An Angel from Hell
Chapter 7
By Kayla Chavi
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Alternate/Romance
Email: kaylachavi@yahoo.com

I’m sorry for all of those who waited for so long to read this chapter.  It was long in coming, only because
I started the wonderful adventure of college.  But I hope that you all enjoy this chapter and I would
LOVE feedback of any kind!

* * *

I left Darien as soon as the sun had set.  I kissed him softly, telling him that I had things to do.  One of
them was feed, and I wasn’t going to feed off of him.  

That took a high level of trust, something that we didn’t have.

It’s possible that we would never have it in this life time.

Mamoru had trusted me with everything.  But Darien isn’t Mamoru, anymore than he is Endymion. 
Same core, same soul, different people.

Weird but true.

I searched the streets for my victim, a man I had marked a short time ago with Andrew’s help.  I smiled
when I found him coming out of an adult bookstore and then followed him as he took the back allies
home.  Andrew had told me that this man was a child pornographer, but had a very good lawyer, so he
kept getting off.  Darien couldn’t kill him because he was human.  Rei couldn’t either, and she couldn’t
stand the thought of Jedeite draining an evil man like that (another weird but true thing).  Andrew was in
law enforcement and had a hard enough time cleaning up after the demonic community and Darien
without adding the death of a bastard like this one.

But I could.

The man tried to fight me, the sick ones always do.  They are so obsessed with self preservation and their
mortal vices.  I drained him slowly, making sure to make him feel every drop bleed out of him, not giving
him the Euphoria at all.

I let him fall lifelessly to the ground.  I picked up the bag that he had been carrying and set it upon his
body.  

Then with a thought made them become inflamed.  Within moments they were ash, and I was quite
pleased with myself.

True I was taking my anger of Berylka and the whole situation out on the now ashy corpse, but I felt
validated.

Unfortunately I couldn’t kill Berylka.  Jedeite just believed that it was a matter of who was stronger,
when it was really a matter of rule.  The rules said that unless there was Power to be gained, then masters
wouldn’t attack each other.

It was also a matter of respect.

Even though I had no respect for her at all and thought she was the lowest being on earth.

I walked home quietly, trying to think through all of this.  If I could have sighed, I would have, for my
thoughts kept centering on Darien.

Then I smiled as I thought of what had happened last night and most of the early morning.  Our
relationship changed.

Sex always changes things, either for the worse or better.  I was hoping that it was for the better, for the
whole experience had been wonderful.

And he told me that he loved me.

Thankfully it wasn’t in the throws of passion.  It’s too easy to say it then when your mind is being
assaulted sensuously and you aren’t aware of it.

But he had been fully aware this morning and very serious.

In that instant I was happy.

Of course, now I was doubtful of everything.  The curse said that we would taste happiness before death. 
In all of his previous lives when I feel that utter joy and happiness, he dies within six months.

Its not a very encouraging event when this happens.

Now, however I was angry and decided to do something about it.  Something that might end this all for
good.

Something that included a visit to a Powerful priestess and a very good translator.

* * *

“You’re children are awake,” Endymion murmured in my ear and I groaned quietly as he nuzzled my
neck.  We were in bed and it was early in the morning. I was going to be going back to Atlantis with the
twins, who were now near a year old and the doctors said that it was safe to travel again.  Right now they
were happily playing in their crib, but they were loud and we could hear them.

I whimpered softly, not really wanting to get out of bed, not really wanting him to stop whatever it was
he was doing with his hands.  “They’re your children too,” I mumbled shifting so I could look at him.

He smiled and continued to kiss by neck, “Before sunrise, they’re your children.”

Impishly I stuck my tongue out at him and then sighed melodramatically.  “Very well,” I moved to get
out of bed.

“Of course,” he pulled me back to him, “You could just ignore them and stay here with me.”

I laughed softly and lightly stroked his long hair, twisting it around my fingers, “That would be nice,” I
said and kissed his forehead.

It was then that I decided that there was nothing more enjoyable then just being with your husband,
letting him hold you and murmur beautiful things in your ear.  Then whispering the same beautiful things
in his ear.  We just held each other that morning, I’ll never forget the way I felt.

I was loved.

I was wanted.

I was safe.

That was the last time that Endy held me like that.

The last time I was alive for him to hold me.

* * *

Out of no where they came.  Three of them, large, tall and strong.  I was knocked out, my eyes meeting a
deep blackness from which I thought I would never return.

* * *

Groggily I opened my eyes, trying to figure out where I was.  I tried to move my arms but found that my
wrists were bound over my head and chained to a large bed.

This scared me.  When women were chained like this, it could only mean one thing.

I closed my eyes and mind to this thought.  I didn’t want to think that.  I didn’t want to believe that it
could happen to me.

I moved my legs to see if they too were bound and found that I could move them.  I opened my eyes
again and looked down at my clothes.  I had been changed into a simple white dress that made me look
like I was sixteen again.

Looking around the room, I found that it was daytime, but all of the windows were closed and drapes
were put over them to block most of the sunlight.

I tried to concentrate on what happened to me, how I got here.

I remember walking to the boat.  Endymion was supposed to meet me and say good-bye.  The twins were
already on the boat and just waiting until we left.  Antony had been hanging onto my skirt until I had left
him with a servant.  I was alone until the Dowager-Queen had intercepted me.

“You’re leaving again,” she said, “It’s a pity....” her voice had trailed off, as if she was trying to imply
something.

“What’s a pity?  That you were wrong?”  I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her attempts to break Endy
and I apart.

“That you will never see your husband again,” she smiled cruelly and that’s when I saw Berylka step out
from behind a pillar.

I took a step back, startled.  I hadn’t expected to see Berylka ever again.  I narrowed my eyes at the
Dowager-Queen, “You are in league with her!”

“My poor child, only if you had realized that Endymion could never be yours,” Terra had smirked.

Then that’s when I had been hit.

And now I was here.  

Now, if I only knew where here was.

* * *

I lay there thinking.

Or tying not to, I’m not sure which.

Terra.

I can’t believe that she hated me so much that she had allowed this to happen.

Again I’m not sure what she had allowed to happen, but she had allowed it.

GODS!

I tried to bolt up, but the chains held me tightly to the bed.

My Children!

My husband!

I prayed silently, Gods, let them be safe.  Don’t let her hurt them.  Keep me family safe.

I fell asleep with tears falling down my cheeks.

* * *

When I opened my eyes the first thing I had noticed was the soft candle light and the windows were all
opened.

Standing at one of the windows what the tallest man I had ever seen.  He had one foot propped on the
window sill and was wearing all black, his cloak attached to only one shoulder.

“The Queen awakens.”

His voice startled me.  It was rich and deep.  He turned towards me and smiled, slowly walking toward
me.  When he got to the edge of the bed, he sat next to me.

Our eyes met and I knew that he wasn’t human.  I knew he had never been human.  His eyes held no life
and were hard and cold.

But he didn’t scare me.  I wasn’t afraid of him.

He must of known this, for he smiled again, and lightly touched the side of my face, softly thumbing my
cheek.

“It’s amazing at the power and beauty you possess,” he murmured, his voice exceptionally quiet, “for a
mortal girl.”

His hand moved from my face and along my shoulders and then my arms.  He then unshackled the
chains, letting my arms dropped lifelessly to my sides.

He drew me into a sitting position and continued to lightly touch me.

For some reason that didn’t bother me.

I don’t think that it was supposed to.

“Where am I?” I finally demanded, my voice was very quiet.

“In a temple.”

“Who’s temple.”

He just smiled, “Mine.”

I paled slightly. “Garlekesh,” I managed to get out hoarsely.  He laughed quietly and gently held the side
of my face.

“One of my many names,” he said, his voice the same quiet and huskiness.  “Damien was the first and
what it always will be.”

I pulled away from his hand and looked down at my own hands which I was holding tightly in my lap.

“Why am I here?” I asked quietly, trying not to cry.

I was in the temple of the Blood God.  I would never see my children again.

I would never see Endy again.

I was going to die.

Damien just smiled as if he knew my thoughts and then kissed me softly.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

And then he was suddenly gone.

And I was alone, left in silence.

The silence was deafening.

* * *

Time past and I spent most of it alone.  I was fed and given leave to move around the rather large room,
but the windows were always locked.

I know, because I tried to get out through them.

And there was no door to be seen anywhere.

I never saw the beings that brought me food.  They always came whenever I was asleep.  Hence the
reason for seeing the lack of door.

Damien would come to see me periodically and I was always left disturbed when he left me, both
mentally and emotionally.  It was like he cared for me deeply.  There were times that he almost seemed
human like in his actions and words.  

And in his face.

At times it was like he loved me.

At times it was like I loved him back.

Like I said, disturbing.

My emotions were starting to conflict and Damien’s intentions confused me.  I still didn’t know why I
was here.

* * *

One night I woke up and Berylka was there.

Smirking.

I wanted to hit her, but I don’t think that I would get very far doing that.  And it really would hurt me,
more than it would hurt her.

I quickly sat up and narrowed my eyes.  “What do you want?” I asked coldly, still playing the part of the
Atlantis Queen.  It was the only part of my self that I wasn’t confused on.  I knew who the Queen of
Atlantis was and I knew how to be her.  My tone implied everything.

I considered her a slave, looking over the top of her head and looking very indifferent.

Her violet eyes narrowed slightly and she walked a little closer to me, but she still kept her distance.  It
was like she was afraid of something.  Not me, but something.

“I thought that you might want to know how your husband is doing without you,” she said idly.  “You’ve
only been hone almost three weeks and already he has given up on finding you.”

I lost my composure, “Liar,” I hissed and she smiled.

“Believe what you want,” she slowly come even closer, “but he has moved on.”

“Onto what?  The dead?  Sorry Berylka but he wouldn’t.  He knows I’m alive.”

“For now.”  Again she smirked.

My eyes widened before I regained my composure.

So I really was going to die.

I looked up to find Berylka towering over me.  She was trying to stare me down.

It almost worked.

Except again she forgot that I was a Queen.  I get stared down all the time by those who think that they
could intimidate me.  This I could handle.

“And then Endy will forget about you,” Berylka whispered, “And he will be mine.”

I slapped her hard against the face.  “You really are pathetic,” I managed to say calmly.

Gods, my hand hurt.

Berylka narrowed her eyes and grabbed me tightly by the throat, lifting me slightly off the ground.

“I have no problem killing you before the ceremony,” she hissed, tightening her hold on my throat.

Suddenly there was a blur of movement and I was knocked back into the bed, gasping for air.

When I managed to catch my breath, I saw Jedeite pinning Berylka to the far wall.

With one hand.

Jedeite was only wearing black pants and boots.  Gone were his priestly robes.  His skin was very white,
even more white than it had been when he lived in the temple, almost like it was white marble.

And he was giving off a pale glow. 

Needless to say I was very surprised.  Even more surprised when I heard the quiet growl coming from the
back of his throat.

So was Berylkla, for she was looking at him, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Slowly Jedeite let go of her, taking a step away frm her.

“Go.”

Berylka narrowed her eyes, wanting to refuse.

“Go, now.”

She hesitated before becoming a clue of movement and disappearing.  Jedeite turned to me and gave me a
very worried look.

“Your majesty are you alright?”

I pulled my knees to my chest, curling up in the middle of the large bed.

“You’re one of them,” I whispered.  I was suddenly horrified at what he was, knowing that he was a thing
of evil.

Like Berylka.

Then I realized something, just by meeting his eyes slowly.

He was nothing like that bitch.

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Two weeks.”

“Why?”

He gave me an ironic smile, “Because of Love.  The Gods do not take kindly to a man who defiles Their
Priestess.”

My eyes widened, “Reishe?”

A pained look crossed his features.

“Yes.”

“Is she--”

“Dead.”

The word was so simple.

“Oh Gods,” I whispered, “By whose hand?”

“Mine.”

Again, the word was simple.

“Oh Gods,” I suddenly had a lump from in my throat, “Why?”

He smiled ironically again, “I had no choice,” he whispered and his eyes looked haunted, “I was still
mortal and I had to sacrifice her for our sin.  There was so much blood,” he whispered.

“So much blood.  And she just looked at me........” his voice got soft, so quiet that I had to strain to hear
him, “‘Find me again’” he closed his eyes, “Her last words to the man who murdered her, ‘Find me
j’thia.’”

I was horrified again.  

Not by what he had become, I had managed to get over that in the last few minutes, but by what he had
been forced to do.

I could never kill the man I loved.

I could never kill Endy.

I held out my hand to him.  He looked at it blankly before slowly walking over to me and taking it.

His hand was cold as I pulled him to me, so what the rest of him.

Bloody tears were streaking down his face as he cried and I held him to me.  

This wouldn’t be the last time that I would do this for him.  Nor would it be the last time he did it for me. 
This started our friendship.  We built on what started that night.

It started the night that we both cried, holding each other and mourning our loss.

It was also the night that I fell asleep in another man’s arms.

* * *

Jedeite wasn’t there when I woke up.

But Damien was.

I found that he was looking at me intently, his face completely unreadable.

I slowly sat up and look him in the eye, pulling the sheets to my chest.

After a while he just sighed and lightly kissed my forehead.

“You love him.”

“I will always love him,” I whispered, knowing exactly who him was, but not understanding or seeing
where this conversation was going, or really where it was coming from.

“Always is a very long time,” he commented idly, “People change.”

“I will love him until the day I die and beyond,” I said quietly, “Our souls have been bonded together by
the Gods for Eternity.”

He was quiet for a very long time.  

“I understand.”

Then I was alone.

It was also then that I decided that I never wanted to feel this alone and this lost if I could help it.  Thank
the Gods for Jedeite, who has never left me.

* * *

Jedeite returned not to long after Damien had left.  He smiled at me and came and sat down on the bed
with me.

We sat in silence before I sighed quietly and looked up at him.

“Why are you here?” I finally asked.

He laughed quietly, “To protect you from Berylka.”

“Until the ceremony?” I asked bitterly.

Jedeite looked at me sharply, “What do you know bout the ceremony?”

“That I’m going to die,” I said quietly.

Jedeite was quiet for a very long time.  “Damien is going to be choosing a Consort,” he said after a
moment, “All of the vampiress living are coming, each bringing him a gift.  Berlyka has brought you as
her gift.  She thinks that having him kill you will end his obsession.

“Obsession?”  I blinked several times, very confused.  

Damien was obsessed with me?  Why didn’t I notice this?

“And she thinks that she will be chosen as his Consort.”

“But you don’t,” I said simply.

“No.  Berylka is insane.  Damien will choose a vampiress that he has known for a long time, or one he
has Sired.”

This surprised me.  This seemed to indicate that Berylka wasn’t made by Damien, but by some other
vampire.

Damien had also spent all of this time getting to know me, and now he was going to eat me?

Jedeite smiled slightly, “More or less.  Most likely he’ll--” he was cut off abruptly and it would only
occur to me later that I had not spoken aloud and he had heard my thoughts and responded to them.

“Leave Jedeite.”  Damien’s voice entered the room and Jedeite stood immediately.

I couldn’t see Damien, but that meant nothing.  Damien could be anywhere, and I would never know.

Jedeite lightly kissed my cheek and then I was completely alone.

Again.

* * *

I did a lot of sleeping the next few days.  I had nothing better to do and I was constantly tired.  I spent the
nights with Damien and the days with Jedeite and the times I was alone I spent in confusion.  Lots of
time past, how much I do not know.  I had no way to count the days or nights.

Then one morning I woke up to see a small young girl with short black hair and violet standing and
watching me.

Needless to say I was very surprised.

One, because I hadn’t seen anyone in my room besides those that I knew.

Two, because she was such a young girl, but her eyes looked so old.

And three, she was glowing.

Which meant vampire.

The young girl gave me a small smile when I sat up on the large bed.  She held out her hand to me and
helped me off the bed.

“Good evening,” she said politely, “Please, come with me.”

She led me to a corner of the room where a beautiful dark burgundy dress was hanging next to a full
length mirror.

Silently she helped me into the dress and then began to do my hair.

“What’s your name?” I asked after I grew tired of the silence.  It felt like I was alone in a room with
another person

“Harotu,” she said quietly, setting braids of jewels into my auburn curls.

“I’m Serena,” I said, even though I knew she probably knew who I was.

There was more silence until she had me stand in front of the mirror.

I gasped.  I hardly recognized myself in all the splendor I was wearing.  I looked very pale, almost as
white Harotu and the dark colors made me look otherworldly.

I think that’s what the intent of the clothes were, but it was very unnerving.

“Come with me,” Harotu said quietly and led me out of the room and down a darkened hallway.  We
were joined by Jedeite and a few other vampires that I didn’t recognize.

We entered a candle lit room and Harotu and Jedeite led me to a large dias.  Standing there was Damien,
he smiled sightly when he saw me and then had me led to a large ornate chair.

The hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up and a chill crept along my spine.  I suddenly wasn’t
sure what was going on.  I was sitting before a crowd of vampires, most of which did not look too happy
with the fact that I was sitting on one of the ornate chairs.

It was in that instant that I think I realized what was going to happen.

The next few moments confirmed it, for Damien began to speak.  I didn’t understand much of what he
was saying, for it was in an old and confusing language.

But the part I did understand went something like this.

“And she will be mine.  Let no one claim her.  Let no one seek to destroy her.  For if she is hurt in
anyway, then my wrath will be incurred and you will be as dust on the wind, forever.”

I felt my heart stop beating for a second.

I was suddenly very afraid.

Extremely afraid.

Absolutely terrified.

One might say that I was scared to death.

Damien met my eyes and then held his hand out to me.  It was a long moment before I finally stood.  

I walked what seemed like a very long distance to him, our eyes never leaving each others.  Slowly I took
his hand.  It was strange how I didn’t seem to be in control of my body.  I didn’t think that I wanted to go
to him.  I didn’t want to take what he was offering me.

But I did.

I did the moment that our hands met.  I let him take me.

And in so many more ways than one.

Damien’s movements were gentle as he pulled me to him and he turned us so my back was to the crowd
of vampires.  Our eyes met again before he kissed my neck ever so softly.  

Then there was the sharpest pain I had ever felt in my entire life.  It hurt like hell.

Literally.

I wasn’t able to scream.  I didn’t get the chance to before the Euphoria took over my senses.

I can describe the way it made me feel as the life was slowly and sensuously drained from my body.  I
grew weak and limp in his arms.  He held me gently by the waist, supporting me.

In my haze I can almost remember him forcing his wrist to my lips.  Warm liquid dribbled down my chin
and neck and smeared across my chest before I realize that I had to swallow and it moved into my mouth. 
It took a moment but I was able to swallow the thick substance.

And then the Power hit me.

Along with another intense wave of pleasure.

Damien removed his wrist and I felt my eyeteeth elongate.  He gently pressed me to his neck and I bit
down, drinking pure Power.

After that I vaguely remember what happened.

It was a blood bath and carnage.  I fed on all the “gifts” that had been brought to Damien, securing my
Power the moment I had been reborn into this hellish existence.  

I also killed many old and Powerful vampires that night as well.  According to Jedeite, who told me later,
they were vampires who opposed his decision to make me his Consort.

And for some reason I couldn’t care that I had been made into this thing.  It didn’t matter to me that I had
killed so recklessly the night before.

It also didn’t matter to me how Damien and I had spent our time afterwards.  I won’t go into detail but let
me remind you that the line between lover and friend is actually non-existent and vampires are very
sexual creatures.

Use your imagination.

And the fact that I wasn’t bothered by it all, bothered me.

Unusual and difficult to explain and very weird, but true.

I think it was several months later that I was standing at a window looking out over the night skyline of
the city.  It was amazingly beautiful but I felt detached from it.  If I could have sighed, I would have.

I felt Damien come up behind me and gently kiss me along my bare shoulder and neck, “Good evening,
my love,” he murmured.  I was silent, tilting my neck to give him better access but still not really paying
attention to him.

We was gentle with me for a few moments before he just slipped his arms around my waist and rested his
head on mine, “What are you thinking, my Child?” he asked softly.

Child.  

He always called me that, even though I was more akin to his wife or lover.  He still calls me that.

Some things never change.

And yes, it is very creepy, even to me.

“I want to see my Husband,” I said quietly and felt his grip on me tighten slightly.

“You are with your husband.  You have died and been reborn Senna, your marriage to Endymion is
over.”

“I wasn’t given a choice,” I said simply and turned in his arms so I was facing him.  “He has to know.”

“He’ll kill you,” Damien said looking at me intently. “Berylka cursed you.”

“At your bidding.”

He smiled slightly, “Who told you?”

I laughed, “No one, I guessed.”

“Minx.”  He sighed, “I thought that it would break the bond between souls.  He’ll kill you now.”

“He’ll try,” I said simply returning his gaze.  “Endymion loves me to much,” I insisted, “He may try to
kill me but he will never succeed.”

He was quiet for a long time before he slowly withdrew from me.  “I knew that you would never be mine
completely,” he said quietly, “I hate him, you know,” he said suddenly and I looked at him surprised.

“What?” I asked confused.

“He has you totally and completely and he always will.  I knew this but I still dared to hope.”  Damien
gently touched the side of my face.  “But you will always be my Consort,” he said, “And if Endymion
tries to hurt you in anyway, I will kill him.  What I proclaimed that Night was for mortal and immortal.”

I was quiet and then I nodded, “I understand.” I said simply and lightly kissed him.

He smiled slightly and picked me up, slowly walking to the bed, “But before you go, I have one thing to
ask of you...”

* * *

“I want her found!” a furious Endymion yelled at his advisors and the Captain of the Guard.  I might have
pitied the poor man but I didn’t have much in the way of feelings anymore.  “Dead or alive I want her
found.”

“But My Lord it’s been so long,” the Captain tried to protest.

“Find her!” Endymion shouted, losing control of his normally very controlled emotions.

“Already done,” I said stepping out of the shadows and into the Council room.  Several guards narrowed
their eyes, for I had gotten in without key or lock.

Endymion stood up, his face a vision of complete shock and utter joy.

For some reason my heart sang at that.  I was happy that he was happy.

And odd feeling for a soulless demon.

I smiled and held out my arms to him and he ran to me.  He wrapped his arms around me tightly and
buried his face in my hair.  

“You’re alive,” he whispered and then kissed me fiercely.

In front of his entire Council and, I noticed smugly, his mother, who was looking very, very surprised.

She had assumed me dead.

Good.

Endy and I continued to kiss for the longest time.  It was during those few short moments that I realized
that I missed him.

I still loved him.

I was capable of love.

It must have shown on my face for Endymion looked down at me, worried for a moment.  “Is something
wrong, Senna?” he asked me quietly.

I smiled and kissed him softly, “I’m just happy to be home.”

He held onto me tightly and most of his court excused himself.  His mother tried to leave but I stopped
her by moving away from Endymion.

“What’s wrong Terra?” I asked before she could leave.  With a small thought I made sure that all the
doors in the room closed quietly behind the retreating Council members, “Did you think that I was never
going to come back?”

Endy looked at me oddly but I ignored him.  Terra paled considerably, “Of-of course n-not” she stuttered. 
“I’m just very surprised, when we heard that you had been taken--”

“You were there when I was taken,” I said angrily, “You knew what they were going to do with me and
you let that bitch take me anyway.  You thought that I would come out of it dead.”

“Senna?” Endy gently put a hand on my shoulder, “What are you talking about?”

I was quiet for a long moment.  I wanted to cry but I knew that now I sweat, bled, and cried in blood. 
“You’re mother organized my capture,” I said calmly looking at her, “She wanted me dead so she
arranged to have me taken.”

“She’s lying my son,” Terra said immediately, “She’s trying to confuse you.  She probably ran off with
another man--”

She never got to finish that thought because I inadvertently began to growl.  Terra was very startled.

Endy never noticed, for he had become exceedingly angry with his mother.  “Mother you overstep your
bounds,” he said calmly.

Even I was scared of Endymion when he was calm during an angry situation.  It wasn’t natural at times
the way that he controlled his emotions.

“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to the way that your–Serena has shown up?” she asked, trying to
make her point.

“I trust Senna to tell me the truth,” he wrapped an arm protectively around my waist.  I smirked, but only
Terra could see me.  “You will never imply that again, are we clear mother?”

“But–“

“Are we clear?”

“Yes,” she whispered and glared at me hatefully.  I just smirked again and was about to say something
when I heard the shrieking of children.

“DADDY!”  

Three little bundles of noise came running into the room.  I had forgotten how loud they were.

But still they brought a smile to my face.

That surprised me.  I thought that when I became a vampire, things like this didn’t affect me.  Emotions
were different, something that Damien and Jedeite had taught me, they did not include caring about
mortals.

All three of my children stopped suddenly when they saw me.

I was so surprised.  The twins were now almost three years old and Antony was nearing five.  Had I
really been gone almost a year and a half?

“Daddy?” Rini looked at Endy, “Is this mommy?” she asked quietly.

I almost cried.  My daughter didn’t know who I was.  Gladly, however, Antony did.  He just smiled and
ran to me.  

“Mommy!” he cried.  He threw his arms around my neck and I hugged him to me tightly.  This time I
actually cried, bloody tears running into my son’s dark hair as I held him.  “I missed you mommy. 
Gramma said that you were dead.”

“She was wrong,” I said quietly, “I’m very much here,” I looked at him and he looked at me closely
before wiping my eyes for me.

“Mommy you’re bleeding.”

I saw Terra narrow her eyes.  She knew.  She knew what I was.  

But it didn’t concern me, I just smiled at my son and set him down and wiped my own eyes.  “It’s just my
makeup,” I said calmly and kissed his head.

Yes, even then we wore god-awful make-up.  I hated it then and I do now, even though I only wear it to
cover the glow that I sometimes give off.

Nate and Rini cautiously looked at me and then Endy.  He nodded and smiled and they then both ran to
me.  I knelt down and hugged them both at the same time.

I did not cry again.

“Children go play,” Endy instructed kindly, “I want to be alone with your mother.”

The three giggled and then left as loudly as they came.  Endy pulled me into his arms and held me closely
to his chest.  

“I will deal with you later, Mother,” he said over the top of my head.  I heard Terra sweep a curtsy and
then leave quietly.

Endymion and I stood like this for a very long time.  He lightly stroked my hair and back, resting his head
on mine.

“I knew you were alive until a few months ago,” he whispered, “And then I thought I felt you die,” his
voice was hoarse and I could feel his silent tears falling into my hair.  “But I never gave up the hope that
you were alive.”

“Thank you,” I whispered and pulled back to look up at him.  I wasn’t crying, which must have perplexed
him, “I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered and lightly touched his lips and held the side of his face.  “I
knew that we would see each other again.”

He placed his hand over mine and smiled down at me, “Senna...what happened?”

I closed my eyes painfully.  I knew that I would have to tell him what happened.  So I did something that
I had never thought that I would do in my life.

I lied to him.

Actually it was more a half truth without details and a few misguiding sentences.

“I was going to the ship and I was stopped by your mother,” I started quietly, “She said some words that I
can’t really remember and then I was hit from behind.  I woke up tied to a bed--” Endymion’s grip on me
became very tight and I could tell that this angered him.  “And I spent the last year in a room occupied by
very strange things.  I think that I was drugged, because I’m not sure what was real and what was a dream
and....” I let my voice trail off, giving him the opportunity to say those magic words.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he said gently.  I smiled into his chest.  I still knew
the man that my husband was.

“It’s just too painful,” I whispered.  Which was not totally a lie, being made a vampire was painful.  And
he really didn’t need to know about what happened afterwards. There are just some things that a man
does not need to hear.

I wasn’t ashamed of what I had done, but I knew that he would expect me to be and it would be very
uncomfortable.

Right now, all I needed was for my husband to hold me and tell me he loved me as much as I was
realizing that I loved him.

“Gods Senna, I missed you,” he murmured into my hair, “I’m glad your home,” he smiled down at me
and kissed me gently.  “I love you.”

Endymion is the perfect man, I decided as he picked me up and carried me to our bed.

We almost got there when there was an urgent knock at the door.  I laughed quietly when Endy looked so
frustrated.

“My wife returns after almost two years and they can’t leave us alone for more than ten minutes,” he
muttered.  I laughed and pushed him off the bed playfully.  He sighed, “Go away!” he called to the door,
“We’re busy.”

I giggled and he kissed me very passionately.

“You know,” a familiar voice commented, “You could wait ten minutes before jumping right to the
marital bliss.”

Endymion groaned and I laughed outright and rolled off of the bed, running to the speaker, “AN’DRE!” I
practically shouted with happiness.

My brother drew me up into his arms and hugged me tightly and I could feel that he, like Endymion was
crying.  Again I controlled my tears, for An’dre was wearing white and my tears would show on the cloth
of his shirt.

“Gods Serena I thought you were dead,” my older brother rocked me gently, though his grip around me
was tight.

“I’m not,” I said impishly and he smiled and kissed my forehead.

“Okay, now you can go back to your husband,” he said and both Endy and I laughed.

“I missed you too,” I said and kissed his cheek.  He stiffened slightly and then took my hands in his.

“Ser’ your hands are cold!” he exclaimed and I just smiled.

“I get cold easily.”

“And I’m sure that if you would give me the opportunity I could warm her up,” Endymion muttered. 
An’dre just smiled a little shakily and kissed me farewell.

“We’ll talk,” he said simply before leaving.

And then I was pulled back into bed with my wonderful husband.

* * *

I was able to hide the fact that I couldn’t go into the daylight very easily.  I just told Endy that the sun
hurt my eyes and irritated my skin after being locked in a dark room for over a year.  He accepted it, just
happy to have me back at home.  

I told An’dre that I was going to live with my husband forever and that I didn’t want to go back to
Atlantis.  We had a small argument about that, but I won it.

“An’dre our people don’t know I’m alive and I told Endy that I don’t want to be in the spotlight anymore. 
I just want to raise my children and be with my husband.”

“But Ser’ you’re a Queen!  You’re the Queen of Atlantis!” He tried to protest.

“Please,” I said, “I’m just not interested in that anymore.”

He was quiet for a very long time.  “Something happened during the time your were gone, didn’t it,” he
said looking down at me gently.

I nodded.

“Are you ever going to tell me?” he asked quietly.

“Someday,” I said quietly and looked up at him, “When you’re older.”

His eyes widened, “And you’re the same age you are now?”

I nodded and looked down at the ground.  I expected him to pull away and shun me for what I had
become.

But he didn’t.

Brothers are wonderful that way.

He held me even tighter and kissed the top of my head.

“Do you regret it?” he asked quietly after a moment, I had cried silently into his chest, my bloody tears
streaking the front of his shirt.

I didn’t answer him for a long time.  

“Yes,” I said quietly, “I want to grow old and die with my husband and now I can’t.”

“Or Ser’ I’m so sorry,” he whispered and kissed my forehead.

I smiled weakly and he hugged me again before leaving me.  I watched his ship leave in silence, a
peacefulness came over me.  My brother still loved me.

Maybe that would mean that Endymion would be able to love me as well.

With this small thought I went back into the castle and went looking for my husband.

A servant intercepted me and told me that there was someone who wanted to meet with them in one of
the smaller libraries.  I raised an eyebrow and he looked very nervous.  I scanned his mind but only found
that he did not know these people but they made him nervous.

I nodded and then went to the library.

What greeted me was a sight that I will never forget.

In the room was Endymion, Berylka, and Terra.

* * *

“So?” Serena asked me intently, “Can it be done?”

I sighed and looked over at Ami, who had been going through some very old text.

She sighed as well and looked at the impatient Serena who had waltzed into my office unannounced and
very much uninvited.

Damn vampiress. 

Not like I could have stopped her anyway.

“Serena, what you’re asking hasn’t been done for thousands of years.  I’m not sure that even someone
like Rei has the Power to do it.” Ami said rather patiently.

“But it can be done.”

I sighed, “Yes, it can be done.  But I don’t think that it is wise for you to attempt something like this.  I
mean, this spell would be dangerous to attempt on yourself”

Serena blinked several times and looked at me confused, “I don’t intend to test this on myself,” she said
simply.

Ami and I exchanged a look, “Who do you intend to test this on Serena?”  I asked after a moment.

She didn’t answer me.

Serena was gone before I even finished asking the question.

* * *

Wow.

That’s all I could really say after last night.

I kept replaying it all in my head, going over every, last detail.  I was still amazed by it all.

Not that I wasn’t experienced, it wasn’t that, it was the act of making love to a woman that I was truly,
madly, deeply in love.  

And spouting lyrics to a sappy song.

Love makes you do the strangest things.

Anyways, back to Serena...not that my thoughts had wandered far or anything.

I was hoping to meet her soon.  She was supposed to come to my apartment tonight and we were going to
spend it together, but right now I was on my way to my office.

I sighed happily at the thought of seeing Serena as I opened my office room door.

I stopped short when I saw who was in the room.

Sitting in my chair was Beryl.

And she was smirking.