Hey! I'm pleased to have another chapter posted for your reading pleasure! To make up for my pathetically slow postings, this one is nice and long. I hope you like it enough that you review!
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In chapter 27, Nephrite discovered Beryl and Metallia's cavern hideout and is now under their control.
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Light of Love: Red Moon
Chapter 28: Bonds and Betrayals
A sick, dreaded feeling passed through Prince Endymion's body when he first awoke. Initially, he felt detachment and loss, much like he imagined one must feel after losing a limb; however, a wiggle of his toes and a twitch of his fingers indicated that all of his digits were still connected to his body. His muscles tightened in his arms and legs while unease settled into his joints.
The young man quickly realized that the physical link his body shared with the Earth's ground was severed. Barely awake, and already Endymion knew he was on the Moon.
He opened his dark blue eyes and blinked his surroundings into focus. An ornately carved, vaulted opalescent ceiling towered over his head. A wavering halo of light passed through the stone of the ceiling and washed the room in a grey glow. On his left, heavy silver curtains covered a panel of windows. To his right was a huge pair of double doors leading to a second room.
He tipped his head to the side and realized that he wasn't alone. Not only were Jedite and Zoicite present, but so too were his mother, Kunzite, and Nephrite. Endymion's confusion over his surroundings and company didn't have a moment to manifest itself.
"Your father is safe," Kunzite reported immediately, even before Endymion had a chance to ask what day it was. "The Sun King Nefar and his men were ordered to leave the Earth immediately."
Endymion blinked his eyes and focused his gaze on the dark-haired woman sitting on the right side of his bed. "Mother?" he croaked. His mouth and throat were dry. He coughed. "What are you doing here?"
Queen Kyrena reached for a crystal water pitcher from a nearby nightstand. Endymion noticed that her midnight-blue eyes sparkled and her cheeks were blotched and ruddy, presumably from a recent cry.
"Queen Serenity sent for me," Kyrena said while pouring the water into a matching crystal goblet. She set the pitcher down and picked up the glass, which she handed to her son. "Sweetheart, how are you feeling?"
Endymion awkwardly sat up in bed and drank the cool water. He blinked several times and shrugged. "I feel okay," he finally concluded.
When he again shut his eyes, images splashed into his mind. Mud-covered men with glowing eyes charged toward him. He remembered the fiery battle against Orleana and the near-fatal confrontation with Queen Metallia; he recalled the sorrowful moments with Linnaus and the confusing mash of the Lunarian's memories that now swam in the prince's head along with his own. Most importantly, he thought of the young girl with golden hair, bright blue eyes and a crescent in the center of her forehead.
"Usa," he whispered before he could contain himself.
He opened his midnight eyes and looked up. He noticed the puzzled look on his mother's face as she shifted her attention across the bed to Jedite and Zoicite. She silently mouthed the word just uttered by the prince. Jedite leaned forward and returned a silent reply.
"Princess Serenity."
Queen Kyrena nodded and smiled warmly. She again turned to face her son before announcing, "The Moon princess is well. Endy, you saved her life!"
The prince, relieved to know that Serenity had survived her injury, winced over his mother's gush of enthusiasm. Kyrena further explained how Endymion had saved the princess's life by depleting his own power to heal her wound, and that when he and the others first arrived at the Moon Palace, the prince was unconscious. His energy was so depleted, Kyrena told him, that he nearly died. Thanks to his own resiliency—at least, Endymion silently attributed his hasty recovery to his own resiliency—he merely needed a little rest to recover completely from the ordeal. The prince thought he had taken a short nap. In truth, his mother revealed, he was unconscious for eight days.
"Eight days?" Endymion repeated, sinking into the pillows beneath him. No wonder his whole body ached and his head hurt. He sighed loudly and muttered, "At least Serenity is safe."
His midnight eyes drifted to his mother. She grinned at him in a way that made the prince blush.
Kunzite broke the uncomfortable moment between mother and son by clearing his throat. "Your highness, I must also report that your father imprisoned Duke Bartleby for treason…"
Endymion, not normally one to pour over the monotonous details of state, was relieved to hear all of the sordid details regarding his crooked uncle, if only to stave off the strange looks and smiles from his mother. Yet, while he was briefed on all that had happened since his most recent bout of unconsciousness, Endymion's thoughts lingered on Princess Serenity. He needed to see her. He wondered what she had been up to over the past eight days.
Unfortunately, Kunzite and Nephrite's reports bled into his thoughts.
"Once we had word of your ordeal," Nephrite was saying, "my soldiers searched the meadow where you were attacked, as well as the surrounding forest. We found hundreds of bodies of those…creatures…"
"Cavern dwellers," Endymion and Kunzite robotically chorused. Slightly surprised by the soldier's outburst, the prince's dark eyes settled on Kunzite's face. He wondered how the stoic man knew what the Solarians were called. Kunzite smiled quizzically at Endymion and shrugged.
Nephrite, not noticing the exchange between the soldier and the prince, nodded and repeated the word. "Cavern dwellers. However, we found no sign of the Sun queen or that Beryl girl."
Suddenly, the room felt very cool. The prince shivered. His mind raced with possibilities of where Beryl and Metallia could have gone. He frowned while he thought. Could they have escaped together? "Did you check Alendor? Metallia was staying at an inn…"
"Yes, we checked there," Kunzite calmly stated. "The innkeeper was quite helpful. He turned over a badly beaten Solarian man who had been bound and gagged…" His left eyebrow crooked up as he spoke to the prince. "The innkeeper said you captured that man."
The prince nodded absently, recalling the man with the melted face. "That guy was vile. What did he tell you?"
"Nothing," Nephrite responded.
"He refused to talk to us," added Kunzite
Endymion exhaled. "That's not surprising."
He blinked and shifted his attention to the opulent room surrounding him. So this was where Serenity lived, he thought to himself. He wondered if her chambers were nearby. He wondered if she had visited him while he was unconscious.
"What about caves?" Zoicite suddenly said, again interrupting Endymion's thoughts.
Kunzite frowned. "What about them?"
"Perhaps Metallia and Beryl didn't disappear," Zoicite explained. "Bartleby's land is riddled with caverns. They could be hiding in one of those caves."
Nephrite remained unfazed. He shook his head resolutely. "Impossible," he announced.
"Are you so certain?" Queen Kyrena asked. "Many of the caves in that region have never been thoroughly explored."
"It would be the perfect concealment," Kunzite agreed with a thoughtful nod.
"My men scoured that whole area," Nephrite defensively stated. "I was with them, and I personally explored all of the caves we came across."
Kunzite's expression changed. He eyed Nephrite carefully. "You didn't mention caves in your report."
Nephrite tossed his curly brown locks over his left shoulder and shrugged. "I didn't think it was important."
"When it comes to the safety of the royal family," Kunzite said pointedly, "every detail is important. You, as a member of the King and Queen's personal guard, should know that."
"Look," Nephrite responded with a tired sigh and a pronounced roll of his brown eyes, "I forgot to mention it in the report, but yeah, I checked out a few caves."
The prince tuned out of the heated discussion. At the present moment, he cared very little for Nephrite's spelunking. His thoughts were again consumed by Princess Serenity. Their last conversation remained fresh his memory. His proclamation of love—and, more importantly, hers—still resonated in his mind. He longed to see her.
Endymion closed his eyes. Using his link with the princess, he attempted to locate her. Within moments, he felt her presence in the castle. The princess' energy encapsulated the prince with incredible warmth. He tried to communicate with her, just as he had done during Orleanna's attack; however, his mother's concerned voice interrupted the attempt.
"Endy, are you okay?"
The prince's lids fluttered open. The discussion of caves and Beryl and Metallia suddenly ceased, and all eyes in the room were trained on him. Endymion blinked while he nodded. He silently decided to attempt contact with Serenity later, when he was alone.
Unfortunately, Endymion was never left completely by himself. His guardians hovered around him; the only place he found any solitude was in his bath. The prince, eager to seek out Serenity and to also escape the luxurious but still confining atmosphere of the palace's impressively expansive guest apartments, expressed interest in exploring the castle and its grounds. Jedite and Zoicite vetoed his suggestion.
"Sorry, Endy, but we're under strict orders," Zoicite explained apologetically. "The Queen said you aren't allowed to be anywhere else in the palace except right here."
The prince frowned. An unintentional whine of entitlement crept into his voice. "What do you mean I'm not allowed?"
"Just what he said," Jedite said slowly. "You aren't allowed to leave these chambers."
"Why would my mother make such a command?" demanded Endymion. Flustered, he paced the room. "She said she wanted to show me around but she doesn't want me to leave? That doesn't make sense!"
Zoicite shook his head. "It wasn't Queen Kyrena who ordered it," the red-head flatly answered. "It was Queen Serenity."
The prince paused. A ripple of remembrance quivered through his mind. He closed his eyes as he recalled Linnaus' experiences. The Lunarian once accused Queen Serenity of being an elitist and of despising Terrans. Endymion had never met the Moon Queen, but Linnaus' experiences were enough for the prince to know that Serenity would never consider him more than a simpleton prince from the blue and green planet. He quietly wondered if Queen Serenity kept him under lock and key simply because she despised where he came from.
"If it makes you feel any better," Zoicite finally added, attempting to break the uncomfortable silence, "The containment isn't just limited to you. Except for Kunzite and the Queen, the rest of us have orders to stay put."
Endymion opened his midnight eyes and turned to face the rest of the chamber. For the first time that afternoon, he noticed that, in addition to his two guardians, Nephrite was also in the room. The soldier sat in an armchair in the furthest corner of the room near a window, quietly reading a book. The prince scowled at the studious brunette before shifting his frustrated attention to Jedite and Zoicite.
"You told me earlier that you'd wandered around the palace."
The blonde and redhead exchanged a look. Jedite smiled bashfully.
"We couldn't wander around unescorted," the guardian explained. "We, ah, had…"
His voice trailed off as he attempted to find an appropriate word.
"Escorts?" offered the prince. Both of his guardians nodded awkwardly. Endymion's gaze narrowed. He thought of Princess Serenity and Jedite's fond regard for her. Jealousy emboldened him. "Who escorted you?"
Both Jedite and Zoicite fidgeted. Their faces reddened. The prince, noting their reluctance, suspected them even more of spending time with the princess. He felt his cheeks crimson.
"They don't want to tell you that they've been flirting with two of the senshi apprentices," Nephrite announced from the far side of the room. The brunette looked up from his book and gazed reprovingly at the pair of guardians.
Endymion, relieved that the moon princess was not mentioned, exhaled loudly. His countenance of suspicion changed to that of amusement. He grinned conspiratorially. "Really?"
Noting the annoyed expressions on Jedite and Zoicite's faces, the prince concluded that Nephrite spoke truthfully. He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm surprised such refined young ladies would find you two attractive enough to show around," joked the prince. "Who was it?" When the two guardians didn't answer right away, Endymion crossed to the end of the room where the brunette soldier sat alone. "You'd better tell me," he threatened while he walked, "or I'll have Nephrite tell me all of the sordid details."
"Keep me out of this," Nephrite muttered, again turning his attention to his book. "I just got here yesterday."
"Then I take it none of the fair maidens have caught your eye yet?" the prince questioned.
Nephrite suppressed a laugh. "I'm far too busy with my duties to concern myself with women," the brunette finally stated. He turned a page in his book. "But I can see how Jedite and Zoicite became distracted. Foreign ladies are…bewitching."
The tone in Nephrite's voice puzzled the prince. He sounded light and conversational, but also biting and critical. The prince was about prod Nephrite further when a knock was heard on one of the outer doors of the guest apartment's antechamber. Jedite and Zoicite scuffled with each other to see who would answer the door first. Their footsteps quickly faded as they both exited the larger inner room.
The prince's midnight eyes remained on Nephrite, who continued to quietly read his book. Endymion didn't know the stoic soldier as intimately as he did his guardians or Kunzite, but the prince was familiar enough with Nephrite's demeanor to know that something was off about him. His gaze trailed from the soldier's face to the book in his hands. At least that was normal, the prince silently concluded.
Endymion noticed the print on the cover was upside-down.
Nephrite's gaze drifted from the pages of his book to the prince. He raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, your highness?"
Endymion, realizing a little late that he was dumbly staring at Nephrite's book, blinked and looked the soldier in the eye. He nervously combed his hand through his dark hair. The prince cleared his throat but his voice still cracked when he spoke. "No, nothing's wrong. I was just, ah, wondering what you were reading."
The soldier folded the tomb closed and shifted his gaze down to look at the cover. Endymion watched the Nephrite's forehead wrinkle with surprise as he, too, realized that the book in his hands was upside-down. His chocolate eyes shifted to Endymion's inquisitive face. He licked his lips, cleared his throat and opened his mouth to respond.
Nephrite never answered the prince's query. The tension between the pair was interrupted by the return of Jedite and Zoicite from the exterior room. Both guardians appeared disappointed; Endymion realized that both were hoping for a visit from one of the senshi apprentices.
"It was for you," Jedite dully announced.
The prince, for a moment, thought of Princess Serenity. He instantly dismissed the idea, realizing that he would have detected her energy well before she'd even knocked on the chamber door.
Zoicite thrust a rolled-up sheet of parchment in front of him. Endymion, a little surprised, flinched.
"What's that?" he pondered.
"Dunno," replied the redhead. "But it's for you."
The prince accepted the scroll. He crossed to the delicately carved stone writing desk on the left side of the room. He sat down a cushioned matching chair.
"One of the cats delivered it," Jedite mentioned, "so it might be a little bit slobbery."
Endymion broke the wax seal and unrolled the parchment. Lines of unfamiliar scribbles greeted his curious eyes. The prince nearly dismissed the scroll as unreadable when he realized that he recognized a few of the written characters. He placed the parchment in the middle of the desk, flattened the curled edges with his arms, and leaned forward.
His stomach somersaulted while he stared at the paper. The longer he looked at it, the more characters he could read. He wondered if the scroll was magical.
"Can you read that?" Jedite pondered curiously. His proximity to Endymion's right ear caused the prince to jump with surprise. The guardian scowled as he stared at the sheet. "What the hell kind of writing is that?"
"I assume it's Lunarian," Zoicite muttered from over Endymion's other shoulder. The prince sat up and shifted to look at each of his guardians.
"Do you mind?"
Jedite shrugged. "Not at all." He stepped away from the prince. "Was just curious."
Zoicite also sidestepped away from the prince. Endymion returned his attention to the scroll. The redhead watched the prince pour over the parchment, running his right finger along each character on the page. He noticed Endymion's lips silently mouth words. "Endy, can you really read that?"
"Of course he can't," answered Kunzite, who had just entered the room. "But I can tell you what it says."
Endymion's attention shifted to Kunzite and then to the scroll. His right eyebrow arched while he looked at the writing. He could read it, he silently told himself. His thoughts wandered to Linnaus. Of course, he realized, his face flushing, the parchment wasn't magic. He was just drawing upon Linnaus' memories again.
For a moment or two, the prince considered revealing to the others that, indeed, he did know what was written on the scroll. Confidence spread a grin across his face as he tilted his head up to eye Kunzite. He opened his mouth to tell them that it was a summons to the Queen's throne room; however, before he uttered a word, Princess Serenity's voice screamed in his head.
"Don't tell them about Linnaus!"
The Terran prince, startled by the girl's intrusion into his thoughts, let go of the edges of the scroll, which sent the previously-rolled sheet of parchment sailing across the desk. Again, the princess' voice intruded his thoughts with a similar mantra.
"You mustn't tell anyone anything about Linnaus!"
The first thought that entered Endymion's head was inquisitive. Why couldn't he tell the others about his posthumous encounter with the Lunarian?
He sat back in his chair and stared at his own hands, still on the desk where the paper had just been. His heartbeat quickened in his chest and his cheeks crimsoned. He shut his eyes and concentrated his energy on seeking out the princess. This time, he cared little about the four men in the room with him. This time, he would find her.
"Serenity?" he tentatively said in his head. He waited impatiently for her reply.
"Are you feeling okay, Endy?" Zoicite asked, interrupting the prince's attempt.
Endymion absently nodded his head. He stubbornly kept his attention focused on seeking the princess but, after a few silent moments, his midnight eyes eventually opened. Not surprisingly, his guardians, Kunzite, and even Nephrite stared at him. He scowled at the confused expressions on all of their faces.
"I'm fine!" the prince announced.
Jedite tilted his head. "Are you sure?"
Rolling his eyes, Endymion defensively replied with an affirmative.
"Good," Kunzite said, stepping forward. While he reached for the parchment, he added, "This was a summons from Queen Serenity. She wants to see you in the throne room immediately."
Endymion nodded and stood. He was eager to leave the confining sanctuary of his chambers. Long accustomed to receiving similar summons from his father, he knew that he should be a little weary of the request. His thoughts weren't on the pending visit with the Lunar Queen. On his way to the throne room, he planned to make a detour and find the princess. He quickly realized that his intentions would be thwarted by Kunzite, who insisted on escorting him.
"I'm sure I can find it on my own," the prince suggested when he and the soldier were in hall directly outside his apartments.
Endymion's statement caused Kunzite to suppress an amused laugh. "I doubt that."
"I can!"
"How?" pondered Kunzite. "You've never been here before."
The prince's face flushed. Kunzite had a point. He wasn't supposed to know where anything was. Thanks to the memories implanted by Linnaus, the prince's knowledge of the Lunar castle's layout was better than that of the Terran palace back home.
"It can't be that hard to find," Endymion stammered. "It's a throne room."
The soldier remained unfazed. "Nice try. The last thing we need, after all of this, is for you to get lost in the Moon palace. Anyway, we have to take a round-about way to get there, since the repair work to the center of the castle is incomplete."
They rounded a corner while they conversed. Endymion, distracted and annoyed by Kunzite's stubbornness, quickened his pace and collided with someone walking toward him. The girl yelped in surprise as she staggered back. The prince instinctively stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the girl before she fell on the marble tiles. In turn, the startled girl gripped tightly on the front of Endymion's tunic.
"S-sorry," he stuttered to the top of the girl's head. Her long black hair, which had become disheveled during the collision, hung unflatteringly over her face. When the girl tilted her head back to look at the prince, the silky dark strands parted like a curtain, revealing a striking face and penetrating purple eyes.
"It's all right, your highness," brightly answered the girl, grinning widely.
For reasons unexplainable to the prince, he flushed with embarrassment. He was suddenly aware that he held the girl in a tight embrace. Endymion released his arms from around her small waist. The girl released her own grip on the prince's chest. Both took a step away from the other. The prince, noting how the girl still looked at him with that confounded grin, nervously combed a hand through his dark hair and stared at the grey tiles of the floor.
Kunzite, following a cursory glance at the prince, cleared his throat and turned his attention to the girl. "Are you okay, Rei?"
The girl responded to the inquiry with a quick turn of her head. Her grin decreased in size as she nodded at the soldier. "I'm fine." When she shifted her attention to the prince again, her smile widened.
The soldier looked at Endymion. If he anticipated an apology from the prince, he was disappointed. He looked at Rei; the way the girl stared at Endymion made Kunzite weary. "Is there something you wanted, Rei? If you're looking for Jedite, he's still in the prince's apartments."
The prince lifted his gaze from the tiles to look at Kunzite, an inquisitive expression on his face. The soldier shrugged and rolled his eyes, indicating that he cared very little for any romantic interludes between this girl and the prince's guardian. The mention of Jedite filled Endymion with relief; for a moment, he thought that Rei fancied him.
The girl didn't notice the change in Endymion's countenance. "Oh, I was actually on my way to see the prince," she said, flushing a little. Her violet eyes shifted to Endymion.
"Me?" croaked the prince in question.
"It's nice to see you are well, your highness," said Rei politely, curtseying.
Endymion frowned at her coy behavior. He suspected that the blushing, bashful girl in front of him was normally more spitfire than milquetoast.
"Thank you," he finally answered. "It's good to be…well."
Rei suggested that they go for a walk through the palace gardens. Endymion absently declined her offer. He thought she would be grateful for his frankness, which gave her the opportunity to extend her invitation to Jedite. Instead, the girl's face fell.
"Sorry," she muttered to the floor in front of Endymion's feet. "I just thought you might need some fresh air after being out of it—I mean, unconscious—for so long."
Uncomfortable silence filled the gap between the pair. Kunzite still stood in both their wakes but said nothing. The silver-haired soldier crossed his arms over his chest and silently watched the exchange between the Martian apprentice and Endymion. Kunzite's lack of interruption annoyed the prince; wasn't it the soldier's job to get Endymion out of sticky situations?
The prince's cheeks reddened with shame and embarrassment. He realized how inconsiderate he was being. He tried very hard to forget that Kunzite was present while he attempted a sincere response.
"No, I'm the one who's sorry, Rei," said the prince carefully. "I didn't mean to sound disinterested in your offer. But the Queen has requested my immediate presence in the throne room." Endymion regretted his next words as soon as they tumbled from his mouth. "Perhaps you will grant me the honor of your company later this afternoon," he offered politely. He nearly slapped his hands over his mouth to shut himself up. How would he spend any time with Princess Serenity if his afternoon was promised to Rei?
His response seemed to satisfy the Martian apprentice, who curtsied low before excusing herself. Resuming their journey to the throne room, the prince cast a sideways glance at Kunzite and muttered, "Thanks for nothing."
The soldier smiled. "I was curious to see your bravado in action."
"Great. And?"
"You must spend less of your free time with Jedite and Zoicite when we return," Kunzite answered after an awkward quiet.
The Terran soldier and his prince wound their way through a maze of halls and corridors and eventually found themselves at the base of a tall, wide marble staircase. Staring up at the steps, the prince shuddered; another of Linnaus' memories, one of his last recollections of the moon palace, was of mounting these very steps. That final visit to the throne room eventually served as the Lunarian's death sentence.
"Have fun," Kunzite said before turning to leave.
"You're not coming with me?"
"The Queen summoned you, not me," was the soldier's matter-of-fact response.
After watching Kunzite disappear around a corner at the end of the hall, the prince again shifted his attention to the staircase. The number of actual steps was impressive; the palace back home had nothing comparable. He wondered if the huge collection of stairs was an intimidation tactic. With a heavy, burdened sigh, Endymion mounted the first step.
Meanwhile, waiting at the top of the same staircase, stood an impatient Princess Serenity. Moments before, Luna unceremoniously dumped her in the waiting chamber outside of the throne room. Before she left the princess alone, the black cat turned and peered at her suspiciously.
"You mother wants to first see me and Artemis," Luna explained. "That isn't to say you can wander off. And don't talk to anyone."
Serenity rolled her eyes at the feline's stern instruction. Since the castle's attack, the Queen wasn't allowing visitors, so the normally occupied seating area was empty and vacuous. Only the palace guards were present. Still, it wasn't a point worth arguing, the princess quietly told herself.
"I'll do my best," Serenity said with a smile. Her cheery response caught her feline companion off-guard. Luna warily stared at her. The princess tried to ignore the cat's response. Ever since her return from the Earth, everything she said or did was scrutinized. It was like they all expected her to run away again, Serenity frustratingly thought.
Once Luna disappeared behind the large stone doors of the throne room, the princess let out a sigh of relief and relaxed her tense shoulders. The past days had been tiresome and lonely. She'd been completely isolated since she returned. The princess felt like a caged bird, not allowed flight. She didn't even have the comfort of her friends to console her; she hadn't seen much of them since their return. At first, she assumed they were being punished like her and were confined to their rooms. After spotting Rei and Jedite from her balcony one afternoon, Serenity quickly concluded that she was the only one in detention.
The princess paced the waiting area and fiddled with a few loose strands of her golden hair. The guards watched her movement but said nothing.
Serenity suspected why she'd been brought to see her mother in such a formal setting. The Queen and her cohorts had already quizzed the princess at length over what transpired when she was on the Earth. Her mother seemed interested in Prince Endymion's role. Protective of her relationship with the prince, Serenity was careful not to tell the Queen everything. She knew her mother was eager to interview Endymion, particularly regarding what he witnessed during Linnaus' death rites ceremony. The princess didn't understand exactly why the Queen was concerned about that; yet, Serenity realized how enraged her mother would become if she found out exactly all that the prince knew. Once he was awake, it was only a matter of time before the Queen summoned him to the throne room to be questioned.
"Don't tell them about Linnaus!"
Since she heard about Endymion's awakening earlier that morning, the princess silently repeated the above thought in her head. She longed to see him; she wanted desperately to warn him about her mother's intentions. Being confined in her room was a definite disadvantage. She persuaded Rei to visit the prince on her behalf. Serenity only hoped the Martian was able to make contact with Endymion before her mother summoned him.
The princess paused in her pacing and stared worriedly at the throne room's closed stone double doors. She wrung her hands together nervously. He could be in there right now, she thought to herself. She bit her lower lip and averted her eyes. Serenity focused her attention to the intricate woven patterns of the rug beneath her feet. She continued her pacing, walking the full length of the room.
When she passed the staircase on the opposite end of the waiting area, the princess heard someone's footsteps in the stairwell. She halted. Serenity moved to the top of the steps and peered down. She saw Endymion's familiar figure ascending toward her. He wore lunar clothes—slate grey pants and a light colored tunic—but she recognized him instantly. He was halfway up the staircase. The princess held her breath in while she silently watched his slow progress. An ache filled her with longing, relief and worry.
Her pulse quickened when the prince suddenly paused and looked up at her. Their eyes met. Serenity smiled warmly; it was the first genuine smile she'd experienced since being parted from the prince. She wanted nothing more than to run to him, to again feel his arms surrounding her and protecting her. More pressing, Serenity quickly reminded herself, was warning Endymion about her mother.
The princess silently glanced to the guards across the waiting area. They stared vacantly at the open room and not at her. Serenity seized her opportunity and turned her attention back to the prince. She gently lifted the skirt of her royal dress. Her steps were deliberately quiet as she glided cautiously down the steps. Her layered, empire-waisted silk white dress fluttered lightly around her delicate figure as she descended.
Endymion quickened his pace and the pair met somewhere in the middle. Closing his eyes for a moment, he inhaled, enjoying the familiar scent of honey blossoms that surrounded the girl. The princess' azure eyes stared up at him when he opened his lids. Her blonde hair was twisted in two small buns atop each side of her head; the loose ends of the buns trailed like curled golden streamers down her back. The upturned crescent moon on her forehead sparkled, shining through her bangs. Her normally pale cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were a brighter shade of blue than Endymion remembered.
The prince, slightly fatigued by his ascent, swallowed his nervousness and grinned at her. His instinct was to embrace her; however, he detected Serenity's unease. Endymion frowned, remembering their last moment together. Did the princess regret what she'd said to him? Was that why she was so nervous?
This awkward reunion was a far cry from what he'd imagined. In an attempt to mask his disappointment, Endymion ran his hand through his hair.
"Hi!" he greeted with an awkward wave. He inwardly derided himself for not thinking up something more articulate to say.
"Hello," was Serenity's equally generic response. She tilted her head to look past him. She must be certain they weren't overheard.
Endymion followed her gaze by twisting to see if someone was behind him. Finding no one there, he returned his attention to the princess. By this time, Serenity had turned her head and glanced over her shoulder. Something was obviously distracting her, the prince silently concluded.
"What's wrong?"
"We haven't much time," the princess said in a low voice. She kept her eye on the top of the steps while she spoke. Finally satisfied that she wouldn't be interrupted, Serenity gripped Endymion's left wrist and led him silently to one end of the step, near the wall.
The physical connection with the princess made Endymion flinch with surprise. The nerve endings in his skin crackled with exchange of energy. At least that's not different, he thought to himself. When he felt Serenity's anxiousness, he frowned. His midnight gaze drifted from the princess' small hand to her round face. She wasn't looking at him, but again had her eyes focused on the top of the staircase.
"What is it?" he asked.
The princess glimpsed from the top of the stairwell to the bottom of the steps, and finally settled her gaze on Endymion's midnight eyes. Her hand was still on the prince's wrist. She stepped into him. Endymion's pulse quickened. She bit her lower lip. "You haven't told anyone about Linnaus, have you?"
The prince frowned. "Linnaus?"
Serenity sighed and swallowed. "You know, when you…talked to Linnaus and he gave you…you know."
"You mean the memories?" Serenity nodded. Endymion shrugged and shook his head. "I haven't really had a chance. I just woke up today, Usa." The prince eyed her suspiciously. She seemed a little too relieved. "Why?"
"Don't tell them," the princess whispered, nodding meaningfully toward the top of the stairs. "Don't tell anyone."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Just don't say anything!" answered Serenity. "I'm in enough trouble without them knowing…" She glanced again at each end of the stairwell. When it was clear they were still alone, the princess again turned to Endymion. The prince felt a new sensation: fear. "They already think you know too much…"
"Princess!" said a stern voice from the top of the stairs. Both Serenity and Endymion winced. The princess removed her hand from his wrist. Her back was to the wall, so she took a step up to move out of the prince's shadow.
Endymion pivoted. He spotted a black cat at the top of the stairs.
"Sorry Luna!" the princess said, taking another step up. She now was at eye level with Endymion.
"I thought I told you not to wander off!"
"I didn't. I was just…"
"I don't want to know!" interrupted Luna. "Just be glad it was me and not your mother. I was sent to fetch you. They're ready to see you."
Serenity nodded. Before ascending the steps, she turned to again face Endymion. Her eyes sparkled with determination. "Remember what I told you."
The prince silently bowed his head. He watched as she picked up the front skirt of her dress and turned to climb the staircase.
Luna cleared her throat. "They're ready to see both of you," the cat announced.
The princess hesitated. This was unexpected. "Endymion too?"
"Of course."
Serenity turned back to face the prince. Endymion's startled gaze shifted from Luna to the princess. He shook off his surprise and mounted the stairs. When he was on the same step as Serenity, the prince extended his arm for her to take. The gesture was done more out of habit; after being unconscious for eight days, the prince was too weak to do more than support his own weight. Thankfully, Serenity seemed aware of his delicate state and, even after linking her arm through his, kept from leaning on him for support.
When they crested the staircase, they saw that the giant stone throne room doors were open. Endymion was grateful for the long antechamber between the stairs and the throne room; it gave him a chance to collect his wits and quell his nerves. He felt Serenity tremble.
"Are you scared of your mother, Usa?" Endymion whispered quietly while they crossed the room.
The princess shook her head. "I'm not scared for me," she answered in a low voice. "I'm scared for you."
Something about the tone in her voice made Endymion feel sick. He swallowed his fear and tried to ignore the heavy, churning sensation in his stomach. Instead, he focused his attention on the throne room. He and Serenity were now halfway across the waiting area. Light spilled out of the great room blinded the prince. He shielded his face with his free arm while his eyes adjusted to the brightness. Thanks to Linnaus' memories, he was familiar with the throne room and its layout.
Standing on the threshold, the prince paused while he and Serenity were announced by one of the men guarding the door. He marveled at the opulence and size of the great room. Five of his father's throne rooms could easily fit into the space that made up the Moon Castle's equivalent. The arched cathedral ceiling—all constructed of moonstone—seemed to extend forever upward and was supported by large carved columns that flanked each side of the room. Located between the columns were tall, narrow windows. The hall was devoid of any furniture, save for a massive, ornately carved chair at the very end of the room. Like the walls, ceiling, and floor, the throne was constructed of stone, making it appear oddly organic. Positioned on a platform, the chair had a high back that fanned out and nearly stretched all the way to the top of the incredibly high ceiling. Behind the throne was a blue and green stained glass window that splashed fractured color through the light stone of the chair's back.
Luna had walked in front of the prince and princess at a quicker pace and had already taken her place beside Artemis on the left side of the room, near the throne. The only other occupants of the room were Minako, who stood to the right of the throne, and Queen Serenity. Endymion's heartbeat quickened as his eyes rested on statuesque monarch seated on her stone throne. Linnaus' memories flashed through his mind; the prince never in his life met the queen, but he already knew that she could be incredibly kind and uncomprehendingly cruel. Judging from the cold stare she gave him from across the room, Endymion guessed he was to experience the latter.
"Why do I feel as though we've entered a lion's den?" he whispered to the princess beside him as they entered the room.
"Because you have," was Serenity's simple answer.
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Minako rubbed her tired eyes and yawned while she walked the long corridor to Sailor Venus' chambers. She craved sleep.
Since her return to the Moon, Minako's duties as an apprentice had increased ten-fold, thanks to a violent illness that had sent Sailor Venus to her bed.
Venetians were experts on the subject of love and were consequently quite sensitive to the coupling of others. They physically detected the relationships of those around them; the sensation of love might cause a Venetian's skin to prickle or her cheeks to flush. The stronger the bond between the lovers, so too was the Venetian's bodily response. Only very strong bonds—primarily spiritual and emotional in their structure—manifested such a severe response as to render a Venetian physically ill. These bonds were extremely rare; so uncommon were such unions that they were considered lore more than reality.
If Sailor Venus doubted that such connections existed, then her reaction to the bond between Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion quickly extinguished any past uncertainty. Clearly, their bond was extremely strong; the Senshi of Love had heard that a Venetian's first introduction to a powerful union caused illness for a few hours. Eight days had passed, and Sailor Venus was just as ill as she was when Princess Serenity and the others first arrived on the Moon.
The consequence of Sailor Venus' sickness was that Minako attended every castle meeting and assembly in her mentor's place. In addition to providing input, the girl also took detailed notes and reported the days' events each night to Sailor Venus.
She didn't begrudge her new responsibilities, but Minako couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. In the course of a few hours, she'd gone from being a simple apprentice to the temporary leader of the Senshi and one of Queen Serenity's primary advisors.
At least, she thought to herself while she continued through the corridor, she wasn't the only apprentice with new responsibilities. Ami was also required to go above and beyond the expectations of an apprentice while Sailor Mercury recovered from her near-fatal injury. The Senshi of Water wasn't expected to walk again, which would permanently increase Ami's duties. When Makoto returned from Jupiter, she'd have to become Sailor Jupiter, whether she was ready for the responsibility or not. Sailor Venus, though bedridden, would eventually make a full recovery. The Senshi of Love assured Minako every night, at the end of their meetings, the sickness would pass. It was the one thing Sailor Venus was confident of. Her apprentice, observing the daily decline in her mentor's appearance, was less optimistic. Sailor Venus' condition seemed to get worse, not better.
Minako smothered another yawn behind her gloved right hand. The repetitive, echoing clicks of her high-heeled shoes against the marble tiles resounded in her tired head. Her lids drooped a little. She wanted, so desperately, to succumb to sleep.
The ball of her right shoe slid against the smooth floor; Minako stumbled to keep herself from falling back. Her blue eyes flew open while she realized she was about to topple forward.
But she didn't fall. Instead, Minako felt a pair of strong arms encircle her waist and lift her feet from the floor.
"Careful, Princess," Kunzite's familiar voice warmly whispered in her left ear.
The girl's normally pale complexion turned scarlet as a deluge of emotions washed through her at once.
Long ago, when Endymion's mother, Kyrena, was sent to the Moon to become a senshi, her father, suspicious of Lunarians, insisted that Kunzite accompany her. The young silver-haired soldier soon became a permanent fixture at the Moon Palace. Years later, when the next wave of senshi apprentices were brought to the castle, Kunzite was asked to assist with their education and training. Minako and the others didn't realize that Kunzite was a Terran until Kyrena announced her decision to marry Demetrious, the new Earth king. Kunzite, as Kyrena's guardian, was expected to return to the Earth with her.
Minako was always fond of Kunzite, and as she grew older, her regard for him deepened into something more significant. Princess Serenity and the others teased her for liking the Terran soldier so much. Minako didn't care; she passionately believed that she and Kunzite belonged together. The night before he was destined to return to the Earth, Minako confessed her feelings to him. He responded by patting the top of her head and pinching her cheek. The reaction was a far cry from the passionate embrace Minako anticipated.
"I'm too old for you, and you're too young for me," Kunzite finally told her with a kind smile. "Sorry, princess."
His rejection mortified Minako. She spent the entire night crying over her own foolishness. Her only consolation was the knowledge that Kunzite was scheduled to leave the Moon, hopefully forever, the following morning.
To Minako's horror, Kunzite soon returned to the palace and remained on the Moon for several more years. King Demetrious decided that he wanted a Terran representative on the Moon, and, given Kunzite's extensive experience, he was the obvious candidate for the position. Kunzite was kind enough to never again mention Minako's past declaration of love, which the girl was grateful for; however, their friendship never was the same. Whereas Kunzite enjoyed a relaxed company with Ami, Rei, Makoto and even Princess Serenity, a palatable tension always existed between himself and Minako.
The Venetian had seen Kunzite often over the past few days; he'd arrived at the palace with Queen Kyrena several days after Minako and the others returned from rescuing Serenity from the Earth. The Terrans kept vigil over Prince Endymion, who, after being unconscious for eight days, had finally awoken. In addition to attending to Queen Kyrena's needs, Kunzite, on behalf of the Terran King, attended many of the same meetings as Minako.
This present encounter in the hallway was the first time they were alone and in such close proximity to each other.
"You're getting as clumsy as the Moon princess," Kunzite amusedly observed when Minako didn't immediately respond. The girl snapped to her senses.
"Release me at once!" she demanded, struggling against his firm hold. The Terran soldier obliged her wishes and gently lowered her feet to the floor. Minako stepped away from him. She smoothed out the front of her fuku and tossed her loose blonde hair over her right shoulder. Her face still felt warm. "Thank you," she added curtly.
"Don't mention it."
Minako turned her head and faced Kunzite. He grinned stupidly at her. She remembered that this was a common expression of his—especially around her—but she noticed, this time, his grey eyes contained a quality more significant than simple amusement. Air caught in the back of her throat. Her chest felt warm.
Was it possible that Kunzite cared for her?
Startled by the possibility, Minako was quick to dash such optimism. She broke eye contact with the Terran soldier by staring at one of the many carved mahogany tables lining the hall. When it became obvious that Kunzite would not break the uncomfortable silence, Minako took the task upon herself. "I was just on my way to brief Sailor Venus. She'll be...happy…when I tell her that Endymion's finally awake."
"Is she better?" Kunzite inquired.
The Venetian girl, glad to direct her attention on something other than her own nervousness in the soldier's presence, shrugged. "She says she should get better soon," she said slowly. The Terran nodded thoughtfully. Minako sighed and added, "But I haven't noticed any signs of recovery."
"What's wrong with her?" Kunzite asked.
"She's just really sick."
"Perhaps you shouldn't see her so regularly," the silver-haired Terran suggested. "If she's infectious, you could become ill, too."
Minako's stomach fluttered and her chest again felt warm. Was Kunzite concerned about her health and safety? Flattered by his regard, she was eager to dispel his worries.
"It's not contagious."
"How can you be certain?"
"Because it's a Venetian illness," Minako attempted to explain. Despite her effort to sound casual, a hint of defensiveness was audible in her tone. "As such, it's rooted in emotions."
Kunzite quietly regarded Minako, who still looked away from him. He thoughtfully pondered, "But if it's a Venetian illness, aren't you more susceptible to it than Ami or Rei?"
The blonde nodded and sighed. "I should be experiencing it too," she admitted. "For some reason, it hasn't affected me at all."
Minako stole a sideways glance at her hallway companion. Kunzite, dressed impeccably a dark blue Terran soldier's uniform, had his arms crossed and seemed to be deep in contemplation.
"You said she's been ill since you came back from the Earth?"
Minako nodded her response to Kunzite's question. She noticed his face soften as he made some sort of realization. She wondered if she'd told him too much. He'd lived among the Lunarians for centuries, and he and Sailor Venus had always been good friends. It was possible that her mentor had told the Terran soldier about bonds.
Before Minako ventured to ask Kunzite whether he knew, the man's demeanor changed suddenly. His thoughtful expression transitioned back to his rigid, business-like façade. He straightened his posture, clapped his hands together in front of him, and cleared his throat.
"I won't keep you," he said in a voice void of emotion. "Do tell Sailor Venus that I regret not seeing her during this visit."
Minako blinked. "What do you mean?" He blue eyes widened. "Wait—you're leaving?"
"We are, first thing tomorrow morning," Kunzite replied. "Now that the Prince has awakened, and his life no longer seems to be in danger, there is no reason for us to stay longer. His Majesty is eager for the queen and prince to return to Earth."
"Oh, I see," Minako muttered, crestfallen. "Well then, have a good journey."
She extended her right hand out in front of her. Kunzite hesitated before he seized her hand in his own and shook it firmly. Minako smiled weakly and allowed her blue eyes to trail up to Kunzite's face. Standing this close to him, she noticed the small creases that lined his eyes. In the past, only the shocking silver color of his hair suggested he was as old as really he was.
Minako opened her mouth to voice her observation; however, before a sound was uttered, Kunzite pulled her closer to him with his right hand and encircled her waist with his left arm. He dipped his head and kissed the center of her forehead. Startled, Minako leaned back and glared at the Terran. Her lips again parted, this time to protest his rough handling of her, but Kunzite leaned forward pressed his own mouth to hers. The surprised Venetian pressed her free left hand against his firm chest to pry her body from his strong grip. A warm sensation—desire—washed over Minako and quelled her resistance. By the time the kiss ended, her left arm had snaked up his chest and her fingers gently touched the short stubble along his jaw line.
Her lids opened halfway when Kunzite's lips broke from hers. She grinned at him. He smiled back.
"What in the name of Selene is going on here?"
Both Minako and Kunzite froze when they heard Luna's voice. Their arms still entwined in an embrace, the Venetian and Terran soldier twisted to see the black feline standing not far from them, looking scandalized.
"Oh. Hey Luna!" Minako said jovially with a giggle. "We were just, um," she glanced at Kunzite. Judging from his blank expression, she knew he would be little help in explaining their compromising entanglement to the cat.
Kunzite, suddenly aware of his impulsive gesture, stepped back and released Minako. The magic of the moment dissolved, and the chill of reality settled into Minako's previously buttery joints. The silver-haired man coughed uncomfortably and stared at the corridor's tile floor. He took a couple of additional steps away from the girl. She blinked dazedly at Kunzite. He looked embarrassed to have been caught kissing her.
Minako's face flushed. She turned her attention back to Luna, who still waited for an explanation.
"We were just reviewing the day's events," Minako said, feeling her face get warmer. She was never good at lying. "And, uh, I had something in my eye, so Kunzite was helping me…remove it."
"Really?" Luna said, unconvinced. Obviously, the black cat knew a passionate embrace when she spotted one.
"Yeah, and, the light in here is so terrible," Minako elaborated, trying to ignore the fact that the hallway was as bright as day. "So Kunzite had to get really close to see it."
"Really?" repeated Luna. "And what, exactly, was in your eye?"
Minako and Kunzite answered at once. Unfortunately, their answers were different.
"Sand," the Terran muttered.
"An eyelash," replied the Venetian.
Minako winced. Her humiliation was complete. She glared at Kunzite, who had taken more steps to widen the distance between them.
"I'm ashamed of both of you!" Luna chastised. "This is hardly the time to be…kissing…" she emphasized it like it was a dirty word, "in the halls! Minako, you are supposed to be acting as the leader of the Senshi. The queen expects your full attention. And you…" Luna's bright eyes shifted to Kunzite, "You! Your prince is barely alive, and all you can do is take advantage of an impressionable young girl."
"Hey!" Minako said, taking offense. "I'm not that young anymore, Luna. If I'm old enough to be in charge of the Senshi, then I'm certainly old enough to kiss Kunzite!"
Luna's eyes narrowed. "You are only in charge until Sailor Venus makes a full recovery."
"Yeah, like that's ever going to happen!" Minako spat. She was so angry at being scolded, especially in front of Kunzite by a cat, that she quite forgot he was still present in the hall. "She'll never fully recover."
Luna shook her black head. "Sailor Venus said…"
"You know that's not true," Minako interrupted, flustered. "She may learn to live with it, but it won't go away. You heard what she told the Queen. Even if the prince and princess are physically separated, they're still bonded. Distance doesn't matter. If Venus is this sick now, just think of how sick she'll get when the bond fully manifests itself…"
"They've bonded?" interrupted Kunzite, his tone incredulous. Minako's wide blue eyes wandered from Luna to the Terran. She clamped her mouth shut while she watched Kunzite's expression change from curiosity to shock. "You're kidding, right?"
Minako considered lying. Eyeing Kunzite, she realized he would know if she did. She sighed and shook her head. The Terran soldier stared at her, incredulous.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he pondered out loud. The question, though spoken in general terms, was directed at Minako. Kunzite's grey eyes reflected betrayal. Minako's heart felt as though it had dropped into her stomach. "Endymion and Serenity bonded?"
"Not entirely," Luna said calmly.
"The bond is only emotional and spiritual," the Venetian tried to explain.
"Only?" spat Kunzite. "Minako, I'm not a fool. I know the implications. A physical bond is the weakest of the three. Gods," he ran his hand through his silver hair, "may I ask when you were going to tell us about this?"
"We weren't," answered Luna in a stern tone. "It was a matter of Lunar security. And frankly, it's none of your business."
"A bond of the Moon Princess with Prince Endymion is none of our business?" Kunzite said, incredulous. "Begging your pardon Luna, but it is our business. Who all knows about this?"
"Only the Queen, her advisors, me and Sailor Venus," answered Minako.
"What about the prince and princess?"
Minako bit her bottom lip. "Queen Serenity ordered us not to say anything to them."
"That's a brilliant plan!" Kunzite said sarcastically, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. He raised his arms out and walked toward them. The Venetian and feline flinched at his erratic movements. "I'm sure they won't even notice."
Luna became defensive. "As a matter of fact, they haven't."
"Indeed? Maybe that's because Endymion's been unconscious for days! Have you seen them together? How are they when they're together, Luna?"
He made a valid point, Minako silently realized. Her eyes wandered to the mahogany tables of the hall again. This time, she was deep in thought. She witnessed Endymion and Serenity's interactions first-hand on the Earth and, most recently, in the throne room that afternoon. Their bond was already strong enough that they didn't need to talk to each other to communicate. She doubted that Luna and the others noticed their silent exchanges, but she had.
"They aren't together," answered Luna. She tried to sound confident, but what Kunzite said had shaken her. "And, Selene willing, they won't have an opportunity. You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"
The stoic soldier clenched his fists at his sides while he scowled at the cat. "That's the solution of the great Lunarians, is it? Avoidance?" When Minako and Luna did not reply, the Terran scoffed. The Venetian finally stole a glance and instantly wished she hadn't. Kunzite's steely eyes bore into her. His voice was calm. "Do you really believe that will work?" The question was directed entirely at her.
"The Queen thinks it will work," Minako responded, though she shook her head while she said it.
"It will only work if the prince and princess are kept far away from each other," Luna offered. Eyeing Kunzite she added, "And if those who know about the bond remain silent."
Minako's mouth dropped open. It was one thing for the Queen to expect silence from her loyal subjects, but it was something entirely different for her cat advisor to demand the compliance of an outsider.
"You can't keep them apart forever, not if they're bonded like you say," Kunzite finally muttered, ignoring the second half of Luna's statement. Noting the sparkle of cunning in the feline's narrowed eyes, the silver-haired soldier cocked an eyebrow. "Or can you?"
Minako's heart thumped so hard against her chest that she thought for certain the others could hear it. Having been present in all meetings since Sailor Venus' illness, she knew what the Queen was plotting. She avoided looking the Terran in the eye.
Luna smiled. "What do you think, Kunzite?"
"I think you used to be a nice cat. I also think you're a pack of fools," Kunzite concluded, casting a weary glance at Minako. "If the princess ever finds out that you've intentionally interfered by sending her away…"
"We aren't sending Serenity away!" laughed Luna. "What a ridiculous assumption!"
It only took Kunzite a moment to make the proper connection. His countenance transitioned to that of a protective big brother. He looked like he wanted to drop-kick Luna down the corridor. "I swear to Helios, if any of you harm a hair on Endymion's head…" His voice shook. Never had Minako seen him like this.
"We aren't planning to harm him," she said hastily, eager to diffuse the tension between the feline advisor and the Terran. She reached forward and touched his arm. Kunzite coiled away from her like she was a viper. Startled, the Venetian stepped back.
"What exactly are you planning?"
"I can't tell you," Minako reluctantly admitted. "But the prince won't be hurt."
Kunzite's grey eyes were on the Venetian's face. His countenance changed to stony, businesslike resolve. His question, again, was completely directed at her. "Do I have your word?"
Minako nodded and sincerely answered, "Of course."
The Terran soldier let out a heavy sigh. "Good. If you will excuse me." He bowed slightly, pivoted on the ball of his right foot, and retreated quickly down the corridor. Minako dumbly watched his receding figure. Her head swam. She couldn't believe how quickly she'd gone from euphoria to rejection.
"Go after him!" Luna hissed at her. The Venetian was touched by the cat's encouragement, but she knew that Kunzite was far too explosive to approach right now. She'd revel in the fact that he kissed her and try talking to him tomorrow morning, perhaps. Luna obviously had other intentions. "Go now before he tells Kyrena about the bond."
Minako blinked. "What?"
"Can't you see that's where he's going?" Luna shrieked. "If he tells Kyrena, it will ruin everything! Run! Run!"
Warily, Minako followed after Kunzite, feeling more and more foolish about her involvement in the plot to get rid of Endymion. Why should she go after him? She doubted that the solider would listen to her. After all he'd found out, why should he? She was just a foolish girl. But yet, he kissed her! That had to count for something, she reasoned. She cursed Luna for intruding when she did, and herself for blabbing everything.
"Kunzite!" she hollered when she was within shouting distance. The Terran soldier approached the foyer, near the main entrance. The entire area was still under construction; the hole in the dome from the meteor attack was covered by a canvas tarp. Thankfully, the workers were gone for the day. Stacks of stone were piled on each side of the corridor. "Wait!"
Surprisingly, Kunzite halted. He paused and waited for Minako to approach before turning to face her.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "What?"
"About the bond…" she said carefully, "are you…"
"Going to tell the prince, or at the very least, his mother?" Kunzite finished when the girl hesitated.
"Yeah."
Kunzite paused before answering. He glanced at the rubble still piled around them. "I don't know," he finally announced. "A union between a Terran and a Lunarian isn't just considered toxic by the Lunar half of this equation, you know."
"I know." Truthfully, Minako had no idea of what he was talking about, but if it kept him here in the hallway, she would gladly listen and agree. When it became obvious that Kunzite was finished talking, the girl cleared her throat. "So, will you keep this to yourself?"
His eyes were on hers. He looked hurt, like she had betrayed him. "You can't tell me anything? About what the Queen has in store for him?"
The Venetian shook her head. "I can't," Noting the disappointment in Kunzite's face, Minako offered, "You won't have to wait long, though, if that helps."
Kunzite shook his head of silver locks. "It doesn't, to be honest." He looked away from her again and sighed. "I'll stay quiet until I find out what Queen Serenity intends. If I don't approve, I can assure you, everyone in both of our kingdoms will know the truth."
Minako smiled warily and nodded her head. Luna wouldn't like the compromise, but she wouldn't have to tell the cat about it until later. She had secured Kunzite's compliance, which was most important. "That's fair."
A small grin curled the corner of Kunzite's lips. He reached his right hand out and cupped Minako's left cheek. The Venetian pressed her hand into the man's palm, enjoying his touch. Her blue eyes sparkled. Warmth was visible the soldier's grey eyes. He hesitated before speaking. "You really won't tell me what's in store for Endymion?"
Minako's smile waned. She lifted her face from his hand and shook her head. "I'm sorry. You understand why, don't you?"
Kunzite dropped his arm. His smile faded. His eyes turned steely and cold. He stepped away from the blonde. "What happened down there won't happen again," he announced.
The Venetian's eyes widened with surprise. Despite the business with Endymion, she'd hoped that Kunzite still fondly regarded her. She was the future Senshi of Love, after all. Yet, despite her efforts, the Terran turned his back to her. He was leaving.
"I have a duty to my Queen!" Minako cried after him.
Kunzite hesitated. He twirled around. "And I have a duty to mine."
Without another word, the Terran soldier pivoted and continued to walk away from the startled Venetian. When he was gone, Minako lowered her head in defeat. She felt terrible; being in charge of the senshi certainly had its drawbacks.
She turned and retraced her steps down the hall. She still had to brief Sailor Venus on the day's events before she went to bed. Minako decided to omit the part about Kunzite kissing her. Sailor Venus would probably guess the truth, though.
Minako discovered that Luna waited for her in the middle of the corridor. The blonde stared down at the feline with a vacant expression.
"Well?" the black cat said. "Did you convince him?" The Venetian mutely nodded her head. Luna sighed with relief. "Thank Selene."
The downtrodden girl sniffed. "Yeah, thank Selene," Minako said halfheartedly. She excused herself and continued on to Sailor Venus' chamber. Luna quietly watched her, wondering why the girl looked so defeated after such a huge victory.
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End of chapter 28
I am so glad to be finished with that! I mentioned, a couple of chapters back, that I was nearly done with Red Moon. It's getting toward the end, but I have a lot of loose ends I need to tie up. Hopefully, you don't mind a couple more chapters.
Many thanks to those who reviewed chapter 27. Your reviews are what keep me writing.
Hollie