Let the updates begin…

As a present for all of my readers, I decided to do one chapter for each of my stories for today. That means I have been writing like crazy, editing like a madwoman (still not done with the last story, but working on it) and frying my brain when I get a writers block.

I have being abusing soundtracks to keep me focus on writing, and this chapter specially was the result of hearing all Assassins Creed soundtrack.

Without anything else, I will see you in the bottom.

Enjoy.


Chapter 12

Darkness


Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong.

No matter how fast light travels,

it finds the darkness has always got there first

and is waiting for it.

Terry Pratchett


Ava's POV

Taking a last step backwards, I spin around, closing my eyes and walking into the clearing. I feel how the air around Maureen's son comes to life, sending a couple of rocks in my direction. Chuckling softly, I raise a hand and dissolve the rocks, so not even dust touches me. I move closer to him, his stand is tense and his powers are raising ready to defend. I stop when I'm facing Maureen's son, I let my powers raise a little bit, the air around me becoming almost solid.

-I know how you feel… everything must be so confusing. – I start to move around him, forming a circle. I pass besides a ghoul that growls showing its yellow pointy teeth-. The whispers from the dark are getting louder and louder, they call your name, offering what you desire the most but only if you do something for them. Some are just standing there in the back of your mind always present. –I open my eyes slowly, revealing to him my black eyes- I'm pretty sure your wish to see me was so great, that you were able to help your mother and mine to break the control spell that was cast upon them.

I stop when I complete the circle, staring directly into his black eyes. I take a look better to the once green field, but now only the corpses of the plants one day lived here remains. Around him, small circles were his barrier is stronger, shows how the ground had being disturbed.

How…? His eyes wide open as he stares into mine. He told me you were different from me, that only I was able to…

-He is wrong. You and I are very much alike. This… - I open my arms and signal to the clearing- is something that happens to every Sagart as powerful as us.

I'm not a Sagart. I smile and shake my head.

-Yes, you are. Your mother is a Sagart, so a part of you is a Sagart. Even thou she has being unable to introduce you into our costumes, you are one of us. – He shakes his head-. You see, we Sagart are very misunderstood. Other races see us as only light, and in the eyes of many as one of the purest creatures. You see me as only light, right? – He nods-. Yet you feel how I'm summoning my power from darkness. – He hesitates before nodding-. You think darkness is only evil?

He frowns and I decide to move to the other side of the clearing, watching from the corner of my eye our very shocked audience. Maureen is growing tired by the minute and at the risk of losing the connection with her son, I open ours and send her a wave of reassurance, when she lights up, I close the bond and focus again in her son.

Darkness brings destruction, it harms, it burns. Only evil things can come from darkness.

-Then I'm evil?

His gaze lingers heavily in me. Accidentally I brush a hand against the cold grayish skin of a ghoul. A shiver runs down my spine, and I fight my instinct of move fast away from it. The pale yellow eyes, tainted with red looks at me with wrath, I look down, giving him a warning as I summon a small ball of fire where our bodies touches.

I don't think you are evil. I can only feel love and compassion from you even now that you are tainted with darkness.

Maureen's son' voice takes me out of the staring contest, and I allow the fire to die. His face is full of contempt, making me laugh without trace of humor.

-Tainted you say? – The words leave my mouth with a bitter taste. I lift my gaze towards the stars, keeping my senses open-. Darkness and light have existed since the beginning in a balance, but when our antecessors were awake to this world, they classified the darkness as evil, because they couldn't understand the beauty that offers the darkness. Afraid of what happen during the night without moon and stars, afraid of what was lurking in the deepest and darkest places of their mind.

I look down to Maureen's son, to see him staring at the stars with awe, and I smile to him. He takes a step forward, his eyes losing some of the darkness. He hesitates, but takes another step towards me.

Did something like this happen to you? I nod.

-I was barely two years when I found myself under the same situation you are currently in. I remember being angered by something, - I chuckle when the Gnéithe whispers to me the reason, making the boy lift an eyebrow-sorry the Gnéithe just pointed out I was angered because my father was attempting to make me go to sleep while I wanted to stay playing with my bunny. I was overwhelmed with my own emotions and I released my own powers in the middle of tantrum, - my body trembles for a moment with just the memory of that much raw power cursing thru my veins-. I was too young to be able to control my emotions and the power. It grew worst when I panicked, as the darkness was answering my call. For a moment I though that the only thing that I could bring was destruction. My father did what I'm doing with you right now. He guided me towards the light, by telling me I was much more than only darkness.

He seemed deep in though and keeping silence I asses the situation. The ghouls were starting to move. No quick solution till I'm able to asses the Scáth I will be facing. I tell myself, slowing down my breaths.

So I will never be a normal kid, isn't it? I will always be afraid of harming someone.

-I wish I could tell you that you will be as the other kids, but that will be lying to you. We are different even among our kind. We both posses wisdom beyond our years and we have wake to the call of the Gnéithe before becoming of age. – He frowns and the ground surrounding him cracks with his resentment-. But you can have a very happy childhood if you give us a try.

None will accept me as part of their family, I'm a monster.

-Your mom, my mom and I want you to be part of our family, and if you haven't notice you are already part of it. –When he shakes his head, I roll my eyes -. Do you think we will be standing here, risking being kill either by the Scáth and ghouls that are guarding you or by you losing the little bit of control you have on your powers, if we didn't want you to be part of our family? What is keeping you so mad?

He looks down towards the ground, at the same time I feel movement behind me. Just my luck. I curse silently. Hold on a little bit more Maureen please! Feeling suddenly tired, I bit down my lip.

People will die for and because of me. You, grandma and mom are standing here because of me, to find a way to protect me. I don't want for anyone to get hurt, not because of me.

My heart brakes at the sight of a single tear that falls from his eyes. The fear coming thru the bond is stronger, making up my mind; I pass thru his barrier, wincing a little at the effort his barrier does to keep me away and kneel in front him.

-Éadrom will be your name. -Taking his small face between my hands, I kiss his forehead softly-. Don't be afraid to walk in the light.

-You…

I place a finger upon his lips, shaking my head.

-You are deeply loved, Éadrom. There is always light inside a person that can be loved that much, we can see it, it's just a matter of time so you can see it too. – Another tear streams down his face, and the black starts to pull back -. What is about to happen, Éadrom is my choice.

Your mom is behind that trees, when is safe, go there. I tell him.

Placing a quick kiss in his forehead, I stand up facing the ghouls that are moving slowly, the paws on its feet making scratching noises. Whispers fill my mind, all making promises to stand by my side on the fight.

Maureen, stay back with the others. Focus on finding the Scáth and slow him down if I don't seem to take notice. Mom, I would appreciate if you can take a shoot to the ones closer to you without bringing attention. My eyes find Seth's and I can't help but smile, a warm feeling spreading thru my chest. Maybe you will need to alert someone to hold down Seth…

Facing the ghouls again, I block partially all the bonds, letting only sensations but not words reach me thru them. The smile on my face disappears.

Maureen…

My vision blurs, and I shake my head to clear it. I look around, my senses in overdrive, but another wave of dizziness hits me. I fight against it, my eyes traveling along each ghoul around me, searching for something that doesn't fit in. In the middle of gray skin, pale yellow eyes and claws, I find a couple of ruby eyes staring right at me. Fear blinds my mind, as the Scáth stands tall, surrounded by the ghouls he looks so much alike. One side of his face is covered with his white hair that shows his glowing ruby eye. He is as slim as the ghouls, all bones and a paper like skin. His white lips are moving faster, and I realize what he is doing. Looking to the now frighten kid behind me, I take him in my arms and call upon the winds to take us to safety. We appear next to a maple tree, without letting Éadrom out of my arms, I smile weakly to my mother, who is now staring at me with concern eyes.

-Éadrom, - I set him down and caress his face – go to your mother now.

My vision becomes blurry again, and I place my hand on the tree to gain support. Something drags me inside my own mind, making almost unbearable to move or even breathe.

-Barr… - my vision is full of white as a new wave of pain hits me. I groan frustrated and hit the tree.

Soft and cool hands hold my face, moving me slowly so I'm facing them. A vague impression of honey eyes and brown curly hair enters my vision. Blinking a couple of times I recognize my mother, who seems worried. I bit down my lips, as I feel the pull inside my mind again.

-Don't… - I whisper -… Barrier… now.

My mother disappears and I hear voices, but I'm not able to recognize or point out what they are saying. Closing my eyes, I kneel before the maple tree and keep attempting to breathe.

Oh sweet, sweet Banphrionsa, having trouble keeping focus? A high pitch voice says inside my head.

I close my fist, but refuse to acknowledge the voice. Something slim, wet and cold moves around my left ankle and I brush it off with my hand, closing my eyes tighter. I feel something warm over the thing and around my ankle, rough fingers caressing the spot. Opening my eyes slowly, I find Seth's head next to mine, a relief smile on his lips. I focus on him and the warm coming from his fingers, ignoring everything else.

A sharp yell brings me back to the problem at hand, standing up I get the dizziness sensation again, but Seth's arms catch me before I'm able to fall. I take note to thank him later, but for now, before the intrusion comes back, I walk slowly with Seth's help towards my mother. When I reach her side, I can see the ghouls standing in line, the Scáth in front of them looking at the trees with narrowed eyes. I give my mom a questioning look, not trusting my voice.

-The barrier is not going to hold much longer, its only anchor is our energy and the one we added during the spell making. – She looks nervous -. He is trying to gain control of your mind, isn't it? – I nod.

A raw energy, different from everything I have feel is approaching from behind. It's not a treat, but I'm still curious about it. It finally reaches me, the touch is cool and as it covers all my body, the intruding feeling and the whispers disappears. I don't let myself enjoy the moment too much, since I don't know when it will be gone. Looking to the trees around us I see that many are maples…

-Maples- my voice is barely a whisper, as I touch the tree in front of me looking for that spot.

-What about them? – Seth asks.

I ignore his question, as I move my hands all over the trunk.

-Every tree is important for us, they all have different meanings and can be use to power up different spells, as well as to… - my mother explains, but confusion is still in her voice-. Ava, what are you planning?

I raise my hand, as the spell barrier trembles under an attack. I finally reach a place in the middle of the tree, where the life blooms. Smiling like crazy, I concentrate on that point, merging some of my power into it. I can see small golden dots forming at my palm and flooding into the tree that starts to glitters in the spot that is receiving the energy.

-I remember you telling me how Maple trees represent strength, endurance and practical magic. – I close my eyes and will my power to flow thru the veins of the tree towards the earth. Slowly my power complies-. You said we didn't have an anchor for the barrier, what's better than a Maple tree and Talmhaigh working together?

As the power reaches the roots, I push some of it up, towards each leaf. I hear a couple of wow's, and I can help but smile, knowing that the tree must look almost ethereal with the glow my power adds. The intruding sensation is present again at the back of my head, as the cool feeling starts to pull back.

-Bella... – Edward's concerned voice reaches my ears – are you alright?

I turn my head to see Bella holding her head, pain written all over her face.

-Too much pain… - Bella says.

No…

-What's her power? – I ask.

-She is a shield – Edwards responds -. She can block every single mind attack on her and other minds if she chooses too.

She is feeling what I was feeling a moment ago, the Scáth is still trying to reach my mind, so he is attacking her mind now. I embrace myself for what is about to come.

-Bella, stop. – I whisper, but I know she can hear me -. He is attacking you so he can get to me, so pull back your powers.

-No… I can handle it. – I give out a humorless laugh.

I look deep into her golden eyes and I know she can see my determination.

-Please, just pull back your powers.

I feel the cool sensation leave me, and the pain comes back with a vengeance.

I did miss you my sunshine, why did you hide? The pitchy voice welcomes me.

Leaning in the tree for support, I let my power run free into the tree. I raise a couple of mental walls, trying to confine the intrusion. The power is flooding now into Talmhaigh and connecting to the other roots of the trees nearby the one I'm using. I transfer more into the tree, but something tells me is all going to be in vain if I'm not able to keep the connection till the barrier settles. If the Scáth takes hold of my mind before that happens then, all will be lost. And something tells me I won't be able to keep pushing aside the spell, but in order to break free; I need to let it follow its course.

-Mom, - pain merge with my words – place your hand next to mine.

Mom does as I say her eyes full of uncertainty. As soon as her hand is next to mine, I move my hand over hers, forcing my power to recognize her, to make her be able to handle it.

-Whatever happens, don't let go of my power till the barrier settles.

-I can't – her voice trembles -. Your power is more than what I'm used to hold.

-Yes, you can. The barrier was your spell, so it recognizes what we want for it to change. I supply the power, the Maple tree the way, Talmhaigh the anchor and you keep it in place.

She shakes her head, and I beg her to at least try.

-Maybe it will be easier if two holds your power? – Maureen says next to my mother, placing a hand on her shoulder.

I nod, and she hands Éadrom to Seth. She puts her hand next to my mothers and I cover part of hers with mine.

-Everything will be alright – I promise.

A warm hand rest in my shoulder and I turn around to stare directly to Seth's brown eyes. I take a good look at both Seth and Éadrom, engraving both into my memory. I regret so much, and I can't help but fear that he would never know how important he is to me. Breaking my connection to the tree, I face them both, smiling.

-Seth, I…

A loud sound comes from inside my mind, a feeling of metal against my wrists; I'm pull inside my mind. A chorus of screams forces me down, as I fight against the chains. A chill runs thru my spine as a victory laugh echoes in my mind.

Now where are you going to hide? The pitchy voice says near my ear. I don't see anything around me. Soon it changes; a small candle appears to my right, ruby eyes sparks with the glow. You are now in a world that only me and my master rule.


And… that's it.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Stay tune along the day for my other updates. The next story to update will be The Calling… I will posting the next chapter in maybe two hours.

Nai