Chapter Nine

A Warring Return

Endymion studied his lover, taking in her appearance as she managed to handle three children with remarkable patience and love. Like Rei, Mina had felt it best to leave her two children with Serenity as the war raged out side. The sun was setting and so the forces of either side would be gathering to continue the blood shed. In the fourth day of war, they were barely holding their ground, the walls were becoming unstable, and their forces were dieing at a remarkable rate.

Yet, looking at her that didn't seem to matter. Deep in his gut he discovered a warm feeling watching her with children, and wondered what it would be like to see her with his child. It would be impossible he knew…but the thought was nice. He cleared his throat, gaining her attention before repeating his order that he had left her with the past few days.

Protect his parent…and the small family gathered in the large throne room. Like all the other times she shot him a hurt and annoyed look, but none the less nodded. Taking one last look at her he walked out, hardening his features and preparing for the battle ahead. Tonight would be the finial battle; tonight they either lived or died.

"That boy is stubborn," Queen Pelee commented, "But then he always was. I claim that it comes from his father's side of the family…still I'm known to be far too stubborn and prideful on occasion," she smiled at Serenity.

"I can help, I just don't understand why he won't let me," she grunted rocking Heloise as she began to fuss.

"He loves you," Pelee watched the young woman's eyes light up; "he doesn't want to see you hurt. He's protecting you," taking Serenity's hand she led her out to the throne room, beckoning the children to follow. "I have something for you, it was mine when I was younger…when I had the same fighting spirit that you have now."

"You still have that spirit, but now you must look at things from all views, not just your own." Serenity replied, helping Mara up as she fell.

"Spoken like a queen. A position I hope you will want to fill one day," Queen Pelee decalred upon entering her bedroom. She smiled at her husband who was in bed, holding up on the last of his strength. She was so proud of him…and even after all these years she loved him more than her own life.

Erebus smiled at the group that had just invaded his bedroom, holding out his arms he said, "Let me hold the little one, give yourself a rest my girl." Serenity gently put Heloise in to his waiting arms and then dropped both Mara and Ethan upon the bed with the king. She could see his joy at having the children so close to him, and the delight was magnified when they scooted closer and begged for a story.

"Here we are," Pelee came out carrying a rather large and what looked like heavy box, Serenity rushed forth to help with the weight, "Thank you my dear," tugging off the top of the box she tossed it aside on and pulled out several pieces of clothing. The clothing was mostly silver with dashes of sapphire blue as part of the decorations. Holding up the armored chest piece Serenity could clearly see the emblem of the kingdom in the center, strikingly blue amongst the rest of the top.

"Go and try it on," Pelee urged, pushing her behind the dressing screen. Serenity fumbled with the clasps, but with a little work she managed to fit in to the armor. It was apparent that Queen Pelee was a bit thinner than she was when the warrior's armor was fitted to her. A bit snug across her breasts and hips Serenity wiggled about, finding with some surprise that as sturdy as the armor was, it was also incredibly light weight. Stepping out from behind the screen she warmed at the approval on the Queen's face.

The king chuckled, "Now go keep that son of mine out of trouble, and the guards will take care of us and the children."

Serenity nodded, and walked out of the large bedroom to the throne room, her boots soundly clicking on the marble floor. There she could watch the entire battle; there she would wait to help.

- - - - - - -

"Hold the line! Watch the right flank!" Endymion snarled in the frenzy of the night, "Get those wounded out of here." Under his direction the men scrambled to do his bidding, most likely out of fear of him as well as the enemy. The smell of the moon, and blood surrounded him; sweat poured from every man on the battle field and with each hour the darkness in side of him clawed to be released. An hour ago he had been able to keep the monster from showing, but now it was impossible to hide the blackness that had taken over his eyes and the fangs that were all to clear when he opened his mouth. Twisting the blood streaked sword in his hand he moved forward guarding Malachite's back as the enemy broke through the first barrier. Like his father, Endymion led his men from the front…risking his own life as well as theirs.

Seiya was sending fledglings in on the first rounds, just as he had the days before. Still Endymion was beyond astounded that the man…vampire had soldiers to spare, though it seemed that his supply was never ending.

The first round of vampires was taken down easy.

Now the hard work was about to begin. Widening his stance he fought of the two vampires that were cocky enough to come at him. Better than the first batch, but still nothing compared to his skills, he cut through them with ease before turning back to the castle. Dragging Malachite along with him, it was more that obviously that under the continued onslaught they were not going to make it. Slaughtering their way back to safely he was determined to get a better look at the present situation, hopefully there would be a way out of hell after all.

- - - - - - - -

"NO!" Mina screamed, her voice stuck in her throat as she pushed the enemy out of her way, barely sparing it as second glace as though it was no threat at all. She was wrong. The vampire lurched at her, leaving bloody streaks across her arm as he pulled her around to face him. In the bright gleam of the moonlight she could see his fangs lengthen, and desperately tried to quench the nausea that rolled in her stomach. Struggling to break free he strengthened his hold on her, twisting her arm until she cried out in pain.

One pale finger ran over her cheek as if he had all the time in the world to play lover to her. As if they weren't standing in the middle of a bloody battle field as the forces of either side killed each other at their very feet. He wasn't in a hurry, and that alone was enough to terrify her. Struggling to breath she forced down the panic that well up inside her and tossed him a saucy look before slamming her fist into his jaw. It didn't dislodge him like she hoped it would…in fact if it was possible he looked even more excited to claim her. With her free hand she clawed her fingernails down his face, that made him let go…raising her other arm she moved to thrust her sword through his chest. But he was quicker that she had imagined as he grabbed her arm and twisted…she could hear the bone break with a sickening snap.

She screamed in pain, and even to her ears the sound seemed to resonate through out the loud battle field. The vampire grinned at her, the face of an angel plastered on a devil's soul. She was certain that was the last face she would see before she died.

- - - - -

Lita turned sharply as the messenger ran to her and all but thrust the note in to her hands.

We await your orders

W&S

She could have gladly started sobbing at that very moment in time as her eyes scanned the paper in her stained hand. It looked like the Ladies of the Wind and Sea had gotten the message, but were just a bit late in responding. Though as her mother would have said it was better late than never. Barking orders at the messenger she thrust the now crumpled paper against Nephrite's chest, grinning like an idiot at the slightest bit of hope. He grinned back between barking orders of his own and stepping forward to deal the left flank. Even with their new allies at their back, circling around the wall, it was still going to be a long battle. One they still weren't sure they would survive. Still, Lita thought ruefully…they made a good team.

- - - - - - - -

Malachite tore his way through the massive amount of people, both friend and foe to come straight in front of his worst nightmare. A large angel faced vampire leering over his wife, with all intent and purposes of eating her alive. With a surge of adrenaline he cut forth, knocking anyone out of his way in a wild abandonment. Behind him he could hear Endymion calling his name, but the sound was almost completely drowned out but the fury that pounded through him. Raising his weapon he cut the vampire down, as the monsters head leaned forth to sip from his wife's neck.

Snarling, "Get the HELL away from my wife," before grunting in pleasure as the vampire became dust beneath his feet. He moved towards Mina, noting that her lower arm was dangling at an odd angle. Reaching, he frowned as she moved away from him, turning her back as she scrambled further in the mist of the chaos.

"MINA!" he called, wanting her attention before she got hurt even more. She was beaten down and with out a weapon, she was going to get herself killed.

The sound of metal scrapping against each other drew his attention, as he narrowly avoided another undead taking an attack at him. Luckily, Endymion was watching his back just has he had watched his prince's for years.

Turning back around he searched for Mina in the crowd, feeling a cold hand sink low in his chest as she saw her pulling on a dead body.

Her mother.

"Please..pl..please…"Mina sobbed into her mother's gown, cradling her bad arm against her chest as she tried to pulled her mother's body closer to her. She was unaware to the fighting, of the noise, of the danger that surrounded her. She simply wanted a good bye, a few words of love from her mother that she could hold close to her for the next to eternity, but it seemed that the gods were going to deny her even that right. The woman in her arms was dead, her body growing cold under the moon and black night sky. With tears in her eyes she looked up, finding Malachite and Endymion striding towards her with a single minded determination.

Malachite didn't say a word, merely pulled his wife into his arms, over his shoulder and made his way through the forces that surrounded them. Endymion followed behind them, guarding his back with complete understanding of a man in love. Watching his friend take her to the infirmary where Ami was waiting; he knew the type of grief that was going through Malachite's soul. He would feel the same way if he had almost watched Serenity die.

Endymion snarled orders left and right, trying hard to keep his men alive and the walls up, but it was all in vain. The sound of horrified dismay rumbled through out the men, as the north wall tumbled in a vast stony heap, leaving nothing up lines of vampires waiting outside the mortar gates. As the stilled silence rained through the darkness, neither army moved, almost as if they feared to break the tension that was strung so highly between stars and night. His generals, one loan woman warrior, and the fire priestesses flanked his side. Together, with a few scared men they faced an army of a thousand.

It could not get worse.

He was wrong.

It started to rain.

- - - - - - - - -

Serenity watched the thick rain droplets hit the earth below her, standing out on the balcony she willed for a sign that all was not lost. Below her she could hear men die, the sounds of weapons clashing, and for a brief moment she closed her eyes and prayed to the moon goddess.

Opening her eyes, she watched in disbelief as the sign that she had craved erupted from the earth to the night sky. A beam of moonlight from out behind the vampire forces, moonlight harnessed as only her people knew how to do. The message she had sent was answered, her family had gotten it in time and had come. Thankful, she sprinted from the hall…the goddess might have sent the sign, but it would be up to her to do the rest.

She slid past the guards and on to the sopping wet earth as she ran past them and in to the battle. The small dagger gleamed on her hip, and she called upon the moonlight to protect as she moved through the numbers of the undead. Breath in and out, she pulled the light towards her using it as a shield as she moved quickly towards the fallen wall. She had to be closer to her clan for her plan to work, a tunnel of light, anchored on both ends would allow the allied forces to move through the vampires with out hindrance and aid the dwindling numbers on this side. Though she hoped there was more than her clan on the other side, she wasn't sure.

Skidding to a stop she found herself amongst a hungry and large group of vampires, but she didn't have time to think about them. Closing her eyes, she expanded her shield, pushing all who feared the light out of her way. Holding her hands out to the North she allowed the light to pulse with her every breath, expanding in both width and intensity. The power consumed her, holding both her soul and heart in its grasp, focusing on where the light had been in the darkness she kept the large shield up and forced more of the moon's grace out from her finger tips traveling in a bright line through the enemy and connecting with one of her clan. To hold the shield with her it had to be one of the Lunar Soldiers, no other could contain and release the amount of she was pushing forth. She felt an immense tug of satisfaction as the men started pouring in through the stream of light, banishing all that moved in the shadows back in to the night.

Endymion frowned at the woman in front of him, quite certain that he had told her to protect his parents, though in all honestly he was glad she had disobeyed him, otherwise they would all be dead. Confidant that she was safe with in her shield he led his men, pushing the enemy back and out of the castle walls.

He was so focused on what was in front of him, that he forgot about his back. Gasping in pain, he flinched, feeling steel wedge it's away through his body from behind and in to ribs. He turned sharply, pulling the sword from his body in a swift motion, and ran it through the offending enemy. The smell of blood claimed him, the darkness inside him rolled forth, determined to be released. And for once there was nothing to stop its accession. He growled, pulling the vampire closer to his own body, pushing harder on the sword now buried in the other man's body he licked his lips and sank his teeth in to the enemy. A groan rose from the depths of his body, as he drained the vampire of all his blood, leaving a dead corpse to fall to the ground. The wounded in his chest healed quickly, driven to health by the renewal of blood.

Across the battle field he found Serenity's eyes, and all he could see in them was horrified repulsion.

He was a monster after all.

- - - - - -

They had been victorious, and the celebration had started at dawn's break and was still going in the night that surrounded them. For the first time in a while, no one feared the night, instead it echoed laughter, music and dance. Couples who had been separated found each other amongst the masses, and shared kisses with in the shadows of the castle.

But her lover was no where to be found. When day light had come he had escaped, leaving it to his parents to give thanks to those who had come to their aid, and for those brave enough to fight the soulless. She had not been able to find him in their cottage, and even in the night he eluded her. Something was wrong, she'd be a fool not to see it. Avoiding the celebration she moved slightly through the hallows of the night to their home, hoping above all odds that he would be their waiting for her. She wanted nothing more at that moment to be wrapped in his arms, but a sinking feeling clawed at her soul telling her that it would be next to impossible to get what she wanted.

Serenity found him just where she hoped he would be, though the picture in her didn't have him surrounded by half a dozen empty liquor bottles, and nursing another one in his hand. With his head in his left hand, and staring at the floor, his ebony locks were mused over his forehead, making him looked like a lost child. He was so deep in thought, he didn't even notice her when she approached him, and knelt before him on the floor.

"Endymion?" she questioned, reaching out to brush his hair from his eyes. He jerked back before she got the chance. Serenity sucked in a deep breath, surprised to find herself face to face with an angry, hurt, vampire.

"Don't touch me!" he snarled, sliding the chair backwards and coming unsteadily to his feet.

"Why?" she pressed forward, following him as he stalked the bedroom.

He turned so abruptly, she was certain that he was going to end up on his back side for a moment, "Because I'm a monster!"

"Who said that?" she asked softly.

"No one needs to say it, I know what I am. I know that I'm a foul bastard that stalks the night, and preys on the weak. I saw the truth in your eyes across the battle field. I saw the monster I was with out you ever having to say a word!" he snarled, stalking her down, until she was pressed against the back wall.

She closed her eyes against his angry accusing ones. Goddess help her he had misunderstood. "That's not true, I don't think you're a monster. How could I love you if that was true?"

He placed his hands on either side of the wall, effectively trapping her in his anger, "Because you're a fool! A child with silly notions of love and goodness, you seem to lack the understanding that you should run from me. That you should have never let me touch you, that I'm a monster that hunts…just as I've hunted you!" the last bit was said in a soft tone but with no less feeling.

She reached up to touch his face, but he caught her hand, and slammed it harshly into the wall. She cried out in surprise and in pain. A hurt look crossed her face, and tears welled up in her eyes. He had never hurt her before, he was always so careful to keep her safe.

Endymion's own eyes soften for a brief moment, hating himself for causing her any bit of pain. But it was for a the greater good. The wrong thing for all the right reasons. Just a bit of pain to get her to realize what he was…to get her to leave him. Before he caused her more pain, and anguish that a bastard like him wasn't worth. He had been a poor excuse for a mortal man…and in death the fire some pits of hell were closing in around him. This would be the only right thing he had ever done…giving her a real life, not one trapped in the lifeless darkness.

"Endymion," she whispered, tears streaming from her silver eyes, "I love you, please don't do this to us." Her eyes were pleading with him, offering every salvation a monster like him didn't deserve.

"There is no us! I have no use for you anymore, no use for a barely passable whore to warm my bed. That's all you were to me. A whore! And I'm tired of letting you play the part," he said harshly.

Her free hand snaked out and soundly smacked him across the cheek. That's my girl. He thought to himself, but kept the scowl firmly in place.

"I'm no one's whore!" she breathed out, trying to contain the pain inside her, "And you can't say that's all there was between us, sexual fondling…there was more…I felt it…and I know you did."

"That's all there was between us," he told her with absolute calm, "And for a gypsy you were rather pathetic at it. I thought your kind was trained from an early age to please me," he gave her a scornful look.

Serenity sucked in her breath harshly, hating him for hurting her this way.

"Tell me you don't love me," she asked, pulling her hand from his grip and giving him a bayful look.

"I don't love you," he lied.

She nodded, and Endymion could have sworn that he could hear her heart breaking in her chest.

"Then walk away from me," she said tonelessly.

"What?"

"Walk away from me if you don't love me," she repeated.

He did just that, and with out so much as a backward glance. As he crossed the threshold of their cottage she sank to the floor, determine to hold in the sobs until he was out of hearing distance. She lasted all of four seconds until he was out of sight, letting the emotion flow out of her, and nursing her broken heart.

- - - - - - -

Forgiveness had given her blood line life. Forgiveness would heal her heart, but not until he learned to love himself. She entered his bedchamber, soundlessly pacing on the wooden floor and settling her body upon the soft bed. She reached her fingers and brushed the soft wisps of hair from his forehead. He stirred slightly underneath her touch, but nothing came of it. From the about of liquor he had drank and the magic she was about to cast, he would awaken, but the actions of the night would seem nothing more than a soft dream.

Dropping the ivory robe to the floor, Serenity pulled the covers from his naked body; straddling his hips she angled her body down wards, kissing his lips lightly.

He told her that she was nothing more than a whore to him. If that was true then tonight she would gladly play the part.

But this wasn't for him. No…this was a memory she would be able to carry with her on the long lonely nights. The memory of being held softly and safely in his arms. The memory of being loved.

The moonlight hummed around the room, swirling and gracing their bodies with its soft touch. It echoed parts of a dream that would forever be ingrained in their minds, bodies, and souls. With each feverous kiss, and tender touch that raged between them, the light grew brighter, the intensity bursting as they climaxed.

"Serenity," he whispered her name. She leaned down to kiss him, taking his mouth in a sweet touch; she offered him forgiveness and a love that would never die.

"I love you," she told him in his ear.

He said nothing back, but then she hadn't expected him to. Weaving the last of the midnight magic she held him tightly, hot tears stinging her face, and she cried for all that she was about to lose.

When she wrapped the silken robe around her shoulders a few hours later, she didn't leave the vampire she had come to but a mortal man.

Who would could walk in daylight, breath the air, and find himself to be not the monster he thought…but a man she could be proud to call her own.

When the dawn broke upon the horizon, those she had come to know as her family would find that she had walked away with out a trace. Those of the moon vanishing as though they had ever existed at all; that morning was silent and filled with tears of regret.

HELLO: so did everyone like the chapter? Was it worth the wait? Sorry it took me so long, I had the worst case of writers block. You know what you want to say…just not how to say it. Please review this chapter I really really really want to know what everyone thinks.

Love,

Danielle