A Light Within the Darkness

Prologue

AN: Hey, this is my first story in a while. It is an AU and has some OCs but don't let that discourage you! I'm currently typing up the other chapters so this'll be updated fairly quickly. No flames, although I do accept and LOVE constructive criticism as well as normal reviews. Oh, and if this seems short, please remember this is only the Prologue. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is recognizable. Kael Calhoun, Kiara and the rest of the Fallons are mine, but mostly everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling!

A performance. That was all that her life was. A façade to put on during the day and to be worn through the night. Smile and dance, twirl and laugh. Uphold your honor and your family's reputation.

She knew she was a rare catch, for she was the sole child of the Lord of a very prestigious and time-honored family. She also knew that she was very beautiful, and not to mention intelligent. However, she was a bit rebellious. She had a mind and an opinion and she did not believe in arranged marriages or men or society bossing her around.

Unfortunately, her rebellious nature caught a certain Dark Lord's attention. A certain Dark Lord's unwanted attention at that.

KFLVKFLV

"Hurry, hurry. Wake up and get dressed. We're having an important guest over for breakfast!" Rose Fallon screeched as she tore through her daughter's room.

Said daughter merely turned over in bed, ignoring the other's presence in the room.

"I said UP!" Rose screamed, effectively rousing the sleeping girl.

"I'm awake, now get out you heathen!" The girl threw back scathingly.

The mother-daughter loving bond did not exist between the two. In fact, the only family member the girl liked was her father, because he was not totally against her ideas, and she wanted his type of power. Not to mention, she grew up as a bit of a daddy's girl. Her thoughts drifted to the guest…a guest for breakfast was certainly an odd idea.

A sufficient time later, the teenage girl was washed and dressed in light but elegant robes, looking every bit the prim and proper pureblood she was brought up to be.

"Good morning, father," the teenager said softly, standing a bit on tiptoe to peck him on the cheek. She steadily ignored her mother as the small family gathered at the bottom of the staircase.

A steady 'gong' reverberated through the house, announcing the arrival of the 'mystery' guest. The girl's mother rushed forward towards the opening door to greet the guest, as did her father. She fell softly behind and came to stand next to her father, just as the guest greeted him.

"And I suppose you would be Kiara? I'm Kael Calhoun, pleasure to meet your acquaintance." The guest, who was rather handsome in her opinion, introduced.

Kiara gave a slight nod of her head in acknowledgement but did not dare say a word, just to annoy her mother.

"Shall we adjourn to the breakfast table?" Her father suggested, already leading the way, the guest next to his side and her mother glaring holes into the back of her head.

A short time later, conversation drifted from business and onto more personal matters. "What school do you attend, Miss Fallon?" Kael asked in formality.

"I'm currently attending Hawthorne Academy in Ireland," she informed him softly.

"Don't be so modest, dear," her mother jumped in, preparing to boast Kiara's accomplishments and declare herself an excellent mother, "She started a year early and is already in her last year, even though she is just turning sixteen. She was just offered the position of Head Girl and is in the top of her class. Why, she is getting offers from the top universities and programs, and she was just inducted into the Junior Division of the Elite," Rose gushed.

Kiara looked up and eyed her mother sharply. She was building Kiara up more than normal for some reason.

"Of course," Rose paused, "it will be nice if we find a suitable husband, preferably neutral such as ourselves, to provide for her future-"

"I am quite capable of managing my own future, mother," Kiara cut in swiftly, ignoring the glare her mother sent.

"Of course you are, darling. I am your mother, however, and have room to worry," Rose retorted sweetly, ignoring any further protests from her daughter. "I'm sure in your report you do not cast a negative light upon some of our daughter's comments," she continued, "She's still getting used to some things."

Kiara tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "His report?" her mind started to swirl. "His report about what, and for whom? Why the comments about my accomplishments and a…husband? They had better not dare! They can not create an arranged marriage for me! Father promised he never would! What the hell?"

She remained lost in her thoughts until her father's comforting baritone cut through her senses. "It was a pleasure having you over for breakfast. I'm sure Rose would love to escort you to the Floo."

Kiara then realized that she had missed most of the happenings at breakfast. As soon as she vaguely registered saying goodbye, she fled the room, not stopping even for her father.

Kiara had managed to settle her nerves and her thoughts by the afternoon; however, she knew she had to seek out her father and find out what exactly was going on.

And so, she did just that.

"Father?" She called softly, knocking on his study door.

His muffled reply of "Enter" was heard and so she opened the door and slipped through, then closed it softly behind her. The room was slightly darker than the rest of the house, but still manageable enough to see, read, and navigate the room.

She stood in front of his desk, waiting for him to look up from his writing, and when he did, she gave him an imploring stare.

"What's going on?" Kiara asked softly, nearly whispering. He motioned for her to sit, and she did. He stood and walked around her desk and stopped in front of where she was seated.

"I do apologize, for making a promise all that time ago, that I wish I could, but am unable to, keep," he started, and her fears were starting to come true.

"Kael came to sort of 'test the waters' and see what an impromptu drop in would do. He came on the behalf of the Dark Lord."

"But we're not even Dark!" She protested, before falling silent at his look.

"I don't know if we will remain neutral or become Dark at the end of this, but it doesn't matter that much. I have a feeling that the Dark will win anyways, so don't worry yourself about that," he reassured her. "Either way, somehow you caught the Dark Lord's attention. We have already discussed matters and I am sorry, but I am powerless to curb his attention. As it stands, you will marry him. I don't know what Kael's report will do, but I don't want to give you much hope of changing his mind. You are unorthodox, and I think that's what interests him. I have a feeling the breakfast will please him, contrary to what I know you are hoping," he said uneasily.

"He will probably be here to properly introduce himself within the next week. I'm telling you this so that you can start to prepare yourself. We haven't gone over every little detail, but I want you to know that you will be safe under his care," he fell silent. "Go ahead and return to your room. Dinner may start a few minutes late," he cautioned.

Kiara stood stiffly and walked from her father's study, numb with shock and disbelief.

"Ah, Kael," the Dark Lord greeted as said man walked into the room, "I trust you had an interesting morning."

"I have, sir," Kael replied, kneeling before the Dark Lord and then rising. "Would you like an account or the memory?"

"The memory will do. There's a pensive in that cabinet," he instructed. The two were currently in the Dark Lord's private study. Kael Calhoun wasn't officially a Death Eater, and was more like an agent than anything else. The Dark Lord was often misrepresented, and although he was known to torture people, his battle plans were strategic and each battle or raid had a specific goal. His Death Eaters were loyal not out of fear, but out of honor and respect. Such ponderings were interrupted by a comment from Kael. "I believe you'll find her interesting, as you predicted. The memory is from when I arrived until I departed."

"Thank you, Kael. You may finish your other tasks now," the Dark Lord subtly instructed, not paying attention to a last bow before the agent left the room.

"I trust you are what I'm looking for, Miss Fallon," he muttered before he tapped his wand on the pensive and found himself falling into the recent memory.

Voldemort found himself in front of the tall, imposing front doors of the Fallon Estate. He paid no attention to the details of the grounds or the manor itself, for he had seen all of it before. His only interest lay inside of the building. He paid attention to the woman at the door, though. She was pretty, but he detected that pureblood trophy wife manipulative and unbecoming devil inside of her that so many had today. "Perhaps that's what motivates her daughter to be so different," he mused as he watched the introductions.

He sensed Kiara's uneasiness but politeness as she greeted Kael, and he almost smiled. The appearance had been surprising, but he had a feeling that the Fallon patriarch had neglected to mention anything to his daughter so far.

His prediction came true when he noticed Kiara starting to react negatively to her mother's bragging and mention of a husband. She almost looked betrayed, really, and he knew he'd have to be careful when approaching her. The lost love between mother and daughter could aid him, he mused, as he listened and watched to the rather uneventful breakfast.

He stayed in the memory through the breakfast and listened to the Fallon matriarch's obvious bragging and boasting of her daughter. He also saw Kiara basically free from the breakfast room once Kael was out of sight, and inwardly smiled.

Suddenly, the image in front of him began to blur, and he found himself back in his study.

"Yes, you're exactly what I'm looking for. Now, to plan a visit," he murmured to himself as he reached for ink and parchment.