Light in the Darkness

Here is the 2nd chapter.  I know its kinda slow to get started.  But it'll pick up!

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Acheron sat at the bar in Sanctuary drinking his beer in silence.  Mari was on patrol and Hector was with her.  She had not been pleased in the least with his request, but did it without too much questioning., though he knew she was going to have a long chat with him when she got back.



Technically he knew he had no right to interfere, but after spending the past three hundred years with Hector being his go to man, and watching Mari struggle with her power and fighting with everything she had to harness control, he figured they both needed to put the past behind them and find each other.  Hell everyone knew they were in love with each other, they just needed to finally accept it.  



Not like he was one to really talk in a situation like this…



Either way, he would do his best for his closest friend.  Not only that but he hadn’t been able to reach her and part of this he was doing out of selfishness.  It pained him to know that she was hiding even from him, but he knew that would take time.  Three hundred years seemed like such a long time, but in reality it wasn’t and she had a lot to put behind her.  He really just wanted his friend back.  Not only that but he really wanted his best friend back.  Sure, Hector was great… but he was no Mari, that was for sure.

She was still the same Mari in many ways, but there was that small part of her that she hid even from him.  Whether it was shame or guilt he wasn’t sure.  But to him, she was perfect in every way.  If only she saw it herself.  Again, she would tell him that he was one to talk.  



Regardless, these were two of the main reasons he wanted them together, but there was one more.  More than wanting Mari to at last be happy, they were destined for each other.  With what was coming, he knew they had to be united.  While he couldn’t see Mari’s future and Hector’s was a blur to him, in his gut he knew that the two of them were destined for more.  What it was he wasn’t sure, but whatever it would be… it was necessary.



For now all he could do was sit and wait, and hoped both of them would just hurry up so he didn‘t have to meddle with fate and piss people off.  



Finishing his beer he placed a bill on the bar, nodded at Aimee and walked out to greet the day.  Righting his sunglasses he climbed on his bike and sped off toward Kyrian’s.



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Hector walked the graveyard calmly, taking in the surroundings.  This was the third one for the day and it had the strongest signature of all.  He couldn’t quite place it, but he knew it was elemental energy, just like all the others.  The scent was faint, but the energy that rode through the area was old and dark.



It was pure.



This had been happening for the past two years.  Different happenings had been rearing up in all parts of the world.  Acheron and he had traveled everywhere, scouring cemeteries and ancient remains in search of anything.  However each time the trail was cold, and only the faint scent of power was left.  The only thing that was truly disturbing had been the emptiness left in the wake of whatever power source was traveling through.



All of the ancient ruins and burial grounds that had always been full of spirit activity was now left barren and stripped.  Still the grounds weren’t at peace.  It was as if they had been laid to waste and raped of everything that once was.  Whatever was attacking the area was taking the power and energy violently.  The energy was still alive and well, just in a different location.



As the occurrences began to increase, Hector could feel that sick feeling of dread take hold of him.  He could remember when he led his armies into a battle, the way the ground was charred and tainted with blood and fire.  The feeling of destruction flowed through him, leaving him hollow and grief stricken.  When he would lead his men out of the battlegrounds, his father would come…



His father would lead his men in.  Always a group of his closest men.  Loren, a lesser fire priest who was worthless.  The only thing he could contribute was his ability to amplify his father’s already enormous power.  Roan, an earth elemental with extreme talent for necromancy, the dark energy that ran in him was stronger than his element.  The other three were always nameless, always different, and then they would disappear… he had a good idea what his father would do to them.  



He never stayed to witness what unspeakable atrocities his father would commit.  It was bad enough he fought for him, a guilt that he was convinced would never leave him.  He only stayed to build his strength and then destroy the man who took everything for him.  No, he refused to partake in whatever disgusting ritual his father performed out on the battlefield.



But even to this day he could see the glint in his cold unfeeling eyes and the way it made even the strongest of men tremble.  It was pure evil incarnate, unfeeling and unmoved by anything good and pure.  The darkness that would consume him was terrifying and even while Hector faced him unphased, inside he could feel himself recoil.  The scent of death was strong on him, and an energy that was repugnant trailed him, Loren and Roan… it was similar to this energy signature he kept finding.



Shaking his head he cleared the trance that settled over him.  It was ridiculous to consider his father for this.  The trail wasn’t that of fire energy and didn’t reak of his scent… but he was convinced that it was elemental in nature.  The darkness of the trail was ripe, and the energy was too pure to be anything else.  Perhaps an earth elemental, but he couldn’t be sure, if he didn‘t know better, he would have thought it was Roan… but he had killed that sniveling nuisance himself.  Any being powerful enough in the dark art of the elements could raise the dead, but that wasn’t what this was.  No… everything was gone and the bodies laid at rest.



But what the hell was it?  Was it what his father and his men did all those years ago… and if it was, what exactly did they do and why?



One thing he did know was that the daimon’s weren’t too involved, if anything they may be victims.  But that was pure speculation.



Stopping his thoughts he continued on his walk through the graveyard.  It was an unusually chilly day for the city and he felt alive as the wind flowed against his skin, whipping his silken silver hair around him.  He walked for quite sometime until he came upon a small clearing and found Mari crouched above a plaque.



She was exquisite.  Her energy pulsated around her, lifting her hair in that eerie calm way that enhanced her beauty.  Her eyes were closed to him and silently she trailed her fingers over the earth around the hard granite block.  Her body was poised calmly as she studied the area with her power.  He could recall so many instances he witnessed her do this, but now each moment seemed that much more precious.  



They had been close, as close as two friends could be until he cast her aside.  That haunted look of pain still seered his heart.  He had been so foolish to think she would do anything to harm him, but in his haste and desire to have the one woman who meant everything to him, he sacrificed the other.



He never truly meant those words he said.  And when that feeling of death began to creep over him he realized far too late.  Acheron had been kind and made his life as comfortable as possible, but with the death grip Hades had on his soul, those hundred years had been torment.  He knew she was there, could feel her and sense the presence the Lord of the Underworld tried to break, but even in his torture of her spirit, something stayed fast and refused to give in.  



Watching her in the trance she was in, Hector could still sense that part of her.  He knew she thought it was forever lost, but in truth it was merely burried deep within, waiting to be strong.  Hector was going to do everything in his power to make that happen.



  Carefully he approached and knelt beside her on the ground, laying his fingers to the earth feeling for what she was looking for.



Mari felt him settle next to her, even in her trance and instantly felt relief.  After all these years he could still bring a sense of peace within her when she was the most conflicted.  Her concentration was broken as she felt his fingertips glide over hers.



It was the smallest of touches, but enough to bring her to full awareness at the pull of his energy.  Opening her eyes she found him gazing at her mere inches from her face.  The ice blue of his gaze was piercing and she felt laid bare before him.  Unable to look away she held fast as he seemed to look deep within her.  The feel of his energy seeped around her, pressing her own back in, almost protecting her in a way.  



It was difficult to breathe as his fingers linked with hers and she felt his nose brush tenderly against her own.  His eyes closed and immediately she followed suit.  The feel of his breath was a slow rush against her lips as he hovered above her.  She almost couldn’t breathe with him this close and her entire being ached for him to close the distance.  



It had been torture to have him in her home these past few days.  Every glance, every touch was pure unrelenting torment.  Even the fact that he was in her home was enough to undo her resolve.  She was resigned to the fact that there was potentially no hope for them, but when he was this close… she wanted to tempt that fate.



That was until she would feel him… the feel of his cold touch and hollow words that would reach out to her in the dead of the night when she was most alone.  He would remind her of what she was, and the unworthy whore he made her.  How could Hector want to be with her when some days she could barely stand to be with herself?



Hector could feel the pain begin to build in her and the darkness settle in.  The serenity he felt in the moment dissipated quickly as he felt her thoughts and witnessed his effect on her.  Self doubt and loathing took a strong hold to her heart and it wounded him deeply.  How could she ever see herself as anything other than the magnificent warrior that she was?  How could she doubt her worth?



Closing the distance he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her for the first time wanting to wash away some of the pain.  They were warm and inviting, just as he always imagined, and he pressed closer for more.  It was short lived as she ripped away instantly and her energy surged, bringing up the signature he was searching for.  It reached out over his senses in a flood, smelling of decaying earth.  The energy was old and pure dark.  This was death energy used to search for spirits.



Mari was on her feet in an instant as Hector stayed knelt on the ground.  She felt the rush of energy consume him and stepped back as he shuddered against the trance he was coming out of.  The feel of his lips lingered on her own, and tentatively she trailed her finger tips over his touch.  It startled her, but the feel of him was soothing.



It was warm and full, and desperately she wished she hadn’t pulled away.  As Hector’s trance faded she saw him regard her with a conflicted expression.  Standing he moved toward her and stopped immediately as she began to shift away.  In the eighty years since returning to earth they had many interactions, but they were always strained.  They didn’t talk like they once used to, and it killed her every day.  For the thousands of years she loved him in silence, they were still able to maintain a close friendship, but now it was too hard.



She forgave him the instant he uttered those words in anger against her.  She knew in her heart and soul that his anger was not for her, but it was desperation and hope that fought her disbelief.  No, she knew there was something foul about this deal.  His soul was too easy to barter for and Artemis had a soft spot for Hector.  Why would she give him up?



But even she found out too late.  It was after fifty years of servitude that she found out Artemis framed Hector for Persephone’s mortal death.  It had really been Artemis.  She had foolishly attacked the woman in a rage about nothing at all.  She was back with her mother during her time away from Hades, and had enraged Artemis.  Persephone was well aware of the relationship Acheron and Artemis maintained and in her fear she destroyed her.  Hector had come upon the scene and when Hades felt his beloved’s soul slip into his kingdom he went into a rage.  Artemis offered Hector as sacrifice, but could only do so when his soul was coming back into his body without threat of it being destroyed entirely and him becoming a shade.



Hades conjured a soul and reincarnated a woman that resembled Hector’s mother.  In his happiness to have his mother back he begged Mari for his soul.  Unable to deny him anything she gladly bartered for it.  When she gave her warning Hector had turned on her, angry that she wouldn’t trust him.  She tried desperately to wait, tried to persuade him to give it time to wait for her to fully understand everything, but he wouldn’t listen.



“Why would you take this from me Marilla.  In all my life I have only wanted my mother back.  How could you stand and speak against her.  You are no friend to me if you cannot believe in me.  Leave me Marilla!”  he had raged, casting her from his home.  It broke her heart to this day, but she could understand his anger.  If someone offered her mother back to her, she would gladly and blindly accept the woman without question.  



When the woman returned Hector’s soul Hades was there and ripped both free to take to the Underworld.  In his vengeance he took Hector’s soul for the loss of his beloved wife.  When she was killed, Hades returned her soul and Artemis stole Demeter’s blood against her knowledge and used it to bring back her daughter and link the soul to the body once more.  Upon doing so, Persephone’s memories of Hades were wiped clear and her love for the God of the Underworld gone.  For vengeance against Hector, for the loss of his love, he gladly took Marilla to servitude.  He not only wanted vengeance against the man, but to claim Marilla’s soul would grant him power, and though he tried to sway her, tempt her, seduce her and then finally beat her to his will… he realized she would never stay.  That once those 100 years ended, she would return Hector’s soul.  



Marilla was never to know what Artemis had done, but upon a visit Marilla had over heard them.  Artemis tried to barter for her soul.  She had never wanted Marilla part of the situation, and tried desperately to set her free.  This had not been the first time, and in the beginning Mari found herself questioning her hatred of her aunt.  Until she found out the true reason behind Hector’s death and her current enslavement.  Suffice it to say, her hatred came back with a ferocity so intense she was sure it would consume her and if she ever got her hands on the red headed bitch, she would be dead with one thought.



But Artemis was always unsuccessful.  Suffice it to say, to this day Artemis kept her distance.  The small interactions they did have were more tense than ever before, yet Mari kept her mouth shut on the information she knew.  Acheron asked her once why she never destroyed her with it, but in truth it would do no good.  Hector was alive now and so was she.  Not only that but Demeter would probably find Artemis a hero for rescuing her daughter from Hades and Artemis would be revered and the whole situation cast aside as necessary to save the fair Persephone.  To everyone but Artemis and Athena, Mari was a nuisance.  For the gods if you were a nuisance, regardless of power then there was no need for you unless you could prove useful for their gain.  That was why it didn’t matter what was said, so for now she would sit and wait.



So now here she was.  Three hundred years later, standing in the graveyard of New Orleans with the man she sacrificed everything for and she was still unable to meet his gaze and tell him how much she loved him.  The sorrow in his crystal blue eyes was unmistakable, yet she could not bring herself to move to him, though she ached to.  Inside she knew if she ran to him, asked him to hold her, he would.  But fear held her at bay.



“Please Mari…”  she heard him whisper.  But she couldn’t.  Not yet.  She had thought that three hundred years would calm her fear and put to rest the pain she felt, but it hadn’t.  Some days she couldn’t look at herself because she didn’t recognize who she was anymore.  How could he look at her?



“Not yet Hector.”  



He stayed silent as he watched her compose herself.  The fear was pushed away, and the walls slid back into place as she gathered herself and turned to leave from where they stood.  He stood silently as he watched her walk away from him.  



This would be the last time he watched her walk away.  It was time for them to both move forward, and he would bound and determined for them to do it together.  With determination set firmly in his mind, he followed her out of the graveyard and raced back to her home along the crowded streets of New Orleans.



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Acheron sat calmly in baby Marissa’s room, rocking the sleeping child in his arm.  Kyrian was silent as he processed what Acheron just shared with him.



Marilla had been back on earth for 80 years, and had not contacted him.  She had missed everything! And she had been right in the city.  



“Why…?”  he whispered



Acheron looked at him patiently.  He had known Kyrian for a long time and bartering for his soul had been worth the beating he got.  Looking at the angel he held in his arms, he could never regret anything.   Kyrian had been one of his best, and even in his mortal life he still was.



However he knew that Mari hadn’t contacted Kyrian.  In fact… he had been helpful in keeping them apart.  She wasn’t ready to go back to her old life.  At least that was what she said.  In reality Acheron knew better, after all Marilla couldn’t lie to him if she tried.  In truth she hadn’t contacted anyone or helped him with the dark hunters directly because she was ashamed for going to the underworld.  Those closest to her knew.  He had told Kyrian and Zarek himself and had they had the power at that time, or at least Zarek, Artemis would undoubtedly be dead or severely maimed.  



“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Kyrian.  It really was her business though…”



Kyrian raised an eye brow.  “Since when do you not butt into people’s business.  Not only that Acheron but she is family.  I had a right to know.”



Marissa squirmed slightly in Ash’s arms at Kyrian’s raised voice.  Acheron stroked the little girl’s hair that he held and she settled right down.  Sighing, he stood and placed her in her crib then left the room with Kyrian in tow.



“Well gee dad I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.  But seriously, I realize that you’re upset Kyrian, but she’s … embarrassed.”



“Why would she be embarrassed.  She was enlisted in servitude…”  he shouted, his voice trailing off at Acheron’s look.  Realization hit Kyrian at that moment and all Ash could do was nod.



“Oh…”  Kyrian murmured, sitting down on his couch.  “She has no need to be embarrassed though… we all would have done the same thing.  I would do it for Amanda in a heart beat…”



Acheron could only nod in agreement.  If only Kyrian realized how true it really was for him.  They sat in silence for a while as Kyrian processed everything.



He still couldn’t believe Mari was back.  It was a relief to him.  400 years was far too long, and he was anxious to see her.  Part of him was scared too, then of course there was that little bit of anger that lingered.  How could she have doubted them?  Doubted him?  After all they had been through.  But perhaps that didn’t matter.  No, in reality it didn’t.  What did matter was that she was back, and Kyrian was going to do everything possible to bring her into his family where she belonged.   



“I’ll have to tell Julian.  He’ll be thrilled.”



“Yeah that’s what I was hear to talk to you about.  I just got back from talking with Liza about some information as to what’s going on in the city.  Talon also had some information that was very helpful.  Turns out we’re not really dealing with daimons, at least not directly.  This is going to require a different approach.”



Kyrian looked at Acheron.  Not fighting daimons?  What the hell did that leave?



Acheron didn’t wait to answer.  “I’m not really sure what it is, but I do know that they are taking spirit energy.”



Kyrian’s expression was rather skeptical.  “I know… it sounds ridiculous, for a minute I thought I was in a bad anime, but that’s really what it is.  And whatever they are taking the energy for, its leaving quite the signature behind.”



“What the hell can you do with spirits?”



Acheron knew… but he hadn’t heard of this much activity in a very long time.  Spirits provided a significant amount of energy.  Death left significant rage and anger in the energy that surrounded it, but it took a significantly strong sorcerer to harness that energy.  By using the energy that sorcerer would not only boost his power but the power of those around him or anyone he so chose.  What someone could do with all of that power, he wasn’t sure, and he didn’t want to find out.  What he did know was, that with all of the hot spots Hector and himself had checked out in the past two years, the individual or individuals had some significant power stored up.



“Lets just say… it will be very unpleasant.  I do need your help though, and Julians.  I will understand if you cant.  Honestly Kyrian, I’m not sure what to expect, but I do know my hunters cant fight this one, nto without serious repercussions. “



Kyrian was silent, letting everything role through him.  Something not even the hunters should do, now that was truly frightening.  Acheron always had faith in his army, but for him to look else where was fairly uncharacteristic.  The question was should he or could he?  He had a family now and while he was always ready for a fight and always to help when it was needed, this time it was different.



Acheron said nothing as Kyrian sat and thought over what he had said.  He knew he was asking for a lot, even with his immortality, he was still vulnerable to death, and fighting the unknown is far more frightening than fighting the same old beast.  



“We’ll be having training at Mari’s tomorrow.  If you come I’ll be grateful,  if not I’ll completely understand.”  With that he departed, leaving Kyrian alone with his thoughts.



He felt Amanda settle next to him and take his hand.



“You should go…”  she whispered, giving him exactly what he needed.



Looking to the love of his life he smiled at her, relieved beyond belief that she would support him.  He had shared numerous stories about Mari, and she clearly had over heard him and Ash.



“Thank you.”  he said, giving her a kiss. 

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Hope you're all enjoying.  I know you dont know a lot about Marilla's past right now, but more comes out as the story goes on.  Thanks for reading!