Title: Dark Moments

Author:Ageless Light

Beta-ed by: Nobody right now! But I'd like one!

Characters/Pairing:Zacarias De La Cruz and OC

Genre: Romance/Fantasy

Word Count: 2,165 (Total: 3,830)

Rating: T (Contains content suitable for older teens)

Summary:Zacarias De La Cruz meets his lifemate at a most inopportune time. When he re-awakens he discovers she is gone and vows to find and claim her at all costs. Their possible union has gained the attention of powerful forces, but are they friends or foes to the Carpathians?

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 baby naming websites 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.

Status: Continuous (Incomplete)

Created on: July 24, 2009 (Edited/Revised on May 10, 2010)

Spoilers: Up to and including Dark Slayer (The most recent novel in Feehan's Dark Series).

"Talk" – regular talking

Talk- Inner thoughts

"Talk"- Spoken telepathically

Chapter One

A Bleak Existence Without Her

Perfect white teeth snapped in aggravation and the sound echoed eerily in the silent room. Even the large fire in the hearth had dwindled down to blackened embers, forgotten by the occupants in the room. Several pairs of hooded eyes watched Manuel De La Cruz, or Manolito to his family, pace with agitation like a caged beast. Conversation was pointless; all were lost in their own thoughts. The second eldest De La Cruz brother was brought to an abrupt halt. His head angled towards the door as it opened to reveal MaryAnn. Without sparing a glance or greeting the others she closed the door and quickly walked to her lifemate's side. Immediately his arms wrapped around her and he found solace in her embrace. They broke apart but their hands remained entwined. Nicholas De La Cruz and his lifemate Lara moved to stand beside the couple. All eyes turned towards the Dark One to hear the status of the eldest De La Cruz brother.

"He will survive. I have just given him more blood and checked the status of his wounds. I sent him to ground for several more days to fully heal." Gregori Daratrazanoff stated calmly to the entire room, despite the fact that his silver eyes remained focused on the De La Cruz family. Even though the brothers knew Zacarias would live relief was evident on their faces and prominent in their stances. The brothers were silent for a moment obviously relaying the news to their younger brothers through their specific path.

"Has he said anything?" Nicholas ever the rational one asked. The healer of the Carpathian people shook his head and the others frowned. It had been four days since Zacarias was sent to ground to be healed. MaryAnn not understanding the significance of that remark but knew there was a deeper meaning behind the simple question, opened her mouth to speak when the prince's second in command answered.

"Zacarias has only been conscious long enough to be given blood before he was returned to the earth, because his wounds were so severe. He seemed agitated as well, but that could be because of the fight. Traces of certain chemicals were present in his bloodstream. Upon further inspection they were the elements that composed the drug that the humans use against us. It has since been fully removed and will have not affect him in the future. When he was retrieved, his body was already partially healed, and the parasites were killed just not removed from his system. After the fight he could have had the energy left to start healing the damage himself but, oddly enough, soil was packed into the gashes on his back, where he would have been unable to reach them." The imposing Carpathian turned towards his prince slightly and waited for him to speak.

"I ordered Dominic to investigate the site but there was no sign, scent, or suspicion of another being in the clearing besides him and the vampire corpse. I even asked him to accompany Gregori the next night, just in case something was overlooked. Again there was nothing." Mikhail Dubrinsky the leader of the Carpathians stated. He nodded to Gregori who shifted into mist and left through the open window to return to his lifemate. Savannah recently gave birth and the ancient healer was on edge, understandably so. "We will have to wait until he is further healed to question him."

"Riordan wants him home as soon as possible. " Manuel spoke quickly and after receiving a glare from Nicholas amended, "We all do."

Zacarias was still too wounded to be moved back to what the brothers considered home, the Brazilian rainforest, but they wanted to bring him back as soon as possible. The De La Cruz brothers nodded and absentmindedly thanked their Prince for his information. Mikhail took no offense, understanding that their thoughts were focused on more important things, and bid them goodnight. Taking to the sky he shifted into mist to return to his own wife leaving the reclusive family to their own means.

A few days later…

Night had set, he knew instinctually, as his dark eyes opened. His heart started to beat again and air filled his lungs. As his body awoke Zacarias was assaulted with information. The fertile soil surrounding him whispered. Echoes of healing chants still remained. His heart pounded deep within his chest and the rushing of blood filled his ears, alerting his body he was in desperate need of blood. Concerned he scanned the nearby area and realized he was in one of the guest houses belonging to his Prince in a healing chamber. He did not remember going to ground and unease, anger, and a sense of incompleteness begin to swell in him. Unease? Anger? Emotions? Confusion lasted only a moment until he recalled the previous events. Suddenly, his feelings evolved into gut-wrenching fear and fathomless longing. There seemed to be an unexplainable ache, as if he lost an important part of him. Still disoriented, he shook his head. Maybe his brothers could explain why he was feeling like this and so intensely. Was it because he was still unused to these sentiments? About to issue the command to open the earth and release him he froze as his mind focused on his younger brothers. Brothers? He was momentarily overcome with love for his brothers.

Yes, he loved his brothers but had not actually felt that love for over a millenia. He had once felt love, loyalty, and admiration for them when he was younger. Long ago he lost those feelings along with his ability to see colors and only his memories remained to keep him going. A unique shade of violet flashed across his mind triggering a memory. He remembered her beautiful light violet eyes.The eyes of his lifemate! Where was she? Were his brothers looking after her? More emotions, long since felt, were pouring in and his thoughts became jumbled.

After a moment his thoughts regained order and it finally sunk in. His lifemate. He had a lifemate. He had waited centuries upon centuries hoping that a perfect mate would be born for him. That explained the ache, for she was not by his side. Where was she?A possessiveness that he had never known suddenly filled him. The beast within him awakened demanding him to claim his mate. To make her his for all time. How could he have ever doubted it? Grief and sickness, emotions new to him, entered his mind. He had started to doubt. After all the sins he commited, especially against his own people, how could one such as he be graced with a lifemate? That was why he was here in the Carpathian Mountains. He had one last hope. He had journeyed here to see if one of Gregori's daughters were to be his lifemate. If not, he knew that even their birth would not affect him enough to remain in this world. He would attend the celebrations with his brothers, giving them one last memory of them together, before he officially sought permission from his Prince to seek the dawn. His thoughts were cut off as he felt a familiar presence in his mind.

"Zacarias why are you awake? You are still recuperating. We will come to you." Nicholas' voice was heard within him. Bracing himself, he commanded the earth to open and causually raised himself up. Pain and hunger coursed through him. Doubled over he tried to catch his breath, when he felt recognizable large hands on his shoulder. He didn't need to look up to know it was Manolito who hovered nearby and that Nicholas was making his way down to the healing chamber. The arriving presence of his Prince and Dominic, the other Carpathian who hunted the vampires with him that night, was also noted. Suspicion crawled within him and he forced his senses out further.

Ignoring the sudden stillness and tension that filled the room, he searched for her. Not sensing another presence, let alone female, panic consumed him. Where was she? Why wasn't she by his side? In his absence he would only trust his brothers to protect her. But if they were with him, then who defended her? Did they send her away fearing he was dangerous? It mattered not, he would go to her and nothing would stop him. Paying no attention to his current state, he abruptly got to his feet and locked gazes with the other males. Forgetting or ignoring Mikhail's rank he spoke in a quiet and deadly voice. The exact opposite of what he was feeling.

"Where is she?" The cold fury in Zacarias' voice forced the Dragonseeker to adjust his position in case he would have to protect their Prince. That was not what they expected him to say. There was a small jump in his brother's reactions before they completely stilled. Dominic frowned and the Prince only looked on with narrowed metallic green eyes.

"Where is who?" Mikhail responded to his question with one of his own. Ice filled his body, he glanced down at his feet and his mind was filled with racing thoughts, too many to comprehend. He breathed in deeply and with years of discipline forced the thoughts that were not relevant to the back of his mind, for now.

"My lifemate." Calmly stated, the recovered Carpathian watched everyone's reactions. Eyebrows raised surprise. His brothers exchanged looks with one another. Only Dominic remained impassive. Regardless of their individual responses to his statement, their reactions all caused a sinking feeling within him. There was no recognition in their eyes. His body became hollow as he feared what they would say next. Again, he tried to sense his lifemate and there was nothing. Manolito gripped his shoulder tightly for a second.

"There was no one in the clearing when Dominic arrived. There was no evidence of another in the clearing at all. However, there seems to be elements missing from the story we pieced together. What do you remember?" Shock struck quickly and developed into sadness and confusion. He sat down upon the enriched soil and his left hand absently caressed the soothing earth as his thoughts swirled around. There was no one? Did he hallucinate? NO! He argued with himself. He remembered her small warm hands, and her eyes! Her are eyes the color of light violet.

"What I remember is regaining my ability to see colors, to feel." He angrily bit out, stressing the last word. "Her eyes are violet, not like your daughter's my Prince, but lighter, like…liquid amethyst." From now on he knew that amethyst would be his favorite gemstone. "Blonde hair so light, it could only be described as white. She was the one who healed me. Now where is she?"

"Could the vampire have done something to him?" Nicholas interrupted and moved silently to stand in front of his brother. It was a clear sign that regardless of what was wrong with his elder brother he would remain by Zacarias' side. All of them would. After all they were they De La Cruz brothers, known for their fierce loyalty to each other. Manolito the more animated with his emotions was oddly silent and expressionless, while Nicholas shifted back and forth on his feet in agitation. Both were acting out of character. It was obvious that this was painful for them to see him like this and it confirmed the severity of the situation.

"Not to my knowledge. Gregori can't find anything wrong with him." Mikhail answered now thoroughly confused and thinking of the repercussions it could have on his people should that become a possibility.

"Vampire?" Zacarias spat out incredulously, rage clear on his face. "I can see colors. I can feel emotions. Why would she be kept from me? The laws of our people-"

"Calm down. It's not that we don't believe you its just unusual. This is a serious issue, if your mate is out there she must be found." Zacarias pushed down his building ire and tried to ignore the emptiness that filled both his head and his heart. A deep look of concentration was drawn on his face as he focused solely on his Prince and his friend Dominic.

"When I arrived there was no one else in the clearing. There was no evidence or suspicion of there being anyone other than you and the vampires in that section of the forest. Except for that fact that most of your wounds were already packed with rich soil and it was obvious you had been partially healed. Our Prince even asked me to return the following night. Nothing was overlooked, there was nothing there." Dominic answered slowly.

Nothing? Where was she and was she alright? Why was she not here beside him? Did she abandon him? Why? Or had the vampires gotten to her? Zacarias De La Cruz kept asking himself questions to which he had no answers. Absolute and utter horror swallowed him whole as he put his head in his hands in the attempts to console himself and make sense of it all. For almost two thousand years he had waited for her. Just her, and swore to never dishonor or betray her. After waiting for so long he had found her, only to have completely lost her and be thrown into a bleak, agonizing existence. Alone. He felt his brother's minds brush his, but he blocked them all. When Crimson colored tears threatened to fall he made a decision. Now that he had found her, nothing would keep them apart. Nothing would stop him from finding her and getting answers. He would gladly spend eternity paying for whatever it was that he had done to upset and drive her away. She was his light, the saviour of his soul, and he would love and protect her until the end of time. She needed him now, just as he needed her. He was still weak and would be of no use to her in this state. Vowing, to do anything it took to find her and remain at her side for as long as she would have him, Zacarias De La Cruz let his exhaustion take him and slipped into unconsciousness, not realizing that it was the other males that sent him to sleep.

That is the end of Chapter One! This chapter was longer than the Prologue, but still shorter than what I plan for the rest of the story. I plan to switch back and forth between Zacarias and his lifemate until they are reunited. I know this is slow and all, but I want the story to be believable and to get a nice foundation and be well paced. Thank you so much for your reviews in the previous chapter! I was so thrilled that people read my fic and reviewed! I did my best to portray the Carpathians in this chapter. Zacarias may seem a bit out of character, but we know so little about him. Usually his one line comments in Feehan's books, and his brothers descriptions of him. So I tired to fit his hunter personality into the trying situation. I mean after all he found his lifemate and now they are seperated and there are no leads...at this time.

Thanks for reading my fic! Please review and leave your thoughts/comments and advice for my writing!

-Ageless Light