you burned for witchery! Now get out!"
Serenity held the feathered mask to her face with one hand and lifted the front hem of her dress with the other as she ran from the room. Outside, a carriage was waiting for them— her father's threats of riding were apparently idle. Lord Tsuniko assumed the position of carriage driver and raced them towards the town, towards Snowball. Above them the moon was black. Serenity's eyes gazed at it in a mix of horror and fascination.
Funny Serenity thought. I thought that the darkness would not occur until later. . . .
Candles with dripping wax. Clinking of champagne bottles. Boisterous laughter. Bodies: masses and masses of dancing bodies. Endymion sat in a corner seat and nursed a glass of champagne. He had half a mind to drink himself silly and drown his misery in the white bubbly. He refrained; there was-- even in the slightest portion-- the chance that Serenity would come to Snowball. Her sister Columbia had arrived in the company of two older men. Endymion had tried to talk to Columbia to find out whether or not Serenity would be there, but Nephrite had raised a warning hand and Endymion reseated himself. He now stared at the door.
Stared at the door. . .
. . .at the door.
Endymion cringed. This was horrible. The other generals were dancing, aside with Nephrite who had been charged with watching Endymion and keeping him away from Serenity, and he was sitting at a nearly empty table at the back of the room taking baby sips of champagne.
"I'm going to find someone to dance with."
Nephrite raised an eyebrow. "No."
"She's not here, Nephrite," Endymion said.
"I don't care."
"It's just a dance."
"No."
"One dance."
"No."
"You know what? I don't have to listen to you. I don't know why I am even bothering playing along with your stupid babysitting games," he said and rose from the table.
"Sit down, Endymion."
"No."
Endymion started to walk away from the table but stopped short when he looked at the main entrance. An angel had walked into the room.
His heart stuttered and stopped, stuttered again. . . . It suddenly did not matter if Nephrite was tugging on his sleeve. . . . It didn't matter that Jedeite and Kunzite and Zoicite would seek out his blood for rising from the table. . . . All that mattered was getting to the woman before anyone else.
Serenity looked around Snowball with wide eyes. Gizbourne had held true to his promise, and many of his troops were out on the dance floor or casually sipping wine and nibbling on one treat or another. The town's main hall had never been as full as it was now. Children wove between the crowds calling out to one another in cheerful jest; couples spun together across the hard wood floor and shared secretive smiles and nods that only they could understand. Serenity could find no one she knew. The costumes seemed much more elaborate and complete than they had in the years before; she suspected that the presence of the single officers and handsome soldiers played some role in that fact.
Lord Tsuniko grabbed her forearm and began to pull her through the crowds gathered by the door. She did not struggle against his grip, but hoped Ami would find her and cause her father to leave. He had never enjoyed being around the two when they talked-- too much energy for his comfort level. Ami, however, was just as lost amongst the masses as anyone else.
"Excuse me?"
Both Serenity and Lord Tsuniko turned to face the voice. A tall man stood in front of them in a wolf mask. His eyes shone blue from beneath the layers of fur covering the mask, a soft, gentle blue traced with something. . .something cold. Serenity bowed to him, her wings spreading out around her for balance.
"That is a stunning costume," the man whispered, his breath seemed stolen. "I barely have the courage to ask you to dance, but if I don't, I know that I will regret it. Will you grant me a dance, sweet angel? I will wait all night if it is your preference, or I can escort you to the floor now if it is your desire."
Lord Tsuniko harrumphed and tightened his grip on Serenity's arm. She continued to stare into the eyes of the wolf. His presence made her dizzy, as though everything was sliding in or out of place so quickly that she had lost all her orientation and was now drowning in her mind. She felt suffocated and shocked, content and safe. He was waiting for her answer but was not rushed. She tore her crystalline eyes away from him and refocused her concentration on breathing. . .on simple breaths. Her father tightened his grip; she stepped forward against his restraint.
"I would like to dance."
From beneath the black mesh that covered the man's face just below his nose, Serenity could make out a smile. . .an innocent, sweet smile. . . . Serenity resisted the urge to pull away his mask and see his face, although he could not be the one she had hoped to find—had feared to find. She pulled away from her father who stood in angry silence. He would not be able to say anything without risking offense to the man who now extended a gloved hand to Serenity. She stepped forward again and accepted his simple touch. His hand swallowed hers, and she stared at the conjoined hands for a moment. Why could he not be Endymion? Why could Endymion not hold her hand in such a way as to make her believe that their grip was the only thing that kept her alive? Why did she have to think about him at all?
Endymion pulled the angel closer to him and watched her hidden face as he began to lead her through the first steps of the dance. His left hand grazed the small of her back, and the angel responded by moving closer to him. He had never excelled at dancing, but now it was so easy. . .she offered him no resistance and followed whatever step he chose to take. Her wings had spread when she had bowed, and Endymion had been thoroughly impressed by the advancements made in costumes. To think that she could have hidden a string to pull them-- or placed weights within the feathers-- so that they would expand when she bowed was creative and intriguing. But the wings were not what enthralled him.
She enchanted his mind and tainted his everything thought; it was her, just her. He was rapt by her presence, just as he had been when they had first met. Endymion had never gotten to hold her like he embraced her now. She was shorter than he was; her head was crowned with long golden- silver hair that swam down her back in long waves that nearly brushed the floor. Her crystalline eyes were welled with innocence-- lipid purity. He knew who she was and could only hope that no one else did. He hoped that the generals did not recognize her.
The song changed: another waltz.
He swung her out, and immediately regretted his decision to do so. He was raped of her presence, and although they never broke from each other's contact, Endymion felt panicked. Serenity spun out, her wings moving and shifting slightly. She held every eye spellbound, and Endymion felt proud, yet possessive.
Endymion faltered when Serenity returned to his embrace and rested her head on his chest. His heart pummeled his chest and ribs in an attempt to free itself and give itself to Serenity. Endymion heard a soft laugh, a tiny giggle, come from the silken lips. He opened his mouth to ask her what had amused her.
"Lord Shields?"
Serenity's body went rigid against his.
(Oh, please, no. . . .) he thought. ( Please not yet. Please don't take her away from me yet. Let her think that I am someone else. . .anyone else. . . any other man who just coincidentally has the last name Shields. . . . It could be a common last name, right?)
He squeezed her hand and continued to dance. He brought his face closer to the top of her had and inhaled. The air he exhaled stirred the golden- silver strands and brought a small gasp from Serenity's mouth. Her flesh prickled with goose bumps, and Endymion smiled at her innocence. She reacted to everything about him as though he was the first person to ever touch her or pay attention to her. His happiness was cut short, however, when he notice that her movements were weighted. She knew.
"Lord Shields?" the voice asked again.
Endymion stopped moving, but would not release Serenity's hand. He held it with care, but applied a firm force to let her know that he did not wish her to leave. He turned to face his addressor. The messenger from the barn months ago stood before him. He wore the mask of an oxen's head, lifelike and frightening. Serenity stood her ground although many other people who looked at him shied from the hideous costume. Endymion's cold eyes challenged the messenger, challenged his presence.
"I am not a lord. Leave us alone."
The short man's mask seemed to leer at them with its black beady eyes laced with red hues. He thrust a letter into Endymion's face. Serenity shied away from the letter, a moan flew from her soft lips, and she pulled on Endymion's firm arm.
"Endymion. . . ," she whispered.
"My lord I must insist that you take this letter. I come directly from Queen Beryl who requests your immediate response," the messenger said. His voice carried over the music and clawed into the ears of every person in attendance. Endymion's friends started towards them; Jedeite was the first to reach the group.
"Take this outside," Jedeite said.
"I do not have time for your games, general," the messenger said. He struck Endymion's shoulder with the letter. "You will open this now, Lord Shields."
Serenity extracted her arm from Endymion. He looked away from the messenger. Jedeite stepped up to the white-clad angel. "Serenity, perhaps it would be best for you to leave us."
Serenity tipped her head in acknowledgement of Jedeite's request but did not move. Endymion took the letter from the messenger. Aside from a few wary glances, their small gathering had not drawn much attention from other Snowball-goers. Endymion fingered the wax seal; the seal seemed familiar-- not familiar because it was the same as the other letters-- something about the royal stamp tickled his memory, further than his initial introduction to the letters from Queen Beryl. . .but what?
Endymion pushed his mask away from his face and tore the wax from the paper. Serenity walked away, her wings surrounding her shoulders. Endymion swiped his dark ebony hair from his forehead.
"I told you to stay away from her."
"I didn't know it was her."
Jedeite's eyes thinned. "You knew."
"No. Not until we were already dancing," Endymion said. He began to read the letter, but stopped after discovering nothing more than repetition. He turned to the poorly clad messenger. "I have heard all this before!"
"Keep your voice down, Endymion. Some of us are enjoying this party," Zoicite sneered as she and Kunzite neared the same gathering.
"It is a reminder. Just in case you stray from your path. You have little time left before you are to begin traveling. You will need to have been wed by then."
"Would you just leave me alone? I'm not a lord! I'm not whatever it is that you think I am! Just leave me be!"
"Take it outside, Endymion."
"There's nothing to take outside!"
"Then go there to cool off!" Nephrite snapped as he approached. "You're a bloody idiot to think that you can make a scene like this here!"
Endymion wanted to say more but noted the drawing interest they were creating from the other guests. With a frown, Endymion left the confrontation and stormed towards the large French doors. Pushing them open, he found himself on a balcony surrounded by stinging cold. It was unusually dark. He looked to the sky. The moon was still in eclipse. Endymion frowned; it seemed too long for an eclipse. He pulled his cold blue eyes from the sky and let them rest on the silhouette of an angel shivering and leaning over the balcony. Her innocent eyes were skyward, watching the curiousity of the moon. Endymion's breath was weighted. He approached her. The soldier moved with silent stealth. He didn't wish for her to anticipate his advance and run.
"You knew it was me," Serenity's small voice spoke into the night sky. She hadn't turned around, and she couldn't have heard his advance. Endymion stopped walking. Serenity's eyes remained on the sky. Endymion was close enough to hear the quivering of her breath in the cold.
"You shouldn't be out here," Endymion said firmly. He moved closer but stopped again when her body tensed with the sound of his footsteps.
"I will decide that," Serenity said. She shifted so that Endymion could no longer see her face. There was a long silence before Serenity spoke again. "There is something wrong with the moon."
Endymion looked up and saw the looming darkness where the milky moonlight used to pool in the sky. "It is probably nothing. The eclipse is just longer," Endymion said. Serenity wheeled to face him. Her eyes were filled with fear.
"No, it is more," she said before her blue eyes averted to the ground. "I-I don't know how to explain this to you. . . . I don't understand it. . . . Something feels. . .wrong."
Endymion opened his soft mouth to speak but was cut short by another voice. "Serenity, what are you doing out here!"
Serenity lifted her head and looked past Endymion. Endymion turned to see Lord Tsuniko standing at the doors. The noble considered Endymion with a withering glare before curtly bringing his gaze back to his daughter. "Get inside. Lord Toshio Yiio has been waiting long enough, and I will not tolerate this nonsense any longer. If he doesn't take to you, I will keep my promise, Serenity. I advise that you do what is in your best interest."
"Yes, Father," Serenity said in a meek voice. She kept her head bent when she brushed past Endymion and walked into the confines of the ballroom.
"Promise?" Endymion asked quietly.
"That is none of your concern, soldier," Lord Tsuniko snapped.
"You mean 'Lord,'" the messenger said appearing behind Lord Tsuniko.
"I am not a lord!" Endymion growled at the fumbling messenger. "Shouldn't you have left? Your purpose here has been served. I have your message now leave me in peace!" His dark eyes glowed with venomous contempt.
"Yes, of course, my Lord," the messenger nodded with a smug grin before he slipped behind the doors again. Endymion did not bother to correct him.
"Stay away from my daughter."
Endymion turned to Lord Tsuniko in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Stay away from my daughter! She does not need a soldier to scar her reputation before she is married. No one would consider her if you stained her."
Endymion forced his mask off his face and held it in his hands. Lord Tsuniko shriveled beneath Endymion's gaze.
Who was Lord Tsuniko to tell Endymion to stay away from Serenity? Who were the generals to depict who he could and could not. . . could not lo-- Why was everyone telling him to stay away?! Why did the people who he was closest to not support him in. . .in. . . . Why was everyone so against him?!
Lord Tsuniko had raised his hands in defense. Endymion's features had darkened into anger. Lord Tsuniko believed that Endymion thought to strike him.
The soldier forced his way back into the ballroom, shoving Lord Tsuniko out of his way in the process. He slammed his wolf mask back over his face; the bottom ended just beneath his nose. Serenity twirled out on the dance floor in the arms of another man. Endymion presumed that it was the lord her father had spoken of-- Lord Toshio. . .Ying Yeng or what it was. Jedeite's head popped up to look at Endymion and a shadow crossed over his face when he saw the soldier's direction. Jedeite sat at the back of the room at the general's table. He stood up and began to weave his way through the crowd. He could not move fast enough. Endymion reached Serenity.
"Serenity."
"Excuse me, but we are dancing here. Why don't you stop embarrassing yourself and leave us alone."
"Serenity."
"Excuse me, did you not hear me?"
Endymion snatched the noble's wrist off Serenity's waist and distanced the two from each other. The noble stormed away in anger; he had no wish to bring the larger, younger man to rage, besides a gentlemen would not never quarrel or fight in the presence of ladies. Endymion turned his back on the departing noble and clutched Serenity's hand in his. Serenity's eyes were wide from beneath her mask. Endymion pulled the feathered obstacle from her face and saw the full force of her beauty unhindered. A kiss of rose tinted her cheeks, and the angel tried to look away from Endymion but found herself utterly helpless beneath his intense gaze. His fingers traced her jaw and came to rest on her lips. They were wet and soft against his fingers, and he moaned, the sound practically inaudible.
Serenity trembled as Endymion lowered his mouth closer to hers. She inhaled his scent: roses and leather, spices mingled with sweat. His hands brushed over her bare shoulders, over her untouched milky skin, and traced down her back in slow sensual circles. His fingers trailed over the buttons on the back of her white dress with gentle implication but no intent. He surrounded her body in his strong arms, protected her from everything, and drew her small form into himself. Her petite frame pressed into his solid, sinewy body, molded to his own form in ways that no other had ever done, and he fought a loosing battle with his raging arousal. He dipped his head lower and quipped her neck with his wet lips quickly. . . so quickly.
Serenity leaned into him; her hands outlined the muscles on his arms in distracted desire. His breath tickled her kissed skin and prickled the soft flesh. He moaned into her neck in accompaniment with his second kiss. A low whimper dripped from her lips and pooled in Endymion's ears. He pulled his head back and penetrated her vision with his own blue-eyed stare. Serenity wished she could see his entire face without the wolf mask.
The space between them was nonexistent as they danced. Endymion's ebony bangs brushed against Serenity's forehead as they drew closer to each other, moving her own golden-silver bangs back. Their breath intermingled and played. The heat rose into their faces, a private fire that only the two could share. Endymion paused when he saw a half moon on her skin, glowing strong in the center of her forehead. He frowned and studied it closer. It was obviously a part of her skin, but how. . . .
Serenity followed his eyes and pushed away, taking his notice as rejection. Endymion stepped towards her, but the angel moved farther away, her wings extending. They stared at each other for a moment, judging looks and postures, positions and appearances. Serenity stepped backwards again, and her father grabbed her wrist. Her mouth opened in silent cry as Lord Tsuniko's fingers drove into her skin, and she was escorted away from Snowball. Jedeite came to stand beside Endymion who could only watch with confusion as she fled his vision.
"It wouldn't have worked, Endymion. I am sorry, but it cannot happen."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~