Heart of Silver, Soul of Glass by Stomlight Chapter 10 Nuriko wasted no time. He dropped his single pack into the water without a thought and dove after the unconscious prince as he sank beneath the surface, latching an arm around his neck to keep him floating. "Help me," he commanded, shoving Endymion at Serena, who immediately dropped her own belongings to catch him under the arms. Endymion fell heavily into her embrace, and she grunted as his full weight came against her. His head fell onto her shoulder, and he moaned softly, breath hot against her neck. Serena’s heart thudded when her eyes fell upon the ugly, purple-black welt gracing the side of his head, right at his hairline. A thin trickle of blood was slowly making its way down his cheek, and she wiped it gently with her sleeve as best she could, given their awkward positions. "Endymion?" she whispered. "Endymion, please wake up. Please? We have to get out of here before we drown." The water was almost past their waists by then, and time was fast running out. Endymion moaned again, and his eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused. "Wh- what happened?" he murmured, his speech slightly slurred as he blinked and winced, raising his head a little before letting it drop again. "You were hit when the door opened," Serena replied. "Can you stand? Y-you’re kind of heavy for me to keep supporting you, and the water’s rising." She smiled a little and attempted a shy joke. "Normally, I...I wouldn’t really mind holding you like this, but under the circumstances..." The ghost of a smile touched his lips as she trailed off, and he pressed them ever-so-softly against her throat before gathering his feet under him and unsteadily rising. "Dizzy," he grunted, touching his head gingerly. "I know. I know, Endymion. Don’t worry. I won’t let you go," Serena promised earnestly, draping his arm around her shoulders and slipping one of her own around his waist to help support him. "Hey, Lovebirds! Are you going to come out now, or do you intend to drown together?" Nuriko called, startling both of them; they had almost forgotten that he was there. When they looked, all they saw of him was his face hanging upside-down over the edge of the hole, grinning at them slyly. "Need a lift?" he asked playfully, lowering an arm to grip Endymion’s hand. Bracing himself, the minstrel gave a mighty pull and hauled the crown prince up out of the water, sopping-wet cape and all. Serena breathed a sigh of relief as she prepared to lift herself out, although not without a little help from Nuriko; she was too short to reach the ledge by herself. A sudden noise, like the fierce crackling and popping of a great, roaring fire, or a hundred twigs all being snapped in half all at once, froze her in her tracks. She cast a frantic glance over her shoulder just in time to see the tunnel door burst apart, splintering under the pressure of the flood as though boulders had been hurled against it. The water came pouring into the room in a roaring, rushing geyser, hitting Serena square in the back and knocking her away from Nuriko’s outstretched hand. She heard him frantically call her name, and then the water closed over her head and there was nothing but the dull roar of the flood all around her. Despite the shock of the icy water, she had the presence of mind to keep her mouth closed and to hold her breath as she found herself being tumbled around the swirling cataclysm, unable to reach the rapidly-vanishing surface. It was like she was caught in a whirlpool. She couldn’t seem to find which way was up, and she very nearly panicked until she remembered Endymion’s pale, sallow face. Determination flooded her, pushing fear to the back of her mind. She couldn’t drown! Her prince was hurt, and he needed her. Grimly, she kicked in what she thought was an upward direction, and shortly found herself at the surface, although there was barely enough room left for her head to break it. She took a deep, gasping breath, looking frantically around for the hole in the ceiling. The room wasn’t that big! Where was it?! And then she saw Nuriko’s arm appear, and she kicked toward it and reached out to grip it frantically, holding her breath again as the water completely filled the room. With a mighty heave, she found herself being yanked onto semi-dry ground, although that didn’t last long as the water continued to rise, flooding out of the room to swirl around the kitchen and escape through the abandoned halls of the manor house. "The whole place is going to flood!" she gasped, wringing out her hair as best she could. "Aye, but there’s plenty of room for it to run up here. No enclosed spaces like below. We’ll be safe enough for the moment," Nuriko assured her. "Help me lift His Highness, Sweetling. He’s rather out of it at the moment." Indeed, Endymion was propped against the kitchen wall, half slumped over and apparently unconscious again. When Serena approached him, however, he stirred and opened his eyes slowly, their dark pupils so dilated with pain that only a thin ring of sapphire could be seen. "You’re safe," he slurred, reaching out a shaking hand to touch her face. "I h-heard Nuriko shout..." "Don’t worry, I’m okay," she assured him in a whisper, touched by his concern for her when he was the one so obviously hurt. "I don’t want to go swimming for a long time, but I’m not injured." She smiled gently and stooped to help lift him to his feet, and he leaned heavily against her so that she nearly lost her balance and fell over. Only sheer determination kept her upright. Nevertheless, she shot Nuriko a grateful smile when the minstrel offered to support the prince’s other side. Together, they made their way out of the ruins and into a land that was once more free of rain and clouds. The sun shone brightly, and the birds singing, and only the soaked ground and the distant roar of the flooded river gave any sign that there had ever been such a storm at all. It was...eerie. "We n-need to find th’ Ghost," Endymion murmured. "We need to find a healer!" Serena protested. "You’ve got a head wound, Endymion! You need to be taken care of!" "There aren’t any healers around for miles," Nuriko informed them. "You may as well go back home again. He’ll be better taken care of there, no doubt, and besides, all your supplies are now laying at the bottom of that room." After pointing out this obvious fact, the minstrel put two fingers to his mouth and released an ear-splitting whistle that made Serena wince and Endymion groan. He shot an apologetic look at the prince, but then a distant whinny caught his attention as one...no, two...large animals appeared out of a patch of woodland and began to rapidly approach the ruins. One was coal black in color, the other snow white. The horses had apparently found decent shelter from the storm, after all, and looked none the worse for wear as they approached their owners, neighing softly. Endymion and Nuriko had re-saddled the horses before the storm hit, so as not to lose any trappings in the fierce wind, and they still wore them, thankfully. Bad enough for the three travelers to have lost all of their belongings at the bottom of that deathtrap. Still, at least they had kept their lives. With some difficulty, Serena helped Endymion to mount the Ghost, then pulled herself up behind him, supporting him should he become dizzy from his concussion. Turning to Nuriko, she asked quietly, "Please, will you come with us? I might need help if he gets worse, and I’d feel better with some extra protection along." "Yes, we all know how incapable you are of taking care of yourself," Endymion murmured weakly. She gave him a mock-glare, although in truth she was relieved that he was well enough to still joke around like that. "I was talking about for you, Idiot!" she retorted. "You’re the one who got brained with a door!" "But you nearly drowned," he pointed out, smiling a little. "The tunnel door burst!" "Details, details." Serena huffed. Even when he was barely conscious, he was still obnoxious! Nuriko chuckled as he listened to this exchange. "You know, I think I’ll take you up on that offer," he told them cheerfully. "You two are more entertaining to watch than any of the acting troupes I’ve ever met, and it’s been awhile since I’ve visited a castle. Perhaps, in fond regard for my part in saving His Highness’s life, they’ll allow me to sing for my supper? Although, I think I might enjoy singing for it more if I had the accompaniment of an angel voice such as yours." He gave Serena a flirtatious wink. Serena merely rolled her eyes at him and flicked the Ghost’s reigns. The big stallion started off at a steady walk, picking his way carefully over the slippery, muddy ground just as though he knew that his master was injured. Nuriko grinned and followed along, whistling a merry tune as the three of them began their journey back to Castle Rosewood. ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ Miaka dried the last platter and stored it in the spacious china closet, being sure to lock the doors securely behind her. She suppressed a huge yawn as she hung up her apron and glanced out the window. She was only vaguely surprised to see faint light dawning in the eastern sky, realizing that she’d spent yet another night cleaning up after some banquet held in King Ayurhu’s honor. With all the honorary banquets they’d been holding lately, she thought grumpily, it was amazing that she was able to get any sleep at all! Frankly, she was starting to wish that the blasted king would pack his things and go back to his own kingdom and stay there! She hid another yawn and stepped into the courtyard, feeling the need for some fresh air after slaving over the vats of dirty dishes for hours at a time. She took a lantern with her, albeit reluctantly. She knew she looked a sight. Her hair clung in messy tendrils to her damp, overheated skin. Well- mended work clothes were wrinkled and stained with water and dirt, and her hands were raw and sore from the continual dunking they received in the hot water. No need to add scrapes and bruises to her image by stumbling around in the dark like a ninny. Still, she was very glad that everyone was asleep, especially Hotohori. Sure, he’d seen her in this state before, but now that…now that there was more to their friendship than mere liking, she wanted more than anything to be worthy of the young prince. A relationship with him, she was well aware, would be difficult enough to begin as it was. "Miaka!" Startled out of her thoughts, the girl turned quickly and, after a cautious glance around, finally laid eyes on the source of the sharp hiss that had been directed at her. She could just barely make out three figures stumbling toward her in the dim light; two of them seemed to be dragging the third between them. Frowning, she held the light up higher, wondering if some servants were sneaking back after spending the night in a tavern. They certainly appeared to be drunk, what with the way they kept weaving from side to side, with their burden slung like dead weight between them. "Miaka, a little help here?!" one of the characters hissed, and Miaka’s eyes widened in shock as she finally recognized her sister’s voice. "Serena! When did you get back?" she gasped, hurrying forward to better light their way. "Just now," Serena grunted. "We ran into a little trouble." Miaka was horrified to see that it was Endymion who was slung so haphazardly between Serena and another person whom, at first glance, she took to be a girl. But then the stranger shifted so that his low shirt-front gaped open, and she realized with faint embarrassment that it was really a young man who staggered slightly beneath the weight of the crown prince. "What happened?" she asked, eyeing the bandages around Endymion’s head, and the glazed, feverish look in his eyes. "I’ll tell you later...after we get Endymion to the healers’ apartments. I’ve sent a guard ahead to wake Mitsukake and Luna and to inform Their Majesties that their son has returned." Miaka nodded and hurried beside them along the path to Mitsukake’s quarters. By the time they got there, a small crowd had gathered, most of which consisted of the royal family. "What happened? Will he be okay? Are you okay, Serena?" Rei cried when she saw them approach. "We’ll all be fine," Serena replied tiredly. "We just got caught in an unexpected flood, is all, and His Highness ended up getting hit in the head when we tried to escape. He caught a chill on the way back, though, so he’s feverish. But he should be okay." I hope, she added silently, fighting back the sick feeling of worry. "I’m sure he’ll be fine with some hot tea and plenty of rest," Mitsukake said soothingly as he and Nuriko (who had yet to be introduced to anyone) carried the prince into the room. Tamahome, who had been hanging back in the shadows, brushed past with barely a word and not even a glance in Miaka’s direction, following the men inside. Serena raised a curious eyebrow at her sister, who shook her head sadly and mouthed "later." Then her expression became concerned as she took in Serena’s rather bedraggled appearance. "Don’t look at me like that! I’m not going to drop dead at your feet," the younger girl teased. "I just need about a week’s worth of sleep to recover, is all." "You aren’t going anywhere until you let Luna give you a thorough check-up," Rei cut in, using her best I’m-the-princess-so-you-have-to-do-what-I-say-now tone of voice. "But, Rei..." Serena whined. "No buts! This is an order, Serenity!" Hotohori added firmly before the girl could say anything more. Serena grumbled as she allowed Luna to lead her into another room, where she was then given a thorough examination (not to mention a thorough grilling) and proclaimed fit to leave. "See? I told you I was okay," she complained, adjusting her clothes as she stepped outside again, shooting Hotohori and Rei a sulky glare. Queen Julietta exited the apartment and came toward Serena, giving the girl a gentle smile. "I’m told that you had quite the adventure," she stated quietly. "I’m relieved that you came through it safely. Tell me, my dear, did you find what you were looking for?" Serena hesitated, then nodded slightly. "Yes, Your Majesty. I believe I did," she replied quietly. "Thank you for asking." "Everyone has the right to know where they come from," Julietta replied kindly. "I hope all the trouble you went through was worth it in the end." "Oh, it was, Your Majesty," Serena assured her. "Even with the...exciting parts, I’m glad Endymion dragged me out there." Julietta regarded her with twinkling eyes. "It seems that my son has grown quite fond of you, Serenity," she told her, watching with amusement as the girl began to blush. "It isn’t every day he takes time to help someone to discover their pasts." "Well...er...that is...I mean...we’ve known each other since like forever, so I guess it’s only natural that he...um...wanted to do that for me," Serena stammered, blushing profusely. "Of course," Julietta replied with a soft laugh. "Dear friends always help each other." "Erm...yeah, I guess so," Serena mumbled, looking rather flustered. Then, apparently only remembering something (and anxious to change the subject), she added hurriedly, "Your Majesty, is Nuriko being taken care of? He found us just before the storm hit, and without him, we might’ve been worse off than we were. He’s been a great help getting Endymion back here, too. I was hoping that...perhaps he could have a room to stay in for awhile? He’s a minstrel, you see, and he said he’d be willing to perform in payment..." Queen Julietta smiled. "Say no more, my dear," she replied. "If Nuriko has indeed been the hero you claim he is, then it is only fitting that he be given a home at Castle Rosewood for awhile. I will have a servant fetch him after a room is prepared." "Thank you, Your Majesty," Serena said, relieved. "I’m sure he’ll appreciate it, and so do I, because Nuriko is really very nice and all, and he can play the flute really well..." She trailed off, blushing when she realized that she was babbling. Her exhaustion was catching up with her, it seemed. But the queen merely smiled and patted Serena’s cheek in a motherly fashion, before lifting the hem of her velvet robe and bidding her a goodnight. Then, she and King Reagan, after leaving an order to move Endymion to his own rooms as soon as he awoke, retired to their chambers for the reminder of the night. Serena yawned again as she stumbled into the apartment to check up on Endymion. She knew she needed to sleep, as well, but she wanted to make sure that the crown prince was resting peacefully before she did so. His eyes opened as soon as she walked into the small room, as though he’d sensed her presence, and he gave her a tired smile. "You look a little more lucid than before," she whispered, not wanting to cause any more pain in his head by being too loud. "Mitsukake’s tea...as nasty as it tastes...is powerful stuff," he replied humorously. "I’m feeling much better, although I’m under firm orders from Mits to sleep here for the remainder of the night." He grimaced and shifted, clearly unhappy with the rather firm mattress he was laying on. Serena rolled her eyes. "I’m sure you’ll forgive him, Oh Royal Highness, for not giving you a softer bed. Not all of us are lucky enough to sleep on a feather mattress every night like you do!" she sniffed. Endymion shot her a sly grin. "And you would know, wouldn’t you?" he murmured. "You were in my bed once before, after all..." Serena flushed beet-red, much to his amusement. "Are you ever gonna forget about that?" she hissed. He pretended to think for a moment. "Mmmm...No." She scowled. "You’re such a jester..." He smiled charmingly at her. "And you love me for it," he teased. She blinked, opened her mouth to retort, discovered that she had none, and closed it again with a snap, turning on her heel and striding out the door with a muttered goodnight. Endymion watched her go, smiling to himself. He shook his head at her antics, then winced at the pain that action caused him and decided that some more sleep was definitely in order. Serena, for her part, finally managed to escape to her bed. The royal family had all taken to their beds, and no doubt Miaka had taken to hers, as well, so now it was her turn. Finally. What was Miaka doing up this time of night, anyway? Serena wondered as she stripped out of her filthy clothes and stepped into the steaming bath that someone...most likely her sister...had thoughtfully prepared for her. It looked like Miaka had just finished washing dishes or something. Was that king still here? Didn’t anyone care how much extra work he made for the servants? She didn’t like seeing her big sister overworked like that (even though she did volunteer for the job), and she resolved to ask Rei to speak to her father about it first chance she got. Finished with her bath, Serena dried off and wrapped herself in a white velvet robe, standing on her balcony to let the cool, morning air...It was definitely morning by then; the sun was beginning to rise...dry her hair. The soothing motion of running her comb through the soft, knee-length strands relaxed her, and she stood with her eyes half-shut, listening to the first nightingale that awoke to sing its praises to the dawning sun. She had just turned to go back into her chamber when she realized that she was being watched. Startled, her eyes flew open and instinctively rose until they fell upon another small balcony only two stories above and to the left of her. Standing on this balcony was one of the most beautiful specimens of masculinity that she’d ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on...and that included Endymion. Longish, golden hair that rivaled her own in brightness blew gently in the soft wind, framing a sculpted face that could only have been created from one of the Greek gods of legend. The thin, black silken robe he wore did nothing to hide the well-contoured lines and muscles of his tall, lean body. Even from that distance, she could see the brilliant, intense blue of his eyes...eyes that were fixed directly upon her own in a searching, almost fierce, gaze. Realizing that she was staring, she bit her lip and fought back a blush, jerking her eyes away from his. But she could still feel that gaze on her, studying her as a bird of prey studies its next victim, and she shuddered beneath the power of it. There was something about that gaze that she didn’t like. Something... Abruptly, the feeling was gone, and she jerked her eyes back to the balcony, only to find that the man had disappeared, and the doors had been shut. That was King Ayurhu, she realized, blinking rapidly. That’s the man Rei wants to marry so badly? A strange sense of premonition suddenly overcame her, almost dizzying in its intensity, and she reached out to grip the banister to steady herself. Uneasily, her eyes wandered back to the empty balcony, and another shiver rippled up her spine. Suddenly feeling very cold, Serena gripped the comb tightly and stepped into her chambers, shutting and locking the doors behind her before finally falling into her bed for some well-earned sleep. ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ She found herself being very rudely awakened by two flying...creatures...that landed directly into the middle of her bed...and therefore directly onto her...with two distinct, ear-splitting shrieks. She let loose with her own shriek of terror and sat bolt-upright, prepared to beat the snot out of the two monsters who had dared to attack her. What she saw instead was a pair of laughing girls, who lay there with chins propped in hands and glowing, devilish eyes fixed innocently on her. "So..." Rei purred. "Are you going to tell us all the intimate details, or do we have to force them out of you the hard way?" "We’re not above torture, you know," Miaka added teasingly. Serena glared at them, then promptly hurled her pillow at their faces. "OUT!" she bellowed as her so-called "friends" squealed and scrambled off the bed. "I understand everything now!" Rei exclaimed as she followed a laughing Miaka out the door. "My dear brother finally went insane, abandoned Serena, and brought home a dragon, instead!" She managed to get the door shut just in time to block the head-long flight of a book that the "dragon" had furiously hurled at her head. ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ Miaka grinned when a grumpy Serena arrived at the kitchens a half hour later in search of food. "Sleep well?" she asked teasingly, to which her sister replied by making a face at her. "No thanks to you," Serena grumped. "What’s for breakfast?" Miaka raised an eyebrow. "Breakfast was hours ago. Now it’s nearly dinner time. And we’re having roast pork." "Think anyone’ll mind if I snitch a few slices?" Serena asked hopefully. Miaka smirked. "As long as you don’t snitch the whole pig," she teased. Serena gracefully declined to reply, busying herself with loading a plate full of food. "I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week!" she exclaimed, before taking a large bite of meat and closing her eyes in rapture. "Oh, this is so good! I’d almost forgotten what real food tasted like!" Miaka laughed. "Come on, Little Sister. You weren’t away that long! And speaking of which...now maybe you can tell me exactly what went on out there? I dunno. Maybe I was just imagining things...but you seemed to be awfully worried about Endymion when you got back last night," she said slyly. "Anything you care to tell me?" "Yes. For one thing, it was this morning that we got back," Serena replied, deliberately teasing her sister, who smacked her in the arm. "Of course I’m worried about Endymion, you dolt! He’s the crown prince! Anything happens to him, and it’s me they’ll be burning at the stake for it!" she sniffed. "Don’t be so melodramatic," Miaka exclaimed with a laugh. "Nobody would blame you for what happened! In fact, you and that Nuriko person...Where did you find him, anyhow?...are something of local heroes now, for getting Endymion back in one piece." "Nuriko found us, and he helped us out. He’s a minstrel," Serena informed her. "There’s nothing heroic about what we did." Then her expression became sly. "I don’t think he has a wife or a lover or anything like that. Maybe you two could..." "Don’t even think about it!" Miaka retorted. "I’m sure he’s very nice and all...but I don’t think he’s my type. Besides," she added under her breath, "I don’t think Hotohori would appreciate me going off with some strange minstrel..." "Oh, is that so?" Serena turned to regard her sister with a gleam in her eyes. "It looks like I’m not the only one with news to share!" Miaka tried her best to look innocent, but she knew it was a lost cause. Serena would keep begging and prying until she gave in out of sheer annoyance. She was much like Miaka in that respect. "Fine," the older girl sighed, deciding to bargain her down. "I’ll share my little secret if you’ll share yours, deal?" Serena thought for a moment, then grinned and nodded. "Deal. Now start talking!" "You are sworn to secrecy about this," Miaka warned her, before she began to relate the event that had taken place in the gardens. Serena listened with wide eyes, her expression growing more and more delighted, and when Miaka had finished, attempting to keep the blush from her face, her sister threw her arms around her neck and exclaimed, "Oh, Miaka! That’s so wonderful! I’m sorry about Tamahome, but...I mean...Hotohori really loves you?" "Hush!" Miaka scolded, bonking her on the head. "It isn’t like many people know about it, and it isn’t like this is really a good thing or anything..." "How can this not be good?" Serena demanded. "A secret love affair between a prince and a peasant! It’s just like a fairy tale!" She sighed dramatically and placed her hands over her heart. Miaka shifted uncomfortably. "I-I’m a little worried, Serena," she confessed softly. "I love Hotohori with all my heart, and I know he loves me...but what happens if his parents find out? I don’t imagine they’ll be very pleased with it. Even Her Majesty has to see the folly of this whole thing..." "Love will overcome all obstacles! I just know it!" Serena replied, hugging her sister gently. "For now, just enjoy it while it lasts! Isn’t it exciting though? Secret rendezvous with a forbidden lover...stolen kisses under the moonlight..." She sighed dreamily. "It’s so...romantic!" Hearts were practically dancing in her eyes, and Miaka had to grin at her sister’s enthusiasm, although she worried faintly about her ability to keep the secret. If the wrong people should find out... "Anyway," she began, eager to change the subject, "now it’s your turn to share a secret! So...what is it? Did Endymion confess his undying love to you on your trip? Did he kiss you? Did you...?" Serena blinked at her, giving her a curious look, even as a faint hint of pink crept gently into her cheeks. "Whoever said my secret was about Endymion?" she asked innocently. "Serena..." Miaka growled warningly. Her sister gave her a wide, beguiling smile. "This is the secret I have to share!" she chirped, pulling on a chain hidden beneath the bodice of her dress. After a few careful tugs, a pendant appeared in her hand, and she proudly held it out for Miaka to see. "Isn’t it beautiful?" she exclaimed. "I found it in a tunnel that led from a hidden room beneath the ruins of the manor. I think my real mother had escaped the manor through it, and Nuriko and Endymion say it was used at one time to smuggle slaves out of the kingdom, before slavery was outlawed. I think this pendant belonged to Selene, and she must have dropped it when she was fleeing for her life! It still needs some polishing; I haven’t had time to clean it yet..." Miaka gave her a dirty look. "That’s your big secret?" she huffed. "All that for a pendant?" Serena looked wounded. "Well, it’s a big secret to me. Not even Endymion knows I found the pendant. Besides, knowing him, if he knew about it he’d find some way to destroy it...like he did with my father’s journal," she sniffed. "You found a journal?" Miaka asked excitedly. Serena winced. "Well, sort of. You see...Endymion grabbed me and it fell out of my hand and landed and since it was so old it just kinda went...poof. Nothing but dust. It didn’t help that the wind took what few pages remained and scattered them all over creation. There was no way to get it back after that." She sighed sadly as Miaka hugged her, then shrugged. "Oh well. No sense crying over spilt milk," she added wisely. "I’m going to go check on our esteemed crown prince and make sure he didn’t die overnight or something." Miaka laughed. "Oh, I suppose I should warn you to be sure you stay out of King Ayurhu’s way. I got word from the scullery maids that he’s in a bit of a mood today. Even Rei’s been avoiding him!" Serena paused. "Have you met him yet?" she asked slowly, her brow furrowing. Miaka shrugged. "I’ve seen him once or twice, although I haven’t met him, met him. Why?" she replied. Serena shrugged. "I saw him on the balcony this morning...his rooms are close to ours, apparently...and he was staring at me. He gave me the oddest feeling," she replied thoughtfully. "It was only for a few moments...and you know I’m not one to judge people...but I don’t...I really don’t think I trust him." "You don’t even know him," Miaka pointed out. "I know. That’s what makes it so odd. But...his eyes are so...empty. It’s like there’s nothing there, and the way he kept staring at me..." She trailed off with a shudder. "I don’t trust him, Miaka. What does he want with Rei?" "To marry her, apparently. You know that," Miaka replied, frowning at her sister’s unusual behavior. Serena was right; it wasn’t like her to judge people by appearance alone, but it seemed she had seen something beyond the physical; something that nobody else had noticed. Serena was not a genius by anyone’s standards, it was true, but she had the uncanny ability to sense a person’s heart, which was a gift most normal people didn’t possess, or simply didn’t use. But then...Serena wasn’t normal by anyone’s standards, either. Miaka smiled slightly at the thought, before letting it fade again. From the way her sister talked, it almost made it seem like this King Ayurhu didn’t have a heart. But that was ridiculous, of course. Everyone had a heart, although some were darker than others. "Look," she began in an attempt to soothe her sister. "Keep an eye on him, all right, and I’ll do the same thing. If he does anything that could endanger Rei or anyone else in this castle, then we’ll go to Their Majesties and express our concerns." "Thank you, Miaka," Serena replied quietly. "It may be nothing...I could have been imagining things, but I appreciate your support, and for not thinking I’m crazy." "I never said I didn’t think you were crazy," Miaka teased, patting her on the head. "But what else are big sisters for?" Serena shot her a dirty look and whacked her over the head, then shoved her empty plate into Miaka’s hands and skipped out of the kitchen before her sister came to her senses enough to demand that she wash it herself. ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ ~~~{~@ Serena studied her pendant as she walked slowly toward the stairs that led up to Endymion’s chambers, admiring the way the lamplight glimmered off the dull surface. She would really need to remember to polish and clean it. The dunking in the water during the flood had removed most of the built-up grime, but it was still rather tarnished. "Where did you get this, Mama? Did it come from your past?" she asked softly as she fingered the golden rose. She hadn’t even realized that anyone else was in the hall with her, until a large hand flashed into her line of view and roughly wrested the pendant from her grasp. She gasped as she felt herself being yanked forward, the chain digging into her neck sharply, and raised dumbfounded eyes to meet the intense, burning gaze of non other than King Ayurhu. "Y-your Majesty!" she croaked, struggling to break his grip on the chain. "Let...let go! Y-you’re hurting me..." "Where did you get this?" he demanded in a deep, rich, enigmatic voice that trailed like warm honey over her flesh and sent an icy chill down her spine. He didn’t even acknowledge her plea; simply stared at her with those cold eyes of his as he waited for her answer. Serena, in the meantime, was fast going from startled to terrified. "I f- found it," she choked out, twisting to break away and only succeeding in strangling herself. "I-it was in the river..." Well, it wasn’t a complete lie, and what business of it was his where she found it, anyway?! "L-let go!" she demanded again, yanking harder on the chain. She didn’t want to think about the bruises that were probably being left behind. "Is something wrong here?" a sudden voice called out, startling both of them. King Ayurhu jerked back, taken by surprise, and Serena felt the chain snap. Suddenly, the painful pressure was gone from her neck, and she stumbled back, gasping, her hand flying to her chafed throat. The guard who had spoken approached them cautiously, his eyes taking in the scene suspiciously. "Do you need help, Sire?" he asked uncertainly. Serena gasped in outrage. Of all the cowardly...of course he wouldn’t dare accuse the king! Pick on the poor victim instead, to save his own hide! she thought furiously. "There is no trouble here," King Ayurhu was stating coldly. "Be on your way." The guard hesitated, and the king turned to berate him further, anger twisting the handsome features for the barest of moments before the calm mask slipped back into place. Seeing her chance, Serena used the distraction to snatch the pendant out of his hand and bolt down the hallway, ignoring the shout of the guard behind her, and King Ayurhu’s command to leave her alone. She ran blindly until she was certain she wasn’t being followed, then ducked into an empty room to catch her breath. That was too close, she thought. She held up the pendant and studied it, noticing how her hand shook. In fact, her entire body was trembling with fear. "What was it about this thing that set him off like that?" she whispered to herself. He had seemed to...recognize it, somehow, and she’d seen the disbelief in his eyes when she’d told her little story. But how would he know what it was, or where it had come from? "I think I’d definitely better keep my eye on that man," she muttered as she tucked the pendant into her pocket. Her neck burned as she bent her head, and she winced slightly, reminding herself to visit Mitsukake later. She paused, however, as a thought occurred to her. Or maybe she shouldn’t go, since he’d no doubt ask questions about how she’d acquired such injuries, and she wasn’t sure she had any answers. At least, none that would be believable, anyway. It seemed that everyone but herself had been taken in by the charming king, if all the gossip she’d been hearing lately was any indication. So handsome, so charming... She snorted. So psychotic. It was doubtful she would find much support to rally against the princess’s suitor, although she certainly intended on warning Rei about the man. After all, what kind of best friend would she be to let her marry that beast? She clasped the pendant in her hand and frowned again as she remembered the king’s frightening reaction, suppressing yet another shiver. A definite beast, she thought uneasily. To be continued...