BTW, "..."means someone is talking, and '...' means someone is thinking. Sorry for any confusion, I'm having some italicizing problems with R
Prologue
The skies rumbled with an ominous sensation. Bursts of lightning showered the darkened clouds, like a dark omen to the innocents of the world. Mothers all around the world tucked their babes into their beds, whispering words of protection and love. Mama birds nestled closer to their precious burdens, covering them from rain and wind.
All felt safe tonight. All, but one.
A lone figure is seen trudging through streets flooding from the downpour of the rains. Garbed in a thin tank top and a skirt unsuited for the unexpected weather, Serena Tsukino was alone in the world. Loved by no one, wanted by no one, Serena did not have a family to go home to. Having no reason, no goal, and no ambition in life to live, she was resigned to a life of loneliness and fear of having no one to love, but worst yet, of having no one to love her in return.
Abandoned at an unknown age, Serena grew up in a hovel orphanage. Never knowing what it felt like to be loved, to be wanted, Serena lived her first 18 years of life in a shadowed corner of one of the cities worst rundown orphanages. The children sent there were never wanted, never adopted. For who would come here to pick up a flea infested stray when there was the even cleaner, even popular, Azubu Orphanage.
Even one resigned to a life alone, Serena Tsukino was a different cast off. She had fire, passion, a temper. But alas, even Serena did not know she had these traits, for they lay dormant within her, awaiting the one who would rouse the true spirit of this seemingly shy and withdrawn girl.
The day she turned 18, Serena became a true adult, and was released from the government's hold on her life. Knowing she would be facing a life of starvation with no roof over her head, she applied and received a job at a local sewing plant run by a ruthless Mr. Strom.
Now 20, Serena had been working for Mr. Strom for two years. Two years of avoiding his repulsive advances, his lustful appraisals of her slender body, his sexual innuendos, Serena had no choice but to continue on with her work. For though she feared going to work daily, for she was often called into his office alone, this was the only job she could secure.
Without it, how would she pay the monthly rent on her shabby apartment? Who would buy the groceries to feed her? Who would pay the electricity bill so she could stay warm during weathers like this?
Similar to how she was resigned to a life with no love, she was resigned to a job she despised.
Having just gotten off of work, narrowly missing Mr. Strom's advancing hands, Serena cursed her luck at being outside during the threatening weather. While looking down at her feet as she hurriedly walked down the wet street, she pushed away a strand of hair from her face.
Hair slicked down to her head, wet clothes plastered to her body, Serena's figure was outlined to the best advantage for anyone peering out the window at the lone figure. With big baby blue eyes, long dark lashes; Serena was a sight for sore eyes.
Unaware of the rare beauty she possessed, Serena was an insecure and shy fruit, ready to be plucked and savored by one man and one man alone. Endymion.
Hidden in a dark and shadowed corner of the street, unbeknownst to Serena, stood the sexiest, yet coldest and deadliest man ever to walk the world. Dark black hair falling loosely over his midnight blue eyes, possessing a sensuous mouth, he was the type of man mothers warned their daughters about. Hardened by his losses, bitter to the world, Endymion wanted two things most. To possess Serenity once more, and to finally have the revenge he'd been craving for, for more than a thousand years.
And tonight, he would once again...possess Serenity.
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"Serenity," he whispered aloud, caressing the name. 'After a thousand years, I have finally found you. Before the night is over, I will have my revenge on your traitorous soul.'
Serena, startled out of her gaze on the wet ground, lifted her head in surprise. Glancing around, taking in her surroundings, she noticed no one foolish enough to be out in the rain like her.
'It must have been the wind. But I could have sworn I heard someone say my name...' Serena mused.
Fixing her eyes back onto the ground, she continued trudging down the street in the direction of her apartment.
Endymion, having seen Serenity's face clearly, when she was startled out of concentration by his whisper, had stepped further back into the shadows. In a moment of weakness, he allowed his thoughts to venture back a thousand years ago, when he would have died to give her anything she desired. His face contorted with pain and regret, before being carefully masked back to his icy and bitter appearance.
'No. I won't feel compassion for her. Remember Endymion, remember what she did to you. Remember what she did to everyone. She betrayed you. She betrayed everyone. Don't be fooled once more by her act,' Endymion berated himself.
With this in mind, Endymion pushed himself off against the wall he had been leaning against. With unnaturally silent movements, he stepped into the street in the direct path Serenity would soon be walking into. 'It's time to pay for your betrayal Serenity...'
As if the Gods knew what was about to happen, the sky lighted up and the clouds rumbled with a violent burst of thunder.
Startled by the fierce noises, Serena gave a little jump. Involuntarily, her eyes lifted up and at once were lost in the deepest sea blue eyes she had ever seen. A foot away was one of the sexiest men she had ever laid eyes on.
His hard, dark face was like a thunderhead, his blue eyes blazing under his jutting brow. Tall, dark, blatantly masculine, he towered over the small, nervous woman before him.
"O...oh, I... excuse me. I didn't see you," stammered a panicky Serena, diverting her eyes.
She waited for the gorgeous stranger to walk by. When it became obvious that he wasn't going to move, Serena hesitantly lifted her eyes back to his face.
'Why doesn't he leave? His eyes...they're so cold. He looks dangerous...' Serena thought.
She almost gave another frightened jump when Endymion suddenly acknowledged, "Serenity."
Serena almost sagged with relief when she realized this mysterious stranger must have mistaken her for someone else. "Serenity? I'm sorry sir, you have the wrong woman," Serena said.
"If you'll excuse me now...," Serena sidestepped the stranger, and quickly started down the street faster than before.
One or two steps later, she felt strong fingers grab hold of her arm and jerk her backwards.
"Where do you think you're going Serenity," whispered a cold Endymion.
"Pl...please let me go! I've already said that I wasn't Serenity," gasped a bewildered and frightened Serena. "My name's Serena Tsukino! It may sound like Serenity, but we're not the same person." With that said, Serena yanked her arm from Endymion's grip and instead of walking away from him this time, she ran as if a pack of dogs were nipping at her heels.
As Endymion watched Serenity rush away, his lips curled in a cold and cruel smile.
Turning a corner, Serena finally stopped to catch her breath. Bending down with her hands on her knees, she gasped for breath. 'What just happened,' she wondered, 'he looked as if he really believed I was Serenity. What an odd name. That man, he was so cold, so frozen through, when he looked at me. It was discomforting.'
"Serenity."
"AHH!" Serena screamed. "H...how did you...that's not possible! Where did you come out from? Never mind, don't answer that, because I'm leaving. If...if you follow me again sir, I'll call the police on you-ahhh-- ---."
Giving her no chance to finish, Endymion jerked her towards him. Plastering her soaked body onto his, he could feel every soft curve of her body. Her breasts were painfully crushed against his hard chest. He almost groaned with the memory of her willing body so long ago. Tightening his hold on her, he shifted and slightly thrust his hips against her in recollection of the past. 'So sweet' he thought almost groaning.
Serena gave a frightened gasp as she felt his solid hard body against her. No sooner did she finish gasping, the stranger's hands left her back. One grabbing hold of her hair and twisting hard that her face was angled towards him, the other going south grabbing her soft behind.
Using the hand that was on her bottom, he closed the distance between them. Serena felt with stark horror his hardening arousal, as he rubbed and thrust intimately against her. Wet barriers of clothes could not hide his fierce arousal.
Even through the terror and panic, she couldn't help but feel pleasure behind this heated display of passion. 'This feels so right, yet so wrong.'
When Serena came to, she tried to push out of his embrace, with no success. He was too strong.
"Pl...please let me go! Don't get near me, don't touch me! I'm not who you think I am!" she yelled nervously.
"Oh I know you don't think you're Serenity Serena, but soon enough you'll remember," Endymion caressed into her ear. With that said, he used his other hand that was in her hair, and captured her lips with his in a violent thrust. Plunging his tongue into her mouth, when she gasped aloud, he ravished her mouth with all his might. Putting into his kiss, all the pain, ache, and bitterness he'd experienced through the lonely years.
Frightened and dazed by his passion, Serena did the only thing a woman could do in her position. She fainted dead away into his embrace.
Endymion gave a cold and icy smirk, as he lifted the unconscious Serena into his arms. Out of nowhere, a luxurious dark colored Jaguar pulled up to the side of the street. A man with pure white hair opened the door, as Endymion carried his treasure into the waiting car.
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The rain slowed to a gentle and lulling rhythm of tapping against the car window. Beading into droplets, they were swiped away by the window wipers. Thunder and lightning ceased its attack, but the clouds were still as dark and ominous as it had been earlier.
Not one word had been said between master and friend. Each was lost in his own thoughts of the past, roused up by the sight of Serenity. Ever since Malachite had located her, the last week had been full of strain and pain for the two men. The others had noticed a strange and nervous tension between the two, but had respectfully declined to ask them about it. Time would tell why these two were acting strangely and secretive.
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Flashback
Closing the doors behind him, he approached the somber lone figure standing by the window, looking out at the garden beyond. The night before, there had been a vicious storm, leaving behind strong winds. Leaves and rose petals were scattered around the garden, some lifting with the wind before settling back onto the ground.
Without turning, Endymion asked, "How can I help you Malachite?" Sipping his cup of coffee, he waited for a response.
Malachite stared at Endymion's back silently, not sure of how to approach his long time friend.
Hearing the silent hesitation, Endymion turned. "Well?"
"Endymion..." Malachite trailed off. Getting a grip of himself, he bluntly stated, "I've found her."
For a split second, confusion occupied Endymion's eyes, before being replaced by pain and anger, upon registering what Malachite meant. Lean hands contracted slowly around the cup until it shattered under the pressure and coffee went in several directions.
End of flashback
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Never taking his eyes off the slick road, Malachite asked, "I trust it went well Endy" breaking the silence.
"As well as I could have hoped for Malachite."
The two resumed their silence.
Endymion glanced down at Serenity, who was snuggled onto his lap, head burrowed toward his throat, gently inhaling and exhaling. Still unconscious to the world, Endymion took the opportunity to really study her face.
Even in deep sleep, she found no peace. A frown creased her forehead. Lines of tension, sadness, and exhaustion, were written all over her face. 'Ah Serenity, what has happened to that bright, exuberant child you used to be? Even with your betrayal at hand, you are still as beautiful as you were the first day I met you...'
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Flashback
Hooves were thunderously pounding on the dusty, dirty, cracked road leading to a small quaint, yet visibly worn, cottage. The noise sent all the furry animals burrowing back into their homes. Birds scattered all over from the tall trees surrounding the road.
"Endymion, we cannot stop here," Jaedite yelled over the noise. "We don't know who owns this land! It could be a trap!"
"We need to stop and let the horses rest. They're worn down to their bones. The men and especially the women need to get some water and food. We have to stop Jaedite." Endymion commanded forcefully, ending the argument.
Thinking about his own Rei, tired from the days ride, Jaedite silently agreed.
The men tied the horses to nearby branches and grouped together at the small clearing directly in front of the cottage, waiting the orders of leader.
Malachite spoke first, "The cottage doesn't look occupied. See how no smoke comes from the chimney? And how the curtains are secured over the window, even in this time of day?"
"If it's abandoned, we can rest here for tonight. If the occupants still live inside, we will see if they will allow us some food and water, and permission to tent out on their land."
With this stated to all the men and women, Endymion, followed by Malachite and Jaedite sauntered up to the door. Upon closer inspection, they noted how the lock had long been broken. Knocking on the paint chipped door, it swung openly with no hesitation.
Endymion moved to go ahead, but stopped suddenly at the instinctive sense of danger. Malachite and Jaedite too felt something wrong with the situation at hand.
Raising one hand to silence the others, Endymion gripped his sword in preparation, and took a step into the cottage. Glancing around, he noted that the cottage was indeed occupied. Over a burnt out fire, was a pot of soup still cooling from the heat. On the table, in the middle of the sparse but somehow cozy cottage, lay a few loafs of freshly baked bread.
Before Endymion had the chance to signal Malachite and Jaedite to enter, he caught sight of a bright glint of sharp metal headed straight at him. Though too well trained in the acts of war to be surprised by this violent sign of an attack, the cottage was far too dim because of the covered windows.
Endymion could only raise his arm to get the most damage of the dagger, gritting his teeth as it slashed through skin and tissue. Never wasting a precious second, he dropped his sword so that he could use his arms freely. Capturing the wrist holding the dagger, he twisted it viciously till it loosened and dropped to the floor.
Giving a gasp of pain at the horrible wrench of his arm, the assailant, not deterred, struck out with his fist in rage. Endymion easily deflected it, giving him an opening to elbow the attacker's gut. Losing wind, the attacker was visibly weakened. Endymion shoved the assailant across the room, where he promptly fell against the stomach high table.
Knowing he had won the battle, Endymion crossed the room, twisted an arm of the assailant behind the assailant's back, and marched out the door so he could properly see and punish the offender at hand.
What should have alerted Endymion that something was terribly wrong with the situation were the gasps from the women when he emerged from the cottage with the attacker. Or that his men had a shocked look upon their faces.
But Endymion was seeing red from the rage of being unwarrantedly attacked and cut, when not two days ago he walked away from a battle unscathed by any enemy soldier.
The men and women cleared a path for him, leaving a wide circle between them and Endymion and his attacker. Throwing the surprisingly light man down and forward into the clearing, the man fell with an unceremonious thud, dust lifting up before drifting back down to the earth.
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At that moment, Endymion happened to see his sister, Rei, standing with the other women. He saw her blanch and visible draw in a gulp of air. Frowning, he followed her gaze, and all the gazes of the other overwrought women, towards the attacker...
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At that moment, Endymion happened to see his sister, Rei, standing with the other women. He saw her blanch and visible draw in a gulp of air. Frowning, he followed her gaze, and all the gazes of the other overwrought women, towards the attacker...
What he saw first, surprised him the most. Pools of golden blonde hair fell down her back, with a few untamed strands covering her face. 'How the hell didn't I see all that hair in the first place?'
What he saw next, held his heart in a tight grip. Her eyes were the purest shade of blue, with a crystal like appearance from the unshed tears gathering within. Even in pain and fear, her blustered glare could fall a lesser man. 'Brave,' he praised silently.
Endymion took in her entire appearance. Possessing this wondrous hair and amazing eyes, was a woman child of 20. Dressed in a clean, but worn, dress, she was neither too thin nor too plump. Her skin was pale and fair, but signs of bruising were slowly appearing on the side of her face, where he must have struck her during their struggle. From her sprawled position on the dirt ground, she seemed small. 'I bet she'd barely reach my chin,' he mused.
Endymion returned his gaze to her eyes. He was reminded of his faults upon seeing again her tearful glare and the glares of the other women. He silently groaned at his mistake. 'How could I have not known? The attacker was no match for me inside the cottage because he was a...she.' Endymion felt worse than a heel.
He cleared his throat, suddenly nervous at approaching this beautiful girl. "Miss," he began, as he reached for her arm in an attempt at rectifying the situation.
No sooner had his fingers touched her skin that she yanked back her arm and using her hands scampered further away. "D...don't touch me," she whispered, trying to sound brave.
At the sound of her voice, Endymion drew in a deep breath. Even her voice was lovely, with its soft sweetness. 'Endymion, what is wrong with you,' he admonished himself. 'Get a grip on yourself. You've had your fill of women in your life, remember? What makes you think this was could be different?'
But she was! He could fill it in the depths of his soul. This was the one! The one he'd wished for. The one who would fill his lonely heart. The one who would finally care for him, watch over him...love him...
Endymion cautiously crouched down next to her. Slowly raising his hand, trying not to frighten her away again, he gently used his thumb to brush a tear, which had escaped from her eyes, away. Pleased that she did not flinch away from his touch, he looked into her eyes and was lost.
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Neither one was moving, or breathing. Each taking in the other.
The others in the clearing could feel something happening in the air between the two. They seemed so lost in each other.
Rei threw a startled, but pleased, glance at Jaedite, who returned her look with a loving smile and mouthed the words, 'It's about time.'
Rei glanced at the blonde girl next to her brother, and smiled, thanking whoever was responsible for giving her brother another chance at perhaps having a life with love. She had feared that Endymion would never find a woman who loved him for being himself, and not a Lord with plenty of riches.
Still not one word had passed between the two. Endymion finally broke their trance like gazes on each other. Knowing something amazing had just happened between the two of them, he gave a small smile at her. He knew she had felt it too, when she gave him a startled glance, before giving him a tentative smile of her own.
He almost yelled out his pleasure, at her smile. A smile meaning that she had forgiven him for his mistake.
Carefully and gently, so gently that it seemed like he was caring the world's most precious treasure, Endymion lifted her off the ground and secured her into his arms. She trustingly let him. Endymion stood up, carrying her, and silently started back towards the cottage.
Malachite, Jaedite, and Rei, who was carrying a bag of medicines, followed.
From her position in his arms, she looked up into his face. "What's your name?" she whispered.
Endymion looked down at her and smiled. "Endymion, little one. And yours?"
"Serenity," she softly let out.
End of Flashback
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Okay guys, I again apologize for this being a repost and a revision. Hopefully now my chapters will be much longer. You all can help me out by telling me some tips and advices about what types of direction I should take. Sunny