Master Chapter 3

Darkness Looming

She awoke surrounded by the softest silk she had ever felt. It pooled around her, an ocean of black, so sensual, but how did she get here? She sat up panicked, breathing hard and gasping deeply. Her eyes frantically searched her surroundings looking for anything familiar. At this point the only thing she could consider familiar would be Endymion, or the velvet robe sitting on a near by chaise. Serenity slowly untangled herself from the bed and tip toed over to the chaise, the stone floor was cold on her bare feet so she made quick time until she was wrapping the comforting fabric around herself. It was then that she began to look around the opulent room. Along one of the far walls was a very ornate wardrobe which she soon discovered contained gorgeous dresses and robes made of the finest materials made and various foot wear to match. She picked up a pair of black satin ballet flats to adore on her feet. With the robe wrapped tightly around her, Serenity made her way to the door and with a little difficulty was able to get it opened.

She poked her head out into the hallway and once she deemed it clear she began her exploration of her unknown surroundings. She crept quietly through the halls, but suddenly she heard some distant chatter so she quickly hid behind a nearby pillar.

"So she is finally here?" Serenity tried to peek out to see who was talking, but for fear of being caught she just stayed crouched behind the pillar.

"Yes, the Master found her yesterday, but on the way back to the castle they were attacked. She is fine though, but she had quite a fright when the generals showed up to his Highness' distress call. Poor girl fainted away faster than you can say 'Are you alright?' She has been sleeping ever since in the Master's bedroom."

"Where was she? He has been searching the world for her, who knew she would turn up on this planet."

"She was captured by slave traders; they docked here to finally sell her. They must have figured a rich lord would purchase her. Apparently they left her a virgin to sell her at a higher price. Did you see the rags they put her in? They barely covered anything. Poor girl. Well now she is safe and will get anything that she has ever desired."

"Unless Diamond gets her first."

"Diamond? Do you really think he will try to take her away from the Master?"

"He is the Master's greatest rival and enemy, anything that his Master has Diamond wants and that most certainly includes his mate. Diamond will try whatever he must to get her before his Highness marks her and than after that he will try anything to destroy her."

"But Diamond won't be able to get her before the Master marks her. I doubt he will wait long for that."

"Angie, are you daft? The Master just rescued her from villainous men who did god knows what to her. He won't force her; he will wait until she is ready and willing. The mating process is not kind on humans, they need to have a strong physical and emotional bond or she might not even survive the change."

"Charlotte, trust me I know how hard the change was. If you don't remember I used to be human, Travis changed me when I was just seventeen. It was the most painful thing I have ever gone through. It tore my parents apart when I told them I fell in love with a vampire and it tore me apart when I watched them age. I offered to change them but they wouldn't have it. They said they wanted to die in each others arms, not live forever. They died in their sleep the very next day. It killed me to see that. Considering the circumstance though I would not be surprised if his Highness tries to convince her to bond sooner than later."

"Well we will just have to wait and see won't we. We should go check up on her and see if she is still asleep. His Highness will want to know the moment that she has awoken."

Serenity couldn't believe what she just heard. If she stayed she was going to have Endymion's greatest rival trying to steal her from him and if she didn't want him to try and steal her then she was going to have through a process that would cause her great pain and potentially could kill her. And if she did survive this process than this Diamond guy would then try to kill her. Either way it seemed like she was going to die. Was it truly safer to be here with Endymion? Was she better off alone, by herself, away from this madness? It was at this moment that Serenity decided that this was the case, she waited till the coast was clear and then she bolted in the direction her senses thought was the way out. The slippers she was wearing had no traction, so she was slide on the marble floors as she made her turns. She was a dozen turns deep and more lost than she had ever been in her life.

Endymion approached the door quietly, but without any hesitation. He opened it, but was met with the darkness of the room. It didn't matter to him though; he didn't need light to see that the room was vacant. He let out a roar that was heard for miles and he turned quickly just as the maid was entering the room.

"Where is she?" He growled out to the terrified women in front of him.

"I don't know, your majesty, she was here only a few moments before." The maid avoided any direct eye contact with him for fear of what she would see in the depths of his blue orbs.

"Then she could not have gotten far." He left the room in a flourish using his heighten senses to find the object of his desire. He could feel that she was scared, though absolute terror would be a better way to describe her emotions right now. After a few minutes he figured out that she had gotten herself lost in the gardens. Though they were well trained by him personally his wolves liked to roam the gardens freely when they were allowed to. They would never bite him or any other members of his clan, but they were not introduced to her scent yet. He ran faster, passing through the hallways as nothing more than a blur.

She was frightened and lost. Not a good combination in her eyes but Serenity continued onwards. Eventually she found herself in a beautiful garden which managed to calm her nerves ever so slightly but that was until she heard a growl behind her. She turned, despite what her brain was telling her to do, and her eyes fell upon six teeth baring beasts. Her heart was racing rapidly as they began to take a step forward.

"Good little doggies, you don't want to hurt me. I don't have much meat on me anyways, just skin and bones. You know you don't want to attack me. You are just good little doggies," the wolves continued to step forward until they backed Serenity up against a fountain. As Serenity stared at them, she made eye contact with the wolf in the front, obviously the leader of their little pack. As the world around then seemed to slow she began to notice something in his eyes, almost as if there was an understanding between them. The wolf began to sit down on his hind legs and leaned his nose forward to sniff her leg. Timidly Serenity began to pet the top of his head and that was all it took to unravel the beast before her into nothing but a big puppy. The wolf wagged its tail and then they all played pounced on her seeking her attention. Unfortunately there was a fountain before them so Serenity fell into the water, letting out a shriek of laughter. She was too busy petting the six before her to noticed Endymion rushing frantically towards her.

"I heard you scream or you ok? The wolves are trained but they don't know who you are yet." The words fell off his lips then he actually looked at the scene before him. Serenity was laughing and splashing around in the fountain as his wolves sought her attention and nimble little hands. For a brief moment he smiled despite the slight jealously he had for the animals before him. They had her full attention and affection right now, that stuff that he wanted. But it filled him with pride though to think that the wolves could even tell that her heart was so pure that she was no threat. He whistled and all six wolves came running to him and sat patiently waiting for his command. "Go back to the stables." And with that the wolves were dismissed and they ran off. Endymion then turned his attention to Serenity who was now sitting on the edge of the fountain. "Why did you run? Did I not promise you the world?"

Serenity was silent for a moment before responding, "You did not tell me however that your greatest rival would be out to take me from you or if that didn't work that he would try to kill me. I have spent most of my life in fear. I don't need to be in the middle of two testosterone filled men. And then what about the process of turning me that you failed to tell me about. That might kill me too! So how am I safer here? And WHAT ARE YOU?"

Before words were exchanged, Endymion grabbed a hold of Serenity's wrist and pulled her into him. He wrapped his large arms around her and just held her tight. At first she fought him slightly, wanting answers more than just comfort, but she slowly broke down and cried in his arms. All the fear she had was spilling out in the form of tears and she couldn't stop them falling. Endymion picked her, still cradling her close to his body. He walked back to their room ignoring anyone that they passed. Eventually he reached their destination. He placed Serenity carefully back on the bed and curled up next to her. He took his fingers and ran then down her back and across her hip to her stomach where he drew small circles to relax her. Her breath began to even out and when he placed a butterfly kiss on her shoulder she finally fell asleep.

"Sleep now; I will give you your answers tomorrow." Endymion thought about leaving but seeing Serenity looking so peaceful he couldn't. He snapped his fingers and he was then dressed in nothing but boxers, then he pulled the blanket over the two of them and joined Serenity in the dream world.