In Love and War

Chapter 4

3/6/03 –

Author's Notes:

            Sorry it took so long to get this out!  Between SATs, AP exams, music competitions, concerts and getting my license, I've just been plain busy but fear no more, the next chapter is out.

Now, I'd like to address a recent (kinda recent) review.  I am not criticizing either the reviewer or the review itself but I would simply like to address the content so no one gets any bad ideas about me stemming from those views.  It is true I am an American and I have probably been taught a fairly pro-American version of the American Revolution.  I'm really not particularly patriotic when it comes to America.  It's simply the place where I live and learn and that's it.  As for the British, I have absolutely nothing against Brits.  In fact, I love them, having had British au pairs (nannies) for much of my life and also, having visited England on several occasions.

The point is (or rather, the points are…):  First of all, I am writing a fictional story.  I wanted to try something no one else has and as far as I've seen, no one else has set their stories during this time period.  Secondly, as a beginning first-time author, I wanted to keep it simple.  There are good guys and there are bad guys and it's pretty clear cut.  I realize that in reality neither side was "good" nor "bad" but since I need a plotline…well…voila.  I've got one by taking a side.  Thirdly, this story is exaggerating some of the roles played by different groups but again, since I want a definitive good guy and bad guy…

It's highly unlikely that the Sons of Liberty often attacked forts.  They were more known for their role in tar and feathering tax collectors, etc. etc.  Things like that.  I don't intend to be looking up every detail of history about the war.  If you want a history lesson, enroll in AP US history.  If you want what I hope is a decent story, then please continue reading.

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The sounds of laughter and music filled the vast and beautiful courtyard of the Avery mansion.  Melodious strings and woodwinds played charming waltzes as gowns of various pastels splashed the veranda with mid-spring colours.  The warm spring sunlight played off the water in the magnificent classical fountain in front of the courtyard entrance where Serenity watched as her two closest friends strolled in, greeting familiar faces as they came toward her. 

"Serenity!"  She heard Mina Keating call her name happily as Sheadon Halliday rolled his eyes at the blonde's bubbly welcome. 

Serenity smiled, lifting her lavender skirts and moving to meet them.  "Mina.  Sheadon.  I feel as if its been forever since I've seen you."

Mina embraced Serenity in an enthusiastic hug.  "I've missed you so, Serenity!  Where has Damien been keeping you locked up?"  She asked affably.

Serenity laughed nervously, twiddling with a strand of her hair.  "Oh you know.  It has been the same.  He prefers for me not to leave the mansion."

Mina's blue eyed companion brushed back his long dark ponytail and took Serenity's hand from her hair, giving it a gentlemanly kiss and adding a wink of his azure eye for good measure before becoming serious.  "That's understandable.  With all those bloody rebels running about, it might well be better for you to stay in."

"Really, Sheadon…to use such language in front of the ladies…"  Serenity turned to see Damien approaching and she hastily averted her eyes.  She glanced at Sheadon and took in his forced smile.  Sheadon never had liked Damien. (Understandably, of course.)  Which was why when Damien uttered his next words, Sheadon frowned.

"Would you excuse me Mr. Halliday?  Ms. Keating?  I'd like to steal my lovely ward for a dance."

"Actually, Lord Avery-"

"Thank you, Mr. Halliday."  In one fluid motion,  Damien wrapped his arm around Serenity's waist and guided her firmly across the courtyard to the dance patio and Serenity could only throw a helpless half-smile to her friends.

When they were finally out of Sheadon and Mina's hearing range, Serenity threw an angry glare at Damien.  "Damien.  That was very rude and-"

Damien only smiled charmingly at her.  "What's wrong with asking for a dance, my dear?  This does not go against any social etiquette that I know."

Serenity looked away from him angrily.  "That's besides the point, Damien!  I was speaking with my friends."

The manor lord only raised en eyebrow, his amethyst eyes mocking.  "Of little trivialities, I'm sure."

When Serenity was about to protest he went on, "We have much more important things to discuss.  I will be announcing our engagement later tonight."

Serenity jerked herself out of her guardian's grasp with a gasp.  "No, you can't!  You mustn't!"

Damien's eyes narrowed dangerously as he glanced about to make sure no one had overheard her outburst.  In a motion to swift for Serenity to evade, he grabbed her by the wrist and hauled her in close to him, all the while leading them off the dance patio.  Serenity searched frantically for Sheadon and Mina as Damien dragged her into the mansion.  As the climbed the stairs to his study, she noticed a picture of his father.  The violet eyes that were inherent in the Avery family seemed to ridicule her predicament.  When they entered the room, Damien roughly through her into the chair facing his desk before looking at her and saying in a seething whisper, "How dare you!  How dare you question my command, Serenity!"

Despite the fact that he had just put her in the chair himself, he grabbed her by the shoulders and harshly pulled her up close to him.  "You were meant for me Serenity.  From Day One.  You are the ward.  I am the guardian.  Remember this, Serenity.  You. Are. Mine."  He watched with some sick delight as her eyes widened in fear and horror before he crashed his mouth down on top of hers.

Serenity fought back tears and bile as Damien held her mercilessly.  He was hurting her!  Had she not already gone through this with that barbarian in the garden?!  Two savages in such a short period of time!  What had she done to deserve this?  But even as this part of her mind protested both unwanted kisses, some traitorous part of her reminded her of the warmth of the raven-haired man's kiss.  "D'mion…"  The words were out her mouth before she realized what she had said.

Damien never imagined she could be so sweet.  He had fantasized about this kiss since she had made the transformation into womanhood.  He felt her struggle against him but paid no heed.  He wanted her and he always got what he want.  His left hand running through her hair, his other hand traced the contours of her back, moving gradually lower.  He smirked when Serenity seemed to still but when she murmured something nearly inaudible, he froze, grabbing her shoulders and pushing her back so he could see her face.  He tightened his grip as he asked icily, "What did you just say?" 

Serenity looked away, stammering out a few incoherent words.  "I…I….said…D'm-Damion!  I said 'Damien!'"

Damien gripped her shoulders a little harder, clenching his jaw angrily. "Is that so?" 

When she didn't respond immediately, he shook her violently.  Serenity whimpered but said nothing.  "I asked you a question, Serenity!"

She cried out when his hands tightened and was certain she'd have bruises to show tomorrow.  "I told you!  I already told you!"  Tears leaked from her eyes as he looked savagely upon her, raising his arm as if to strike her.  She cowered back and closed her eyes, waiting for the impact to come.  When it didn't, she cracked open an eye to find Damien's face a few mere inches away from hers.  His hand came up to grip her chin.  "Make no mistake, Serenity.  You are mine.  Our engagement will be announced tonight.  And we will be married by the end of the year.  Don't forget it."

Serenity's blue eyes widened before she nodded dumbly, too frightened to do anything else.  He smiled then and she felt a chill go down her back.  "Now run along, Serenity.  Go make idle chit-chat with your friends."  He reached forward and cupped her cheek with his hand.  "And do try to smile, my dear.  You have such a pretty smile." 

Serenity jerked herself out of his grip, trying to fight back the tears coming to her eyes but failing miserably.  As she fled the room, she heard his chilling laughter echoing in the halls behind her.

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Endymion pulled his magnifier in front of his eyes, bringing the woodcut of Raye underneath it.  He had finished the final touches to the piece after he had returned home the other night and now he was up to adding colour.

Endymion turned the little figurine around in his hands examining the features with a little frown.  Working with wood was his escape.  He poured all his heart into his work but this piece seemed to be missing something that he couldn't quite define.  He furrowed his brows as he though.  Colour.  It needs colour.

But even as he mixed some paints on the palette beside him, he knew that wasn't the problem.  He dabbed his paintbrush in the mix as he scrutinized the statuette.  Elegant as it was, it lacked the definition he wanted and it reminded him of something he couldn't quite put his finger on.  As he thought about this, he lifted the paintbrush to the statue's hair and made a quick stroke.  And promptly froze.

The colour he had just used was not the violet raven colour of his sister's hair but a startling pale gold.  The same pale gold as the girl's he'd seen at the Avery estate. 

He stared in front of him, unseeing, as the memory of their meeting at the mansion came back to him unbidden. No, such a path he refused to go down as he ran a hand through his ebony hair, shaking his head.  He looked back through the magnifying glass.

"Agh!!!" 

Instead of the statue he had been expecting to see, the large print of a pamphlet headline was there instead, a hand attached to the edge of the page.   In his surprise, he pushed back only to have the stool beneath him topple over.  Searching for something to stop his fall, his hand found the soft cloth of a tunic.  The tunic, or rather the person attached to it, did not make a very good hold for the person also tumbled over.  The ultimate result was a rather chaotic pile of people, carving tools and a stool.

Endymion groaned as he pulled himself off the ground.  "What in the name of- Andrew!"

His blond friend looked up at him with dazed green eyes.  "Eh?"

Endymion rolled his eyes and reached out a hand to grasp his friend around the wrist and pull him up.  He watched as Andrew brushed off dust and woodchips and then looked at Endymion expectantly.  Endymion returned the look for a moment and then suddenly cuffed his companion upside the head.  "You scared the bloody daylights out of me, you fool!  What are you doing here?!"

Andrew rubbed the back of his head as he held out the pamphlet in his hand.  "I wanted you to see this. (…Did you really have to hit me so hard?)"

Endymion took the rebel pamphlet from his friends hands.  The article's day was scrawled in a familiar hand, dating back to 1765.  As he read the title, colour fled from his face. 

"Rebel Raid on Red Coat Prison Goes Awry"

                                                                                                                                    Prominent Patriots, William and Elizabeth Thomas, are dead killed in a raid on the redcoat prison near Manhasset.  The raid, organized to free the well-loved Harper family, seemed to have been predicted and was met with considerable resistance at the prison gates…

Endymion paused for a moment, the memory of his parents death coming back to him in horrid definition.  He took a breath and then continued to scan down the article.  A few paragraphs down, a name caught his eye.

Serenity Harper, three year old daughter of Kenneth and Ilene Harper, is still missing.  Her whereabouts are unknown though she is believed dead.

"I don't think she died, Endymion," he heard Andrew say, approaching him.  "They never found her.  She wasn't in the prison.  My parents told me so.  I think they took her and put her somewhere.  She was a beautiful child, D'mion.  She had this really pretty gold hair…and these beautiful blue eyes."

Endymion's head shot up, his midnight gaze meeting with Andrew's jade one.  "Endymion, I think you found Serenity Harper."

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Again, I'm really sorry it took so long.  It might be a while for the next chapter too.  I'm going on an orchestra tour for all of July so I probably won't be able to start until after I get back.  I was going to try to make this chapter longer but I really wanted to get it out before I left.  So please enjoy…(and please review! ::looks hopeful::)

~*~Jaina Xiran!~*~