Sorry it's taken a while for me to write this chapter! I do hope the next one will be out sooner! Thank you everyone who left a review! ^^

A Hero's Desire

Chapter 29: Crimson Shadows

The five stood still upon the top of Hero Hill. The wind rushed through their hair, brushing against their bodies. It had been just months ago that they were all together on the Hill, facing a dangerous enemy. An enemy both powerful and mad. A sense of nostalgia hit each of them, bringing the same feelings and memories.

Sparrow's eyes looked over the horizon, gazing past the lake, towards Castle Fairfax. Even from atop the Hill, she could see the large tower, rising above the horizon. Standing upon the Hill, she noticed she stood on top of the center circle, the very spot that she was shot by Lucien. The very spot she watched her dog sacrifice his life for his master's. Looking around, she saw the little altar she had made in honor of her sister. Little flowers were spread around a grave stone that had Rose's name carved into it.

"We…we're home…" Sparrow said softly.

Hammer, Garth and Reaver, who were all knelling from exhaustion of the culis gate, rose up, trying to keep their balance.

"Ugh," Hammer groaned, "That was not pleasant in the slightest."

Sparrow, standing straight, gazed at her companions. All of them looked slightly ill from the culis gate. She then turned her attention to her satchel, pulling out the ancient diary of the son of the last know Archon. Upon opening the book, she turned the damaged pages to the drawing of the amulet. The drawing was very detailed, a large gem cut round. Around it, what held this large jewel in its place was a case of some sort of valuable metal with writings unknown to Sparrow inscribed on the border. She studied the picture, drinking in every detail of the amulet. But as she continued to look at the amulet, the light that shinned from the heavens began to fade behind the tall mountains. The sun was setting.

"I think we should get inside the Guild Halls and rest there for the night," Sparrow suggested, putting the book in her satchel, her eyes still staring at the mountains.

"Through another culis gate?" Reaver complained. He rolled his eyes in annoyance at the idea but it seemed they had little choice with the ever-fading light. Holding hands, they all stood around the culis gate that led to the Guild Halls. Will again coursed through the heroes, pounding at their heads as the hammer strikes the red-hot steel in need of forging. The blue light began to grow and soon blinded the heroes' eyes. Within seconds, the light began to diminish, reveling the candle-lit halls of the chamber.

A cold feeling climbed the spines of each hero, filling them with a sense of dread. Sparrow began to approach the table, covered with many papers and three candles. This room was the very room she discovered the bloodline of heroes that flowed through her veins. It was that room her whole world changed.

Turning to face her companions, she noticed that Garth had set up his mat; Hammer setting hers up then promptly collapsing on it. Reaver just looked at the walls that had interesting pictures, frescos according to him. A small smile appeared on her face, knowing each of her friends were safe made her feel a bit better. Even Wolf was all right. He trotted up to his mistress, rubbing his head against her leg. His head rose, showing his puppy eyes to her. She turned her smile down to him, her fears fading away. He then turned away and walked over by the table, lowering himself to the ground and resting his head.

While everyone else was relaxing, Sparrow carefully slipped away, back into the caverns of the forgotten guild. She needed to think, she needed to get her thoughts together. With the new discovery, what would happen, it was all a bit much for her mind to handle. Soon, her feet no longer touched smooth stone but hard, rough rock. They led her down the passageway, the light dimmer as she continued forward. They then suddenly stopped. Her hand pressed itself against the wall, holding herself up while her other covered her face. The burden of the fate of the world rested on her shoulders and was taking a toll on her. Lives ended because of the evil that hunted them, cities lost for the sake of power. Guilt seemed to seep in through the walls of her mind, plaguing her thoughts with death and loss.

"Can you feel the weight of responsibility?" Theresa's voice echoed in her mind. Time seemed to travel back to that afternoon in Bowerstone, a time still dark and death in the shadows. Sparrow did not really think much of Thag's death for there was no pity or regret with ending him. He was a bandit, a criminal, nothing more. But Theresa's words seemed to be the bringers of guilt, making it seem every choice, every life that Sparrow had taken away would burden her. Time could only tell.

The deaths of those in the cities of Samarkand were similar to those who died in the Spire. Yet, as she told herself they were similar, one thing remained different: they were now not dead. She brought them back from the gates of death and gave them a second chance for life. The people of Samarkand would not get such a chance. That little difference made Sparrow feel horrible. She turned back, wishing to run back to the light of the sanctuary. But her body smacked right into a tall figure.

"Sparrow, why are you so fascinated by the dark?" Reaver's voice echoed in the cave.

She looked up, a bit frightened to find the pirate with her, all alone in the cavern.

"I…" she began, turning away, "I just needed to think."

"Oh come Sparrow, you think too much!" Reaver said, embracing her from behind. His hands held her body close to his, Reaver smelling her scent. His face buried itself into her soft, brown locks. Sparrow's breath hitched as one of Reaver's hands stroked her cheek.

"You worry too much, my dear Sparrow. Simply live in the moment. Enjoy it," he whispered into her ear, seductively almost trying to command her to obey him. She turned around to face him, though was still trapped in his arms. Her eyes looked deep into his, locked onto his green irises.

"Live in the moment…" she murmured softly, so soft yet Reaver could hear it. Shutting her eyes, she surrendered herself to the pirate, letting him take her away from the seas of her troubled mind into his own ocean of pleasure.

Reaver's arms held her close, his mouth plundering Sparrow's. He needed to taste her, to have her. Sparrow's lips fused with Reaver's refusing to separate. She need him, she wanted him to take her away from all of the death that surrounded her. She pressed her lips harder, practically begging for more and Reaver knew this. Hearing her call, he pressed her back against the wall, sandwiching her to it as he continued to have his way with her. His hands grasped her back, pulling her to him. Sparrow's fingers ran through Reaver's hair, softly brushing against her skin. The pirate's lips moved from her own lips to her smooth neck, reding the skin. His teeth nipped at the skin, causing Sparrow to gasp loudly.

Passion, pleasure and desire pounded Reaver's skull, powerful as the striking hammer on a hot blade. He wanted Sparrow; he wanted to feel her, to kiss her and to love her. He could not restrain himself. Unlike former lovers in his long life, he could not hold back with Sparrow. He wanted her and would not hesitate to hold her in his arms. Letting himself go, his hands moved up from her back, his fingers grasping the laces of her corset and yanking at them to loosen them. Sparrow broke their deep kiss and looked down for a quick moment.

"Reaver…must we…?" She began, but was cut off as Reaver's sank his teeth into her skin, lightly biting her. She yelped as his teeth pulled at her skin.

"Now, now Sparrow my dear. You will not deny me of pleasure. Or your own," Reaver whispered huskily into her ear, his hands continuing to undo her laces. Soon the laces slipped out of their knot, allowing him to pull at her corset. Within seconds from years of practice, Reaver broke the kiss and yanked the corset from her body, exposing her body to his.

Sparrow looked into Reaver's eyes, hers weak but filled with love and a desire for him to hold her and never let go. Reaver did not hesitate to grant her what she wanted from him for he wanted it as well. His lips forced themselves on top of hers, his hands undoing his buckles. Sparrow's hands tugged at his straps, hopping to removing them with just as much ease.

Inside, Sparrow heard her mind shouting for more. She wanted more. Her body quivered with lust and love. She began to succumb to Reaver's lips, his kisses bearing a deep poison that consumed Sparrow's body. The feeling of pleasure burned inside of her, too wild and too hot for anyone but Reaver to fuel. She wanted the flames to grow till it burned down her whole world. She wanted the fire to never die, to continue to burn as long as she lived.

Soon Reaver's shirt, vest and cloak fell to the ground, making a loud thud as it impacted with the ground. Sparrow's hands felt Reaver's smooth chest as he smothered her in his fiery kisses. He growled in a low voice, as Sparrow's moan grew louder. She did not care if the other's heard her. For the moment it was just she and Reaver in their own world all together different from Albion. Sparrow began to pull at Reaver's neck, urging him to follow her to the little tunnel in the cave that lead to a little nook. There were bookshelves and barrels that could be seen by old burning torches.

However, her legs could not keep herself up. Sparrow's legs began to shake and eventually buckled. She collapsed to the side, pulling Reaver down with her. He rolled on top of her, covering her in kisses. Together, they both wrapped themselves together, enjoying each of their embrace. Both in love and alive. The cave echoed with growls and moans of the two lovers, only expressing a fraction of their love. But soon the noise began to die down until there was only silence.

The pirate awoke in the vast forest of what he could only guess was Brightwood. The trees whispered to each other as the wind blew against their leaves. The fallen ones circled around him, tossing around his cape and dancing with his hair. Yet through the sound of the leaves, he heard no birds, no insects. Nothing. The leaves soon ceased to dance around him and danced ahead of him, creating almost a dirt path. Blindly, he followed it, trying to keep up with the leaves. They began to drift further away, Reaver trying to keep up with them. As he continued to run, a voice, beautiful and that of a woman's broke the silence.

"When winter comes, I shall sing for you. When Spring comes, I shall dance with you," the soft voice sang through out the forest. It was Sparrow's lullaby.

Hoping to find the voice, he continued forward, running faster to find it. The voice began to grow as he followed the leaves ahead. The lullaby rang out in the woods, almost taunting him. But soon the leaves stopped but the music continued. Reaver stopped running, the leaves leaving him in front of a growing cherry blossom tree. In the tree was a small bird. It was a Sparrow, singing his Sparrow's lullaby. The sparrow was unaware of his presence, blissfully singing away. But in the shadows of dark trees, a figure lurked, cloaked and hidden. Slowly, he raised up a rifle, not aimed at Reaver, but at the bird. The bird was not aware of what was happening.

Reaver's eyes widened, aware what was to commence. But a small voice, so soft but wise.

"One shot from the master and one from the enemy can change the life of one," it whispered into his mind.

Without thinking, his hand grasped his prized Dragonstomper .48, his thumb pulling back on the hammer and the barrel aimed at the singing bird. He, being the most excellent marksman in all of Albion and possibly the world, he knew he would not miss the poor, beautiful bird.

"One shot can change the life of one," the voice whispered again. Reaver's eyes widened again, hearing the hammer click of the dark figures pistol.

"One shot." And a trigger was pulled and a gunshot echoed through out the forest and all color began to turn crimson. Eyes fixed onto the sparrow, the bird was surrounded by a blinding light that devoured it and everything around it. Only a scream filled the air. An all too familiar scream…

The pirate's eyes shot open, his breath hitching and his skin sweating. He turned his head, seeing Sparrow resting in his arms, unaware of Reaver's dream. Carefully so as not to wake her, the pirate slipped away from the beautiful hero, trying to understand the meaning of his dream. Its moral or underline theme was unknown to him. He left the small opening in the cavern and followed the path away from it and from the guild center. He needed a moment to think.

Why did I have to shoot the bird?

His feet led him a room half flooded by water. Kneeling to the ground, he cupped some of the water and cleaned his face off. Looking at his reflection, as water dripped from his wet skin, he noticed something in the water. It was dark but a hint of metal shinned from it. It was not a priceless metal such as gold or silver, more like brass or copper. His curiosity got the better of him and soon, after removing his trousers, he entered the cold water and submerged himself in the water. Taking in a deep breath, he dove into the water and looked at the strange metal. Lowering himself, his fingers brushed against the strange metal. His skin seemed to touch rustic metal that was part of a wooden box. Thinking that he had just found something that he could easily claim for himself, he removed the box, and resurfaced.

Placing the box on the stone floor, the box seemed to be a chest of some sorts. A very old chest no doubt. Reaver studied the box with ever wondering eyes. While he was use to finding chest that contained treasure, this box seemed unusual. It gave off an unknown vibe. His hands traced over the lock, which seemed to be so weak that he easily removed it by bashing it with the nearest rock. The lock fell off and the box was unlocked. The pirate carefully opened the box, trying to figure out what sort of treasure could be hidden in the chest. Once the lid was off, his eyes beheld a wondrous sight.

Inside the box was an amulet. The amulet had a beautiful red gem, probably ether a ruby or garnet, held to the chain by a gold plating beneath it with writing carved along the boarders. The writing looked similar to that in the ancient diary, yet Reaver could not read it. His eyes remained fixed on the box while his mind went back to the library in the palace. His real eyes looked upon what was recorded to be The Archons Blood.

This…this is it…The jewel of the line of leaders. Of Heroes, descendants of William Black.

Reaver's eyes could not break contact from the jewel, its beauty and mystery ensnaring him. The amulet did look just like the drawing in the diary but also Sparrow's necklace.

I wonder…

Carefully, after putting on his clothes, the pirate made his way back to his love. His feet remained silent, hoping not to wake her. Entering the small room, he saw Sparrow still asleep, on the floor of the cavern, her corset missing and she lying with only her hot pants and bra still on her persona. Reaver could not help but smile at her beauty. However his face changed to a curious expression as he saw her gift from him exposed. Kneeling by her side, his hand held the gem of the gift as he brought the Archons Blood near it, studying them each. His green orbs looked ever closely at them, noticing their similarity.

Perhaps…it is….

Placing the Archons Blood on the ground, he slowly began to remove the gift from Sparrow's neck, she not noticing this at all. It managed to come off with ease. Reaver then placed the gift down and took the Amulet in hand. With just as much care, possibly more, he placed the amulet around Sparrow's neck. Once the amulet touched her skin, a pulse similar to a heartbeat echoed in the pirate's ears. Whatever lay dormant for centuries was now awakening to Sparrow, why her it was unclear. With the amulet safely around her neck, Reaver hid the gift he gave her under where his shirt and cape were. Returning to her side, his hands began to stroke her face and his fingers entwining themselves in her brown locks. Her body was warm, her skin pale but her cheeks bright red. As his fingers continued to glide across her skin, a smile began to appear on her lips, growing slowly. Her eyes batted open, reveling to him her beautiful blue eyes.

"Reaver," she whispered as her hand cupped his face.

"Hello my dear," he replied, continuing to stroke her skin.

She took in the warmth of his touch, cherishing every moment of it. He then bent down to her, planting a warm kiss upon her lips. Its heat made her long for more but he slowly broke away, his teeth lightly holding onto her lips until he let go. A smirk appeared on his handsome face, his eyes staring into hers. For a moment, they continued to stare at each other, unable to break away. But the moment was spoiled at the sound of a call.

"Sparrow! Reaver!" Hammer's voice echoed through the hollow halls. Sparrow's head jerked away and scrambled to find her clothes. Reaver's head collapsed, angry that the Pilgrim just had to interrupt their moment. Sparrow struggled to get her corset and thigh boots while Reaver looked at his clothes. He remembered that the was hiding his gift from her. While Sparrow tried to get her corset on, Reaver quickly placed on his shirt, vest and cape. Once they were on, he placed the gift into his vest, hoping Sparrow did not notice that she was wearing a different necklace.

Soon Sparrow was dressed and the two of them returned to the Chamber of Fate, Garth and Hammer eyeing them with suspicious eyes.

"Where were you two?" Hammer asked, placing her hands on her hips with anger in her voice.

Reaver glanced at Sparrow with a raunchy look, not caring that Hammer or Garth saw it. Garth's hand began to massage his temples, trying to block out the image while Hammer exclaimed in disgust. Sparrow's cheeks began to turn red from embarrassment, but she quickly blocked it out.

"We need to find the amulet," she said seriously.

"But it is still dark," Garth commented, able to get his head together.

"I know but…I fell Vincent is closer than we think," she said, fear slowly creeping on her, "A shadow is coming from the West on swift wings."

"I…I feel it too…" Hammer said, looking away, she too sensing a danger approaching.

"Then we begin to look," Sparrow said. Walking forward, she approached the culis gate, the others following her. Soon the heroes were no longer in the hall of the Guild but on top Hero Hill. The moonlight shined down from the sky, granting small amounts of light to the earth below. Its reflection glowed off from Bower Lake, creating a rather peaceful image.

"Alright, we should start to look around the hill," Garth said after taking in the beauty.

"I agree," replied both Hammer and Sparrow. But after taking barely one step, Wolf began to bark loudly, his ears folding back and his fur sticking up.

"Uh oh…"

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