Chapter Thirty-Four

The Calm

Happy New Year's Eve Sailor Moon fanfic nation! Thanks for the reviews for the previous chapter. Thanks for the wonderful reviews, favorites, and following since the beginning of Ever After. With two chapters left after this one in Act II, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

The nursery was a children's paradise. It was a spacious, spherical room with a golden dome shaped ceiling decorated with a large painting of angels flying around on starry night sky towards Elysian. The room reminded Darien of a toy store when he first walked into it with the children behind him. Every childhood toy he could think of from dolls, cars, games, playhouses and so much more was there. There were battery operated cars. A kid-sized train for the children to ride on that encircled the perimeter of the entire room. There were tons of toys and stuffed animals on the shelves and more in gigantic toy chests throughout the room.

While Darien was away, the butler stepped out of the way when he walked in the room and saw the children racing around the large room in battery operated cars. Derrick raced in a miniature red convertible, while Rini and Katie followed behind him in a pink Barbie jeep. Derrick took a detour and raced pass the butler out of the room as Rini grinned and followed along. Katie cried, "Daddy's going to kill us!"

Rini laughed steering the wheel. "Daddy doesn't care. Knowing him, he's probably drunk or with some woman with a brain the size of a peanut." Derrick swerved around the corner of the hallway as Rini swerved and followed as Katie buckled her seatbelt as hung on tightly to the dashboard. She strangely found Rini's words about her father's indifference comforting. She yelled out excited," Come on Rini! You can catch up with him."

Derrick shifted gears into D3 going faster. Rini shifted gears into D3 also increasing her speed as the Barbie jeep went faster. Derrick laughed as he rolled down the bumpy stairs of the staircase. Rini followed. They were on the second floor as the maids and footmen quickly moved out the way as Derrick and Rini zoomed pass them.

Derrick saw an opened door and made a sharp turn into the room. Rini followed behind him. Derrick stopped the car and turned off the engine. He stepped out of the car. Rini and Katie was amazed as Rini parked the jeep next to the sports car and stepped out.

Derrick, Rini, and Katie looked around the large, grandiose room. It was dark and eerie adorned with golden walls and colorful stained glass windows. On the walls hung the portraits of the Earth kings including one that was the splitting image of their father in a large wall painting of him looking regal and powerful in a golden armor with the splitting image of their mother Serenity standing in front of him in a floor length flowing white gown with golden trimmings on the neckline and hem of the dress. In the portrait, her hair was silver hair styled in two long odango styled pigtails. His hand was on her small waist as they both stared at something ahead of them with stoic faces.

Derrick stepped closer to the painting and looked at the date and saw that the picture was painted a thousand years ago. Was this man his father? Rini stood next to her brother and glanced up at the painting. She said, "They looked exactly the same."

Derrick looked confused. Rini continued as he listened to his sister, "Before my mother died, she told us that she was Sailor Moon and that she and father were the reincarnation of the Moon Princess Serenity and King Endymion, the Earth King. They lived a thousand years ago. They died on the Moon when they were killed in the battle against the Negaverse. My grandmother Queen Selenity sealed them along with everyone else who died on moon into the Silver Crystal to be reborn on Earth and to have a chance at happiness."

Derrick glanced at the other paintings of the other Earth Kings. The first one was dressed in a gold armor with a long white beard. The second one was dressed in royal military attire with a golden crowd on his head sitting on a golden throne. He looked like an older version of their father with a streak of gray in his black hair.

"Hey guys check this out." Derrick and Rini turned to the direction of Katie's voice. They raced across the room and found Katie standing in front of a glass case. Inside of the case was a shiny, long sword with a golden hilt and a golden crystal embedded in the hilt lying flat on a red cushion with gold trimmings.

The children all said simultaneously, "Wow!" A light shone through dark room onto the sword causing it to glisten in the light. Derrick felt a strange desire to touch the sword as if it was calling out to him. He took a step to touch the case.

"What are you doing in here?"

Derrick stepped back. The children jumped as they turned around to see an angry, slim man with gray hair brushed smoothly back into a low ponytail. His face was snobbish-looking as he stuck his large pointy nose up at them. He stood very still and uptight dressed in a gray three piece suit. There was an arrogance and superiority complex about this man that Derrick instantly disliked.

Derrick's eyes narrowed. He asked, "Who are you?"

The man said, "I am Lord Davenport and cousin to your grandmother Katherine Bennett. You children should not be running around the castle and no one is allowed to be in here."

Rini protested, "But the doors were opened."

He stared at the child in disbelief. "Stop lying child! These doors are never opened and always locked."

Rini and Katie turned to Derrick thinking he used his powers to unlock the door. Derrick read their thoughts and held his hands up in a defensive manner. "I didn't do it. I swear it was already open."

Lord Davenport said pointing towards the door, "Off you go. Your father's coronation ball is tonight and you have to get ready." The children raced out of the room leaving their cars behind, afraid to get them.

They spent an hour of their lives getting reproached by their father for causing such a ruckus. Lord Davenport had immediately informed their father of the rebellious and destructive behavior of his children. Katie opened her mouth in protest, but Darien would not let them speak. He threatened to ground them until they were eighty if they misbehaved at the ball tonight. He left out of the room and locked the door behind him.

Katie said angrily as they stood in the locked nursery, "I really dislike him."

Derrick asked, "Who dad?"

"No, silly. Lord Davenport."

Rini asked wickedly, "Want to get him back?"

Katie asked worriedly, "What about daddy?"

Derrick jeered. "Dad doesn't care about us, Katie." Katie turned to her brother.

"The ones who did are dead now." Katie turned to Rini. The children thought about their late mothers, who loved them unconditionally and felt depressed missing their mothers' love and warmth.

Derrick scoffed. "I bet in a few weeks. He's going to separate us and put us in boarding school." Katie glanced at Derrick then at Rini.

Katie said, "Why? This place is big enough for him not to see us for the rest of his life. It's the first time he saw us since we arrived here."

Derrick placed a reassuring hand on Katie's shoulders. "Daddy doesn't love us anymore. We only have each other." Katie felt depressed hearing her brother's words that seemed to ring very true more and more each day. She embraced her brother squeezing him tightly. Rini smiled placing a reassuring hand on Katie's shoulders.

Darien leaned his head against the door in the hallway listening to what his children thought of him. They confirmed what he already thought about himself. He was a horrible father just like his father was.

Cain appeared in a bedroom in the castle with Mina in his arms. He gently laid her on top of a bed. She would be dead any minute. She was delusional and kept calling him Jason. She was now unconscious as her pulse grew weaker by the second. Cain's eyes turned gold as he used his power to heal Mina. It was strange, but it seemed like she was fighting against him saving her as if she wanted to die.

Cain pressed a finger against her temple as her whole life flashed before his eyes from the day her mother conceived with Deacon to the day she was hit by a bus. He saw her pain. He knew she was abused and raped by her stepfather and that Ariel Brandon was not her sister and was really her daughter. He knew that she loved Jason and that he was now dead thanks to Ariel. He knew that she was pregnant. He touched her stomach and could feel that the unborn child was fine.

Darien and Raye rushed into the room. Darien and Raye looked horrified. She looked dead. Darien embraced Raye as she cried in her arms. She said, "Not again Darien."

Cain said, "She's resisting. I can't heal her if she doesn't want to be healed. She's strong-willed."

Darien asked, "What do you mean?"

Cain said, "Her sister killed her mother and her husband then tried to kill her. She thinks she's responsible for Jason's death. In one month, she lost her entire family."

Raye looked disbelief. "Patricia and Jason were killed by Ariel?"

Darien let Raye go and walked next to his brother. His eyes turned golden as he began to help his brother heal her. He said to an unconscious Mina, "Mina, you don't get to die. I know how it is to think that you lost everything and I've been there before, but we still need you here. You still have family. You still have people in your life that love you. You are not alone. I will not let you die."

Darien broke through her barrier and into her mind feeling every thought she ever felt and saw her pain as she watched her mother died. Darien saw her hatred for him. She knew that he tied her mother up with Jason in his basement in Barcelona. She hated her sister and a part of her wanted Ariel dead. But the person that she hated the most was herself. She hated that she failed Ariel. She hated that Jason was dead because of her. Her body began to heal and her cuts and bruises faded. He dented head regained its shape and she looked like Mina again. She gasped as her eyes popped opened and her back arched. She fell back on the bed breathing hard.

Raye rushed over to her in relief as she quickly embraced her. She looked confused not knowing what happened and where she was. She saw a man who favored Darien standing next to Darien. She then finally realized that Raye was hugging her. She embraced Raye and was glad that her friend was still alive.

Cain smiled. He said, "I am going to check on the preparations for tonight."

Mina looked at him and said, "Thank you for saving me."

Cain said dismissively, "You were lucky." Cain walked out. Mina hated his indifference.

Thirty-minutes later after Mina showered the grime off of her body and cried bawled up naked on the shower floor for the loss of her mother and Jason with the powerful high pressured shower head water sprays drowning out the sounds of her cries, she emerged out the bathroom with a happy smile plastered on her face. She was barefooted wearing a pretty blue dress Darien had found for her. Raye and Darien was on top of the bedcovers talking and eating a large pizza waiting for her. Darien lifted up the pizza box and Mina hopped into the spot on the bed between Darien and Raye. Mina listened as Darien caught her up on his Elysian family and the events of the last month as they chowed down on the pizza.

Mina sat like Raye and Darien did with their backs resting against the headboard and their legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. She turned to Darien. "So Serena is the devil's wife. She's carrying the Anti-Messiah. You have two brothers and a sister. And you pretty much single-handedly destroyed the New World Regime. Tonight's your coronation ball and tomorrow you become the Earth King."

Darien nodded as the hot melted cheese from the pizza in his hand dripped on the box. "Yup."

She turned to Raye. "You were killed by Chad, who was a reborn. You were a reborn until Rick, one of Dragon's minions, resuscitated you. You were in a coma for months and now you are carrying Darien's baby brother's baby named Adam, who is going to propose to you tonight."

Raye said munching on her pizza, "Yup."

Raye smiled and rubbed Mina's belly. "And you're pregnant also."

Mina smiled. She touched her stomach. It was all she had left of Jason.

Darien gave Mina a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. She turned her head to him and smiled. She rested her head on his shoulder.

Mina asked, "So now that the Earth will not be destroyed by Mother Nature, how do we save Serena?"

They remained silent. Darien stared straight ahead not wanting to think about the inevitable. He knew he would meet her again, but would it end in one of their deaths. How could he think about killing his soul mate and the mother of his children?

Raye said, "We'll come up with something."

Darien smiled. "Yes, we will."

Mina smiled. None of them believed their lie.

Ariel appeared in Mina's apartment. She knew there was a chance that Mina was still alive. Her sister was very crafty and knew how to get herself out of tough jams. She searched the apartment and saw no signs that her sister had been home. Ariel disguised herself on the phone in Mina's voice asking to see if there was any credit card activity or any changes to her bank account balance. The customer service representatives reassured her that everything was fine. For a moment, she really thought that Mina was dead until she flipped on the television and saw news reports about people seeing her sister get hit by a bus in Barcelona and a tall handsome stranger with dark hair and blue eyes picked her body up and disappeared with it. There were reports that people feared that she was dead and were trying to find the body. As far as the picture of Ariel flying in Jamaica surfacing online, the images came out blurry. Ariel appeared at Darien's home in Barcelona, but she found that Darien no longer lived there and the house was empty.

Cain spent the rest of the day overlooking the preparation for the coronation ball. Darien spent the rest of the day in the privacy of his chambers. He wanted to spend time with the children, but his advisors informed him that Princess Evelyn had arrived with her daughters Princess Madeline and Princess Anabella and wished for the children to bond with their cousins.

The girls were as beautiful as their mother with the long raven hair and sparkling blue eyes. They looked like twins and spoke properly and gracefully like the princesses they were, but their personalities were completely different. Madeline, Maddy for short, was the older sister at age eleven. She was a girly girl and loved playing dress up and having tea parties. She wore her hair in two braided pigtails that usually hung over her shoulders. She was somewhat snobbish and spoiled. She adored being a princess and expected things to be done properly.

Annabella, on the other hand, was completely opposite of her sister. At the age of seven, she was a complete tomboy and only wore dresses when forced. She hated girly things and enjoyed playing with the boys and loved sports. She had freckles on the face that looked pretty and slight gap between her teeth that her sister Maddy always teased her about. She was adventurous and like her mother hated royal life. She was named after Cain's late wife and was also their goddaughter. She was very fond of her Aunt Annabella. Cain adored her and treated her more like a daughter than a niece.

Annabella and Madeline met Katie, Rini, and Derrick in the nursery after one of the maids unlocked the doors. They could tell that Maddy was a snob right off the bat from the disdainful way she stared at them. Annabella instantly greeted them and clicked with the children. Maddy folded her arms across her chest. She'd rather play with her other cousins who had more sophistication than them. Maddy turned on her heel towards the door. She saw her mother standing there blocking the exit. Her mother gave her a look that read, "Be nice or else." Maddy rolled her eyes as she joined her cousins in their silly game of kick ball until their ladies' maids and Derrick's valet came to gather them and get them ready for the ball.

Derrick thought it was so cool to have his personal valet. His name was James. He looked about forty with long blonde hair tied flawless into a ponytail. He was tall and lanky and dressed in black and tuxedo with a long tail as his uniform. He had a pocket watch attached to this belt and he constantly checked it for the time as he helped bathe and trimmed the young master's hair. He referred to him as Young Master Derrick or Prince Derrick. Even when Derrick told James that he did not have to address him in that manner, James replied, "Yes Young Master Derrick." Everything was sharp and efficient with James even the small glasses on his nose were always clear and shiny.

Katie and Rini enjoyed equally being pampered by their ladies' maids Rose and Lily, respectively. Rosy was mundane redhead with average looks and a small, petite frame. She had rosy cheeks and every time she showed extreme emotions like happiness or angry, he face turned as red as her hair. She always wore her hair neatly pinned up in a bun, since it was a requirement of all maids to do so, and dressed neatly in a black and white maid's uniform.

Lily was sweet and naturally soft spoken. She was pretty blonde hair girl with innocent green eyes and naively believed in the best in people. She was a dreamer with her head in the clouds. She was only ten when she lost her parents in a home fire. She was the only one that the firefighters were able to save. She was placed in the foster care system going from one home to the next for six months. Cain found her on the streets of New York when she swiped his wallet on his way to work.

"Hey!" He shouted after her.

He chased her down the streets of New York. Young Lily panicked when she saw how fast he was. He chased her into an alley that was empty with only a hot, funky dumpster filled with trash and large rats crawling around. When she realized that she could not get away and was going back into the system, she turned around. She surprised him when she simply walked over to him and gave him his wallet back and said in an unapologetic tone, "Sorry." Cain quickly checked the contents of his wallets to see if she had stolen anything. He saw everything was still there. He glanced up at the child and gave her the once over. She was skin and bones like she hadn't eaten in days. Her hair and clothes stank and were filthy. Her face was covered in dirt. At the age of ten, she looked like she had a hard life and seen how cruel the world really was. He recognized that look because he had the same look when he was in the system. He flipped out his cellphone never taken his eyes off the child.

Lily cried, "Please mister, don't call the cops. I gave you your wallet back. Everything is still there."

Cain said in a tight voice, "Elise, cancel all my morning appointments and push back the ten o' clock meeting with the board of directors to two this afternoon. Don't question me just make it happen." He ended the call and placed his phone back in his jacket pocket. The child looked at him in awe. "Are you hungry?" Lily simply nodded transfixed by the handsome man dressed in fine clothes reeking of wealth and sophistication. He took her to a local pizza joint around the corner where they sat a small table with a red and white checkered tablecloth. It was an Italian restaurant and all the walls were decorated with pictures of famous Italians who visited the joint over the years with their signed autographs framed.

Cain watched with his arms folded on the table as the little girl devoured an entire pizza pie like it was her last supper. He asked her about herself once she satisfied her appetite and slurped on the large thirty-two ounce cup of coke he brought her. She told him about her past and how tough it was. Cain smirked. She knew how to play the sympathy card for all it's worth. All streets kids did. They know that in the real world it was dog eat dog and no one gives a damn about you. You can only depend on yourself. Some rich people were snobbish and thought of homeless people as lazy bums who needed to find a job. Some did not see them as they walked passed them as if they were invisible. Other rich people were sympathetic and one good deed always made them happy before they continued on with their perfect, happy lives. Cain knew this small girl, who was not innocent as she looked, obviously thought he was the latter.

He offered her a home and a job and to never be on the streets again. Did she want it? She did not believe him, of course. He took out his wallet and tossed a few bills on the table. When no one was looking, he reached over and grabbed her hand. She gasped when they vanished into thin air. The waiter came out of the back looking for the young man and the little girl with the bill in his hands. He was about to blow a gasket when he saw they were gone. He calmed down when he saw the gentleman had paid for the meal and left him a nice tip too. Cain and Lily reappeared in the golden castle in Elysian and he offered her a job as a maid. He asked Rose to take the girl under her wing. He told her that he had to return to work and left her in Rose's good hands before vanishing. Rose informed her that the servants were all mortals who came from unfortunate circumstances on Earth and chose freely to come to Elysian to live a peaceful life of service. After the immortal Elysians died out centuries ago, the servants became the mortal caretakers of Elysian personally chosen by the royal family over the years to look after the kingdom while they were away. In exchange for taking care of the castle and looking after their kingdom, the Elysians allowed the mortals to live peaceful, carefree lives in Elysian for the remainder of their days. As Rose gave her a personal tour of the golden castle, Lily was amazed at how magnificent the castle was like a fairy tale. She had her own room. Her bed was soft and comfy. She had a personal bathroom to clean herself and even though Rose was stern and mean, Lily adored her and considered her a big sister since Rose was only nineteen at the time. Lily had been there in Elysian ever since. She felt like she had a family again and was always grateful to Cain or Prince Alexander, which she quickly learnt was his real name, for bringing her to his world.

Rose and Lily scolded them with the girls engaged in water fight in the large bubble bath. Katie and Rini sighed in content as Rose and Lily sat on their beds and softly brushed the girls' long strawberry blonde hair down their backs. It reminded them of their mother and stepmother brushing their hair.

Darien was feeling tense as he stood out on the terrace with his hands gripping the white marble railing tightly. He was a nervous wreck. He went from being a nobody, invisible to the world and now he was going to the king of it. He worried that he would fail. He grew angry thinking of Serenity making love to some else. He worried that he could not save her. He worried that he would watch her die again and this time she would never come back. He worried that he would never be a good father and his children will grow up to hate him like his siblings obviously hated their father. His children no longer believed his lies and his "I love you" no longer meant anything to them. He constantly reverted back to bedding women and drinking, even though he had not had a drink or bedded any women in over two weeks.

Darien's personal manservant was Henry. Darien instantly liked him. He used to work for Master Alexander, but Cain reassigned Henry to him for some reason. Henry was sharp and efficient. He knew what Darien wanted before he even asked for it. Henry did not talk endless chatter and only spoke and offered his opinion when asked. He helped Darien out of the bath and dressed him in a satin red robe. Darien's body was bathe and clean by a beautiful woman with an exotic beauty named Anya from the Middle East with dark hair and seductive gray eyes clad in a red gypsy dress and a large bosom that enticed him and jiggled as she moved and knelt in front of him giving him a better view. His eyes were lustful as she cleansed his body in more ways than one. She washed his feet with her long butt length dark hair and gave him a manicure and pedicure. He groaned as her soft fingers stroked his chin before trimming his ebony locks and giving him a nice, clean shave. When she was done, she told him as she massaged the aching muscles of his tense back as he moaned in pleasure that she would see him again tonight and every night he called upon her. She left out the room and summoned Henry in.

Henry asked him as he helped him put on the tuxedo jacket, "Are you feeling much better, your majesty?"

Darien said, "Yes, Henry. I am." Darien was more relax but still felt tense about something.

Henry told him as he stood in front of Darien helping him with tie, "You are a king with an insatiable appetite. There is nothing wrong with that if it does not get in the way of your duties as king."

Darien said with his head tilted up, "I promised my children that I will change so many times I don't believe myself anymore."

Henry said, "Nothing is wrong with keeping a woman or two in your bed. That's why God created more of them than us."

Darien chuckled as Henry kept a straight face.

Darien asked, "Are you marry, Henry?"

Henry said, "No, I was though, your majesty. She was a wonderful woman named Betty. We were married for twenty years and my children are already in college or married with lives of their own. She suffered from a brain aneurysm and died ten years ago on Wednesday, sir."

Darien said solemnly, "I am sorry to hear that, Henry."

Henry stood behind Darien patting him searching for any speck of dirt or a loose string. Darien asked curiously, "How did you cope?"

"I drink your majesty." Darien stood shocked. "My devil was neat vodka right from the bottle. What was yours?"

"Whiskey, wine, beer…"

"Kind of soft your majesty." Darien laughed.

"How did you know?" Henry knew he was referring to Darien's drinking habit.

"We can spot one another a mile away."

"How did you stop?"

"I got help. I learnt how to deal with my problems in other ways. I have been sober for twenty years."

"Well, I will have to drink tonight." Darien joked, "What is a king who does not drink with his subjects?"

"A good example." Darien laughed. Henry said, "I'll slip you a club soda. They'll never be able tell the difference."

Darien smiled. "Thank you, Henry."

"You're welcome, your majesty."

Henry clasped his hands together. "Now, let's get you ready for the ball."

At seven o' clock sharp, Elysians from throughout the world appeared on the steps of the castle dressed in fancy gowns and long tailed black tuxedos. The doorman opened the doors of the castle and bowed as the Elysians walked into the castle once again.

The Elysians all family now since they intermingled and married throughout the years crowded the grand and majestic golden ball room that sparkled with a shiny golden chandelier made from golden crystal hanging from a three layered dome shaped ceiling. At the far end of the room was the throne for the royal family to sit in. There was a large throne made of gold with red cushions and engraved with the symbol of the Earth family. Another throne sat next to it of equal sized and two small thrones sat on both sides of the larger chairs.

Footmen and maids served hors d'oeuvresand Elysian famous wine as the guests mingled with one another. They were all pleased to see one another. A room full of lawyers, doctors, and powerful men and women mingling with family they had not seen in years. A small orchestra played soft music in the corner that echoed throughout the room. Lord Davenport stood at the top of a large, spacious staircase made of gold with gold hand railings ending with matching chubby golden cupid shaped newel caps with bows and arrows. The golden staircase where covered with a large red carpet with golden edges.

The orchestra stopped playing and everyone became quiet as they turned their attention to the staircase. Lord Davenport said, "Welcome all Elysians. I present to you the House of Endymion."

Prince Alexander dressed in a tuxedo looking handsome with his dark hair slick back. Lord Davenport said, "I present to you, His Royal Highness Prince Alexander of the Earth." Cain walked down the stairs with his head held high and regal as he nodded to the guests who smiled as nodded to him. He stood at the end of the stairs.

"I present to you, His Royal Highness Prince Adam of the Earth and his wife Princess Raye of Mars." The crowd conversed and whispered amongst themselves in shock as Prince Adam with his hair slick back also held his wife Raye gloved hand of her long red sequin gown as they walked slowly down the stairs together. Her makeup was flawless and her dark hair was styled in a double French twist. Diamond earrings dangled from her ears and a large diamond necklace and a golden wedding band sparkled around her elegant neck and fingers. He was sporting a golden wedding band.

Cain was stunned also but smiled in approval when he met the eyes of his little brother. Adam surprised Raye when her ladies had finished dressing her. She turned to see him dressed handsomely in a tuxedo. His eyes traveled up her body and landed on her pretty but surprised face. Adam dismissed the maids who were outraged for his inappropriateness. Adam smiled as strolled over to Raye and pulled her in his arms surprising her with a breathtaking kiss that she instantly melted in as she closed her eyes and her arms slid around his neck.

She moaned as his lips left hers and nuzzled against her neck like a cat making her feel warm inside as she held him in her arms. He said, "Let's get married."

Raye laughed feigning ignorance. "All in one day Adam."

Adam lifted his head and said with shocked eyes that she was not jumping for joy. He declared, "I love you, Raye. I'll always have since I was seven-years-old." Raye looked perplexed. He said, "Which you clearly do not remember but…" He backed away and held his hands with her gloved ones. "But I have loved you from the moment I met you. Please marry me, Raye. I promised that I will make you happy. Endymion will kill me otherwise." Raye smiled as she sighed in content. He made her feel happy even though she only known him for a short time. Yet, she could see inside his heart and knew that he loved her and he would make her happy. She wished she foresaw the next part after he kissed her. She thought her wedding was going to be big and glamorous not a simple kiss the next moment and a little golden light show and golden eyes. A golden wedding band appeared on their ring fingers and like that, they were married and blessed by the gods. He grinned then escorted her to the ballroom. They were married for only five minutes before she was introduced as his wife. Lord Davenport looked abhorred when Adam leaned over and whispered something in his ears before he introduced him. Lord Davenport looked horrified like she reviled him. Raye challenged him with her hand on hip and looking at him and daring him to say something disrespectful. Lord Davenport frowned and unpleased announced them as prince and wife.

Next, Princess Evelyn stood in waiting dressed in a form fitting black dress and her long raven hair hanging down her black. Her daughter stood behind her looking pretty in their matching royal blue gowns and white gloves and bouncy dark Shirley Temple curls. Evelyn smiled when her husband Joe, an average looking man with a brown hair and dreamy brown eyes embraced his daughters quickly before encircling his happy wife's hand with his. Lord Davenport looked at him with more displeasure than he did with Raye; at least Raye was of royal blood.

He said, "I present to you, Her Royal Highness Princess Evelyn of Earth and her mortal husband Joe." Evelyn held back the desire to roll her eyes at her uncle as she walked down the stairs with Joe. "I present to you, their Royal Highnesses Princess Madeline and Princess Annabella of Earth." Everyone awed as the princesses walked down the stairs in sync together.

Lord Davenport smiled as his nephew Endymion as he approached him with his children behind him. He praised Endymion and scowled at the children. The children all frowned at him.

Katie pulled on her dad's pants leg. He knelt down on one knee. He asked, "Yes princess?"

Katie whispered in his ears covering her mouth with her gloved hand, "Can you fire him?"

Darien scoffed then whispered back covering his mouth with his hand, "I can't. He's my uncle." Katie pouted. She giggled when he scooted her up one hand. She looked pretty in a pink fluffy gown and her hair was shiny and loose along with her sister dressed in a matching light blue gown and her hair also loose. They looked like twins. Derrick looked sharp and handsome in his dark tuxedo. Darien nodded in approval. Derrick tried to look cool like his dad but found himself blushing at his dad's compliment. Darien laughed silently. He held out his hand. Rini took his hand while Derrick stood on the opposite side.

Lord Davenport looked outraged, "That's improper."

Darien smiled looking at his children. "They are my family and if I am to enter into this new life, they will be at my side. Do you have a problem with that?" Lord Davenport fumed then turned on his heel and said sharply, "All hail his majesty, King Endymion of the Earth and House of Endymion. I present to you King Endymion and his children, Her Royal Highness Princess Serenity Shields of Earth, Her Royal Highness Princess Katherine Shields of Earth and His Royal Highness Prince Derrick Shields of Earth." They stood at the center of the stairs. "All hail the Shields family." The children watched as everyone bowed down to them. The children's mouths dropped. Katie rested her head on her father's chest. He continued walking down as everyone rose and began to mingled and greet them.

As time passed, Cain sipped champagne as he mingled bored to death with his family and watched as the children played with one another running around the room. He glanced over at his brother Darien.

Darien was swarmed by people asking him a million questions. He looked over the crowd to Henry who stood at attention on the side and smiled. Henry nodded at his king. Darien slowly sipped his drink that was club soda. They were all so interested in his life. Darien was amazed to find that all his family members were rich and successful professionals. They were lawyers, doctors, scientists, politicians, CEOs, accountants, and trade men. They were all fluent in many languages and very accomplished. Adam informed him when he had a small breather from the crowd that they hit the genetic lottery and anyone born in this family was born to be successful. They were like God's angels. Even though God favored the mortals, the angels were always superior and more powerful than the humans.

When Raye strode over and joined them, Darien congratulated Raye and Adam on their elopement. Everyone was surprised since they did it in secret. They were more impressed that Raye was pregnant with an Elysian child and was bringing new blood into their family. They instantly liked her when they realized that she came from money and possessed the power of the element fire since she was the reincarnation of Mars. Raye forgot she was pregnant for a moment as the waiter offered her a glass of champagne. Adam quickly declined telling the waiter to let everyone know that his wife was with child. The waiter apologized profusely before bowing and walking off. Adam never left Raye's side as he placed a small hand on her back as he introduced her to his family.

Cain watched completely ignoring his cousin, Jacob Bennett, talking about the family business. He was the chief financial officer of Bennett Industries for the cosmetic branch. He observed his immediate family with his sapphire eyes. Evelyn and Raye were mingling when their cousins from Europe who owned a chain of respite homes for the elderly throughout West Europe. Adam and Raye were talking to their cousins from China who owned a large clear energy company. Darien was surrounded by a swarm of shameful women with zealous looks in their eyes in awe of the future king, all thriving for the position of queen and not giving a damn if they were his blood and some of them were married. They used to give him the same look when he was acting king. But he hated that his family mixed so much that he feared that the next child born by two Elysians would be born with two heads and twelve toes. Before he left power, he forbade that any Elysians with the blood of Endymion through their veins bear anymore heirs. They called his decision blasphemy and calling for the extinction of their kind. He told them that they needed new blood. It horrified him that he would even considered them mingling with the lower beings. An Elysian child had not been born in five years. Annabella was the youngest member of the family. Now, it would be Raye's unborn child.

He walked out the room needing a break from all the necessities of being pretentious like the rest of his family. He strolled out onto the gardens of palace. He exhaled the fresh air of Elysian. He walked through the rose garden created by Queen Susan a thousand years ago. His hands were shoved his pocket as he kicked a stone pebble in his way. He looked up at the half moon in the night sky as he walked along the garden.

He then heard tears and sobs. He ran through the maze to the direction of the woman's cries. He stopped in his tracks when he saw it was Mina. She looked beautiful in her strapless red ball gown and her long golden hair was braided in a long braid across her shoulders. Her hands were pressed against the marble bench she sat on. Her hands reached up to covered her face. Cain felt sorry for her.

She sniffled as she wiped her tears away with the back of her white gloved arm. Her blue eyes were red and puffy. Her mascara was a mess. She felt sorry for anyone who saw her like this. She must look hideous. She heard the snapping of a twig. She quickly turned to see Cain standing in the pathway staring at her. They stared at another in silence. Mina looked up at the full moon.

Cain took the seat next to her and looked at the moon shining brightly in the sky. After a few moments, he said, "I know how you feel."

Mina rolled her eyes. She hated when people said that. She turned to him with upset eyes. He continued to look at the sky. "I lost my wife six years ago."

Mina looked stunned at him. He continued to look at the sky. "We knew each other since college, but we were married for six years and I was happy. It was first and only time in my life that was truly happy. She wanted children and was upset when the doctor informed us that she was barren. I told her that I did not care and I still loved her regardless. When she died, it was a normal day. It was when I arrived home from work. I found out that my life would never be the same. She died that morning on her way to work. She was so disfigured that it took them all day to find out who she was."

Mina turned away. She focused on the beautiful roses bushes in front of her. "I was truly happy for the first time in my life also. My life was hell and then Jason made it better. We were happy and finally married with child on the way. I was at a festival when he died shopping. By the time I arrived, he was already gone and by my sis…my daughter's hand."

Jason smiled sadly. "That's a tough pill to swallow." She gasped when she imagined that Cain was Jason for a moment.

Cain laughed, "I saw my Annabella in other people too. It's okay." Mina smiled. He was reading her thoughts.

Mina groaned. "I need to tell Jason's family that he is dead."

Cain said, "His family is dead." Mina's heart skipped a beat.

Cain said aloof, "She knows that you are not dead. Mina Aino, the actress, is too famous to simply vanish in the world. She's searching for you. Trying to think like you. She's probably killed his family now thinking that you went to see them."

Mina cried out exasperated thinking about Ariel, "Why is she so evil?"

Cain said, "You took an innocent child and told her that her entire life is a lie. She believes that she is an abomination. Her heart is black and filled with hate. She's a loose dog, Mina. You're prolonging the inevitable."

Mina said sharply, "She is my family. She is all I have. Would you kill your brother if he turned out evil?"

Cain turned to her and said seriously, "Yes, I would."

Mina looked surprised not expecting that answer. "Still, I have to warn his family."

Cain said, "Your mortality makes you weak. It is smarter to stay here where you are safe and she cannot reach you."

Mina smirked. "I guess I am not smart. You know they say that blondes are bimbos with tiny brains."

Cain snorted. "Well, I'll humor you. I rather fight in a preventable battle than pretending to enjoy being here. Let's be idiots together." He placed his hand on top of hers as they disappeared back to Earth.

Darien stood shirtless on his terrace clad only in his pajama pants. The party ended hours ago. The cool wind blew against his hair and chilled his already cool skin. He leaned against the railing and looked out at the dark shadows of his kingdom. In fourteen hours, his life would be forever altered. He will no longer be Darien Shields and officially become Endymion, the Earth King. Everything was silent and peaceful. His children slept peacefully in their beds. Adam and Raye happily cuddled in bed together and Raye now resided in Adam's chambers. Evelyn was fast asleep in her bed with her husband still sitting up flipping through the television channels.

Darien had no idea where Cain and Mina were. Mina never made an appearance at the ball and Cain left early from the party and never returned. He knew they were no longer in Elysian. Everything was calm and peaceful in the world at the moment, the calm before the storm. But Darien knew this time was short. The Anti-Messiah grew stronger and bigger in Serenity, now Alexandra's belly. Dragon saturated her with his power every night. Darien frowned at that thought. He had a sneaking suspicion that Dragon was planning something big. History was repeating itself and he was becoming Endymion once more.

He remembered Cain's words. "There is a whole world out there, your kingdom that needs you. A thousand years ago you failed them because of a woman. Now, history is repeating itself. Are you going to let your kingdom fall again for a woman or are you going to save us this time?"

He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would meet Serenity again. But could he honestly kill the love of his life to save his people? He whispered to the wind, "Serenity…"

Alexandra sat in a rocking chair. Jeth sat at her side. She rubbed her hands over her belly. She now looked about nine months pregnant.

Jeth looked up and asked with bright eyes, "Can I see it, mother?"

Alexandra nodded as she lifted up her shirt. Jeth smiled when he saw the imprint of a small face pressing against his mother's skin. Jeth smiled and said happily, "Mother, it looks beautiful."

Alexandra smiled. She felt her child moving inside of her body caressing her hands as it poked at her through her belly. Alexandra smiled happily. Her child would be born soon.