A fan fic by Caleyndar. Rating: PG. Notes: This chapter continues directly after the last chapter. It shows how Endymion reacted to his own actions. As the author of this story, even I don't really understand how he feels, except perharps he just wants to believe himself that he hates Serenity, but does not deep in his soul. Once again, thanks for all those who e-mailed me. If you have any questions, please e-mail them to me. I'll be happy to answer them. Also, if there's anything you don't like about my story, tell me so that I may improve apon it. Please note the changed e-mail address: Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; only the few I make up. The story, however, is mine. The Name Endymion... Part Two: A Deeper Truth... Chapter Four... The classroom was silent. All the students were gone. The view screen was silent and dead, devoid of power and pictures. Lestat was still there, with another life form. I reconsigned it as Louis, the vampire who had been playing chess with Armand on that faithful day so long ago. "Lestat, you have crossed the line. I will not stand for this!" Louis said defiantly yet civilly. "You play with him. You don't teach him! You're tearing him apart!" "I think it's amusing. Besides, why does it concern you?" Lestat asked, smiling like the devil. "Because it's not fair to him. And Armand won't be pleased," Louis replied. "Armand, Armand. Damn him to hell," Lestat answered. "What can he do to me anyway? My powers are stronger than his." Louis threw up his hands impatiently. "Enough is enough, Lestat," Louis said. "Why I stay with you is beyond me," he muttered. "Because you love me, and you need me," Lestat replied, and kissed him on the lips. Louis drew back, frowning. He looked over Lestat's shoulder and saw me standing there, watching him. "We'll talk later," he said, and disappeared. Lestat laughed. He turned around and smiled at me. "You don't love her? I think not," he said, walked up to me. "When you saw her in danger, you couldn't not help her. Ah, young love." "That wasn't the reason I helped her!" I replied, glaring at him. "Oh? Then what was the reason?" he asked, still smiling at me. "I wanted to kill her myself. And I will let no one take that from me. I will kill her when I am ready, and no one had better lay a finger on her until then," I replied, and turned and walked out of the class room, my cape trailing behind me and my sword clanging on my hip. A shimmer of silver blue light and I was once again in the Dark Dragon uniform. "Darien!" Nick called out as I exited from the classroom. He had waited for me outside. I looked at him, my eyes cold. I did not want to talk to anyone then. "Is she alright?" he asked. "Did you get to her in time?" "You saw none of it?" I asked, ignoring his questions. "No. Our teacher turned it off when you disappeared," he replied. "Well? Is Serenity alright?" "For now," I replied, and walked off quickly. I shut myself up in my rooms. It was dark, but I did not turn the lights on. So that was why I had dreamt that dream last night. I could not stand to see her be harmed. But why? I hated her! I should be glad if she's hurt. But instead I rush to her aid and put my own life in danger to protect her. And I should be hurting her! She was the enemy! The entertainment unit came to life with a touch of a button. News was on. "Princess Serenity was attacked today within the grounds of the Moon Palace. They were attacked whilst in their daily training routine. Her court tried to protect her from the Shadow Kingdom monster dispatched by the leader Blade himself, but was unsuccessful. Princess Serenity would have been seriously hurt had not a mysterious figure came and protected her. This young man also destroyed the monster. He remains anonymous, and Queen Selenity wishes to meet him and give her thanks. Mean while, Queen Selenity has requested Prince Diamond and his brother Sapphire to be a constant escort for Princess Serenity. The Prince of the Black Moon Kingdom and his brother will be arriving tomorrow," the reporter said in a boring voice. I switched the set off, annoyed but unsure of why. So Prince Diamond was back, along with his brother Sapphire. Why did I care? Serenity would be safe until the time came when I would be the hand that dealt her the death she so deserved. Was that not what I wanted? I showered and slipped into my bed, frustrated with myself. Serenity, Serenity. Leave me in peace! No, let me hold you. Let me kiss you and feel the warmth of your body pressed against mine. Let me love you. And please, don't ever leave me. I closed my eyes. Yes, block out the confusion, the pain. Don't think about her. Reality seemed so far away. Hours laid between now and morning. If only I could drift away from it all. No more anger, no more hatred. Just sweet, pure peace. I smiled at that thought. I felt so light. There was no more emotions weighing down my soul. The room suddenly appeared. Something was not right. My eyes. They were still closed. But I could see. The darkened room in which I had lived for the past year was so clear in my vision, but my eyes were closed, and I still laid on the bed. My surroundings shifted. I appeared to have moved closer to the ceiling. My body. It laid on the bed still, but I could see it. It's eyes were closed, and a neutral expression occupied the face. My eyes would have widened in shock had I been able to do such a thing, but it seemed I had no form, no physical shape. Somehow, my spirit, my essence, had become separated from my body, yet I was still alive and of this realm and dimension. How free I felt, how light. I seemed to fly around the room in pure excitement. Was this how elementals felt? Those little spirits? With this new found power, how much could I do? All those secrets that had been locked away from me would be mine. I think I smiled. Something was pulling me. My weightless form was drifting. I passed through countless walls, unseeing and unnoticed. I listened to this pull, felt it with my entire soul. Through the outermost hull of the space station which had become my home for the past year I drifted. It was the first time I had seen it, a streamline piece of metal, shinning lights sprinkled over it. It orbited nothing. It was a piece of junk hanging in dead space. There was no planet or star close to it. Only the emptiness of space and the distant stars, as far away as they had ever seemed back on Earth. All this I glimpsed as my spirit drifted away. Faster and faster the space station receded into the distance. Did I feel fear? What if I could not return to my body? No time for uncertainty now. Bright light flashed around me as I hurtled through space. Where was I going? What was pulling me? A planet appeared. Silver and blue, a huge sphere hanging in space, orbiting a golden sun that poured light through me, and warmth I did not feel. No time to admire the view. The pull was so strong. It pulled me down. Past the planet's atmosphere and into the night side of it. I knew this place. I had seen it often enough on the news. This was Serenity's home planet. I had visited only this morning. Why was I here again? I didn't want to see her beautiful face! Through the palace gates I drifted, formless and unseen. I did not exist. I was a ghost. Past guards and through walls and doors I went. I suddenly didn't want to be here. I knew where I was going. I didn't want to look apon her! I didn't want to fall in love with her all over again! I wanted to hate her! She was the enemy! Kill her! I was in her room, drifting a little above the soft carpeted floor. She was there, but not alone. Her fragile form sat on her bed, softly crying, silent tears running down her flawless cheek. A girl with blonde hair sat beside her, trying to comfort her. It was Venus. "Please stop crying, Serenity. Cheer up. Surely this isn't the end of the world," Venus said softly, hugging her friend. "Look on the bright side. I mean, he saved you didn't he? If he hated you, would he have put his life in danger to protect you? I think not. After all, I am the Goddess of Love and Beauty, and I should know!" Serenity sniffled. "If he did care then why did he leave me this?" she demanded, holding up the rose I had so carelessly thrown at her feet. It was perfect in every way, only it was black. "He hates me! You know that black is for hate! If he loved me, it would have been red! And the way he looked at me, with that cold smile. He hates me." "Well, if he hates you, then he must be the most foolish person alive in this entire universe!" Venus declared. "No one in their right mind would hate you, Serenity." "You don't understand, Venus! He is the Prince of the Earth Kingdom! Our kingdoms are eternally at war. We have been since the day we were born," Serenity sobbed. "And my Mother wants me to be with Diamond. She says it would strengthen our alliance with their Kingdom." "That snob!" Venus exclaimed. "I certainly hope not, Serenity!" "I know! I know. But at least he cares for me. At least he loved me. Only I don't love him," she said softly. "Not the way I love Endymion. Venus, I think we're soul bonded. We share the same soul." Venus widened her sky blue eyes. "When did you come to that conclusion?" "When we met on Earth. We kissed, and I just knew. But I think we've been soul bonded from the moment we were born. It would explain why I have this symbol on my forehead. The Earth and Moon, locked together forever," she whispered. "Locked together in hatred," I whispered to myself. "And love." Venus sighed. "We'll see this through Serenity. Have faith. Love is never wrong, and will always shine through in the end. One day, you'll be together." Serenity gave her friend a weak smiled. Venus stood up and walked out of Serenity's room, giving her a peace sign before shutting the door behind her. I stayed, watching Serenity. She stood also, and walked out onto the balcony over looking the gardens. "Why do you hate me?" she asked. Did she know I was there? Did she feel the other half of her soul hanging in the air around her? "I know I've hurt you. I know I've lied to you. But I didn't want to lose you! I was so afraid that if I told you the truth, you would hate me because my kingdom killed your parents. I sorry I've caused you so much pain." Those words. They were so familiar. 'I'm sorry I caused you so much pain, Endymion. I am sorry. Be strong. One day, all will be well'. The angel had spoken those words. She had brought me back from all my pain and confusion, given me hope for a brighter future. It had been so long ago. I had been lying there, next to the mountain stream, weighed down with all my emotions. And then she had come, taking away everything that hurt me for a moment in time. Silence fell over us. "I'm sorry too," I finally whispered. She turned around, her large innocent blue eyes locking onto me. She stared right at me, and her eyes opened just a little wider. The black rose she held in her hand turned red for a moment, a pulse of life in the midst of death. The darkness collapsed back apon me, smothering the brief flicker of light that had burned in my black heart and soul. The red rose petals fell, leaving a core of black. "Sorry I ever loved you! Sorry I saved your life when I could have just stood by and laughed at your suffering as you laugh at mine! And I'm sorry I came tonight to listen to your pitiful lies!" I sneered at her, anger boiling in my very veins. She remained silent, her crystal blue eyes staring at me. They became glazed. Tears began to form, clear, yet so polluted with deep emotions and feelings. One fell, crystallising as it was pulled down by gravity, as mine had so long ago. It hit the floor and shattered, so fragile was it. "Don't give me your tears," I said, disgusted. "I've had enough of your lies and your acting. Do you expect me to feel for you after all you've done?" I asked accusingly. "You called me here. Why? So that I could witness your divine acting, your out pour of emotion to you dear friend? So that I would break down and come crawling back to you? Never, Serenity. We are through. The next time I ever lay eyes on you, I will make sure one of us do not walk away." With that I appeared to turn and walk through the wall. Serenity's cry of pain assaulted my ears, but I did not turn. The time for caring had passed. We were at war. I left the planet, never looking back. And suddenly, I was standing in my rooms. The body laid there, peaceful, seemingly asleep. My spirit merged with it, and I blinked my eyes, feeling every constricted and trapped. I felt every section of my body all to keenly. My fingers, my legs. As if I was only in it like a hand in a glove, and not a part of it. There was a knock on the main doors to my rooms, and Nick's faint muffled voice. Slightly annoyed, I got up and opened the door for Nick. He came in and turned on me, angry. I had barely enough time to shut the doors before he began to yell at me. "Why, Darien?" he demanded. "Why have you changed so much? You use to be so nice, so like a friend. And now you are a total stranger to both Dawn and me. I know you seem to suddenly hate Serena, or Princess Serenity as she is known, but why do you hate me?" I looked at him, silent. Slowly, I moved to the lounge and sat down, not really knowing what so say to him. He was right. Why was I so cold to him? Serenity was the enemy, not Nick or Dawn. They were my closest friends. "Please, tell me. Now, more than ever, I need a friend. If you hate Serena, then it is your business, but I want us to be friends again," Nick said, his voice softening. "You know, even I don't really understand why I have been acting the way I have towards you and Dawn," I replied, smiling weakly. "It's Serenity I hate, and I hate her for my own reasons, but you are my friends. I guess that I was just a little too obsessed with being angry with Serenity to realise it, and I hated everyone around me as well. 'Don't let emotions cloud your judgement'," I quoted from Armand's last words to me back on Earth. "A little?" Nick asked, smiling. "A little? I would say a hell of a lot!" I smiled back at him. "I'm really sorry, Nick. For begin a total ass hole to you and Dawn. I hope we can put that all behind us, and just be friends now." "Of course, best buddy," he said, punching me lightly on the arm, and then yawned. I glanced at the clock. Three in the morning. "You woke me up at three am?" I questioned. "God, Nick, I know our friendship means alot to you and me, but you didn't have to wake me this early!" I exclaimed. We both laughed. It felt so good. I hadn't laughed like that for so long. Nick left shortly after, saying he'll see me in the morning, and we can have some cow cud for breakfast in the mess hall. I returned to my bed room and turned the light on for a moment and glanced in the mirror. My face for once was not cold and dark. It was smiling lightly, and had good colour. The eyes remained black though. I wondered at that. The answer came quickly enough. Black for hate, and I still hated Serenity. No confusion plagued me anymore. I knew exactly what the witch had been trying to do to me. I knew now deep in my soul who was the enemy and who were my friends. I think, for once, I was happy. I was sad though that I had lost the brief love I had felt for that lovely girl I had met on Earth. Well, at least it taught me a valuable lesson. Looks could be deceiving. The classes that followed in the days after were full of physical training. Lestat took up to an oval that was situated under a huge clear dome. One could see the millions of stars staring down at us as we ran laps around the oval. We did more self defence training, using weapons this time. I used a sword, much like the one that always appeared when I was dressed in Endymion's armour. Nick and I fought against each other often, laughing now and then at something stupid one of us would do. Dawn and I became good friends again, though she could not understand why I no longer liked Serena. I didn't tell her, and I made Nick promise me he would not. Nick and Dawn were still going out. Steady now, of course. They still fought, just as they did back on Earth. I had missed their friendly bickering. A week or so passed. Life was good. Everything in my mind was clear, and I had my friends. I had meaning in life once more, and I could almost say I enjoyed it. Then Diamond came to me. Early morning. I was up early, before the usual wake up call. There was something I had wanted to finish reading in the library, and I figured before class was as good a time as any. My breakfast was cooking nicely in my little kitchen, and I hummed an old tune I had heard back on Earth. The band who played it was lost to me, but melodies always stayed with me. A flash of silver light caught my eye just as I was getting my hot breakfast out of the food synthesiser. All my training had brought my reflexes up to a hundred percent, and I was immediately alert when I saw that unusual flash of light. "No need to be on guard, Endymion," the cool voice said. I recognised it was Diamond's before I saw him. Setting my food down, I walked out of the kitchen and saw him leaning up against the wall, casually, dressed in pure white. It seemed to be his colour. "Why are you here?" I asked, eyeing him carefully. "Serenity has been crying for the past week. She hasn't come out of her room nor eaten," he said, looking pointedly at me. "Would you like to tell me why?" "That's simple. I hate her, and she doesn't like the fact that her little plan failed," I replied, my voice cool and uncaring. "Now please, get out. You and I are at war, remember? And I want to eat before my food gets cold." "I ought to kill you for what you've done to her! Kill you for all the pain you have caused the one I love! Damn you, Endymion, I love her, and she loves you! And you, you who call yourself a Prince, hate her!" he snarled at me. "Kill me then," I replied calmly. He glared at me, looking disgusted. "You sicken me," he finally said. "I would do anything for her if she loved me the way she loves you! And you just sit there, talking about her as if she was nothing more than something used and thrown away!" "Well, you haven't been used like I have, now have you?" I wondered. "She hasn't used you and lied to you, and then acted in such away to break your heart just so she could use you all over again. Well, Prince Diamond, I have had to live through all of that. Yes, I did love her. But she hurt me. And for all I care, she can burn in Hell. To me, she is nothing but part of the evil that destroyed my kingdom and my parents for the sake of power. And Diamond, do try to protect her. I will kill her as she killed my kin. You can count on that." Diamond just stood there, cold as the carbon based gem that he was named after. He then said something that I thought unusual. "If I didn't love her and want her to be mine, I would say something to you. Something that would break you heart. And Endymion. We are now enemies. I will kill you when we meet again. You have hurt my Princess for the last time." With that, he was gone. As suddenly as he had come, he was no longer there, and I wondered if I had dreamed the whole thing. I dwelled on what he said afterwards, about saying something to me that would break my heart. It made me wonder, just for a moment, if Serenity really did love me, and wasn't acting as I thought she was. No, don't confuse yourself with all that again. I've had enough of love for the rest of my life. Best just to concentrate on my training and to avenge my parents deaths. Maybe a month passed this way. Time no longer concerned me. Day after day was the same. Train. Fight. Kill. Learn their weaknesses, their tactics. Don't ever let your guard down. Never show your fear. Fear is weakness. Conquer fear, and you can conquer the world. "Consider the art of killing," Lestat said, holding the unconscious body of a young man. "It must be beautiful, yet ruthless and cruel. Never have regret." "Do you intend to kill him in front of me?" I asked. No one else was here except the two of us. The rest of the class had been dismissed a while ago. The man Lestat held now was one of Armand's guards. Apparently, Lestat and Armand disagreed on something, and Lestat just wanted revenge. "Of course," Lestat said with a cruel smile. "After all, you want to be a killer, don't you?" he asked. "After all your inner struggle, you have finally made up your mind to kill Serenity." "Yes, but I don't intend to suck the blood out of her," I replied. Lestat gave an amused laugh. "Please, Endymion, we say 'drink'. The word 'suck' just doesn't sound right. And I know you don't intend to drain her of her blood. It's too intimate, too passionate and filled with love. And you hate her, right?" "How can killing be filled with love?" I questioned. "Don't you kill out of hate?" "Vampires are different from humans, Endymion. For us, killing is an art form, and we love it. Our victims, their life flowing out of them and into us, their heart beating in that terrible rhythm, and most of all, the struggle and then the kill," he explained. "But for humans, more often than not, you do kill out of pure emotion. Hate, jealously, the list go on. We kill merely because we enjoy it." I raised an eyebrow. The man was coming around now, and Lestat dropped him on the floor. "Now watch," he instructed. "Play with them first. Anger them. Make then fight back. And most of all, enjoy their anger and hatred towards you." The man staggered, still light headed from Lestat knocking him out. His eyes focused on Lestat, and he gave a growl of anger, before lunging at the finely dressed vampire. Lestat laughed as the guard tried to thrash him, not even moving Lestat an inch. Lestat then pushed him away like a little child, sending him flying towards the ground. "Do you understand, Endymion?" Lestat asked as the guard struggled to get up. "When you kill Serenity, don't do it straight away. Cause her pain, as she has you. Prolong her suffering. After all, she deserves it. You've suffered all your life." Lestat walked up to the guard who was on his knees and kicked him in the ribs. There was the sickening sound of them cracking. The guard gave a howl of pain as he was knocked back to the ground. With a swift movement, Lestat bent down and grasped the guard by his collar, lifting him up until he was almost standing. "And then, when you know she's in pain, hurt her some more," Lestat whispered, smiling evilly. Holding the guard with one hand, he grasped the guard's arm and squeezed. Again there was the awful sound of bones splintering. Like a little puppy the man yelped. I didn't want to see anymore. I could never do this to anyone. "Don't look away, Endymion. I'm not finished," Lestat demanded. "The kill, Endymion. The kill is the best part. Stretch it out. Enjoy it. Take her life and see to it that she knows she is dying." He pulled the man close, smiling all the time. He opened his mouth, revealing small fangs. With that, his bit into the man's neck, forcing forth a gasp of pain from the man. Lestat stood like that for awhile, mouth locked onto the man's throat. Then he threw the guard away. The body slid across the floor, coming to a halt a few metres away from him. "He's not dead yet. Just weakened. But he knows he's going to die," Lestat said to me. "Do you still want to do it? Kill her? Just as I am killing this man?" Lestat asked. "Yes," I replied coldly. "But I am not cruel. I won't kill her as you are killing him." "Ah, but you already are. You kill her every moment you hate her, very time you say you want her dead," he whispered to me, and closed in for the kill. He was about to take the second drink when Armand made his presence known. "Enough, Lestat," Armand said. "Leave him." Lestat glared at Armand, but dropped the battered but alive man. "I was only teaching Endymion what he must know. After all, you want him to kill Serenity, don't you?" "What he does is his decisions," Armand said coldly. "I'm sure, Armand," Lestat laughed, and left, disappearing into the air. "Come with me, Endymion. There is someone you must meet," Armand said and turned to walk out of the room. "Who?" I asked, not really caring. My mind was on what Lestat had said. Armand was silent for a moment, but then answered. "Your Father." End of Part Two, Chapter Four.