CHAPTER EIGHT

Serenity stepped out of the Aishi Shrine and into the dew-laden outskirts of her mountain.

It was a beautiful night.

It'd been months since her ordeal.

Months since Nehelenia had been exposed and exiled.

Months since the Moon guards had ordered an immediate retreat from the Earthern territories, in an effort to make peace that was challenging diplomatically - the trust had been broken. It could be rebuilt, but that would take time.

Months since her entanglements with Endymion.

It was over.

She was at peace now, having retreated back to the top of the Aishi mountain. The goddesses gave her a punishment less than death, because of the lives saved.

She would have to live in isolation for the rest of her life. Her decision to invade the minds of others deemed her unfit to interact with any other citizen of the Moon Kingdoms.

She accepted that punishment.

The goddesses were kind to her. They knew that a life without purpose would have led her to go mad. So they gave her a purpose, or rather, let her keep the important one she'd always had.

Protect Moon magic. Live atop Aishi Mountain and never come down.

She had not thought much about Endymion. Had forced herself not to. It was, after all, traumatic. In her heart of hearts, she knew that their union was in part the one factor that saved both kingdoms from all-out war. But she also knew their union was wrong. It was never a decision she'd made lightly, in fact one that went against every fiber of her being as a priestess of the Moon, pure and untainted. One she had to make, but still.

Until earlier that day, when she looked up at the sky and saw, even in the day time, the constellations spelling trouble. It warned her of a presence that had come before, a powerful one. And then she felt her illusion fade, the one she'd created to make the Aishi grounds seem empty and abandoned. An opposing magic had weakened the image she'd conjured.

She'd sensed the powerful, dangerous, brooding aura.

"I saw it in the stars you would come," she declared.

She called it out on to the empty grounds. It was early evening, the sky a sea-blue. The sun was dimming but she could still see the silhouette of him.

He came towards her slowly, his large, imposing frame coming to view. He was dressed in a thick armor, a broadsword at his side. His dark black cape flowed in the gentle wind, the inner red shade reflecting his stance of power and quiet rage. His face was as dangerously handsome as she'd remembered. His eyes were piercing, lips drawn taut.

"What do you want?" she said.

He gave her a wry chuckle.

"What do you think?"

She glared at him.

"You still think to be loyal to your people?" Endymion demanded, "After your queen betrayed you, after they banished you here?"

"I chose my punishment willingly," Serenity said, her voice quiet.

"Come with me," Endymion said, "Lend me your power."

Her eyes narrowed.

"This is my life now," she said, "I intend to continue to serve the Moon."

"Then I'll have to take you by force," Endymion declared.

She gasped as he already started towards her, breaking into a run.

Instinctively, her arms flew upwards, her lips whispering a mnemonic that encased her body in a pink, protective bubble.

He was in front of her in an instance, his eyes becoming feral as he raised his broadsword, immediately beginning to hack at her shield. Her eyes widened, seeing its glow diminish with each violent strike of the master general's sword.

She closed her eyes, "Shiva de maestera!"

A huge sheet of ice fell upon them, turning the top of the mountain into a blizzarding summit. The ice was starting to gather, icicles forming around the general, pointing precariously towards the intruder.

"Silly tricks," he declared as he clasped his hands and a great heat emitted from his palms.

She bit her lip, watching as the ice melted around them, the moon-laden energies dissipating.

"Fieri diablo!" he barked.

She let her pink bubble dissipate as she rolled out of the way, flying into the air. She gasped, barely dodging the huge fireball that exploded out of the general's sword.

He'd gotten stronger. Much stronger.

She'd need a different tactic.

"Lunar sab sublime formi...'

She drew the thin, elegant blade with her hand, creating a beautiful weapon with a ethereal, barely visible tip.

He came at her immediately, jumping into the air and landing with his two large boots in front of her, his sword coming down on her as the lunar blade held evenly above her. She grit her teeth.

He swung at her and she parried with him, his heavy, violent moves matching her elegant, dancelike swings, their styles contrasting but prowess equal.

"I like it when you put up a fight," he growled.

While she was skilled, he had more stamina. His body was more attuned to battle. He would outlast her. She had to end this while she had the energy.

Her next swing forced him to jump backwards. Taking the seconds' break, she opened her palms and faced upwards.

"Aishi blesi sacri lepin..." she chanted, her arms open, "Grant me your powers!"

A huge ray of light descended from above her, entering her body, drifting towards her sword.

She gave a shout as she pointed her sword towards the dark general, emitting a huge ray of moonlight.

He growled, dodging to the side and losing his balance, landing hard on the dirt-laden ground of Aishi Mountain.

"Blako bound!" she shouted.

Pink bands immediately shot out of the ground and began to tie down the Dark General's limbs, binding his wrists and ankles to dirt.

He growled.

Her eyes narrowed as she struggled to catch her breath.

She approached him cautiously.

"General Endymion..." she said, standing overhim, "By the Order of the Moon Goddeses, I hereby banish you from the foot of the Aishi Mountain."

He glared up at her, his large body bound to the Aishi Sacred Grounds through her pink ribbons.

She stared at his dark, predatory eyes.

"I give you one final warning to leave on your own accord," she said, "Otherwise, I-"

She gasped when she heard the ripping sounds of her pink ribbons tearing, his arms forcibly pulling them out of the ground until the magic yielded to his strength.

She paled, her eyes widening.

It was impossible.

He'd destroyed her strongest magic by physical force alone.

He stood up slowly, towering over her again. He had a wide smirk on his face, clearly enjoying her panic.

She shouted it, "Fieri mon tou-"

Her eyes widened as she felt his hand on her throat.

"I... I..." she struggled.

But he wasn't choking her. Instead, she felt something drip over her body, like silk. She looked down to see a black net fall over her, tightening around her body. It fell over her chest, down her robes, around her legs.

"What are you-"

She cried out in alarm when she felt the nets tighten, as gentle black electricity started to surround her. To her surprise, she felt no pain. Instead, she felt a sense of tiredness fall over her. She gasped in realization.

He was draining her magic.

"How did you-" she sputtered, confused, "S... st... stop!"

"Your Queen's dark magic is mine now," he said, chuckling, "And now so is yours."

"N... no..." she said, trying to move, only to find the black net tighten over her, as she felt every ounce of magic leave her body and travel across the black silk towards the evil general.

A minute later, it was over. The black silk dissipated into the thin air of Aishi Mountain.

She fell downwards on her knees, drained, crumpling on to the sacred grounds.

"So," he drawled, standing over her now, more menacing than ever before, "Looks like you're completely powerless."

She gasped looking up, dread filling her.

He was right.

She'd lost.

"You're mine, Priestess," he declared, cupping her chin and forcing her to stand in front of him.

Then he crushed her lips with his.

She struggled against his mouth, her small fists coming up to pound ineffectually as his armored chest as he deepened the unwanted kiss. He tasted like fire, salt, danger. She could taste his hunger for her. She opened her eyes to find his open and intense as he tasted her.

Then he pushed her to the ground. She landed with a soft cry on top of her priestess robes. He wasted no time climbing on top of her, his knees planted on either side of her.

She felt it then, a wetness on her cheek. At first she thought it was a tear. But it was a raindrop. Then another. And another.

The heavens were angry.

The lightning streaking across the sky highlighted his face then - the general's dark and hungry eyes.

Slowly, he lifted his armor off of his chest, and his black shirt followed suit. She stared up at his chest, the muscled, wide shoulders, his hard, tireless body that had surged mercilessly above her all those months ago. She shuddered, her eyes still staring up at him in shock that he'd defeated her so easily.

Then thunder roared as he descended upon her.

His mouth was already at her naked breast, sucking hungrily on her flesh, determined to make her remember him. She cried out in agony.

As the rain fell harder around them, she felt his hand snake down her priestess robes and to her breast, fondling her flesh roughly while she panted around his mouth.

It didn't surprise her when she felt his hand descend down her body, pushing the bottom of her crumped robe aside. Soon, his hand was snaking into that secret place between her legs.

"Endymion..." she gasped in panic, as he pushed two thick fingers into her.

Hearing his name on her lips made his body flare. He had never felt this hard in his life, his cock straining in his pants.

The priestess was a vision. Her robes were in disarray on the ground, creating a soft blanket for her beautiful goddess-like body. Her hair spilled around her like a halo. She was utterly perfect. Her pert breasts rose and fell for him. Her shapely legs were opened to create a cradle for him. Her innocent depths were meant for him and him alone - to pleasure her tight opening with his massive cock.

She was the most erotic site he had seen.

He couldn't help it, his hand shoving harder and rougher into her, needing to hear her cry out for him. He clamped his lips harder over her nipple, swirling his tongue around the delicious nub to taste and pleasure. When she felt the spot of honey spill on to his fingers, he flared again.

He brought his fingers up to his lips, sucking on the honey. It was the sweetest delicacy he had ever tasted.

He couldn't wait any longer.

He grabbed her ankles and pulled her roughly apart, making her cry out softly as he exposed her to him. His eyes turned black, lust taking over his mind as he inspected his prize. He tore his own trousers down, freeing his heavy cock.

He poised himself at her entrance, reveling in the moment.

Lightning flashed across the sky, the thunder roaring just as he penetrated her. His eyes rolled back in pleasure, the tightness of the priestess' grip milking his cock like no other woman ever had. He had never known such pleasure, his cock swelling inside of the goddess' body.

"Serenity!" he roared to the heavens in triumph.

Her screams matched the thunder pounding on the mountains. She felt every inch of him inside her, the thick steel forcing her tiny entrance open. Tears rolled down her cheeks - pain, defiance... pleasure. She couldn't help it. She felt more of her juices unlocking inside her, her body lighting up on fire even as flashes of light streaked ominously across the sky above the domineering man on top of her.

She heard her name in his growl, wondering for a moment if he had any softness he reserved for her. But she realized he did not, as pulled out painfully only to ram in even harder, slamming his thickness in to tear at her one more time while she cried out.

The mountains felt angry, the air thick and heavy. The elements felt inflamed as the priestess was violated by the powerful Dark General atop the sacred grounds.

He was a wild animal tearing her apart.

"Forgive me,' she thought to the goddesses as she wrapped her legs reluctantly around his hard, thrusting hips.

Shamefully, her honey was dripping ferociously on to her robes, soaking the sacred grounds.

'Please forgive me...' she thought again in surrender.

Moments later, her mouth was flying open in her first orgasm. As it ripped violently through her body, she wrapped her hands around Endymion's muscular back, nails clawing at him hard enough to draw blood. He growled, slamming even harder into her in response, forcing her to ride out her climax as her juices spilled out of her.

"Good girl," he growled, descending to thrust his tongue into her mouth, rewarding her for coming for him. She moaned for him against his lips, her body was responding traitorously to Endymion's expert cock.

Lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the two naked bodies atop Aishi Mountain, the large one surging tirelessly into the trapped one underneath.

Barely conscious, her mind destroyed, she let the general continue to pillage her.

Her body jolting with each of his thrusts, she let him push harder, deeper, and faster into her. Mindlessly, she let him use her for his pleasure.

He took her for hours.

She'd lost count of how many positions he'd had her in, pushing her up against the mountainside, forcing her to ride him, taking her while standing and maneuvering her up and down over him like a glove.

All the while, the rain fell ominously around them, lightning streaking the angry skies.

But he was on top of her again - it seemed to be his favorite way to take her, to assert his dominance.

Her legs were wide open, his hands pointing her ankles in opposite directions.

Her insides were completely slick now, making it less painful for him to thrust his still-too-large manhood into her. He never seemed to slow, never lose stamina, even after he'd forced orgasm after orgasm from her. His sweat dripped down his forehead and chest on to her body, mixing with the warm rain.

But his eyes were dark now to almost black, a flash of something dangerous in the almost imperceptible pupils.

"I'm close, priestess..." he growled quietly through gritted teeth.

She didn't understand, letting her body jolt with each of his rapid thrusts.

He seemed to be on a rampage. The tip of his long cock hit the same spot inside her again, and again, and again, and again. She let her a tired squeak, this one hitting her fast. She opened her mouth in a surprise climax, eyes wide as the orgasm ripped through her.

Distracted by her own pleasure, she barely noticed that he'd pulled out of her and released her legs. Abruptly, he climbed up her body. She felt his hand grip the back of her head tightly, his knees planted firmly on either side of her face. She gasped, finding the general's huge, glistening manhood in front of her face.

She had no time to protest when he rammed his cock into her mouth for the first time.

Thunder roared across the night sky.

Her eyes bulged as she felt the foreign taste of the Dark General's manhood in her mouth. She could smell his virile scent mixed with the sweat covering his muscular thighs.

He was ramming into her face harder now, as she struggled to breathe around the huge member almost down her throat. She tried to pull away, but the hand gripping the back of her head held her still, gentle but firm.

The other hand traveled down her body to find her button, rubbing feverishly and expertly at her button.

"Mmnn..." she moaned in panic around the large organ in her mouth, feeling his finger tease her honey-covered clit, "Nngnn... nnmmm... nmgh.."

His growls were coming to a crescendo.

She felt the pleasure build between her own legs, as she flailed about, trying to close her thighs to the stimulation, instead finding his fingers even rougher against her flesh.

"I'm almost there..." he warned, still spearing her hard and fast, using her mouth to milk him as he fingered her relentlessly, "Gr... grr... ugnn... I'm almost..."

She was too, his wicked finger knowing her body more than she knew it herself now, stabbing into her and manipulating her clit against her will.

Then she screamed out in orgasm around his cock, her vagina clamping down on his thick digit.

"SERENITY!" he roared.

Her eyes flew open in shock as a hot, salty fluid flooded her mouth. She sputtered around him, eyes tearing. The taste was smoky and masculine. She struggled, pounding on his knees ineffectually but his hand held her head still, as he continued to jerk and spew into her unwilling mouth.

She couldn't stand it. Her own legs were flailing as she struggled to control the orgasm spreading through her body like a riptide, even as her mouth filled with the general's hot seed, as she struggled to breathe. She whimpered out her ongoing orgasm around his cock. It sputtered more, spasming, jerking, as more and more of his semen filled her small mouth. She stared helplessly up at him, finding his eyes hooded in pleasure, hearing the soft growls emanating from his chest.

It felt like minutes that he was emptying himself into her, his hand grasping at her hair now to cock her head up to accept the rest of him.

She whimpered, coming down from her own climax, realizing what he had done to her.

He finally pulled out of her mouth. She gasped softly for breath, her throat still coated with his copious semen.

Then he fell down next to her on to his back, his muscled chest rising and falling, catching his own breath.

The rain was only a soft putter now, as if the heavens had no more rain to give.

Her own juices dripping slowly down between her thighs, she let him pull her soft, used body on to his, forcing her head to rest on the crook between his arm and neck. She could smell their mutual climaxes, mixed with the scent of his sweat he'd gathered from taking her for hours.

She could barely sense the rain above them. She had nothing left to give.

Tired, destroyed, sated, she fell unconscious next to the Dark General, their breaths intermingled.

Her nude body was wrapped in his large cape while she sat by the Aishi Temple fire in the inner sanctum. She'd covered herself with it as if to maintain her modesty. She saw the irony in it, after he'd already spent hours violating her, putting his hands and mouth on every inch of her body.

Meanwhile, the Dark General took no means to hide himself from her, his hard, muscular body standing above her by the fire.

"I don't understand," she said.

"A rebellion," he repeated, "The tactician Ami and general Mina have already signed on."

She shook her head. "But the goddesses..."

"It wasn't only your Queen that manipulated the people. The Aishi Goddesses have also long become corrupt."

Serenity shuddered.

She had missed a lot while she was banished to Aishi.

She searched his eyes.

Was he telling the truth?

As ruthless and domineering the Dark General was, he had never lied to her.

"Come with me to my keep," Endymion said, "Lend your magical arts to the Earthen Kingdom."

She stared back at him, remembering how he'd just taken her body violently on the hilltop.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked.

He looked back at her wryly, his eyes lowering down towards her body while she wrapped his cape tighter around her, blushing.

"You can choose whether to come willingly or not," he said.

She wasn't sure if he was toying with her.

Shuddering, she stared out at the large temple doorway out into the mountain. Her body was still bruised from the Dark General's roughness, the handprints on her ankles bright from he had forcibly spread her wide for him. Could she partner with such a man? And... did she have a choice?

Her eyes cast downwards, she wondered what was to come for her.

AN: Please review with your thoughts! Epilogue to come - might be some delay.