CHAPTER FOUR
Serenity, Mina and their four friends from the academy were overwhelmed by not only the sheer vastness of the grand and beautiful palace, but also the busyness of seemingly all of the servants who worked there. They seemed to be preparing for some grand event that was to be held in the main ballroom that evening. The girls tried to catch a glimpse inside the famed room, for they knew from their history lessons that it had played host to distinguished guests and lavish parties beyond counting; tales of which were told even in the farthest reaches of the galaxy. However, the room was kept under strict guard, and they never saw past the elaborate ivory and gilt doors. Serena didn't know about the other girls, but she was too apprehensive to maintain her disappointment.
The woman who had accompanied them on their journey whispered something to a young butler with sandy brown hair who was directing a number of maids and footmen who were carrying gifts into a sitting room that appeared to be part of a larger set of chambers. "This is Motoki, a butler here at the palace. He will take you from this point on." Nodding to the girls curtly, she disappeared around a corner without once looking back. The girls forgot her instantly, intimidated by the attractive young man before them. Despite their 'trade', they had had little to no contact with men in all their time with Haruna. Serena, however, thought that Motoki had kind brown eyes, and felt saddened that her fate meant that it was unlikely she would ever marry someone hardworking and gentle, perhaps like him. Her self-pity dissipated as she felt Mina gently grab her hand, the gesture hidden by both of their long skirts. Serena knew she had to be strong and positive in the face of an uncertain future, not only for herself, but for her friends.
Motoki said something quietly to a maid and she giggled and beamed at him, taking his position and continuing to direct the endless stream of presents into the room. Straightening, he looked at the six girls. "This way, please" he said politely, leading them in a new direction. The place was like a labyrinth, Serena thought, appreciating the craftsmanship and hard work that must have gone into building it - and tripping over her own feet in the process. Just before she hit the ground, she was caught by Motoki's white gloved hands, and he righted her, grinning. "Watch your step, Miss!" Serena blushed and he winked at her in response.
Motoki couldn't help but steal glances at the beautiful girl he had saved from her fall as he lead the six onward. She seemed so innocent and kind - that she had comforted her friend with the yellow blonde hair had not escaped his notice. His hands balled into fists when he thought of the fate that awaited them. What these royal types could get away with disgusted him. They had taken the life of his brother, and he felt that perhaps he could have accepted this as a tragic accident, a mishap - had he not come to work at the palace and seen first hand the sickening indulgences enjoyed by the royals, particularly the Prince, who should have bled out his sins on a far flung battlefield years ago. Instead Motoki had had to endure his triumphant return with applause and celebration too many times to count. And now he was to deliver these girls to their fate, hating himself knowing that he would most likely be leading the golden blonde angel, broken and discarded, out of the gates the next day.
Finally they reached a quiet and deserted wing of the palace, where a matronly woman in a loud dress with a massive circumference greeted them all enthusiastically. "Motoki!" she cried. "How are you? You grow more handsome by the day!" Now it was Motoki's turn to blush. "Fine, thank you, Andrea!" he responded. "These are the girls for… ah… the…" But for the rare moments in which his bitterness at the monarchy reared it's ugly head; the young butler was really quite mild and shy.
"Yes, yes, of course, of course! This way, ladies!" Andrea gestured into an open room from which steam was pouring. "Now back to your business, my dear. We're all very busy today!" She waved goodbye to Motoki, who watched as she shut the door behind the six retreating girls.
Once the door of the room was shut tightly behind her, Andrea turned to the six girls and smiled kindly. "Haruna teaches her girls well, so I'm sure you all know what to expect. Tonight is the Prince's twenty second birthday, and one of you shall be his gift from his close friend, General Jadeite… four of you, however, will still have your work cut out for you, entertaining the he and the three spare Generals. As for the sixth of you, which one of you is Ami?" A small girl with short blue hair stepped out timidly from the row of girls. She had been trying not to cry ever since they had left the academy. At only 16, she was not yet prepared for what she knew was coming. Andrea took her under one arm. "Ami, Haruna has arranged for me to find you… alternative… employment, here at the castle. Given your natural intelligence, she felt you would excel if given a chance to pursue a different path." Ami's watery eyes widened hopefully, praying this wasn't some kind of joke. "I've arranged for you to work in the palace library. I trust you find this arrangement acceptable?" "Y-yes!" stuttered Ami, who couldn't quite believe her luck. "Thank you, so very, very much."
Serena was the first of the girls to run forward to embrace her younger friend. Of all the girls, she knew Ami best, because she had been the "new girl" after Serena's unexplained arrival a year before her, and Serena had taken her under her wing. As Serena hugged Ami, she knew the other girls reluctance to be happy for her was due to bitterness and envy, and she knew this because she felt it herself. Why should Ami go free? Why did she deserve the normal, happy life they had all dreamed of? But Serena pushed these thoughts aside, and swore never to entertain them again. They were spiteful and jealous and ugly, and underneath them Serena was truly happy for the girl who was so much like a younger sister to her. As she felt kind-hearted Mina join their embrace, she hoped that the other three girls would come in time to realise that everything happens for a reason, and that one day, fate would smile upon them too. It had to.
It had been hours since Ami had been lead away by a foot-servant to her new quarters, and the five girls had spent that time being groomed and styled to within an inch of their lives by Andrea and her assistant Naru, a sweet and obliging girl with shocking orange hair. Their hair was carefully arranged, Serena's long golden curls were brushed back from her face, yet left cascading in shimmering waves down her back; while Mina's straight yellow hair was released from its signature red ribbon and secured instead with a jewelled barrette. All five girls were dressed in simple, flowing, white silk dresses; while underneath, they each wore revealing white lingerie, quite unlike the modest undergarments they had worn throughout their abbreviated adolescence. Finally prepared for the night ahead, the girls sat down and waited for their instructions.
Meanwhile, at the ball, Endymion was already bored out of his mind. He had danced with a hundred daughters of a hundred noblemen; he had shaken or kissed the hand of every Lord and Lady, dignitary and diplomat, Duke and Duchess his parents could muster; he had picked at his rich and bland meal - and was now in what Nephrite would so eloquently call a very fucking bad mood. At last, when the ball was ended, he finally managed to extract himself from a drawn out goodbye to the third cousin twice removed of his father's brothers wife - who had travelled all the way from Atlantis to be here(!) and was striding purposefully towards his four generals, who were standing in a corner, chatting and looking mischievous. However, his passage towards where he hoped the real party would be starting - and where the alcohol would hopefully begin flowing - was interrupted by a strikingly beautiful brunette, with flashing purple eyes. "Just where do you think you're rushing off to?" the girl demanded, stamping one foot. Even with her firey temper, Endymion had to admit his little sister was impressively elegant. "None of your business" he replied, smirking. Even if she was impossibly annoying, Rei had to be his favourite person in the world. That said, she wasn't going to get in between him and his plans to drink himself into an unfeeling stupor. Not tonight. Especially not tonight. She, however, seemed to have other ideas.
"You know, I think it's disgusting what you do, my brother" she said, with an unusual edge to her voice. "I've seen them. One looked even younger than me - how could you?" In a panic, Endymion thought that she had discovered what had happened on that fateful birthday, 14 years prior - but when he analysed her words he found himself utterly confused. "How could I what? You've seen what?" he demanded, perturbed. He had been on his best behaviour lately - he had to be, what with all the foreign royalty roaming around the castle grounds in preparation for the ball. They would all have just loved to go home to tell their friends about the debauched Golden Prince of Elysion. No, that would not have done at all. Rei made a clucking sound with her tongue. "I'm not a fool, brother. I know." She glanced over in annoyance at his generals, but catching her gaze on something over his shoulder, her eyes became unfocused for a moment before she looked back at her brother with a slight pink colouring her cheeks. What? Endymion thought to himself. He turned to see what could have made his icy, composed sister blush, but he only saw Kunzite, Zoicite, Nephrite and Jadeite, leaning casually against the wall. He did notice Jadeite looking in their direction. Probably wondering what's taking me so long, Endymion mused. I know he's dying to give me some kind of present. It's probably a prank of some kind. He shook his head at his sister. "Princess, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." He tried to keep the sweetness in his tone but frankly her interrogation wasn't helping his mood. Rei didn't respond, but merely made a disgusted noise and stormed away, her dark red skirts billowing behind her. What the hell was that? Endymion thought incredulously, staring at her retreating figure. Women.
He went over to join his friends. "What was that all about?" Jadeite asked, gesturing at the spot where Endymion and Rei had been arguing. "None of your business" Kunzite cut in forcefully as the Prince opened his mouth to respond. Weird. Whatever. Jadeite looked like he was going to say something back to Kunzite but instead shrugged and resumed his trademark smirk. "Ready for your present, your highness?" he asked abruptly, raising his eyebrows. "Sure, whatever." Endymion replied, as he followed his four friends out of the now empty ballroom and back to his private quarters.
When he got there, he noticed the lights were already on inside, the door slightly ajar - allowing a chink of dim light to spill out into the darkened hallway. It was unusual for anyone to be around this part of the palace at night, as Endymion specifically chose to live in a relatively deserted wing of the building. Apprehensive now, Endymion pushed past the generals as they stopped to allow him passage. Opening the door of his room, his eyes fell upon a sight that was as unwelcome as it was pathetically expected - five girls in white dresses, lined up against the wall.
One for each of us, I suppose. Endymion thought sardonically, his body tensing. Any other night - but not tonight. He was really, really, not in the mood for this. "Happy birthday, my friend!" Jadeite cheered, clapping him on the back as he and the others poured into the room. Of course, he had no idea of the Prince's real mood - nor its' cause. "A delicate young flower of your choice - in full bloom, if you catch my drift" he snickered, looking around at his friends conspiratorially, and leering at Serena, who of all the girls, stood calm and... seemingly unafraid. Endymion followed his gaze with reluctance. The girl struck him - at first because of her obvious and breathtaking beauty - but then, the combination of her cerulean eyes and snowy white skin struck at something deeper within him, and it stirred the deep recesses of his mind. She was alarmingly… familiar. He forced this thought away. There was nothing familiar to him about this young… he didn't let himself say the word. It didn't feel right, in reference to her. Yet, his internal voice was bitter. Who does she think she is? She stands before me, in my quarters, with that… air of nobility… must be practised, feigned… an act.
Tonight, of all nights.
"Well, come now, I'm sure there's one you prefer?" Nephrite's deep voice boomed from the back of the room. He had his eyes fixed upon a curvaceous brunette at the end of the line. Endymion also saw that Kunzite had his eyes glued on the terrified wisp of a blonde hovering close to the beauty he had seen in his dreams. What? Where the fuck did that thought come from? In… my… dreams? Get a grip, Endy. You've been spending too much time reading Moon legends in the library with Rei. He shook his head disgustedly at his train of thought. Don't pick her. Pick the black hair, a brunette, the straight hair - forget her. But while each of the girls were stunning in their own right, none could measure up to the golden haired angel who stood before him - who had inspired such a passionate and violent reaction in him simply by being. He was captivated by her. "This one." he said dazedly, grabbing Serena roughly by the arm and pulling her to his side, strangely paranoid that someone might challenge him for her. She came without resistance, yet without looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on her yellow haired companion, who was now being led away by Kunzite. "Have a nice night!" Jadeite called out to him as the black haired woman took his arm. Zoicite bowed low before a slender brunette before gently leading her out the door - ever the gentleman, he let a wink at the Prince slip as he exited. Nephrite and the other brunette had already left, it seemed. The door clicked shut
Now they were alone, and he turned to face the strange girl before him. He thought he saw a flash of defiance in her eyes as she looked up at him, but it was gone as soon as it had arrived, replaced by careful neutrality. This confused him. Did I really just see that?
Now that Endymion had her alone, he had no idea what to do with her. Kunzite's voice reverberated around the inside of his skull - "No idea? None at all?" the imaginary voice said mockingly. Endymion shook his head furiously to clear his thoughts, thinking that he must look completely insane to this girl... woman...angel...demon... whatever she is. He hadn't behaved normally since the second he had laid eyes on her. Who the hell was she, to make him feel this way? He absolutely had to know. He grabbed her roughly by the arms. "What's your name?" he demanded, urgently, shaking her slightly.
She allowed fear to creep into her heart for the first time since she had left her home that morning. Staring into the Prince's impossibly beautiful face, feeling his large, warm hands with their callouses and sinewy tendons wrap around her upper arms, she answered him automatically, without thinking.
"Serenity" she blurted out.