Chapter Thirteen

Lessons in Death

It was a quiet summer night and all seemed at peace in the world. Princess Serenity lay asleep in the chaise lounge on her balcony. It was the night of her fourth birthday and she'd been so tired she fell asleep there, looking at the stars. Her nanny had disappeared somewhere, and her parents, thinking she was under the au pair's somewhat-watchful eye had gone to their chamber, now forbidden to her after dark. Endymion and Michelle had gone to bed too, but as was his custom, he promised he would sneak away to spend time with her when he could.

It was a quiet party they'd had earlier that day, with cake and presents and laughter. She'd gotten the usual dresses, jewelry, dolls, and toys from what she believed were birthday fairies (in all actuality, they were from her subjects, still unknown to her. Only three presents had stood out in her child's memory. The first was a lovely belt for the tiny dagger (tiny in comparison to Endymion's and Michelle's; still about the size of her forearm) that everyone insisted she always have on her. That one was from Aunty Gaia and Dagda. Michelle's was a clumsy string of pearls she'd conjured up during her magic lessons. The pure white pearls glowed and shimmered slightly and Serenity liked touching them and looking at them just as much as looking at them.

But Endymion's had outshone the rest, in her mind. While they were alone, he'd gone to a rose bush and carefully snapped the stems of seven of the thorniest reddest roses he found in the gardens. He'd woven them together in front of her and once finished, closed his eyes and wished with all his might. A shower of golden sparks came from his pudgy hands and with much pomp he placed it on her head.

"You're going to be Queen, one day." He told her, solemnly. She nodded. "Everyone says you'll be King one day." She looked a little mournful. "But not of the same place."

"I'll give up if you marry me." He offered. "That way we'll always play and have fun. My mommy and daddy still have fun and they're old." He wrinkled his nose. "Aren't they supposed to be more like grown-ups? Your nanny says that all the time."

"My nanny says lots of stupid things," She retorted. "I think it's nomantic."

"Romantic."

"I just said that. Anyway, she's no fun and look at her. All wrinkles and fat. Do you want to be like her?" Endymion shook his head. "You're right. Happy people get old being unhappy. So only people who can be happy and have fun together should marry. That's why we should."

"Really, Endymion?" Serenity's eyes should. "Should I tell Mama?"

"I'm saying, let's get married when you're older, like next year. Or whenever you lose your baby teeth."

"So we can be happy and ride off into the sunset on a big white horse, and live happily ever after?"

"Who told you about that?" Endymion recoiled, wondering if his future wife had indeed become a girl. "Michelle always tells me that's what going to happen to her." She looked ruefully. "Wouldn't you want the same for me?"

This marriage was not starting off on the right foot. "We'll talk about it." He said, unconsciously echoing his father. "So do you want me to marry you or what?"

"I guess," She said finally, wondering why in heaven's name grown-ups made such a big deal out of this.

She'd tucked the crown safely away under her bed and gone to look at the stars. She'd loved looking at them and ever since she'd heard Lady Setsuna's stories, she'd wondered about them. But like every little girl who'd had an exciting day she surrendered to slumber without a fight for once. Half-cuddled into a shawl, the young Princess dozed, unaware of a tall, lumbering man standing over her, face breaking into a full and sinister smile. His skin was dark and his eyes glinted a cold red, as frigid as the hand that touched the sleeping child's forehead. At once, Serenity woke, half-startled and half-asleep staring at the stranger looking down on her. "Who are you?" She asked, more curious than afraid at the moment. The intruder spoke, his voice soft and oily. "I'm a friend of yours, dear Princess. I thought you might like to meet a very special person." He waited unable to tell what was going on behind those fathomless blue orbs."We have to hurry, little Princess. The Queen is waiting to see us." Serenity suddenly narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "You said the Queen. Who is she if she isn't my mama or aunty?" The mysterious stranger bent down and threw a look at her she'd never seen before in her life. It was an expression of hate, anger, and disgust, and it was scarier than anything she'd ever seen."You lied," She accused, feeling somewhat shocked and hurt. The stranger was indifferent now-his friendly façade shattered. The incubus laughed, the sound as cold and unfeeling as steel. "Smart wench, aren't you? I tried to be nice, Princess, but now I'm not." He sneered. Serenity instinctively huddled into her blanket, fearful. "I'm taking you to Queen Beryl. There you'll wait until your parents give themselves up." Serenity clutched at the shawl around her shoulders, unable to tear her eyes away from the creature's mocking gaze. The Incubus leered. If your precious parents don't love you quite that much, then they won't come. It'd be a pity, though. Her Majesty would prefer not to kill a child." Serenity wound the cloth still tight about herself as the Beast began to stalk her, grinning like a harbinger of death. Internally, she screamed. She shut her eyes and there was a sound like doors bursting open, three or four guards were running in, led by a small dark-haired boy with adult-like determination in his eyes. "Serenity!" He cried, sprinting onto her balcony and attempting to tug at the fabric she had twisted herself into. Serenity said nothing and sobbed, burying her face into his tiny shoulders. Endymion blubbered with her and tried to comfort the girl as he worked on releasing her from the straitjacket that the afghan had become. The four sentinels grabbed the creature, trying to force him into submission. Suddenly the Incubus was there, smiling as he ripped into two of the guards with his fingers that had curled into sick talons. The two sentries hadn't the chance to scream until two more bodies had fallen into theirs. The creature turned and in the moonlight Serenity and Endymion saw his face become flat and hideous. His eyes retained that same evil and were surrounded by tiny scales. His mouth and nose was taken up by a beak that curved up cruelly, making him resemble something like a cross between the most merciless snake and the most demonic vulture. The intruder swiftly tore Endymion from Serenity and slammed him into a wall before pushing him roughly away; effectively knocking the little Prince out and sending his body skidding across the terrace. He stirred feebly and was still, breathing shallowly. Serenity bit her lip and suddenly threw the blanket over her attacker's head. He cursed as he fumbled with the folds/ Serenity took the stolen opportunity to pull something long and shining from her waist. The moonlight shimmered and dance on the long blade twice as long as she that was held high over her head. With inhuman strength she held it securely in one hand while throwing the other at him. Not even bothering with the incantation she shot pure ice at him, and screamed terribly. Even lacking armor or stature, she looked fearless and a force to be reckoned with. The moment the ice touched his form, a swirling winter wind wrapped itself around the beast. His hissed oaths were cut off as the freezing gust snaked around his throat. He was caught in its hold, frozen in the motion of tossing the blanket Serenity had thrown aside. A half- snarl remained still in his mouth and his evil eyes were gleaming and glasslike. He looked like a menacing sculpture.

Serenity walked up to him, a solemn expression on her face as she stared up at the trapped demon. She gazed at him, feeling a white-hot burn of something like anger inside her. This monster had hurt those guards and her husband. Raw emotion blazed within her soul and she voiced it, boring her eyes into his unseeing orbs. "I won't forgive you," She said thickly and with a sob, she lifted her blade and slammed it into the figure's belly, shattering into a thousand bloody crystal shards. The blade clattered to the floor and once again became her dagger, sparkling clean. She sheathed her weapon and turned, rushing over to the Prince. "Endymion?" She asked, holding his hands and letting her tears wash over them. Lady Setsuna came onto the balcony only a few seconds later and found the Princess watching over her Prince, a protective air in her posture as she spoke quietly to herself, waiting for the boy to open his eyes. Lady Setsuna knelt and put a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder as she silently mended the boy's grievous injuries. "He's only asleep." She told the child. Serenity nodded, her eyes wet with shame and sorrow. She glanced back at the fallen men. "Will they be alright, too" She asked Lady Setsuna. For the first time, reflected in the dim light, Serenity could see the centuries tug at the Immortal's face, making her look older than ever. Lady Setsuna's mouth tightened and suddenly it was all clear to Serenity what the Immortal was trying to say. The Princess said nothing, tucking herself under the woman's arm and letting the stream of tears run down her face again. "Serenity." Lady Setsuna whispered. "It's a hard thing to say but they are never going to move again."She patted the little girl on the head uncertainly, not sure what else to say. She decided to go with her impulse. "Death claimed them, as he will claim all mortals at some point in time. When you grow up, young Princess, it is my hope that you use your ability to delay his visits for as long as possible. That should be your goal, Princess. People suffer in life but their loved ones suffer all the more when they can't see them anymore. People by nature are attached to other people, so unless we stop caring for others, we have to ease their suffering as much as we can. Do you understand, little one?"

"Not yet, teacher," Serenity said in a small voice. "Not yet, but maybe I will one day."

"We must leave. There's no time to waste." King Apollo said as he took the bundle in Sir Juno's arms. I give you my word that no harm will come to your daughter. Lady Setsuna and Lord Helios will make sure of it." Sir Juno nodded, her eyes never leaving the child's face as the King handed her to the Immortals.

Serenity and Endymion clung to Lady Setsuna's skirt's as they watched their parents climb up onto their horses. Michelle stood silently next to them, trying not to cry as she watched the group nudge their steeds into trotting away. She didn't notice the tears running down her cheeks until they had completely disappeared from view.

Goodbye, Mother, She thought, wondering why that thought seemed so…final.