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An Angel From Hell
By Kayla Chavi

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Chapter 3

I stood in the middle of my studio apartment as the sun's first rays trying to peek through the shades. I was tempted to throw open the window and see how Powerful I really was. I wanted to see if they would hurt me.

But then again, a sunburn was not the way to make a good impression. I was going to see Darien tonight and I wanted him to find me attractive and beautiful, not bright cherry red. I contemplated bringing him here, but then he would ask too many questions that I don't want to answer.

He would want to know who the portrait of the man with long black hair and dark blue eyes was. Then he would want to know why he looked like him. I'm thousands of years old and still I can't say no to the man, and I'm not ready to tell him about reincarnation. Darien's a Christian and I'm not prepared to tell my J'thia that there is no single God out there, just the Higher Powers and then THE GODS.

He wouldn't be able to handle it. And I'm not prepared for another mental breakdown from him. The last time was painful enough. But that's another story meant for another time and another life..

I haven't finished the first time. The story of our Love, our Life, and our Death has yet to be told.

So I go to my computer. Yes, I have one of these blasted things. I hate them, even though I'm an excellent typist, and know how to use them perfectly, I still long for the days when all I had to do was call for a scribe. Then he would write exactly what I said down, letting me read it afterwards to make it correct.

I would kill for a scribe.

* * *

The Delegation from K'thie was coming to Atlantis. I was a nervous wreck. Uncle had decided that it was my duty to see to all the preparations. I was upset, for two reasons. One being that this entire delegation was a sham. All it was, was Uncle shoving the fact that we had their Prince in their faces. Showing them that he had a Power that they didn't.

The other was Endy.

He was getting all dreamy eyed about it. Apparently his sister and her husband were part of the delegation. Along with a woman that was rumored that he had known. And by known, I mean it in the Biblical sense of the word. I was worried that he would see this woman (I didn't know her name yet), and he would look at me and see the child again.

Then there was the fact of while he now slept in my bed, he didn't sleep with me. He refused to know me. (Again in the same sense as before). I was beginning to hate him for it, I loved him so much. Here in Atlantis is was not a strange thing for slaves to sleep with their Masters. I told him this. Once I came to the point of begging. In any other situation, with any other man it would have been pathetic.

His response?

"Senna, I love you more than Life Itself. And when I take you, it will be because we are married. I will not take your honor from you." He looked down at me gently, and lightly held the side of my face, wiping away the tear that had fallen.

"Endy we love each other, that's all that matters. I want this, I'm not deluding myself either. I want everything love has to offer." I looked at him, my aquamarine eyes filled with a pleading.

"So do I, Senna. But I will not end up fathering a child who has a slave for a Father."

"Damn you!" I pulled away from him angrily, "Is that all you see yourself as? A slave?"

"Senna--"

"When I look at you Endymion I see a King, a man more fit to rule than Uncle. I see this man who has so much honor that its killing me inside. I have never treated you as my slave! Never! I have never used it to get you to do anything that you don't want to. I haven't even used it to force you to make love to me! So why do you insist on remaining a slave!?"

There was a silence and he looked down at the floor. I watched as his jaw clenched and his hands tightened into fists. He was just as frustrated as I was. Damn him and his honor. I closed my eyes to stop the tears, "It's her, isn't it."

"What?" he looked up at me, confused. "Who?"

"That woman who's coming with the Delegation."

"What? I don't understand. What woman?"

"That woman, she's a former lover of yours. She's coming with the K'thie Delegation. You don't want me, you want her."

"WHAT?!" He did looked at me as if I was crazy but I didn't want acknowledge it. I didn't give him a chance to talk, so I turned and fled from the room.

I was blind at that moment, for I did not see the look of sadness that followed me. And I didn't hear the inhuman scream that escaped his throat as he in frustration threw himself upon our bed.

* * *

Endy and I didn't speak to each other for three days, but he still slept in my bed. Why? Because unless he was there, I was attacked. It was a cold three nights, for he didn't hold me, and I didn't let him.

The night before the delegation came, I was getting ready for bed, slipping on my simple nightdress, when a pair of strong arms grabbed my waist from behind and swung me onto the bed. I managed to utter a small shriek before I realized that the man over me was Endymion. He held me firmly by the waist and looked deeply into my eyes.

Then he was kissing me more forcefully then he had ever done before. His mouth traveled along my jaw and neck and shoulders and then along the neckline of my nightdress. I began to whimper softly as I felt his lips press against my breast bone and then a moment later along the fleshy part of my breast. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back just as hungrily. I actually managed to get rid of his shirt before he slowly pulled away and moved to lay next to me.

"Don't ever not speak to me for that long ever again," he said firmly and lightly stroking my back. I nodded and gently touched the skin of his chest with my fingertips. "I think that we need to talk."

I sighed and closed my eyes and pulled closer to him, "Do we have to?"

He looked down at me and lightly touched my hair, "Senna, listen to me. The only person who means anything to me is you. It will always be like that. The other women, they mean nothing."

"But....but you've....you've made love to them and not to me."

"Serena, what I've done with them isn't making love, its sex, or getting screwed, or fucking. It was never love." He took my chin in his hand and made me look at him.

"Oh."

Endymion smiled and kissed my forehead, "Please, let me love you in my way. I respect you for the amazing woman you are, Senna. And when we are married I will do anything you wish me to."

He said when, not if. For some reason that gave me hope. Maybe this delegation would change something.

"Promise?"

"With all of my soul." he kissed me again gently and I smiled up at him. He pulled me closer, an arm snaking around my shoulders. I rested my head on his chest. "Now, don't move, these last few nights have been freezing. I forgot how nice it is to have you here."

I giggled and snuggled even closer. There was a long period of silence and I thought that he had fallen asleep, "Zalliva xi, J'thia." I whispered, "I love you, beloved."

He held me tightly, "L'tie qui, Senna."

* * *

I sat on my low stool, my dark burgundy silk dress, billowed at my feet. The purpose of it was to make me look like a goddess. Endy told me it worked. My brother teased him saying that Endy would think I was a goddess in breeches and a man's shirt. Uncle just nodded his head, approving of it. My hair was artfully braided, with small feathers and beads in it. It had taken hours as one of my slave girls forced me to sit on my coushined couch. Endy had sat at my feet.

When my hairdresser wasn't watching, he would tickle me. Several times I had to stifle my laughter and he recieved a few kicks to the chest. In retaliation he had taken my foot in his hand and lightly massaged it.

Normally I don't like feet. I believe that they are just one of those things that are not meant to be shared with anyone. That neurosis changed when he had placed light kisses along my ankles. He managed to get to my calves, but was interrupted when An'dre had come looking for me.

Now, Endymion sat at my feet once more. I had insisted on this. Uncle had frowned, saying that even a Princely slave did not deserve a place at my feet. I said that he had forced the man into my rooms and into my life. I choose what place he had and therefore he had a seat of honor at my feet. Had this been any other time I know that he would have tried to annoy me by doing what he had done in my bedroom.

The main Throne Room doors opened and the procession of the Delegation came through. They put on a nice show of their wealth. It was the last three people were who were important, for they contained the real power in this whole mess.

A woman with dark black hair led them. Her hair was so black that it looked blue in places when the sunlight glanced upon it. Her robes were also blue and very modest. She was beautiful and I noticed the look in Endy's eyes when he saw her. It was joy.

The man walking a step behind her had wavy dark brown hair that brushed past his shoulders. He had a peacefulness around him, though to me he looked slightly feminine. It didn't help that he kept his hair pulled into a loose horse-tail. Though it was clear that there was nothing girly about him. While he was thin, he certainly was strong.

There was also something about him that bothered me. He didn't look like a K'thie, his hair was too light and his eyes were a gray.

These two were introduced as the Princess Amilyn of K'thie and her husband Zander. These two were Endy's sister and brother-in-law. I looked down at Endy and then nodded with a smile. He lightly kissed my hand and then stepped off of the dais to meet them.

He and his sister hugged each other tightly and tears of relief streaming from her eyes. Eyes that were almost as blue as Endy's, if I recall correctly. He and Zander gripped arms firmly and from this I learned much. This was Endymion's family and they loved him. They wanted him home.

Pleasantries were exchanged and then I saw Endymion pale considerably. I followed his gaze, it was the third woman that had followed behind them. She was a tall woman with hair a darker red then mine. Her eyes were red violet and cold. She forced a chill to run down my spine when our gazes met. She was wearing the robes of a Priestess, though unlike Reishe's Fire Red, her's were a oyal purple edged with a blood-red. I began to wonder who she was.

Then she was announced and I knew the reason for Endymion fear.

"High Priestess Berylka of the K'thie High Temple of Garlekesh."

I nearly screamed. Garlekesh was the God of Blood and War in K'thie, if what Endy had told me was true. The fact that he had a High Temple did not sit well with me.

Endymion turned to greet her, moving to take her hand. I saw her shake her head and give him a cold smile. In the silence of the Throne Room I heard, "Oh no Endymion, we are much to close to be so formal." Then she kissed him.

And it wasn't a friendly kiss, it was a deep throated passionate kiss that lasted far too long. Though Endy nearly threw her away from him, the whole matter stunned me. The Princess Amilyn glared hatefully at Berylka and said something harshly to her as Endymion coldly took his place back at my feet. I was afraid for him and wanted to gently place my hand on his shoulder. I wanted to tell him that it would be all right.

But Princesses weren't supposed to show concern for their slaves. Endy knew this and so did I, the public had to be satisfied.

Screw the public, I decided after a moment. I gently touched his shoulder. He let me lay it there before gently shrugging it off.

I was afraid. I was afraid of Berylka. I was afraid of Uncle (who sat in his Throne smirking). And I was afraid even of Endymion, for the look in his eyes was so terrible that I dared not touch him again.

I didn't hear much of the negotiations and the speeches that day. Berylka held my gaze, the fear running through my body. It was the gentle touch on my hand that broke that concentration. I looked down surprised.

Endy gently took my hand in his and lightly squeezed it, "Don't meet her eyes," he whispered, "I don't want you to loose your soul." I nearly smiled. So he wasn't angry at me. His next movements proved this even more as I felt his warm hand slip under my monsterous skirts. He ran his fingers along my calves in a comforting fashion. It made me smile for a moment.

However, I kept my eyes on my hands in my lap, not listening to anything. I don't think I was capable of thinking, for I was in total shock from what had just happened.

* * *

Afterwards I wandered aimlessly through the Palace before I came back to my rooms. Inside I could hear laughter and I almost didn't open the door. I knew I would find Endymion and his sister in there and I didn't think that I wanted to meet her. She was trying to take him away from me, and I didn't like that.

Gods, I was such a child at times.

I turned to go when the door opened and Endymion stood there. He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into the room. He smiled, looking happier that I had ever seen him before. "I thought I felt you there."

I looked at him confused, what did he mean he could feel me? Did he always know when I was around? I didn't get a chance to ask these questions, for he pulled me over to meet his sister and her husband.

Amilyn stood and bowed solemnly as did Zander. "You're majesty it is an honor to meet you finally."

"Finally?"

Zander laughed, "We've just spent the last two hours listening to my Lord talk about you." Endy turned a bright red and I laughed.

"Two hours?" I asked him trying to contain my laughter.

Endymion shot me a dangerous look, "Actually it was closer to three," he said indignantly, crossing his arms.

I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of his sister. I gestured to the large couches in my outer chamber, inviting them to sit. They took their seats and I sat across from them.

Endymion placed himself at my feet.

Amilyn saw this and was very confused, "Endymion, why are you on the floor?"

Endymion sighed, "Lyn, I'm a slave. I can't sit on the same couch as Sen-Serena. It's not proper."

I closed my eyes, knowing from having my own siblings and dealing with An'dre that there was going to be an argument about this. Zander met my eyes and grinned impishly, he knew this as much as I did.

"You're not a slave, Endymion," she said in a patronizing tone and gave me a glare.

"Here I am," he said simply. I was about to say something, to tell him to stop being ridiculous and sit next to me. I really didn't mind.

But he stopped me. He gently took my hand and kissed it. Amilyn's eyes narrowed when she saw this, and a cold look came into her eyes. Zander tried to do the same thing that Endymion had done with me. He took Amilyn's hand and held it gently.

"Why haven't you come home?" she said abruptly and I looked at her confused. Endymion was a slave here, he couldn't just leave. "We were expecting you back months ago. The slavery was a shock, yes, but we thought that you would have escaped by now."

"You thought wrong, Lyn."

"I don't understand. You could just leave," she stood up, "Why haven't you?" She yanked her hand away from Zander. He sighed and just leaned back into the couch.

"Senna please," he said to her. If it had been any other situation, the use of 'beloved' would have been humorous. I was so used to Endy saying it to me that it seemed odd to here another man call his wife it. "Just calm down, I'm sure that Endymion had a reason."

"I don't expect you to understand Lyn," Endymion said standing up to face her.

By this time I was getting very confused. I looked up at Endy to see something I didn't understand it in his eyes. He was angry at his sister and I didn't understand why.

"Then tell me!" she implored, "Endy we are brother and sister. We always have strived to understand each other. Tell me."

There was a silence and I stood, "Maybe I should go," I whispered going to my terrace.

"My GODS!" Amilyn's eyes widened and her voice rose, "You're here because of her!" She pointed her finger at me accusingly.

I cringed and decided it would be best if I left. So I went outside on the terrace.. I hated when people talked about me when I wasn't there. Sometimes An'dre and Endymion did that and it infuriated me. So I went to the ledge and closed my eyes, trying not to cry. I desperately wanted to know what all of this meant.

I kept coming up blank and the argument continued inside. Amilyn wasn't being very quiet either.

"I can't believe you Endymion! Can't you see that she is one of them?! She's a Atlantian! They're Empire was built on the backs of others. They keep slaves! She could never understand what it's like to be free. She's a barbarian!"

Endymion shouted something in K'thie and then there was a silence. It was a very, very, long silence.

"He just told her to remember that he was Prince and that she was Princess. He told her not to question him." I looked up to see Zander standing next to me. He looked troubled at the whole situation. He sighed, "I love my wife dearly, but sometimes she is extremely close minded."

My eyes widened. His last sentence was spoken in the High Language of Atlantis. Only the royalty and nobility spoke this language. It was a hard language to speak, taking those who were not native to it almost a life time to learn.

This could only mean one thing, Zander was an Altantian. And nobility at that.

No wonder he didn't look like a K'thie.

He saw the realization in his eyes and nodded, "She doesn't know, for obvious reasons. I plan on telling her in about ten years. Hopefully by then she'll loose the prejudice that she has. And by then she'll get used to the fact that you're married to her brother. I'm also hoping for a few children by that point too." He grinned good naturedly and it caused me to smile in return.

I nodded and looked down at the sea below me, "Endy and I aren't married yet," I said quietly, "And I don't think we'll ever be." I started to cry. I was appalled at myself, Endy was the only man who had ever seen me cry.

Zander lifted my chin and made me look at him. He had a kind smile on his face and there was a gentle hope in his eyes, "Your Majesty, I can promise, that you and Prince Endymion will be married. And it will be sooner rather than later."

"H-How?" I stuttered, looking up at him amaze.

"We're working on it."

Then Endymion came outside, obviously walking away from Amylin. He was angry and upset, glaring slightly at the sea and the horizon. Zander bowed politely to me before going inside to Amylin. I heard them leave a moment later.

Tentatively I went up to Endy and placed my hand gently on his shoulder. His hands were clenched into tight fists, so hard that his knuckles were white. "J'thia?" He was quiet for a very long time before turning to me.

"I'm sorry," he whispered looking deeply into my eyes.

I smiled slightly, "For what?"

"For my sister," he said quietly, moving to turn away from me. I stopped him by grabbing his wrist and holding it tightly.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I said. I reached with my other hand and turned his face back towards mine. For once I was able to make him look at me instead of the other way around, "You can't control her Endy. She's her own woman."

"I don't want her to hurt you," he whispered, "You mean too much to me."

I smiled and kissed his hand, "I know. I didn't know how much until just a few moments ago." He looked at me confused and I laughed. "You stayed here when you didn't have to. If she and Zander are to be believed you could have left Atlantis a long time ago, but you didn't. You stayed, and I know its because of me, and not because of An'dre," I paused and then smiled slightly, "At least it better be because of me and not because of An'dre, or else I would have to kill him."

Endymion laughed and kissed my forehead, drawing me to him in a fierce embrace. I wrapped my arms around his torso and buried my face in his chest. I would like to note that his arms are wonderful and I have always felt safe in them.

"I would never leave you if I could possibly help it," he promised, "I would have to be forced away. I wouldn't leave you even if you told me too."

I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He lifted me off the ground and twirled me around on the terrace. I laughed and held on as he twirled me back into the room.

He stopped suddenly, frozen for a moment. I looked over my shoulder to see why he stopped. I expected to see someone like Uncle or An'dre, maybe even Amilyn again.

Berylka.

The High Priestess of Garlekesh.

The God of Blood and War.

I nearly screamed in fear. I'm not really that brave. Not when it comes to things like her.

Endymion held me tightly by the waist before slowly setting me to the floor. His arm was still protectively around me when I was put upon my feet. His strength crushed me to his side. My auburn hair was a tumble of curls and I didn't much look like the Princess, but I acted the part.

"What are you doing here without my permission?" I asked coldly and her cruel red eyes (and they were a red now, not the red/violet of before) flickered at me, as if noticing my presence for the first time. "I did not give you leave to enter my room."

"I'm here to see his majesty," she said calmly, "I need to talk to him." Her eyes traveled his body in a very suggestive way. I may only be fifteen but I knew what she wanted. "Alone."

I opened my mouth to speak but Endy stopped me. He shook his head, "I'll be alright."

"Very well," I said quietly, an irrational fear of losing him came into my mind. If I left them alone, they might........I looked at her once more and noticed that she was at least in her early twenties. She was very voluptuous. My gaze flickered over to my bed and prayed to the gods that they wouldn't profane it.

I pulled away and gave the appearance of leaving them alone. I didn't, I hid behind one of the pillars and drapes.

What can I say, I'm a jealous girl. I always have been and I always will be. Besides if I was going to get my heart broken, I wanted to be the first to know.

"Why are you here Berylka?"

She smiled a cruel and cold smile, "I wanted to see you *Endy*" They had sat down on the couches and she lightly placed a hand on his leg. He immediately grabbed it and held her hand tightly by the wrist.

"Not good enough Berylka." he said looking at her coldly, "Why are you really here?"

She narrowed her eyes and then sighed, snatching her hand away from him, "I'm here to scare the King of Atlantis into giving you back to your people. Even Rub'ris fears the Gods. Especially the God that I represent."

"Nice tactic," he said dryly, "Who's idea, mother's or fathers?"

She laughed, "You're sister's." She lightly touched Endymion's face, "She's missed you and wants you back. You missed her wedding, now you're going to miss the birth of her first child if you aren't careful."

"Lyn's pregnant?!" Endy exclaimed and I felt a rush of joy for the sister who really didn't like me. She was going to have a child! That was wonderful, something that I wanted but Endy at this point wouldn't give me.

"You didn't know?" Berylka asked innocently, running her fingertips over his lips. Again he grabbed her wrist. Berylka jerked her hand away as if she had been stung, "What is it about that child that has you so insistent on staying here?" she asked angrily.

"She isn't a child anymore than you are a good woman Berylka. She's beautiful, intelligent, and a good person." He paused angrily, "Something you will never be."

Her eyes were now a blood-red as she narrowed her eyes at him, "How dare you!" she hissed standing, a fire in her eyes burned there, it scared me. "How dare you judge me? I gave up everything for you Endymion! I gave up my life and hope as your wife, just to see you returned home. And I come to find that you are lusting after the Crown Princess of our enemy and want to stay. You are a betrayal to your people."

"I dare because I am the Prince of our people Berylka. I am trying to forge an alliance that will bring peace to our country and to most of the civilized world. Serena is a good woman and will be the perfect Queen someday. She is a better person than you are. Now leave. Leave me before I have you removed."

"You're a slave!" Berylka hissed and slapped him, "You are a slave to her and to Rub'ris. I curse you!"

I paled almost giving myself away by wanting to help Endy. Curses scared me, for they were very real.

"I curse you that you will never be truly happy with Serena. She will become something that you despise for eternity and you will hate her and yourself everyday for the rest of your lives. And each life after that! I curse any children that you might have that they're lives will become a destructive force in the world. They will destroy their loved ones, just as you will try to destroy Serena. You will never know happiness!" She shrieked.

There was a silence.

"And I bless them that Good will overcome Evil! That Love and Justice will triumph and they will taste happiness before death!" Reishe stood in the doorway of my rooms, the Power of Flame surrounding her. "Get out Berylka! You don't belong here in Atlantis. You do not belong here among the living."

Berylka narrowed her eyes and hissed, her eyes glowing red. She roared, her scream inhuman. I saw that her two eyeteeth were elongated, like a serpents fangs. Her fingernails were claw like and she leapt to attack Reishe. Fire leapt from the raven haired Priestess to the *thing* that used to be Berylka.

They fought, Reishe looking glorious as she fought the thing who was leaping for her neck. Berylka managed to bite her and I saw blood begin to run down her neck.

In a swift motion, a blond haired man came into view , attacking Berylka from behind with a large polished piece of wood. I saw him try to shove it deep into her back, aiming for her heart.

He failed, but she released her grip on Reishe. Reishe used this distraction to throw Fire at the *thing* again. The fire caught on Berylka's robes.

Berylka screamed in pain and then gathered Darkness around her before disappearing.

I began to cry, for it seemed that with her words my whole life had ended. I had no reason to live, even with or without Endy. I was tired of being attacked by men, women, and *things* I wanted to be able to live my life without the worry of waking up dead. I wanted to be with the man I loved and it just became impossible. I was cursed.

Suddenly I was in Endy's arms. He was calling me a beautiful idiot and asking me why I didn't leave like a smart girl. He kept calling me beautiful and telling me how much he loved me. I just cried and cried. I wished that none of this had happened. I was beginning to regret everything that had happened.

Reishe knelt next to me as Endymion tried to calm me. Behind her was a blond haired man also wearing a Priest's robes. "What are you two doing here?" Endymion asked quietly as he rocked me as I sobbed.

"Jedeite felt an Evil presence," Reishe said gently, "We came as soon as we could. I'm sorry," she whispered. Jedeite began to gently clean Reishe wound before quietly and quickly cleaning up my room

During this discussion, Endymion lifted me up off the ground and laid me onto our bed.

"Will she be alright?" he asked Reishe nervously. She and Jedeite exchanged a smile.

"She just needs sleep and she needs you with her. Don't let go of her," Jedeite said and he and Reishe left.

That night Endymion held me, not letting go. We didn't sleep, I don't think that we could have even if we had tried. That night was the last night I ever cried from fear. I let ice freeze part of my heart.

**I will never cry over her and this again** I promised myself, **Never again will I be so scared that I cry**

* * *

"I'm going back to K'thia."

My heart stopped. It was two weeks since Berylka and his sister had left, and now he was kneeling in front of me begging me not to kill him. Believe me, it was a serious possiblity at this point.

"What?" I whispered, not believing that I had heard him correctly the first time.

"I'm going back to my country," he said quietly and then looked down at the ground.

"No." My voice was a strangled whispered, "You promised never to leave me. I won't let you go."

"Senna--" he started, trying to beg, taking my hands gently in his.

"NO!" I tore away from him, leaving him kneeling on the floor, "You can't! You......" and then I did the thing I thought I would never do, "You can't! You're my slave. I demand that you stay here!"

"Senna....you're Uncle is giving me my freedom, saying that it's his deathbed wish. I'm going back to K'thia" He stood and walked over to me. Gently he placed his hands on my shoulders. In an effort to calm me he ran his palms down my arms and back up again. He took my face and tilted it up so I would be forced to look at him.

"Why?" I whispered giving up. I didn't look at him, instead I tried to look past him. "You promised."

"I know.......the alliance is going to be made finally. My parents want me home. My people and family need me." He was trying to make me understand why.

And I did understand that he had to go, but that didn't mean that I had to like it.

"What about me?" I whispered, tears starting to fall down my face (I promised not to cry over Berylka. I knew I could never promise to not cry over Endy, it would be impossible.) "I need you."

He made me look at him, gently wiping away my tears. "I know Senna, and there is something that I want to ask you."

"What?" I finally looked into his eyes.

"Come to the ball tonight. Dance with me once before I leave. Let us be equals for one night. Let me show you how much I love you. And then I'll ask you."

I closed me eyes and nodded, not able to say yes. My heart was breaking. We would never be together, just like Berylka said.

He smiled and kissed me softly, "I love you, Senna, with all of my heart and soul" he whispered. He was about to say more when my door burst open.

"Don't you ever knock?" I asked An'dre irritably. He just grinned and I could have hurt him for being so cheerful.

"Never" he said and then turned to the two of us, "You'll never guess the miracle that just happened!" he said somewhat excited. I rolled my eyes, he was acting like a young child again. He looked too happy and it was annoying me. I was losing the only man I had ever loved (not counting my brother of course), and he was being cheerful.

I swear that I could have hit him.

"What?" I mumbled.

"Uncle just died." He waited for my reaction.

It came very slowly, I was still trying to get through the fact that my j'thia was leaving me.

"What?" I asked, "Say that again."

"Uncle just died. No more war Serena! No more hate! We can be allies with the K'thie! We can be at peace."

But Endymion can't marry me, I added silently. He was to be King of K'thia. I was to be Queen of Atlantis. We couldn't meld the countries like that, no one could and there not be a war.

I slowly smiled, "I don't have to marry some bastard!" I added, just to make An'dre happy, he was so happy about this, and I didn't want to ruin it for him. He would finally be King. "I'm free of having to be attacked!"

"And D'mion won't have to sleep in your bed!" An'dre added.

My stomach sank, a dark, deep pit forming in it. I would never be able to sleep without him there.

"Yeah," I said softly and Endymion just held me in his arms. During the course of An'dre's announcement, he had pulled me closer and slipped his arms around my waist.

"I'm having some slaves move his belongings into another room," An'dre continued oblivious to me and him, "He's a Prince again, it wouldn't be proper for him to sleep in here."

"That won't be necessary," Endymion and I said at the same time. I looked up at him surprised, so did An'dre.

"What do you mean?"

"I would never be able to sleep without Senna next to me," he said, "I'm barely going to survive the months that I'm away from her before I come to visit."

"You're coming to visit?!" that seemed much brighter then never seeing him again. Maybe I did have a reason to hope for something brighter.

"What did you think that I would just leave you forever?" He grinned down at me and I smiled, he knew that's exactly what I had thought. "Never in a thousand years!"

He kissed me and I turned it passionate, knowing it would be one of the last few times. After about ten minutes of us kissing, An'dre began to make gagging noises.

"Okay you two, you're worse than Min'ko and Kunzite."

I laughed within the kiss, but we continued anyway. We only stopped after An'dre had been gone a very long time.

* * *

That night at the ball I got to see Endymion as a Prince. He was so beautiful and noble. He was wearing the dark and somber colors of his house, black and silver. I wore the deep crimson and silver of my house and together we looked amazing.

We danced all the night. I loved it. I always knew he was a wonderful dancer, we had done it in our rooms so many times before now. But because he was my slave I never could have danced with him in front of the Court. I was laughing and smiling the entire night.

After a particularly slow dance, he drew me outside. I couldn't help but feel some apprehension as we walked out onto the balcony.

"Serena, there's something I want to ask you." he said quietly and I looked up at him, my aqua marine eyes looking deeply into his blue.

"What is it Endy?" I asked quietly. My stomach had began to flutter and hope flared in my heart before I quickly doused it.

It flared again when he knelt in front of me. He pulled something out of his pocket.

"Serena, my beautiful Senna.....would you let me keep you?"

"What?" I asked blinking at him. I was slightly confused and a little disbelieving. It couldn't be that he had just asked me to marry him. It couldn't be. It would be too perfect. Too predictable. Too much like a dream.

"I want you to become mine, I want to be yours," he said and brought forth the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. It was a small delicate silver dragon that had sapphires for eyes, "I want us to come before the gods and show them our love. I want to marry you." His voice was quiet and warm. "I love you."

I was speechless. Then I realized that I would have to answer him. "Yes." I whispered and threw my arms around his neck after he gently placed the ring on my finger, "Oh Gods YES!"

He laughed and twirled me around, kissing me everywhere as he held me tightly by the waist.

"YES!"

* * *

I close my eyes and remember that day. Bloody tears run down my face as I write this. I'm writing this for Darien, for his story that he wants to tell. I can't believe what a sucker I am but I will do this for him..

I was so happy, so naive. I would write more but I haven't been able to control the memory, even now I cry as I write this, the blood splashing on the keyboard.

I'm falling too fast, I'm feeling too much.

Not again, oh Gods, not again.

So I'll write of my wedding another time, later. Besides, I'm seeing Darien tonight and I don't want to have him see me like this. Serena the Vampire doesn't cry, only when she's locked in horrible dreams and can't control it, does she cry.

I'm never weak, not even in front of Darien, not anymore.

I sighed and closed my eyes, saving the file for Darien to read another time. Again I've written it in a language he can't read.

When he's ready I'll show it too him, I'll let him understand it.

* * *

"You're seeing her again tonight aren't you, Dare," Andrew remarked quietly to me as we sat in the quiet club, drinking our sodas. Yes, we were two grown men drinking Coke and Sprite. Both of us can't afford to get drunk on the job.

I sighed, "Yes, Drew I am."

"Have you read the books that Rei got you yet?" he asked me, sipping his drink. He had leaned back into the booth, looking relaxed and carefree.

"Read them? I went through them so thoroughly that I should know everything there is to know on Serena." I sighed and took a long drink.

"But?"

I swore and shook my head, "It's written in an ancient script. Rei's trying to get Ami to translate for me, but even Ami can't work miracles all of the time. Though I think I know how old she is."

Andrew lifted an eyebrow, "Do tell," he said intrigued.

"Ever heard of Atlantis?" I asked calmly, setting my drinking down.

"No way! That's just a myth. Besides, the Legend of Atlantis is claimed to be over eight thousand years old! I thought Vampire's originated five thousand years ago." Andrew clearly didn't believe me. I just smiled.

"Well these books claim that Serena came from Atlantis, eight thousand years ago."

"And here I was hoping that you would believe that I'm only nineteen," Serena was standing behind me. Again she had managed to do it without my hearing. I just smiled and grabbed her wrist from behind. I pulled her over to me and onto my lap.

She giggled like a teenage girl. I looked her over. Again she had gone for young and innocent, wearing jeans and a halter top. Okay, maybe not *that* innocent.

She looked over at Andrew and smiled, "You must be An'd--Andrew," she said stumbling over his name a little. "Darien talks about you often." She laughed again as she rested her head on my shoulder. She lightly placed her hand on my chest, "Sometimes I get jealous that he talks about you so much."

Andrew smiled slightly and looked her over, "I know the feeling," he commented warily.

Serena just smiled at him and something flashed in both of their eyes. This made me jealous for an instant, what if she wanted Andrew more than me? Inside I was starting to panic.

She must have known, or felt it. She always knew what I was thinking and feeling. Serena broke eye contact with Andrew and looked up at me. She lightly kissed the side of my face and then my neck, "I'll always be yours," she murmured into my ear, "Always and forever, just like you'll always be mine."

That chilled me and warmed me at the same time. Just as it delighted me and scared me senseless. What the Hell was that supposed to mean!?

Andrew smiled and stood, "I have to be going. Besides I won't stand in the way of true love," he remarked dryly.

"You always knew how to read people so well," Serena said after him. He stopped for a minute, pausing slightly, not turning around, and then continued to leave.

"What was that supposed to mean?" I asked and she just smiled. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she kissed me gently.

"I'm just trying to unnerve him," she said simply and I just shook my head and sighed. But I pulled her closer, my arms around her waist and on her back, "Much like I do you," she grinned.

I laughed and kissed her.

This started something much alike to a make-out fest. Something I hadn't done since my last girlfriend. It was a little odd, being in a public place, I always thought that couples that did stuff like this were gross (for lack of a better word). It was too open, too public. It let them in on your love life. I thought that I was above it and I thought she herself was above it.

I had thought that just kissing Serena would seem too juvenile for someone like her. Besides she was a vampire, something I was always reminding myself of.

But right now, I understood why those gross couples made out in public. And it wasn't gross.

It was fun.