Author's Notes: Ooh. I know, I know. I've been gone far too long for a lot of you, and I apologize for my absence. I wish I had a good excuse, but really I don't. Let's just say that every time that I tried to sit down and write this chapter, I kept getting distracted or I just couldn't think of what to do. But a few weeks ago I finally sat down in my Human Biology class with a notebook and started writing. And then there was this. Before we go any further, I do need to suggest that before you guys read this chapter, you should probably go back and reread chapter seven since I have made some MAJOR changes.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I mean seriously, if I did this would actually be published in book form. And as always this story is rated M for a reason. You have been warned!
Hell Bent On Love
By: afallenblackrose
Chapter Eleven:
Fists of Fury
To say that hell broke lose after Diamond made his presence known, would have been an understatement. A cliché, certainly, but an understatement nonetheless. But after Diamond had said his horrible greeting and it hit me that it was really him, that he was really standing there in front of me, calling me his whore like he had in my nightmares, the shit hit the fan. Instead of standing there like a scared little bunny rabbit, I stalked forward, my hands balled into fists at my sides and a determined look on my face. When I reached him, I uncurled one of those fists and bitch slapped him.
Smack! The sound of my palm hitting the side of his face was gratifying for me, almost too gratifying. But after everything that pompous ass did to me? I deserved to slap him, hell I deserved to punch his lights out and cut off his balls. Unfortunately for me though, I didn't have a knife, or else I would have gone through with my plan of emasculation. Diamond was holding his cheek, hissing in pain, while Beryl watched all of this with an amused expression on her face, and Endymion was staring at me wordlessly. I should have filled him in on what was going on, but I wasn't done speaking my peace with Diamond just yet.
"You have a lot of nerve calling me that, Diamond. Especially after everything that happened," I said my voice laced with malice. "You're lucky that all I did was smack you."
"Oh, and what else could you have possibly done to me, Serenity?" Diamond asked, a smirk on his face. "Unless you haven't noticed yet, I'm in hell. Meaning, I'm dead. You got your wish, well technically." I stared at him, wondering if my slap had knocked some brain cells loose. What in the world was he talking about? I got my wish? What wish? …Wait, a light bulb went off in my head. My last words to him, one day you will die a worse death than this, was that what he was talking about? But what did he mean by, 'technically?'
"What do you mean, technically I got my wish?" My curiosity got the better of me. He looked up at me surprised that I had asked the question.
"Well, if you must know, a friend of yours killed me."
"Friend of mine?" My nose crinkled as my confusion grew.
"Yes, a friend of yours. I believe his name was Andrew?" Comprehension dawned on my face and I looked up at him my mouth agape.
"No, you're lying," I whispered. "There was no way that Andrew killed you."
"Oh, but he did, love," Diamond replied, smirking again. "He came to my hotel room, because he was supposed to be interviewing for a job with my company. But apparently, he wasn't there for a job with me. He was there to kill me. He put the gun to my temple and told me that I had killed his best friend. Next thing I know, I'm waking up down here." My mouth popped open again in shock. There was no way, none at all, that Diamond was telling the truth about Andrew. My best friend wasn't capable of shooting to kill, that's why I had…I bit back tears as memories came back to me. Andrew and I were best friends and would do anything for each other, even if it meant killing another person. Oh, Andrew… I trailed off in my head, noticing that while I had been thinking, Diamond had taken advantage (recovered quickly from my slap too) and moved closer to me. He had that predatory look in his eyes and I instantly began to squirm in discomfort at his closeness.
Endymion, as if sensing my unease, stepped in front of me protectively. "Just what exactly is going on here?" He asked, his voice calm, even though I could hear the growl in his throat. "Do you two know each other?"
"Unfortunately," I muttered.
"Yes, we do. Serenity and I are very well acquainted." The suggestive tone was there and my knee itched to be thrown into his groin. Where was a knife when you needed one? Maybe I should have gone through with my plan of emasculation…
"Is that so?" Endymion replied looking at me for confirmation. I was happy to give it, but not in the way Diamond was hoping for. Unfortunately for him, Endymion knew who he was and when I finally solved the mystery for him…. Well, I had no idea what was going to happen, but I couldn't wait to find out.
"Sure," I replied, my tone light, even though I was about to drop the biggest bomb ever. "If you call raping and murdering a form of acquaintance, then Diamond and I do know each other very well." My smile turned into a deep frown and my eyes narrowed as I stared daggers at him.
My reaction was tame though compared to Endymion's. The growl he had kept at bay before now escaped and I flinched away from him. Someone beside me whispered, "Now you've done it…" I looked and saw that Beryl woman was still there. She stared up at Endymion with complete fear and respect in her eyes. I turned and saw why.
The version of Endymion that I had come to know and love over the last few days was not standing before me. No, this was not a version of Endymion that I ever wished to see again. Standing before me was the most scarily beautiful man I had ever seen. But this man was a force that shouldn't be messed with. Hell, I didn't know if 'man' was the word to describe him because he wasn't human, at least not anymore. A pair of the deepest black wings had sprouted on Endymion's back, ripping the shirt he had worn to shreds. His hands now looked more like claws that could rip and cut to kill with one swipe. His deep azure blue eyes were now black and unlike before they weren't black out of a romantic lust. They were black with the lust to kill. The most shocking feature though out of this transformation was the horns. Yes, that's right, horns. There were two, one on either side of his head, and they were dangerously sharp and not as long as I was expecting.
Like I said before, Endymion wasn't human. No, he was something more animalistic, and now that he stood there, totally transformed, he looked more like the part of the Devil. Holy shit…
"Um, Serenity?" Diamond asked, taking his eyes off Endymion for a second. "Would you mind calling off your guard dog? I promise, I won't touch you." He forced a smile on his face, but I could tell that something wasn't right. He actually looked afraid. Good, I couldn't help but think. After everything, Diamond deserved a little run around with my 'guard dog' as he put it. There was no way that I was calling Endymion off.
"You dare speak to her?" Endymion's voice, more deeper and more like a growl, shot out making Diamond look back up at him. "After everything you put her through, you're lucky that I don't incinerate you right here." He snarled.
He deserves this, he deserves this I kept thinking in my head. But as I watched Diamond cower into himself, as Endymion loomed over him powerful and threatening, my conscious decided to speak up. Is this really fair? Diamond is already dead, has probably already been sentenced by the other masters for his crimes. He's been punished, let this go. It told me, but I wanted to ignore it. Seriously, considering everything, didn't he deserve this? If it hadn't been for Endymion stepping in, who was to say that Diamond wouldn't have done what he had done before, again? No. Diamond deserved whatever Endymion had planned for him.
"Endymion," Beryl's voice rang out at my side. He turned to look at her, those dark bottomless eyes baring into her. "Is this really necessary? Diamond has already been punished for his crimes by the masters, he is to spend an eternity in my circle, and you know how unforgiving I can be." She grinned wickedly at that and I shivered. I still was trying to figure out who she was, and what exactly her relationship with Endymion had been before I came along.
"Serenity," Endymion turned his gaze on me, only it was more of his gaze. The blackness in his eyes was disappearing, becoming the azure blue that I knew. "Is this acceptable punishment for you?" Beryl and Diamond turned their attention to me as well.
Oh, hell… I turned to Beryl. "Unforgiving?"
She nodded, "Yes, unforgiving."
"Make sure he stays in your circle. I swear, if I run into him anywhere else…" my attention returned to Endymion who nodded in understanding.
"Then he is mine," he snarled making Diamond cower back into the wall. Endymion grinned in victory and then in a flash of flame was returned to normal. He gathered my hand into his own and took one last glance at Beryl and Diamond before we disappeared in a wall of flame.
When the flames disappeared, Diamond stared open mouthed at Beryl. Fury crawled into his veins. "Well, that wasn't part of the plan," he spat. She only looked at him amused. "What is so fucking funny about this? I almost shit my pants when he became that monster! What was that?"
"That was the Devil," she replied, still smiling. "And even though it wasn't part of the plan for you to see that side of him, it still worked in our favor."
"How?" He asked, curious what this woman was planning.
"You shall see, Diamond, you shall see."
When we reappeared in our room, Endymion didn't let me go. He held me protectively and maybe even lovingly. I hadn't realized that I was shaking until he started rubbing his hands on my upper arms and started whispering soothing words to me. He thought I was afraid of him. I wanted to laugh at that, but I just couldn't get it out of my throat. It stuck and soon when I tried to breathe it sounded like I was sobbing. Oh, wonderful, just freaking fantastic. He led me to the bed and laid me down. I looked up at him and that same look that I had seen on him on that first night I was here was back. He looked broken and so very, very lost.
"You don't have to be afraid of me. I swear to you, Serenity, I would never hurt you."
"I'm not afraid of what you are, Endymion," I whispered and his eyes flashed to mine. "It's just a shock to see Diamond here. After everything that he put me through, I thought I wouldn't have to see him for at least a few decades. But to find out that Andrew killed him…" my voice broke and tears pooled in my eyes. Ah, crap, not this again. I bit my lip to keep the tears at bay, but a few escaped. He leaned forward and very carefully wiped the tears away.
"I promise you, Diamond will get what's coming to him. Beryl wasn't lying when she said that she's unforgiving," he lightly chuckled. "Unless you willingly wander into that circle, which I don't advise you do, you shouldn't have to worry about seeing him again. Of course, if you do, just call me to your side and he will no longer be a problem." It was meant to reassure me, I knew that, but for some unknown reason, a chill went down my spine. So much for not being afraid of him.
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked me, probably noticing the goose bumps on my skin.
"Eventually," I replied, honestly. "Why?"
"I need to speak with the masters about a few things, so I might have to leave you alone. Will you be okay, or should I send the mistresses in to keep you company?"
"No, I'll be fine on my own, you go on and do what you need to do."
He stood up and looked back at me, "If you're sure…"
"Positive," I tried to smile, but it probably came out as more of a grimace. It didn't matter though, because Endymion nodded and in a wall of flame disappeared. I would probably never get used to that. I mean would it really have killed him to walk out of the room? But no, he had to flame up like he was some stupid phoenix or something…
Ugh. So not the point, I thought to myself, not really believing that I had just gone on a rant about his disappearing ability. There was so many other things that I should be ranting about. Like the fact that Diamond was here, in hell, with me. That Beryl woman, who I still needed to figure out. What was her connection with Endymion? Other than him being her boss? Hm…I should probably ask him about it when he got back.
And then there was the big one. Andrew was the reason that Diamond was here. He had killed him out of revenge for me. Oh, Andrew, I thought again. This wasn't what I wanted. I didn't want him involved in this life, that was why I never told him about what I did other than my secretary job at the doctor's office. Of course, he had known that something was up when my mother's hospital bills mysteriously got paid and I didn't lose my apartment.
But I still refused to tell him the truth. Instead I told him that I had a mysterious benefactor (not really too far from the truth) that was paying my mom's hospital bills. He hadn't believed me, it was obvious, but he didn't badger me anymore for details.
Andrew, how the hell did you get involved in this? I couldn't help but think as I felt my eyes close.
It wasn't ever part of my plan for Serenity to see that side of me, but after learning that the man who had murdered and defiled her was now in my domain and had been so close to touching her… Well, my control over my temper was always a tad bit, loose. I knew that the 'True Devil' was frightening, I was the Devil after all, but I never wanted her to see it. Because the moment she did, I was afraid that she was going to realize the true monster that I was and want nothing to do with me. But as usual, Serenity, like Serena, took me completely by surprise. She wasn't afraid of that side of me, just the fact that Diamond was here, something I couldn't blame her for.
"Rubeus," I called out when I arrived outside the sentencing room. A man with flame red hair appeared by my side.
He bowed, "Sire, you called for me?"
"Yes, I have a job for you that is of the most importance. Go to my room and stand guard outside. Lady Serenity is inside and can leave but make sure you follow her if she does. The masters and mistresses can visit her, but Beryl and a man named Diamond cannot. If these two try, alert me immediately."
"Of course, sire," Rubeus bowed again before leaving for my room. I watched him go, knowing that he would do a good job. Rubeus was one of the few people that I trusted. I turned and entered the sentencing room, much to everyone's surprise. And I do mean everyone's surprise. I tried to keep the laugh within me at bay as Nephrite, Jadeite, Zoicite, and Kunzite readjusted their clothes and Amy, Lita, Raye, and Mina backed away from their thrones, their faces flushed and dresses rumpled.
"Nice to know that while I'm away the mice will play," I commented as soon as everyone became presentable.
"We weren't expecting you," Kunzite replied his voice deeper. "What are you doing here? We thought you would be…detained with Lady Serenity."
"I was," I shrugged. "But some new information has come to my attention and I need to discuss things with you." With a wave of my hand, the thrones disappeared and nine chairs took their place. I ushered to the seats and we all sat down.
"So, what's this new information?" Jadeite asked, getting straight to the point.
"Remember during Serenity's sentencing, when she told us what happened?"
"Yes, she didn't kill herself, she was murdered," Nephrite replied.
"Right, well, there's more to the story than she originally told us. She told me a few days ago and it's not exactly pretty." I heard a gasp and everyone turned their head towards Mina, whose eyes had grown wide (did that girl have the same expression for everything?).
"Mina?" Kunzite asked concerned.
"I'm alright, it's just shocking is all. I didn't think that she would tell you about what had happened to her… she just seemed too strong to have it effect her."
"She puts up that front, but I don't think she's as strong as she appears. Serenity had a nightmare about what happened to her and I was there when she woke up. I asked her about it and she told me."
"Okay, now I'm curious. What the hell happened to Serenity that is so bad?" Raye asked and the other two girls nodded in agreement.
"You know already that Serenity was a hired assassin before she died. The night she was killed, she was on assignment to kill a man named Diamond Chambers. Unfortunately for Serenity, he wasn't like her usual kills. Bodyguards always protected him, so the only way she could get to him was by enchanting him into bed. She flirted with him that night and had gotten him where she wanted him when he got the jump on her. He somehow knew whom she was and what she was trying to do. He handcuffed her to the bed and was going to kill her, but he decided to have his way with her instead." Raye, Lita, and Amy gasped in shock while Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephrite and Zoicite grimaced.
"Afterwards," I continued. "He killed her by slicing her wrists to make it look like a suicide."
"And we know the rest," Kunzite said.
"Diamond Chambers," Nephrite whispered. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Holy shit…" Lita exclaimed and looked at me with wide eyes. "He was down here a few days ago. We sentenced him to an eternity in Beryl's circle."
"I know," I nodded my head. "Serenity and I took a tour of hell today and ran into Beryl and Diamond at the end of it. That meeting didn't really…uh…end well."
"I somehow don't blame you," Jadeite chuckled. "If that had been Raye, I would have let that guy have it."
"I didn't," I admitted, everyone's eyes locked onto me. "When I found out who he was, I lost control of my temper and went a little crazy."
"The guy had it coming," Zoicite replied.
"Zoicite! Don't be so naïve! Even if Diamond deserved it, which he does, Endymion shouldn't have lost his temper. The transformation must have scared Serenity," Amy looked at me.
"Not really," I whispered.
"What?" They all exclaimed.
"It shocked her, at first, but she told me that it doesn't scare her."
"Well, then," Lita commented. "Maybe that's why she's meant for you, Endymion. She accepts you for who you are. That's what love is all about, you know."
I didn't really say anything in response to that. It was a problem that I was dealing with since she came into hell. Was I really in love with Serenity? Or was I only in love with her because of Serena? My mind kept debating with me about it and I was very confused by it all. I first picked her as my mistress because of how similar she was to Serena, but as I've gotten to know her, I wanted to protect her. Like today, with Diamond, I wanted to incinerate him right there on the spot because of what he did to Serenity. Anything to help her, to keep her safe, speaking of keeping her safe…
"You haven't, by chance, had a guy named Andrew show up in the sentencing room?" I asked, remembering that Serenity's best friend had killed Diamond and she was so distraught over that idea.
"Uh, no," Lita said, consulting her list.
"Well, I'll keep an eye on him on the death scrolls," I nodded my head. "I should go, get back to Serenity." I rose from my seat and made my way out of the room.
Awkward silences seemed to be the norm for Lady Serena and Lord Endymion as the third (or was it fourth?) fell over them as they walked through the market square. Endymion had just declared that Serena was different from the other girls he had 'been with' and he wanted the chance to prove it to her. So, they were taking their planned walk that afternoon. But they didn't know what to say to the other.
"Who was that woman I saw you talking to last night?" Endymion asked, breaking the silence. Serena couldn't help but think that he was always the one to break these silences.
"Which woman?" Serena countered. It was usually rude to answer a question with a question, but in this circumstance it wasn't. She talked with a lot of women at last night's ball.
"The one with the red hair," he clarified.
"Oh, that was my friend Molly."
"You seemed to know her really well," he commented.
"We've been friends since we were children."
"Ah, hence why she helped you avoid me all night." His tone was accusing but at the same time light with humor.
"Out of curiosity, Endymion, how do you know for certain that I was avoiding you?" Serena asked, not faking curiosity. She really wanted to know what gave her away. She was usually crafty when she was doing something dubious, enough that other people didn't expect her of any wrongdoing. But he had. How had he known?
"It was very obvious in your body language. When you walked into the ballroom at the beginning of the night, your eyes swept the room and when they landed on me, you grimaced in disgust."
"Well, that was because you were staring at me like I was something to eat," she defended herself. She didn't know why, but she felt like she needed to defend her actions.
He only chuckled at her response, "Trust me, Serena, I was not the only man in that room looking at you that way. Then there were the people you were gossiping with. Lady Iraheta? I know that you can't stand her, none of the other ladies do."
"Hmph. I'll give you that one."
"Allow me one more. When your friend Lady Molly arrived and found you, you sent very disproving looks my way and avoided me the rest of the night."
"The 'very disproving looks' as you called them was because you kept staring and watching me. It was very annoying. And I can't help it if Molly and I haven't seen each other over the last three months. We had a lot to discuss."
"I'm sure," Endymion grinned, knowingly. "But it doesn't matter now, because you have decided to give me a chance."
"I'm really staring to rethink that."
"I wish you wouldn't," he whispered looking at her with an expression she didn't recognize in his eyes. Whatever the expression was, it got to her and she just shook her head. Did he realize what he was doing to her? That he was charming her to accept his advances?
"I'll stand by my word, Endymion, but you only get the one chance. Make it count." It was harsher than what she intended, but he seemed to take the threat seriously.
"Don't fret, Lady Serena," he replied. "I plan to make it count."
The room was silent as the prisoner was brought in. The only sound that could be heard was the footsteps and the rustling of his handcuff chains. Today was going to be a bleak day for those within the room, but not as bleak as the prisoner's. Today was his execution day. He had been found guilty of murder and was sentenced to the death penalty. His last meal had been served, his last rights administered, now all that he had to do was sit in the chair and wait for the lethal injection to take his last breath.