Chapter 11

Lithium


Previously on Our Dark Side: ... Daniel must have learnt about dark magic by his mother...

...Zhalia acts like Daniel was just a friend...

...They WILL get out of here!...

...Zhalia: "If we both leave, then we'll lead him straight to my team and we don't want that to happen. Plus, I am weak. I will only slow you down and be an easy target"...


7 years ago, Rehabilation Center, Manitomba Canada.

A woman with blond curly hair like piles of rings was sitting at the red armchair of a rather empty looking room, her head bowed low. After a year of isolation, she finally had a visitor. However, instead of feeling happy, she was beyond sad and nervous. She knew who that visitor was and what he wanted from her, she had seen this coming, but hoped from the depths of her heart that it didn't have to be done this way. She was trying to focus on the book in her hands –which she has read a thousand times- but in vain. She put it on the small self besides her bed with the ocean blue sheets and shat on its edge, taking deep breaths and rubbing her feet to the yellowish white fur carpet. The sound of her door being cracked open echoed and filled the emptiness created by the silence of her room, to reveal a bald black man with sapphire eyes and a sharp jawline, a man she has grown to know as doctor Kendal Falcons and the one responsible to record her process in detoxification. She lifted he head and her forest eyes met his sapphire ones, her expression sad.

"He is here misses Range" he warmly announced, using her family surname, since she demanded not to be called by her ex-husband's name. Not many doctors took her seriously but doctor Falcons were always there to listen and she really appreciated that. Eliss just nobbed her head, despite her nervousness and gave doctor Falcons permission to step aside and reveal her visitor's face. The tanned boy with the dark brown hair and his dad's baby blue eyes stepped in the room and when the room was filled with his presence, it felt like the temperature dropped. His features were calm, yet emotionless and a cloudy careless look ornamented his eyes. He was no longer the bubbly, happy boy Eliss remembered.

"Mum" he addressed her with a neutral tone and she held back the urge to cry. Just one year ago, she had turned his life into a living hell because she wasn't strong enough to stand on her feet and move on with the loss of her daughter. Daniel had to do it all by himself and he was still just a small innocent child who was forced to grow up quickly due to her irresponsibility. Eliss wanted to apologize for everything, but she knew it wouldn't be enough and it definitely won't convince her son to stay away from the mess he is about to get himself into.

"Daniel" she addressed him as well with a shaky voice and an apologetic expression.

"I should better get going and leave you talk. If anything happens, I'll be right outside" doctor Falcons cleared his throat and announced his departure. As long as he was out of the room, Daniel calmly sat in the red armchair Eliss was seated before and she stayed in the edge of the bed, her hands gracing on the blue sheets, griping them lightly to resist the urge of run to his arms, give him a big hug and apologize a thousand times. There was a silence just as she had expected, but didn't last long. Only a few moments after doctor Falcon left, Daniel heaved a neutral sigh and looked straight in his mother's eyes.

"How is your detoxification going?" he asked without particular interest in his voice, earning a wide eyed look from his mum.

"I-it goes just fine" she replied hesitant "But that's not why you are here, is it?" she asked, hoping somewhere in her heart that he still cares, but Daniel just raised the corner of his lip upwards, only enough for her to see.

"Always rushing to the main point aren't you mum? You know, I heard a lot about you from Foundation agents, about your fire, your spirit, your skills, your potential. If I hadn't known you before and saw you know for the first time, I would have laughed it all off and call them liars." He paused and heaved another sigh, a sigh of disappointment "Where did all of that go mum?" he asked not breaking their eye-contact. Eliss swallowed the knot stuck in her throat and found the courage to open her mouth but her son raised his finger in the air and stopped her.

"No need to answer that. I only need to know one thing from you and then I'll leave you recover without any complications or mentions of that matter. I assume you know very well what I am talking about." He finished, stating his request indirectly and Eliss eyed him with a soft motherly look.

"I missed you son. I missed you and you might not believe it after all I did to you, but I love you and I don't want you to get in this mess your dad got himself into" she said, hope still embracing her aura, even though trying to change his mind was pointless and she knew it, but she at least had to try. Daniel averted his gaze the moment she said she loves him. He expected this and knew that it could bend him, but this is a big step for him, an opportunity which will give him a lead, a step closer to his sister.

"I am afraid you have no say in my choices and you can't change my mind, but anyway, you already know that. So just skip the blabbering and tell me everything I need to know." He talked back and drowned all of Eliss's hopes in an instant with the seriousness of his expression and his clenched jaw. Eliss took a deep breath to suppress her sobs and begged her son to stop now that it was early, but the way he replied made her choke on all of her upcoming pleads.

"If you want to make up for what you've done and be my mother again, help me eliminate the source of our problems" The emptiness in his face, his straight back and perfect posture reminded her of Airdan for a splint of a second, but it was just impossible for her child to turn into the man he hates the most. Eliss observed her son with widened sad eyes and at the end, she gave in.

"I can't stop you, can I?" she asked him, or maybe the question was directed more to herself, to let the painful realization of her inability slap her. Her son remained indifferent and watched how her mother took a deep breath, her hands between her legs trembling from nervousness.

"Alright then" she surrendered and sniffed, trying to prevent herself from bursting in tears, looking up to him and straight to his blue eyes. "Your father is one of the Sunken Souls, so is your uncle. You and Brooklyn have inherited his dark powers but you haven't activated them. You should go and find Master Abu in China. He is the one who showed your dad and his brother the way to the source of their powers. Carter has only told me this… Master Abu will get you where it all started and help you activate your powers and use them correctly, or hide them and suppress them" The middle aged woman revealed and with every word, she felt tears gathering in her forest green eyes, the eyes of her mother and the eyes of her daughter…

Daniel listened carefully and noted every detail in his head, but was quite unsatisfied.

"So this Master Abu will show me how to defeat my uncle?" he demanded to know

"He will make you strong…strong enough to face him. After that, it's all in your hand" Eliss replied and let her tears slip. She cried silently, not wanting her son to see her like that, for he would only pity her more.

"I need to know one more thing" he added and caused her to look up at him. His voice sounded clearer, indicating that he had come closer and indeed he had. He was now kneeling in front of his mother, looking straight into her cried out eyes with his own icy ones. "What are the Sunken Souls?"

Eliss was breathing unevenly and tried her best to keep eye contact without breaking down. She couldn't bring herself to say more, she would feel even guiltier than she already does.

"He will tell you everything son" she assured him walked away to the window. Daniel stood up and straightened his back, maintaining his hard expression no matter what. He observed his mother's back, how it was shaking from her failed efforts to suppress her sobs. The sight of her was the only thing needed to break him, so he decided that it was time to leave. He got all he wanted.

"Thank you" he said and got out of the room, not looking back. When the door closed and he saw that no one was around to see him, he allowed his back to hit the wall and clenched his fists hard. Now it was his own turn to suppress his sadness. Doing this to his mum was the least he wanted and was anything but pleasant. However, he has made a decision and having his sister back requires for him to be focused on his goal, without any emotional attachments…he has to fight fire with fire.

Consumed by his thoughts, he didn't notice doctor Falcons approaching him and placing a hand on his shoulders, griping it lightly and surprising Daniel. The man held an honest smile in his face which made a soft contradiction with his large shoulders and strong aura. Noticing Daniel's watery eyes, he let out a sigh without breaking his smile and let go of the kid's shoulder.

"My boy, you are still 15, you got your whole life ahead of you. Don't let it slip of your hands" He tried to reason him. To have his patient consider him as not only a skilled doctor, but also a trustworthy friend, had its advantages and offered him the chance to help as much as he was allowed to. Daniel shook his head and came back to his senses, as painful realization hit him. He was still just a kid and Brooklyn was even younger. Doctor Falcon's words achieved just the opposite of what they were meant for. They gave him more courage and determination, lit a fire in his blue watery eyes. Kendal's eyes narrowed for a second, observing the sudden transition of the kid and then mentally scolded herself for not making a wise selection of words. He didn't get to correct what he said, for Daniel shot his a fiery stare accompanied with a grin and a "Thank you Doctor, take care of her for me", before he left for good and never showed up again


China

Only a few days passed after Daniel visited his mother and right now, he was walking at the streets of a small village in China. The wooden houses made according to the traditional Chinese architecture, the contact the village had with nature –a forest being right beside it with Chinese majestic flora- the soil filled ground with marks of carriage wheels and footprints, the simple poor clothing and the simplicity made a clear, jarring contradiction with the red painted with golden carvings traditional Chinese temple, two dragon statues made out of emerald gazing at him in front of the big gate, as if they were guarding it and any signs of intruders would breath them life in order to protect the temple. Daniel gulped down the knot in his throat and made his way past the gates into the huge front yard, with marble laminar floor, climbing up the dozens of marble stairs, each step bringing him closer to the large roof tile red door with golden door handles at the shape of dragons.

'What's wrong with Asian countries and Dragons?' he questioned himself, as his eye caught two kids about his age, coming from the backyard, wearing some Chinese warrior outfits, rushing to the same direction he was heading. They were in such a hurry, they didn't notice, or pretended so, his presence and left the door wide open, allowing him to take a pick of the wide entrance hall made out of…crystals… the floor was made of Amazonite and was flowing brightly, like the walls that were made out of blue lace agate and had gold carvings in them… Daniel could swear they display a battle. Then there were the Chinese columns, holding the second floor stable and enchanting him with the red carnelian stone which also had golden motifs. If his eyes were not tricking him, one of them was what is called meander. It's a key pattern, a running ornament consisting of a fret design with many involved turnings and an intricate variety of designs. They say that it originates in Greece and has been inspired from the legend of the labyrinth were the Minotaur was imprisoned. This key pattern, despite being inspired from a labyrinth, was actually considered a very simple motif and one could easily confuse it with others, but finding it in China surprised him.

"The meander is also used in Chinese furniture, known as the Chinese key, in case you are suspecting us copying Greek architecture, but if you are just admiring the column, I can assure you there are more interesting exhibitions in that temple" a deep, melodic voice filled his ears and dragged him out of his thoughts. Recalling history lessons is not his first priority right now. Taken off guard, he took a few steps back and turned to take a look at the man who addressed him in mild surprise.

It was an aged man who looked very healthy and strong for his age. Only a few wrinkles gracing his features, his slanted abyss black eyes barely visible –they seemed almost closed- a yellowish tanned complexion and a thin line representing his lips. He was dressed in an old dark red Chinese tunic reaching his knees, black linen pants and shoes made out of black fabric and a wooden base. His thin white hair picked in a small braid, exposing a layer of sweat in his forehead. His face held seriousness and a light strict aura, but the corner of his lips rising upwards was radiating warmth towards Daniel, making him feel more at ease around the man, who carefully observed him.

"You are not from our places, are you son?" the elder Chinese asked and Daniel returned a headshake.

"No sir" he ensured him and the man inhaled from his nose before exhaling from his mouth calmly, his breath coming at the form of a greyish mist, creating a dark cloud around Daniel's face before it disappeared. The young boy stared in pure amazement at how the cloud was fading around him and the shot the man a surprised look with open mouth. The grin of amusement made Daniel regret his actions and cleared his throat loudly before addressing the man.

"Sir, I am looking for master Abu" he indirectly demanded to learn the location of the mentioned man, earning a hum of curiosity from the elder who remained indifferent.

"Why would a child from far away like you be looking for him?" the man answered his question with one of his own, triggering Daniel's patience.

"I am afraid I cannot provide that information sir" Daniel stated, not feeling the slightest apologetic.

"Then I am afraid I cannot reveal his location" with that the man turned around and started pacing away from Daniel, causing the boy to snap. What's his problem? Why would he care if he wants to talk to master Abu? As far as he knows, he has many students from all around the world, teaching them martial arts. At least that's what the world knows. Judging by his mum's words, he must be a dark magic teacher too or something and he can enlighten him about the Sunken Souls and his dark powers…and now this strange old man won't let him see him! Sighing in a mixture of defeat and indignation, he frowned and spoke loudly.

"Fine, I was told he can help me activate and learn how to control my dark powers. My name is Daniel, Daniel Cole" he confessed and then growled, angry he had to do so. The man turned around slowly, a smile tugged upon his lips as he noticed the young boy's rage and fire. A knowing look in his eyes caused Daniel to gasp, feeling even more stupid he hadn't realized in the moment he stepped in the building/

"You-You are Master Abu, aren't you?" he asked in amazement and the man only gave him the smallest of nobs, making him frustrated.

"Why didn't you say so when I told you I wanted to see you?" he stated in bewilderment, unable to read the master's half open eyes.

"Tell me child, why where you so interested in the meander?" he calmly asked, as if getting away from such an important topic didn't mean much. Daniel felt his blood boil and his patience running thin, but if he wanted answers, he had to play along.

"It accents from a Greek myth, the labyrinth of the Minotaur and seeing it in China surprised me. I didn't know it was used in Chinese furniture" he admitted, his tongue running a marathon to finally get in the topic at hat.

"Any idea why we have a labyrinth inspired key pattern at our temple?" ha sked indifferent and Daniel felt a mixture of anger, curiosity and at the same time…lost. He was supposed to be the one to ask him questions and now it feels like he is taking his first exam in architecture.

"I-I don't know… but that's not the point sir! My dad is one of the Sunken Souls, I have inherited his dark powers and want to know how to-"Daniel was cut off again by master Abu. He felt his throat dry and his eye was twitching out of impatience.

"I know who you are, just like I know what your father and uncle is, about your powers, about what you are capable of… what I don't know is what you seek. You say you want to activate your powers and control them…but is that your heart or brain talking?" Somehow, the master managed to finish his speech with a question again, leaving Daniel frozen in his tracks. What does he seek…saving his sister of course and save the human race from Airdan and that was coming from both his brain and heart. It was both what he wanted and the right thing to do.

What surprised him the most was his attitude, his words and his presence in general? Is that how a master and teacher of dark magic looks like? Daniel highly doubts that. It's not like he expected some monstrous and vicious looking man like his uncle, but this man could as well be teaching yoga. Daniel couldn't help but stare at him in bewilderment.

"Are you really a master of dark arts or was I informed wrong?" he expressed his doubts without hesitation or fear of sounding rude towards his superior. For the first time, the old man lifted the corner of his lips upwards in amusement by the boy's confusion.

"You were informed just right Daniel, just not enough" he answered his question and took the curiosity in Daniel's eyes as a sign to continue "Tell me my boy, how can an entire school of dark magic survive in such a place without light magicians taking over it and… punish the dark magicians?" really, what's wrong with that man and questions? Daniel now had no doubts that he was testing his patience and he was keen on stop giving him the pleasure of winning in his confused face. He cleared his throat, straightened his back and put on his most serious expression, ready to show him that he is not a random boy who has no idea about dark magic –which was kind of true back then- and that he can do much more than what he looks capable of. If the seeker council considers him trained enough and ready to work as a lone agent at the age of fifteen, imagine what he can do with his inherited dark powers.

"A protective barrier perhaps?" he asked, but this time with a straight face, not feeling embarrassed about his lack of knowledge. After all, this is what he came here for, to suck the knowledge out of him.

"No my boy, it's because they have no reason to close that school. We practice forbidden magic indeed, but we never use it the way dark magicians do. Have you ever heard about the theory of Neutral magic?" the master calmly answered his question and finished with his own infamous one, causing Daniel to smile the slightest of bits. At least he could answer that.

"Yes sir, it's a theory which was built by Alchemists practicing magic at the 17th century, alchemists who were also magicians and were trying to offer their services both to the human world and the world of the magicians. It claims that we define magic with the way we use it" as he was recalling that theory, which he had managed to learn by sneaking in secret entrances of libraries all over Greece where his last mission took place, the screws on his brain started working and he finally found an answer "This is why they cannot close it! You use forbidden magic…for good purpose?" Daniel asked, taken by surprise by his own theory and by the confirmation master Abu gave in return. After his experience with his uncle, believing those theories seemed impossible, not because they had no reasonable basis but because he had already formed an opinion about magic which he stubbornly managed to preserve.

"Well my boy, I assume you know about the forbidden dark arts. My spirit magic students have the chance to work in Investigation fields by borrowing a spirit with its own permission, travel to other dimensions and record what is in there, make discoveries of the galaxy, give themselves the power of the spirit to understand those entities more. They can also help seekers which have trouble bonding with a titan and many other thigs. My blood magician students have cured many blood diseases, most of them choose to study medicine, which we provide here, as we have many professors for different professions, and they can also enchant their own blood and use it as a weapon. As for necromancers, they help people communicate with their loved ones in the Underworld, they inform them what they become in the afterlife, they communicate with magicians, scientists, historians from very old times to fill gaps in the history of magic, of humanity, of science, and they are the reason I have been alive for 700 years" he proudly announced the achievements and ability to his students, leaving Daniel with a half open mouth and wide eyes which could easily be mistaken for owl's. Master Abu lifted the corner of his lips in amusement, an action which was barely visible under his bushy long grey beard.

"Necromancers have this spectacular ability to recreate human and other cells. When your cells die, they bring them back to life and there is no need for other cells to multiply themselves. They keep your organism at a specific phase and age. Most necromancers have lived on this planet for at least a century but this kind of magic is the hardest to learn. It requires devotion, mental strength and tough nerves. But I believe that an heir of a sunken soul has all those requirements. You must have noticed the advantages your father's powers give you. You can master a magic three times faster than any ordinary magician, which is why I believe your training will be shorter. Suits you well, since I can tell you are in a hurry and very thirsty for knowledge. Am I right Daniel?"

"How-How did you-? Uh never mind. You know what? I came here to suck the knowledge out of you as fast as possible, because I don't have a century for what I want to do. I need you to train me, to help me master my powers as soon as possible, someone I love is in danger and I need to surpass my enemy's level" The boy broke down. He couldn't take any more questions or make philosophical conversation when his sister was still at his uncle's hands. Master Abu noticed the desperation in his shaky voice, but Daniel didn't seem to care at all now. Hearing what magicians who use dark magic can do was just a reminder of how little he knows so far, and how far he is from having even the slightest possibility to defeat his uncle. The face of his teacher was robbed any sign of the previous emotions and got icy serious.

"Finally, you told me what you seek. Now let's get serious. Since your father hadn't activated his powers when he created you, it will be harder for you to activate them. But once you do, they will be twice as strong as he could have ever been. I calculate that your training will approximately take a year, which I suppose is a perfect timing for you. It's impossible for an ordinary magician to master even one dark art in a year. Are you ready to give everything you've got?" he finished his speech, giving birth to a glow of hope in Daniel's face, a bright smile gracing his lips.

"When do we start?" He asked impatiently and Master Abu smirked.

"Right now of course"


6 years ago, Organization, Prague

Master Abu was right, it didn't took Daniel less than a year to master blood and spirit magic and reach a remarkable level in necromancy. His powers were incredible and were noticed and recognized by his classmates, who admired and respected him. There was not such a thing as grades in this magic school, the teachers would only decide whether you can go to the next level according to what requirements you qualify. If you got more than five magic abilities of the kind of magic you are being tested on, you can move on. Daniel had no difficulties with any of the tests. He had devoted his time to practicing and attending as much extra lessons and magic seminars as possible, which only quickened his learning pace. He could also handle his foundation given missions quite well and often asked for help from the classmates he was close to in order to finish them quickly.

Daniel only had one complain. During this year, master Abu didn't tell him much about the sunken souls. He took him only once, to the place where someone can find the source of their power and told him a story full of questions and riddles. This old man just loves questions, but no the questions or the answers he gave were enough to provide him the required information to defeat his uncle. Master Abu just kept reminding him to never stop learning new spells, new tactics, everything he can about magic. Knowledge is the real source of power and if he can gain more knowledge than his uncle, then not just the sunken soul, but not even "The Punished" or Azrael can harm him. At least master Abu claims so and Daniel never doubted that. He had many advantages to battles due to his knowledge about different topics about magic or generally.

One of his wins was when he decided to start trying to locate his uncle's castle. Using his spirit powers, he shared his body with a titan known as the "Watcher", an observatory Yama titan, who allowed him to have a highly developed sense of direction. He could find his way wherever he went, as if he had an embodied gps on him, and always go to the places that are originally in the area of his destination. No matter what kind of illusion spell a mage has casted to hide his castle, if Daniel's original destination is that exact castle, he won't be fooled if he confronts the Louvre instead of it and can also see what lies behind what others cannot see… because this is his real destination. Luckily and just as he suspected, his uncle hadn't chosen a well-known art museum or a tourist attraction as his hideout… he had many!

It seemed like his castle moves from place to place and it's always in a forest. Daniel had gotten close to it many times, but never had the time to witness the construction at all its glory, only faint glimpses of something that looked like a building in the middle of nowhere, before it faints and changes its location. He only managed to get close enough three times and at those times, he stood far from the castle and let the Watcher take his mind to the destination he desired, the place where his uncle is. He would stand 5oo meters away from the castle but would see inside it and he wishes he could forget what he had seen as much as he wishes to find his sister and Zhalia at the present.

After all of those attempts and after he had decided to stop attending the rest of the classes and not fully master necromancy, he asked Metz to infiltrate the Organization as a double agent… the reason? Simple, after he had unofficially graduated, he had hard time controlling his powers without master Abu's presence. Having found out after secretly spying on the Organization facilities all around the globe that in Prague there is this mad scientist, Klaus Moon, he decided to offer himself as a lab rat. With that way, every time he would try to practice his powers and lose control, it will be considered an effect or a failure of Klaus's experiments. In the meantime, he would provide the Foundation valuable information. Back at the time, he couldn't find a flaw in his plan, until something no one can ever expect in their lives happened… he fell in love.

As Daniel was walking down the corridor to reach his so called room –more like a rat hole-, he happened to pass in front of another agent's room. From what his ears could gather, it seemed like some boys where harassing a female agent. Daniel frowned in displeasure wrinkled his nose upon realizing so.

He absolutely cannot stand sexism and gender inequality. According to his personal opinion, woman can do as much as man can do. He was even beaten a couple of times by a woman at the school of dark magic back in China. Daniel never dared to look down on woman, he actually respects them and felt a proud whenever he would she a woman prove a man wrong. To his mind, woman are equally capable and respectable beings like men, and seeing some guys objectifying them or use them for pleasure just kicks a nerve on him. Even though he was very tired after the procedure of the day and wanted to lock himself in his room and study instead of training, he decided to gather his strength and go teach those scum a lesson.

Before he could take a step, he could hear moans of pain. Those idiots decided to go from sexually harassing this woman to beating her up. This is just way too much! Daniel won't allow this to go any further.

Quickly he rushed in the room and smashed the door in the wall; the scenery that greeted him was beyond his expectations and made his jaw drop to the floor. Turns out the moans of pain didn't come from the woman, but from the guys who were squeaking in an annoying high pitched silly tone. They were lying on the floor, breathing heavily and cursing under their breath while trying to get up and the woman was standing right in front of them with her hands crossed in her chest. Daniel took a mental note to improve his earing after that.

"Next time you try anything stupid, the punishment will be according to your idiocy, because that was nothing!" the woman warned them and shot them a glare that could have eliminated the earth's population, Daniel actually gulped, even if the threat wasn't directed towards him. This woman had such a strong and powerful presence, she appeared to be tough and the kind of person you don't want to mess with. Daniel couldn't help but be impressed with how she defends herself and her pride wile containing her patience and composure. Daniel actually smiled proudly at her, but she only noticed his presence after the two pathetic low lives left her room running and screaming like anime female characters while cursing on her in Polish… they must be Polish agents.

Zhalia turned to look at him indifferent and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow when her eyes caught his smile.

"I assume you were amused by the scene. I am glad I could assist in entertaining you but that's not my job and what's going on in my room is none of your business, so get out" she blurted with a serious expression which failed to discourage Daniel from continue smiling.

"Indeed it was amusing to watch those pathetic bastards learn a lesson. It would have been fun if I had the chance to teach them one, but it seems that you can handle them just fine, so my presence is not required. I am sorry if I caused any kind of disturbance um-? I didn't catch your name" Daniel replied in a casual manner, feeling comfortable around the woman who obviously wanted to get rid of him. Suddenly, her expression changed… not much, just the glimpse in her eyes no longer represented irritation, but pure interest and curiosity.

"My name is Zhalia Moon, and I am guessing you are Daniel Cole, my dad's new lab rat" she introduced herself and took Daniel by surprise. He had heard that Klaus has a daughter but never had the chance to meet her during his three months as a spy and was very curious. She was much more beautiful than what he expected her to be and had hard time believing that she and this insane monster were related.

"I've heard about you. It's an honor to finally meet you. I am guessing you took by your mother's side" he commented in a complimenting manner and Zhalia blinked a bit before letting out a small, bitter chuckle.

"I see, you like to play the hero to gain attention and then you turn out to be no different than these guys"

"What? No, you took it all wrong, I'm not flirting you, I just made a compliment… sorry if I said something wrong" he cleared the misunderstanding and made the blunette raise a brow. So far, all boys at her age tend to objectify her, judging her by her feminine appearance and she is disappointed they still haven't learned their lesson. Just his words can't convince her he is different, but the mere fact that he was about to walk in and stop those bastards from harassing her spoke for itself.

"So… my dad's lab rat is the knight in shinny armor who jumped out of Cinderella" she inquired with a tone of irony in her silky voice and Daniel awkwardly smiled.

"And he bumped into Mulan. Obviously you didn't need me back then. You seemed like a strong woman, you could defend yourself pretty well" Daniel commented and made Zhalia lose her guard for a second. She always acknowledged herself to be a woman and demanded respect from people around her, a respect which she received only when her missions were successfully and flawlessly accomplished by her father's point of view. Up until now, she was the talented girl, the interesting girl, the "nice piece of meat for drooling low creatures", no one ever acknowledged her as a woman and as much as realization hunted her, she was no longer blind to not see that she is a tool. Yet she can deny that this is what she has allowed herself to become and it was the only way out of starvation. Sometimes she considers her lack of gratitude punishable, but her pride insists. She is a woman, no one can change that. Something about that guy makes her want to believe him… he seems… interesting.

Noticing her silence and the lost look in her eyes, Daniel coughed awkwardly.

"Ok…I think my presence is no longer required so-"

"Wait!" Zhalia interrupted him before he could turn around, startling him pleasantly. He actually wanted to stay and have a conversation with her, not just because she is Klaus's daughter. The only dynamic and independent woman he has met was back in the mages school, it is very rare to find one in the Organization and considering that he is about to spent a countable amount of his life there, he could use a different face… a beautiful face. He quickly turned to face her and shot her a hopeful look, watching how she tried to find the right words and at the same time, trying to hide her nervousness.

"How come you decided to become a lab rat, I hear that you are capable of way more than enduring pain?" she asked after a while and Daniel detected genuine curiosity in her voice. He looked down for a second; thinking of what he can and cannot say. At that moment, he realized how many things he has been keeping to himself and how he never had anyone to actually open up completely. But why did this woman brought this feeling to him all of a sudden?

"It's… a long story" he decided to utter after a while and Zhalia's lips formed a faint smile, as faint as the veil of mist, hiding a mystery, her own long story.

"I got time" she said and got herself comfortable at her couch, signalizing Daniel to sit as well. The boy smiled and took a seat a few meters away, respecting her space and thinking that sitting too close would only make her suspicious of his intentions after what happened before.

"If you say so, but in one condition" he suggested with a smirk and Zhalia returned it

"Name it"

"I would like to hear your own long story" he finished after she encouraged him too and Zhalia turned thoughtful for a while. She wasn't very keen on sharing her past, but then again, Daniel isn't either, and no one said they have to share everything.

"Deal, you go first"


2 years ago, Prague

Slowly but steadily, after every day, after every mission, they kept adding parts to their stories for the next four years, until they had built up their own beautiful story, a story based on the strong feelings they had developed for each other. However, some of Daniel's missions weren't beneficial for the Organization, but for his original purpose and knowing about them immediately exposes you to the eye of danger. It's the amount of knowledge we call 'too much'. Zhalia, being the only person of this place that he trusted, knew too much… it was only a matter of time till she would experience the kind of danger Daniel is. When that time came, Daniel couldn't bring himself to stay b her side as much as he wished to. He couldn't bring himself to expose her in more danger his uncle caused, which is why he had to leave her, to leave the Organization for good and never turn around. That day, he sat beside her bed, their bed, and stroked her soft silky hair, their color having the same shade of dark blue that painted the sky. His hands went from her hair, to her cheek and then to her neck, when a burning mark who was bigger than it looked started from near her nape. This was his fault. Recalling that battle and seeing her getting hurt on repeat only brought more pain in his heart, a pain he couldn't erase from himself, but he could erase it from her. Taking a last careful look of her beautiful face, memorizing every detail, he sighed and a smile's shade fell on his lips. He kissed her burning mark, he kissed her cheek, her forehead, her lips, before placing his palm on her forehead. The darkness of the night hid a pained expression in his face as he muttered the words:

"Lithium of love" only those three words were required to make her forget she ever loved him, forget the fact that there was a time when they woke up together, they trained, laughed, fought, kissed, gave their whole to one another. She would only remember his existence in her life, as an old friend, nothing more and nothing less. A bright white glow surrounded Daniel's hands and light blue magic ribbons as think as hair danced around Zhalia's head, getting in and out of it, each one carrying a memory. Finishing the spell, he stood up and made his way to the door as noiselessly as he could, but at the end, he couldn't stop himself and broke his own promise.

He looked back.


Two weeks after 'The Dream'

Brooklyn's shadow form stood at the stone ceiling of the third corridor that led to his library, a lizard formed titan invisible at her side, only the barely audible growls that escaped his teeth betrayed its presence. Her senses were on high alert as she started counting. 50, 49, 48…

During those two weeks, the imprisoned females had the time to examine Airdan's program. Where he went, when was he away from the cells, the library, and the castle and knew the exact time the monstrous guards changed shifts, took breaks secretly so that their boss won't punish them and of course Brooklyn knew how to avoid the traps, secret corridors, how to full the guards and have access to his library, which was locked with blood magic and only a Cole and their companions can enter, this time her companion being Gareon. 32, 31, 30…

Turns out Zhalia's theory was right, the titans she had in her body belonged to her uncle. After she got back in her cell the day they made the plan, she tried locking and unlocking her fretters many times and it always worked. It was all just for show, to make her fear him. As always, her uncle is all words and no act, but when he actually acts… he makes each and every one of his words come true. Brooklyn felt a tremble as her saliva run through has badly stitched up remaining of her tongue, the taste of blood could be traced even though the wound was no longer bleeding. Another good idea of Zhalia's was using Gareon, which turned out to come in handy, since neither her uncle nor she had any idea of his presence in the building all this long. 25, 24, 23…

The times when Zhalia was alone, she would try to cast spells to escape but they wouldn't work, she would try to call her titans, but a force coming from the fetters would make them return to their amulet before they could even take a form in front of their mistress. Only Gareon was untraceable. Zhalia thought that it is because he is her power-bonded titan when Brooklyn assumes that it's simply because he had been invoked this entire time, from the very first moment she was taken to the hospital until now and she didn't need to invoke him and trigger the force of the fetters. 15, 14, 13…

Whatever it was, Gareon is only an advantage they have now. Zhalia sometimes tried attacking Airdan with Gareon or have him escape but in the first case, his magic wouldn't work and in the second, he would end up in different places every time he would try to escape and wait for Brooklyn to appear in one of them in order to grab her feet and get teleported back to his mistress. Now though, the titan could make himself useful and help Brooklyn search for her titan's amulets in her uncle's library. 10, 9, 8…

For the very last seconds, Brooklyn's mind travelled back to Zhalia's team when she contacted them. How broken, stressed and worn out they were, how sad, exhausted and confused they felt and the worst part was that all this is partly her fault. But she is going to fix it! She will make it up to them and do the right thing, like Zhalia did, like she did when she shared her clues and worked with Eathon and now with Zhalia. Like she did and saw the hope in the Fears brother's eyes. That small momentary glow in Harrison's pale light blue eyes and the smile on Den's face warmed her heart and gave her more motives to go on. She can do something good after all; she can make them happy again by bringing Zhalia back, like she did when she gave Harrison hope, but this time so much more. But there's no time to think of that now. 3, 2, 1…

As she finished counting, the monstrous guard in a heavy rusty armor moved from his place and the corridor finally emptied, leaving their way to the library safe. Both the female and the titan grew visible again, landed to the ground and made their way carefully to the end of the corridor where the library was located. Standing in front of the big wooden gate with ruby decorations, Brooklyn glanced at the titan to ensure that it's ready and Gareon nobbed. Taking out a small piece of sharp glass, she made another cut in her hand and squeezed it so that her blood drops can flow in the sharp ruby handles. The library was now open.

They walked their way to his dark wooden desk and gazed at the labyrinth of libraries that surrounded them, their steps on the white plackets echoing in the room. Taking a closer look at the plackets, Brooklyn could see the reflection of the ceiling made out of sharp pointy rubies, which seemed really elegant compared to the walls which were designed in such a way to make the library look like an underground space. Even the wooden libraries had black and ruby carvings which looked like tears falling from the two big eyes designed on top of each library. Sometimes he wondered why her uncle is so passionate about rubies, underground spaces and old fashioned stuff. The loud cracking shout of the gates getting shut interrupted her thoughts and caused her to turn around terrified. Gareon growled beside her and motioned his head at the libraries. Brooklyn then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, looking straight at the titan's eyes.

"Alright buddy, this will take a while" she said and they headed to the labyrinth with determination, a determination which started to wither after 25 minutes passed with them running in deadlocks or making circles.

Brooklyn kept counting all along and felt a wave of anxiety overtake her as she realized they have only the discouraging amount of 15 minutes left to find her titans. She stopped walking and sighed in disappointment, the titan stopping in its tracks with her and looked at her with sympathy. Having spent all this long trying to help his mistress, Gareon had started to like Brooklyn. The damaged female looked at the titan with her forest green eyes possessing emptiness.

"Maybe this is pointless Gareon. How was there ever any hope of finding them when we got no way of finding our way to this stupid labyrinth?" she asked the titan with motions of her hands and herself simultaneously before sighing again and trying to make her way back to the desk again, Gareon following right behind her. She wasn't going to give up, but the hope she was carrying was almost eliminated. Maybe if they just do that again many times and make a map of the library they will find a way, just not today.

As they were making their way to their desk, both Brooklyn's and Gareon's eyes were looking at the libraries, specifically at the eyes on top of them and for the first time, Brooklyn noticed that not all libraries had eyes on top of them and that the eyes had different colors. She didn't bother paying attention to them, thinking they were just a decoration, one more of her uncle's crazy idea. But now those eyes seemed to be something more than ornamentation.

Zhalia, who has been with them the whole time through her bond with Gareon, heard her titan telling her about those eyes. An idea hit her clever blue head and her eyes lit up.

"Gareon, tell Brooklyn to follow the eyes. Follow one color at a time! They must be something like guides to an end of the library" he ordered him through their bond.

"Yes mistress" he replied and turned to look at a rather lost Brooklyn. Judging by her imagination, anyone would have expected Brooklyn to figure this one out, but the poor female has been exhausting herself so much lately, her mind needs some rest and not just some inactivity, but true and effective rest in a soft mattress of an actual bed she had missed so much.

Gareon growled to gain her attention and after he did so, he pointed at the green eye they could see and then pointed at the direction the eye was looking. Brooklyn followed his motion and then the direction and in the next corridor, there was another green eye besides others which looked left. The damaged female felt her hopes rise again and looked at the titan with a grateful smile.

She kept following the green eyes for now and at some point, she stopped seeing other colors and finally got into an end, but this time not a dead one. While following the green eyes, she noticed that there were 7 different colors, green, blue, yellow, purple, red, orange and white, so she assumed that each color leads to another end with another new discovery for them to make. At the end the green eyes led them was a pedestal surrounded by dark green curtains. Brooklyn opened them and saw a dark wooden chest with a golden lock.

Just perfect, how are they going to unlock it? Brooklyn run her hand through her dirty blond hair and frowned in frustration. They got 10 more minutes and hey have to unlock this damn chest. She glanced at Gareon for any kind of ideas coming either from him or from Zhalia and the titan gave the lock a punch, indicating he is suggesting her to use force. Brooklyn was hesitant at first, worrying that her uncle might suspect something but then again, when they'll be out of there he will notice anyway. Maybe the chest is locked with blood magic… she thought and used the sharp piece of glass to cut her flesh again, fresh blood leaking to the lock but this time, something strange happened, something that Brooklyn hadn't experienced before…

Her blood started taking the shape of a key, leaking continuously from her cut and fitting perfectly into the lock. Subconsciously, Brooklyn moved her hand and her blood followed her motion, unlocking the chest and revealing a bronze amulet with a lime green gemstone. Using the spell Sorrow bond, she freed the titan from his previous owner and it immediately bonded with her.

'Peter Pan…great, you are one of my favorites and most useful titan' she thought and put the amulet in her small pocket attached to her leggings. Glancing at Gareon in pure satisfaction and bliss, she signaled him to start following the other eyes as fast as they could.

After getting the hang of it, it wasn't hard to find the other chests and unlock them in the exact same way with the first one and Brooklyn finally owned her titans. They managed to get out of the library the last five seconds before Brooklyn took her shadow form and rushed to Zhalia's cell at the speed of light, just when her uncle was about to open the gates. If he is already at the library, it won't take him long to find out that the titans are missing.

For the first time in years, she didn't feel any burden or any fear while using Peter Pan. There wasn't any possibility of him taking her to any bizarre place, taking control over her, make her feel lost. No, now Peter Pan was hers and she could fight with him, not against him.

She reached Zhalia's cell and appeared right in front of her, rising from her shadow on the floor and taking a human form, Gareon arriving shortly after her. Zhalia's face lit up as she saw them.

"Well done Brooke" she congratulated her and Brooklyn shot her a warm smile, before using her magic to untie Zhalia's fetters, letting her blood flow on them and with a red glow and a clicking sound, Zhalia was free. She had told Brooklyn to leave without her, but she insisted they at least try to escape together.

After her feet touched the ground, she rubbed her bruised wrists and let out a deep breath, walking around in relief. She simply couldn't believe she was stepping on the ground, she was free… she glanced at Brooklyn with a smile, equally wide with hers and the two females gave each other a hug. But this wasn't over, they weren't free yet. They had to get out of there and wherever Airdan's exit would take them, one of them must be able to use Thought specter once they set foot out of this castle. Quickly they made their way out of the so called lab and followed Brooklyn to the nearest exit she knew.

But this would have just been too good to be true…

Without a warning, Zhalia and Brooklyn felt the blood curl in their veins and fell to the ground. The two unfortunate females suppressed their screams and turn to confront an amused Airdan, standing only a few meters away and walking closer to them with a smirk on his face. Zhalia's expression displayed pure disgust while Brooklyn couldn't even bring herself to frown… she was getting weaker those days, Zhalia had noticed so.

With a motion of his head, Zhalia got thrown in the stone wall of the corridor and hit her head hard, making her fall on the ground barely conscious. With the last amount of strength remained in her body, she struggled to keep her eyes open and saw Airdan approaching Brooklyn and casting a spell on her, a dark black glow surrounding her before it faded away and left Brooklyn moaning in pain.

"No" Zhalia barely whispered. She knew that spell and it wasn't good. All the chances they had to get out of there seemed to have been obliterated… at least for one of them. Brooklyn has been through too much in her life and Zhalia doesn't wish to let her suffer any longer. She as well can cast Thought specter, Zhalia had taught her those weeks and much to her surprise, she learns fast for a girl who can barely walk on her feet and hasn't had a proper meal or rest for God knows how long. Once she is out, she can go to Venice and find Dante. With Brooklyn at their side, they have a chance to stop him and also, she might be able to put some reason to Daniel. The only thing she had to do was distract Airdan and give Brooklyn enough time to reach the exit and she just found the perfect timing.

No longer after the spell faded, Airdan approached Brooklyn with a dagger in his hand and was ready to stab her, to torture her again. This was her chance to distract him and she knew exactly how. She didn't care about the consequences, all that matters now is giving a chance to the team to stop Airdan otherwise the whole world will suffer.

Meanwhile Brooklyn felt a piercing pain all over her body, as if she was being ripped in half. She was no longer trying to suppress her screams and had a hard time keeping her consciousness. She saw her uncle approaching her with a devilish smirk, holding his favorite dagger threateningly.

"You shouldn't have done that love. Thinking you can escape again? It shouldn't even be a dream for you" he growled angrily and let out a cry as he raised his hand and was about to stab his niece, as a punishment for her idiocy…

But the dagger never pierced Brooklyn's flesh…

Instead, in front of a terrified now Brooklyn and a shocked Airdan stood Zhalia… her gaze cloudy and her mouth stubbornly shut as she trembled, feeling the knife piercing the left side of her chest…right where her glass heart lies. Airdan let go of the dagger and took a few steps back, blinking in shock.

No! It can't be! He simply can't just have…broken Zhalia's glass heart.

Without thinking twice, Zhalia turned to Brooklyn who let out a scream upon seeing the knife in her chest and reached out with trembling hands to take it away. But Zhalia pushed her hands away and managed to lift her own hand and point at the exit.

"GO! Find Dante! Just go!" she tried to scream, but it came out as a muffled whisper. Brooklyn wanted to do anything but that, however, she had no chance on beating her uncle and taking Zhalia with her. Deep down she knew that escaping and finding the team was the only way.

Taking her shadow form, she dashed to the exit at the blink of an eye. The last think she heard was her uncle screaming "no!" and a moan of pain coming from Zhalia…

She couldn't know what happened afterwards… Did her uncle pull out the dagger? Did Zhalia's heart break? Is she alive anymore?

Brooklyn felt tears welling up in her eyes. She screwed up again… she couldn't do anything! She should have predicted this! However, even now that she was out of Airdan's castle, time wasn't on her side.

Without even taking a pic at the surrounding her uncle's spell had taken her into, she focused hard on recalling a street of Venice and casted the spell she needed.

Landing in a narrow secluded side street, she let her back hit the moisty brick wall and slid to the ground. She no longer had strength to hold on, so she allowed herself to lose her senses with both relief and worry.

Relief because she was finally free

Worry because Zhalia was still there with that monster and she didn't even know if she was still alive…


A/N: Hello my beautiful aliens! Long time no see huh? I apologize for that. I promise i will try my best to update earlier. *bows 90 degrees* Please forgive me...

Alright so... This is how Daniel mastered his dark powers, how he met Zhalia and WHY she doesn't remember their relationship. It must hurt to watch someone you love dearly fall for someone else...not like i know anything about it *averts gaze...
And Brooklyn escaped! *celebrating music on the backround* but what happened to Zhalia? Is she alive? Airdan stabbed her right in the left side of her chest, she can't possibly be alive right? What happens if the glass heart is gone? Can Airdan still accomplish his plan? What did master Abu tell Daniel about the Sunken Souls? I need to reveal what exactly they are in a chapter...somewhere in the distant future...
You think Airdan wll find a way to track Brooklyn again? Will she find Dante and the team on time? What has the team been up to those two weeks? Are they in Italy? Has Dante recovered yet? What will happen or happened in Manitomba? What do you think of master Abu? Has your opinion about Daniel changed or not?

Just wait until the next chapter!

Never forget to smile and stay awesome!~

Lots of love from Irene Rays!~~~~