Stars of Destiny

Chapter 12

Endymion entered his father's study determined to put an end to whatever had been causing the toxicity in the palace. A cursory glance around the room didn't reveal anything amiss. The warm oak shelves were still filled with his father's books. The thick floor rugs he'd played on as a child were still soft and warm. The familiar scent of leather and sandalwood were comforting reminders of the happy past. However, upon closer examination, Endymion sensed a change in the air. A subtle heaviness that was not present before. His father was pacing behind his large oaken desk, quietly muttering to himself. Agitated.

"Father?" He spoke tentatively. The tension was palpable. Perhaps it was a mistake to come here.

The king paused and pinned his son with a piercing gaze. There was such a wild look in his eyes, it caught Endymion off guard. He almost didn't recognize his father. He'd never seen such an expression cloud his father's brow. "Good, you're here. I have something to discuss with you."

Endymion approached cautiously. He had a bad feeling about this. "What did you want to discuss?"

His father resumed pacing. "This wedding business." The word 'wedding' sounded like a curse from his lips.

Endymion's stomach tied in knots. It seemed his father hadn't been immune to whatever poison had infected the court. His heart sank in fear and sorrow. This was the man he'd looked to for guidance his entire life. The king was his role model, the kind of man he'd hoped to one day become.

"What about the wedding?" He almost couldn't get the words out of his mouth.

The king waved his hand dismissively. "We're calling it off." His father's words spoken so matter-of-factly were like a slap to the face. The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room. Endymion felt as if time itself had stopped.

"What?!" Endymion exploded breaking the silence that had descended. "What do you mean 'call it off'? Why?" No matter the reason, he had no intention of calling off the wedding.He would not live without Serenity by his side, in his life, and in his heart.

"WHY?!" His father roared, eyes rolling in fury. "WHY!?!"

For the first time, Endymion feared his father. This was nothing like the quiet, kind man who'd raised him. There was a madness in his expression, as if the person standing before him wasn't his father at all. The king rounded his large oak desk and stormed towards his son. "You will not marry the Moon Princess! The Moon Kingdom is not our ally. They are our enemies. Very soon, we will launch an invasion."

Endymion stared at his father in horror. "Our enemy? Then why bother send an envoy to the Moon? Why bother inviting the royal family here? None of this makes sense!" He pleaded with his father, praying something would pierce the fog of hatred obscuring his reason.

"It makes perfect sense."

A cold chill ran down Endymion's spine. That voice. He knew that voice. He spun around to see Princess Beryl and his four missing generals. The relief he felt was short-lived. He saw the same fathomless cruelty in their faces he'd witnessed in the rest of the court. His bewildered stare landed on Beryl's wicked smile as she draped herself against Nephrite. He felt his stomach drop. 

"What is going on?" Endymion demanded.

"This," Beryl extended her hands, gesturing to his generals. "Is the beginning of a new era. A dark era. If you're lucky, you may be a part of it."

Endymion scowled and reached for his sword. Before he could draw it, Jadeite gripped his hand in a vice. He blinked in surprise at Jadeite. How had he moved so quickly from across the room? He looked up into his old friend's eyes and saw nothing of the man he once knew. There was nothing but a cold void behind those eyes. No compassion. No warmth. No friendship. "What are you doing? Let me go!"