Title: Raven
Author: Tapestry
Rating: R
Standard Disclaimer Apply
'italics' denotes mind speaking
bold italics denotes flashback
13/06/06

"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--

I thank you all for your kind support and while the last weeks have been very tiring and hard for me, it's always good to know there are people out there who enjoy my work.

- Chapter 3: Walk In My Dreams -

Furious anger boiled up, threatening to bubble over like an overheated pot. How was it that he was surrounded by idiots?

His fist crumpled the paper he was reading and dropped it on his desk, his hard blue eyes, resting on the man standing in front of his desk that cowered and shook like a leaf on the wind. The temperature on the room seemed to drop a notch.

"This is garbage." hissed Endymion dangerously. "I thought they taught you better than that in Oxford. This proposal is useless, McCallen! We won't get that contract with this!"

The man trembled at the silent rage in his employer's eyes. The stifling pressure that filled the room made his hair stand on an end and cold sweat run down the back of his neck.

For whatever reason, Endymion LeRue was pissed.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Mr LeRue. Please, gi-give me another chance. I swear I'll do better! I swear!" stuttered the man.

"You swear?" mocked Endymion as he banged his palm on the desk.

"McCallen, I don't need to put up with your half-assed attempts and pathetic excuses. Nor do I want to. Why should I even need to give you another chance?"

"I-I... um, th-that is..." blubbered the poor man.

Both men did not notice the newcomer who slipped quietly into the room, watching as the short-tempered Raven scare the pants off his employee.

"Speak up, McCallen! I can't hear what you're trying to say!" snarled Endymion.

That was when the new man interrupted.

"It's alright, McCallen. Return to your office, I'll handle this now." sighed Malachyte.

The employee was sweating bullets as he turned to look at Malachyte, then back as Endymion.

"Get out." snapped Endymion, his eyes shooting daggers as the poor mortal man.

Malachyte glanced at his friend, as the door to the office closed shut with a click. Silence pervaded the room as the stifling pressure only increased.

Though Malachyte felt the threat, he still merely stood stock still, hands in his pockets, observing the scene with bored detachment.

"Well...aren't you in a bad mood, today."

The potted plant in the corner of the office exploded, sending grains of soil to spill all over the carpeting.

"But that's no reason to take it out on the poor man."

The coffee cup on the desk broke.

"Haven't you gotten over Raye yet?"

There was a loud crash as the large glass windows behind Endymion's chair, shattered, splinters and shards of glass fell to the floor. The air shifted and suddenly Endymion was in front of Malachyte, large black wings unfurled, a claw-like hand an inch from his throat, and his hair floating about his head wildly as eyes burned like blue flame.

Still, Malachyte didn't move. His hands tucked deep in his pockets and his eyes almost a translucent blue eyed the dark-haired man in front of him, an eyebrow lifted.

"Your temper's gotten worse over the years, Endymion."

"Don't speak to me about Raye, Malachyte. My mood has nothing to do with her."

"Then why are you just one step away from ripping my throat open?" asked Malachyte sceptically. "And keep your wings before someone sees them."

No sooner than that was said, Endymion's secretary poked her head into the room, a worried and fearful expression on her face as she eyed the two men in the centre of the room.

"S-Sir? Is anything wrong? I heard something break."

"Nothing is wrong, Jolique. Though I think Mr LeRue's windows will need replacing. Again." answered Malachyte cordially.

"Y-Yes sir." replied the secretary as she retreated, the door closing behind her as fast as possible.

Endymion stood in the far end of the room, his back to Malachyte as he downed a shot of burgundy.

"That was foolish of you, Malachyte. I could have killed you."

"But you didn't. And I trust you."

"You shouldn't. I don't." responded Endymion curtly. "I might be already insane." he sighed.

Malachyte gave a rare smirk. "Well, there's hope for you yet. You're not insane, Endymion. Not if you fear that you are."

Endymion closed his eyes, bowing his head in gratitude - an odd smile lifted the corner of his lips. "Why are you here, Mal?"

"A silly question, Endy. You owe me dinner." chuckled Malachyte as he slapped a folder onto Endymion's chest. "The Kaen contract."

Serenity frowned as she heard a very familiar voice speak in a frustrated tone on the phone, once again denying any interviews from the press. Turning her head awkwardly, she tried to identify her surroundings - and why the hell was it so hot?

Grumpily, Serenity tried to kick the blanket she could feel off her, unsuccessfully tangling her limbs up in the annoying piece of fabric. Now would have been a lovely time to destroy the stupid clinging cloth if that familiar voice hadn't returned.

"Serenity!"

Mina made her way towards her sister frowning - when wasn't she not? Tugging the blanket free from Serenity's limbs and smoothing the cloth down as Mina proceeded to tuck her twin more securely under the clingy thing.

"I'm warm." muttered Serenity testily.

"You would be. You've got a fever." replied Mina as she picked up a damp rag from the basin Serenity had not noticed by the side of her head.

"What happened?"

"Just more annoying phone calls for interviews with Serenity DeLune and questions of what she's doing on her vacation."

Serenity frowned. "Speaking of annoying..."

Mina swatted at her sister's hand trying to pull the blanket down.

"I want this thing off."

Mina ignored her twin, wiping the sweat off Serenity's forehead. Serenity jerked her head away trying to bat the rag away from her face.

"Must you always be this childish when you're ill? I don't understand how you're calm and mature half the time and a petulant child every time you come down with a fever."

"This blanket's itchy, limp and annoying. Why haven't I burned it yet? Even better, why haven't you? I'm sure I've asked you plenty of times."

"You never remember anyway when your fever breaks."

Mina sighed as she brushed a hand over Serenity's face, smoothing her hair back. Her twin was already once again, fast asleep. It was always times like these that brought to the fore, why Mina had to coddle her younger twin.

Serenity was so different under the influence of a fever. So much younger and more childlike.

Of course, there was also her inane foolish habit of always pushing herself past breaking point. Mina was sure, if Serenity hadn't been born a white Raven, she would have been a workaholic.

Endymion watched impassively as Jedyte stood up to give a toast, praising Malachyte for his recent success in bagging the Kaen contract. Nephlyte offered a soft congratulations and Zoycite and Amy clapped.

His eyes wandered to a raven-haired woman beaming at Jedyte as the blonde sat back down, watched as the couple brushed hands and offered each other small smiles, eyes shining.

His heart felt heavy, as if an immense pressure was being applied to his chest. He had to grip at his napkin to stop himself from setting the flowers on the table aflame.

Schooling his face into a smile, Endymion lifted his glass towards Malachyte in acknowledgment of his accomplishment. His old friend merely nodded in thanks, his pale eyes boring into Endymion's own.

After dinner, the group retired to the lounge to sip drinks and talk. Endymion raised an eyebrow when Jedyte came up to him and cleared his throat.

"Jedyte?"

"We...Raye and I that is, we've decided to go away for a little while. Go and visit my family in the old lands."

"How long?"

"A month maybe..."

Endymion watched the blonde silently as the man's green eyes blinked and tried hard to keep away from meeting his own cobalt blue.

"This is Raye's suggestion isn't it?"

It wasn't a question - and Endymion knew the answer when Jedyte's green eyes snapped to meet his. Just as quickly, they were averted again with Jedyte looking away.

"You need not go, if you do not want to." Endymion said.

Jedyte turned back once again to look at him.

"But we are hurting you."

At this statement, Endymion could say nothing. There was nothing to reply to. It was the truth.

"Look, Endymion... I know you and I aren't as close as we used to be as fledglings and that I just showed up in your territory and proceeded to wreck your life. The life you made here. But, I want you to know that if things could have been different..."

"You would have chosen differently, I know."

"It's just, Raye feels so guilty hurting you... and it's not even her fault! She knows how much you depended on her and - this whole mess was my fault in the first place." sighed Jedyte as he ran an agitated hand through his hair.

Endymion eyed the man in front of him. The man who had been his close friend in the old lands as fledglings until Endymion had left. The man who had come in search of him and inadvertently changed the life Endymion had made for himself here. What was there to say?

"It wasn't your fault."

"But-"

"It was no one's fault. It was merely fate that she was destined to be yours."

"I just want us to be friends again, Endymion. Like when we were young."

"You are my friend. You and Raye will always be welcomed here." The words were like acid in his mouth, eating through his chest and stabbing like a thousand needles.

But they brought a smile to his friend's face.

Their stares were broken with the sudden appearance of Raye at Jedyte's side. Both men jumped slightly at her, surprised by her arrival.

"Thank you. Your blessing means so much to the both of us." whispered the dark-haired woman.

"You do not need it." replied Endymion, his eyes roaming over her face, her eyes radiant and shining with unshed tears.

"We are leaving in the morning." spoke Jedyte.

Endymion nodded.

"Safe journey."

All his friends had left and it was late when Endymion sat down in his chair in the study. His eyes wandered towards the fire burning in the fireplace, his mind lost in thought.

The memory of Raye's sudden embrace when she and Jedyte had been leaving, surged unbidden to the fore front of his thoughts. The familiar warmth of her hug had brought with it a sadness and regret at his loss.

She was not his anymore. Someone else received her kisses and hugs now. Someone else who she graced her warm sunny smiles with. Someone else she comforted and held close with her soft velvet voice.

He had clutched at her, trying to stifle the pain and she had merely stroked his hair. Her whisper doing nothing to dampen the pain he had felt as his arms slowly released her, returning her to the embrace of his friend. Her mate.

Jedyte merely smiled a small sad smile, nodding to Endymion and pulling Raye closer to him as they walked out of the mansion and into the night.

Endymion closed his eyes as he felt the same rage and pain he had felt the night he had returned from their wedding ceremony, rise to his throat once again. Threatening to choke him with its intensity.

"You'll find her someday. The one who was meant for you."

Raye's whispered words continued to echo in his head. The belief and conviction she had put into them should have convinced anyone. But somehow, Endymion did not believe in the words at all.

There wasn't anyone for him. There wouldn't be.

Because he only wanted to die.

Serenity frowned as she stared at her surroundings. Hadn't she been in bed with a fever? More importantly... why did she remember? Mina always said she forgot whenever her fever broke.

Did that mean she was still in a fever?

If so, why was she walking around in an empty room then?

The plain white walls reminded her of a human mental institution. The kind of walls mental loonies bounced off on.

Her surroundings rippled then, the white changing into an outdoor scenery. Serenity turned a circle, watching the environment change from its repulsive boring white to a quiet scenic glade.

Complete with Weeping Willow and Pond. Serenity grinned at the thought.

Serenity dipped a foot into the pond before sitting down at the edge of the pond, letting her feet splash in the water. She let her laughter echo throughout the glade.

Endymion frowned as his white room changed and he was walking in a glade. He had retreated deep into his thoughts to think and perhaps finally make the choice to surrender his humanity. He was going to lose it when he went mad anyway, so what was the point of clinging to it?

The sound of tinkling laughter caught his attention as he pushed away the curtain of hanging willow leaves. A petite blonde sat splashing her feet in a pond, her long swan-like neck arched in gleeful appreciation of her surroundings.

Endymion felt his breath catch at the image she made.

He watched her.

But then the longer he did... the stronger the feeling of darkness seemed to smother him. Loathing and an anger built deep within him.

Why was this figment of his thoughts so happy?

What right did it have to be that happy?

What right did anybody have at all?

One moment it was warm and sunny for Serenity and next, the heavens opened up. Dark clouds blacked out the sun, thunder rumbled overhead and only lightning illuminated the landscape. At a particularly violent arc of zigzagging electricity, the scenery around her was illuminated.

And she saw him.

Wild blue eyes and wet raven hair that clung to his scalp. There were dark shadows under his eyes and large black wings were unfurled as if he were demon come from hell.

"Who the hell are you?"

Serenity could tell he was hanging on his last strand of sanity and it wouldn't take much for him to snap. Getting him calm was a good idea.

"My name is Serenity. Who are you?"

"How did you get here?" he snapped ignoring her question.

"Um... I'm dreaming?"

Endymion ruffled his wings, letting out a bark of laughter. "This is my mind, you don't belong here."

"Are you dreaming? 'Cause, the last thing I remember is a nice toasty fever." frowned Serenity. Obviously, he didn't recognize her as his mate.

"I'm meditating, not that it's any of your business. You having a fever still doesn't-" he paused and tilted his head to peer at her.

"Or perhaps it does... I recognize you now. You're that pianist. You're a Raven."

"Yes... how did you know?"

Endymion's wings folded and Serenity breathed a little easier. He was calming down.

"It's a talent my family possesses. With you pumping out that much energy, I'm surprised my friends didn't realise what you were. But...it still doesn't explain why you're in my head."

Serenity bit her lip.

"I think... maybe it's because I was thinking of yo- I mean your aura. I felt it the other day and the night of the concert. You seemed... so sad."

Endymion lifted an eyebrow in surprise.

Serenity blushed slightly, her fingers interlocking themselves with each other as she stole a glace at his impassive face.

"I'm very empathic. It helps when I'm feeling for the mood of the crowd during my concerts."

"So I gathered." mused Endymion. His eyes stared distantly at a spot behind her shoulder as his thoughts wandered back to that afternoon. The music and the meeting of eyes across the road.

"I heard the music and I knew it was you. I thought to seek you out and meet you. But you stopped playing before I could find the source."

"I fainted. It happens a lot with me. My sister says it's because I'm a workaholic."

Endymion smirked with amusement. He watched as she chattered on, something about her sister. It was odd... he was calm. The more he listened to the tones of her voice, the darkness receded.

He wasn't angry anymore.

"Why were you sad?"

Her question broke him out of his reverie and Endymion frowned at her curiosity.

"It isn't any of your concern."

"I just thought... if you perhaps spoke of it, you wouldn't be so burdened with it."

"No one can solve my burdens. Speaking of it to you, would not change it."

"You haven't even-"

"It is time for you to go." he said coldly.

"But-"

Endymion touched his forehead to hers, holding a palm to her cheek, whispering something in ancient tongue. As he opened his eyes to look at her, he paused for a second.

"Goodbye."

A flash of golden light later, he was once again alone in his mind.

And it was strangely... lonely.

Serenity's eyes snapped open and she looked around. It was her room and her bed.

Lifting a hand to her head, Serenity felt for any signs of her fever. It was gone and yet, though it was only as if a faint dream, Serenity recalled much of all that had occurred with her sojourn into her dark-haired mate's mind.

He had sent her back - sending along with her, a bit of his own energy to make sure her fever was gone. This simple action brought a small glimmer of happiness and at the same time...

His rejection hurt her.

Serenity curled her knees to her chest and buried her face in them as silent tears leaked from her eyes.

He had not acknowledged her.

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To be continued...

Gah! It's chapter 3 and STILL nothing has happened! Is this slow moving or WHAT? I apologize to all my readers for taking so long and I thank you for all your support the past few months you've given me.

On another note, I'm really making Endymion into a -Pants aren't I? Gags (dies from the realization) But I think I'm a bit too into him to go change him. Haha ;; So please, tell me what you think and whether Serenity has changed drastically from my 1st portrayal... I think I've kind of lost their characters along the way.

4/12/06

Edited: 4/12/06