Chapter Three

In The Dead of Night

"No."

"But, maybe…" Artemis cut in.

"No," Endymion stated, his gaze flicked to the simple goblet next to him, but refrained from drinking, he disliked to feed in front of others. He rubbed the back of his neck and watched the other two men across the room from him; while he relaxed they sat stiffly. He would have thought that their nerves would have calmed by now, but it seemed with the progression of the conversation to the higher their nerves became. And the smell was starting to drive him up the wall. That was the reason for the bottle next to him, a reminder that there was always a substitute for the blood other than drinking from a fresh body, he hated how he responded to their fear and agitation, but thanked what ever higher being was out there that in the last six years he had learned to control his urges. Otherwise, their argument wouldn't have continued this long.

"And why not!?" Malachite demanded, surging to his feet.

Endymion didn't so much as sit up, an insult that was acknowledged. He simply didn't view either one of them as a threat. "Because I make both of you uncomfortable. Can you image a court room full of people and me." He laughed, mocking himself and the predicament that he was in, "Besides you don't need me to return home, you merely want me to return in order to keep an eye on me. Or a better one, than what Artemis supplies in his letters." The three men in front of him exchanged looks, "I know about the letters, so don't look so surprised."

"We're not uncomfortable around you," Nephrite lied, another scent that was far to easy to smell. Endymion sat up and smiled humor that was most likely misplaced. Standing up from the chair he walked over to the general, as he stepped closer he could sense Nephrite struggle not to back up from him. With their bodies inches away, he leaned down and whispered in the other man's ear, "Your lying to me, I can smell it." Nephrite jerked backwards, slightly unnerved.

"My point exactly," he walked back to the table, and drained the glass, far to excited by the fear and hunger to go any further with out it. Not for the first time he let his pride slip and gave in to the bloodlust.

"Endymion, we want to help you," Malachite pleaded.

"Can you cure me?"

"No."

"Well then, it seems that your help is non-existent," he didn't turn around, not wanting them to see the lengthening of his fangs. "Find them beds Artemis; they can travel at tomorrow's dawn."

"You have to have some feelings left about your past, otherwise you wouldn't have gone after Ethan," Nephrite snapped out angrily.

"Where is Ethan?" Malachite asked; bring attention to the lack of a small child in the room.

Endymion turned around, eyed the room and listened, "He's in the room with the woman."

"How do you know that?" Malachite asked.

"I can hear their heartbeats, and I can smell them," he answered, leaving out that she was the only that he had ever met that smelled of moonlight.

They nodded, and followed Artemis out of the room.

He sat back in the chair, relishing the quite and small amount of peace he had received since returning from the hunt. Pouring more blood in to the goblet, he drank feeding his hunger. The dark room he felt his body relax, shifting his took of his shoe and stockings, loosened his shirt and draped it on the chair across from him. He leaned back and closed his eyes, and fell asleep at the break of dawn.

- - - - - -

Serenity woke with an intense feeling that something was wrong; next to her she could feel Ethan breathing steadily. His head was on her shoulder and his small hand wrapped around her waist. The room was dark and stillness had settled over it, so much that the moonlight didn't dare enter. That alone sent her nerves into over drive. Rolling out of bed she sat Ethan up, and wrapped a small blanket about his shoulders in an effort to ward off the cold. He blinked up at her staring with dark eyes. In there two weeks together he had learned to trust her, waiting he watched move about the room, preparing for the danger that she sensed.

She moved quietly about the room, her bright eyes scanning the shadows. The down fall of her clan was the dress, they dressed for the moon; colors of silver, blues, items that shimmered in the moonlight. Her gaze fell on a cloak atop a red satin chair. Throwing about her shoulders, the dark material settled over her, slipping off a bit for its great size but none the less hid her well in the night. Her bare feet slide across the floor, bending down she picked up Ethan, wrapping him as well in the dark confines of the cloak.

Together the moved through the hallways of the manor, and as they reached the balcony she understood the feeling of danger. Six vampires stalked the lower floors, sniffing out their prey and moving in to each of the lower rooms.

"My Lady?" Serenity turned around, startled that some one had been able to come up behind her. She didn't recognize the older man, and began to back up, torn between an unknown threat and a violent one.

Artemis saw her fright and attempted to sooth it away, "No, I'm a friend. The house had become infested we have to get out," he whispered urgently.

She nodded and shifted Ethan in her arms, he was getting heavy yet she was terrified to set him down, that they could take in away from her and she would never get him home. A promise that she made.

"I'm Artemis," he introduced himself and leaned forward to take Ethan. The child settled in to the older man's arms with out a fuss. "Follow me," as she led the way back down the hallway and into the open night. "The stables," he indicated to their destination.

She followed the pair a few feet behind, one eye on the moon in case she needed to call forth the power. A loud growl sounded behind them, she turned knowning what to expect. She was correct, two of the six stood behind them, they faces changed and teeth lengthened in hunger and exictment.

"Go!" she yelled at Artemis, knowing to well that he would be a hindrance with Ethan in his arms, and she could very well die if she was worried about them in a fight. Artemis didn't argue, recognizing the problem; he took off towards the stables and to safety.

The two vampires snarled and advanced forward, far from worried about the loss of such small prey. She backed up, giving the impression of terror; secretly she was knew she was still far from full power. They snarled between eachother like animals fighting over who got the first bite.

Calling to the moon and taking advantage of their distraction, she waited, feeling the light race towards her, dancing silver on the dewy grass. The first's death was instant and the shock was almost comical. The second backed up slightly, taken by surprised. He noticed soon enough though that she had weakened, was panting beneath the power she sought to control.

He smirked in her direction, taunting her into a deeper fear, "You'll pay for killing his brother, pay for interfering with our master's plans," he hissed while stalking her down.

Serenity gasped, unnerved to find a pair of glowing eyes behind her enemy, in the night the eyes of the damned shown in the moonlight, offering salvation. Taken by surprised the vampire hissed and struggled from his pinned position against the stone wall.

"Who sent you?" the dark haired man snarled.

"My master."

"Name him."

"Go to hell."

Footsteps could be heard behind them, coming closer. Serenity glanced at the man, nervous. One more vampires she could handle, a whole horde of them was simply out of the question. Her savior saw her panic, and slammed the other vampire in to the ivy hinge, using the wood to send him to the underworld. The noise drew closer and the dark haired man stepped towards her, taking her in his arms and pushing her back into the castle. They melted into the shadows.

"Get rid of the light," he commanded. She did, but not before seeing his face.

For a moment she was sure she would faint. Not because of his dark eyes or the fangs that were bright against his lips, but because she knew him. He had been a part of her for so long, a face in her dreams that she could never escape…never wanted to escape. He was her destiny, and he had had her heart since she was old enough to understand the meaning of her dreams.

She pressed into her body, recognizing for the first time he only had on a pair of black britches. Squeezed together in the night, they waited for the footsteps to disappear.

"It could be Artemis," she pointed out, her voice low for only him to hear.

"There's no scent," he pointed out.

"They'll smell me," she whispered in an urgent tone.

Endymion shook his head, "You smell of moonlight."

She shifted, leaning her head against his bare chest, feeling her long hair slide over her own shoulder and touch him. She could not hear a heart beat, and she couldn't feel him breathing, but she wouldn't have changed where she stood for the world. She felt him stiffen, and couldn't tamp down the hurt that he didn't want her touch. Feeling his fingers on her neck she looked up at him expectantly…finding eyes as dark as midnight blue and just as impassive.

He was staring at her neck. At her marks.

Lightly he touched her, tracing her birthmarks with the tips of his fingers. His brow puckered in confusion for he couldn't smell any traces of blood on her body.

"Who marked you?" he asked, surprised to find he disliked the idea of someone else touching her.

"No one. I've had those since birth," she volunteered the information, wanting him to understand her.

Endymion nodded, before cocking his head and listening. Serenity leaned back into him, wanting the strength and support she knew he had. For she knew him, had for the last six years. He was hers and she was his…just as the moon and the stars belonged to each other.

Endymion tried hard not to stiffen again, sensing her hurt from the last time. He wondered if she could sense his confusion. Most women went screaming from him in horror when he was in this state, yet she leaned into him and pressed closer. Thankfully he had noticed how weak she still was, other wise they would be fighting now instead of standing in this position. Not that he was complaining. She shivered, and he wrapped his own arms around her petite figure and rubbed her back.

Satisfied that they were safe, he glanced at her with the intent to tell her so, but his eyes locked on her neck. Not in hunger but in a need to mark her as his own. Whether the reason was his humanity or the darkness in side, he leaned down to trail his tongue over her marks. Licking and teasing the flesh he felt her shiver, her pulse quicken and her breathing become broken. He didn't feel the call of her blood, but the call of her passion. Kissing upwards, his mouth moved over her own. Taking his time he explored her with a sensual delight.

He with drew is head, startled by himself and her reactions. He found joy trust and passion in her silver eyes. Things he was certain that he didn't deserve, monsters had no right to those emotions, just as he had no right to touch her. Yet he found that he couldn't let her go.

Serenity felt as though she had been branded her heart, body, and soul was his. Her flesh raged with a new found heat, her heart tugged gently in her chest. Warming to the feeling of having its mate so near.

He was her mate.

He was her's, a destiny neither could escape.

They waited a bit more before moving to the stables, finding two others that she didn't know were waiting as well. After some brief introductions upon climbing a horse. Serenity smiled at the General's Malachite and Nephrite. Their small group rode through the night, stopping only when the dawn threatened. They took to bedrooms at the inn that morning, and Serenity barley remembered whispering her name to her savior. But she was certain that she fell asleep with the name Endymion on her lips.

Endymion laid her down on the bed, just as he had the night before but this time he didn't leave her. Instead he curled his body next to her smaller form; listening contently to her heartbeat and steady breathing. AS he drifted off to sleep he could only think, that if he was to spend eternity in the night he was thankful for the gift of the moon…he was thankful for her.

Artemis found them like that, he smiled. Happy that his prince had found peace in the arms of a woman who was certain to shake his world.

- - - - - - - -

Endymion woke in a hunger, the darkness in him clawing at his body, urging him to find satisfaction in a thick crimson liquid. He couldn't stop the growl that came from his throat in response or the change of his features. Next to him he could felt the burning heat of the woman…Serenity. Snarling he sat up in bed, an attempted to control his urges. He breathed in and out, knowing he no longer need to …and yet it brought him comfort…control.

"Endymion?" he heard the question behind him. But he didn't turn around, deeply ashamed of himself. Her fingers lightly stroked his bare back, tracing the muscles and testing his body. He turned around suddenly grabbing her wrist and holding her still.

"Don't touch me, "he hissed. She blinked up at him.

"Why?"

"Because you'll get hurt."

"But you've touched me…are touching me," she reminded him.

Instantly she was released, as he moved from the bed. She watched him moved back and forth in the room with grace and ease. She felt sadness in her heart that was so sure that he would hurt her, while she was just as certain that he was the safes place to be.

"Are you hungry, is that it?" she sat up fully on the bed. His head snapped around, he stared at her blankly. None the less he nodded, being with both himself and her. Getting up from the bed she wrapped her arms around his waist, wanting to offer a soothing touch.

Surprisingly it worked; he stopped pacing and remained still in her arms.

"Please…" he whispered, "I don't trust myself like this…when my hunger rages above all else." Yet she didn't release him.

"I trust you, and we'll find you something to hold you over," she smiled.

His palm covered her cheek and she pulled her closer, "You're a fool to trust me," He kissed her then not sure if he was seeking to punish her or love her.

A knock came from the solid oak door, and when opened it relieved Artemis with his arms flooded with packages. Serenity smiled thankfully and let him enter the room. Three packages were laid out.

"They wish to leave in two hours," Artemis addressed his prince.

Endymion understood the unasked question. Was he coming with them? He nodded; for it seemed that he could no longer out run his past. Artemis left them both.

Endymion glanced at Serenity, watching as she stepped behind the dressing screen effectively leaving him alone. Hew as grateful, not wanting her to see him feed.

Serenity opened the package that was hers, finding a simple skirt and shirt. Stockings, shoes, a comb and ribbons for her hair. Taking her time she washed in the basin that the inn provided and dressed in the cotton clothing. Pulling up her silver lock, she tied the ribbons into her hair, loving that they curled and shimmered. Emerging behind the divider she hoped that she had given him enough time.

She had, he was perfectly dressed and waiting for her, holding a tray of breakfast. Funny she thought that she hadn't heard the knock at the door.

"Thank you," Endymion said, offering a pieced of fruit for her to bite.

Serenity chewed thoughtfully, "For what,"

"For bringing me light amongst the darkness I've forever lived in."

"My pleasure actually," she grinned. She only hoped that she could bring him something more.

What did everyone think? Please review…I just love them. Anyways next chapter will probably be up in a week or two.