Chapter Eleven

Hunted

Lita gave Andrew one last hug, and watched the caravan move off in to the distance. Wrapping her shawl around her she shivered in the cooling summer breeze. Autumn was coming; slowly the leaves were turned hues for yellow, red and orange. Pressing herself deeper into the emerald wool she walked back into the castle, her bare feet soundless upon the marble flooring. She was tired, and a long, hot bath would be heaven sent at this moment. Just a few hours of peace and quite, where she wasn't pouring over treaties, writing to her family, or handling her duties here at home.

Slipping in to her room, she rang for one of the servant and put in her request. She was more than pleasantly surprised to find her hot bath waiting for her when she finished undressing. The steam rose in waves from the iron tub and brought the scent of lilac and rose around her body. Letting out a soft moan she eased her body into water.

Finally quite. She would cherish this moment forever.

"Lita?" a voice called softly.

She inwardly flinched…it was Nephrite. In the past months their fragile relationship had come to a shattering halt. Yet this time there were no angry words or loud fights. In there place were angry stares, cold silences, and awkward meetings. She knew what the problem had been; she wasn't that much of a fool not to see the obvious.

Andrew. She also knew what her husband thought. That she was more than happy to find her way in to the arms of an old lover. There were just several problems with that theory. Her and Andrew had never been lovers, she wasn't in love with him, and this meeting had made it obvious how happy she was not to have married him.

There was no passion in the relationship, just friendship.

But Damn It! Nephrite just didn't want to listen to her.

"I'm bathing," she called from the tub, not really worried if he walked in. The pale green divider covered her completely as she relaxed in the tub.

"We need to talk."

"Now?" she asked incredulously. For gods sake she was bathing!

"Now."

"Nephrite, I'm bathing. Couldn't this wait until I'm done?"

He cleared his throat. He was nervous. The thought made Lita frown.

"Alright, just give me a minute to dry off, and put a robe on." She sighed and rose from the tub, paying little attention as the water slouched over the sides from her aggravation.

Nephrite looked up as Lita entered the bedroom fully intending to just start yelling, he couldn't stand the silence of their relationship any more. But the words got stuck in his throat. She was beautiful standing in front of him and heaven help him all he could do was look at her. Her body was still damp from the hot bath and light robe clung to her body like a second skin, outlining her figure perfectly.

Lita fidgeted, nervous that all Nephrite did was stare at her, "Nephrite. Nephrite." Frowning she tried again, "Nephrite!"

He jerked, "Yes?"

"What did you want to talk about?"

His face hardened, "Do you still love him?" Goddess help him, he prayed that the answer wouldn't kill him.

"Who?" she looked up in confusion.

"Don't play dumb Lita. Andrew!" he snapped out.

"I love him, but not in the way you mean. I love him like a brother, like a best friend I could tell my secrets to." She confessed. Carefully she edged towards the bed. It was nice just to talk to him, to be near him and not feel rotten inside.

"Women don't marry there best friends."

"I didn't marry him."

Nephrite laughed bitterly, "No, you didn't marry him. You married me, and you've made it painfully obvious how happy you are over that."

Lita flinched, and sat next to him on the large bed, "You're right, I haven't been very fair to you. At first I was angry that my future had been decided for me, and then I was angry that my behavior had pushed you so far away that I had no chance to make this marriage work. Besides you had another woman and you didn't want me. Truth be told that really help the matter either," she whispered, and desperately tried to wipe away the tears before he saw.

Nephrite tugged her forward, and wiped the tears from her face, "You don't have to hide from me. I want us to be honest with each other from now on."

Lita nodded, and leaned into him. She had missed there friendship, but she wanted more. "I want us to have a real marriage," she croaked out.

"I want that too," he leaned forward and kissed her. Softly on the lips, giving her enough time to pull away if she didn't want his attentions. He was surprised when she leaned in, pressing her body fully against his. Shifting his weight he pulled her on to his lap, ran his hand through her russet locks, and pressed his lips to the base of her neck. He breathed in deeply, heaven help him…she smelled like home.

Lita moaned, and arched into him. Granting him more access to her.

- -- - - - - -

"Those two are head over heals in love with each other," Mina laughed.

Both Malachite and Jadeite groaned at the comment. Though they couldn't help but smile, as Mara crawled her way on to Ethan's lap to snuggle with him. He was telling her a story, and wrapping an arm protectively around her when she started to fall asleep. It hadn't taken the parents to both children long to realize that at the end of the day, the two little ones truly belonged to one another.

"Well he can't have my baby until she's at least four," Malachite grinned, throwing Heloise up in the air. The eighteen month old laughed outrageously and leaned down to give her father a sloppy kiss.

Mina smiled sadly, recently the idea of love brought only two people to her mind. Endymion and Serenity, and in the year and half that she had been gone, so much had been missed. Erebus had died, Mara had turned three, Ethan four, Heloise had celebrated her birthday six months ago, and last Rei's new little boy, Marcus, was almost a thirteen months. The castle was filled with the pitter pat of little feet, of laughter, and even Lita and Nephrite were working out their difficulties.

Only one thing was missing. The happiness of their king and of a best friend they all missed so much.

- - - - - - -

"Thane, baby don't eat that," Serenity chided, "Baby, it won't taste very good. Fine…see I told you," she smiled, watching her son pitch up his face. At nine months old Thane was the most amazing person she had ever encountered. He was just like his father, stubborn, prideful, and so easy to love. Pulling a shirt over his head, she straightened out his ebony locks, the curls were just like her own.

"Such a handsome boy," Luna praised with a large smile. Serenity would be hard pressed to decide who spoiled the baby boy more. "You're taking him to meet the moon goddess tonight?" the old woman asked.

"Yes," Serenity answered absent mindly. Selene had asked last full moon to meet her new grandson, and she hadn't had the heart to say no. Besides it would be wonderful for Thane to meet his family outside the tribe, and a blessing of protection from the moon goddess would give her some peace of mind. Like many men of her clan Thane had been gifted with the mark of the warrior, claimed by the night, and by the moon.

"She will love him…after all how could one not," Luna praised, picking Thane up and giving him a kiss. Thane blushed and offered a bashful smile. The boy was a charmer. Ironically Serenity would have sworn Endymion was one as well before his change.

"Mama!" he called holding out his hands, and offering a toothy smile just in case she could resist him. She couldn't. Though she had to wonder where he got those elongated canines from. Balancing him on her hip she finished dressing, and did her best to brush her hair with his cubby hands holding a decent clump of it.

Pulling her cloak around the both of them she walked out in to the night, a smile played on her lips when his head fell against her shoulder and his breathing became even. She was blessed with such a calm child. Sighing she snuggled closer to his little body. Walking like this in the night always reminded her of Ethan, of a simpler time, of Endymion. She often wondered about the family she had made in Endymion's home. She wondered and she missed them…just as she did her soul mate.

The cleared forest was deep in silver light when she arrived, the wind had calmed in the circle and even the sounds of the darkness didn't dare to trespass in the silvery out cove. Thane stirred against her body, responding to the magic that flowed through his veins. She knew the feeling all to well, even if she could no longer call upon the nights. Even with Thane in her life there was still an emptiness that clawed at her soul, a black mark left from his rejection of her love that she could do nothing to tamp down.

"Serenity," a wispy voice called her name. She spun, and Thane blinked wide eyed at the willowy woman in front to them. He offered no fuss when she took him into her arms to hold close.

"Serenity he is so handsome," Selene smiled, and patently removing her hair from his fingers. "You did so well my darling," she laughed, delighted in his actions.

Serenity watched silently as Thane charmed her mother with quick smiles and wide eyes. Over the course of the waning moon pointing to her and stating, "My mama," just in case the older woman hadn't known.

He was wonderful. He was prefect. He was his father.

- - - - - - - - --- --

Endymion groaned in his sleep, vaguely aware of waking slightly in his own dream. He was standing in the woods, the darkness enfolding around his body, and a small gleaming light in the distance. He needed to be there his realized; he needed to go near the light. He began to walk, a sense of foreboding clenching deep in his stomach.

Slowly the sound of voices drifted to his ears, coming from two different directions. Frowning he pressed forward towards the light, desperate to reach the soft whispers before the demons caught him. Beside him footsteps sped up and he race along with them. They were heading for the light. Hazed in fear he stumbled over a rock, falling he scrambled to regain his footing.

He burst into the clearing just as the screams began, behind a monster cast in darkness a woman stood trembling. He rushed forward, hoping to save her from the evil he knew all too clearly. But he was too late, her screams had stopped.

Horrified he couldn't tear his gaze away as the monster turned to look at him. He knew that evil, and god help him it had claimed another victim.

Endymion sat up in bed, a strangled cry bursting from his throat.

Serenity!

- - - - - - - -- -- - -- -

Serenity was beyond startled when the shadows began to close in around them, soaking the slivery light in to the darkness, and leaving little trace of the magic. Selene held Thane closer to her, her brow pitched in worry and panic. Dispite the moon goddess's corporal hold on her son, Selene was part of the moon and night magic. Weakening as the midnight hours passes around them. And without the power of the moon flowing through Serenity they were all too vulnerable in the night.

"I had heard you were too beautiful for words, I'm pleased to hear that your beauty had not been over stated," a dark figure pushed out from the rest, slowly stalking towards her. She knew him for what he was the moment he spoke. The honey words dripping from his tongue embraced and seduced the night even as they held a threatening tone. Endymion had had the same way about him.

The man was a vampire, dangerous, deadly, and with out a heart.

Behind her she felt Selene pull the moonlight close to her, protecting both her and Thane. Incased in the protective light nothing could touch either of them, and in that light Selene would be forced to sacrifice her daughter to keep her son alive.

That was fine with Serenity, and every mother understood that.

The man circled her with arrogant assurance, "I am Seiya," at her intake of breath he smiled, "Ah, you have heard of me." Behind her he leaned down, pressing their bodies together, his fingers traced her bare arms, running with the veins in her body that hid the drumming of her blood.

She shivered out of fear. She had no protection from him, and even worse neither did her child. There was no fighting him, for he would kill her easily and make Thane a shell of a toy. She was trapped, and the bastard knew it as well.

Seiya moved her silken hair from her shoulders, exposing her neck to his gaze. She felt his warm breath on her, right above the scars she had been bore with and the one's Endymion had given her. Both had been out of love and respect, and now Serenity could feel nothing but shame as Seiya touched her. When he pressed his lips to her neck she sprang forward.

The action had been involuntary. Turing quickly she face him, but looked over his shoulder to her mother. Selene looked at her with eyes of eternal wisdom and utter pain. Slowly she nodded in understanding; nothing else mattered as long as Thane was safe. Nothing, not the past, the present, or heaven help her …the future. In front of her Selene closed her eyes, and in the diminishing light it was still to easy to see the tears. The light around the pair began to moved, twirling, and humming in the midnight hour.

Before her eyes they disappeared, and Thane's cries of mama hung in the stilled air.

The vampires looked startled and wary, eyeing her with distrust and fear.

Seiya smiled cruelly, "Courage in a woman is to be admired, in my woman it is to be demanded." His long fingers laced through her long untamed hair and locked at the nape of her neck. He pulled her closer and inhaled her scent, "And you will be mine." She smelled of his enemy and that fact made her all the sweeter in taking. He had failed to destroy Endymion and conquer the kingdom, but in taking her he would rip out Endymion's heart. That was enough…for now.

Serenity tore her nails down his face, leaving bloody tracks behind her. He growled at her daring, and she watched in horror as his teeth lengthened in to sharp white knives. He pulled her tightly against his body, and she barely suppressed the scream of panic. She watched his eyes become black soulless pits and he leaned into her. Tears poured down her face as he bit into her neck, covering her old marks with his fangs. Her body convulsed has he drank deeply; the edges of her world began to spin.

Endymion!

- - - - -- - - - - -

Endymion fought for control of his features as he stood on the inclined steps of the castle to watch the caravan approach the gates. Since his dream a fortnight ago he had thought of little else other than the evil and Serenity.

He knew the tribe that prowled in the night belonged to her, knew they were the ones she had run to when he had cast her from his life. He studied each of the faces in the long line of mounted horsemen and carriages. Something was desperately wrong; the sadness rolled off each member in waves and hit him squarely in the chest.

"Endymion." Rei nodded and stood by his side, beside her the generals followed suit and the other three girls rushed along the grass to reach them. All were as worried as he, and all could feel the pain of those around them.

"Who has the children?" Jediete asked.

"Pelee," Lita answered shortly, and he could hear the wavering in her voice.

The warriors dismounted and the crowd parted to reveal an old woman.

"King Endymion." She addressed him, her weather lips pinching in annoyance. What had happened he was certain coming to him had been a last resort.

He nodded.

"I'm Luna, and I need your help," she breathed out raggedly, "By rights of blood I have something that belongs to you, and out of desperation I need you to return the compassion that once healed your soul."

Endymion blinked, and watched as a young girl brought forth a large bundle. Stepping forth she pressed it in to his arms. He inhaled sharply as the bundle began to move, and the fabric parted to reveal a dark haired toddler.

"His name is Thane de Mahak," she said clearly, "And he is your son."

Endymion glanced down at the boy in his arms and felt the shock give way to instant pride and love. The child in his arms was the spitting image of him at that age, only with his mother's dimples and soft complexion.

"Mama?" Thane asked softly. He whimpered and twisted in his arms and called for her again.

Endymion closed his eyes and when he reopened them was prepared for whatever answer Luna had in store for him, "Where is Serenity?"

Pain laced the older woman's features before she turned and nodded to a small group of heavily armed warriors. He looked up and frowned, not having noticed the large covered objected in the center of the group.

The cover was pulled to reveal a cage, and in the middle of that was Serenity. Her clothing was ripped and dirt smudged on her skin. One large gash ran down the middle of her left forearm, and dried blood smeared her side. Tucked in to a ball he could not see her face, for it was covered by a mess of silver hair sullied with twigs and earth.

"Dear goddess," his murmured and stepped closer. Thane cried out and reached for his mother, the pain in his voice brought her head up.

Endymion found himself not staring in to the depth up loving blue, but into the pit of soulless black. The same eyes that had stared back at him for seven years.

His dream had been real, and she was lost amongst the evil.

I know it took me a while to get this chapter up, but again I had writers block, I seem to get that a lot. But then it hit me on what I was going to write in my next chapter and what I was going to do to bring the family together. Not entirely happy, but hey what's a story with out its twists and turns. Please remember to review, cuz I really really really love them.

Love,

Danielle.