A fan fic by Caleyndar. Rating: PG (adult themes). Notes: This chapter is the first of Part Three: Faces of War... This chapter involes some scenes some people may find unusual. Please note this warning whilst you read this installment of this fan fic. Once again, thanks to those who have written to me. All e-mails to . Have you any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; only the few I make up. The story, however, is mine. The Name Endymion... Part Three: Faces of War... Chapter One... The black rose flew through the air, a dark arrow of light. It momentarily distracted the opponent, streaking past his face. That second of uncertainty was all I needed. My crystal sabre appeared in my hand, and with the mere press of a button on the silver handle, the twin blue blades of pure energy flared out, and I had sliced the golden shield he held in half. Jadeite shot a deadly glance at me for doing that, and struck back with his green flamed sword. I blocked his blow easily, switching the setting of my weapon to one blade. Both of us had been locked in combat since class had ended for the day. Lestat had the five of us training together, for he said that it would increase our knowledge of each other and how we fought. The generals were dressed in their uniform, welding their own weapons; Kunzite with his boomerangs, Jadeite with his sword, Nephrite with his energy whip, Zoisite with his crystal spears. I was in my silver armour with the black designs, using my powers and crystal sabre. A year or so had passed since we were blood bonded, and I was beginning to trust these four young men, and even beginning to like them as friends. We worked well as a team, with Kunzite taking control when I was not. Anything Lestat had thrown at us, we had been able to catch and return to him without fumbling. Deep down, I knew where all this training was leading to, and I was not looking forward to it. I did not know how I would handle seeing Serenity. I had not seen her in any form since the vision; both dream and through the portal Pluto had shown me. Had she appeared in the news on the entertainment unit, I had forced myself to look away, fearful that I would break down again, like the way I had in my dream. And fearful that it was true; that she now loved Diamond, not me, that she hated me. Jadeite attacked again, and my thoughts had wandered, letting my guard down. Only my well tuned reflexes saved me with a quick leap into the air, missing the blow by a fraction. "Getting a little old and tired, Endy?" Jadeite mocked as I landed on the floor. "That is Endymion to you, Jadey," I countered, letting loose an energy ball at him. Jadeite jumped out of the way. Where he had been standing was now a big hole. "You're going to have to do better than that," he said with a grin. "Don't get too confident," I warned, smiling myself. Our blades locked, and we grinned at each other through the crossed weapons. Without warning, I disengaged and did a flip through the air and landed behind him, my black and red cape following me like an ever faithful disciple. Jadeite whipped around to attack me, but I had known he would do that, and had ducked down and swung my leg out, wiping him clean off his feet. I stood back above him, my crystal sabre pointed at his throat, a victorious grin on my face. Lestat startled all of us with his ringing claps. He stood, a small smile on his immortal face, watching us. "Well done, Endymion, generals," he said. "Does not time fly by when we're having fun? A year already. You're all seventeen now, at least, and you training is now officially finished. There'll be no grand ceremony for the five of you; along with the others you'll be presented you second stripe that will mark you as a lieutenant. But unlike the others, you'll do your duty. Which is to attack the Royal Moon Court; Serenity's Court." Lestat looked into my eyes when he said that. "Finally," Jadeite muttered. "I was dying from boredom in this place." I glared at him, and he promptly shut up. After all, he was still lying on the floor with my crystal sabre pointed at his throat. "What makes you think, my dear general, that we will not perish instead of Serenity and her court?" I sneered. Jadeite did not answer, and merely turned him head away from mine. I shut the crystal sabre down and dematerialised it, and pulled Jadeite to his feet. I turned to Lestat, who watched our exchanged without comment. "Very well. When is this ceremony, and when do we begin our on Serenity's court?" "The ceremony is on tomorrow. You begin your attack as soon as it's over," Lestat answered. "Generals, you're dismissed. Endymion, I would like a word with you." My eyes darted to Lestat, almost pleading with him not to give me a pointless lecture about my feelings. He merely smiled at me, almost enjoying all my pain and suffering. The generals bowed to me as they always did in the presence of any of the immortals or my Father, and turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving me to my fate. "I'm not going to scold you. I've received enough of that over my extend life to know how much I hate it," Lestat began, walking up to me until we stood with a comfortable distance separating us. "I merely wish to say to you that this will be the one of the hardest tasks any one has ever placed apon your weary shoulders." I frowned, not understanding fully what he meant. Or perhaps, I didn't want to understand it. "Yes, you've hurt Serenity in your own way before, but you have never directly attack her, never physically tried to hurt her. You've always been to much of a gentlemen to do such a thing. But this time, you will be demanded to do it," Lestat explained. For once, his characteristic sarcasm was not detectable. "And that, my dear friend, I believe will surely test your current beliefs." "My beliefs. You refer to my feelings towards her? Well, I know I love her. But I also know that my duty is to kill her. And so I will do it. Nothing I have felt towards her in the past matters now. Only the fact that I am born only to kill her matters. My heart does not. If we were truly meant to be, then may fate be kind enough to bestow on me the gift of reuniting me to the other half of my soul in another life," I said, speaking from the heart. Lestat smiled sadly. "If such an after life exists. But I am merely concerned about the fact of whether you can attack her. You may say your heart does not matter, but sometimes, the heart controls the body." He turned and walked over to the mural hanging on the wall. The one of Heaven and Hell. Gently, he ran his white fingers over the painting, lingering on the faces of the Angels of Light, and then those of Darkness; the Fallen Angels. "You, Prince Endymion, are a Fallen Angel. And your Princess Serenity is the Angel from Heaven. You forever strive to be with her, yet you can not. Because Darkness and Light were never meant to be." My eyes left his striking figure and washed over the mural. Heaven and Hell, coming together and becoming one. There was a hidden message in that, but I could not grasp it. Lestat turned suddenly, facing me once more, the mural forgotten. My eyes darted back to him. "I fear for you," Lestat said all of a sudden. "You have too much darkness within your fragile soul, and too much love simultaneously. I fear that you will be torn apart from the conflicting forces." "It's already been done, Lestat," I said softly. "I'm leaving now. I'll see you tomorrow if Death does not take me tonight." With a small smile gracing my lips, I returned to my quarters, leaving a rather shocked immortal in my wake. The rooms were as I left them this morning. Clean, tidy, as they always were. Two years. Two long and emotionally trying years I have spent here. Wasted my life. Well, no matter. Lives were wasted every second of every day, no? What would it matter if mine was too? Who would care in the final end? No one. Because there would be no one left to give a damn about another lost soul. With a sigh, I let my body fall apon my bed, grateful of the cool silk under my body. What I would not give to have the other half of my soul with me. To hold, to love. Because that was what I wanted when you remove all else. Love. To be loved, to give love. To have someone to lean on and to express all of one's pent up emotions, just to pour it out. Dream on, Endymion. Life wasn't so kind. The presence of another in my quarters awoke me. I remained still, as if I was still asleep or dead. I could feel the person walk up to my bed apon which I laid, and run a hand along the silk sheets and then touch the pillow apon which my head rested. My eyes were still closed. But the mysterious one knew I was awake. Icy cold fingers brushed against my check, and then slid down until they touched my neck. "I wish I could take you, my mortal Prince, but Ares would be most displeased to find you dead or close to it at the hour of your duty," Armand's seductive voice said to me. Same voice, same manner as when we had first met. "Do you love me?" I whispered without opening my eyes. My heart was beating with it's own life within my chest, and I feared that Armand could hear it. "Of course," he whispered back in my ear. I could feel his scentless breath on my skin, moving ever closer to my neck where his fine fingers still rested. "Then take away my suffering. Drink from me, and take me away from this painful life. Give me a moment's peace in unconsciousness," I said softly, slowly raising my heavy eyelids to look apon his angelic beauty. How could one so innocent be a killer? "I'm no Innocent," Armand said with a hint of a smile. He lifted me easily from my bed until I stood facing him. He embraced me, the length of his hard cold body against my warm living one. "You so remind me of my maker, my beloved Marius. You all seem to think me as an innocent child," he whispered into my ear. "Let me show you how innocent I am. I'll take you away from your pain. I'll love you as you want to be loved." His lips were on my neck. So silken, so soft. I did not care about what he was, all that he's done to me and for me in the past. I did not care that I had never thought of him as my lover before, but I was his now. I just wanted someone to hold me then. To love me, to need me. Just for once, let me be loved. I wrapped my arms around his body, pressing him closer to me. "Yes, show me," I whispered. He opened his mouth and bite down into my neck. I closed my eyes, feeling the pain. It was so perfect, this pain. My blood flowed, and he drank from me. The feeling was unlike anything I had ever known. The pain and ecstasy. I swooned. But I was weakening. Still, I clung to him, this boy, this angel. He held me up now, still drinking, slowly. And then he let me go, his sharp little teeth with drawing from me with such skill it felt like a deep fatal kiss. He held me away from himself, looking apon my weakened body with his large brown innocent ones. Gently, he put me down apon my bed, and then laid down beside me, his arms holding me still. They were warm now, filled with my blood. Gratefully, I held him, glad that I was not alone on this night of all nights, when I felt as if I would die were I alone. He kissed me softly on my check and then rested his head next to mine. "Sleep now, my Prince. Rest without your pain for one night," Armand said, closing his eyes. I smiled softly, my own eyes already shut. Yes, I'll rest without my pain for one night. I have you, and I love you. My soul belongs to Serenity; it always will, but tonight, I just want you, my lover. Because the sad truth was, I could never have Serenity. A harsh metallic voice startled me from my peaceful sleep. "All student are to report to the hall after breakfast. Breakfast will be served in the mess hall in half an hour," the voice said before it cut itself off in a burst of static. I sat up in my bed, feeling tired yet blissful. The angel still slept beside me. So like a mortal boy he seemed there. Not the dark lord of the Dark Dragon Kingdom. I leaned over and kiss his tender lips, loving him, and very content to have someone to love who loved me in return. He stirred under my touch, his eyes opening slowly. He looked up at him and smiled softly. "Thank you, Armand. For loving me when I most needed to be loved," I said, and slipped out of bed to get changed into my uniform. I walked into my bathroom and washed up. The wound from where Armand had drank marked my throat, and I waved my hand over it, using my powers to heal it quickly. I changed into my uniform and ran a brush through my jet black hair. For a moment I stared into the mirror, into my dark eyes. Still as black as ebony. Why? I loved Serenity too. Did hate have more power than love? "No," Armand's voice said from behind me. "Love is stronger than hate. But because you have hurt Serenity, you are marked with the Darkness. Until you love her fully again, or when you show your love for her, then and only then will you be as you were." "And that can never be," I said sadly. With that, I walked out off the bathroom, brushing past him. Without another word, I pulled opened the front door and walked swiftly down the corridor to the mess hall. What have I done? Let Armand seduce me, take my blood, and yet I was happy? Oh, I deserve to be damned into Hell. And here I was, loving the little devil when my soul belonged to Serenity. This was guilt I was feeling. But I so needed to be loved. I so wanted to be loved! Armand, Armand. You brought me into this living Hell. You showed me into this Darkness, this pain and suffering. If not for you, I may still be on Earth, with those I had grown up with, with my dear horse, Wild Spirit. And there may be no chasm between Serenity and me. No hate and anger which separated us in the first place. But you're my salvation. You're my love. Serenity, Serenity. I was wrong to ever think you would hurt me, that you would sever out my tender heart. And I love you with all of my soul, my damned soul. You had your own reasons to do what you did. To have lied to me and hurt me. But I know now that you never meant to; your perfect and unchanged symbol shining brightly apon your forehead tells all. What ever was meant by the visions I have been shown, by Armand, by my dreams, by Pluto, they matter not because I love you, and I will for the rest of eternity. But for this life, this pitiful and horrible life, we can not be. So my Darling, my sweet angel, let us live this one life in pain without each other's love, and I will see you in the next. Let us both pray to what Gods that exists that our next life be lived in tranquillity and bliss. "Hey, Darien!" Nick's joyful voice cut into my thoughts. I stopped my progression to the doors leading into the mess hall. We were both early, and the vast echoing room was lit but empty. "Hi, Nick," I said. "Well, I guess we've made it through. Our training is finished, and we're ready for what lies beyond these cold metal walls." "You don't sound too glad," Nick commented. "But I for one am looking forward to escaping from this prison. Did I tell you the good news? Dawn and I are assigned to the same space ship. We get to work together!" I smiled at him, and we entered the mess hall to eat. As much as I hated the taste of the food they served here, I dearly needed it. My body needed the raw ingredients to replenish the lost blood. I didn't regret last night though, even if I felt guilty about it. I needed him then, and I would repeat that little act if it meant I could be loved by him. I've changed again, haven't I? From the innocent child, to the anger driven boy, to the accepting teenager, and now to this dependant young man. Well, the world changes. The question was, how long until I changed my heart and soul once more? And as for how I felt about Armand, let me make it crystal clear. I loved him, yes. I needed his love, and perhaps he needed mine. But I did not want his companionship as I wanted Serenity's. I just wanted Armand's love, and that was all. Perhaps it was the same for him to me. The graduation ceremony went forward as planned. There's no reason to describe in graphic detail as to what occurred at that tremendously boring ceremony, where all of us were given our second stripe to wear on our uniforms, whether we were proud of it or not. Armand made his appearance there, giving a short speech to us. Dressed in the Dark Dragon uniform, he did not look so much like the child, the perfect embodiment of an angel from Heaven, server of the Lord Himself. Rather, he looked like one from the legions born from Hell itself, a Dark Angel, though still with the perfect and lovable face. Nick stayed in the company of Dawn through the entire procession, and I let them be. I didn't want to infringe on their intimacy. After all, I had my lover, didn't I? And I also had my undying dream, my wish, of being with Serenity until the end of time. If such a thing existed. I stood with my loyal generals. I did not consider them as close friends like Nick and Dawn. I had known those two since before I could care to remember. I doubted I would ever have friends more compassionate that them, more caring and understanding. Still, my generals were very loyal, and I would trust them with my life if it came to that. They were my friends now. From a certain point of view. For how could someone as loyal as Kunzite be a true friend, how could Jadeite, with his wits and never ending mockery be anything to me except an annoyance? And Nephrite and Zoisite, well, they kept to themselves, and only served me as generals, nothing more. Everyone was gone from the immense hall. Only Armand remained, and my generals. All the chairs set up in their perfect rows seemed as if no human had ever touched them. The stage was dark and silent, the lights having died long ago, when everyone had began to leave to prepare for their new life out of this metallic prison. The six of us stood together. One immortal, the killer, the most unlikely seemingly, to hurt even the lowest form of life. One Prince, sad and depressed, confused as always, and unsure of himself. Four generals, each beautiful in their own way, silent and awaiting for orders. Armand gave me a soft kiss on my cheek before tuning to face all of us. I smiled at his intimate gesture, and at the slightly amused and shocked faces of my generals. They remembered very clearly the revulsion I had held towards them in the Loyalty Ceremony, when duty had obliged us to kiss. Well, people change. And Armand could hardly be considered human. "It is good to see you well, generals," Armand said to them. "I trust you've been looking after my dear Prince Endymion?" He smiled as he said this, beautifully; a flower in full bloom. "Yes, of course, Armand," Kunzite said with the slightest bow. "For what purpose have you kept us here? Please understand I mean no disregard; I merely wish to know." Armand gave a gentle laugh. "Kunzite, there is no reason to be so formal around me. Yes, I might once have been a ruthless leader of a coven of vampires who seemed to worship the Devil Himself and apon the ground apon which I walked, but I never liked it. It would please me much more if you treated me as one of your own; a friend, nothing more or less." Kunzite forced himself to give Armand a tight lipped smile. "To answer you question, I've kept you all here to wait for Lestat. If that Brat Prince ever decides to show his immortal face," Armand continued. "Someone say my name?" Lestat's spirited voice asked as he bounded into the hall, dressed in the finest red velvet with a long blazing cloak trailing after him. He was merrily throwing something up in the air and catching it, over and over. Armand just glared at him with his seemingly innocent and child like brown eyes. "Oh, don't be so mad, Armand. It's just a little wooden box," Lestat said mockingly, and threw it high enough it almost touched the unreachable heavens which was the ceiling. "Don't be so childish," Armand said to Lestat, and grabbed the wooden box as it fell towards the ground, pulled by the artificial gravity. It floated towards him gently and rested in his tender hands. "You never let me have any fun," Lestat complained in such a way he sounded like a spoilt young boy. Even his expression looked like that of a boy. "I heard that, Endymion. Don't think I can't read your mind!" Lestat said as he shot a glare at me. He walked over to join our little group, and I turned my attention to the box which now laid in Armand's hand. It was made from the finest heavy red wood I had ever laid my eyes apon, and carved so very finely. There was something very wrong about it though. Despite the beauty of the wood and the workmanship, the designs apon the box was that of tiny naked human forms, both male and female, all squirming in agony and pain. So disgusted was I, I almost looked away, but the beauty of it also caught me captive, and I could do nothing but stare. "Pandora's Box," Armand whispered into my ear. "Or so he, the Botticelli Angel likes to call it," Lestat said. "Are you going to say your famous little words? 'Not made by human hands'?" Lestat burst out laughing. A change occurred in Armand. He roughly shoved the box into my hands and lunged at Lestat. "Don't ever mock me! I've had enough, do you understand! Have I not suffered enough by your hands already in this forsaken hell of a life?" The momentum of Armand's sudden movement brought both vampires crashing to the ground. Neither was hurt. Armand only outraged and angry, and Lestat finding it all uttering amusing and laughing even as Armand pounded him with his clutched fists. "Oh, I do love you when you get angry," Lestat said and easily returned both of them to an upright position. He gave a gentle laugh and boldly reached out and patted Armand on the head. "You madden me so," Armand said, trying his best to conceal his emotions. "Yes, I do that, don't I? But I do so enjoy it! Especially when it is with you," Lestat said. Armand glared at Lestat for a while longer, then turned back to the five of us. "Call that box what you will. Names matter not. Inside contains what you'll need to attack Serenity's Court, and any of the others should they cross your path. Any of you will have the power to control the many Dark Spirits which live within the box. Know they are not evil; nothing in existence is; only misunderstood. These spirits merely control Darkness, and from it they draw their strength." "Are you saying I'm not 'evil', even though I come from Darkness?" I asked. "As I said before, nothing in this universe is truly 'evil', Endymion. It's only a point of view, just as 'good', 'pure', 'innocent', is. You, of all people, should know that," Armand answered, referring to Serenity. "Oh please! No more of that 'Good and Evil' talk, Great Armand, the one who believed in the Devil and God!" Lestat interrupted, laughing all the while. My generals stood by, looking on silently. Jadeite could hardly keep a straight face, and Kunzite seemed like he wanted to put an end to the unusual behaviour displayed by the two immortals, but did not know what to do. Nephrite listened intently, almost as if he wanted to hear all that Armand had to say, and Zoisite, well, he was just curling his strawberry blonde hair around his finger and looked impatient. "The Devil and the Lord Himself!" Armand exclaimed. "You're the one who destroyed that faith, you Brat Prince!" Armand went to attack him again, but I intervened. "Armand, what do you want me to do with this 'Pandora's Box'?" asked softly, placing a hand on his shoulder to capture his attention. He stopped short, suddenly looking very lost, much like an innocent boy lost in the darkest woods. Lestat just laughed all the harder, and then started dancing like a little devil or pesky spirit around Armand and me. "Tell him, Armand! Tell him!" Lestat taunted. I looked to Armand. He seemed to have composed himself by then, and returned my gaze steadily when I looked for the truth in his large brown eyes. He sighed, looking a little sad for a moment. "I want you to use what is contained within this box, these spirits of Darkness, to attack Serenity and her court." End of Part Three, Chapter One.