Chapter 7: Lady Faith
A/N: Alright, you know how there was a weird jump in chapter 2 and 3? That's because I have two different versions of chapter 2! Weird hey. Oh well, just ignore it. The only thing you gots to remember is Mellian. Anyway, Monu-freakin-mental chapter. Along with the next one.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but brand new comfy shoes : )
xxx…And I'll Take You For Who You Are If You Take Me For Everything …xxx
The stony silence between Archie and Mellian was terrible. Atlanta still didn't know why he was that angry. Sure, now Atlanta had to take revenge on Mellian's killer if that ever happened and all that jazz, but even so. Mellian was pretty powerful, it didn't seem like anyone would kill her soon.
But still, Archie got on his bike and glared daggers at Odie, who was riding with a very pleased looking Mellian behind him. The purple haired warrior sped backwards, forcing Atlanta to clutch onto Archie for dear life, hoping she would survive his rage. He zoomed out of the school parking lot.
"Arch, slow down. I don't want to die!" Atlanta yelled angrily. He must have heard her, because the bike soon turned to normal speed and Atlanta could feel her ears again. Archie pulled over.
He tugged off his helmet.
"Sorry Lanta. I didn't want that to happen. It's my fault too. She isn't a bad person, but she just… she makes strange choices. It wasn't dangerous back when…"
"Back when you were Muerte?" Atlanta supplied.
Archie shook his head, "No, I was going to say back when I had nothing to lose. Because, no matter what she gambled with, it wouldn't really hurt me. But she thinks you are just a pawn, that I haven't really changed."
Atlanta felt her heart clench and wondered, for the first time, if she was a pawn. If Archie was just using her. But as if he had heard her, he whipped his head around and glared at her.
"Don't you even think it Atlanta. Don't you even dare. I would never, ever, use you like that. Please…" It seemed like his anger and demand had turned into pleading.
Atlanta got off the bike and tore off her helmet. She tugged Archie up and he came with her, letting his bike hit the pavement.
Archie stood there, staring down at the red head that was staring at the ground. She dropped his hands.
"It's just... I only thought it for a second." She whispered. Archie swallowed.
Atlanta raised her eyes, and they met with the descendant of Achilles.
"I would never believe that." She swore.
Archie closed his eyes for an instant, and pulled her roughly against him. She didn't fight and he held her tighter than ever before. Atlanta briefly wondered if he would hurt her, but discarded the thought with the remembrance of her previous vow.
"Thank you." He muttered, resting his chin on her head, "Thank you."
Atlanta didn't really know what to make of the extreme emotion he was showing. It was unusual even for normal Archie. He was naturally just a closed off person, who rarely ever showed gratitude or forgiveness. But for some reason he was showing it now. Atlanta only understood when he finally explained.
"I wasn't a good person, and you know that now. Even Jay and Herry are wary of me now. But for some reason, you aren't. You trust me, even with your heart, and your safety. And even though Mellian is a great woman, and an old friend, I will not let her change that."
He breathed heavily, "The only thing I want, or will ever want, is you. I would never hurt you. And I will never, ever leave you again. I am here for as long as you want me here. So no matter what happens, please, please never doubt that you are everything good and beautiful in my life. Never doubt the lengths I would go for you. You are the only person who has faith in me. My lady of faith. I love you. And you are the only thing that matters to me"
Archie shook, and he let go of her, aware that he was squeezing her harder than healthy. He stepped back and handed her her helmet, as if to suggest a truce. Atlanta knew he was embarrassed from his show of emotion.
But desperate times call for desperate measures.
She took her helmet.
"What exactly, is the Dark?" She asked, her voice once again laced with the confident strong tone that she had inherited from her ancestor. Archie grimaced.
"It's anything in shadows. But the Dark that Mellian is talking about is the one that is also considered Hades' realm. Like, the Underdark. Except we are going even deeper, down to the deepest realms of Dark, the core of the earth and where everything that is even remotely evil resides. Places like Sybaris' tomb. People like King Lycan, and Monsters and even Vampires, like Sybaris herself."
Atlanta felt herself close her own mouth and try and make those amazing things called words.
"Are you…serious?" She gasped.
Archie laughed briefly, but sobered at her shock, "Yeah, dead serious. But none of those creatures should bother us, and for once Hades should leave us alone, thank the gods. But it's still going to be dangerous because…" Archie coughed and guiltily looked away. Atlanta finally brought her hand to his chin and turned him back towards her.
"Because of what Archie?" She asked.
He stared at her, fear very clear in his cobalt eyes, "Because the Dark tends to bring out the worst in people."
Atlanta stepped back, once again surprised, and, slightly frightened herself. But after a moment's contemplation, she once again knew deep down that she would pay any price to keep Archie by her side.
"You mean, you might be Muerte again." She questioned gently.
"I think I can control it Atlanta. I mean, it is just another piece of me; it's not as if it is a totally different person within me, just a mindset. I swear-"
Atlanta smiled, "Its okay Arch. We'll get through that. Think of it as a challenge. We never lose challenges. Plus, I don't mind Muerte. He proved once that he wouldn't hurt me, and I believe him."
Archie gave her possibly the most adorable grin she had ever seen, and she felt her heart melting.
"But you also have to be prepared for Jay to think he is a bad leader, for Theresa to turn to her powers and everything. We all basically turn into that dark little conscience in you." Archie warned her.
Atlanta nodded, but fear had gripped her heart, and wouldn't let go.
"What will I turn into Arch?" She whispered.
Archie leaned down and kissed her forehead, only to plop her helmet on her twenty seconds later.
"Probably A crazy woman who challenges me at everything and never lets me win. Nothing I'm not used to."
Atlanta clipped him and returned the favor of replacing his helmet. He grinned at her and picked up his belt, motioning her to get on. He sat behind her and let his hands cover hers.
"Time to show me how well I taught you to drive this thing. Let's go home Lan." He said in her helmeted ear.
She smirked and revved the engine, determined to show her that she could drive just as well as him. They both shot off into the night, headed for the one place they called home, waiting for the surprise reception neither of them would ever expect.
xxx… Sometimes Things Written In Stone Fade Away, Sometimes, They Don't …xxx
The brownstone was not bustling with life. It was not happy, it was not cheery and it was not comforting.
It was dead silent and as soon as Archie and Atlanta entered the brownstone they realized why.
Calli stood in the center of the room, her eyes pure silver, and Herry standing in front of her. Mellian stood alone on the opposite side of the room, her eyes black as night, and her hair matching. A seeming electric bond was shooting between them, and everyone in the room looked terrified.
Archie moved in front of Atlanta, but the red head moved back to his side, shooting him a glance to say, 'We're equals' He did not argue, and she took his hand as if to soften her scolding look.
Jay looked as if he wanted to stop the about-to-destroy-their-living-room-fight, but had no idea how to handle two very powerful women who could wield magic. In the end, it was Odie who stepped up, placing a hand on Mellian's arm.
She looked at him and nodded, letting her hands drop. Her hair and eyes did not change, but she was not blatantly threatening Calli anymore.
"Herry, tell Calli to chill." Odie ordered. Herry gave Odie a look of admiration, just for having guts enough to approach the frightening Mellian. Calli dropped her hands on her own.
"Calli, Calli, Calli… Did you not remember me?" Mellian mocked in a derisive voice.
Calli fell to the floor, a dagger sharp pain in her stomach. She cried out, and weakly made her way to her feet.
Herry rushed Mellian, whose dark eyes widened. Just as Herry was within striking distance he froze and Calli spoke.
"That was not Mellian's doing Herry. It was a prophecy. Mellian, I did remember you, as you well know."
Herry regained mobility and practically snarled at Mellian who backed up, surprise written on her face. Herry stalked back to the copper haired woman.
"Then why did you not visit Cassandra?" Mellian whispered venomously.
Calli scowled, "Because you know what would happen should I enter the Dark."
Mellian's hair slowly turned to blonde and her sinister eyes became a liquid blue, as if she would weep.
She did not cry, instead she took a step closer to Calli. The vase beside Theresa smashed. Theresa didn't even flinch. Her catlike eyes glittered violet and the broken remnants moved back to their original places and in a glow of purple, the vase was whole again. Atlanta moved closer to Archie. She hated magic.
"I granted you safe passage." Mellian said, her voice choked with unshed tears.
Calli felt one tear slip off her cheek. She could not falter now.
"I know. But I would be powerless down there. I would lose Hera's trust. And I had to wait for a prophecy. Which has now come."
Mellian spun around, and Atlanta finally discovered why things broke wherever she went. Her eyes would flash a blood red color, and something would break.
This time when her eyes flashed, the vase did not break, she did.
She crumpled to the ground, grinding her teeth, eyes pure blue liquid, full of unshed tears. Calli rushed forward, standing over her, looking more like a pleased murderer than a worried friend. Odie dropped beside her and scanned her body, doing an assessment of every possible thing that could be wrong with her and realizing what it was.
"Mellian, we have to take you to the hospital, three of your ribs just shattered." Odie said.
Mellian snatched his hand and connected her blue eyes with Calli's. And despite the obvious pain she was in, and the trouble she had breathing, she did not falter with her next few words.
"I will be the breaker no more."
It was those words that Calli seemed to wait for because at that moment Mellian twisted, and seemed okay again, and Calli rose off the floor as she had done only once with Cronus.
Her hair floated in coppery snakes above her, framing her face. Her eyes glittered like silvery stars and it seemed like some invisible wind had come. It would have been amazing special effects in a movie.
Too bad this was real life.
She turned to stare at Jay, a grin upon her unearthly face. She did not look like sweet innocent Calli. She looked like a denizen of hell.
And it was in a deadly evil voice that she delivered the unheard prophecy of Cassandra that had waited all these centuries to become active.
Now it was.
"In the day that darkness returns to light
These words I speak now ring true.
Darkness shall offer a bargain for a fight
And the leader of heroes will not argue.
But beware friends of Beauty, Strength and Intelligence
They are not what they seem to be.
Have loyalty and trust and sense:
For everyone you thought you knew is lost in the Dark.
Son of Loss please beware,
You've never before saved what you adore.
Why should it start working now?
You will lose Lady Faith, of that I am sure.
And as for the Dark Queen,
You will not have your way.
But there is still love left,
Remember, only the gods will betray.
And for the daughter of evil acts,
Be strong and powerful and brave,
For when he is not there for you,
All things in the Dark shall seem grave."
These words, spoken so slowly and resolutely, scared Atlanta more than she could even believe. No wonder Archie wouldn't go near her. A prophecy given in that demeanor could give a person a heart attack.
Calli dropped to the floor, and gone was the morbid and terrifying woman, in her place was the peaceful, beautiful girl they had gotten to know. She looked exhausted and frightened.
"Herry, I'm starving." Were the first words out of her mouth. Mellian stood once again, and despite worried looks, she walked easily to the couch and sat down without even a wince in pain. Herry went to the kitchen to fetch himself and Calli a sandwich and everyone in the rapidly expanding group found a seat. They all knew they were in for a long night.
When Herry returned he watched Calli eat her huge sandwich in less than one bite with fascination. As soon as both their hungers were satisfied, they turned to Jay, as always, to lead them on.
"Well, I have no idea what any of that meant, sorry Calli. Let's try and figure it out, I want to go to bed." Jay declared.
"Well, first of all, the prophecy became active today, since Darkness has returned to light and such." Calli told them, her mouth still slightly full. "And the last verse is directed at me. I am the daughter of Evil acts."
"How so?" Herry questioned, wondering how evil had anything to do with his pure and wonderful Calli.
"Daughter of rape." She explained.
Mellian spoke clearly, and calmly, "I am the Dark Queen, and when it said everything is lost in the dark, it means that your identity can get mixed up and… well, you aren't such a good person."
Theresa smiled, "I get it! We are the friends of Beauty, Strength and Intelligence. Neil, Herry and Odie! Although, I don't know what you might be in the dark."
Neil, Herry and Odie's smiles faded, worried, tortured looks replacing them. Theresa gave them an apologetic look, as if it were her fault for decoding the prophecy.
"But what's with the whole Son of Loss thing?" Odie asked.
Archie's eyes glittered, like angry diamonds, "I swear if that prophecy is talking about me, I will kill Hera. Lady Faith? Is that some kind of sick twisted-"
Archie's sister interrupted.
"Don't worry Archie. It's not about you. I once had a wise woman tell me that my name in the prophecies was Lady Faith. I am the one who is going to die." Danaya whispered, her voice clear and unafraid, "I have known that for years."
xxx…Don't You Dare Not Fight What Only Madmen Call Fate …xxx
A/N: Well, so much for my two chapters and update on Reunion. But give me credit, this is a long chapter, and I will update both this, and Reunion and hopefully My Girl tomorrow. Review, love Anya.
