Title: To Brave the Darkness
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon
Authors Notes: Here's another chapter! We're getting pretty close to the end. Only a couple more chapters to go. Make sure you tell me what you think!
The wedding day finally came.
The King had finally given consent for Lord Endymion to marry his ward, the Lady Serenity. There were still some in the kingdom who thought Endymion would never be faithful, but none of their opinions mattered to Serenity. She knew he would never stray, and that was all that mattered.
They were married on a beautiful day in early summer just over a year after they'd first met, when the cherry blossoms were out and the kingdom was filled with the fresh smell of nature. Half the kingdom was in attendance, and the King gave Serenity away.
It was perfect. Everything was perfect. Serenity was dressed in the most beautiful white silk, with her golden blond hair curled to perfection and hanging down her back. Raye stood by her side, gently wiping tears from her eyes as she watched the two most important people in her life find happiness. Endymion had never, in anyone's eyes, looked happier than when he was speaking the words of commitment to the woman he loved.
Some of the crowd cried tears of joy, especially those close to the two, and others simply watched, hoping it would last. Mina practically jumped up and down with happiness, while Lita tried to hold her down. They were both uncontrollably happy for the couple.
Both said their vows without pause, and kissed lovingly when they were pronounced man and wife with the King's blessing.
"I have to say," the King said to Endymion at the reception, "part of me never thought you would make it."
"I don't blame you," Endymion said. "My past would suggest I wouldn't."
"Well, you can go now with her, followed by the threat of the King. If you ever hurt you, I will come after you."
Endymion laughed, un-phased by the remark. "If I thought I might stray, that would truly be terrifying."
"Well, good luck," the King said, raising his glass to his old friend. "The day you wrote me that letter, risking everything that had happened between us, for one woman, was the day I knew something in you had changed."
"The only thing about me that's changed is my un-compassionate view of women given to me by my father. Serenity is the one to thank for that. But the rest of me is still the same."
"I do hope that's true. We were friends once, and I will admit to missing the boy I knew growing up."
Endymion smiled. "I suppose we'll see more of each other now, with me married to your ward."
The King laughed at that. "I did think of that."
"You can't be rid of me now."
"That's not true," the King said coyly. "I have plenty of ways of making you disappear."
Endymion shook his head. "And risk angering Serenity."
The King looked actually afraid at that. "You're right. The more I spend time with her, the more I realize that there's just no convincing her otherwise when she's set her mind on something."
Endymion laughed.
"She is your wife now," the King said. "It is you that will feel her wrath if you upset her."
"That is a job I am more than willing to take."
The day seemed happy enough for everyone. Even the skeptics couldn't help but admit that they made a very handsome couple. As the day drew to a close, Serenity went home as Endymion's wife to start her life with him.
It wasn't until they were journeying together home, away from the palace, that anything really affected their current happiness.
Serenity was giggling as Endymion kissed her neck, unashamedly touching her. The carriage was covered, and Endymion had specially asked that they not be bothered until they reached home. It would take hours. The king had offered to find a destination for their honeymoon, but they both knew they just wanted to start their life together.
"You know, the new you would wait until we got home," Serenity said, doing nothing to push him away.
"Maybe the new me is sort of like the old me," he said huskily.
Serenity practically vibrated with pleasure at being so close to him again. It had been so long, almost a year, since she had given herself to him. She was nervous, as if it were her first time. She liked the feeling. She liked that this time she was not only willing, but just as eager as he was. She couldn't keep her hands off him. His hair was silky through her fingers, and his skin was warm through his clothes.
He kissed her possessively and lovingly. It was clear that she was now his, and there was nothing wrong with that. She felt a general happy feeling through her heart at the idea of being tied to him for the rest of her life. She had chosen this, and she was delighted with her choice.
She also liked how much he obviously desired her. If she pulled away at all, he would come after her. If she kissed him seductively, he would nearly bend to her will. She might be his wife, but he was her husband, and there were ways to convince him to do what she wanted.
The power this new found talent gave her was a little thrilling, and she liked to tease him with it. Of course, she would never use it in a negative way, but she liked that she could. She had always assumed that once married to him, she would be his. She hadn't considered that he would also be hers.
And now, kissing him without anyone telling her she couldn't, she felt so free and alive.
Something seemed to bump into the side of the carriage, distracting Serenity for a moment. She looked towards the little door, wondering if someone had been hit.
Endymion didn't seem to notice at first as he continued to pay attention to her. But when there was the sound of yelling, and they obviously slowed down and halting stop, he paused.
"What is it?" Serenity asked.
Endymion leaned forward to move aside the thick drapes. The kingdom was dark, but light filtered through, from torches.
"Stay here," Endymion said, suddenly serious.
Serenity would have stopped him had she been able to react quickly enough. But he was gone in a second, opening the little door and stepping out.
She quickly moved to the window and peaked out.
She couldn't see Endymion. He had moved to the front of the carriage. They had come to a complete stop, and she could clearly hear angry voices.
For a moment, she held her breath. The kings guards surrounded them, so there were other men to handle any trouble on the streets. They were only a short distance from the palace.
The night seemed tense.
And then all chaos broke loose.
It all happened so fast. She heard Endymion call out to her, almost sounding frantic, and then someone she didn't know opened the door, pulling her roughly from the carriage.
She hit the ground hard, scraping her knee and elbow.
Someone grabbed her arm, and she was hoisted up. Almost immediately, something was draped over her head, stopping her from seeing anything. She screamed out for Endymion, but through the noise of the people yelling all around her, she couldn't tell if he heard her. She heard their horses screech and try to escape, but something was stopping them.
All around her people moved, disorienting her.
Someone yelled that they had her.
And then something hit her, and everything went black.
It was painful. That was the first thing she really became aware of.
The second was the smell.
It was oddly familiar. Not a bad smell exactly, but it certainly didn't make her feel comfortable with life. Her heard hurt so it was hard to concentrate. She knew she knew the smell. It smelled liked old wood and dusty carpets. It smelled like…
Serenity bolted up, straining against the ropes that bound her hands and wrenching herself against the chair she was sitting on as the source of the smell finally made sense.
She was at her stepfather's house.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw him.
Panic encompassed her completely.
She couldn't breath.
Her stepfather smiled at her, an angry, hateful smile. "Hello again," he said in his low, terrifying voice. "Thought you were through with me, didn't you?"
She didn't answer. She couldn't.
"I've been waiting for my moment," he said. "It was hard, knowing where you were and not being able to touch you. Ward of the King. That is quite the distinction. You must have been very proud."
Serenity scanned the room quickly, looking for anything to help. They were alone. They were in his bedroom, alone.
She started to feel faint. Fear was overwhelming her.
"So you are now wife to Lord Endymion," he said in a mocking way. "You must be so proud to be associated with his family. All your hard work getting away from me, and you sink back down to his level."
"He is ten times the man you are," she said in a weak voice.
He just laughed. "Well, soon enough he'll just be another man who could not protect his wife."
Serenity swallowed hard, afraid to ask. "Protect me from what?"
"Me of course," he said. "You are mine Serenity. You have always been mine. I took care of you all these years, and now it's your turn to take care of me."
"But…you're married now."
"That little girl could never really please me the way I know you can."
The way he said it made a cold shiver go up her spine. "Where's Endymion?"
"You mean the man who raped you and then forced you to marry him? He's downstairs, being tortured. You didn't think I'd just let him go, did you? No, that man has so much to repent for. When I'm done with him, it's very unlikely he'll ever be able to please another woman."
Serenity absolutely seethed at that. "How dare you hurt him," she hissed. "You have never been anything other than a bully. You are disgusting. The King knew you were scum and that's why he believed me. You'll never be anything other than the filth in the gutter."
He jumped forward, grabbing her chin and forcing her whole head back, straining her neck and bruising her face. "You listen to me you little whore. The only reason I waited as long as I did for you was because I had no interest in violating a child. But you have proved that you're old enough now for me to do with as I please."
"I will never be yours."
She struggled against the ropes that bound her, and tried to push against him.
He leaned forward and kissed her, harshly.
Serenity felt like gagging. She kept her mouth closed at first, but he was too persistent. She bit him hard, drawing blood.
He cried out, throwing her back so that her chair toppled down, smacking against the floor. Her shoulder jarred and she hit her head.
Her vision swam in darkness.
It was hard to focus on what he was doing now.
Serenity heard him grunt, and then move something.
"You don't have to cooperate," he said in a ragged voice. "I'll enjoy this either way."
Suddenly he was holding her down, putting pressure on her shoulders and touching her.
She immediately screamed.
It was awkward, trying to fight him off while her hands were tied around her back. She kicked out at him, using every bit of energy she had left to squirm away. She lashed out at him every time he came near, and screamed when he wasn't pressing his rough hand crudely over her mouth.
She could tell he was getting frustrated by the crude names he called her, and by the way he grunted with effort. But he made almost no headway. He couldn't get any closer to her.
Serenity felt adrenaline surge through her. She would not let this man touch her.
She fought as hard as she could, wrecking the chair beneath her. It broke apart, stabbing wood painfully into her arm. She hissed at the sharp pain, but refused to stop.
He grabbed her hair, forcing her head back. Her neck strained, but she used her knees to push him away.
"You can only fight so long," he hissed.
"I will never stop fighting you," she said. Tears were running down her cheeks at this point, blurring her vision. Her whole body hurt, but she refused to acknowledge it. She had to stop him.
Her energy level was seriously dropping, and she could feel her body lose the battle with exhaustion. She trembled against his hold, trying to hold on. She had to hold on.
She sobbed, feeling the moment he would win. She couldn't let this happen. She belonged to Endymion. She wanted to only ever be with Endymion.
She screamed as he finally gained some ground.
And then there was a terrible crashing sound, like splintering wood. Her fathers weight on her left so quickly she gasped with the release.
Serenity tried to focus her eyes, but she couldn't.
The sounds of men were all around her, and a metal clinking of swords.
And then a voice she recognized.
"Untie her quickly."
"Andrew," she choked out, her emotions encompassing her. "Andrew, he has Endymion."
She felt someone touch her hands, and at first she jerked away. But then soft words were spoken, and she realized Andrew's father was there as well.
"It's alright Serenity," Andrew said. "We have him."
"Is he alright?"
Andrew was lifting her up, his green eyes filled with concern. She could hardly stand by herself, so he carried her in his arms. She looked down to see her stepfather on the floor, unconscious and bleeding.
She had an overwhelming urge to spit on him.
It didn't escape her notice that Andrew didn't answer her question about Endymion.
She was afraid again. She had honestly believed her troubles were over now that she was married to Endymion. Her stepfather had almost achieved what he wanted. Had Andrew not been here…
It soon became very clear that Andrew, although very much a central person in this rescue, had not been the man to put it together. The King stood in the front hall, looking angry, with blood on his beautiful white cloak and her stepfather's men dead on the ground.
She stared at him, almost unbelieving. The King had come for her himself? She had never heard of him putting himself in harm's way. His royal guard was around him, but he had fought. She was so relieved to see him she wanted to cry. He had taken her on as his ward, and already he meant more to her than her stepfather ever had.
But where was Endymion?
There was blood on the floor, smelling thick and coppery. Her panic surged.
Where was Endymion?
End of Chapter Sixteen. Please review!