Lord of Darkness

Chapter Two

Captive

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Second part of Lord of Darkness, and the usual copyright notes.

After the summer, the updating schedule will be every other

Tuesday (So how I'll get through all the schoolwork with all

the AP classes I'm taking is going to be mystery to me). Please

be gentle on me, since English is my third language, so sorry

for all the spelling errors.

Another thank-you to Ari-chan, for proofreading.

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Lord of Darkness

Chapter Two

Captive

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Kunzite took his eyes off the road for a moment as he felt the

girl in front of him stirring. The next second, she sat up so abruptly that

her head hit his chin with enough force to make him grimace in pain, and

started struggling with all her might. He tightened his arms around her slender

form.

"Keep still. Unless you want your dark-haired friend to be killed and

mutilated."

He could literally feel her paling.

"You do not play fair."

She was hissing at him like an angry tigress. The Lord felt admiration

rise in him. No woman, in captivity or not, had ever dared to talk to him like

that. They would be groveling at his feet. He chuckled.

"I play to win. Whether I cheat or not, a checkmate is a checkmate."

"Bastard."

The word was low and barely audible, muttered under her breath. The

Lord raised a finely chiseled eyebrow. This was going a bit too far. True,

he probably wasn't the nicest person on Earth, and the girl was most likely

used to have people bowing at her feet, but he was still of noble birth.

"Be careful, angel, you staying alive depends on my good will."

She balled her fists, defiance in every cell. Her voice was cold

and sharp, every word stressed.

"Don't call me that. Only my uncle ever called me that."

Nephrite dismounted at that moment. He stepped forward, drawing an

indiscernible symbol in the air, before pressing his hands together. A

soft murmur filled the air as he muttered a spell. The wind blew, sand flew,

and the women screamed. The soldiers, however, seemed used to it. A gentle

glow surrounded the brown-haired general's hands, and as he pulled them

apart, he was holding a blinding ball of white energy. Throwing it at the spot

in the air where he had previously drawn the invisible symbol, the ball exploded

into beams of silvery energy. When they were able to see again, a castle created

from black marble with opals studded on the walls against magic attacks loomed

where before there had only been flat sand dunes. There were gasps, and the crying

stopped.

The gates opened with a wave of Zoisite's hand, and Kunzite led her towards

the interior of the city. They moved through what seemed to be a city, and children

crowded around the soldiers, smiling and waving as the soldiers' wives welcomed them

home. Mina fell unconscious again, still weak from the blow to the head, and when she

finally awoke, Kunzite was nudging his horse through the interior of what seemed

to be the palace gardens. She twisted her head, seeing the large span of the city

behind her.

At that moment, the silver-haired general dismounted, lifting Minako out of

the saddle, and guiding her towards the black-haired man waiting for them, one arm

securely around her slim waist.

The man's dark-blue eyes roamed over the blonde girl, and the Dark Lord could

feel her stiffen. He bowed low.

"A pretty mistress you've brought me, Kunzite. I'm looking forward to training

a new love slave."

Minako unconsciously shifted a little, trying to hide behind Kunzite as she

recognized the Dark King. The general straightened.

"My King, she is not a slave, but the princess Minako, niece of King Ithias."

"Better than I thought. Royal women are much more refined than servant girls."

"But royal maidens are virgins, my Lord. She has no idea of how to please a

man. Allow me to train her first."

Endymion brushed a hand over her cheek, ignoring the way she flinched at his

touch.

"Such innocence."

He stared at the silver-haired general in the eye, clearly reading the message

there. His face showed his surprise. His second-in-command saw women as pleasant toys,

but he used and discarded them faster than he changed clothes. His mistresses had always

come to him, literally begging him for a night in his bed; he, however, had never expressed

any serious interest. Females were to him simply a body to warm a cold bed.

"Keep her, Kunzite. I gift her to you, for your prowess in battle."

"Thank you, my Lord."

Minako, who had been quite until then, stepped forward, hands on her hips. Though her

tone was polite and reasonable, her eyes flashed in annoyance and anger.

"Excuse me, King Endymion, but I believe..."

The man turned to her.

"You know me?"

Minako waved her hand impatiently, a sense of recklessness seizing her.

"Of course I do. Who doesn't know the infamous Prince Endymion who slaughters men

like cattle and rapes and brutalizes young girls as if they were sorely made to be used

this way? You know you're called 'The vile defiler of feminine innocence, a horrendous example for

future male generations', don't you?"

The Prince's face turned purple with rage. He lunged forward, his hand flying toward

the dagger at his side. Kunzite was almost ready to stop his King from beheading the girl, but

she slid like water from his arm, moving at the speed of light. The dagger slashed the air where

she had been a split-second after she moved, and Endymion instead found the blade knocked out

of his hand. Guards rushed forward, but the King waved them back, shock and surprise flittering in

his soul, but indiscernible on his face. Minako was standing still, though the look of annoyance

was still etched on her face, ignoring Kunzite's half-shocked and half-amused face, his eyes

showing respect. How could this girl, whom he had defeated without even breaking into sweat,

not only escape Endymion's wrath, but also turn the tables on him? She spoke again.

"Now if I may speak without you interrupting me, I'd like to make a few things

clear. Number one, I am Minako Aino, daughter of Phyathreron III and Andromeda VI. My

father is the brother of King Ithias, and my mother a descendant of Venus herself. She

is a mirror image of the Goddess of Love and Beauty. That's my lineage. Number two, I

may be a girl, but I'm also alive, and thus not a possession. Number three, I was never

sold to you, and have never belonged to you, and never will belong to you. You cannot

give someone something you do not own. Number four, I'd like to return to my home with

the corpse of my friend so she can have a proper burial, and I assure that my Uncle will

pay whatever ransom you deem appropriate."

The men around stared at her. No one dared to talk to Endymion like this and

hope to walk away alive. Kunzite's voice broke through.

"If you mean your dark-haired friend, she's still alive."

Relief flashed across Minako's face in the form of a light smile, and she suddenly

remebered his earlier warning: '"Keep still. Unless you want your dark-haired friend to be

killed and mutilated." Kunzite stared at her, the very first smile he'd seen her wear, and

he knew that there was no mistake in her claim of her family being connected to Venus.

No woman had a smile so alluring yet so innocent. The brilliant sunset seemed suddenly

dull, though he had watched it every day for the past 16 years and had never thought that

there would be anything more beautiful than that peaceful moment.

Endymion, meanwhile, gently rubbed the wrist where she'd kicked him. He abruptly

turned away from the innocent-looking girl, his mind swirling with what other secrets she

might be hiding. From her movements, she was obviously very skilled and very well

trained, but he'd never heard of a noble woman, let alone a princess, touching a sword. He

glanced behind him, annoyed to see Kunzite gazing at the girl who was staring daggers at

his back with a disgusting look of adoration on his face.

*It's wonder he's not worshipping the ground she walks on.*

He thought, not at all happy with what Minako had unconsciously done to the

man who had once sworn to never fall for a woman, especially a beautiful one. The

Dark King shook his head. The girl was definitely a child of Venus. She was extremely

lovely, but also very cunning. Of all the women who loved Kunzite, why in the name

of Jupiter* did he have to chose the most beautiful and most deceiving one? He turned

back to his Head General and the princess.

"Train her in manners, Kunzite, or she's going to get hurt sooner or later,"

With that ominous threat he walked back toward the palace, flanked by Zoisite

and Nephrite, ignoring the unlady-like snort of disbelief at his bluff. A new plan began

forming in his mind, a plan that made his face twist into a smile that could give children

nightmares for years to come.

Meanwhile, Kunzite had turned to Minako.

"Are you hungry? It's already dinner time."

He asked, the appearance of a perfect gentleman as the blank mask remained

over his face.

******************************************************

Minako stopped from giving Endymion's back death glares to turn to Kunzite.

She was breathing rather heavily, angry at having lost her temper so quickly. She

glanced fully into her captor's face, and suddenly felt light-headed. No man could

compare to the silver-eyed general. His silver hair was long and hung loosely

around his shoulders, but not a single strand was out of place. The color complemented

his surprisingly tanned face and angular features nicely, adding a touch of sophistication

to his looks. The silver eyes were slowly turning a light shade of lavender as they

stared into her own blue ones with a hidden emotion that made her feel cold and hot

at the same time. A soft grumbling noise brought her out of her thoughts, reminding

her that she had nothing in her system for the last 24 hours, something that didn't

quite happen often.

"A little, I guess."

A lazy smile tugged at the corners of his sensual mouth. Minako was suddenly

seized with a crazy urge to taste those kissable lips which were curving upward.

Swallowing past a lump in her throat, and hoping that he didn't notice her

flaming cheeks, she ruthlessly squashed down the feeling. But by the smirk

she knew that he had.

"You guess? Then, allow me to satisfy your hunger."

And he covered her mouth with his own. Minako gasped, unprepared for

this sudden attack on her nervous system. Panic rose in her, like a rapidly

expanding balloon as she pushed frantically against his shoulders, seeking to

escape his arms. Every inch of his body was pressed intimately against hers,

allowing her to revel in every contour of his deliciously hard body. Her mind

was reeling, her body on fire from his touch. There was no way she could hit

him with a move without suffering an injury as well. She was afraid of him, the

effect he had on her, and even more terrified of her own reaction. She wanted

him to kiss her, liked the feeling of his lips on hers, enjoyed the sensations

running through her. Frantically, she cast her mind around for something to

stop the waves of desire threatening to submerge her. But her mind was muddled,

and nothing coherent came to her thoughts. Endymion's voice saved her as it ran

across the courtyard.

"Kunzite, I'd like to have word with you."

Minako could feel the anger emitting from Kunzite at being interrupted,

but she was grateful. The silver-haired general sighed, commanding two guards to

come with a quick wave of his hand, before leaving to join his prince. The two

guards escorted her into the palace, and she stared that them strangely. She

thought she would be hanged or at least thrown into the dungeons for losing her

temper and attacking their prince, but instead, they were leading her up flights

of stairs, passing huge marble doors toward whatever destination they were aiming

for. She turned to one of the guards.

"Excuse my rudeness, but where are you taking me?"

"Lord Kunzite gave the orders for you to be sent up to his chamber.

You're to bath and make yourself presentable. Two of his maids will attend

to you."

"When did he tell you all this?"

"This the routine every time he acquires a new mistress."

"Oh, and how long does he keep them?"

"Until he tires of them."

Minako grinned wickedly to herself. She'd make sure that Kunzite

would tire of her quickly, and that the thought of having her within a hundred

yards of him would make him run in fear. She'd chased quite a number of

unwelcoming suitors and unpleasant teachers away that way. They had left

as quickly as possible, each harping on the fact that the palace was

haunted. She looked around her, curious to see some of the ladies glaring

at her with deep hatred. She delicately raised an eyebrow.

"Why are they so hostile?"

"They're afraid that you would divert Lord Kunzite's attention

away from them."

Minako was about to retort that she would gladly trade places

with them, but instead pressed her lips tightly together. The guards

treated their leader with reverence, and she would be wise not to anger

them.

**********************************

"My Lord, you wished to speak to me?"

Kunzite bowed.

Prince Endymion motioned for the other guards to step back.

"Kunzite, we've known each other too long for this nonsense. Stand

up straight."

He obeyed.

Endymion took a deep breath, launching head-on into

the problem, praying that his First General would not hate him

by the time he had finished.

"I need to talk to you about the Princess. You care for her,

a bit more than I'd like. I've never seen you react that way. Had

it been anybody else, you would've held her down while I raped her.

If I commanded you to slit her throat from ear to ear, you'd

do it instantly and without question. You couldn't have known her

for more than a day, yet you follow her like she's a goddess

to be worshipped."

Kunzite stood for a moment in total shook, before he answered

softly, surprising himself with it, admitting an emotion he never knew

existed in him, ever.

"I love her. If my King would allow, I would wish to marry her."

Endymion shrugged, ignoring the tightness in his throat at

Kunzite's confession. The general had never even said that he liked

the women he slept with, and only Endymion and his fellow generals

had ever been called as his friends. The Dark King knew that Kunzite

was serious, and it hurt him that his Head General loved a girl more

than his long-time friend and liege (A.N. and no, they're not gay.).

"You have my permission, but if you want to marry her, you'd

have to ask Miss High-and-Mighty herself."

Kunzite gave a swift nod.

"I thank you, my Lord."

"Dismissed."

He bowed again, and left for the bathing area, knowing

Minako was probably using the one in his room. He almost

smiled to himself.

*Although, I wouldn't mind seeing her nude, but I doubt

she'd appreciate it.*

************************************

After walking numerous winding stairs that made Minako

dizzy just thinking about them, the guards opened a wide marble

door embedded with the sign of the golden phoenix. They ushered

her inside and Minako let out a gasp, words like lovely springing

immediately into her mind.

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*Jupiter - the Roman supreme god, equivalent of the Greek god Zeus.

End of Chapter Two. Wonder what's got Minako struck so speech-less, huh?

I assure you it's not some man. Anyway, please review. I'm already working

Chapter 3.