HI!!!!! Ok so I was wrong. There will be one more chapter; b/c the epilogue will be a lot longer than I originally thought. But then that's it. And I do hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Please remember to tell me. Oh and at the end of the next chapter I will give you a choice of what story you want me to write next. So you must remember to vote. I'm just filled with ideas.
Love, Danielle.
Chapter Fourteen
Yue
Endymion felt the scream bubble out of his lips as he landed on the sodden earth, firmly dislocating his shoulder. With a finial kick, they left him there. Drowning in the rain, and retched filled with pain. Gritting his teeth he managed to make his body move, just not very well. Flopping over on his stomach he slammed his left shoulder in to the soaked earth, howling in pain when the joints connected together. Waiting for the pain to subside he lay there, breathing harshly and tried to come up with some sort of plan.
Nothing came to him.
Hell, his thoughts were colored by nothing but absolute pain. Flat on his stomach he struggled to breath, inhaling dirt, water, and blood. Shoving his hands on the side of his body he forced himself upward, struggling to gain a footing. His legs wouldn't take the pain, and fell back down.
Back on the ground his world reseeded in to the night. He was losing everything.
- - - -- -
"Do you love him that much?" Seiya inquired.
Serenity refused to answer the question.
"Tsk..tsk…you should not ignore me my darling," he chided her, moving to press his body in to the back of hers. Inhaling deeply he took in her scent. She smelled of her lover. A deep smile over came Seiya, for tonight she would smell of him.
Serenity cleared her throat, "What now?" she was quite impressed her voice didn't tremble.
"Now?" he titled her neck, running his fingers on the scars of her neck, "So eager? Now, we will be joined. The darkness with in us binding to one another, intertwined we will be more evil," he licked her neck, and nipped at her ear, "And so much more power."
Serenity shuttered in revulsion, and pushed herself from him. "Like marriage?"
"Yes, you could see it that way. After all you will belong to me."
Closing her eyes she turned away, in the marriage she had envisioned with Endymion they would have belonged to each other. A union, not an ownership.
"Don't look so upset my darling, when this is all over you will crave me, and reveal in your ultimate power," grapping her neck he forced her to look at him, "And then I will have my prize."
"Prize?" she asked, pulling his hand from her neck, she could feel him leaving marks on her. Brutal marks to claim her as his chattel.
"His kingdom, and I will take great pleasure in watching you destroy him."
"I will take great pleasure in destroying you," she responded, "Be careful that you don't unleash a power that you can't control," Seiya looked surprised but now enough to stop his plans she figured.
She was right. He called for his witch, the witch called for chains, and the chains strapped her to a single stone slab that laid her bare before the night sky.
- - - - - - -
"And just how do you propose we find them!" Malachite snarled back at the other general, reaching across he pulled Nephrite out of his chair and across the table till they were nose to nose.
"I don't propose anything because I just don't know, but hell Malachite this is just crazy." He snapped back, slugging his friend one so that he could be released.
"Get your damn hands off my husband!" Lita snapped, pushing her in between them before the fighting really started, "And you!" she pointed to Nephrite, "Act your age instead of picking a fight like a child!"
"Now sit down!" she commanded. Reluctantly they did, with was a relief in and of its self. "Now," Lita took a deep breath before continuing, "Unless anyone else as an idea this is the best we have."
"Rei will have to agree," Mina warned, a mother's protective instincts coming to play.
It was Lita's turn to snap, "Because I was just going to snatch Ethan out from under her nose?"
Mina rolled her eyes and flushed brightly at insulting her friend.
"Sorry," Lita mumbled.
"What will Rei have to agree too?" Rei asked, entering the large war room with Marcus in her arms and three other children in tow.
"Jadeite?" Zoicite asked, frowning at the lack of the fourth general.
"Here, sorry but this one's a handful," He responded, jostling Thane in his arms.
They all had to smile a bit. The young prince was very much like his parents.
"Well what am I agreeing to?" Rei asked, curious when the three men looked bashful.
Zoicite cleared his throat, "It is our belief that when Serenity healed Ethan, she left your son with a touch of her soul through the magic. If this is true we were hoping that Ethan would be able to locate Serenity, because where she is our King will be."
Rei and Jadeite eyed each other over the children's heads. After a long silence Jadeite answered, "Very well."
Mina kneeled in front of the young boy, softly taking his hand, "Ethan, do you love Serenity?"
He gave her a disgruntled look, "Of course."
"Does she love you?"
"Yes."
"Did she tell you that?" Mina asked softly, not wanting to hurt the child's feelings.
"Yes," he answered, tugging his hand from Mina's and rolled up his sleeve, "The night she came for me when I was kidnapped, the night she played with fate to save my life, the night she told me goodbye." He whispered. On his arm he revealed the intricate moon tattoo that glowed eerily in the light.
Rei stepped forth startled, "How long have you had that?" she asked a bit more harshly than she intended.
Ethan looked at his mother with eyes far older than his years, "Since she healed my sickness."
"Ethan," Mina inquired regaining the boy's attention, "Love is a strong emotion, a magic that one can not see, hear, or touch. Love is a feeling that binds life together, that challenges the force of the universe and the evil of men. For this to work I need you to concentrate on the love you have for Serenity."
Ethan nodded and closed his eyes. Soothed when Mina placed her hands upon him, one on his heart and the other on his forehead between his two miss-matched eyes. Together they breathed evenly, and with guidance he found the love in his heart.
Together they power between them bloomed.
It just was not enough.
- - - --- - - - - - - -- -
Panic washed over Serenity, flaring her senses and emotions to life. Chained to the stone slab she felt bare and exposed, naked for all the powers and magic to see. She wondered if they would see the darkness or the woman beneath. She wondered when the evil had fully taken her soul, heart, and body if she would be left an empty shell.
Panic made her jittery and she pulled at the chains, fear spiking at the chunking sound made against he stone.
Maybe she was a coward, but she didn't want to die…and she didn't want to become the monster that Endymion had so feared. She began to struggle in earnest, her movements jerky and scattered. The chains bit in to her skin, cutting deep, leaving rivers of red blood to run down her forearms. Ignoring the pain she fought harder, hope flaring as the chains began to creak under her strength.
"Now…now," Seiya chided, placing his hands on her shoulders, "We had a deal, I released Endymion, and now you have to uphold your end of the bargain." He leaned down, running his tongue the length of her arm collecting her blood in his mouth, "Mmmm, my darling, I knew you would taste wounderfully. Now if you continue to struggle I'll kill him before dawn and still have you as my Queen." He bent forward, pressing his lips to her own and whispered lightly, "But I'd rather see you destroy him."
Serenity settled back down at the mention of Endymion.
"Good, my darling." Turning from her he called his witch. Together the two cut her nightgown from her body, and rubbed light oil across her skin. Closing her eyes she tried to hold back the tears of humiliation and shame at his touching her so intimately, but they rolled down her face when his hands lingered at her most private areas. As the witch prepared her tainted magic he breathed sordid images into her ears, drew his teeth across her neck, and returned to playing with her body.
He told her, she belonged to him.
She said she belonged to Endymion, and took a thick chunk of skin out of his mouth when he attempted to kiss her. That small defiance earned her a slap.
--- - - - - - - - - -
Endymion blinked barely, hearing his name begin called. The voice was soft, airy, and seductive in its elusiveness. Groaning he tried to turn towards the voice, but his body would not cooperate. He was far from surprised, he felt like hell. Something was hitting his face, irritated he tried to brush it away.
Rain.
Yes, it was the rain.
He was still outside. So who was calling his name?
Struggle he forced his body to move, he made it to a sitting position. There was no one around him. Shaking his head he tried to clear out the fog and think.
Serenity! He needed to get to her. Pushing himself back to his feet, he forced himself to hold his own weight, stumbling forward he attempted what could only be called a lame rescue. Hell, he was more likely to get them both killed rather than save her.
Someone whispered his name again; Endymion turned so quickly he promptly fell on his ass. Sprawled in the thick mud, he struggled to remain conscious. Closing his eyes he could feel the blood pounding in his temples, his lungs working double time to keep the air flowing through his body. He was beaten, broken, and not healing fast enough to suit himself.
Opening his dark eyes, he turned his face towards the heavens. Gazing at the moon he asked for a miracle.
He would trade his very soul, to save Serenity. To see her safe, healthy, and well loved for the rest of her days. He would gladly give his life for hers.
"Would you really?" the voice asked. The voice who had been calling his name, a sound that was oddly lyrical in its broken haze. Endymion's gaze landed on a willowy figure merly a foot from his body.
The Moon Goddess, Selene.
"What?" he asked confused, the world was beginning to spin and close in on him.
"Would you trade your very soul to save her?"
Endymion's eyes suddenly became clear as Selene laid her ghostly hand on his shoulder, bring him to face her. The ache's melted from his body, and the wounds healed themselves in the blink of an eye. Reaching out he touched her face, lacing his left hand through her long silvery hair.
"Take it."
He watched amaze, as her light eyes filled with tears. Tears of understanding, tears of loss, tears of love and hope.
Shaking her head, Selene answered, "If I took your life in trade for Serenity's it would break my daughter's heart. Instead I ask you to take back the darkness to hold with in your soul, and give my daughter the light she used to heal you."
Endymion nodded and pressed a chaste kiss to the moon goddess' forehead, "Thank you," he spoke reverently.
Selene smiled; pressing one hand to his heart she kissed his lips. Gently and yet firmly pulling the moon light from his soul with the pressure she released the light in to the night to find its rightful owner.
"You will be as you were," Selene told him, "Yet, love may change many that which will burden your heart, body, and soul."
With her words hanging the air Endymion passed out.
- -- - - - - - -
Thane smiled, and clumsily mustered his way over to the large group that had crowded around the fireplace. Coming up short he eyed the group with thoughtful eyes. On top of the adults the children had draped themselves. The pain, and hurt rolled off each individual as the shame and failure meant that no one was coming to help his mama or papa.
Flopping down he pulled himself in to Mina's arms. Firmly entangling Ethan, Mina, and himself.
"Fahnd Mama! Papa!" he declared, scooting closer towards Mina's body.
"We'll find them. Don't worry Thane."
Thane frowned, realizing that she had misunderstood.
'No!" he corrected much to Mina's surprise, "Watch."
Grinning impishly he pulled on the moon. Gliding it in to the room he wrapped the glowing beams around the members beside him, pressing them close together he tugged them through the light of the sky, landing them safely in the pouring down rain.
But neither is mother nor his father were to be seen.
The words 'holy shit' resounded into the night.
- - - - -- - -
Serenity screamed as the darkness ripped through her body, enhanced by the witch's powers, and egged on Seiya's lust for power. Thrashing she pulled on the chain, crying harder when they cut deeper in to her wrists, adding to the pool of blood surrounding her. Breathing raggedly she fought for control, beating back the darkness savagely she cherished her last few moments of absolute control.
The darkness swelled, and reached the brink, promptly took her body.
Head spinning, Serenity was blinded by the flash of light in the small room. Suddenly the feeling of the darkness was gone and her soul returned to her body, landing in a flat rush, jerking her against the chains.
In the background she could hear Seiya screaming, she could hear the sounds of fighting, the quenching roar of bloodlust. Pulling the moonlight towards her body she found comfort in the missed touch. Concentrating, she knifed the light beneath the chains, splitting them and freeing her naked body from the stone slab. She rolled, came the edge and lifted her self up.
The sight before her brought tears to her eyes, and the room to swirl in glowing orbs.
Endymion approached his lover slowly, not sure how she would react to the darkened swell of his eyes and length of his teeth. Deep inside himself he could hear the call to slake is bloodlust, and her pale smooth neck was looking inviting.
"Endymion," she called his name.
His gaze jerked up. Smiling he moved quicker, warmed by the love in her eyes and the understanding tears that fell across her cheeks. Loving he pulled her in to his arms, gently he pierced her skin, and with care he carried her from the broken ruins of the night to their family.
They were married before dawn, with their child in their arms, and blessed by the moon goddess.
Please remember to review, and I will have the last chapter up in a week or two, my computer has broken so I'm using a friends.