Hello All,

Finally, finally I'm getting Chapter 12 up! I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Also if you're looking for something else to read, I have another story titled "Change of Heart". It's quite different from this; so if you're interested please do give it a read.

And please, please review! Your encouraging words mean the world to me!

Chapter 12

Serenity shut her bedroom door softly behind her as she scanned the hallway quickly.

Ah, the coast was clear.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she started making her way down to the dinner hall. It had been about half an hour since she had left the library. She hoped she hadn't been missed so far.

Serenity had safely stowed Grandma Rose's diary beneath a mountain of clothes in a drawer in her room.

No one should be able to locate it accidentally. Only if they turned her room upside down would they find the journal.

So she had to play it safe. Appear calm and collected on the outside. Act as if she was completely fine being confined and trapped in another world against her will.

She would have to act composed. She didn't want to raise suspicions. She didn't want to give them any reason to search her room.

A slight smile spread across Serenity's face as she rounded a corner. This was the most relieved and optimistic she had felt in a while.

She felt as if she had something to look forward to now. She wasn't just trapped, and wandering around in complete oblivion.

She could now gather some clues or hints that would help her find her way back home.

She was surprised to discover a smidgen of guilt somewhere at the back of her mind.

She was abandoning these people. She was abandoning someone who had become her friend, Raye.

As horrible as she felt about that, she reasoned that she was no healer.

She had no powers that could really help anyone.

And things were calm here anyways. They didn't need her help.

'Yeah, I wouldn't really be missed,' Serenity convinced herself.

'I don't belong here. I need to get home,' she repeated to herself.

This place made her feel things she hadn't felt before. She had believed herself to be a calm and practical person.

But ever since she stepped foot in this world, her emotions had been frazzled.

And she had felt an inexplicable attraction to a chauvinistic jerk.

She had a fiancée, for god's sake!

'Yes, the best thing for my emotional health is to get as far away from him as possible,' Serenity concluded, nodding to reassure herself.

She realized though that she was pinning all her hopes on that journal.

She hoped to find secrets that would give her clues on where to go to get back to her own time.

But what if her grandmother hadn't disclosed such secrets?

What if all that journal had was healing arts jargon?

The familiar dread that had enveloped her being so frequently lately started to creep back in.

'No. No. I won't worry about that until I've actually read every single page of that diary.'

She must have written something in there. She had to have written something in there.

Putting those off-putting thoughts aside, Serenity concentrated on making her journey down to the dining hall.

As she approached closer to her destination, she realized that the castle had been quieter as of late.

She hadn't heard any guards gossiping loudly by the doors, nor had she seen the Generals around.

Infact, the castle looked emptier than usual as well.

Maybe they were training? Or in meetings? But everyone? That didn't seem right.

'Oh well, it doesn't really concern me,' Serenity thought, pushing the thoughts aside.

As she neared the doors of the dining hall, Serenity's attention was drawn to a group of maids standing in the corner to her right.

As soon as they noticed her presence, they huddled together, and proceeded to whisper to one another while shooting Serenity side-glances filled with distaste.

Without breaking her stride, Serenity squared her shoulders and held her head high as she walked through the doors and into the dining hall.

She wouldn't let them see that they had an effect on her.

But as she passed from their view, she let out a huge sigh.

So the servants still seemed to dislike her. A tiny part of her had hoped that had changed.

Looking about the room, Serenity once again noted how few people were assembled for supper.

Whereas before, the dining hall would be bustling and overflowing with the loud banter of boisterous guards, it was eerily quiet today.

There were only a few people gathered around the table. In fact, she could probably count the number on her hands.

Where was everyone?

Looking towards the end of the table, Serenity noted the empty seat.

Endymion wasn't at dinner again.

It wasn't very alarming, but it was surprising that Serenity had not seen him in his own castle for quite some time.

He had been a constant presence around the grounds when she had first arrived.

Scanning the scarcely filled table, she also noted the absence of his Generals.

She then spied Raye sitting near the head of the table, at her usual spot. She seemed to be eagerly speaking to a maid. But the important thing to note was that she seemed to be smiling.

As Serenity neared Raye, she heard the end of her instructions, "-make sure you bring them some rice. He loves rice. That is all. You may go."

Serenity watched as the maid curtseyed and walked away in haste.

Finally noticing Serenity's presence, Raye greeted her with a welcoming smile.

"Ah Serenity. I'm so glad you're finally here. I was getting a bit lonely by myself," she said as she patted the seat next to her.

"I was just freshening up," Serenity said as she took the seat to Raye's right. "I'm happy that you're feeling better."

"Yes. I'm relieved now that Endy's back. Really relieved," she added with a sigh.

'Ah, so that's why the castle seemed so empty and quiet,' Serenity thought subconsciously.

"Oh, I was unaware he was gone," Serenity replied, as she smiled thankfully at the maid serving her food.

"Yeah, he had some business to take care of outside of the castle. Thankfully nothing seems to have happened…" she trailed off.

"Business that required the Generals to go along with him? That sounds ominous."

Raye seemed surprised at Serenity's astuteness.

She probably thinks that I don't notice much, since I rarely stray from my room or the gardens.

But how could Serenity have not noticed his absence? Ever since their last encounter, Serenity had subconsciously surveyed every room she had walked into to note his presence.

And after overhearing that conversation in the garden, she had hoped to avoid any further encounters with him.

In the meantime, Serenity had noted that she acted irrationally around Endymion. She had irrational thoughts, she had irrational feelings, she was just plain irrational, in general, whenever he was in the picture.

So in order to make sure that she stuck to her plan to get home, it was best to avoid Endymion and just focus on finding a way out.

And it was best for her emotional self to steer clear of the playboy prince as well.

Raye's voice brought her back to reality.

"No, it shouldn't be anything serious. They came back on time, so things should be alright…" she mumbled, her mind drifting elsewhere; a serious expression overcoming her features.

Raye's reassurances fell on deaf ears. There was something that bothered Serenity about this situation. An uneasy feeling crept deep within her, threatening to overcome her rational mind.

It was normal for Endymion to travel a General whenever he left the castle. They usually accompanied him on travels of official business, Serenity had noticed. He was the Prince after all. So that part didn't cause any alarm.

But, generally, one or at the most two Generals accompanied the Prince. On this occasion, all of them had gone with him.

This part did not sit right with her. This didn't seem to be one of his usual travels. Something must have happened.

One look at Raye, and Serenity's concerns were heightened.

Raye's eyes were downcast and she seemed to be absentmindedly tracing something on the wooden table with her forefinger.

Something still seemed to be worrying her. Worrying her seemed to be putting it lightly. Something seemed to be eating her alive.

What was worrying her so much?

Determined to get to the bottom of the matter, Serenity probed, "Have you spoken with your brother yet?"

"Who?" Raye said, snapping out of her daze, her eyes focusing on Serenity.

"Your brother. Have you spoken to him?"

"Yes. Only briefly though. When I got word that they had returned, I ran to check up on him."

"And was something wrong? Are they alright?" Serenity probed.

"Yes. They said that they had resolved the matter. It was an odd little matter though. But they seemed to have dealt with it."

"But if everything is alright, why aren't they at supper, as usual?" Serenity wondered out loud.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about. When they come back from their travels, they like to have a talk over, meeting of sorts, to talk through matters. And they're usually quite tired, and not up to enacting formalities."

That made sense to Serenity. They had an image to uphold in the castle. Especially the Prince. No one would feel like exchanging pleasantries when they returned from long journeys.

A thought suddenly occurred to Serenity. Maybe she could leave the castle unnoticed tonight? The Prince and the Generals seemed busy. And the people around the castle seemed scarce. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to try her luck.

If she went back to her room now and devised a plan, maybe, just maybe, she could get out of here.

Serenity was about to excuse herself from supper, when her gaze fell on Raye.

She was worried about Raye. She should make sure she was all right. Serenity relaxed her grip on the handles, and sat back down on the chair.

"So why are you so worried then?" Everything seems fine."

"I dunno, I'm just-I'm just paranoid I guess," Raye answered with a little laugh. "I just worry about him," she added, with a sad smile.

"About Endymion?"

"Mhm. He has to take on so much. He always places the kingdom and the people before himself. I'm not sure if he even thinks about what he wants anymore."

"Raye, if you don't mind my asking, where is the King? Your father…I mean there must be a King right, as Endymion is the Prince?"

This had been on Serenity's mind for quite a while now. She hoped she wasn't prying too much, but she also hoped this topic would distract Raye from her worries.

"He is resting with the best of healers by his side. But his health seems to be getting worse by the day…" Raye answered quietly.

"Is are you able to talk to him regularly?" Serenity asked gently.

"No. He is for all intents and purposes, in a comatose like state. He-h," Raye stopped, not able to continue with the conversation.

"Oh Raye, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry." Serenity was mortified. She was trying to cheer her up, not make her relive sad memories!

"No it's fine. We've had some time to come to terms with it now. Well I have. Endy…Endy has just drowned himself in work ever since," Raye said, a faraway look adorning her face.

Not wanting to pry into their father's health, Serenity focused in on the technicalities, "I'm sorry to ask Raye, I'm just a bit confused. Is Endymion King then?"

"Ah, its alright. I forget that you're not from here and are unfamiliar with our customs," Raye said with a smile.

"In our kingdom, one is crowned King when they reach the age of twenty-nine. So Endy will continue with the title of Prince until he reaches twenty-nine, when he will be crowned King," Raye explained.

"Ah, I see," Serenity acknowledged. Things made more sense now.

"Endy has full jurisdiction and power over our kingdom. For all intent and purposes, he is the King, he just has not been crowned yet. And this is exactly why I worry about him."

At Serenity's questioning look, Raye continued, " He has taken on the duties and responsibilities that come with being King at a very young age. After our father's health deteriorated, he immersed himself in his duties."

aye smiled wistfully at a memory as she carried on, "Father was always upset with his fooling around when we were young. He wanted Endymion to focus more on his responsibilities, but all Endy wanted to do was fool around and be a teenage boy. He would be so proud now…"

Serenity smiled as well. So he wanted to honor his father's legacy. He was trying to be all that his father wanted him to be.

That clashed pretty strongly with the image she had painted of him.

"I'm sure he'll be fine Raye. He seems to be doing quite well as a leader," Serenity assured her.

And it was true. People seemed to be pretty happy and content within the castle. There seemed to be little to no discord within the court. His people were happy.

"Oh I'm not worried about that. I know he'll only become better as a leader," Raye said, waving the thought away.

"I'm worried about his safety. There are many who wish to claim his seat. There are many who want the throne, and hope to overthrow him before his twenty-ninth birthday. His life is in constant danger."

Wow. Serenity hadn't considered that before. She really hadn't considered his position, or thought of him as a leader before. He was a monarch. A leader to the entire planet, nonetheless.

"And I worry about him personally," Raye continued her train of thought. "He has put up a wall between himself and the world. He distances himself from others, doesn't let himself become emotionally involved. He creates superficial attachments, never deep, meaningful ones."

Serenity understood this. Because he has a kingdom to rule over. He has his father's name to uphold and honor.

She realized that there was much more to the Prince than she has previously considered.

Serenity put a comforting hand on Raye's shoulder. "I don't know much about the logistics of the monarchy Raye. But, I do know that he has people who care about him all around him. So try not to worry too much."

Raye's eyes teared and she engulfed Serenity in a hug. "Thank you Serenity. I know you're right. I know I-I worry too much, but-" her voice came out muffled against Serenity's shoulder.

Serenity smiled as she gently patted Raye's back, "But what?"

Raye pulled back from the embrace, and sat back in her chair. She was sitting sideways on her chair, so she was facing Serenity.

She seemed to hesitate before speaking again, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

With a frown on her face, she said, "But I still worry. I know this sounds weird. I know I worry too much when there doesn't seem to be a reason for it. Everything seems fine. But sometimes, sometimes I get this feeling. A feeling in the pit of my stomach."

She was looking earnestly at Serenity now. She seemed scared. "An ominous feeling. And I get this feeling before something bad usually happens. I have had that feeling recently and it scares me."

Serenity didn't know what to say. She thought about her own feeling of unease. But she rationalized. "It's probably just your nerves. You've been worried about your brother."

"You're probably right, but I'm afraid Serenity. I've had these vis-"

Raye was cut off midsentence a loud thump outside in the hall. It was accompanied by a loud scream.

What the hell?

Serenity turned around to find Raye's alarmed face.

Okay so she hadn't just imagined it.

They both got up and charged towards the main hall. As they neared the door separating the dining hall from the main hall, they heard panicked voices, and what seemed to be a horse.

Right as they were about to push through to the hall, a guard blocked the way. "I'm sorry your Highness, but it would be best for you not to go in there."

"It's okay. I would like to pass through Bartholomew," Raye said.

"It's best for you to stay here, your Highness. Such a scene is not fit for a lady," he countered.

Serenity watched as Raye drew her back straight and pulled herself up to her full height, " I believe I'm also a leader of this kingdom. So, when I, as your Princess, ask to be let through, it is not a question. It is an order."

"I'm sorry Milady. Of course," he bowed his head as he held the door open.

As Serenity and Raye crossed the threshold, an alarming scene greeted them.

A throng of guards seemed to be gathered around something lying on the floor. Everyone wore similar looks of horror on their faces.

The front door of the castle was thrown open, and the horse that Serenity had heard, stood at the entrance, agitated. A couple of guards were trying to calm it down, but it looked quite frightened.

Just then, Endymion came running down the stairs, followed by the Generals. Their boots thumped ominously on the marble steps.

Endymion's brow was creased in a deep frown as he descended the steps and hit the main floor. Everyone moved out of the way of the Prince and his Generals.

Raye and Serenity had been frozen to the spot, but at that moment, they also made their way to the center of the circle.

And what they saw rendered them immobile once again.

A man was sprawled out, laying face down on the floor. And there was an arrow piercing his back.

Serenity gasped in horror as she watched the man gasping for air. It seemed as if he had come quite a long while after he was hit.

He looked disheveled; his clothes caked in dirt, twigs and leaves. His hair was matted to his forehead with sweat.

He was sweating a lot. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face. He was also blinking rapidly.

Serenity watched as Endymion knelt before him carefully.

"What happened Arthur?" his voice seemed controlled but urgent.

Arthur's eyes focused on Endymion, and he opened his mouth as if to speak, but shut it again, without a words uttered. He tried again, but only gasping noises came forth.

His eyes pleaded towards Endymion. Frustration clearly evident in his eyes.

"Water!" Endymion ordered, and a servant ran immediately to fetch some.

The man was trying to push himself up, but was failing to do so. He shook his head furiously, clearly frustrated with himself.

"Arthur, tell me. Who did this to you?" Endymion urged.

Arthur swallowed twice, and opened his mouth, "She-she came out of nowhere. I couldn't stop her. There were so many-so many."

His eyes grew wide and panicked.

"Who did this? Give me a name!" Endymion pressed.

But Arthur didn't seem to be listening to Endymion anymore. His eyes darted wildly around the room.

Endymion moved to pull the arrow out of Arthur's body.

"NO!" Serenity shouted, without realizing what she was doing.

Endymion's face whipped towards her; his grasp mere inches away from the tip of the arrow.

"He'll bleed to death if you pull that out."

"I can't just leave him like this," he reputed.

He didn't have to. At that moment, Arthur's body began twitching and convulsing uncontrollably.

"Arthur…Arthur!" Endymion gasped.

Serenity covered her mouth with her hands to stop the scream that was about to emerge.

Endymion tried to grab Arthur's body. He tried to steady him, to stabilize him. But it didn't work. Arthur's mouth began to foam, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

The convulsing lasted for barely a minute before it stopped. Arthur's body lay still in Endymion's arms.

The arrow must have been coated with a poison of some sort.

Serenity heard a sob from her left.

Raye's hand covered her quivering mouth as tears escaped her eyes.

Serenity wanted to comfort her, but she couldn't move. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and she was frozen.

But thankfully, she didn't have to comfort Raye. Jaedite moved towards Raye, and Raye threw her arms around him the moment she saw him.

Serenity looked back towards the lifeless body. His face was calm now. At least he now had peace.

Endymion was studying Arthur's face. His own face was unreadable, but Serenity noticed his jaw clenching and unclenching.

With his eyes shut, he finally moved his hand over Arthur's face to close his eyes and lowered his body gently on to the floor.

Endymion then hovered over the body, his hand edging towards the arrow. Shooting a brief glance her way, he softly pulled it out.

Kunzite was the first to break the silence. As he averted his saddened eyes from Arthur to Endymion, his eyes filled with an intense fury.

"We'll find the son of a bitch who did this to him."

"Looks like we won't have to," came Endymion's reply.

His voice was cold, and laced with unbridled rage.

"She wanted us to know who it was the entire time. She left her mark," he spoke, before putting the arrow in full view of everyone.

The arrow was a sleek, dark purple color, and the head of the arrow was coated in a bright green substance.

Audible gasps were heard around the room.

Serenity looked around at the horror filled faces. She was unsure what this meant.

"Beryl," Endymion spat in disgust.

"B-Beryl. But why, why now? What does this mean…" Raye gulped, clearly shaken up the news.

Endymion's eyes flashed as they turned into a cold, steely grey. "I'll tell you what it means. It means we're going to war."

Thank you for reading. Please, please review. It would mean the world to me!