Chapter 2

LaKeria parked her bike in the two car garage that sat outside of a one story house. Her house sat in the middle of the green swamp. She liked it that way, not a lot of people knew where she was. Well no one really knew where she was save one person. And she was the person who'd made her a Dark-Huntress in the first place. Only Artemis knew the truth about her. She alone had trained her in the Dark-Hunter ways. Others were trained by the oldest DH Acheron. No, Artemis thought that it would be better if she trained LaKeria.

So all in all, no one but Artemis knew that LaKeria even existed. It really was a lonely life.

She walked up to the back door of her home and stopped. Turning towards the trees, LaKeria watched, silver eyes looked back at her, causing her heart to skip a beat. Just as suddenly as they appeared, the eyes were gone. She regained herself, unlocked the door and placed the bags on the kitchen floor. Closing the door, LaKeria pulled her dagger out of it's sheath, and stalked into the woods.

Kas jumped down from a tree branch at her side. "Hey girl, have you seen anyone or anything strange running around in here, with silver eyes?" She asked the panther. Kas gave a snort.

"Didn't think so," LaKeria said patting the big cat on the head. "Come on Kas; help me hunt down this stranger before the dawn comes."

Silently LaKeria moved through the trees and bushes. "Where are you? What are you?" She whispered softly.

The same man from the store parking lot stepped out of the tree line. "I do believe that it is I you are looking for." He said.

LaKeria stood perfectly still. The man was absolutely gorgeous. His black hair hung loosely at his broad shoulders. His swirling silver eyes seemed to look right into her soul, if she had one. And his voice was hypnotic. "Who a-are you?" She stuttered, taking a step back.

"The question isn't who am I, but more, who are you?" He asked taking a step towards her.

LaKeria took another step back, but realized what she was doing and held her ground, as the handsome stranger came towards her. "Don't come any closer." She said hiding her dagger beneath her wrist and forearm.

The man stopped. "You're a Dark-Hunter, but I have no idea who you are. How is it you've hidden so easily from me?"

"Acheron," She whispered under her breath.

Acheron gave a sly smile. "And you know of me. Who are you?" He asked coming mere inches from her. "Drop the dagger."

She gasped and dropped her dagger, bringing her hand to her mouth. This man scared her, really scared her. "What do you want? How did you find me?"

"I want to know who you are and who trained you in the Dark-Hunter ways."

There was a loud roar from behind LaKeria. She turned, seeing Kas crouched down, ready to attack. "Friend of yours?" Acheron asked.

LaKeria turned back to find Acheron right in front of her. She stepped back, tripping over an uprooted tree. She fell quickly towards the ground, but just before she hit, two strong hands caught her. She turned her head to look at the ground inches from her face then into the swirling silver eyes above her. His beautiful mouth was close enough to kiss, he pulled her closer, as if he was going to kiss her, she searched his eyes for any hint that he would. Hoping that he would. Wanting him to kiss her. But instead he pulled her to her feet and whispered, "Who are you?"

He looked up at the sky and shook his head. "I've got to go, and you've got to get back to your house before the sun gets any higher." He inclined his head and turned to leave.

"Acheron, wait!" She yelled, running up to him, touching his hand to stop him. He turned around and looked down at her. She stood on tip toes and whispered softly in his ear, "My name is LaKeria." She kissed him quickly on the lips and flashed back to her house.

_______

Acheron stood rooted in his spot long after the sun had risen. She had actually kissed him. Akri, can I please come off your shoulder? Simi asked in his head. She could probably feel his confusion.

"Yes, Simi you may take human form."
Simi appeared next to him. She stood close to his height and her hair matched his exactly. Her midnight black wings were spread wide. "What's wrong, Akri?" The Simi asked in her sing song voice.

"A woman Sim, LaKeria, she's a Dark-Huntress and I had no idea she even existed. How is that even possible?" He said, actually at a loss for words. He shook his head, "Simi, return to me."

"Aww, but Akri, I just got off." She wined.

"Simi," Acheron said sternly.

"You're no fun." She said just before she replaced herself across Ash's stomach as a large dragon.

He gently rubbed the tattoo and teleported to LaKeria's home, just outside of a large window. He looked in to find LaKeria unloading her bags of food. She'd pulled back her long black hair into a lose bun. Her black panther lay quietly at her feet, her tail wiped back and forth while she slept."Why doesn't she close the blinds while the sun is coming up?" Ash asked himself, as he watched her putting some meat into the freezer. She bent over, giving Acheron a nice view of her back side. He instantly hardened.

When she stood and stretched, he noticed that she was yawning. He could hear her talking softly to her pet. "Come on Kas, why don't we head off to bed. It's been a long night and that Acheron guy was something else."

He was so shocked to hear his name on her lips that he almost didn't catch the flash of bright light. When he shook himself, he noticed the black leopard standing where LaKeria had been seconds earlier. He watched as panther and leopard walked out of the kitchen.

Ash sighed leaning up against the side of the house. "She's a Were-leopard."