Another day, another chapter…….
Sorry for da delay. Really, really, really, really, REALLY, sorry. My fucking internet chose last week of all weeks to get a fucking virus. Don't worry, its all clear now. Sometimes, AOL gets on my nerves….
Anwayz, plz try to forget dis long ass "hiatus" or whatever and send reviews. Me likey reviews, me mucho likey (2 years of Spanish left me with DAT word, go figure)
Glad dat these updates are making ya happy. I always like to say that I like updates like I like my men: Good and fast.
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He continued to stare at her through the window, even as voices tried to catch his ears.
She sat underneath a willow tree, upon a starkly white sheet held down by books. She had resumed her favorite pastime; the good weather presented the chance to take it outside.
Her hair was wound up in a bun but wisps of spun gold slipped away, caressing her face; dancing with the wind. She was breathtaking.
"Your Highness?" one of his advisors spoke out.
"Yes?" Endymion's asked stupidly.
"Um, your signatures?" the cowering man said, holding out stacks of parchment and a pen.
"Oh, yes," he took them and signed them all without a second thought. All he could scrounge from memory was that they were written orders for Madiri to help rebuild Vaneri's damages.
"That'll be all for now," he dismissed them, his eyes returning to the window in his study.
With the sun out with a vengeance, his wife came out dressed in a light pink confection. The bodice tried to hide her bursting attributes and clung to her body like skin. He could taste her skin between his teeth, the smooth texture going past his hungry mouth like a sweet fruit.
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Serenity could feel someone staring at her and knew it to be her husband. His eyes had followed her every move at when they came home last night from a party and again this morning breakfast.
Life in Madiri became easier now that she was used to the castle and its surroundings. Vaneri would always be her home; but Madiri shared that place also in her heart. Serenity knew that changes were due to happen to Madiri and she wanted to make sure they were well received.
The economy had spiraled away and its citizens were melancholy about life.
"Your Highness, would you be in need of anything else?" asked her maid, Marie.
"No, you may go back to your chores," she smiled at her and returned back to her book, forgotten on her lap.
They kept her preoccupied from discerning about the night they had together. Her insides did jumps just at the thought of Endymion touching her, kissing her. In the morning, they shared secret smiles that no one saw. Sometimes, he'd do something just to touch her; a flick of the hand, wiping her lips when wine was split.
Trying to concentrate on the words in front of her, her ears picked up a sound. Footsteps, easy, lazy. She straightened her back and burrowed her eyes, focusing on anything but that sound.
She felt a breath on her neck, tickling her left ear. A hand came up on the opposite side and rested on her almost-bare shoulder. Damn dress!
"Enjoying yourself, Your Highness?" his question exuded hidden intentions.
"Y-Yes, I am," she tried to hold herself together; his mere presence made her turn to liquid.
"Good," he said slowly, kissing her neck which made her jump a little.
He laughed and continued his descent. Strumming his fingers on her throat, his lips found her sensitive spot and licked her.
"Endymion, not here," she begged in a breathy tone.
"No one cares. You're my wife," he answered, turning her to face him and kissing her mouth this time.
Her chest was heaving; she wanted to die right now. Placing her hands on his chest, she let him kiss her face and throat and breasts.
"Please," she begged again. Common decency was bred into her and she didn't want to throw it all away now.
"Fine," his voice harsh and strained. He wanted her.
Taking her with him, he led them inside and to his study, the one place he knew no one would dare enter.
"Endy-!" he cut off her, pushing her against the door when it was closed.
The room was dark, with the drapes closing off the sunlight from pouring in. His hands struggled with her dress while her mind ran wild with shock.
He brought her to his desk, shoving everything away and onto the floor. Pulling at the ribbons on her back that held the dress, his mouth found hers.
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She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye anymore. The feelings, the thoughts he elicited from her made her blush with embarrassment. Many times over, they made love. And many times over, she found herself falling in love with him.
Secretly, she was still in mourning for Victor, something she hid very well. She attended church whenever possible, many thinking her a religious young Queen. No, she did all that for her late fiancé.
Endymion soon found time to spend it with Serenity. Though shy at first, she began to feel comfortable with him, alone. They held conversations ranging from books to political affairs. Endymion did not hide his appreciation for Serenity's deep involvement with these kinds of things. A lot of Queens left it all to be handled by the King.
When the weather fared well, they took long strolls through the gardens, sometimes never uttering a word to each other. And when he gathered the courage, Endymion would reach out and grasp her hand. This made Serenity smile.
Today, Endymion was out of the castle on business, visiting officials in the city. This left Serenity to her own devices. Books couldn't contain the boredom she left so she decided to go down to one of the villages, to become more acquainted with her new people.
Foregoing a carriage, she dressed in a simple dark blue gown and a parasol and went on her way.
The paved roads were clean, devoid of any of the filth she used to see when she first came here.
Large trees passed her left and right, shading her from the angry sun. When she arrived, a variety of thick smells hit her nose.
A pig was being roasted on a spit, with customers holding open their purse strings. Baskets of blossomed flowers were dancing in the wind, little girls fluttering around them with red ribbons in their hair. A black smith was pounding away at a sword, its tip red hot. Soot covered his face and filled the air.
"Your Highness!" squealed a little girl, her face glowing.
"Well, hello there," she kneeled down to her level, not caring if her dress got dirty.
"'ello," she said shyly.
"Now, where's your mummy, sweetheart?" she asked, looking around.
"Mum's buying at the grocer's," she replied, staring up at Serenity as if she were gold.
"Now, why don't we go find her, huh?" she stood up, smiling.
Clutching the girl's hand, they went in search of a nearby grocer. After it led them to a small one, Serenity asked anyone in there resembling the girl.
"There you are, Matilda," called out a relieved voice.
Serenity turned around shocked registering into her face. It was Victor's mother! The richly dressed woman approached them and suddenly noticed Serenity.
"My dear, what a surprise!" she exclaimed, grabbing her into a hug.
"Lady Reya, so good to see you again," she responded, not really knowing what to say to the woman.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. What brings you down here?"
"Just visiting, getting to know the lands. And you?"
"Oh, I'm visiting a cousin of mine. I just love the snug shops here so I come here whenever I can," Lady Reya replied, taking Matilda's hand and wiping the little girl's face with a handkerchief.
"How lovely," Serenity said, here eyes watching Matilda. She looked just like Victor.
"How, silly of me. This is Matilda, my youngest child," Lady Reya said after seeing Serenity looking at the girl.
"She's the splitting image of him," Serenity breathed, her eyes watering.
"That she is," Lady Reya answered sadly, her own eyes tearing up.
"Well, I must be going," stated Serenity her mind unable to control the rush of feelings.
"So should we. Do visit us when you're around Malcromby," requested Lady Reya.
Serenity nodded and watched as they left the shop, Matilda shrieking delight as she was handed a shiny red apple.
Serenity made her way home, falling onto her bed and crying unshed tears the whole afternoon.
She had held no romantic love for Victor, but her soul still cried for him. Men were falling to their deaths because of her. How long would it be before Endymion fell prey to the same fate?
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His bones were so weary with travel that all Endymion could think about was stripping away his royal clothes and snuggling up next to Serenity in bed.
He stopped himself when outside his door, he could hear crying. It was Serenity.
"What's wrong?" he thundered in fear, bursting in the room. He found her on her stomach, crying into a pillow.
She was still clad in her travel dress.
"It's nothing," she murmured. But he had no mind to take that as an answer.
"Tell me, my love," he sat next to her, stroking her hair. Her face was stilled burrowed in the pillow but he could tell it was wet with tears.
"It's just that, I saw Victor's mother today. And she had with her his little sister. Oh, you should have seen her! She looked just like him!" she sobbed even more, her body quaking.
Endymion didn't grow angry; he didn't unearth hatred for the man. He left sorrow for his crying wife.
"It's alright," he scooped her up and onto his lap. She laid her head on his chest, breathing in his scent.
"Nikil was engaged to me, and he died. Victor was engaged to me and he died. Why do men die at my feet?" she asked him with fear in her eyes.
"Neither of that has anything to do with you," he tried to convince her though he knew it wouldn't happen.
"Bound to me, sent to their deaths. That is my curse," she whimpered.
"I'm still here?" he offered.
"For how long?" her voice told the dread she couldn't get rid of.
"I'll always be here," he hugged her, kissing her head.
"Fate can break promises like that," she replied, her eyes closing with sleep.
"Not this one," he looked to see if she heard him but she was fast asleep.
"Not this one."
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Serenity didn't know what to feel; her heart wanted to rip it to shreds, while her mind said to leave it be, pretend it never reached her eyes. But this she couldn't ignore. This, she had to face. Her face burned with anger as her eyes skimmed over the words again, brimming with tears of joy and rage. She wanted vengeance for this!
But how to go about it?"
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Endymion couldn't find her. None of the maids could. The gardens were empty save for the workers, the library was bare and her room was silent. Nothing. Nowhere. Fear began to rise up, thoughts running in his head. Could she have been kidnapped? Was she lost in Madiri?
"Your highness, we are sending out searches for her. Don't worry, word of this won't reach Vaneri," assured his top man, Lelick.
"Damn! Where is she?" he banged his fist on his desk, leaving a deep dent.
He was alone in the room again, his heart weighing down. Where was she?
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Serenity was crying as she embraced him, her face hurting as she couldn't stop smiling in happiness. Her heart soared as she stared at him.
"How happy this makes me," she said, kissing his cheek and waiting for him to speak.
"We must hurry, lest he finds out and stops us. Are they ready?" he asked her, taking her hand into his.
"Yes, let's go," she said in urgency, holding up her dress to keep her from falling.
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Endymion had no choice but to call upon Vaneri the next day, awaiting an official who was in Serenity's stead when she was in Madiri. The main room was outfitted in Vaneri's royal colors and a portrait on the wall of Serenity's father jeered at him.
"Your highness, how can I be of assistance to you?" a man said, entering the room.
He was tall with brown hair and a short beard. His dark eyes were gentle, soft, but his face told the years he experienced.
"I've come bearing grave news. It seems the Queen has disappeared. I have men searching for her as we speak," he finished, waiting for the backlash.
"I see," the man stood up and walked to the door before turning back.
"I'll be right back, Your Highness," he said, leaving.
Endymion was confused for but a second before he jumped at the sight before him.
Serenity came into the room in a flowing gown, her face flushed with smiles, that is, until she saw him.
"Serenity!" he cried, getting to his feet but she stopped him from coming closer to her with her hand.
"Hello Endymion," she said smoothly.
"Serenity, what are you doing here? We've all been searching for you since yesterday!" he asked frantically, advancing toward her in confusion.
"As you can see, I'm here and fine," she waved her hand again and this time, Endymion saw it.
She had a different ring on her finger, her wedding finger.
"What is the meaning of this?" barked Endymion but stopped short when another figure entered the room.
Serenity turned and ran to the person, draping her arms around.
It was Victor.
"Bastard!" Endymion cursed under his breath.
"Oh, what was that, Endy, darling?" Serenity asked sweetly, her arm grasping Victor's.
"What is he doing here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, forgive my manners. Endymion I want you to meet my husband, Victor," she said with a smile.
"I hope this little tryst to Vaneri hasn't knocked out your memory. You're married to me," he was seething, wishing everything was a dream. It had to be.
"Yes, well, I got bored with you and decided to marry Victor. He's much more, you know, respectable," she mocked, her face smiling all the while.
"Aren't you suppose to be dead, Malcromby?" Endymion was losing his mind; what was going on? How was he able to escape?
"Well, sorry to disappoint you Your Highness. The goons you hired to keep me are far less loyal to you than they are to a complete stranger, especially when money is involved," Victor goaded, loving the scene before him. The king was going to get what he deserved.
"I'll cut your throat right now!" Endymion threatened.
"Watch it, Endy. You can't hurt my High King," Serenity cut in.
"High King? My title isn't for sale!"
"It is when he holds the ring," Serenity said, holding up Victor's right hand.
There, gleaming on his middle finger was the ring, its crimson diamond sparkling on their faces.
"How did he-?" Endymion couldn't believe this!
"Did you really think I'd leave without taking something that rightfully belonged to my kingdom? I'll let you in a little secret: Before we carted the false ring to Vaneri, I switched the rings when you slept. I knew the true ring still didn't belong in your possession. My people are right, you'll only bring ruin with this much power," she finished, her eyes wet with tears.
"I can't believe you," Endymion's heart ripped in two, shattering the world he wanted to live in with Serenity. She threw that all away now; they couldn't never get that back.
"Believe it. I do what I must for my country," she turned to leave but stopped at Endymion's voice.
"We're still married."
"No, we are not. Victor was never dead and our betrothal contract was never reversed. Marriage law states that the current marriage is null and void if I'm still betrothed to another. The title of High Queen does wonders when you want an abrupt wedding within the hour," she left, Victor trailing behind her, his eyes smirking at Endymion before they disappeared.
"I'm not done with you yet," muttered Endymion, his eyes glowing red as he watched his life crumble. He lost his wife, title and the ring all in one day.
The bitch was going to pay.
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Okay, I'm going to elaborate on da whole Victor-was-dead-but-now-he's-back-so-what-happened-and-how-did-Endymion-get-him thing in da next chappy cuz I really want to send dis one in quick.
Freaking virus even kept me from writing so I'm writing dis real quick just so I'll be able to post it.