Storms Upon the Heart

Chapter Ten

Serenity stepped through the tall, gaping doors of the Hershim palace, entering into what seemed to be an entirely different world from the outside. Her eyes scanned the white marble floors, high ceilings with crystal chandeliers hanging from every arc, and large hanging portraits trimmed in golden frames. The wide hallway was adorned with so many embellishments that it took several minutes for Serenity to even take in this one room. Vases, sculptures, ornate tables, candlesticks, and many plush, velvet chairs lined the entire space. She glanced up the winding staircase, noting the deep red of the carpet and golden banisters.

A soft sigh escaped from her lips. Endymion, who stood behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down to lay his head on her shoulder.

"This is only the beginning, love." He whispered, kissing her earlobe gently. Taking her hand, he pulled away from her and led her into an adjoining room. Serenity noted it was a dining hall, the long, deep oak table an instant clue. It was lined with at least twenty deep green chairs, and the walls were painted in the same shade as the chairs.

"This is the winter dining hall."

"You… you have seasonal dining rooms?" She raised an eyebrow at her fiancé.

He chuckled. "Yes, dearest. The summer hall is on the other side of the palace. You'll see. There are over forty rooms for us to see."

"Forty? Oh my… will we be going to every one…?"

"No… I doubt you'd want to visit them all. Besides, nearly twenty of those that I mentioned are the bedrooms and guest bedrooms."

"And the washrooms?"

"Oh… those count? Well… then I suppose you'd have to add many more rooms…"

Serenity rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and let Endymion pull her out of the 'winter' dining hall. "Oh, dear gods… how will I ever learn where to go!"

Endymion laughed and placed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Oh, you'll know everything in a few days, I'm sure."

Serenity looked around the room they were in. A large stone fireplace surrounded by three sofas and two armchairs were in front of them, while several bookcases lined the walls, and a ornate desk and chair sat at the end of the room in front of a wide, high window.

"This is… an office?"

"Yes, it's mine."

"Oh! Just like Motoki has his."

He laughed. "Yes… just like that."

Serenity felt so tired by the end of the long tour that she found herself closing her eyes and leaning against Endymion's shoulder as they walked.

She yawned. "Where are we going now, Endy?"

"Our room."

Her eyes snapped open, and she stopped walking to look up at him. "Our room?"

"Yes… is that alright?" He stared down into her face, taking in her shocked look.

"OH… well… yes, of course, it's… wonderful, but… your mother and father…"

"They know of it and approve heartily. Serenity, in mere days we shall be married. What is a few days, really?" He enveloped her in his arms, and she found herself closing her eyes and resting against him again.

"I know… but I don't want them to think me a…"

"They don't."

"Mmm… okay… I'm so tired…"

He laughed. "Then I suppose you'd like to nap before the ball?"

"Oh, yes, please…"

He held her close as he led her to the end of the hallway and opened one of the double doors there. He slipped inside, pulling her with him, and closed the door.

Serenity pulled away from him, trying to shake herself awake, and turned to look at the room.

Endymion grinned and watched as her eyes became as wide as saucers.

"Oh my goodness… oh… Endy…" She looked all around, walking into the middle of the space. She gulped, her eyes filling with tears. "Endymion, you're amazing…"

Brilliant white roses lay in all corners of the room, and on every surface, vases filled with them sat. On the white silk sheeted bed, petals from the flowers were strewn across. Serenity slipped off her slippers and let her toes sink into the plush white carpet, her feet seeking out the petals on the floor.

She turned to Endymion with a shining smile and launched into his arms.

He laughed, stumbling slightly as her entire body hit him, her legs wrapped around his waist. She kissed every corner of his face happily, her arms tied around his neck, one hand playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Sere, Sere…" He laughed, unsuccessfully trying to pull her off of him.

Finally, giggling, she pulled back, ceasing her kisses. "Oh, Endy, it's amazing… thank you."

He grinned, holding her close to him. "I knew you'd love it… not tired anymore, I take it?"

She giggled, nestling her head in the crook of his neck. "Yes and no… I am tired, but I'm so excited and happy that… oh, sleeping just sounds so boring compared to this…"

He carried her to the bed and lowered her down gently. "Then… let's not sleep."

She giggled again, falling back and letting go of him to grasp a handful of white petals. She lifted one to his face and traced along his jaw line with it. "Yes… let's not."

Several hours later, Endymion dressed and slipped out of the room. He glanced in the room at Serenity sleeping peacefully, snuggled deep into the bed, flower petals and her hair surrounding her. He smiled softly, blew her a soft kiss, and left.

Making his way down the winding halls and stairs to meet the royal family for preparations of the ball, he encountered a frazzled Kunzite.

The white haired guard ran to him, panting heavily. "Prince Endymion, I have been searching for you."

Endymion grasped the man by his shoulders. "What is it, Kunzite? You look as if you have seen a ghost."

Kunzite looked at his future king square in the eye. "I believe, sire, that I have."

Endymion frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I sent Nephrite, Zoicite, and Jaedite to scope out the intrusion, sire, but… on the southwest border, near the sea ports, we've located a conspiracy. You remember Saphir and his deceased brother Rubeus?"

"Of course I do, Kunzite. I am not an imbecile to forget the very men who threatened to destroy Hershim with their weaponry. We would not be here today if it were not for your infiltration of their base three years ago. But what is the problem? Rubeus is dead and Saphir safely locked away in prison."

"There lies the problem, your highness… Saphir has disappeared without a trace. We know not how or when, but when I went to the prison this morning, he was missing... as if he were a ghost."

Endymion frowned. "This is indeed a crisis. Tell no one of this, understood?"

"Yes, sir. But what do we do? I sent the others to find out if Saphir is hiding in his old grounds, but what of it if they find nothing?"

"We'll deal with it then. Come; we must deal with this now, and before the ball tonight."

Melodine glanced up at the silver clock hanging on the wall nearest her and sighed unhappily. "They're so terribly late…"

Cassandra looked as well and shook her head sadly. "I'm happy that they're so… attracted to each other, but they should think about their obligations once in a while as well!" She smoothed a wrinkle in her soft, floor length, violet dress and took a sip from her tea cup. "Guests will begin to arrive in as little as ten more minutes, and if they are not here to greet each and every one of them, I will separate them until the wedding."

"Maybe we should separate them anyways, whether they decide to appear or not…" Melodine muttered, patting her blonde, graying hair into place in its bun, tucking soft strands behind her ears. "They can't seem to keep their hands off one another for more than five minutes."

Cassandra laughed softly, turning to see her husband enter the drawing room. Dermius looked grim as he sat beside his wife, dressed in a formal coat and pants, his crown adorning his head.

Cassandra patted his hand. "Why the long face, dear?"

"I'll have Endymion's head if he doesn't show up!" His face was red with anger, and his eyes blazed as he watched the door in earnest.

Melodine's lips twitched slightly. "You would have your son's head, Dermius? Just as he about to ascend the throne? Why, if I had your temper, my own son would surely have been hanged twenty and two times by now."

Cassandra giggled, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. "It Is very good you have not the temper, my dear Melodine."

Melodine laughed. "Indeed it is."

The door swung open suddenly and Serenity rushed in, wearing a white, glittering gown that spilled into the floor. Her hair was pulled high into a twist, and several ringlets hung softly around her face. Silver shadow and glitters brought out the blueness of her eyes, though at the moment, she looked frantic, her breath heavy and quickened.

Melodine jumped up, her red skirts swirling as she rushed to take her daughter into her arms. "My dear, calm down. Whatever is the matter?"

Serenity cleared her throat and straightened, and smoothed her hair back into place. "Don't worry, Mother. Nothing is the matter. I'm just so terribly sorry that I am late." She smiled softly at Melodine and kissed her cheek tenderly. "You look beautiful, Mother."

Turning to the king and queen of Hershim, Serenity bowed her head in shame. "I'm so sorry I am late. I know this ball is of great importance."

Cassandra stood and smiled happily, walking over to hug both Melodine and Serenity. "Oh, dear, it's so good that you've finally arrived. Do not worry yourself with apologies. I am just glad you are here."

"But where is my son?" Dermius stormed, standing up and glaring at Serenity. "Were you not with him?"

Serenity blushed a deep scarlet, her eyes reverting to the ground. "Ah… well… your majesty, in all honesty, I do not know where Endymion is at the moment… the last I saw him was nearly two hours ago…"

Cassandra's eyes widened. "If he was not with you, where on earth could he be?"

Dermius frowned darkly. "Where are his generals, as well? I have not seen them since the morn."

Serenity looked fretfully from one queen to the other. "How are we going to find him?"

Melodine squeezed her daughter tightly. "Don't worry, love. Dermius will send men to look for him."

"And we'll have to find him quickly… the ball is just about to begin; he has to be here!" said Cassandra.

Endymion and Kunzite arrived at the border to see the other generals in a face-off. Kunzite's grey eyes narrowed as he recognized Saphir standing in the same spot he had been captured years before, right on the dock of the sea, outside his now-abandoned base.

"This is odd, your majesty. It took us nearly a year to find Saphir out of hiding before." The general muttered, looking out of the corner of his eye at the prince.

"I suppose in his haste to escape he became foolish. Besides, finding his base was what took you the longest. You knew where he would go this time. Come, we must hurry and recapture him before we are missed."

They rode their horses down the hill to meet the other generals, who held Saphir at gunpoint.

Jaedite looked up at the prince and his commanding general. "What shall we do with him?"

Endymion glared at Saphir. "Chain him and send him back to the prison until I have the time to decide what to do with him. For escaping, I am sure his penalty will be death."

Saphir, a dark brown haired man with pale skin and menacing blue eyes, grinned wickedly at the prince. "I care not what is done to me, your majesty." He spit at the words 'your majesty.' "I only escaped to fulfill a promise to a brother."

Endymion narrowed his eyes. "Your brother is dead, Saphir. Have the long nights in prison deluded you?"

Saphir laughed in scorn. "That is what you think, prince. Rubeus is dead, yes… but my eldest brother, Demando, is very much alive, and thanks to me, he will be able to carry out his mission."

The prince jumped down from his horse and strode over to Saphir, signaling to the men to lower their weapons.

Standing at eye level with the escapist, the prince glared at him. "And what mission is this, may I ask?"

Saphir scoffed. "A mission that will lead to the fall of this wretched land. Hershim will no longer exist once my brother carries out the mission placed before him. He will succeed in what we did not accomplish years ago."

Endymion smirked. "And how does your brother plan to do all this by his lonesome?"

Saphir laughed darkly. "By penetrating Hershim at the heart… of its future king."

Endymion blinked, taking a step back.

The generals raised their guns again, aiming straight at Saphir.

Endymion walked back to his horse and swung into the saddle. He looked down at his generals. "Shoot him. He is not worth the space in the prison." He gazed at the palace far off in the distance. "Kunzite, let us return to the palace. I want all of the guard alerted to be on the lookout for the Demando. Why did we not capture him years before?"

"We knew not of his existence, sire." Kunzite said in shame. "If we had searched, I'm sure we would have found him sooner… I am sorry, your highness."

Saphir laughed loudly. "You fools… Demando was not a part of mine and Rubeus's works. His expertise is much different than ours was."

Zoicite moved closer to the man and placed a gun to his throat. "What is Demando's plan? Tell us, or I will shoot. You could save yourself a few more hours of life."

Saphir spit in Zoicite's face. "You are too late to save your precious Hershim. Demando will succeed with ease. In the next hour, it will be over for the reign of Endymion… before it even begins!"

Zoicite wiped his face and cocked the gun. "Sire, do I fire?"

"No. Not yet." Endymion looked at Saphir once again. "I will give you your life if you will tell us of Demando's plan. It is your only offer, and the only time I will offer if. Choose wisely. If you do not tell us, you will die in minutes."

Saphir smirked. "I will die before I see you as king. I will tell you nothing."

Endymion nodded. "Very well, then. Kunzite, hurry. We must get back to the palace as soon as possible. Zoicite, shoot him. Once you have disposed of his remains, all of you make haste to return to the palace." He began to turn his horse around toward the direction he would head.

Saphir laughed. "One more thing, prince…"

Endymion turned.

"How is your bride? I do hope she is well. Demando is not a kind person."

Endymion's face lost all color.

"Shoot him, Zoicite." He whispered, his eyes cloudy.

The trigger was pulled, and Saphir slunk to the ground, a bullet through his head. Blood trickled down his face.

"Serenity." Endymion whispered.

A few seconds passed before all realization hit him.

"KUNZITE." Endymion's voice was stricken. He turned and reared his horse. "Hurry! To the palace! He's after Serenity!"

Kunzite fled after his prince, who was already racing up the hill as fast as his horse would carry him.

End Chapter Ten