Falling Away
MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
Rated: R
Chapter 8
It would seem I'm forever apologizing for this story. Please be patient. I can promise you now, it will get done!
"Endymion would you join me for a walk?" Her voice was so soft, sweet, and damn inviting and perhaps under different circumstances he would be tempted by its husky honey-toned seductiveness but he hadn't heard from Serenity in a week and he was a little bit too drunk to enjoy a walk in the garden at twilight.
He'd gone over in his mind, everything he'd said the last time they'd argued. He concocted a dozen different scenarios that played out differently where they never argued and he had never said those words and she hadn't left with that horrified expression on her face and a tear rolling down her cheek. He'd been stunned by the sense of finality in that moment and a deep sense of tragedy that it could all be over so quickly, so easily.
He set down the etched silver cup in his hand on his desk. "Another time perhaps Beryl."
He hadn't even turned to face her. He was still looking out the large window of his office, focused on nothing.
Beryl nodded in acceptance but frowned with annoyance as she left his office. Her fiancée had been polite, treating her kindly as he would any guest at the palace but he had been distracted and completely uninterested in her. It was an insult not just to her looks and her presence but her status.
She was a princess of the powerful Eastern Territories marrying the prince of all Earth and he seemed to be the only man who didn't want her. She had been taught well the art of seduction since she was a young girl and she lived and breathed it and she'd not yet met a man she wanted whom she hadn't been able to get.
It seemed the rule of life that stated that it's often the thing that a person can't have that a person wants the most, was very much the truth. Had Endymion simply fallen into her hands as she expected, she might not have this disturbing desire for him. But then perhaps it was simply the fact that he was the most intriguing and desirable man she'd ever known.
Her pride was the only thing preventing her from using her magic to make him look at her the way she wanted him to. She wanted him to want her of his own accord; she deserved that much.
She strode purposefully towards the distant political offices on the far side of the palace, ignoring the looks she got from various officials and servants as she walked by. She was used to being stared at. She strode into the office of the head of the council without announcement. Khassan glanced up from the papers he was reading. Seeing it was his niece he sighed quietly.
"I sense there is a problem?" he questioned as he glanced up at his beautiful niece. The frown on her face did little to mar her beauty. She had the look of his sister with her glorious wavy dark auburn hair, pale skin and brilliant green eyes. Her lips seemed permanently set in a tempting expression he wasn't sure how she managed to achieve and maintain.
"That man you have me marrying is either blind or stupid. He pays me absolutely no attention," She announced melodramatically.
Khassan raised an eyebrow. Beryl wasn't usually one for tantrums and yet she seemed on the verge of throwing one. "He's neither. What he is, is too honorable and not nearly ruthless nor ambitious enough to sit on the throne," Khassan said calmly.
Beryl began to pace the room. "I suspect there may be another woman. It's the only thing that makes sense. I understand that you and the rest of the council is enough to drive a man insane but that should have driven him towards me not away. There must be another woman."
Khassan sighed. Beryl was occasionally an emotional woman; that is, she was passionate about having her way but her pacing and muttering was driving him insane.
"Sit Beryl." She paid no attention. He took a sip of the coffee that had been sitting on his desk all afternoon. It was cold naturally. Before she'd come in he had been quite concentrated on what he was doing.
"Now how is it that you're the only one who doesn't know that Endymion has a mistress? I suppose no one bothered to tell you seeing as you're his fiancée but I thought you would have heard by now given your…. abilities." That was certainly the subtlest way of stating it. Beryl could seduce information from any man and frighten it out of any woman unfortunate enough to stand in her way.
Beryl froze mid-step. She frowned. "So I was right." She turned to her uncle and forcefully demanded: "Who is she?"
"When you find out let me know." He replied dryly. "She's a mystery to everyone. If anyone knew I would most certainly have heard it by now but I haven't heard a whisper."
Beryl walked over to the window in his office and looked over the city. It was so very different from her own home with it's eclectic mix of architecture that combined the modern and the ancient. Most of Earth's capital was new. The palace and a few temples were the oldest structures around. Her own city was filled with old buildings some domed or topped with steeples, or even older flat-roofed residences, older than this palace, some so old no one could remember when they had been built or by whom. This city, with it's new tall buildings and clean streets was to be her new home and all the people in them hers, when she was queen.
She turned around suddenly with her back facing the window. "I want to know who she is."
Khassan sighed again and put aside his papers. He leaned back in his chair, his hands forming a mini pyramid. "Why do you care?"
"He's going to be my husband. I have every right to care who shares his bed." She clenched her fist angrily at her side, her nails digging into the palm of her hand almost drawing blood. The very idea that another woman may have succeeded where she had failed made her blood boil.
"And what if he should choose to care who shares yours?" Khassan questioned, offering a logical point of view. "The man may just be a little peeved that you slept with his best friend. Perhaps that's one of the reasons he holds himself back."
She dismissed the thought with a regal wave of the hand. "That is precisely my problem. He does not care."
"And you want him to?"
"Once again you've managed to miss the most obvious point. Of course I want him to!" She snapped, only a little annoyed with him and a lot more at the situation. Haven't you been listening to me at all?"
"I'm afraid, my dear, that you've missed the point altogether. We do not care whom Endymion sleeps with before or after the wedding. In fact, after the wedding, Endymion will be irrelevant, unless of course he makes himself useful and gets you with child.
"Please do try to keep your mind on track my dear. We have plans and they do not include obsessing over a man who's bound to die very young."
Beryl began to pace once more, much to his annoyance. "I'm beginning to think that maybe we don't have to kill him at all. He could be useful to me."
Khassan frowned. "Don't say another word. You will not become obsessed with Endymion. He's just another man, nothing more and the fact that he's currently distracted by his mistress and not paying you any attention, is quite possibly more to our benefit.
***
Mina watched with concern as Serenity paced the floor of her sitting room angrily. She wasn't gifted telepathically but it didn't take magic or great mental skills to guess that it wasn't the best idea to try to talk to Serenity at the moment. She glanced over at Rei who sat beside her on the couch equally concerned and just as baffled. They had been preparing since last night to leave for Drue with Serenity, and in all those hours Serenity had said almost nothing but her anger had continued to rage.
Mina desperately wanted to question Rei about what she thought was wrong with Serenity but she hadn't gotten an opportunity. They had each been busy all day packing and preparing to leave. It was almost time to go and both girls who had made the choice to join her had gathered in Serenity's room waiting for the announcement that Mael's Aunt, the Princess Airée and her ship were ready.
None of the girls knew what had set Serenity on the warpath and none of them could recall ever having seen anything like it. All they knew was that she had been missing for more than half the day yesterday and this morning she hadn't appeared for breakfast and was apparently rumored to be in quite a mood. They hadn't expected this however. When they'd entered her chambers she had barely managed a polite greeting and continued to give terse directions to Marila. Now that Marila was gone she paced the floor anxiously never uttering a single word.
Had this been a situation they were used to, they might have tried to comfort her and coax her into telling them what was on her mind, but following Rei's lead, Mina simply sat quietly and waited, hoping that she'd eventually relax and explain on her own.
Serenity continued to pace. She hadn't slept at all last night but she wasn't tired. Her anger and anxiety kept her going. She couldn't recall a single clear thought since her mother had left her room last night. She kept thinking about Endymion and leaving home and being angry with her mother and realizing the mess she'd made.
It would have been better had she never got involved with Endymion at all. Her life would have been easier if she'd never met him. She wouldn't be so desperate for his touch, she wouldn't know what desire felt like and she wouldn't be such an emotional wreck. Most importantly, she wouldn't feel this cold dreadful feeling about her wedding and the prospect of being married knowing that the kind of passion she'd experienced with Endymion would have to survive in her memory alone.
She took a deep breath and tried to focus and put everything in perspective. Nothing had changed, that is, her situation was much the same as it had always been. She was still marrying Mael; the fact that now more than ever she was apprehensive about the idea, didn't change it. There was also the fact that she'd always known that what she'd begun with Endymion was short-lived; she just hadn't known that it would end so soon.
There wasn't any point in trying to start up where they had left off once she returned from Drue. It was in both their best interests never to see each other again. As it was, the idea of never seeing him again caused a nervous, nearly gut-wrenching sensation that she considered a warning. They'd grown far closer than they should have. The trip to Drue would be for the best. It would give her time to forget Endymion, get to know Mael, and try to reacquaint herself with the woman she'd been before Endymion.
The fact that her mother was upset with her was the one thing that had changed and would remain. But then time and distance would undoubtedly repair what damaged she'd caused. She couldn't tell her mother the truth and chances are it would give her reason not to trust her but the damage wasn't completely irreparable. They'd soon forget any of this had ever occurred; well one of them would anyway.
She glanced over at her two friends who had been waiting patiently for an explanation. She supposed the truth would suffice. She stopped pacing and faced them with a forced smile.
"If you can't tell, I don't want to go to Drue," She explained stiffly. My mother accepted this invitation on my behalf and I'm more than a little upset with her because of it but I'm getting used to the idea. I have to go some time right?" Her voice sounded a bit forced. She'd tried to sound casual, and dispel the tension from her voice that pooled in her stomach.
Mina looked at her oddly. You've had most of your life to get used to the idea of marrying Mael why have you been so…." She couldn't quite find the word for the way Serenity had been lately.
When they'd been only thirteen years old they'd all been filled with romantic dreams and Serenity had been hopeful, even expectant, of a loving and romantic relationship with her handsome fiancée. Somewhere along the line something had changed. She'd stopped discussing him and marriage altogether. There were no more dreams of beautiful wedding gowns and dancing the night away. She'd simply dismissed the subject and now that the time was drawing closer that hadn't changed. She was nothing more than polite to Mael and his family; treating them with all the respect they were due but no love or emotion at all.
"I've gotten used to the idea but I don't like it."
"What changed?" Mina asked. "When we were younger you thought Mael was the most handsome man in the world. You wanted to marry him and live happily ever after.
"I grew up that's all," Serenity replied with a touch of bitterness in her voice. "Mael doesn't love me any more than I love him and I don't expect him to and I don't think that's ever going to change. Sometimes I wish things could be different but they aren't and I hate not having control of it." Serenity sighed and sat down next to her friends.
"I suppose that for a long while I've been looking at how other people live their lives, and I wish that I could make my own choices and not have to think about how what I choose affects thousands of other people I've never even met. Going to Drue, just reminds me of what little choice I have."
"We all have responsibilities Serenity. But we do have choices, sometimes they aren't the best ones but there are always choices," Rei reminded.
"Yes but we must always choose the right one mustn't we? What kind of princess or queen would we be if we didn't?" Serenity felt her own words cut to the core. She'd knowingly made the wrong choice, for herself and for everyone. What kind of a princess was she?
Rei didn't get a chance to respond. Something about the wistful way Serenity had said the last words worried her. The knocking on the door however distracted them all. They were informed that Princess Airée was ready. Their baggage had already been loaded; it was time to go. Rei supposed she'd have to question Serenity later. She couldn't help feeling that there was more to the story than she was telling.
****
Serenity looked out at the unfathomable darkness of space through the wide windows above her bed in the spacious quarters she'd been assigned. The dim illumination of the distant stars were like pin pricks of light stretching into infinity as the spacecraft sped onwards. With every passing second she grew a little more anxious about being so far from home. She couldn't simply teleport the distance from Drue to Luna. It was simply too far.
They had passed Neptune nearly an hour ago. She had been keeping track for a while but now her eyes were growing heavy. Not having slept the previous night was taking its toll. She sank down into the soft mattress that wasn't nearly as comfortable as her own, if only because it wasn't in her own home.
She vocalized the command to dim the lights and the inset line of lights above the window and across the room above the wide mirror winked out to leave the room in utter darkness.
There were some benefits to being on a space ship. Computerized rooms were simply not a part of everyday life on the moon or many of the other planets. Buildings on Luna were built in a very traditional way, advanced technology and magic used sparingly and with the intention of going unnoticed. It simply went against philosophy to make life 'excessively comfortable'. In theory it led to indolence, complacency, and waste. If one could open a door with one's hands one should do so and not depend on technology for such a simple task. Besides there was a beauty in living one's life in the most natural way possible, or so the philosophers claimed and no one bothered to disagree with them, that is, she'd given up on disagreeing when she realized that all her protests weren't going to change millennia of tradition.
Her thoughts melted away as she gave into the sleep her body desired.
She woke several hours later, opening one sleepy eye to a look at the clock across the room. Both eyes opened in surprise. She'd slept away the better part of a day. Without the bright sunshine that normally woke her, she'd slept through the last evening well into the midday hours.
The door chimed and for a moment she was confused, unused to the sound and its meaning.
'Enter,' she called out after a moment's hesitation. Marila walked in carrying a tray that seemed to hold crackers, fruit and cheeses.
"Good afternoon your highness," she greeted cheerfully.
"Hello to you too," she grumbled sourly. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"Princess Reimi told me to let you sleep in and Princess Airée agreed that it was alright."
Just three months ago when she'd first started as Serenity's maid, she would have been fearful that she had done something wrong, seeing the disgruntled expression on Serenity's face and hearing her question. She'd learned quickly, that Serenity didn't take her frustrations out on others. She was now quite used to her moods and rather unconventional behavior, not that she really knew what was exactly conventional for a princess having never worked for one before, but she had ideas. Princesses were serene, polite, and gracious, or so she'd been told as a child.
Serenity was generally a sweet, generous girl but she had her moods. Some days she rose with a smile on her face and others she scowled at the sun as if it offended her. Her mind and moods were as changeable as the weather, well that's how the saying went anyway, it didn't seem to work well with the moon's generally stable, controlled weather conditions but it was a satisfying enough description of her princess' temperament. Some days she wanted help getting dressed others she wanted to be alone. She disappeared for hours on end with no explanations, and seemed flighty at times and deep in thought at others. She was an enigma.
Marila had spoken with other servants in the palace and she'd heard a dozen times over that Serenity hadn't always been this way; she was simply growing up that's all. She was going through one of those phases; she would settle in time. She couldn't help but wonder however, if there wasn't much more to it than that. She was sure the princess had her secrets; secrets Marila promised herself she'd keep should she discover them for herself. Loyalty was something her mother had taught her well. She already knew one of Serenity's secrets. The princess didn't always sleep in her bed at night.
Marila placed the tray on the small table before a comfortable looking group of soft chairs. " They wanted to know when you woke up. Should I let them know?"
"Yes, but could you help me dress first. I want to be presentable when I speak to Princess Airée." The princess had greeted her briefly yesterday when she'd come aboard but they'd all been busy settling into their quarters and Serenity had gone right to bed afterwards.
She wanted to make a good impression on Mael's aunt. She hadn't done a particularly good job thus far by missing her appointment with her and then also not showing up for dinner. She wondered what excuse her mother had made. Hopefully it was one that would made her seem less flighty than Princess Airée no doubt thought she was.
She got out of bed and headed for the platter of food. She was starving, she realized and immediately satisfied her hunger with several crackers and pieces of fruit. She turned toward the large closet and noticed Marila had selected a vibrant blue gown with a low neckline, she shook her head indicating no and directed her towards a high-waisted white dress that seemed to say 'I'm perfectly sweet and innocent' more accurately.
When she was dressed, Marila dressed her hair in the traditional style of matching buns on either side of her head with trailing locks. It was a style she only wore on occasion because it made her look far younger than she desired. She left her room and was led to a common area by one of the ship's crewmembers. The room didn't look like one on a ship speeding through space. Gone were the metal walls and sleek functional designs of the corridors. The room was hung with warm deep orange and red drapes, not her favorite colors but they made for a welcoming atmosphere.
Princess Airée rose from a comfortable-looking red chaise to greet her as she entered the room. She was the very image of what a princess should be. She was tall and willowy with dark brown hair, pulled back from her high forehead, streaked with a single, wide ribbon of silver. Her face was unlined with high cheekbones and her blue-green eyes were warm and welcoming. She greeted Serenity with a kiss on her cheek.
"You are even lovelier than I recall. The last time I saw you, you were a twig of a girl, only thirteen years old."
"I've gotten taller," Serenity, commented modestly, "At least I hope so."
"Just a little," Airée replied laughingly.
"Please join me," Airée waved a hand at the couch. "I was just about to have some tea. Have you settled in well?"
"Yes I'm quite comfortable thank you," Serenity replied politely. "I apologize for sleeping so long. I didn't sleep well the night before. I'm afraid that once I eventually put my head down I lost all track of time."
The tea arrived and Airée poured the steaming dark green liquid into the tiny silver striped black bowls. The scent of the tea was an unfamiliar and not at all pleasant and the thought of bringing the bowl to her lips wasn't particularly appealing.
"It's quite alright my dear. A young lady like you needs her beauty sleep. Enjoy it while you can, once you're married you'll have little enough of it."
Serenity blushed a soft pink. She hastily brought the bowl of tea to her lips to cover her embarrassment. It was bitter but not terrible.
"Ahh the blush of innocence," Airée commented and Serenity flushed even brighter. Airée winked at the blushing princess. "I should let you in on a secret. Those Venusian novels, while vastly entertaining have little bearing on the reality of marriage."
"Should I be disappointed?" Serenity joked tentatively, surprised at her mention of the novels and the fact that she'd actually read them.
"Absolutely not," Airée reassured sounding remarkably convincing. "Marriage is wonderful." She leaned towards Serenity in a caricature of a secretive whisper. "I have to say that. When you are married for as long as I was they make you recommend the institution so as not to scare the young."
Serenity laughed in response. She found herself liking Mael's aunt. She was so congenial and filled with genuine warmth and good humor.
"I've decided" Airée began with mock seriousness, "that it is my duty to see to the duty of preparing you for marriage and your wedding night. My sister is far too modest to give this discussion its due."
Serenity managed not to turn a brilliant crimson as the thought ran through her head that she knew far more about her wedding night than she should. Information on the subject may not have been restricted to anyone who wished to know but discussing it in any but a scientific manner was certainly off limits to any proper conversation among Lunarians. This was apparently not going to be one of those.
"Your education has been thorough, I've been told, and so I'm certain no biological facts have been omitted. I doubt they discussed the more intimate details however."'
When their conversation was complete so was her education. Airée had assured her that much of the information dealing with being a wife and a leader of her people came from her own experiences and certainly wasn't typical of what was told to every Drue bride. Airée had been unprepared for her own marriage and all the commitment and sacrifice it involved and it touched Serenity deeply that she'd shared her own experiences positive and negative with her in an effort to smooth the way for an easier time between her and Mael.
Still, though informative, their conversation didn't ease her apprehension. If anything, the thorough discussion had increased it. Airée had reminded her that her relationship with her husband would need to be a continuous effort on both their parts in order to allow for growth of affection that wouldn't be there in beginning and would come only by spending time with each other. She'd paled during the discussion of what to expect on her wedding night. That was at least one thing she need not worry about. She knew all she needed to know, far too much. The idea of being intimate with someone else who wasn't Endymion made her uncomfortable however, particularly since the feelings should have been reversed.
*****
An arm snaked around from behind him, caressing his chest through his shirt with long graceful fingers. He tensed and glanced up as a mass of dark auburn hair fell over his shoulder and Beryl's cheek pressed against his rough unshaved cheek. It seemed his fiancée had given up on more subtle means for getting his attention.
He stood up immediately and faced her. He opened his mouth, on the verge of demanding what the hell she thought she was doing when he remembered she had every right; she was his fiancée not some stranger, at least not anymore. Last night, at a formal dinner for the council and a few other members of the government and their families, Malachite had all but snarled in his ear that he should go over and speak to Beryl. He had forced himself to be an attentive fiancé all evening. He couldn't even recall what he'd said to her but whatever it was, it had apparently been enough for her to believe they were on far more intimate terms.
He was used to women like Beryl, who knew what they wanted from a man and knew precisely how to go about getting it. She was the kind of woman he usually sought out and the fact that he was marrying her should have made everything that much easier. His affair with Serenity, that he had to keep reminding himself was over, as it should be, had left him a little off kilter however.
Judging from the way Malachite had been glaring at him last night and the pointed looks his uncle had been giving him lately whenever Beryl was mentioned, he was probably going to hear a lot about it later today.
Beryl sighed, her frustration and annoyance visible on her face. "Really Endymion, falling in love with your mistress... I thought you of all men would have been more careful than that," she snapped harshly.
Endymion raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"If you're planning to deny it don't insult me by bothering. Everyone in the palace knows about it. Everyone also knows that you have barely looked at me. Perhaps you've gotten your priorities slightly twisted, but try to remember that you are my fiancée and whoever she is, she's merely your mistress. It's insulting watching you moon over some slut who will never be your wife."
Endymion's jaw twitched angrily. Beryl had no right to call anyone else a slut. God only knew whom she'd entertained herself with since she'd been here.
"Get out," he demanded coldly.
As quickly as it had come, Beryl's angry façade disappeared. "Endymion I'm sorry," she apologized hurriedly. "I just thought that I could make you forget her. Surely you can forgive me for trying. I want you to think of me as your wife, not just someone you have to marry."
Endymion's anger faded to a dull frustration. She had every right to be upset he supposed. He had been ignoring her and she was his fiancée. Serenity was a part of his past and she'd obviously forgotten about him, as he hadn't heard from her despite all attempts to communicate with her.
"I'm sorry if I've been ignoring you," he apologized simply. "I've been preoccupied. For the record I do not have a mistress, nor am I in love with one," he added stiffly.
Beryl looked skeptical but said nothing. "Endymion I know that I was not your choice for a wife but we can make the best of this."
He looked at her, really looked at her for the first time. Her green eyes were like shining emerald gems, filled with passion, and her lips were full and seductive and the way she looked at him with obvious desire…it would be enough he decided. She would have to be enough for him and if she wasn't precisely what he wanted he'd just have to settle, he could do far worse. He'd been determined to do just that before Serenity. He would forget that name, that face, he promised himself.
Beryl stepped closer to him, running her long fingers down his jaw and his chest. This time he didn't attempt to resist her charms. "We could be amazing together Endymion."
"Hmm," was all he said as she kissed the corner of his mouth.
"I'll make you forget her, whoever she is."
***************
"Isn't it just amazing here? Every time I look outside I'm just amazed by it all. " Mina chattered excitedly as she looked out over the balcony of Serenity's room. Massive dusky blue mountains capped with snow and mist rose from mossy green valleys and were reflected with perfect clarity in a shimmering deep lake.
It was a fairy tale land and the palace that overlooked the splendor of nature was ethereally beautiful as if at any moment it could cease to exist. It was a grand affair with tall white towers, balconies, vaulted ceilings, and windows decked with colored glass displays of such richness it made one want stand in the glow of them staring at the beautiful colored patterns of light forever.
Serenity smiled in wonder, at Mina's enthusiasm and at the stunning natural display before her. She hadn't expected anything like this. Somehow, in her mind, when she'd envisioned Drue it had been a dull desert of a place, not this magnificent mountainous planet similar to Earth with overwhelming geological formations and a mountainous landscape and lakes and rivers over the majority of the planet rather than wide oceans.
She'd imagined cold people who'd turn up their noses at her. Instead, she'd been greeted warmly by everyone; a reception that would have charmed anyone. Even Mael's charm had seemed genuine, as he'd welcomed her warmly with a hug, waving to his people as they'd traveled to the palace together in an open carriage that allowed her to see all the sights of the city they traveled through. It was all so unexpected.
"Mael's cousin Drey has invited me horseback riding," Mina continued excitedly. "I've never ridden a horse before. It's so exciting."
"Horses are so beautiful," Serenity commented. "Their hair is so shiny and smooth and they're so graceful."
Mina furrowed her brow slightly. "When have you ever touched a horse Rena?"
"I meant it looks shiny and smooth," she hurriedly corrected. Her mind immediately flashed back to what had to have been one of the most enjoyable and rare full days she'd ever spent with Endymion, when he'd swung her up unto the white horse and taken her to see the most beautiful waterfall. She'd been a little intoxicated but it had all been great until he'd dropped her, then it had been wonderful.
"Well when he mentioned it, the Queen suggested Mael invite you along as well. Has he asked you as yet?"
"Yes but I declined," Serenity replied.
"Rena…" Mina began reprovingly. It was past time she stopped avoiding spending time with her fiancée. While she didn't agree with the idea of marrying for anything but love there were some people who just didn't have that luxury and she understood Serenity's duty, she and her fellow senshi had their own.
"I'm not avoiding him. I just think that being on horseback is probably not conducive to conversation and falling off a large beast in front of your fiancée, thus disproving the graceful princess ideal, is not the best way to woo a man. We're having a picnic instead."
Mina raised an eyebrow. She was surprised at Serenity's cheerful outlook and sudden change of heart. "Dare I ask about this sudden change of attitude?"
Serenity smiled wryly. "I've decided that it's in my best interest to make the best of an unchangeable situation. Mael's not so bad really. He seems to be focused on making this work. We've spent some time together." She waved a hand to the beauty that surrounded her. "Everything's so beautiful here and the people are so nice I can't help but feel a bit more positive about everything. Maybe everything will be ok." She smiled widely but inside she cringed.
Why should she feel like she was betraying Endymion? Her emotions had been completely distorted and she was determined to return all things to their rightful place. She belonged in this world of Mael and his easy welcoming parents.
She was determined to forget that man he was no longer relevant to her life. It had been weeks since she'd last seen his face and yet despite being so far away her mind kept running on him and her dreams were filled with images of him. The stress of it all was getting to her and she wasn't sleeping well. She missed Endymion and it frustrated her to admit it.
"Something's wrong," Mina stated looking at Serenity's face. Her brilliant smile had faded away into a lost, tired look in her eyes. She'd seen it so often since they'd arrived here. Despite the beauty of everything around her Serenity was homesick. At least she thought that was part of the problem.
"No. What makes you think something's wrong?"
"You never wanted to come here in the first place and although you've been trying to make the best of it you seem homesick."
"I miss home," Serenity admitted, and Endymion she added to herself.
"But that's not all," Mina stated in a curious tone.
"What do you mean?" Serenity feigned confusion.
"There has been something wrong for weeks now, even before we left home."
"Nothing's wrong Mina. You're imagining things."
"Rei says you've closed her out telepathically."
Serenity stiffened. "I'm entitled to the privacy of my own mind. She shouldn't be trying to intrude on that."
"She wasn't" Mina defended. "She says you're not at all as open as you used to be. I don't have either of your gifts but I can tell that too. I can't help but feel something's wrong and you're not telling us. We're worried about you."
"Don't be. I promise you I'm absolutely fine."
Mina wasn't convinced but she hesitated to push it further. Serenity's defensiveness only served to further her belief that her worry wasn't unjustified.
