| Author's Note: I'm glad so many people like this fic and I definitely want to thank everyone for all the reviews and the pointers as well. I hope you enjoy this chapter and will leave me good reviews. **Edited by Denial 12.05.02** The Dark King Chapter 3: Journey to Alexandria Korinthos, Capital City of the Southern Regions Miles, ruler to the Southern region of Earth and sworn enemy of the Dark King, paced the interior of his tents, muttering under his breath as he waited for his second in command, his General, to return. The man had left to see to his men and to make sure all were currently training with either swords or the bow and arrow. He had to prepare, Miles thought grimly. The Dark King had the rest of the Earth, had just obtained the Northern region due to his own stupidity and arrogance. The man was brilliant on the battlefield and off of it, something he had to remember. He went to his writing desk and sat, taking out pen and paper to begin writing a message to his allies on the far side of the Southern regions. They were attempting to amass an army, to lure people to his side and overcome the Dark King. But bringing people to his own army was difficult. The Dark King's men were fiercely devoted to him, and the villages he ruled deathly afraid to defy him. He looked up when his General walked in, Alexander, a tall, well built man who had been a soldier for all of his thirty two years. His face was handsome, with years of training and fighting in the blistering sun showing in the golden hue of his skin. His eyes were a vivid and stunning green, dark and contrasting with the darkness of his hair, a black that almost seemed blue in the shade of the tent. Miles stood, folding his hands behind his back and facing his General, "What news do you bring?" "The men are progressing well in there training, but there's something else. Our messenger has returned and brings news from the eastern region of our lands." Alexander's voice was heavy with fatigue and stress, pausing in what he was saying to rub a hand over his face. "The Dark King has taken the village and surrounded it with his guards. He has over seventy men stationed there, patrolling day and night and making sure to protect the people as well." "Damn him." Miles muttered, beginning to pace the confines of his tent, "Damn him! The man advances and advances without really trying." he took a deep breath, calming himself and attempting to center his thoughts. He needed to keep his mind clear, to make sure he was able to defeat the Dark King's reign before the man defeated his own. "That's not all." Alexander still couldn't believe this bit of news he was about to deliver. The Dark King's taking over of the eastern regions of there land wasn't a surprise, but what he'd been told after had shocked him to the core. "It seems that he was given a special gift, a woman. Not just any woman," he held up a hand when Miles began to speak, "but the woman of any man's dreams. Have you ever heard of the Silvery Maiden, my Lord?" Miles' eyes widened, "No....but she doesn't exist!" "She does and he has her." Alexander seated himself in the chair Miles had vacated, "I feel this could be another victory for him, but also a curse." "What do you mean?" Miles' dark eyes sharpened on his man. "It is known to everyone the sacredness of this woman, and the fact that she is under the protection of Adonis. And knowing the Dark King, he has already taken her virginity." Alexander smiled slowly, "Adonis will not take kindly to this. He will come after the Dark King and he will perhaps even aide you in destroying him." Miles could hardly believe what his General was telling him. He was right, absolutely right. The legends spoke of her beauty, but also Adonis' fierce protection of her. If the Dark King had already defiled her, then he would be seeking revenge promptly. And in that revenge, he might help Miles to destroy him. His chuckle was dark, wicked, "You're right Alexander. I believe the tables have finally turned in my favor." Ramadan, Capital City of the Dark King It was quiet, early morning, as the fog that had settled over the land thickened and lay as a blanket across Ramadan. The icy wind from the sea swept through the forest and hills, across the land toward the dark palace that stood at the head of the large city. Dawn had barely come, creeping silently to take the place of the darkened land and spread the glow of the sun to warm the chill the night had left. Selenity watched all this from the Dark King's massive balcony that overlooked the city, watching as women milled about, preparing breakfast; as men left home to work the fields surrounding the city, kissing there families goodbye. The day here began at the first light, and did not end until that light had dwindled to allow the dark night to claim it once again. For her, her prayers and hope began as the sun peeked over the horizon toward the palace. She had been with him for two weeks already. She had kept count quietly, needing to know how long this imprisonment had lasted. She had hoped with all her being he would tire of her, would toss her out and perhaps back to the small village where he had come for her. But he hadn't. He had seemed to become more ravenous over time. His days were filled with training, with traveling, but always within a small distance of the palace. At night he returned for supper, where she was to always come down and sit at his right, watching with disgust the way his men treated the women servants, the way they grabbed and fondled them, or tossed them over there shoulders to take them to there bed as these young girls cried there anguish. And after watching this he would take her upstairs with him, where he would take her body over and over again, until she lay exhausted beneath him. The man seemed to have the energy of ten men. One thing that had shocked her was his need to hold her close after there bodies climaxed together, even in sleep. She had wanted to lie away from him, to lie as far as possible from the detestable man, but he had refused to relinquish his hold on her, dragging her close and keeping her in the circle of his arms. Her life, her way of living had changed, but never her beliefs. Even if she was no longer in the Temple of Light, she was still the Priestess to Adonis and Guardian to Earth. In the dawn, in the early morning light was when she prayed to Adonis, and prayed in her heart she would somehow be set free. She closed her eyes and raised her hands to the sky, basking in the warmth of the early morning sun and the cool wind that swept over her. She was dressed in her silvery robe the Dark King had given her, the sleeves falling and revealing the tattoo that seemed to glow in the light. She took a deep breath and spoke, the prayer she always said to Adonis imprinted on her heart(**AN: if you want to know the meaning of her prayer, scroll all the way down where I have the translation. The Language is Italian, just to let you all know also**)."A me Iddio, a me Sole, yo pregano a te, quite mio nativita esatto. Prestare mio tu vigoria, largire tu saggezza, aiutare mio tu forza, para caporale tu regno. Portare il terra pace, portare a calmo notturno, osservare il oscurita lotano, e tu sole." She smiled and felt his cleansing hand wash over her, soothing away all worries and doubts for an instant of a moment. But just as quickly as the feeling had come it was gone, leaving her standing alone on a huge balcony. Endymion had been watching her since she had stepped outside. He'd left there bed early that morning, before the sun was out, to speak with his four Generals and see about traveling outside of Ramadan and toward his capital city in the Northern regions of Earth, Alexandria. Malachite had been out there for the past two weeks and had come back early that morning bringing news that Miles was attempting to bring men over to his army. This new threat he couldn't leave alone. He needed to go out to Alexandria that same day and check his lands, his patrols, and also check in with the men he had left out there. Traitors were not tolerated by him and if he found even one suspicious man, he would have him executed and his body displayed as a warning to the others. Gregori, Julian, and Kendrick had wanted to leave immediately upon hearing the news, but he had halted them. He refused to leave Selenity behind and would have her pack her things to accompany them. The four men had been completely shocked speechless, helpless but to nod as he gave them orders to gather men together while he went to inform Selenity. He wondered himself why he would want to bring her, but the truth was he couldn't imagine being separated from her. He had remained near the city for the past two weeks so he could always return at night to her. He admitted that while war and power plagued him during the day, the peace of being encased inside her body, of being held in her arms as she cried out his name, washed away the stain the day left on him. He had listened with some awe as she stood out on his balcony, chanting and obviously offering a prayer up to her god Adonis. He had come to terms with her loyalty to her god only because Adonis hadn't shown himself and attempted to take her from him. The day the man did was the day he would wage war on the very gods. He waited in the shadows of there room as she stretched once again, then turned and padded on bare feet back inside, coming to an abrupt halt when she saw him standing, waiting for her. "What is it?" she spoke coolly, with no hint of emotion. His use of her she saw as an animals use, not as a need that was swiftly growing inside of him. "Pack your things." his own tone was harsh, but his touch gentle as he stroked a large, dark hand over her cheek, "We leave in one hour for Alexandria." When he turned and strode toward the doors to there room, she followed him, reaching out to grip his arm, "Wait. Why? Can you not leave me here?" He stopped at the doors and turned back to her, his eyes darkening, "No, I will not leave you here. You will go with me wherever I go and not question me in my decisions. Understood?" She released his arm and stepped away from him, her smoky eyes turning to ice, "Understand that I am your slave? Of course, my Lord." When she turned to walk from him he gripped her arm, whirling her around and bring her up against the solid wall of his chest. "Damn it." his lips took hers in a fierce kiss of fury, his arms banding around her and keeping her locked against him. "Damn me, I will never get enough of you." That was what she most feared. She had thought he would tire of her quickly, but he wasn't and it didn't seem as if he would, "Let me go." He lifted his head and stared at her, simply stared at her with those dark, opaque eyes of his. The intensity there was frightening, and had goose bumps rising on her flesh, "What is it you see?" He bent and brushed his lips over her forehead, soft and soothing, "I see the most beautiful thing that has ever belonged to me." She attempted to jerk away from him, failing when his arms tightened, "Thing? Is that what you see me as? A thing to own, to discard as trash when you tire of it?" "I could never discard you." the words were out before he could stop them, her own eyes widening in both shock and fear. Before she could form a reply he released her, turning back to the double doors, "Have your things packed quickly. We leave in one hour." She stood quietly after he had left the room, clutching her robe together, her knuckles nearly white. She couldn't, not for one second, believe the man meant to keep her for all time. He WOULD release her one day. He would become tired of her. A new plan dawned on her. Perhaps if she made life unbearable for him, if she bothered him so much he would send her away because he could no longer stand her presence. Perhaps then she would finally be freed. She obeyed in his orders and packed her things in two large trunks, having the servants he sent up take them outside to the waiting carriage he had had brought out and readied for her. And heaving out a sigh, she followed behind them. Several dozen of his men waited outside, horses saddled and ready for departure. His four Generals stood surrounding him as he spoke to them, the planes of his face harsh and fierce, yet sending a small thrill of desire through her. No matter how much she detested him, she could not deny her attraction to him. When she emerged from the palace and into the sun, she noted how his men all stopped in there speaking to turn and watch as she descended the palace steps. She had only taken two steps when he was by her side, taking her hand in his and leading her to the carriage that stood waiting for her, four horses tethered to it and a man sitting at the top, ready to leave whenever she came. "I will not be able to ride with you all of the time." he was saying as he led her to the carriage, his eyes sweeping across his men in a warning glance that they all interpreted immediately. "I must see to my men and the road we have ahead of us. It is four days' journey to Alexandria, but it will more then likely take us five because I do not want to force you to be traveling at night as well." he opened the door to the carriage for her, lifting her inside. "Malachite has volunteered to sit with you for a bit when I cannot. Each of my Generals will in turn keep you company until I can." She settled against the dark cushions, smoothing down her gown and avoiding his eyes, "Why do you tell me? It's not as if my consent matters." He didn't reply, standing and watching her for so long she began to fidget. Leaning into the carriage, he tangled one of his hands in her hair and drew her to him, kissing her with a hunger that left her head spinning. The moment he released her Malachite came to them, climbing in through the other side of the carriage and settling across from her. Endymion's eyes turned cold, cutting to his head General, "Keep her safe Malachite." Malachite nodded once, "I would protect her with my life, my Lord." He looked back at her another moment, the hard angles of his face softening as he gazed at her. In the next moment he was gone, leaving her somewhat bereft and lonely for him already. The carriage lurched forward and she peeked outside to watch as they began to move, his men keeping a tight circle around the carriage in protection. She assumed the Dark King was at the head of his men with his other three Generals, for she could see him nowhere around her. She settled back, drawing the curtain closed and surrounding them in cool shade. She glanced at Malachite, who was watching her quietly, his blue eyes moving slowly over her face, "What?" He blinked, smiling. "What is it?" "Why are you staring at me like that?" she didn't like the way he stared, or the way he didn't attempt to hide the desire he had for her in his eyes. He was an extremely attractive man, but she'd as soon have him dominating her life the way the Dark King did. "Can you blame me for admiring your beauty?" he said sincerely. She blew out a breath and decided to at least give him a chance. He had been gone for the past two weeks and before that he had only been kind and attentive. "Beauty is fleeting and fades with time." and beauty was something she had never allowed to matter to her before in her life. "Where have you been these past two weeks, my Lord?" He was delighted. She had noticed his absence! "Please, call me Malachite. And I was in Alexandria, seeing to the men we have stationed there. I brought news back to my Lord of rebels who were attempting to gather men to there side." "The Dark King is being threatened." the thought both amused and worried her. The idiot of a man was turning her emotions against her. "These threats can and will be eliminated. Endymion is clever and will never allow Miles to take over his reign." he shifted in his seat, moving close enough so that his legs pressed against hers, "Believe in him." She sniffed, "I don't need to believe in him." They traveled all morning and well into the afternoon, Malachite leaving her in the carriage when Gregori came to take his place. Gregori was a man with dark features, savage and harsh, much like his lords. But he was kinder, made her laugh and feel relaxed. When Kendrick came in, he made her laugh so hard her sides ached and tears ran down her cheeks. Julian was the next and flirted shamelessly with her, making her smile and become somewhat embarrassed by the things he said to her. When the Dark King finally appeared at the carriage doors during a ten minute rest, her cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright. He gave Julian a cool, calculated look, but the man merely grinned at him, winked at her, and left them alone. The other men had been large in build, taking up space inside the small carriage, but when he settled himself on the seat across from hers there seemed to be little room for her at all. His knees bumped continuously against hers as the carriage began to move once again, his dark eyes on her. He had drawn the curtains, sheltering them from prying eyes. She watched those eyes go from cool to hot, smoldering with unbridled lust, "Come here." he said it softly, a dark command he expected her to obey without a thought. She could see what he planned in his eyes and it disgusted her that her body would respond so willingly, even as her mind rebelled. "No." she smiled sweetly. He was quick, his hands gripping her arms and hauling her up against him, his lips crushing hers beneath his. Her body sank into his, straddling his as his hands roamed to move her dress aside, his fingers finding her moist entrance and pushing inside, causing her to gasp and her hips to jerk. All at once he became ravenous, his lips trailing like fire down to her throat, his hands quickly unfastening his trousers as she pushed against him, rocking her body against his hands and deliberately teasing him. When he filled her, when her body moved over his in restless movements, he could only clutch her small body to his, burying his face against her neck as he struggled to retain some sort of sanity. Her hands were buried in his thick hair, pressing him against her breasts as his mouth found and lapped at what she willingly lifted to him. He had her hips gripped in his hands, helping her as she rose up and down, closing over him like a hot fist as his body tightened, as the orgasm began to climb inside both of them. One hand suddenly came up and buried itself in her hair, jerking her head back so he could look into her eyes when she climaxed, when her body rose above the stars. "Look at me." he whispered it savagely, hissed it between clenched teeth. He watched as she opened her eyes, smoky eyes that were hazed with passion, with desire. "Your mine. You belong only to me!" At his words her body shuddered, convulsed violently and she cried out, her arms holding him close as the world spun and turned black around them. They traveled for days, stopping nights to spend at an inn where he had a room prepared for them ahead of time. She was always attended to by young servant girls, girls she would become quick friends with, only to have to say good bye to them the very next morning. She had no female companions and in these moments of loneliness she would remember the four young women who had brought her to the Dark King, four women who had become more then friends to her. The day before they were to arrive in Alexandria, they stopped to allow the horses to rest, Endymion coming to her and telling her she could come out and walk about if she liked. He left her as quickly as he had come, his mind obviously preoccupied with other matters. She took this opportunity to emerge from the carriage and wonder quietly into the forest near the road where they had stopped, pleased when none of his men noticed. She dared not escape him for fear of what he would do, so she merely wondered along, studying the dense green vegetation surrounding her, taking in the strange scents and sounds of the woods. It was then that she came to a small opening in the forest, where the sun shone through and lit the dark forest. Curiously there were no trees, just a small gap with a small flower bed of roses. She was puzzling over this when she felt him. He'd always given her a sense of immense peace when he was coming, a sensation of light and magic that no one else on this earth could do. And just as the familiar feeling filled her, he shimmered to life before her. He was beautiful, as he'd always been. She'd seen him only twice before in her life; the first when she was just a child. He'd come to visit her and her mother, an event that had shocked her mother immensely. He'd nodded to Serenity, then gone to her and hunkered down on one knee, speaking to her and making her giggle and hide shyly against her mothers skirt. He'd teased her, tickled her, listened as she chattered to him, and had tucked her quietly into bed when she'd grown heavy eyed. She hadn't realized at the time who he was and her mother had never bothered to tell her either. The second had been when she was sixteen, a young girl blossoming into womanhood. He'd come again and this time she had been pleased by his attention, flattered by the compliments he had given her. He hadn't remained long that time, had left after only an hour. It was then that her mother had told her she would be different from all the priestess' who had lived before her, that she was special and that her life would change dramatically. Selenity hadn't realized what she spoke of and hadn't pressed the matter. When the shimmer became the solid form of a man, she took a moment to study him, the complete opposite of the Dark King. His face was gorgeous, his hair a deep bronze, his eyes as golden as his hair. He had the spectacular form of a man in his prime, a man who could obtain any woman he desired, any woman he lay those mesmerizing eyes on. And at that moment those eyes were fired with fury, "He's taken you." he made it a furious statement, a fact. "Adonis." she whispered it, awed by his presence. He paced to her, his eyes flashing, a spear of pure white lightening slicing through the clear sky and splitting the earth near them. "He defiled you." he reached out and ran his hand through her silvery hair, "So beautiful, so perfect." There was something in his eyes, something that made her weary of him. She took a deliberate step back from him, "I don't understand." "Because I never told you and I ordered your mother not to tell you either. You were meant for more then this, my Selenity." This time her eyes narrowed, "What do you mean 'your Selenity?'" her suspicion of the man she had prayed to rose swiftly. "You were meant for me. But no matter. I will destroy the man and rid you of him, rid the Earth of him. And when it is done, you will belong to me." he smiled into her eyes and touched his hand to her cheek, in the next moment disappearing in a flash of brilliant white light. The second he'd gone Endymion came bursting through the trees, his sword drawn, his four Generals following close behind him. She whirled to face them, her hair flying about her, her smoky eyes frightened at what Adonis had just revealed to her. With a quick signal from him, the Dark King's four Generals spread out, disappearing into the dense forest to search for whoever Endymion could still sense. He eyed the dark forest, then strode to her, re-sheathing his sword and sweeping her form in one quick assessment. "Are you hurt?" he took in her wildly frightened eyes. "N-no." she couldn't help it, not when fear for his life was filling her so much she could barely breath. On a choked sob, she launched herself into his arms, clinging to him as if her life depended on it. Confused and unbelievably softened, he wrapped her in his arms and held her close. His anger at her for leaving the camp at such a distance was ferocious, and not easily controlled. For the first time she watched him pace the room of the inn they were staying at that night, shouting and raging, his face drawn into a fierce scowl as she stood quietly by the window to the room. "I said you could wander about, but not THAT far." he went to her, taking her by the shoulders and forcing her to look into his eyes. "You will never again leave my side!" "And will you keep me chained to you?" she asked softly. He didn't like her calm manner, didn't trust how compliant she was. "If I have too." he hated fear. It was a weakness for others, never for him. But he'd felt it earlier, when he'd found that she was gone and no one had seen where she went. "Do as you like." she brought her hand up to his cheek, touched him gently and had the fierce scowl disappearing. "Stop shouting and come to bed, my Lord. Come to bed." Much later, as he lay above her, his body buried inside hers, his face hidden in her neck, she held on to him and determined she would protect him from Adonis' wrath, no matter how much she despised him for taking her freedom from her. The next day dawned bright and early, and she napped inside the carriage as Malachite kept watch. Endymion had allowed her little sleep the night before, as he usually did. She'd grown used to his bodies needs, and had also grown used to taking long naps during the day for the sleep he stole from her. In the early afternoon the Dark King came for her, taking her from out of the carriage and placing her in the saddle of his stallion before him. She questioned why but he wouldn't answer, instead riding to the head of his men, halting them as they came to the top of a hill that overlooked a shining city below, a huge city that reminded her of his home, Ramadan. "We've arrived." he bent to her ear, his large body protective over her smaller one, his breath brushing against her and sending chills throughout her body. "Welcome to Alexandria, my little one." **Here is the translation to her prayer from up above** To my God, To my Light, I pray to thee, as is my right. Lend me your strength, Grant me your wisdom, Aide me your power, To guard your Kingdom. Bring this land peace, Bring it a quiet night, Keep the darkness away, And bestow your Light. ~SailorPerfect c 2002 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last Notes: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. There were two major introductions: one to Miles. I said I would write about Miles and I did, but of course I didn't dedicate the entire chapter to him. No way, this fic centers majorly on two people and we all know who they are. Second, I introduced Adonis. It was a brief introduction, but I wasn't about to go into major detail because I have later plans for him. But he revealed a few things that will give all of you an idea of what he's up too and what he'll be doing. Also, I will be bringing Lita, Amy, Raye, and Mina back into the fic, I think in the next chapter. Please be patient, they will return, for those of you who are wondering where there at. And lastly, I realize I didn't go into too much detail about Selenity and Malachite, but this isn't the end of them. There will be more and one day there time will come, trust me. You guys will just have to wait and see what I mean. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, please don't be mad because its not that long, I'm already working on chapter 4. And also, REVIEWS, REVIEWS, REVIEWS!!! Please tell me what you guys thought!! I'd love to hear! I only add quicker if I know people are reading. Later!~sailorperfect@yahoo.com |