Chapter 16
The night has always been purer than the day. It is better for thinking and loving and dreaming. At night, everything is more intense… more true. The echo of words that have been spoken during the day takes a new and deeper meaning.
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Serenity let out another frustrated sigh, and she arched her back in order to get at least some relieve from the pain that surged through her body. A muffled chuckle was heard, making her young blonde to raise one perfect silver brow.
"I really do not see what is so funny about this." she mumbled and crossed her arms sulkily before her chest.
Lita's lips curled into a smirk as she stared at the blonde sitting across from her in the small stagecoach.
"I sometimes forget that you are indeed spoiled, my Domina." was her simple reply.
Where other Romans would have been more than furious about the way the Greek body-slave dared to speak to her Domina, ultimately ending in a punishment worse than death, Serenity just reacted with a huff of annoyance and the slightest of blushes tinting her cheeks.
"All this bumping and shaking…" Serenity defended with a pout on her rosy lips. "It is maddening. Every muscle and bone inside my body hurts."
"And yet, there are less comfortable ways of travelling, Serenity." Lita chided softly, but the amusement on her face as softened and morphed into compassion. The young Greek knew that Serenity's slender and fragile body was not made for long travels like this.
Serenity let out another sigh while she massaged her neck with one hand.
"You are right." she finally admitted with a small smile. "I should be grateful that Diamond did not make us walk." she added bitterly.
Lita's gaze darkened at the mentioning of the Dominus' name. Her hands balled to fists in her lap and she quickly averted her eyes not to reveal her true feelings when she answered.
"He would not mistreat you like that, Domina." she replied stiffly.
Serenity let out a dismissive laugh, her own eyes darkening as she stared out of the wooden opening of the coach.
"Maybe not." she replied. "But he surely would find a way."
She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it harder and harder for her to breathe. Golden hair flashed before her mind's eye, causing a layer of tears to blur her vision.
"He always does." she whispered in a pained voice, and her nails dug deeply into the chariot's wood.
She felt a soft hand on her knee, squeezing a little. She turned her head a little, only to be met by sparkling soft eyes of green.
"Do not worry about Mina, Serenity." Lita softly said, offering the blonde a compassionate smile. "Artemis and Luna will take good care of her. They will not let anything happen to her."
Serenity forced herself to return the Greek's smile, but she couldn't help the glistering tears that rolled down her cheek. She missed her. She worried about her. The cruel images of Mina on the floor, threatened to be executed any moment soon, were still edged into her mind. Her heart still constricted at the memory, and wave after wave of guilt washed through her body. It had been her fault. Had the unthinkable happened … and would have been her fault. Even now, even though Mina had been saved from certain death, a fate far worse than death had been decided for her. And there was no one else to blame but Serenity.
"I believe that Mina will make good use of her alone time in Capua." Lita's voice sounded lightly, causing Serenity to be distracted from her dark thoughts. She looked at Lita, an uncertain and sad expression still shadowing her face. But Lita just smiled at her, a mischievous glint entering her eyes.
"Did you not know?" Lita asked with a giggle. "Artemis told me that Mina will be personally assigned to Malachite and to … how did Diamond describe it? … ah yes, satisfy the needs."
The brunette rolled her eyes, and her grin widened.
"Poor Malachite. He has no idea what he has gotten himself into."
Serenity furrowed her brow in confusion.
"I was not aware of this agreement." she said slowly and shook her head. "Artemis just told me not to worry about her when we left. Did Diamond…?"
"Of course not." Lita interrupted sharply. "Had Diamond known about Mina's feelings for the Undefeated Celt, he would have never agreed to that."
Her eyes shifted to briefly glance out of the carriage's opening.
"It was Endymion's idea." she slowly said when her gaze focused back onto Serenity.
The blonde slightly flinched at the mentioning of the gladiator's name, and she couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her lips.
"You know that I do not like him." Lita revealed, her eyes cold and her body stiff as she spoke. "Or the idea that you care about him that much."
She then closed her eyes, letting out a sigh.
"But he saved our dear friend twice from fates, one worse than the other." she begrudgingly admitted. "He surely deserves my respect and gratitude for that."
Serenity nodded her head and turned back towards the carriage's opening, looking outside.
She could see the strong black horses that were trotting next to them, heavily armed soldiers on their backs that were supposed to protect them in case of an attack. She knew that Endymion and the horse he had been given were assigned to directly follow the coach, and to protect the backside.
Serenity couldn't help the traitorous flutter of her heart as his image flickered before her mind's eye. How he had protected Mina, how he had managed to convince Diamond of the impossible and to spare her life. And now, he had even managed to pull the strings again to save her best friend from a cruel fate. Her heart jumped in her chest.
And for the first time in weeks, Serenity smiled a true smile.
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"How long does it take before we arrive?" Endymion wondered out loud while stretching his limbs. He sat down next to Nephrite at the fireplace. Nights were getting colder than what he was used to in Capua and he was more than grateful for the place of warmth that his companion had created.
"Depends where we are heading to." Nephrite answered with a soft chuckle on his lips.
Endymion huffed and shook his head.
"If only I knew." the Thracian said. "It appears that the Dominus did not trust me enough to share this specific secret."
Another deep chuckle rumbled through Nephrite's broad chest.
"And why should he?" he challenged lightly. "Our task is to protect Domina from rebels and Praetors. Our duty is to fight, not to know."
Endymion raised his brow as he looked at Nephrite. It really was no surprise that Diamond had chosen the Greek gladiator to accompany the handful of Roman soldiers and Endymion to protect Serenity. Nephrite had long, brown hair that reached down to his broad shoulders, and his impressive built was enough to make his enemies shudder from fear and respect. Endymion was sure that not even ten rebels at once stood a chance against Nephrite. The Thracian had watched him fight more than once to know that this hulk of a man was far from slow and stolid. Nephrite pounced with the force of a bear and the speed of a snake. The sheer impact of his attacks was enough to make the earth shudder and quake to his desire. In addition, Nephrite was loyal to the house and a great defender of the brotherhood. He followed orders given by his Dominus, and was ready to crush each and every enemy to the house with mere hands.
Diamond truly had chosen wisely.
"It would at least be nice to know which direction we are heading." Endymion finally grumbled.
Nephrite offered him a sly smile.
"Eastward."
Endymion's brows shot up in surprise.
"The Dominus took you into his confidence?" he couldn't help but ask in confusion.
Nephrite chuckled and shook his head.
"Of course not." he replied, amusement coloring his deep voice.
He lifted one hand and motioned at starlit night sky above them.
"The stars told me."
Endymion followed the direction of Nephrite's index and look at the glistering diamonds on the horizon. He knew that there were people in this world with the ability to converse with the stars, with the ability to draw secrets from the heavenly bodies that they normally kept hidden behind the secure blankets of darkness.
"I never knew you were a seer, Nephrite." Endymion said with a smile on his face.
Nephrite gave him an odd look before he answered.
"I'm not a seer." he stated firmly. "But my family claims to descend from great Apollo, ruler of truth and prophecy. They were and always will be guardians of His heritage, to offer service to kings and monarchs to foretell destruction or victory."
"They?" Endymion probed with a slight lift of one dark brow. "Are you not part of your family?"
The young gladiator could see the Greek's face harden, and dark brown eyes moved from looking into the fire to the starlit sky above.
"Power like this is always dangerous." he finally said, not taking his dark gaze away from the night sky. "It attracts the worst and corrupts the best."
He smiled then, a secret smile that only he seemed to know the meaning of.
"I, unlike my ancestors, chose not to reveal the heaven's secrets. My mere purpose is to listen. And to observe."
Endymion could not help but chuckle at his words. He did not believe in the Gods, he did not believe in stars or any secrets they could reveal. He only believed in blood and death – and that one's future is highly dependent on your origin and the ability to lead a sword.
"I know that this is a word foreign to you, brother." Nephrite said, knowing full well of Endymion's attitude towards anything supernatural. "But only because you cannot hear them does not mean that they do not exist. A shame, really. If you listened more carefully, maybe you would realize how much in common you have."
Endymion shrugged his shoulders, a haughty smile on his lips.
"And what pray tell, would that be?" he laughed.
Nephrite offered him another smile, his gaze moving towards the full white moon that hung heavily from the night sky.
"The stars once told me story… a story about how the sun loved the moon so much, he died every night to let her breathe."
He sighed dramatically, a dreamy look dawning on his face.
"Ah… the moon and the sun." he whispered softly. "Always chasing, always swooning and always falling for each other. Day after day."
The smile fell from Endymion's face while listening to Nephrite, and a look of confusion replaced the once merry expression.
"What does this have to do with me, I wonder?" Endymion asked with furrowed brows.
Nephrite chuckled and shook his head.
"I believe we have two more days of travelling." he then suddenly changed the topic which earned another irritated look from the young Thracian. "Go and get some sleep, Endymion. I will take the night shift."
He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.
"Too long have I been apart from the skies and earthly spirits."
He offered Endymion a friendly smile, his face more relaxed than Endymion had ever seen it before.
"Let me listen to them for a while, to see what other secrets they would like to share with me."
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She glanced at Lita who was sleeping soundly on the ground, surrounded by piles of soft sheepskin and blankets. Serenity smiled at the sight. She thanked Selene every day since they had left Capua that they had allowed her to take one of her most trusted friends to this trip to the unknown. Serenity knelt down beside her and draped another soft blanket around her friend's form to shelter her from the cold. Stemming from Greece, Lita had always felt uncomfortable when the temperatures dropped at night. She was a woman who yearned for the sun, who would only flourish underneath Sol's warm hand. Serenity placed a loving kiss onto Lita's forehead before he stood and walked towards the small tent's entrance.
She stepped outside into the night, a small sigh of satisfaction on her lips as the cool breeze caressed her soft form. Unlike Lita, Serenity had never really shunned the cold. Of course she loved and worshipped Sol and His warmth, but she had always felt most comfortable, most free when it was time for the Night Deities to roam their realm earth.
Serenity let her silvery eyes roam the night quarter that the Roman soldiers that accompanied her had chosen as a place for the night. They were inside what appeared to be an ancient temple's ruin that had been abandoned ages ago. The walls were crumbled, neither offering protection from the weather nor enemies, and the temple's roof, too, had long disappeared. Serenity stepped away from the small tent that the soldiers had put up for her privacy during nighttime. Three soldiers were lying some feet away from her, all of them fast asleep. She knew that the others must be positioned outside, ready to raise the alarm in case of an attack. The silver-haired beauty moved slowly, silently towards the small temple's entrance. Once outside, she was greeted with the sight of a small fireplace, the dancing flames and sparks offering some warmth and shelter against the cold breeze. Nephrite looked up, his face showing some hints of surprise as he spotted her. The giant of a man slowly stood. Out of instinct, Serenity quickly roamed the area for any Roman soldiers that would come to the rescue in case Nephrite tried to attack her. But when Nephrite offered her a gentle smile, her body immediately relaxed.
"Domina." He addressed her in a deep voice and bowed his head in greeting. "Would you like to sit with me by the fire?"
Serenity let out a long breath, inwardly cursing herself for, for no reason, thinking the worst of this gladiator in front of her. She swallowed her fears and doubts and offered him a shiny smile of gratitude instead as she took the place next to him on the ground.
"Let me get you a blanket to sit on, Domina." Nephrite offered. "Or to wrap your body in. The nights are cold and the earth absent of warmth."
Serenity offered him another smile and made a quick motion with her hand to dismiss his concerns.
"There really is no need." she told him softly. "But thank you."
Nephrite hesitated for a moment longer before he finally nodded his head. They sat in silence for quite some time, both of them enjoying the nightly sounds that were surrounding them.
"Where are the others?" Serenity then wondered aloud.
With a long wooden stick, Nephrite expertly shoved the pieced of wood within the campfire from one side to the other.
"If not fast asleep inside, the rest of the Roman soldiers appear to have decided to watch the other side of the temple, Domina." he said. He then looked up, offering her a somewhat sheepish smile. "It would not befit a Roman knight to share a fire with a slave."
Serenity bit her lower lip, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry they treat you like that." she said, her silver eyes filling with compassion.
"There is no need for apologies, Domina." Nephrite was quick to reply. "It is as it is. And I do enjoy the solitude from time to time."
Serenity's eyes widened, and she quickly moved to get up.
"Apologies, Nephrite." She told him with an apologetic smile on her full lips. "My intention was not to intrude."
Nephrite looked at her with surprise clearly written across his face, before his features morphed to an expression of pure amusement.
"And again there is no need for apologies, Domina." He chucked and motioned her to sit down again. "I feel honored that you chose to sit with me. It is me who should take a leave should you feel uncomfortable in my presence."
Serenity shook her head, but smiled.
"I don't." she revealed.
Nephrite's eyes glistened with amusement, and he nodded.
"Then we shall sit together, Domina."
They sat in silence, the dancing flames mingling with the cool night air managing to fill Serenity's body with a sense of calmness that she had long missed. Her eyes shifted to look up into the night sky. All those glistering stars, all those small diamonds sparkling and twinkling like white pearls against dark velvet.
"They are beautiful, are they not?" she spoke softly against the wind.
"They are." Nephrite agreed solemnly.
"Someone once told me that the stars are guiding lights from dear ones that have parted from this world. They shall guide us through difficult times." Serenity whispered, an image of Praetor Seiya flashing through her mind. She suddenly felt the small roll of parchment heavy inside the pocket of her dark blue overcoat.
"Perhaps." Nephrite offered with a deep chuckle on his lips.
Confused, Serenity turned her head to look at Nephrite whose gaze was firmly fixed upon the fire.
"What do you think they are?" she asked him, curious about the smile on his face.
Nephrite briefly glanced at her before refocusing on the flames before him.
"They are images of what once was, and what will be." he offered cryptically.
Serenity shook her head in confusion.
"That's not an answer." she replied with a dismissive, short laugh.
Nephrite looked up to meet her gaze, his lips morphing into a smirk.
"Maybe it's not the answer that you were looking for, Domina."
Serenity raised one brow at him, the confusion still on her face.
Nephrite couldn't help but laugh at the pout that the Domina couldn't suppress. She surely was a special woman. He let out an almost defeated sigh and looked up into the night sky.
"There" he then said and motioned towards a bright yellow star surrounded by some more. "Ursa Minor and Ursa Major."
Serenity followed his direction and took in the star constellation Nephrite was pointing at.
The confusion only grew on her face as she tried to understand what Nephrite was trying to tell her. He smiled at her.
"The stars tell us stories." he then explained. "Their stories, our stories … sometimes the borders are blurred. Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, for example, have not always been in this form."
He chuckled a little, the way Serenity's brows furrowed indicating that she was not aware of this ancient Greek myth.
"There once was a beautiful being named Callisto – daughter of Lycaon, King of Arcadia, and born as a nymph. She was follower of Goddess Artemis, and therefore, she had to take a vow of chastity. However, Zeus, mighty Father of the Gods, saw her and fell in love with her. To lure her into his web of seduction, he turned into the form of Artemis and eventually took advantage of Callisto's great love for the Mistress of Animals. Callisto bore a son, Arcas. Hera, Godmother and wife of Zeus, found out about her husband's deceive and went made with rage and jealousy. As punishment, Hera turned Callisto into a huge bear. 'I will take away' said she 'that beauty with which you have captivated my husband.' Down fell Callisto on her hands and knees. She tried to stretch out her arms in supplication – but they were already beginning to be covered with black hair. Her hands grew rounded, became armed with croocked claws, and served to feet. Her mouth, which Zeus used to praise for its beauty, became a horrid pair of jaws. Her voice, which if unchanged would have moved the heart to pity, became a growl, more fit to inspire terror. Yet her former disposition remained, and, with continued groaning, she bemoaned her fate, and stood upright as well as she could, lifting up her paws to beg for mercy. But she was never heard. Ah, how often, afraid to stay in the woods all night alone, she wandered about the neighborhood of her former haunts. But Hera was not content with that fate alone. Instead, she continued to work against Callisto to get Artemis to think that Callisto was a normal bear and to slay her. How often, frightened by the dogs, did she, so lately a huntress, fly in terror from the hunters. However, it was a youth that espied her as he was hunting years later. Callisto saw him and recognized him as her own son, Arcas, now grown a young man. She stopped and felt inclined to embrace him. As she was about to approach, he, alarmed, raised his hunting spear, and was on the point of transfixing her, when Zeus, beholding, arrested the crime and snatched away Callisto. He brought her up to the sky so that Callisto would forever be safe from his wife's wrath and reside in the heavens as Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Arcas, too, was turned into a bear and put into the sky by Zeus to forever unite him with his dear mother. From this time forth, Arcas is known as Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Hera, however, was in rage to see her rival so set in honor, and she hastened to ancient Tethys and Oceanus, the powers of the ocean, and, in answer to their inquiries, thus told the cause of her coming. 'Do you ask why I, the queen of the Gods, have left the heavenly plains and sought your depths. Learn that I am supplanted in heaven, my place is given to another. You will hardly believe me. But look when night darkens the world, and you shall see the two, of whom I have so much reason to complain, exalted to the heavens, in that part where the circle is the smallest, in the neighborhood of the pole. Why should anyone hereafter tremble at the thought of offending Hera, when such rewards are the consequences of my displeasure! See what I have been able to effect! I forbade her to wear the human form – now she is placed among the stars! So do my punishments result, such is the extent of my power! But you, my foster parents, if you feel for me, and see with displeasure this unworthy treatment of me, show it, I beseech you, by forbidding this guilty couple from coming into the waters!'. The powers of the oceans assented, and consequently the two constellations of the Great and Little Bear move around in heaven, restless as they never sink as the other stars do, beneath the ocean."
It was only when the last words of his story left his mouth that Nephrite moved his gaze away from the glistering stars to look back at Serenity.
"You see Domina." he said with a serious but friendly look on his face. "I believe that every star has a story to tell, a secret to reveal. And I like to listen and observe."
Serenity stared at the gladiator in front of her. His brown eyes reflected the flicker of the fireplace's flames. His gaze was so intense, so… knowing. It made her heart beat rapidly in her chest and her cheeks turn heated under the strength of his stare.
She averted her eyes and quickly stood.
"Thank you for sharing your story with me, Nephrite." she said in a shaky voice, nervously straightening out the wrinkles of her dress and overcoat. "I shall take my leave now. We have an exhausting day ahead."
Nephrite smiled at her and nodded his head. He watched her hurriedly move away from the fire, her rapid steps leading her to the small forest nearby where he knew the coach had been hidden from prying eyes. A broad figure moved from the shadows to follow her into the woods. Nephrite let out a soft laugh, shaking his head as his gaze focused back onto the fire before him.
"Where is Domina?" an angry voice suddenly sounded from the temple's entrance.
He lifted his head to meet a pair of raging green eyes that sparkled with dark promises of pain and revenge had anything happened to her Domina.
"Domina is safe." Nephrite answered in his mother tongue. "Do not worry about her, Daughter of Greece."
Lita stared at the gladiator a moment longer. His gaze was captivating and he radiated a sense of calmness while every muscle within her body screamed at her to search for Serenity. But she seemed to be rooted to the spot by this man and his sparkling eyes alone.
Nephrite stood, his eyes burning as he took her in. He reached out one hand in a welcoming manner.
"Come, Daughter of Greece, at sit with me by the fire." he offered gently. "Let us listen to the stars and revel in the stories they can share with us from our former home Greece."
He felt and saw the reluctance in her green eyes.
Nephrite smiled at her.
"Domina is safe." he repeated reassuringly.
His gaze then moved to the dark opening of the forest.
This was not his story to tell. Not his secret to reveal.
He was just here to listen.
And to observe.
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Serenity quickly rushed towards the place where the Roman soldiers had hid carriage. It was dark, but the moon shone brightly through the forest's soft coat of leaves. The coach had been covered with dark blankets and leafage, the goal to hide it from view in case rebels crossed their path. Would they have detected it unveiled and close to the abandoned temple, they surely would have searched the surroundings for the nobles they would have suspected nearby. She freed the carriage from some of the leaves and opened stepped inside. Inside the coach, she quickly searched for the small hiding space beneath the uncomfortable bench, and she only hardly was able to suppress the squeal of delight when her fingers found the small satchel hidden underneath. She retrieved it and moved back outside. She surveyed her surroundings closely before she retrieved the small roll of papyrus from the pockets of her overcoat. Serenity retrieved the ink and feather from the satchel, and she knelt down to use the front of her thighs to hurriedly scribble some words onto the piece of paper. Content with her work, she stood and quickly moved to the back of the coach where the provisions were stored. She moved one thick blanket away and threw it carelessly to the ground. A smiled pulled on her lips as she spotted the caged bird that was revealed.
"Hello beautiful" she whispered and petted the raven through the wooden bars. "You will be free, my caged savior, but before, you must do me a favor."
As if it had understood, the raven excitedly flapped its wings and let out crowing sounds of happiness.
"Shh" Serenity urged, her head moving frantically around. "Be still my beautiful." she whispered.
She opened the cage carefully and offered the raven one hand to step onto. She smiled at the small animal. She had always been fascinated and surprised about how dark and intelligent their eyes were.
She was about to tie the small piece of paper to the birds' left leg, when a voice suddenly boomed through the darkness.
"Serenity!" are dark voice shouted, causing Serenity to whirl around in shock.
Only some feet away from her, Endymion stood in all his glory. His chest bare and heaving from fury, his dark eyes glistering dangerously as he took in the scene before him.
Serenity felt more than saw how the raven behind her fled into the dark night sky. She looked into the night sky, her heart sinking as she watched its dark wings mingle with the night.
Never to return.
Her fingers clenched around the piece of paper in her hand. She averted her eyes then, taking a deep breath.
"What are you doing here, Endymion?" she heard herself ask in a surprisingly steady voice.
Endymion huffed and shook his head as he stared intently at her.
"I could ask you the same question." he challenged with narrowed eyes.
He had watched her sit with Nephrite for some time, before she had suddenly stood and moved towards the woods. He had cursed her carelessness, had wondered what kind of spirits could have whispered into her ear to expose herself to such kind of risk. He had followed her then, quickly realizing that her hurried feet took her to the hidden carriage nearby. She had been quick, much quicker than he had anticipated. For the shortest moment, he had lost her. Only to find her again, standing in front of her carriage with her back turned towards him. He startled her, causing a raven to fly away in alarm.
A raven.
Endymion drew his brows together as the pieces slowly fit together. His eyes quickly moved to Serenity's right hand that was clenched to a small fist. It took him only two, three determined steps to reach her, his dark eyes burning with anger.
"What is this you are hiding from me?" he growled as he stood directly in front of her.
Out of instinct, Serenity's fingers tightened their hold around the piece of paper, and she quickly moved it behind her back, moving further back until her body was pressed against the coach.
"It's none of your concern, Endymion." she said in a strong voice, her silvery eyes lifting with all the courage she could muster to look into his eyes.
Endymion let out another growl and took a step forward until his body was close enough as it could get without touching her.
"Serenity" he warned, his dark eyes alight with fire.
Her heart sped up, and she could feel her body tremble under his intense gaze. She nervously licked her lips, noticing how Endymion's focus shifted from her eyes to her glistering mouth. She took the opportunity and used his distraction against him. With all her might, she pushed him away from her, trying her best to move as quickly as she could to run away from him. But Endymion was too strong, too quick. His reactions too well-trained. Before she could take more than two steps, strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and she was hurled back around against his chest. Serenity let out a shriek of surprise, as she felt herself collide against his strong form. Endymion didn't waste a moment before he whirled them around and pushed her back against the coach, pressing against her as he effectively caged her between his form and the hard wood. He used his strong build to his advantage and captured both of her squirming hands in one, pinning them above her head. She let out a gasp of annoyance and shock as he moved one of his legs between hers, the sudden pressure against her core making her forget her surrounding and the paper in her hand for one fateful moment.
Effortlessly, he managed to pull the piece of papyrus from her grasp.
"You are not playing fair!" Serenity accused angrily, her chest heaving rapidly against Endymion's form.
"And you are?" the gladiator growled darkly.
She continued to wiggle against his form to get free, only resulting in Endymion pressing further against her form. She had no idea what he was doing to him. How every fiber in his body simply begged him to get rid of these unnecessary pieces of clothing that were currently preventing him from feeling her soft form skin to skin.
Serenity cried out from the impact, her eyes dark as she glared at him. Something in his expression seemed to startle her, however, because she immediately ceased her movements. The anger quickly disappeared from her eyes, only to be replaced by a confused look and … was it desire that he detected?
Endymion swallowed hard as he noticed her tongue dart out to wet her dry lips. He couldn't help it as his head moved closer towards hers, their noses almost touching as he stared down into her eyes. The hand that was not holding her wrists together above her head moved to touch her face. It was only then that he realized that he was still holding the piece of parchment in his hands. He closed his eyes for the briefest of moments and forced himself to push down his desire for her. With one abrupt movement, he freed her from him, and he took a determined step away from her.
He listened to the sounds she made when she tried to control her rapid breathing. He sighed and shook his head as images of her, naked beneath him, threatened to enter his mind.
She glanced at her for a moment, noticing how her gaze was transfixed upon the paper in his hand. She did not even protest when he unfolded it, his eyes scanning the hurriedly written lines.
"Praetor Seiya" it read "Diamond sent me away while he is in the North. We are heading East – I believe towards Brundisium. Serenity."
Endymion closed his eyes, trying his best to calm the raging storm inside him. He had his back turned towards her, but Serenity could clearly see how the muscles of his back tensed as he slowly lowered his hand with her message in it.
"You want him to find you." he spoke to the darkness.
Serenity couldn't help the shudder that went through her body at his tone.
She swallowed the lump in her through before she answered: "Yes."
Her short confirmation was met with deafening silence.
Serenity could her heart pounding in her ears, could feel the tremble of her fingers against the coach's wood as he sought for the slightest bit of support. She took in a clattering breath as she watched him slowly turn around.
His eyes were glistering and dark as he stared directly at her, his face cold as stone. He lifted the piece of paper for her to see. Before she could understand what was happening, he tore it apart – the sound of ripped paper echoing from the tall trees surrounding them. Serenity watched as the remains floated to the cool forest ground.
"I will not allow it." he then said, his voice without emotion.
Serenity forced her angry tears from her eyes.
"You will not allow it, Endymion?" she whispered heatedly. "You are in no position to allow anything! It is my choice!"
Endymion slowly stepped closer, shaking his head.
"It is not." he declared, the seriousness and finality in his voice shocking the young Domina to the core.
"Why?" she whispered, her eyes filling with tears of desperation. "Why would you do this to me?"
Seeing her tears, Endymion's face softened immediately. He rushed forward, cupping her face with one hand.
"I protect you, Serenity." he said softly. "Why don't you see that?"
Glistering tears ran down her face, the young woman having enough of being strong in front of everyone.
"I don't need your protection." she whispered in a breathy voice. "I need to escape, Endymion. Why don't you see that?"
Endymion looked at her beautiful face lit by the moonlight as he used his thumb to wipe away her sadness.
"I will protect you, Serenity." he repeated. "But I cannot allow you to escape from me. From us. Not with him."
Serenity's eyes widened.
"I know how you feel, Serenity." Endymion whispered, stepping even closer. "I know why you seek out his nearness. I hurt you. I deserve the greatest of pain for that. But believe me, you seeking him out for help, for protection. Maybe even love. It hurts me more than anything else."
She looked at him for a moment longer before she turned her head away.
"It is a fate that you chose for us, Endymion." she whispered brokenly.
He let his forehead rest against the side of her hair, breathing her in.
"I chose, yes. But it's not fate." he whispered. "I did it to protect you from your brother. I thought by pushing you away, you would be safe from him."
Serenity shook her head.
"Diamond, he…"
"Is a dangerous man." Endymion was quick to interrupt before she could finish her sentence. "I never knew just how dangerous. I was to believe that pushing you away would guarantee your safety. Your freedom. But I'm a selfish man, Serenity. It would kill me knowing you are in the arms of the Praetor. It would kill me because I have seen what kind of man he is. I could not stand it."
"They would never harm me." Serenity said, but there was the slightest hint of reluctance, of uncertainty in her voice. "They care for me."
"You are like the moon my beautiful Domina."Endymion whispered with a sad smile on his fcae. "Inflaming a fire even in the darkest of hearts. This is your gift to this world, this is what you need protection from."
Serenity closed her eyes, shaking her head.
"No." she whispered and pushed him away. "I … I don't believe you. This is your manly pride talking. This is your hatred for Seiya talking. He would never…"
She shook her head, taking further steps away from Endymion.
"I need to go." she whispered, her heart constricting with pain and uncertainty.
But Endymion would not let her go. He had seen the flicker of doubt within her beautiful eyes. He had seen the truth of his words reaching her heart. He grabbed her wrist and spun her back around to face him.
"No." he said determinedly. "It's my heart talking. My love for you, Serenity."
Before she could protest, his lips crashed down onto hers, trapping her in a searing kiss. Resistance only took a second before she succumbed to his desire. His hands pressed her against his form, his lips both demanding and pleading for her to see the truth. He walked her back against the carriage, pushing her determinedly against the hard surface. He shed away the overcoat she was wearing, earning a surprised gasp from the beauty as the cold night air hit her frame. He took advantage of that, his tongue finding hers, coaxing a moan from her sweet lips as he plundered her mouth with all of the pent-up desire within. She trembled under his soft caresses, sighed in pleasure as his right hand moved to her breasts, his thumb stroking her taut peaks in the most delicious ways. He freed his mouth from hers, his lips urgently kissing and licking their way to her jaw, her neck, her ear.
"Let me be the one to protect you, Serenity." he whispered heatedly, his breath hot against her ear, making her shudder. "Let me be the one to free you my love."
Serenity could only whimper in name in response, her mind clouded with the desire for him. His mouth found hers again, the man drunk by the mere, sweet taste that was so completely her. He never knew how he could have gone so long without her. She felt his fingers sensually trance the rim of her dress, before he pushed it forcefully down. With his hands, he urged her to warp her legs around his torso, before he lifted her up against the carriage. Endymion kissed his way down her neck, sucking and licking wherever he pleased, until his lips closed around one perfect peak. Serenity let her head fall against the hard wood, her soft mewls of pleasure encouraging him to suck harder, and to use his teeth to gently graze her sensitive buds. He was relentless in his attacks, careful still to make sure to notice any discomfort that she might express. But instead, Serenity buried her soft white hands into his dark mane, her fingers digging deeply into his scalp, making the gladiator moan in pleasure.
One of his hands shoved the silken dress up her thigh, his rough fingertips reveling in and caressing every smooth silver skin that was revealed. He pressed his enlarged bulge against her core, thrusting a little, yearning to make her feel exactly what she made him feel.
Another sweet moan of pleasure was coaxed from her lips, fueling his desire to have her again even more. He pressed her more firmly against the carriage, his mouth now again attached to hers and kissing her desperately as he freed one hand from her soft breast. He couldn't help the muffled groan as he tasted her. She tasted so good – like sunshine and freedom, like happiness and hope. He would never let her go. He loved her like he had loved no other. Serenity was perfect – and so much more.
"I've missed you so much, Serenity." she felt him murmur against the side of her neck. "My love, my life, my everything."
She let Endymion's hungry hand roam her body, the gladiator eager and desperate in his pursue to feel her soft trembling curves under his fingertips. It had been long – too long since he had last felt her quivering form under his merciless touch. A gasp of pure pleasure echoed from the trees around them as Serenity felt one finger enter her hot warmth, and Endymion captured her lips again, his tongue mimicking the movement of his finger.
He needed this. He needed her.
He knew that she deserved more. More than him, a gladiator without a future. More than this, a desperate fumbling and needy exchange of pleasure somewhere in the middle of a forest against the rough material of a coach.
But there was no time for gentle, no time for proper undressing and lovemaking.
The need for her – all of her – had been driving him insane from the first moment that he had laid eyes on her so many moons ago. There was no word in this world or any other that would be able to describe how he felt about her – what she meant to him. He could not even describe how it felt to kiss her sweet lips again, and to feel the silkiness of her skin beneath his rough touch.
As soon as he knew that she was ready for him, he couldn't contain himself any longer. With his free hand, he clumsily untied his breeches, his cock jumping out and standing to proud attention. He couldn't suppress the hiss that escaped his lips as the cold wind caressed his heated member.
He stared into her eyes, he needed to make sure that this was also what she wanted. He would surely die from the effort of pulling back, but he would never hurt her. Would he see any spark of doubt within her beautiful silver eyes, he vowed to the Gods he didn't believe in that he would let her go. But when he looked into her eyes, he only saw the desire and love that she felt for him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him with desperation that Endymion knew only too well.
Both let out a pained and pleasure-filled groan when he finally entered her – and the feeling of utter bliss and completeness immediately washed through his veins, filling his heart and lost soul the way he filled her. He buried his face into her neck, biting a little in desperation as he forced himself to stay still and to give her the time she needed to accept his hard length after such a long time of being apart. It was something that seemed to burn him alive, the desperate need to move, to feel her silken walls clench around him and to bring him gently to pure ecstasy was as suffocating as it was exciting.
Endymion heard he she whispered his name in a desperate plea, felt how the love of his life tentatively but determinedly wiggled her lower body, urging him to continue. Endymion squeezed her bottom lightly as he began to move, groaning hotly into the crook of her neck as he felt his length slide against her inner walls.
The pace quickly increased, both of them pushing and pulling in their desperate search for the release they had denied each other for so long. Endymion lifted his hand to her neck, the darkness of his eyes searching hers.
"Open your eyes" he panted harshly as he saw that Serenity held her eyes closed.
The beauty just moaned in pleasure, her head wiggling desperately from one side to the other as the gladiator pushed with more force in and out of her.
"Open your eyes, Serenity" Endymion demanded, the words breathless and harsher than before.
Silvery eyes fluttered open, and Endymion could have come then and there when his eyes met the pools of heavy desire.
"Don't you ever" he panted and pushed harder into her as if to punish her, making Serenity mewl and gasp in pleasure. "Don't you ever try and leave me again."
His eyes shone with a strange mixture of desperation and heated determination as he uttered those words. Serenity's mouth was formed in an o-shape as she tried to find the right words – any words – in her mind to form a coherent reply. But the pleasure Endymion was providing was just too much, too overwhelming to think of anything other than that.
When she wouldn't reply, Endymion suddenly bit the skin of her neck, not enough to hurt, but enough to make her gasp. She felt how his tongue immediately flickered over the small red spot his teeth had caused as if to apologize. Serenity sighed in pleasure as his hand found her breast, his clever fingers kneading and teasing the sensitive flesh. He kissed his way up her neck and to her ear, his hot pants and groans of desire making her inner walls clench in want.
"Say you will not turn to him Serenity." he whispered heatedly into her ear, the harsh tone of his voice bordering on desperation while the harsh rhythm his hips set continued to pound her mercilessly against the wood behind her. "Say that I will be the one to protect you!"
"Endymion" she gasped in desperation and pure pleasure as she felt how the world slowly started to crumble around her.
"SAY IT!" he demanded once again, his voice now forceful and strained from the effort of holding his own peak back. He grabbed her chin with his hand, forcing her to look at him. She opened her eyes then, her mouth opening as she looked into his stormy eyes and noticed the suffering on Endymion's sweaty face.
"Never… oh … never again." she whispered and felt how she neared her sweet peak with every word she forced herself to press out.
"Endymion!" the beauty then screamed as she came, her nails digging painfully into the skin as her lover's name filled the cold air.
Endymion crashed his lips onto hers, kissing her feverishly as she rode out her orgasm – her screams of pleasure getting lost in the back of her mouth. He followed quickly after, his grunts of pleasure resonating from the thick trees around them.
Utter bliss and joy filled him as he filled her with the white hot essence of his love – as he was able to mark her as his after such a long time.
He felt her snuggle against him, her head lying exhausted against his shoulder.
Serenity… she was his love, his light, his life.
He would never let her go, he vowed. He would never let her leave him.
He'd rather die first.
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"Again!" the raven-haired woman cried out in frustration, her lavender eyes alive with heat.
The blond chuckled and swirled his sword through the suffocating air.
"Are you sure, little one?" he called out to her, a sly smile on his lips. "I might hurt that precious skin of yours."
The woman let out a fierce cry of anger as she ran towards him, her sword held high. The blond just rolled his eyes and sidestepped her attempt to hit him. He expertly whirled around, quickly enough until he was standing right behind her. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, keeping her in place.
"You are too expressive." he whispered seductively into her ear. "Your eyes give away the intent."
He let her move around to face him, her face showing the frustration she felt.
"Ah, see what I mean?" the man chuckled and shook his head. "Your rage blinds you. A little person such as yourself should never launch at a person of bigger statue the way you did."
Her lips pulled into a pout, her eyes still filled with fury.
He winked at her, causing her face to darken further.
"You need to find other ways to defeat your opponent."
The woman huffed and blew the dark hair out of her face.
She then let out a sigh of frustration, shaking her head.
"I will be never able to fight the way I want to." she spat out angrily.
The blond chuckled in response, shrugging his shoulders.
"Thank the Gods I am here to help you learn." he laughed.
The fury on her face vanished, and her lips turned into a smile.
"You are right." she said, looking at him from beneath her thick lashes. "I'm already eager to see what else I can learn from you."
The young man looked at her, the grin on his face morphing to a smirk.
"What else indeed?" he whispered hoarsely as his face bent down in an attempt to capture her lips.
Before he could reach them, however, the woman suddenly pushed him forcefully away. Caught by surprise, the blond stumbled backwards until the small woman threw herself at him, making him fall to the ground.
He blinked once, twice, as he felt the sharp of her sword press against his throat.
She straddled him, her sword pushing a little against the soft skin – not enough to seriously hurt, but enough to draw a fine line of blood.
When he looked up at her, her eyes were filled with triumph, the haughty smirk now pulling her lips.
"Or maybe I know exactly how to defeat my opponents." she revealed, her pearly teeth showing as she smiled down at him.
The blond couldn't help but chuckle and his hands moved to grasp her hips.
"By the Gods, what a woman you are!" he whispered hoarsely in pure appreciation, his eyes darkening at her smirk.
From the balcony, Alan watched the pair, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"She has developed well." the blonde next to him said.
Alan grinned at that and nodded his head.
"I told you so, Haruka." he said. "Raye is a daughter of Mars. Enlighten her fire and she will conquer the world by steel and blood."
The short-haired blonde looked at him, shaking her head.
"I admit I was wrong about her, Alan." she admitted reluctantly. "However, I'm still not sure about the gladiator from Capua."
Alan waved one hand at her dismissively.
"Jadeite is a good teacher." he told her with a shrug of his shoulders. "He has helped us well to train our rebels. Why are you continuing to doubt him?"
"Because he is one of the brotherhood." Haruka told him through cold eyes. "It's a bond between gladiators than cannot be shattered that easily."
Alan rolled his eyes at that.
"He was a slave. Just like us." He told her firmly. "He chose to follow our cause and has not disappointed thus far. Try to dispel the flicker of doubt that constantly seems to eat our heart, Haruka."
"It's the flicker of doubt that ensures our survival, Alan!" Haruka seethed, her green eyes narrowing at her leader. "Has it not been for me, we would have been betrayed more than once. Revealed and shattered by slaves still loyal to that fucking Empire!"
"Enough, Haruka." a female voice sounded from behind them.
Alan's lips curled into a smile as his sister entered the balcony. Anne placed her arm around her brother, kissing his arm in greeting.
"Alan has given you no reason to doubt his judgement. You should stop yourself from constantly questioning his decisions."
Haruka glared at the other woman, but before she could voice another word, Alan held up his hand to stop her.
"I appreciate your opinion, Haruka." he said. "And I am grateful for everything you have done so far. But you are wrong about Jadeite. Help him to accommodate rather than fight him."
Haruka huffed, shaking her head.
"Go and help Raye to learn a woman's fight." Anne laughed. "Surely you have tricks for her that Jadeite will not be able to show her."
Haruka's eyes darkened at his words.
"Hop, hop, run along now, girl." The leader's sister urged, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with mischief. "Do not let the men do all the fighting."
Haruka narrowed her eyes at her before she glanced back at Alan.
"I have a bad feeling about Jadeite, Alan." she insisted darkly. "Call it…" her eyes then moved to look at Anne. "… woman's intuition." Haruka spat.
Without waiting for a response, she stepped back into the villa, making her way to the training ground.
Alan sighed and shook his head.
"You should stop provoking her, Anne." He chided softly. "Haruka is a good fighter. Better than many men I have encountered. She hates being called a woman."
Anne laughed as she snuggled closer against his form.
"Well she surely does her best to conceal that she is indeed supposed to be a woman." she snickered.
"Anne!" Alan growled, his eyes darkening.
Anne rolled her eyes.
"Fine." she finally gave in. "I'll try to behave myself."
She winked at him, letting her gaze darken with desire.
"But it won't be easy." she breathed in a hoarse voice.
Alan detangled himself from her and stepped towards the balcony's railing, watching Raye and Jadeite fight.
"So what do you really think about the gladiator from Capua?" Anne asked as she took the place next to him. "You think we can trust him?"
Alan cocked his head to one side.
"Yes." he replied after a while. "Yes I think we can trust him. He will be a great help when we return to Capua."
"Return?" Anne squeaked in surprise. "Why would be want to return to this hellhole?"
Alan shrugged his shoulders in nonchalance.
"Unfinished business." was his short reply.
Anne narrowed her eyes.
"I do not see why you are so obsessed with this city." she hissed. "We nearly got caught the last time. Dominus Tiberius is dead, killed by his own men. And the young Dominus blames us for his death. He is furious and will do everything in his power to destroy us should we dare to come near his House again."
Alan shook his head in annoyance.
"Try to tell me something I don't already know, Anne." he replied sharply.
"Alan, don't you see the danger of it?" Anne snarled. "It's madness to attack them so soon. With or without Jadeite – it would not make any difference."
Alan just shrugged his shoulders, but remained silence.
Annoyed, Anne grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face her.
"What is this maddening quest of yours?" she demanded. "What Gods try to lure you back to this place of death where I almost lost you, brother?!"
A flicker of silver appeared before his eyes, making him smirk.
He kissed Anne's forehead to soothe her rage.
"Nothing, sister mine." he said. "Nothing but an interest."
"An interest?!" Anne cried out in frustration. "What kind of interest could make you forget about our original purpose, Alan?!"
He just smirked at her, but did not reply.
Anne crossed her slender arms before her chest, glaring up at him.
"Well whatever it is, moving to Capua would not make any sense at all."
This managed to bring his attention back to his sister. Alan's brows furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Anne smirked at the reaction.
"Our spies reveal that Diamond has moved North to ensure his troops loyalty after his father's death."
Alan smirked.
"Even more reason to attack now."
Anne rolled her eyes.
"For what purpose?!" she spat. "There is no one left to attack, Alan. Diamond wisely sent the Domina away to an unknown place with some soldiers and gladiators. We could not even kill her if we attacked Capua. They are all gone."
Alan's brows shot up in surprise.
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"GONE?!" Seiya cried out in fury, angrily pushing the table in front of him over. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE IS GONE?!"
Yaten observed through impassive eyes as his brother continued to destroy the room.
"It means she is no longer in Capua." he replied evenly.
Seiya whirled around, his eyes burning with fury.
"Don't push me, Yaten!" he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Calm down, Seiya." Taiki sighed and rolled his eyes at his brother's behavhior. "It was just a matter of time until he found out about you little love letters."
"He STOLE her from me!" Seiya raged. "He stole my future wife TWICE!"
His face was flushed from anger, his eyes crazed from betrayal.
"FIND HER!" he yelled at the soldiers standing nearby. "And do not return without her!"
Yaten watched the soldiers leave in a hurry.
He rolled his eyes.
"You know it's a useless attempt." he addressed his brother calmly. "Nobody knows where he sent her."
"She cannot simply VANISH, Yaten!" Seiya yelled in frustration.
He ran a frustrated hand through his long dark mane.
"I should have killed him the moment he dared to throw us out of his house." he growled. "I should have claimed what is mine that night."
"Shoulda, coulda, woulda." Taiki sighed. "Doesn't help much, now, does it?"
Seiya glared at his brother.
"There is nothing you can do at the moment." Taiki tried to reason. "And don't even THINK of using the troops to go through the lands!" he stopped Seiya before he was able to utter the idea.
"Taiki is right." Yaten said. "The rebels are still a threat to Rome, and the borders are weak. We need you to concentrate on this rather than on your search for some pretty girl."
Seiya shot him a glare, but the truth of his words managed to come back to reality.
"Not even Rubeus and his spies know where he sent her, Seiya." Taiki said. "He just sent us a message informing us that Diamond made her leave together with a handful of soldiers and gladiators in the middle of the night."
Seiya huffed, shaking his head.
"His obsession for her will kill her." The young man spat out angrily.
"So maybe you should kill the bastard first, then." Yaten offered with a sly smile on his lips.
Seiya stared at him for a moment without answering.
He then shifted his eyes to look out of the spacious window. The sun rose above the rooftops of Rome, making the bricks burn and glister red in the early morning sun.
"I will find her." he silently vowed as the red light from the roofs was caught in his eyes.