"Nemuri no Suishou"

"Jadeite?"

She didn't know where Endymion was, tonight. She could guess well enough that he was wandering-- oh, and whom he had gone to see. And had he been anyone else-- anyone else who dared to so blatantly disregard her--

But she couldn't. And that made her more furious than ever.

(he'll never love you)

Every night, every night she'd whisper to him, the utmost expression of her weakness-- her weakness, she, the great Queen Beryl. Each night she dared to tell him.

"I love you, Endymion."

And he acted as any in the kingdom knew they ought. He took advantage of the weakness he saw.

Oh, he knew she was more powerful. He knew that, well enough-- powerful, a powerful protector to keep him as safe and comfortable as he might wish. Someone who would not hurt him.

(but someone whom he did not care for, not at all...)

"Jadeite..."

Ponderous.

She was secluded in her innermost quarters, where not even Endymion had gone. Inside the deepest, darkest chamber, where the only light was soft and violet, emanating from a most disturbing centerpiece.

That crystal.

She ran her fingers down its icy surface, tracing the lines of the man trapped within. He looked terrified, as well he should have. But (yes...) so obviously beaten. She could not have spared him, in such a rage. Especially not with his failure. Especially as he would have been so little good to her, like this.

She snorted slightly.

"Jadeite no baka."

(everso trusting, the fool)

The singular stupidest man in her Kingdom. Nobody trusted Beryl.

And he should have known better than to associate himself with that yoma.

(Tetisu.)

There may or may not have been anything between the two of them; but then, she could not think. It was not Tetis' death which had so infuriated her, but the expression on his face.

("never look at anyone.")

But even after that-- even after she'd made clear her extreme displeasure-- even when he failed at his final chance--

The idiot hadn't run away.

(why in all these hells did you come back here anyway?)

Nephrite had been so obviously stronger, more ambitious than she. And he had known it well; told her well in his every expression of contempt.

Zoisite, while not so arrogant in manner, had never looked to her with any loyalty. She had known whom those nijizuishou were for.

Kunzite; ever a good soldier, even he had never cared anything about her. He only obeyed authority, as he knew he ought....

And now, she had lost even that dependence. Kunzite was broken; careless, even petty. He was no good to her at all, anymore. Especially now that Endymion--

Endymion.

"Jadeite."

Wry, this time. She tapped her overlong nails against the smooth surface, but there was no response from within.

(she would not say her hand trembled)

It would lose her the last of her credibility.

(what good was that, ever--?)

Flickers of darker violet energy washed over the surface of the crystal, encompassing and slowly beginning to dissolve it. Her amber stare was uncommonly wistful, frightened.

(I want someone who will serve me.)

As the last bits melted away, and he trembled, his arms going limp and his eyes closing-- he fell, slumped pitifully in the black room.

And she watched him.

Violet eyes half-opened to look at her, standing above him. He was breathing raggedly, barely half-alive, but idiot that he ever had been, he forced himself to his knees, and saluted her.

"Gomen nasai, Queen Beryl-sama."

(he has such sad eyes.)

Then (she was not sure what she had hoped) he slumped forward at her feet, his breath growing more labored. She did not move as he clutched helplessly against the stone or the hem of her garment. And she could not say how many moments it was until he was dead.

She did not move, either, as the body (merely Metallia's farce) quietly dissolved.

"Damn you, Jadeite."

She turned on her heel and vanished. Right now, she wanted to very badly to kill someone-- to make someone else hurt. It had been so long since Zoisite. And maybe this time--

(maybe this time I'll be able to do it.)

Power flickered over her fingertips, a dark and furious pain glowing in her dark eyes.

(Come on home, Endymion)