I got some really good questions from a reviewer, Serena71, so I think I'll answer them for those who are thinking the same:
1.) What does Endymion want from Serenity? That's basically the main plot of the story, so sorry, can't say yet. But I hope the realization of what it really is won't DISAPPOINT you guys cuz I know I built it up really big and it might (well, to many) seem stupid or played out.
2.) Why can't he show kindness, or tell her the truth about his corrupt brother? Well, I kind of covered that in one of the chapters. He's cold to her because of how he was brought up. No love from his uncle and forever dubbed "cursed" since they think he killed his parents. And he won't tell her about his brother because, what will it do? She already has an opinion on his character, no explanation on his part or how evil his brother was will convince her. The entire world saw the brother Nikil as the "good" one and he knows how she felt about Nikil and her 'almost' love for Nikil.
3.) What made him become this feared ruler, what happened to all his plans for his country? Feared because, people basically put him in this box of being evil. Knowing he'll never kill that reputation, might as well live up to it, plus it helps when it benefits your country. Think of all the problems he was able to solve with bullying countries or quelling unsavory things that would bring harm to him. Now, the plans for his country, it's kind of hard to do so when your beloved country is in a never-ending war with a neighboring country; when the wars and the killing can stop when Serenity's country gives up what he thinks his kingdom deserves to have in their hold. The reason Serenity's country is well, more civilized in a way, is because it's people from ENDYMION'S country who are basically starting the killings. They share Endymion's idea that what Serenity's kingdom has belongs to them since they believe they are more powerful, stronger than others.
Much thnx to Serena71 for basically reminding me with those questions. Was planning on clearing things up for you guys but it totally slipped my mind until I read Serena71's review.
Hope you likey!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Months went by and no sign of him. The last time she had, was the breakfast he so nicely requested the morning after their 'tussle.' Even then, he rarely spoke a word. With averted glances, he left the room without any acknowledgement of her presence. His face bore no emotion, no hint that she affected him so. But she knew. Oh, Serenity knew there was a change in him. Though still cold and withdrawn from the world, but a slight fire of feeling had grown. If only he could see it.
However, with the reality of his company being a rarity, Serenity had the time and stress-free mind to plan her next escape out of Endymion's personal Hell. Problem was, he still had guards watching her every move when, a few weeks back he consented to her being allowed outside her room. With the chance to roam about the castle, though Serenity commonly visited the library, she got a better sense of the castle and its nooks and crannies.
Amid the stooping shadow of the guards at every door, especially at the ones leading outside, freedom didn't taste like anything except controlled. Once in a while, Maya would make an appearance, reminding her when it was time to eat or if she needed anything. She hardly ever said yes. Solitude was all that she needed when she was able to get out of her room. Though adorned to fit the status of a princess, it sometimes tired her to see such elegance when all her life, the earth and all its elements excited her.
Young and naïve, royal duties were never placed on her until her marriageable age, sixteen. Before that, she was a wild child; playing with the little boys from villages that made up her kingdom. Never one to study her own reflection or to care how she looked, she left her long hair to grow wild, like her. And now, she was being kept from the things she had loved all her life. Things she could no longer do when duty dictated she take over for her dead parents. Here, away from prying eyes, she had the chance. But the evil ruler of the castle prevented her from doing so. Oh how her hate for him grew and grew.
The moon descended over the sky, the night blanketed by an array of stars that glittered like diamonds upon dark velvet skin. With high, rolling mountains towering over the lands, heavy mist, thick enough to get lost in, coated the air. Spring had settled in but along with it came the heavy showers and sudden mists that trampled upon the earth like sun beams.
Like an ominous call, owls hooted afoot, begging walkers to return from whence they came. Sadly enough, this did not effect Serenity's decision to leave as she made her way through the impenetrable fog that surrounded her in a wicked way, like they knew where she was going.
After Maya came to her with the dinner Serenity requested to have in the library, Serenity wolfed down the food and left the tray outside the door. Then, taking the maid uniform she had swiped from the kitchens during one of her 'trips,' she undressed, stuffing the diamond-studded dress into a corner and adorning the stolen one.
Pinning her hair into a bun and hiding it under the regulatory white cap the maids wore, Serenity made her way. Picking up the tray from outside, so as to give off the look of just appearing, she made her way. Noticing the nearby guard busy 'entertaining' one of the younger maids, Serenity stealthy slipped away until she came upon the kitchens.
Bustling with dirty pans that clanked against pots filled with water and the floor being wiped clean with forlorn rags, she fit right in. Settling down the tray on the marble counter, Serenity froze when she was addressed.
"You. That the princess' plate?" turning around, Serenity prepared to run. She was met by a stocky woman, with gentle eyes and a full mouth.
"Yes," she trembled. To the lady, she seemed to be a new maid, one of many that were hired to take care of the sprawling castle.
To Serenity, she trembled as the fear of being discovered gnawed at her. She couldn't make a run for it; it was much too crowded to even get past them.
"Good. I was about to send someone after it, Maya has grown sick," she said with sadness in her voice.
"Is she alright?" Serenity couldn't help but ask. The girl had become her only companion, especially after finding out she came from her own lands. Traveling with a drunken father, she was taken as an unpaid debt when her father disappeared in the middle of the night. Her servitude ended in about two years.
"Lost a bit of color in her face, but she'll be fine by day's end," she answered before turning away with the tray in her hands.
Slyly picking up a bucket of dirty water, she made for the back door, nodded at the guard who stood like an immobile statue. Hopefully, he was too immersed by all the young girls running past him to notice her as water sloshed onto her feet.
Dumping the bucket by the wall, she dashed toward the woods. No matter how dense the fog seemed, it would help her when she was discovered to be gone.
Like a wolf in the night, she ran with a will to return to her people. Nothing motivated her more. With each step, freedom rang a new bell in her. Passing branches made new scratches on her face as breath started getting hard to take in. Had to rest, but will time gave her such a thing?
Then suddenly, Serenity heard the dreadful sound she wished would not come until she was safely away from here. Hooves, dozens of them as they pounded the damp soil. Hurriedly, she scampered away from the open trail, even with the fog, and hid where it was most dense.
Though hard to see, Serenity got a faint glimpse of the men as they trampled past her. She could make out Endymion in the lead, his face intent. She knew his will was over the edge now as she escaped from his grasp a second time.
"Your Highness, the fog is evening out her chances of escape," reported one of the men who rode up next to Endymion.
"I don't care. Besides, she won't be able to get past the gates. She's much too weak for such an endeavor," he said to he man confidently. Serenity fumed at his words. Weak, was she?
Part of her wanted to jump out and yell at him for saying things about her in the same manner of an invalid, but to do so would mean her planning was all in vain. No, she had to wait them out, knowing the fog would get in the way of their searching.
"Let's go. We'll search in the morn, when all this fucking fog disappears!" pulling the reins, Endymion rode away, following in his stead dejected soldiers who tracked behind him.
Oh sweet Goddess in heaven, thank you! Serenity whispered as the last of them dissolves until all that she saw was white. The trees around her were gone, enveloped in the mist that helped her flee from her captor. Feeling lost in a sea of smoke, Serenity blindly made her way to a world she had been taken from. With nothing but the clothes on her back, she felt naked, defenseless. But this was better than being back there. She could almost see Endymion tearing the castle up, his anger at her shooting from all directions.
Minutes that felt like hours passed by before her fingers felt the iron-wrought gates that kept her imprisoned. Moving along, her hands felt for the rungs which fixed the vertical bars together. Propping the left then the right, Serenity breathed in deep before starting to climb. If only it were so simple.
"Like the show I did?" a menacing voice spoke to her left. Abruptly, she went down, her feet reluctantly touching the ground. Swirling around, her eyes did not hide the malice she held for the man standing near her.
"I hope you didn't really think I would leave this 'til the morning. Nothing, not even silly little fog, would stop me from finding you," he rasped out, his voice going down a few octaves as he came closer. Serenity stayed where she was. But her mind was getting ready to run.
"Did you really think I would remain your little princess, obeying the mean master?" she mocked as she straightened up. Her head came to his chest; she had to strain her neck just to look at him.
"Now, now, no reason to get nasty...," he stroked her cheek before letting out his last words, "that's my job."
He shot out, barring her in his arms, kissing her like a dying man in search of water. She cried as the pain struck her lungs. Scratching his face with fingers that had grown tired, he stayed unmoved.
Finally, he released her, laughing as she wiped his saliva from her mouth. She was still dazed from his powerful tongue invading her, his scent filling her nostrils as he raped her senses.
"I'm growing tired from your little acts. Time to compose some sense and do the one thing that will make these gates open for you," he leered at her as she adjusted her clothes, well the maid's clothes anyway.
"And I'm growing tired from your exhausted words. What you seek belongs to my family, my kingdom. Your made-up myths may say otherwise, but the rest of the world does not," her words stung him. She knew that what he wanted was the main root of the war that went on between their countries.
Many believed, or more importantly, knew that her kingdom, one her father built to be one of the strongest, was the rightful owner of what many were fearful of holding. With ownership came the responsibility to keep it away from evil hands, more importantly, Glaeira. But the destruction of the dissolute country lessened the weight of the duty. Still, it was entrusted to her father, when it was evident that evil still resided in their lands.
Threats of taking it would come daily, so much so that it was easier to give it to the one kingdom that could guard it heavily as it so richly deserved. Zealots living in Endymion's country, Madiri, would come heavily armed in her country, Vaneri (A/N I just realized that I haven't even mentioned the names of their countries yet throughout the whole story. Seriously, it's like I have Alzheimer or something.) and break out into a fight once soldiers from her kingdom came into view.
With her parents gone, it became even more important for her to keep it safe. No matter the costs, Endymion's hands could not possess it. Truthfully, though she knew the lure it held for people for why else would scores of people fight for it, but she didn't really understand its importance.
It doesn't seem magical. It wasn't a chest full of gold and jewels. And yet, the two countries had enveloped themselves in an endless war over something so trivial that she didn't really believe that the world could be afraid of its potential owner that they gave it up to her father. But she knew the power it held over people. Numerous of them guarded it with their lives as it was openly transported to her kingdom; some becoming injured when peasants from Madiri sneaked up and tried to thrash open the coffer holding it.
So, with a heavy heart, Serenity had decided from the beginning, when she was in that carriage, for she knew that it was something connected to her being the owner of it, Endymion, or anyone else for that matter would get so much as a glimpse of it. She didn't have to believe in it to understand the position she was in when she alone had it.
"Oh, how I wish you didn't say that. Really, princess I do. Because now I'll have to do the one thing that would squeeze my heart yet excite my mind," he roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the castle.
Without flaw, he went through the fog quickly and in mere seconds they were inside the walls. With confusion, she noticed the hallways to be different. This was not the way to her room. Was he taking her to another, far more guarded?
Oh how wrong she was, for it was not her room he was taking her but to the dungeons where the low lives of his country found themselves.
Honestly, he didn't want to put her there but she asked for it. Going against reason, she declined the simple offer. What did she want with it any way? A princess atop her ivory palace is worried about protecting something that could end the wars, end the blood coated their lands; it was ludicrous!
"Endymion?" she asked hesitantly, her eyes staring at his face but he would not turn down to meet hers'.
Her feet stumbled over cobble stones as the hallway went deeper and deeper. Light was scarce except from tiny, blazing torches mounted on the stone walls. Her bravery was ebbing away and fear was overcoming her.
"Endymion?" she whimpered this time, tears sprouted from her livid eyes and staining her throat.
"This will be a good learning experience for you," he replied huskily. Producing a ring of keys from his pocket, he opened a cell and pushed her into it. So hard, in fact, that she landed on the ground on her rear. Hissing with pain, she looked up at him in dread.
"Are you really going to leave me here?" for the first time in her life, she pleaded. Monarchs didn't plead, especially heir to the throne princesses. But her strength was almost gone, and fear was eating her from the inside. The dark spoke secrets she did not want to know and Endymion was feeding her to the fire.
Ever since she was little, darkness always had a hold on her. Never without a lit candle in the dead of night, Serenity would shy away from the one thing she did not understand. When her head started to register evil things like demons and witches, her fear of the dark developed into something bigger. Now, she was being offered to it like open bait.
"You know the answer. You also know what will bring this all to an end. Stop being stubborn and think of your kingdom. Do you really think things will bode well with your idiot cousin governing your people?" he wasn't being mean. In fact, he was helping her. If only she saw it like that. No, to her, his words would be poisoned advice dripping with lies.
"But you know as well as any dutiful person, that I cannot do what you ask of me," she pleaded to him, hoping he would listen to her. That his soft side, the one she knew he had somewhere deep down, would give out and take her out of this disgusting Hell.
He took a deep pause when he could think of nothing to say. Yes, even with what others thought of him, he was dutiful to a hilt. But with that brought them to a crossroad: his duty could not be fulfilled for it was her duty to make sure it wasn't. Fate had no love for him.
Endlessly trying to better his country from the grave state his uncle left it in, nothing else mattered to him; nothing coming close. Yes, he had his love for Serenity but his country, his Madiri would always come first. But he also knew, with all his almost-successful efforts to bring his country on the same level as other powerhouses, nothing would change until the wars ended. With that came the task of taking the only thing which would finish it for forever. If only Serenity, his beloved yet naïve Serenity, could see that.
"Right now, all I can think of is my country. And my country will not yield until it is satisfied," he shut the metal door with a loud clank, shutting her out from the only bit of world she had grown to accept.
Not caring, she broke down and sobbed. Pain, so much pain filled her that it was hard to hear anything. Hard to hear her heavy, tried breathing, her heart beating rapidly against her rib cage that it was a surprise it did not shatter.
"Endymion, please!" she screeched, jumping up and banging on the door. Her fist started to get sore but she didn't care. Her freedom was being taken away slowly, little by little.
Turning around, she slumped down until she sat on the cold ground, her cries shaking her tiny body. Pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, she rocked herself to sleep.
Two years. She had been Endymion's grasp for two years. Nothing seemed real anymore. Days passed like whispers in the wind and everything was grey, wool over her eyes.
Serenity stayed in the dungeons for only a day, an assumed punishment from Endymion, hoping it would scare her enough to give up. When he opened the door, he found her asleep on the cot, her face wet with tears. It tore his heart. But he had to keep going. Feelings couldn't get in the way when his people counted on him. No more deaths would take place on his land if he could help it.
Like before, her days were filled with visiting the library. She caught up with her reading, heightened her vocabulary, and tried to hide her ever-growing fear of dying here. Maya seemingly got better from her little bout the day when Serenity tried to leave. Not disclosing what it really was, Maya went on with her like everything was normal. Nothing was normal; it was funny how she thought so.
Sometimes, when she was feeling really depressed, Serenity would hold a butter knife above her wrist, willing herself to push. The same as always would follow: it would clatter to the floor and Serenity would cry onto the armchair. She could never go through with it, could never cut her skin as a way of escape. Death would too easy for Endymion but it would make sure that he would, by no means, ever lay his hands on it.
But she pulled through, praying day and night for someone to come and save her. To kill Endymion in his tracks and break her out of this Hell where the sun dared not shine. Sadly, with two years passed, she no longer believed it to ever happen.
Naiveté could only go so far with her, so she gave up on that dream and focused on something else: killing Endymion herself. Reasonably, no one but her was in the perfect position to do the deed. If only he was around. Once again, she rarely saw him, only during dinners; just dinners.
Would have to be simple, a slit to the throat, a stab through the heart, or just choking him into oblivion with a noose or whatever scrap of material that was around.
Either way, Serenity had to make sure she had a full proof route of leaving. No doubt Endymion would make some kind of noise, alerting his guards. The window was too dangerous; the high fall might kill her.
A creak in the floor awoke her from her trance. Sitting still in her armchair with an open book in her lap, Serenity waited for him to leave.
One thing Endymion had begun to do was come into the library after dinner and stand behind her like he was doing now, and run his hands through her long hair. Briefly, during dinner so many nights ago, he told her to leave her hair down for dinner. She could feel each finger tip touch her scalp, setting her skin on fire with his liquid strokes. Gripping the book, Serenity closed her eyes, as she did every night when he would visit her.
"So beautiful," he murmured in her ear when he leaned over to kiss the side of her throat. He always did that. And like always, she would shiver in anticipation and excitement. No man ever made her feel like this one did. He pushed her to the edge of breaking yet could bring her back and stroked her like no other. She wanted to melt in his embrace and inhale his intoxicating scent that plagued her dreams when the night gave her no sleep.
His hands moved in a rhythm, back and forth they went, making her heart wild with lust. Yes, her body had long since registered lust and this man was the cause of it. Her breath became uneasy, something Endymion noticed right away. He wanted her to feel this way for maybe just maybe she would lose the fight they had unknowingly started.
"Endymion…" her breath hitched when his hands descended to her bared throat and started to caress her slowly, painstakingly. His thumb grazed her bottom lip, begging entrance with tiny tugs.
Too dazed to protest, she opened her mouth slightly and let his thumb slither in. Suckling it faintly, she was too preoccupied with his other hand on her throat, moving down until it rested the swell of her breasts. Her nightgown was fairly simple, white with a comfortable bodice that accentuated her better attributes. With thin straps, it was easy for Endymion to slide them off her trembling shoulders. Even with them off, the dress stayed on her, much to Endymion's chagrin.
Unfortunately, that was enough to wake Serenity up and jump away from the chair, away from him. Straightening her gown and her hair, she stared at him in bewilderment. What was she letting him to? She felt dirty, like a whore. Her skin disgusted her now, wanted to rip it off for wanting flesh when she was still in her self-imposed mourning for Nikil.
"What did I tell you about touching me?" she spat at him with venom resonating from her eyes and her words.
"I didn't see you complaining much a couple of seconds ago, princess," emphasizing the last word, knowing the title would remind her of her disgraceful behavior. No, she didn't need him to tell her that. All she had to do was look at him to know the kind person, the kind of princess she had become because of him.
"I hate you," she said in a whisper, tears streaming down her face.
"You'll have to grow to love me, for you don't seem to care that you are the only one able to make me release you," he came closer, stopping a mere inch away from her. His mouth hovered over hers, his breath ghosting her lips in a sweet embrace. She wanted more. With everything she stood for, oh god, she wanted more.
"You don't know what love is," she retorted.
Oh how wrong she truly was. He was madly in love with her, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to admit this. There was always the fear that she would reject him.Wanted to rip her gown off and show her just how much he loved her. Shout it to the rafters the feelings that waved over him every time he saw her, every time she was near him. Every time he touched her, knowing she wanted it just as bad as he did.
"Yes, this "Cursed Prince" knows no love," he said bitterly in a growl before taking her lips harshly in his.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is possibly the longest chapter I ever wrote; well it might not seem that way on the site. But on the Microsoft Word thing, it's 8 pages. Plz review cuz this chapter means a lot to me. Sorry for the long delay, had a fucking throat thingamajiggy problem, and well, it's hard to type when every laugh, or talking makes you cough until you're red in the face. Anywayz, luv my baby!
Thnx to all who gave reviews on my very-short chapter(7) but didn't hold it against me due to it's size. Hope this chappy and the answered question above make up for it. :) luv u lots