Title: Dark Times
Author: Ageless Light
Beta-ed by: Nobody right now! But I'd like one! Please PM me if you are interested.
Characters/Pairing: Zacarias De La Cruz and Ashelia Sole, Amelyn Stormcloud and Dominic Dragonseeker, and Iris Airan and Lojos Jaegar.
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Summary: The mission to Romania was just the beginning. Now that they have found each other their stories are just being written. The Kylierion women are trying to cope with being stationed in South America and engaging in a relationship.
Rating: T (Contains content suitable for teens and older)
Status: Continuous (Incomplete)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Dark Series Universe or any of Christine Feehan's characters. I do own the OC's though. I went to babynames . com for my character names though. A nice reviewer PMed me and told me that the book the original concept of the Ways came from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series. I however, have altered their purpose, make-up, and description to fit my fic. They are very different since I haven't even read the story, but if you like epic fantasy books; I encourage you to check them out.
Spoilers: Up to and including Dark Slayer and parts of Dark Peril (The most recent novel in Feehan's Dark Series). This is the sequel to Dark Moments and I recommend that you read that first. You can access it through my profile
Created on: June 5, 2010. Edited December 10, 2010
Word Count: 2,049
"Talk" – regular talking
Talk- Inner thoughts
"Talk"- Speaking telepathically
A/N: Installments, for lack of a better work, of Dark Times will be chronological, so you can think of this as a loosely structured story. It is in fact going somewhere but since I will be focusing on the different couples it may take a while. Just to be warned the length of these "chapters" will vary. Some will be as long as the chapters for Dark Moments and others will be as short as a dabble.
85 miles Northeast of Pôrto Velho
Time: 2158
Prologue:
A particular section of the Amazon forest had gone unusually quiet, its inhabitants aware that there was danger nearby. Predators stalked through the brush and even traveled the branches above causing the monkeys, birds, and other assorted creatures to freeze instinctually unwillingly to draw the predators' attention to them.
Even the common mental pathways the Kylierions shared were silent as if they were afraid the enemy could infiltrate them telepathically. In reality, it was an implausible possibility but that didn't shake that somewhere within everyone's minds the thought dwelled. Adrenaline coursed through their system and even a human civilian could feel the anticipation in the air had they been anywhere near this part of the forest. If the enemy wasn't so complacent in their actions they would have been able to tell they were about to be attacked.
Even though the trees provided cover the teams were still getting rained on. It wasn't a heavy rain or even a drizzle, but it was as if the sky was spitting on them. The humidity in the air didn't help either and no one was sure if their clothing was soaked because of the water falling down on them or from their own sweat, while they remained immobile in their various positions. It was frustrating and it didn't really hinder them anyway but several Kylierions wanted to use their influence to adjust the skies so it would stop raining all together or just pour.
It had been almost six months since KATT squads had been assigned to South America to investigate the jaguar race and expand the Empire's territory. Since then more and more teams have been assigned to the mission coded as "The Green Mist" but that code name was unlikely to stay once the mission became public to the Empire and to the other races forming the Great Alliance. All the commanders had bet upon a name and so far it seemed that TGM would eventually be changed to SOSA for operation "Savior of South America," or some equivalent. It was all about advertising and inspiration but the KATT squads were used to it so they tried not to think about the politics and just do their job.
If the KATT squads did their jobs well then everything wouldn't go to hell in a few years like the experts believed. For centuries the De La Cruz brothers had been patrolling at least eight countries. Though they were only five of them they had done a spectacular job but if the Empire hadn't responded as they did to Iris' vision then, well… one tried to think about it.
The Malinov brothers were arrogant and along with their allies have been using the rainforest as a key location in the soon to be upcoming war. The location was ideal in many ways, because the Carpathian brothers would be unable to patrol the entire forest and they would eventually be overrun. The fact that they choose this location also was a slight to the De La Cruz family. The vampire masters were mocking their once extended family by operating underneath their nose. It was a form of psychological warfare. And it was all working.
However, things had changed and the Empire prayed they hadn't responded to late. Everything centered on KATT squad 15 and their recent networking's from Romania. The De La Cruz brothers were no longer the only Carpathians residing in South America, and had opened their home to Dominic, Mataias, Lojos and Tomas. They were all powerful and ancient Carpathians, renowned as warriors and now that they had something invested in this battle they had become even more lethal.
It was the largest gathering of their people outside of their homeland and they were the envy of the younger hunters. Not just for the intense combat they would continue to experience but because of the females now in their lives. Though Mataias and Tomas had yet to find their lifemates they had eagerly accepted Iris as their brother's lifemate. The three brothers were reclusive and it had been centuries since they had spent any length of time with a female. Then suddenly they had gained a sister-in-law and adopted several other females within such a short time.
Due to the females associated with squad 15 a large, complicated, and extended family had been born between the De La Cruz brothers and the newcomers, along with the Airan and Sole households. The male hunters were still adjusting to the close relationships their females had with their fellow servicemen but nothing serious had happened yet. Being in such a hostile environment they had all bonded quickly and the Carpathians proved their worth to KATT becoming consultants to the Kylierion Special Forces. Even now Lojos and Tomas accompanied the team as they closed in on their target.
The air shifted minutely and no one but a Kylierion would have recognized anything out of the ordinary. Quickly, Ashe sifted out of the air, returning from her recon and joined Iris against the tree. A quick glance passed between the two and messages were exchanged silently. Both women looked exhausted but that was to be expected considering the week they had. None of the Kylierions looked any better.
Technically squad 15 was on the reserved list and Ashe wasn't supposed to be in battle at all until she could utilize her ability to sift in battle but her presence was needed here. Thankfully, her skill progressed and she could maintain both forms and sift in between them with control and concentration. Her life wasn't in danger anymore but if things got out of hand others could be. Especially if she was forced to try and transport someone.
South America was unstable even to the preternatural races. The Amazon had become a battleground long ago but it was quickly escalating to a war zone. The Jaguar people had been in crisis and shifters like Broderick ran wild and unchecked in the forest for years. The increasing presence of vampires and mages only added to a horrible situation.
It was extremely dangerous especially to the Kylierions who could not be identified. The Empire spent more resources hiding and covering up their presence at the moment than they did accomplishing their missions. KATT squads were more than just their skills and abilities but it was those performances that qualified them for operation "The Green Mist". There were reasons that set them apart from the other branches of the Kylierion military and it was those exact reasons that they kept going two steps forward and one step back. There could be no evidence of their presence yet, especially while they were so vulnerable. Therefore all KATT squads were being asked to function in unfamiliar territory without their best weapons and tools. A task that was not impossible just difficult, but they were professionals and would succeed.
Today though there was another incident. This time squad 15 was forced to come outside the wire. One of the smaller scouting squads designated to tracking the jaguar's movements discovered that a particular group of male shifters had a female captive. Evidence supported that the female shifter had been captured for some time and had not been treated well. She was severely injured and one of the medic's in training realized that she was close to death. Every member wanted to rescue the female but that was not the problem. The cave, surrounding structures, and with enemy numbers it was near impossible for them to be able to escape freely and keep knowledge of the Empire hidden.
An ethical debate started and the squad discussed whether the probable risk of being discovered was worth trying to save the female jaguar's life. The medic could only guess from what his senses told him and it was unknown that any intervention by them would make a difference. During their discussions an enemy patrol group entered the area later to report and re-supply and the squad had been forced to remain in order to avoid detection
The scouting squad had a female jaguar that had been rescued some years before and had volunteered to act as a guide for operation TGM. When the guide smelled two scents coming from the female rather than just on her, she motioned her findings to the squad. Once it was known that the imprisoned female was pregnant the squad's ethical dilemma was over and they began planning their assault on the enemy camp.
Something, everything, had gone wrong and it had become a SAR mission. Ashe was the only available and qualified medic to treat the woman's condition as well as her comrades. Though heavily outnumbered the scouting squad could have escaped if they had been able to perform at their highest levels. Fear of discovery for the Empire left them with only a few options. The guide had been the only one to escape, without harm, at the squad leader's insistence and returned to inform the command post filling in the details left out telepathically.
Immediately, teams had been dispatched to recover them. Lojos and Tomas were the only Carpathians on the mission and it was causing some tension with Ashe because of Zacarias. As the ruling Carpathian for South America the new hunters answered to the eldest De La Cruz brother. Zacarias was hunting a vampire far to the north and was unable to stop his lifemate from going on the mission. The white blonde haired princess went as far as to shield her mind and hide her activities from him until he was too far away to influence the mission.
Their connection couldn't be completely severed but he had been able to gleam enough information and was quite enraged. Lojos and his brother were then given orders from him. To give another hunter the job to protect one's lifemate and ensure their safety was serious. Zacarias had not gone that far but gave explicit orders and spoke of what would happen should she be injured. Only the three males knew what had been said, but the females feared he would order them interfere in such a way that cause her to not follow through with the mission.
It was clear that though the new spotlight couple was furthering their relationship they still had a few problems to address. Ashe knew that once the fight was over and they were reunited Zacarias would practically chain her to her desk as punishment for being reckless for several weeks. She tried not to think about it and hoped Iris wouldn't try to interfere again. The tourmaline eyed heiress was already having enough problems with her own lifemate as it was. Iris was the social butterfly and though it was known she wanted to find love and settle down she didn't want to settle down at this time. One of her most recent ex-boyfriend's was also making a nuisance of himself. Lojos had become her shadow and as much as Ashe tried to reassure her friend that once it sunk in, the Carpathian would back off a bit, it wasn't much help. Working with the person you were having a relationship was more difficult than the three females had imagined. Oddly enough, Amelyn seemed to be the best adjusted with her lifemate's presence out of the three females.
Ashe readjusted her medical pack, as signals were being exchanged. They were outnumbered and had to recover injured personnel. It was about to become hectic. Over an hour of strategic planning had occurred for what would only be a battle of a few intense minutes. Decisions would have to be made in a split second.
Minutes later a scream punctuated the air and few reacted outwardly to their comrade's scream of pain. It was hard to focus but they had no choice. Traps had been set up and the ambush had been carefully planned out. Many of the male shifters were asleep. They would be in the enemy's camp taking out the observed key males and creating chaos to pick them off if all went well. It was good that the female was unconscious because it would make things easier for Ashe and so would transport.
The earth pulsed and soon enough everyone was in position. Then they moved.
This is the first chapter to Dark Times!
Thanks for reading and please tell me your thoughts/comments/questions of this chapter through a review!
~Ageless Light
****Terms/Definitions:
Outside the Wire- is a military term meaning off the base.
SAR- Search and Rescue
****Notes/Questions for my readers:
I also did a lot of research trying to figure out what the 3 brother's last name is. Feehan's website gave no information and I reread every part of Dark Slayer that they were in to try and figure it out. I feel like with them missing their last name they are missing a part of their identity. So any suggestions on good "Old World" surnames (and their meaning) would be welcomed!
Also how many of the Malinov brothers are alive at this time and what are their names? Because I know there is one that is dead (from Dark Curse?) and that is messing around with the afterlife or the land of mist and shadows as she calls it. And Ivory fought one of her brothers in the recent book. So how many are left?
I made this a prologue even though it didn't directly focus on one of our couples because I wanted to set the stage, so to speak. So sorry it's kind of boring. I chose these "one-shots" for the moment because it offered the most flexability. I have a plan but we shall she how close I stick to it :)
I did a lot of research to make sure the military terms/aspects were correct! Go me! But if I missed anything please let me know.