Author: Helena

Title: Carpe Tenebras

Rating: NC-17

Genre: Mystery/Romance

Characters/Pairings: Clois, Clexana, Jimmy, Chloe, Oliver and others

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea of this story

Summary: In an AU world ruled by a mysterious , dark brotherhood, Lois begins a dangerous ride full of secrets, violence , sex and ... blood.

A/N: English translation of the latin title is "Seize the Darkness". This story is completely AU. Feeback is always welcome.


Carpe Tenebras

Prologue

"Do not ask which creature screams in the night, Do not

question who waits for you in the shadow. It is my cry that wakes you in the

night, And my body that crouches in the shadow. I am Tzeench and you are the

puppet That dances to my tune."

~Karanzantor the Vile, The Traitor of Xian

______________

In the dream, he was again someone else.

He was walking in the daylight, under the sun's meridian halo, without a single scorch carving his skin. He was very powerful, with a newborn strength emanating from the depths of his core. He also knew that , if he wanted , he could fly far above the seas, far above the clouds, and become one with the immense sky blue of the horizon. He was invincible. And most important, he was smiling.

Everyone knew him and everyone admired him. In the dream, he was also loved. He didn't know by whom or how, but the feeling of love surrounding him, was unmistakable.

Everything else in his dream was fuzzy, but still blindingly bright nonetheless. Each time a new detail would reveal itself. But the conclusion would always be the same. He found himself, once again, in front of an opening. It seemed like a dark cave, but he couldn't completely fathom what or where it was. Lifting those eyes that weren't his own, he noticed again the same illegible inscription on the raw stone. The graven letters were an odd blur, but he was being flooded with the certainty that he would be able to distinguish them at any given minute.

And then, as the moment of truth was coming closer and closer for him to grab its meaning, the first drop of blood fell on his forehead. Raising his gaze up, he came across with the most ebony sky , as a torrent of crimson drops started pouring down on him, effectively shading his vision. Right then, he screamed. There was not a single sound coming out of his open mouth, but he knew he was screaming. He could feel the power of his cry storming out of his lungs, as the blood was covering him, entering his system through his every pore. Only this time, the blood wasn't gracing him with life; it was poisoning him.

In the dream, he was always someone else.

He woke up soaked in sweat, with his pulse erratic and his soul scrambled up his throat. It was saved again, never managing to flutter away from him. His sensitive ears didn't delay in tuning to the faint sound coming from his scattered undergarments, somewhere around the marble floor. Like a serpent that would never stir the settled silence , he slipped away from the king-sized bed , leaving the two naked bodies at his sides, one male, one female, still dived into deep slumber.

Glancing briefly sideways, he noticed that the heavy, metallic shutters were already down and locked, completely covering anything that could serve as a window. There was no doubt the morning sun was already reigning outside.

He found his beeper faintly buzzing under a torn, wine stained shirt and a pair of abused crimson stockings.A thin line furrowed the small valley between his dark brows as his gazed was fixed on the beeper's screen. The message was clear. And he should rush.