A/N: I RELLY really like the ending of this chapter. :p Hope those of you who read the first book recognize it.:p

BY THE WAY!: Just a thanks to unlockurdestiny for pointing out that it's ELF DAWNED BOOK 2, not 1 on the bottom there. :p My bad... So I'll fix the other two chapters eventually. :p Just bear with me until I do. ^^ Sometimes the copy/paste method does have its drawbacks! :p

Disclaimer: All rights are reserved to Naoko. I do not own Sailor Moon, but the story is all my creation.

Summery: She came once, sucked under the spell of Endymion's eyes. She left, forgetting everything. Now she's back, learning it all over again... but this time, she's running for her life from the beginning.

Elf Dawned Book 2: By Chance...

Chapter 4:

"Serenity!"

"Who's there?" The voice was and wasn't mine – a phantom voice. It spoke for itself, scared, trembling. I did not control it.

"Serenity... give me what I wish for..."

"Where are you?"

"Please..."

"Who's there!" Although the begging voice stayed at the same volume, my voice kept getting louder and louder.

"Serenity..!"

"Serenity! He-llo-o? Anybody in there?"

I groaned, realizing that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. I also realized, though vaguely, that I didn't want to, anyway. Not if it meant going back to the dreams.

"I'm up! I'm up! I'll come down in a minute." I mumbled under my breath, "I so do not feel like playing the piano right now."

The voice that awoke me giggled, sounding strange. That's when I realized that it wasn't Aunt Rose that had woken me up. I also realized that what had happened last night wasn't a dream after all.

I groaned again, only this time louder.

"Come on, sunshine, wake up." A different voice.

I opened my eye, finding the blue figurine from last night staring down at it. "Oh. Hello Frost."

She grinned a big grin. "We wanna have breakfast with you!"

I opened my other eye, seeing the blond girl from yesterday. "Mina, right?"

She nodded, looking amused.

"Alright, alright, let me at least refreshen."

Mina shrugged and picked Frost up. "We'll meet you in the kitchen."

It took me a while after they left to realize I didn't actually know where the kitchen was.

Great...

I went through my morning ritual, leaving my hair down today, and walked out in a brown dress I had found on the chair. I didn't wear my courset dress, though, as this dress ended at my knees and would look strange with it on.

I also couldn't find another shorter courset dress, and felt very naked walking out of my room.

I looked around; hoping a maid or a chef or anyone would walk by so I could ask them where the kitchen was.

No such luck.

I walked to Endymion's door, hoping I wasn't waking him, and knocked.

No one answered.

When I was about to knock again, hands circled around my waist, shocking me, and a deep voice whispered in my ear, "What does the lady wish for?"

I shivered as his hot breath touched my skin. "I wish to know where the kitchen is."

He chuckled and pulled away, and I turned to look at him. He was wearing black armour and sweat glistened on his forehead, but even dishiveled as he was he still looked... well... like him.

"It's on the other side of the third floor."

"We are on the third floor, aren't we?" I'm amazed I was able to keep track, what with all the turns and stairs and halls and rooms. This place also had a very backwards way of doing things.

He shrugged. "Well, it's on the other side of this floor, then. Better?"

"Uh... not really," I said.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Why, are you hungry?"

"Nah. Not usually. Mina asked to come by."

"Ah. They've cornered you already, have they?"

I nodded. "I don't mind, though. Beats eating alone."

"I was going to ask you to join me, but I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"Why don't you join us now?" I asked.

"I need a shower, and this suit isn't comfortable, if you know what I mean. It'll take a while to get out of."

"Suit yourself."

He smiled, making my blood warm. "How about after breakfast, you come find me and we'll talk then?"

"Sure."

"Since you're obviously so enamoured with me-"

"Am not!" I put my hands to my waist.

"That's what they all say."

"You-you-you..." I shook my head, fighting a grin.

Endymion laughed, and picked me up, swinging me around to face the hallway. His hand touched my back, and impulsively I arched away from his hand. I squirmed in his arms, for some reason suddenly feeling cold and uncomfortable in his tight grip.

He saw the look on my face, and let go of me. His own face went blank. "This way."

He took me to the kitchen, explaining that usually everyone ate here instead of the dining room because it was quieter, unless someone important was around and they were all needed.

I nodded, liking the sound of his voice, but at the same time feeling goosebumps rising on my arms. I was almost disappointed when he left me to go take a shower, but then I reminded myself that even though I had agreed to go along with whatever crazy plan he and the rest of his... friends... had, I was still kidnapped last night.

That send a chill down my spine, and I decided to forget it. I was starting to regret agreeing to meet him later today.

"Serenity!"

I looked up, spotting Amy, the blue-haired girl, with a plate of bacon and eggs. She nodded at me. "Have you slept well?"

"Yes. I did." I looked at her, tilting my head. I had met her yesterday, but with all the drama, I hadn't really inspected her at all. It was a miracle I was able to remember her name... well, not really, since seeing blue hair was a tad... unusual...

"Say," I said, furring my brow, "something doesn't seem..."

She grinned at me, and pointed at her hair, which ended just below the shoulders in soft curls. "Last time we met, I had short hair. Mina convinced me to let it grow out."

I snapped my fingers, somehow knowing that she was right. "It looks great."

She blushed. "Thanks. So, Serenity, how have you been?"

I contemplated whether to tell her how I really felt. But, it was Amy, and she seemed like the type that would understand. Without further thought, I found my feelings spilling out in one breath. "I've been... good... I guess. I find this just a tad bit intimidating, if you know what I mean. I don't know if I should trust anything that goes on, but each time I open my mouth to say one thing, I end up saying something else entirely."

Amy blew her bangs out of her face. "You know, everyone here really is trying to help you."

I nodded, frowning. "So I've been told."

"But you still have mixed feelings, I'm assuming?"

I considered my feelings. "Well... some people, like Mina or... Frost, if she can be considered a 'people', I warm up to right away. Others like... Endymion... I just..." I shrugged. How could I explain to her that even though I joke and laugh with him one minute, I feel like punching, kicking, biting... yelling at him the next? Or running away and never looking back?

She pursed her lips, and walked up to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "It will take some time, Serenity. Some scars never heal, no matter how much you want them to. Endymion... has been though a lot in the past couple of years. He did some things that he regrets. He wants nothing more than to fix those things."

"Why doesn't he?" And what did that have to do with me?

"It's... complicated. He wants to fix those things, but he also somehow talked himself into believing that what he did can't be fixed; would be better off left alone. But he's trying, Serenity. Just remember one thing: A person who forgives can save the person that is forgiven. A person who doesn't... might have killed the one person who needs to be forgiven more than anything else."

I shook my head. "What does that have to do with how I feel about being here?" Not to mention being next to Endymion, for that matter. But I let that thought, also, slide.

She smiled a small smile and patted my arm. "I hope one day you will know."

"Hey! You made it! I forgot that you forgot how to get here, and I was just going to come get you. Looks like you did remember!"

I turned to Mina, who stood with Frost in her hand panting.

"Yeah, Mina freaked out and started raving about how your poor soul will forever be lost in the castle while everyone looks for you and somehow a week later they would find you in a broom closet without a pulse. I told her she was overreacting…"

I grinned. "Endymion showed me the way."

"Ahh," Mina exclaimed, putting Frost on her shoulder and clasping her hands. "So - are you and Endymion getting close yet?"

"Not particularly, no," I mumbled.

She scowled. "That's too bad. Well, never mind that. Breakfast? We have a bunch of fruit that came in fresh this morning. Grapes and raspberries and cherries and I think we have some apples and strawberries, too, but those usually get used up pretty fast for pie. So we also have pie and-"

Amy patted Mina's shoulder. "It's okay, Mina, she'll pick out what she wants. Let's eat."

"Oh, right. Sorry."

I ended up eating some pie, a couple of cherries, grapes, and raspberries. I momentarily felt guilty for not sticking to my normal breakfast, but then I figured that I might as well enjoy myself while I was here.

After breakfast, I thanked them all and walked out, thinking about the note I still hadn't opened, supposedly from Aunt Rose.

In the safety of my room, I tore the envelope – now wrinkled – and slipped the note out.

Serenity, it said, please trust that this is done for your own good. Trust Endymion – he will help you. For your own safety, don't talk to anyone besides Endymion and whomever he thinks would benefit you. Lastly, remember that I did this because I love you. You will be home soon. With love, Aunt Rose.

It was written in her hand, and even provided a signature, but I still wasn't convinced.

I searched through the envelope, and found a black-and-white photograph of myself from when I was twelve, and a squashed flower that she used in all her envelopes to make them scented.

I placed the note back and put the envelope on the dresser table.

Was I in denial, like the characters in the books I read so often? Did my Aunt really send for Endymion to bring me to this place?

If not, then why isn't she looking for me? She would have found me. It wasn't too long of a walk from my house to here.

But then, she may not know about the growth in the yard leading here…

I sighed and ran my fingers along the crescent moon scar on my right hand leading across my palm and ending between my thumb and forefinger. It, along with some smaller scars on four of my fingers, had showed up out of nowhere one night. Or, at least, I think it did. Perhaps I had just never noticed it before.

There was a knock on my door, and I almost jumped out of my skin. Slowly, I walked to the door and opened it, peering outside. A woman with tied up black hair and a maid's uniform stood outside, holding towels, and waiting patiently.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Room service. Lord Endymion's orders."

"Oh." I opened the door and let her in.

The maid bowed, before she busied herself dusting my furniture. Clearly, I wasn't going to get any privacy in here.

So I left the room and began to explore. After all, knowing my way around would probably increase my chances of maneuvering around here, right?

I started with the ground level, and made my way up. Amongst some locked doors, paintings, and posters, I also discovered several stacked libraries. What I found was that either these people were crazy and really went all out to make me believe they were elves, or they really were and I had to admit it sooner or later. Why? Because as many books I picked up, from as many libraries in all the different sections, the books mainly described the history of the elven folk.

One I picked up described the different types of magic powers that the elves possessed. The first thing it said was that all elves have a magic power; but only one magical ability. Then, it talked of the various powers the past rulers of the kingdom had. Amongst making fires and frosts and changing the weather, was the ability to foresee the future, tell the past, control the stars, change and read the thoughts of others, and the list just never ended.

I put the book back on the shelf, memorizing where I put it for later, and continued to explore.

I turned the corner from that library, only to find a bunch of doors. I walked down the hall, opening the first door, which led to what looked like a geography room holding different maps and globes and locations.

I closed that door and walked to the next. There, I found a storage room full of some interesting furniture. A rocking chair; some expensive and soft-looking fabric; a pile of feathers...

I closed that door, too. The next door led to a sitting area.

I walked to the next door, which led to a broom closet.

There were brooms, and pans, and vacuums, and different cleaning detergents, baskets, mops, towels, and even a bunch of bags to the side. It was a small room, but what I noticed was that none of the stuff leaned against the far wall. They all leaned away from the wall, as if put the way they were with care. And on that wall was a little sun. It was a yellow circle, with some squiggles that darted out. I pressed my finger against it and drew out the shape. When I got to the twelfth squiggle, I pressed my hand against the wall, only to have the part with the sun on it move in. I pulled my hand back, startled, and cried out when the whole wall moved and shook the little room. It crept open, leading to a bigger room behind the wall. I gaped.

The room was giant, and well-lit. There was the same sun shape right in the middle of the room, like a rug, against a beige floor. A large window stretched against most of one wall. There were several book cases, and a desk with some drawing tools on the side, and a sewing kit, and a book in the making being sewn together. Above the desk were pictures of angels, roses, butterflies, and some of Frost the ice figurine. There was a couple that looked like me, too.

The room was lit by the sun, which made it seem even more mystical to me: a secret room in a broom closet.

I closed the broom closet door and stepped into the room, looking around in amazement. The first thing I did was walk towards the book case, expecting something more about the history.

The first book I took out was instead a romance novel, with a pretty blond girl on the cover. She had very fair skin, and almost seemed like she was shining. Her eyes were blood red, though, a startling contrast from the otherwise angelic face. She was looking up in thought, and I would otherwise be drawn to this picture, if not for the unsettling eyes. It made her seem not as fragile as I would imagine her to be without them.

Not What It Seems byEndymion McNeil.

I raised an eyebrow. Endymion was interested in literature? His last name was McNeil? (Well… to be honest, I couldn't say that I was too surprised. I suppose that he must like to do things in his free time, and a lot of normal people do have last names – why not royalty? Then again, this isn't a 'normal' place…)

Then this must be his study…

I turned the book over, trying to find the summery of the book, but it was just a blank purple page. I checked inside, but there was no summery there, too. I flipped some more pages. After a while of flipping, I stopped, realizing that they were blank, with only the pages numbered on the bottom. I felt a page with my finger to see if there was anything weird about it, but it was a regular page. I closed the book and turned it to the back again, then opened it. I flipped a couple of pages, and that's when I saw the writing, about a hundred pages in from the back.

I threw her against the wall, outraged at her, and watched her cry out in pain. It broke my heart, and I walked forward to help her, but instead said vile things. It was as if something was controlling my body and

Then there was nothing. It was written in the middle of the page to the right, and just kind of cut off.

I flipped some more pages back, looking carefully this time. Closer to the beginning was another excerpt.

She had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. I couldn't stop thinking of her. I was distracted all day, so I went into my study, and there she was, at my desk, reading one of my books with a

It stopped there, and I got a chill. This book was… creepy… That was the first thing that came to my mind: creepy. It wasn't really; more mysterious. But it did give off a creepy vibe, in the way that it was written.

Someone cleared his throat, and I jumped, startled, letting the book fall from my hands onto the floor, and froze.

"I'm beginning to think that maybe this study isn't such a great hiding place. You've found it twice without really knowing where it was. Of course, it might just be instinct that brought you here this time, but I might never know, will I?"

I turned slowly, to find Endymion standing near the entrance with his hands in his pockets, looking more cleaned up.

I picked up the book and put it back on the shelf, then stepped back from him. His face scrunched up for a second, but then it was blank again. He pressed a part of the wall next to the entrance, and the little opening I had used to enter the study closed. I stepped back again.

He sighed. "Don't worry, Serenity. I'm not going to hurt you. I just don't want anyone else finding this spot. It's a secret, and I would appreciate it if you kept it a secret."

"And if I don't?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Then you won't. I'm asking a favor, not threatening you."

I watched him, and he just stood there. Then, finally, he turned away and walked to his desk, and began to work on stitching the rest of the book I saw on the desk earlier together. He picked up a couple of papers from a stack on the table with writing, and checked them over before placing them on top and began to stitch them.

I watched his back as he worked, standing stiffly and quietly. I could see the tension in his shoulders, and I wondered idly, not for the first time, what his arms would feel like around me.

But no. He was my captor.

So was it such a bad thing that I was losing that image of him after only a day of being here?

Yes, yes it was, I decided. He was good looking, and didn't act at all like a kidnapper. But that didn't mean he didn't kidnap me. It also didn't mean that I was in over my head about all this.

I fingered my star-locket, feeling the shiny surface. By mistake, as I was rubbing it, I pushed open the part that makes it start playing music. The melody was loud in the quiet, tense room, and as soon as it was on, Endymion had fallen still and listened to it quietly.

When it went through its round, I pulled the cap close. He turned slowly in his chair to look at me, his eyes searching my face for a sign of… what? What was I supposed to act like?

Obviously, whatever it was, it wasn't portrayed in my expression, since he turned back without a word and began to work on his book again.

TBC

A/N: Hehehe, I know you'll hate me for this, so I'm gonna do it anyway. :p REVIEW please and tell me what you think! Sorry for the long wait. Been really busy lately. :p Enjoy!