Chapter 2: Darkness

"Xani, time for school!" Dax said loudly as he stood in his daughter's doorway. "Get up."

Xani stretched and yawned tiredly as she sat up. She was wearing a simple plain white nightshirt which ran down past her knees.

"Morning, dad." She said as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Dax smiled.

"Morning. We're waiting for you to get up and dressed. Breakfast is ready."

"Okay," she got up and pulled the sheets back. "I'll be down shortly."

5 minutes later

Xani walked down the stairs, now fully dressed wearing the same clothes from last night, into the dining room where her family was. Dex was watching TV and eating toast. Dax was reading the newspaper. And Xerina and Mera were just drinking coffee.

"Morning, sweetie." Xerina greeted.

"Morning, sis." Dex said.

"Good morning, Xani" Mera said.

"Morning." Xani greeted back. She smiled, cheerfully. "It's a beautiful day outside today."

"It sure is." Xerina commented. "Breakfast is ready. Cereal and OJ."

Xani sat at the table and started eating. When she finished, she got up, pushed her chair in and grabbed her school bag.

"Come on, Dex. Let's go."

"Coming!" Dex said as he grabbed his school books. They exited through the door.

"Bye you two." Xerina waved as the two walked down the driveway and into the street.

Xani and Dex walked down the street as cars raced by. Xani spoke.

"Pretty busy today, don't you think?" she asked.

"Yes. Lots of people going to work."

"Hey, Dex?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what the markings on my eyes suppose to represent?" Xani asked as she looked up at him.

"I have to say that they look like conjoined raven heads or eagle heads. I don't know."

"Thanks." She replied.

"No prob."

They continued walking until they got a large college. Many students were walking in the front entrance, talking with their mates or just goofing.

"Well," Xani started. "Here we go." Dexter nodded as they walked in. Dexter began to walk off in another direction.

"I gotta go. I'll see you out here at lunchtime." He said.

"K. See ya." She walked to a young female sitting by the tree. The female was a brown hair and blue eyed. She was reading a book. She heard Xani's voice.

"Hi, Jessica. How are you?" Jessica looked up from the book to a smiling Xani looking down at her.

"Hey, Xani. I've been waiting for you." She said. She stood up and they gave each other a friendly hug. "You look lovely as ever. And that's a compliment."

"Aw, thank you, Jessica. You really are a good friend."

"You really are a good friend." A different voice mocked her from behind.

"Don't tell me." Xani said with disgust.

"Yep. It's her." Jessica said with the same expression. "Laura."

"Figures."

"Hey! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Laura shouted. Xani turned to face a dark haired girl with green eyes staring at her and Jess.

"What do you want, Laura?" Xani asked, growling the word 'Laura'.

"I want you out of this school!" Laura shouted. "It's your fault!"

"My fault?" Xani shouted in protest. "What for?"

"Before you got here six months ago, I was the best girl around here. Now everyone likes you instead of me!"

"Well, I can't help it! Everybody likes me because of my looks and personality."

"I don't give a fuck! Get out of this school right NOW!"

"... No. You can't make me leave. Get lost." Xani looked at her friend. "Let's go."

"That's right, go you little nobody bitch."

"What'd you say?" Xani asked, slightly angry. "Did you just call me a bitch?"

"No, I called you a dumbass." Laura replied sarcastically. She smirked.

"Why you..." Xani shook with rage. Jessica's eye's widened in shock as a dark fiery aura emitted from her best friend.

"Oh crap..." she looked at Laura. "Uh Laura, you better stop."

"Why? I'm just getting started." She gloated, not noticing that the visible dark aura around Xani was getting bigger. Xani clutched her head in pain.

"What's... happening?" she asked. Laura finally said something that was the last straw.

"You are a pathetic, weak, little child." She said putting emphasis on her words.

"Laura!" Jessica shouted. Xani roared as darkness emitted from her body. Her teeth were bared as she glared at Laura; a death glare. Laura realized her mistake.

"Oops."

"You are going to get it!" Xani shouted as she charged darkness in her hand.

"Uh Xani, l-lets be rational. No need to get angry. Hehe." Laura said in fear. She suddenly felt a burning sensation in her mid section. She looked down to see a burning hole in her torso. Laura felt extremely weak, looking at Xani to see her hand smoking from a blast. Laura gasped for air as she collapsed in a heap. Dead.

Xani finally came to her senses as the darkness died down and disappeared. She panted heavily and collapsed on her knees.

"What- what just happened?" she took a glimpse of her hands. She gasped in horror. Darkness was emitting from them.

"Darkness? That's my power? I-impossible!" she looked at the body of Laura and she was horrified.

"She's... she's dead. I killed her! I'm a monster!"

Jessica reached out to touch Xani but was pushed away. "AH! Xani!"

"Don't touch me!" you'll get hurt too!"

"But..."

"Xani!" Dex ran up to them and crouched beside his sister. "Are you okay? I saw the whole thing. What happened?"

Xani looked at him, tears falling from her eyes. She was hyperventilating and her hands were shaking. Dex noticed the darkness glowing on her hands.

"Oh good god! We have to get you home." He grabbed her hands and helped her up. They were about to leave until Jessica stopped them.

"Where're you going?" she asked.

"I'm taking Xani home, Jessica. This is serious." Dex told her.

"...Okay."

"Come on, sis."

15 minutes: Outside the house.

Dex and Xani stood outside the door of their house. Xani was still crying of what happened earlier. Dex was doing his best to calm her down.

"There, there. Its okay, it's okay." He said softly.

"No it's not okay!" Xani screamed. "How can I have darkness as my power? It's not fair! Not fair!" her sobbing got heavier.

Dex was saddened at the picture: he hated seeing her cry like this.

"I'm sorry, Xani. It's not your fault." He suddenly realized something and began rummaging through his bag. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot." He pulled out a wrapped parcel and handed it over. "Here."

"What is it?" Xani took the parcel, wiping the tears away.

"Open it. I've been saving it for your birthday, but you know it hurts me to see you upset. Consider it an early birthday present."

Xani took off the wrapping and opened the box. She gasped in surprise off what she saw inside: a golden headband. It wasn't fancy shaped but more in a thin circular shape.

"An Egyptian pagan headband." She said. "Dex, where did you find this?"

"I bought it in an Egyptian jewellery store. I just told the manager that I was looking for a gift for you and they showed me this." He explained. "It cost a lot but I don't care. As long as you're happy I'm happy."

Xani put the headband on her head. It was a perfect fit. "How do I look?"

"Like a real Egyptian princess." He simply said.

Xani smiled and hugged him, who returned it. It didn't last long when they heard a voice coming on the other side of the door. They recognised one of them; their mothers.

"And so it's settled?" Xerina asked.

"Yes. I'll take good care of your daughter. After all... you two are my best friends and I owe a favour from the ones you owed me." A deep male voice was heard.

"Thank you, Xemnas. This is for Xani's sake."

"Who are our parents talking to?" Xani whispered. Dex shrugged.

"Let's find out." He opened the door, revealing Dax and Xerina talking to a dark skinned male with orange eyes and silver hair and he wore a black coat much like Xerina.

"Mom, dad... whose this?" Dex asked.

Xerina and Dax were silent for a moment before Dax spoke.

"Xani, Dexter. This is Xemnas, leader of Organization XIII. They're a group of powerful Nobodies like us. Your mother and I used to be members."

"Yes." Xerina began. "We were under his leadership until we convinced him that we were leaving and he allowed us without getting eliminated."

"Eliminated?" Dex asked.

"To be in the Organization, you have to prove that you're strong enough to keep your place otherwise... you don't want to know."

Xemnas focused his gaze on Xani. He smiled before turning his gaze on Dax and Xerina.

"So this is your daughter?" he asked. "Quite beautiful for her age. So she's the source of darkness that we detected."

"That's right." Dax said. "Please teach her. We beg you."

"I see. Do not worry for I'll be honoured to teach her." Xemnas walked over to Xani, who was holding onto her brother's arm. He extended his hand.

"Hello there. My name is Xemnas. And you are?"

Xani didn't answer. She just buried her head in Dexter's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, sir." Dex said. "She's just a little shy."

Xani lifted her head so she was staring at Xemnas.

"What is your name?" he asked her. She hesitated for a bit.

"Xani..." she whispered.

"I'm sorry?"

"My name... its Xani. Why are you here? What do you want?"

"Your parents have asked me to take you into my Organization and train you on how to control your... special abilities." He extended his gloved hand for her to take it. Xani hesitated to take it. But Xemnas managed to calm her.

"Do not worry; I'll make sure you won't get hurt. I promise."

Xani looked at her brother, to Xemnas, to her parents who nodded and back to Dex.

"Don't worry, lil sis." Dex told her. "Go with him. It's for your own good."

"What about you?" she asked.

"We'll be fine." He hugged her. "We'll come and visit sometime."

"You promise?"

Dex pulled away and raised an eyebrow. "Would I lie to you?"

Xani nodded. "Okay." She looked at Xemnas and took his hand in hers. "Let's go."

"Very well." Xemnas said as he opened a Corridor. "Follow me."

Xani took one last look at her family, waved goodbye before shedding a single tear and entered the portal.