Turning the Tides
Somnus one week earlier…
Prince Diamond was walking the gardens of the royal place along with his new fiancée Esmeraulde, she smiled at him, and they were completely unaware of the dark figure watching them from a distance.
"There they are my lady" said the cloaked figure when Beryl walked up behind her.
"Prince Diamond" said Beryl amused "and who is she?" she asked. "That is the Lady Esmeraulde the prince's fiancée they are to be married on the harvest festival" said the dark figure. Beryl simply chuckled "how ironic" she thought, this was going to be fun not only the fall of the moon kingdom but also the fall of Nyx's entire line. The moon kingdom, the kingdom of sleep and the realm of the dead would all fall and it would be because of her.
"When do we take him?" asked Beryl "tonight when the prince is alone we take him" said the dark figure.
"Why him?" asked Beryl
"Because he has a special talent, he can hypnotize any one and make them do his bidding a talent that could be useful to our cause we get him on our side and we can do anything" said the figure
"Is that how he got that girl to fall for him?" Beryl said chuckling and shaking her head.
"Unfortunately, no, she loves him all her own. But here is the catch the prince doesn't feel as strongly about her as she does for him. He has feeling for someone you know quite well" she turned to Beryl and smiled.
"Princess Serena" Beryl growled and bared her teeth at her name. "Ironic indeed" she thought "What was it about this girl that turns the heads of all prince's in the realm" It was one week before the ball the prince would be traveling to Lunaris my midday tomorrow afternoon so if they were going to strike it had to be now.
"Why can't we take him now?" asked Beryl
"Patience!" said the figure
"Patience hell I want her dead!" Beryl screamed. Beryl's screams must have alerted one of the guards; thankfully the prince had already gone inside the palace so their plan might still work the guard made his way to their location.
"Hello, who's there?" The guard rounded the corner "You there! Who are you and what are you doing here!" the guard approached the Lady Beryl the dark figure had vanished leaving her all alone. When the guard reached Beryl, he was just about to escort her out to the gardens and when suddenly there was a loud clank of metal hitting metal and the guard was down.
"I'll take care of this my lady" said the dark figure pulling a knife out from under her robes she was just about ready to strike him down when Beryl stopped her "Wait!" she said, "He may be of use to us" Beryl smiled.
"What are you planning my lady?" said the figure
"What if we use him to get to Prince Diamond have him lure the prince into a trap" the figure smiled at Beryl.
"Very well my lady" everything was falling into place.
The dark figure opened a door to the dark palace where Beryl resided. Beryl walked into the large black clad throne room the red curtains covering the walls rustled at her arrival the dark figure was next followed by two dark knights dragging the unconscious guard with them. Beryl walked straight passed her throne and into the large gilded double doors to her right there was a large chasm that stretched out through the room and a narrow walk way that lead to a large glowing hour glass. There was a large table in the center right in front of the hourglass Beryl walked around the table and waited for the knights to place the guard on the table and left the room.
"Are you sure about this?" asked the dark figure
"The more people on our side the more chance we have to win this war" said Beryl
Suddenly the room was filled with an eerie orange glow Beryl turned to the hourglass and saw a dark and sinuous liquid moving from within. "Metaria!" Beryl called "Hear me now fill this vessel with your darkness, make him a solider our army, turn him to the dark side" Suddenly darkness flowed from the hourglass and landed on the guard surrounding him, he was lifted from the table and was floating in midair, he screamed in agony for several minutes and then there was nothing but silence. When the guard woke up again he bowed to Beryl "How may I serve you my lady" said the guard
"What is your name?" asked Beryl
"Rolek" responded the guard standing to his full height
"Well Rolek here is what you need to do" said Beryl
It was later that night hidden under the cover of darkness that they struck Prince Diamond was lured out to the gardens once again by Rolek stating that the prince's young brother had an accident while taking a nightly stroll.
"Well? Where is he?" asked Prince Diamond, Rolek simply smiled as three large black knights came out of the shadows and grabbed the prince. Prince Diamond tried to scream to the other guards to no avail one knight covered his mouth while the other two grabbed his arms and pinned them behind his back. Diamond struggled but the more he did the tighter the knight's grip got in his arms.
"Prince Diamond, I have a proposition for you" said a female voice from a distance, it was Beryl. She walked around the prince to face him
"And don't bother screaming your highness we are alone" said Beryl she signaled for the knight to uncover the prince's mouth. Prince Diamond only stared and spat in Beryl's direction.
"Who the hell are you and how dare you treat me this way" spat the prince. "My name is Beryl and I know your secret," she said in his ear.
"What the hell are you talking about?" said the prince grinding his teeth as he spoke. "I know about your lustful obsession with the Lunarian Princess" at that the prince's eyes grew wide he quickly recovered his composure.
"I don't what you're talking about" said the prince
"Oh really?" said Beryl "Well a little birdie told me that you have a thing for the princess and that you would do anything to make her yours"
"I'm engaged" said the prince "and your allegations are completely ridiculous and dumbfounded, there is no merit to anything you are saying now let me go!" he yelled that last part.
"I beg to differ" she said and suddenly Rolek was standing right beside her. Diamonds eyes grew wide again and her growled "Traitor!" Beryl simply laughed.
"Now, now prince Diamond temper temper" said Beryl. "What do you want with me?" he asked
"Why I want to give you a chance at happily ever after my dear prince, I can get you what your heart truly desires" she signaled the knights to let the prince go "What do you mean?" asked the prince
"Come with me and all shall be revealed" said Beryl opening a portal the knight's finally let the prince go and Beryl signaled for the prince to follow her, and he did into the darkness.
In the Dark Palace…
"So, do we have a deal?" asked Beryl
The prince was seriously considering it; help the lady in taking over Lunaris and in return he would get the princess all to himself. He stared at Beryl as she extended her hand, he stared for a few more moments and then he extended his own hand and places it in hers.
"Deal," said the prince suddenly, a dark cloud descended in him and then there was the sound of screaming it was his screams that pierced the throne room and Beryl smiled. When the screaming stopped, the prince stood on shaky legs panting, "what did you do to me?" he asked.
"A little boost in power my dear prince" said Beryl "my gift to you" Beryl gave the prince a small mirror and when he took it he saw the mark on his forehead it wasn't there before normally only the Queen of Lunaris would carry such a mark as a sign of her stature but this wasn't like the mark of the Lunarian Queen this was different it was black and the crescent moon was upside down.
The Prince went to touch the mark when suddenly it transformed it was no longer a crescent moon shape; it was in the shape of and eye the prince looked at the mark and then at Beryl.
"With this mark, you will be able to compel the princess into loving you, she will be yours. Now go! Make sure that the Ball continues at scheduled and make sure that the queen doesn't suspect a thing" said Beryl opening a door to back to Somnus, the prince stepped through the door followed by Rolek and then they were gone.
The next morning…
"Is everything ready?" asked prince Diamond
"Yes, your Majesty" said a solider as they loaded a final trunk into the carriage "we should be there by midday today my lord" said a female voice from behind him it was Esmeraulde, she approached him smiling.
"Are you ready for the ball, my lord?" she asked.
"Oh, you know I am; the questions is, are you?" he said smiling "Is everything in place" he asked
"Yes" responded Esmeraulde thinking back to the night before. The prince has arrived a back in the palace from his nightly walk under the new moon, the prince had made his way to her apartment and knocked on her door when she opened the door and saw the prince standing there she was struck with a sudden curiosity. The prince was always so formal around her this was a surprise to her; she opened the door a little further when suddenly everything went black.
The next morning Esmeraulde woke up in her bed with one thought on her mind it was repeating in her mind over and over again taking over her every thought. Suddenly everything was so clear and Esmeraulde walked over to the mirror and smiled a wicked smile, there was the sound of laugher coming from the distance and then there was a knock at the door, Esmeraulde moved to open the door and saw that it was one of the servant girls come to help her get ready for the days' trip.
The sound of prince's Diamonds voice cut her out of her reverie and then there she saw that his hand had extended to hers, prince Diamond helped her onto the carriage and a few minutes later they were off.
The Next day…
"The Queen is actually thinking of cancelling the ball" said prince Diamond into the mirror "She's called a consul meeting for tomorrow morning at sunrise" he said once again into the mirror only this time the mirror responded, Beryl's voice came through loud and clear.
"Well then I guess you'll just have to convince her not to cancel then; won't you?" The Prince smiled then and stood from his seat, he crossed the large spacious apartment the queen had provided there was a large silver canopy bed in the middle of the room and only large bay window to the left he walked towards and it and opened the windows overlooking the moon kingdom he looked up at a large tower sitting to his right "The Guardian Temple" he said to himself he could hear Beryl's voice in the distance but he paid her no mind.
There was regret in his mind if he did this it would mean the end of the moon kingdom and the end of the night children, he cared about his people more than almost anything but his desire was overwhelming he looked down below and there she was, the princess "Serena" he whispered her name like a caress and suddenly there was a pain in his chest.
Prince Diamond collapsed at that moment and clutched his hand to his chest screaming in agony suddenly Beryl's voice came in loud and clear "Be careful Diamond, desire becomes surrender" she told
"Are you having second thoughts my prince?" she asked in a sickeningly sweet voice, prince Diamond stood back up again and looked back to the window, he once again smiled to himself but it was a genuine smile not the one he uses to hide his true thoughts.
"No" said Diamond "I'm not" and once again Beryl's voice responded, "Then you know what you have to do" and with that her voice was gone and a few minutes later came a knock at his door and soft footsteps.
"Go away" said Prince Diamond
"Are you alright brother" it was Sapphire crouching down next to him taking a hold of his arm "What's wrong?" asked the young prince.
"Nothing" said Diamond standing to his full height. "I just had a little dizzy spell"
But Sapphire wasn't buying it there was a darkness surrounding him and it scared him. "You should rest" Sapphire lead him to the silver canopy bed and Diamond followed without restraint.
"Your right brother" he said smiling another genuine smiled one only reserved for his baby brother and he laid down.
"I'll go down and let the queen know you are feeling unwell," said Sapphire "Thank you brother" said Diamond closing his eyes and before he knew it sleep had claimed him. He woke up the next day he felt refreshed and relived it was almost sunrise and the queen would be calling counsel soon Prince Diamond called for his man servant and asked him to draw him bath and by the time the sun had reached the horizon he had already made his way down to the Lunarian Temple in the heart of the city, Prince Diamond had made his way up the temple stairs and through the doors when he reached the throne room he saw his fellow monarch Nehelenia standing outside the door, when he approached her, he looked her straight in the eye and smiled. A few minutes later the prince the Nehelenia walked into the throne room hearing the argument between mother and daughter.
"Mother you can't do this the Millennium Ball is something the whole kingdom has been looking forward to, you just can't!"
"She is right you Majesty, it was to be a grand celebration, are you sure you want to do this?" said Nehelenia, suddenly he felt a presence standing next to him it was his brother Prince Sapphire when he turned back to Queen she had asked him a question he hadn't heard before.
"I'm sorry?" said Diamond
"What do you think Prince Diamond?" asked the Queen again.
"I agree, Serenity we can't give into the fear that Metaria will come back with our kingdoms united she can't possibly defeat us" he said holding his head up high.
"Everything changes with time Prince Diamond," said Queen Serenity "What do you propose?"
Queen Serenity took to her throne while she waited for his answer.
"We go on as scheduled but we take protective measures to ensure the people's safety just in case there is an attack"
He'd made a deal with the darkness to get what his heart desires but he still cared for the innocent souls around the kingdoms and if he could stop a carnage then he would. Sapphire stood next to him as they made their plans and by midmorning the queen stood in front of her people and made the announcement.
"My people, I know that there had been rumors circling concerning a great power coming here to destroy us; I assure you that the ball will continue as scheduled, we will show no fear we are a strong people and we will show our enemies that we will not let them bully us into submission, we will remain strong not matter what " The people's cries didn't die down but the Queen made her way to the royal carriage as the people dispersed with the exception of a few in dark hoods Prince Diamond looked from the window of the temple and saw them Metaria's Henchmen as they made their way back into the forest and disappeared. Prince Diamond hoped he had made the right decision but it was too late now he stared at Sapphire as he had a lively conversation with Queen Nehelenia "I'm sorry brother" he said and made his way back to the palace, the Millennium Ball was in one weeks' time and at the stroke of midnight the princess would be his.