I'm trying to write the next chapters quickly because I'm going back to school soon and I won't be able to write as often.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, or any Greek myths, just my OCs.

Hope you enjoy.

Dark Pasts and Dangerous Events

"Atticus." The name felt dark as it crossed everyone's mind. Just by looking at him you could tell he was too far gone to ever come back to the good person he may once have been. Had he ever been a good person to begin with or was he always this, a monster in a human's skin?

Atticus was a liar and a betrayer. He would never change, no matter how much anyone tried to reach him. It was not in his nature to do good and it never would be. So why did this person in front of them seem so wrong and out of place as if he wasn't really here at all. But they could see him. He stood in the middle of the stone courtyard grinning like a mad man, sending shivers up everyone's spines.

He always seemed so calm as if he knew exactly how everything was going to play out and it would be in his favor. He didn't say it but they all knew. Atticus knew where they had disappeared to and that they had tried to seek aid from the Mother Keeper. He also knew that they had failed, in a way.

To Atticus everyone was a fly in a more elaborate web of events. Unknown to him he was only a pawn himself, but who was the master? Will they be able to find them and stop them before its too late and Camelot is lost forever? That's the big question isn't it, but it won't be as hard or as simple as they may think.

The master is close and the end draws near. It is so close now that they can feel it breathing down their necks. Will it end in victory or tragedy? Perhaps it will go in a completely different direction where neither party truly wins.

"How was it down there in the crypts? I've heard so much about that place. They say the dead walks its hallways and anyone who goes in will never come out. Alas here you are. Such a pity." Atticus pouted. "Though I must say I would have been disappointed if I had missed your demise and the unraveling of your futures. It will be such a beautiful sight."

"You're crazy!" Gwen blurts out, meaning every word. "What could you possibly gain from the death of so many innocent people?"

"Yes most of them are innocent." He admits but doesn't really care. "I didn't come here to kill random people for my own amusement though their screams are like music I must say. I killed them for all of you really. I sense your pain and I love it."

"Then why not just kill us first." Arthur didn't understand his twisted mind.

"That isn't any fun. Why get rid of the fools. The world would be so dull without them." Atticus grinned, his eyes still hidden in shadow. "I have enjoyed watching you dance and I see you have brought along a few familiar faces to join the party."

Arthur was surprised. Atticus knew them? Was he a part of their secrets that they hid so well behind their masks.

"Hello Jade." His eyes fell on her first. Jade's grip tightened on the spear in her hand. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"We were never friends." Jade was seething.

"Just as feisty as ever. That fury was always useful on the battlefield." Atticus was pulling strings. He knew their secrets and slowly, bit-by-bit, he was pulling them into the light.

"What do you mean?" They had been given nothing but questions and more questions. Gwaine wanted answers.

"Jade, my dear, you never told them?" Atticus' surprise was overacted. "I'm shocked. Even after fighting along side each other on the battlefield as comrades you betray me and stab me in the back? How could you?"

"Easy." Jade spat. "You betrayed me first."

"Did I? I can't recall." Atticus turned his back to the group, pretending to think.

"You left me there to die Atticus. I was just another pawn in your game for power. And to think I ever thought of us as comrades." Jade remembered everything. "You may have won that day but I will never let you do it again. I will save this city just as I should have saved mine when you destroyed it."

"I destroyed it?" He turned to face them again. "As I recall you where there destroying right along side me."

Everyone looked at Jade but she said nothing. She didn't dare meeting any of their eyes so she just stared at the ground, tears appearing in her eyes. Atticus smiled. One down.

"Is that August? Wow I barely recognized you." He moved onto his next target. "Still struggling with your inner demon. How is that going?"

"None of your business." August growled.

"I'm surprised that you've lasted this long. Fighting all by yourself never telling anyone the truth. Not even your parents, and now it's too late."

"Be quiet!" August wanted to charge him but Edmond held him back with a firm hand.

"They warned you not to go above ground but you didn't listen. Now look at you, barely holding on. How does it feel to be fighting all the time for a life that no one cares about?"

August stopped struggling. His eyes had grown wide. How could Atticus have known that? How could he have known August's greatest fear? The fear that his fight was pointless and that no one really cared whether or not he lived.

"How did you?"

"You'd be surprised at how much I know. For example I know that you weren't born this way like everyone thinks. Were you August?"

August began to shake. This was too much. Atticus was somehow getting into his mind, twisting everything into knots. It hurt so much.

"You've never had the courage to tell anyone the truth. You welcomed that beast into your body because you thought you could handle it but you're loosing the fight. You're just a child in over his head."

"That's not true." August tried to protest.

"Oh but it is."

"Kevia knew."

"Yes and she's dead." That was it. August fell to his knees, screaming and clutching his head. Edmond knelt beside him, reaching out only for August to push him away.

"There's no use helping him. After all, there isn't much left of him to save anyway. I wouldn't waste your breath on that one."

Edmond glared at the man tearing down his friends with his carefully chosen words. Even behind the mask his anger could be seen.

"Ah Edmond, always so quick to go to the side of a fallen comrade, an honorable trait. Still as silent as ever I see." The evil smile on his face fell. "You'll never change."

Edmond did nothing but glare at him. It was unsettling for all gathered in the courtyard.

Bit by bit Atticus had torn down the trust placed on these newfound allies. Their secrets were coming to the surface and they were no laughing matter. It seemed as though they weren't always the people they were today. They hadn't always been kind and loyal. Their masks hid dark pasts and dangerous events.

"You are nothing but cowards, choosing to hide in a place where the dead are laid to rest. Your pasts will never be laid to rest like them. Seen any familiar faces? Do they remind you of the mistakes you've made? Do you still regret the past?" There was no sign of a smirk on his pale face. "You don't deserve second chances."

"You're wrong." Everyone was surprised to see Gwen stepping forward. She had gone through so much lately and it had changed her. "They may have done terrible things in the past and they may never forgive themselves for it but at least they know what they've done. Look at you. You're no better. In fact your worse."

"I know I'm worse. This is the way I am and I've embraced it. They wouldn't be so weak it they had as well."

"They aren't weak. Their darkness is in the past and they may still struggle but they stand along side us now, fighting to save lives. They have their second chance, do you?"

Atticus was speechless. It almost seemed as though the queen's words had gotten to him but then he smiled and began to laugh. The temperature around them dropped.

"Such moving words." He faked wiping tears from his eyes. "Words won't save you now, Gwen."

Gwen. He had called her Gwen. Not Queen or Guinevere but Gwen, like a friend. She didn't like him calling her that.

"Who are you?" She almost whispered.

"Wouldn't you like to know? I am…" He was cut off as a ball of energy came flying towards him narrowly missing him as he stepped to the side, laughing. "Almost got me there. Get the lady the distract me then hit me from behind."

His eyes fell on Edmond who stood with his right hand outstretched. He didn't look surprised that his attack hadn't worked.

"Do you really want to fight me again Ed?" He tilted his head to the side, as he looked at the man in the green cloak with the skull mask. "You remember what happened last time." He stuck out his tongue and pretended to cut it off. "We never got to finish that fight did we though the stakes this time are different. It isn't just your life at stake now."

The wind began to pick up. Atticus razed his right hand and the wind obeyed. It swirled and twisted until a small twister appeared next to him on the stone of the courtyard. It grew larger and seemed to be pulling up towards the sky. Then the wind died and the twister disappeared as quickly as it had come.

But the stones beside the man weren't empty. Two bodies lay there very still. They looked the same as when the group last saw them.

"That's not possible." Arthur breathed, but it was.

"Percival?"

"Kevia?"

"Oops. Did I say she was dead?" Atticus smirked.

They had watched them fall over the edge with their own eyes. How could they be here, and without a scratch? But they were so very still, their eyes not opening. Their chests still rose and fell, showing signs of life, but the breathing was slow and labored. They were just holding on.

"What have you done to them?" Gwaine shouted.

"I haven't done anything." Atticus shrugged. "You should really be thanking me. There were so very close to going splat on the floor of that pit."

Arthur took a step towards his knight but Atticus got in his way.

"Do you really think I would make it that easy? These two are my leverage." He shook his finger. "Your hearts are weak."

"What do you want?" Arthur asked.

"There isn't anything that I want." He shook his head. "I just love to see you dance, but the game is almost over. Such a shame but everything sooner or latter comes to an end, even your lives."

Their eyes were torn away from the mad man in front of them when an explosion came from a nearby building. They could hear the roars and hissing of monsters.

"Well I bought enough time." Atticus sighed. "The real party is about to begin and it's going to go out with a bang."

Atticus had just been stalling until the real threat arrived. The group covered their ears as a terrible screeching came from the skies.

"Echidna and her children will be so pleased." He laughed maniacally. "They do so love a good meal."

The group got into a circle, shoulder to shoulder, covering all angles with August in the center. He was in no condition to fight as he slowly looses his mind.

Would they be ready for whatever was coming their way or would this truly be their last stand?

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW!

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So what do you think of these new revelations? Have your ideas of what will happen changed?

Who is your favorite OC? I'd really like to know.

Hope you keep following because a certain someone may make an appearance in the next chapter. I'll let your minds run wild with that.

See you next time.