Out Of The Darkness

Chapter 37

Harry left out a relieved groan as he sank into the bath of warm water, today had been one hell of a day, incomparable, and considering who he was and everything he'd been through, to say that was mind-blowing felt downplayed even to him. Somehow in the shock he had forgotten one instrumental thing in all this, who Ash's parents were. The king Archon was the son of Chaos the formless matter that birthed the universe, responsible for all of creation. And Queen Apollymi the destroyer, they had been in love, not only did they marry but they were half-siblings, but Apollymi was an uncontrollable force of nature, that Archon was only able to control until he threatened the very life of her son still in her womb then all hell broke loose. So when Ash and he had spoken to her in the mirror, they began to realize that there wasn't just one powerful being in existence, there were now two (three if Apollymi included herself in the equation - four if you count Savitar which Apollymi wouldn't count despite the annoyed fondness she felt for the guy for looking after her son when she could not) and that they both had the ability to create and destroy.

Using his toes to turn the warm tap on for a bit to warm it up further before turning it off, he wondered if he had accidentally wished to have a family that was his own blood that caused it, for all they knew it could be something Ash had unconsciously or consciously desired as well. He'd never thought he would have a family of his own, not even a partner, wizards and witches - he could never trust them fully to love him for him and not who he was. Muggles were out of the question with his power levels, he'd scare them half to death. He'd thought he'd been happy when he met the most infuriating yet annoyingly attractive guy out there who could make the blood pump through his veins like no other. Who would have though back then he had met the man he'd fall hard for? Certainly not him, it had crept upon him with shocking ease. He regretted nothing; all this had culminated to this very moment in time.

Sure he was utterly terrified of this latest development, but he knew, he knew nothing would happen to him, not only would Apollymi not allow it, Ash wouldn't either. Harry instinctively knew that Ash would destroy the world before seeing him die, the time he'd died (albeit temporarily) in Artemis' temple had ensured that. Ash didn't need to say anything for Harry to feel it in the way he looked at him. Ash looked at him as if he couldn't believe he was still there, as if he hung the stars and the moon and Harry loved it.

Ash had asked him to go 'home' to Katoteros instead of going to the flat in New Orleans, unfortunately life continued on regardless of the shocks and happenings of the day. Ash would be patrolling the graveyards and answering the calls of his Dark-Hunters and aiding them when he could. If any of them ever found their significant other then they would receive their souls with thanks, there would be no price to pay. Merlin, he wished he had killed Artemis while he had the chance. He knew how, he'd read the journal, he, Ash and a few select others were the only ones who knew how to take out Apollo and Artemis. The only problem was, where the powers had to go, and they had to go somewhere otherwise the world would end. Regretfully not everyone could or would be equipped to handle it, Helios and Selene were previous holders of the power, but without powers they had hidden themselves from the gods presumably managing to get away before they were killed which was a bloody impressive feat. Without powers Artemis and Apollo probably didn't fear them. Perhaps that would be their downfall; he just wanted so badly to make them pay for what they had done to Ash, he didn't understand how Ash could let them away with what they did. Merlin, it turned his stomach what had happened to Ash because of everyone around him.

It was very quiet in Katoteros today, Simi was on Ash, and so there was no loud QVC in the background or Simi squealing or talking on the phone ordering everything she wanted. Ash had taken the news much better than he'd expected, despite him bringing up Ash's nephew. Apollodorus had been the one pure thing in Ash's life, Apollodorus had loved Ash, didn't care about his past, didn't use him, wasn't disappointed in him…and he had been so cruelly wrenched from him, and Ash had been unable to help because of that heifer bitch. Her crimes were so heinous that he wasn't sure there was anyone else in the world worse than her, it made Voldemort look like he'd suffered from a temper tantrum.

Glancing down at his stomach, to find he had been unconsciously rubbing at it for however long he'd been in the bath. Longer than he assumed, since the water was beginning to get cool. He was bloody pregnant, he was going to have a son, his mind conjured up the most beautiful sight, a child with a combination of his and Ash's features. He loved Ash's eyes, and rather hoped their kid did too, it might help Ash accept his uniqueness in order to ensure his son never felt like he was different, as if there was something wrong. He hated how self conscious Ash was about his eyes, he did all he could to make sure he knew just how incredibly sexy he found them.

Sighing softly, he pulled the plug out and stood before climbing out the bath, wrapping the towel around himself, hearing Carson informing him he was twenty weeks along. Rolling his eyes, he shook his head, trying to dislodge everything he had learned in the past few hours. Exiting the ensuite bathroom absently drying himself off before sliding into his and Ash's bed, inhaling Ash's scent which comforted him, it didn't make up for his lack of presence though but it would need to do. He knew pretty much from the get go that he wouldn't have Ash to himself all the time, as lovely as that would be. He had duties, ones that Harry wouldn't and couldn't grudge him for.

He was just on the cusp of falling asleep when his phone began to ring, Harry groaned before crawling to the edge of the bed, reaching for his trousers, before patting at the pockets until he found the right one and brought it out with a little sound of triumph. Glancing at the screen, it was an unknown number, he didn't give his number out to anyone, so either it was a wrong number…or something was wrong.

Answering the call, "Hello?"

"Er…is this Harry Potter?"

Harry blinked at the sound of the desperation on the other end of the line. "Yes," he said slowly, "Can I help you?"

"It's just that wellashgaveyournumber,"

"Hang on, I don't speak gibberish, who are you?" Harry asked, trying to convey a sense of calmness to ease whoever it was. The guy sounded as though he was going to have a nervous breakdown by the sound of it.

"My name is Greg, I'm a squire, look I need help, Troy, a Dark-Hunter…he's been caught, he's in prison, if you don't help he's going to die when the sun comes up! I've tried everything, Dave is in there with him, please…I've tried to get in touch with Acheron, he gave us your number if he didn't get in touch….can you help me?" Greg begged.

"Alright, the sun won't be up for ages yet, calm down, you're no good to anyone if you have a panic attack. Text me a picture of the building you're in front of, I know it sounds stupid, but I'm not playing around." Harry stated his tone confident and a little hard - he did not want this guy thinking he was screwing him around. "Can you do that for me?"

"Er…yes, yes," Greg exclaimed immediately before he hung up - presumably to do as asked.

Harry didn't sit and wait around for the picture, instead he began to get dressed, go figure Ash would give out his number without telling him. Smirking wryly, he knew that wasn't why Ash had given it out though, not to answer these sort of calls, at least he assumed not. It didn't matter either way, he didn't mind helping, he thought as he slid his arms through the holes of his jumper as his feet shuffled through his jeans before he yanked them up. A noise alerted him to the picture arriving, buttoning up his jeans he finished getting dressed sliding his feet into his shoes. Stretching out getting the remnants of relaxation and almost-sleep out of his tired system.

"Let's get this over with," he muttered to himself, ensuring his wand was in place out of instinct as apposed to really needing it. Grabbing his phone off the bed, he opened the picture; he was still at the police building, the precinct so called here. He could probably have appeared near the guy without needing any of this, but his magic was the most familiar at the moment, so he wanted to stick with it. When someone's life wasn't in danger and he wasn't pregnant then he'd practice all he liked, go back to training with Sav not that he'd ever admit to calling or thinking of him as 'Sav' he'd probably have a heart attack or actually you know, attack him.

Sniggering at the thought of the powerful guy's face, he Apparated to his destination, glad when he actually got there. He crouched down behind the cars he'd Apparated near to, and glanced around. It was mostly empty, just a few officers standing at the doorway, but they quickly jogged down when something was called by dispatch on their radios getting into the police cars before racing off with their light and sound going.

Letting his magic flow out, looking for anyone in the vicinity of the station, not inside, since he doubted he'd be there. There was only one person in the area, not in the building itself. Glancing at the car across the road from the station, he stood up and made his way over, rapping at the window causing the guy to jump like he'd just been electrocuted.

"I'm not drunk for the final…!" he stared out angrily.

"Greg?" Harry queried, not saying anything further until he had confirmation, he unobtrusively called the number back, relaxing when he heard the telltale sound of ringing within the car. "I'll take that as a yes,"

"You are totally not what I was expecting," Greg muttered under his breath, but unexpectedly not all that surprised especially if he was hanging out with Ash. If hanging out was the right description, nobody really knew Ash, he came and went whenever he pleased. He hadn't met anyone who could actually say they'd had a proper conversation with the elusive Dark-Hunter.

"I'm sure," Harry said with a wry grin, ignoring the shocked then sheepish look on the guys face, evidently he wasn't supposed to hear that. "Can you tell me what's going on?" gesturing towards the building.

Greg nodded eagerly, turning off the engine and standing up closing the door and locking the car, "I got a call three hours ago from Dave, he told me he and Troy had been caught…Troy has nobody else to call because well…he only really has Dave who's been caught with him. Short of going in there with a gun I couldn't see a way of getting them out! Even offering money didn't seem to deter them, I swear they know what Troy is! They're doing this on purpose!" now back to his desperation.

"I thought humans didn't know about Dark-Hunters….let alone how to…deal with them?" Harry was surprised by this.

"They aren't supposed to, we have people who deal with it," Greg said darkly.

"Ah, so you're a blue blood then," Harry said in realisation, he had been born into a family of squires.

"Three generations," Greg said proudly. "Can you help?"

"Yes, but I need you to keep quiet until we get out of that building, unless I specifically ask you something…can you do that?" Harry told him grimly.

"Yes, but what are you going to do? I mean you aren't a Dark-Hunter! I mean you have no powers!" Greg pointed out.

"Right because only Dark-Hunters have powers?" Harry said wryly, "Shush!" he added, grabbing Greg's arm and leading him towards the building both of them invisible.

Greg let out a muffled squeak as they entered the police precinct to his surprise absolutely nobody paid any attention to them, it was almost as if nobody could see them. Glancing down at his body just to make sure he was still there, and yep, still there, jumping aside when someone brushed passed him in a hurry to get out of there. He had so many questions he wanted to ask Harry as they passed everyone, even a cop typing away on the computer right next to the cells and didn't even glance up at them. He threw Harry an incredulous look when the gate just opened up without a key! It had been closed moments prior! Of that he was positive, yet a niggling feeling began to make him down his own eyes.

Harry could feel the Dark-Hunter, was it because he was in possession of his soul? Or because of the magic Hecate gave him? She had ensured he knew how to tell everything apart after all. He could also hear the panic and fear of the squire; he was terrified of what was coming. Or what would have if Greg had not called him, Ash must be doing something if he hadn't been able to answer his call. "Alright, let's get them out of here." Harry whispered barely twitching his finger to open the cell door, the squire immediately stopped pacing glancing at the door in suspicion.

Harry removed the concealment spell on both of them.

"Greg!" Dave called out relief so profound washing over him that his knees actually weakened. He didn't think anyone would come, he thought he was going to be forced to watch his Dark-Hunter - who he had sworn to protect! - die a horrible painful death as the sun began to peak over the horizon.

"Greg here thinks the humans know what you are, is that true?" Harry asked, commanding attention making it clear he was the one in charge for the moment.

"Yes!" Dave exclaimed hastily, while the Dark-Hunter remained sitting in the same position he'd been in when they entered merely nodded once. Harry had a funny feeling he was exhausted emotionally, not only with his impending 'death' but Dave had probably driven him insane with his ramblings.

"How many?" Harry retorted eyes twitching at the loudness the others were using to speak. He glared at the Dark-Hunter warning him that he better be the one to speak, he was inexplicably losing patience for no reason whatsoever with their blabbing.

Oddly enough the Dark-Hunter merely smirked before smoothly standing up, he was a good looking guy, but all the Dark-Hunters seemed to be. Long blonde hair, chiselled features of someone Greek, ironically called Troy; although he was aware they rarely used their birth names once they became Dark-Hunters after seeking their revenge. They chose a new name to go with a new destiny, one that shouldn't have been theirs to walk, Artemis had started this whole charade to get Ash's attention, although some good had come out of it, human was protected by the supernatural. "Four of them," even his voice was cool and collected.

"Look me in the eye and think of them," Harry demanded, Troy barely blinked at the order before doing as he was instructed, assuming that this guy was a mind reader. He knew some humans had abilities; he was friends with Kyrian who had one powerful wife and sister-in-law. Under normal circumstances he would have balked at being ordered around, but it was not this day, he had been resigned to his fate, terrified yes, but ultimately resigned. If this guy could get them all out of here unharmed then he'd take it, he wasn't suicidal after all.

Once Harry had gleaned everything from their arrest to this very moment he nodded, grateful that the two squires had finally quietened down. "Alright, we best get out of here quickly," he couldn't just Apparate them out, he needed to wipe the memories of the others on the force and deal with the four humans who knew about Dark-Hunters and were obviously not above killing. He couldn't leave any proof whatsoever.

"You two wait for us in the car," Harry stated, their faces contorted in confusion before they disappeared from the room.

Troy arched an impressed eyebrow, wondering why they were still here.

"We can't leave any proof that you were here, we need to wipe their memories," Harry told Troy spookily as if he could still read his thoughts.

Well this was turning into a night he definitely wouldn't forget, just how powerful was this human if he could read minds wipe memories and make his squire disappear and be invisible whenever he liked? Better yet how the hell did Greg know him? Someone with his power - there should have at least been some rumours about him; maybe he was new on the scene? He seemed very put together, especially for one just newly informed about the supernatural, humans didn't usually react well to his kind, liking them to vampires.

"We will get through unimpeded, just don't bump into anyone, keep quiet," Harry informed the Dark-Hunter as he shivered as he felt like someone had cracked an egg on his head leaving it to trail down his body.

With that Harry exited the small cell, closing it behind Troy, letting the Dark-Hunter know despite their 'invisibility' he could still been seen by him. Then again he could still see the stranger himself so that wasn't to hard a concept to accept. He just didn't understand how the others wouldn't be able to see him, but it was obvious they couldn't as they were able to leave unimpeded. Each officer they passed seemed to freeze in place, eyes glazing over as if they'd been put into a stupor.

All bar four…the four who had known what he was now they…they disappeared like Dave and Greg.

"Where did you send them?" Troy asked, feeling cautious now, his abilities were well out of the norm, he'd never known anyone with so many different gifts it was…as breathtaking as it was quite intimidating, he'd never admit it.

"Somewhere they cannot harm anyone until I deem them either worthy of death or redemption," Harry said coolly, the same place he had sent Nick actually when he got too mouthy for his liking. He couldn't very well just let them loose on the streets if they were a danger to the public and supernatural; he did what he had to in order to protect everyone. While he didn't approve of the council's way of dealing with things, it didn't mean he was an angel or that he didn't understand, he wasn't an angel himself, but he just didn't think murder should be everyone's first thought or action.

Troy's grin became shark-like, he hoped they suffered tortures of the damned, but this wasn't much in the way of betrays he'd suffered in his life nothing could come close to…no, he wasn't going to think on that he refused.

"What about the computers?" Troy asked as they made their way down the steps of the precinct, it was still dark, and they had maybe forty minutes before the sun began to make its appearance.

"Already wiped," Harry stated, magic covered its own tracks when the Obliviate spells were used, corresponding to the memories of the Muggles, it was fascinating, even to him, how magic could just wipe records of all Muggle electronics even as it advanced.

Troy accepted that, assuming it was someone hacking who was helping him clear the records, a shiver once again racing down his back, not needing to wonder if he was visible again as both squires called out in their relief from beside the car.

"You got enough time to head home?" Harry questioned as both Squires got into the car, Greg driving and Dave got into the back leaving the front passenger seat for Troy.

"Yes," Troy replied, "Thank you," he was sincerely grateful for the help of this stranger; oddly enough the kindness of this stranger had eased some of the hatred deep inside of him. He ignored the looks he was receiving from the squires, yes, he could say thanks, and he wasn't completely ignorant. They were paid to put up with him, so he didn't feel the need for gratitude like he did right now.

"You're welcome," Harry said, grinning ruefully at Troy then waving once to the squires before he teleported away leaving them to it.

Harry appeared back in Katoteros gratefully sinking into the bed, this time Ash was here, he could feel his presence, he smothered a laugh hearing Simi and the ever present sound of presenters of QVC but it was dulled over the sound of the guitar being played. One of the many, Ash had an entire room of blood guitars, he was obsessed with them. Kicking off his footwear, he stretched out, deciding to leave the humans for now and join his partner.

"Productive evening?" Harry asked Ash as he teleported into the main room. His green eyes gleamed seeing Ash sitting on the throne like chair with the guitar he was like a god, and once again he thanked his lucky stars. He was lucky he knew that Ash looked at him as if he was special; he'd never expected to be someone's everything…right now his shoulders relaxed as if he had been worried.

"You could say that," Ash agreed, there had been a lot of attacks tonight, more so than usual.

"I figured as much, I did as well," Harry commented as he entered the room, laughing quietly at Simi's demands on the phone. "Human police offers tried to off one of the Dark-Hunters tonight by leaving him in a cell. I have them, I'll need to see how far back it goes and if they are even worth saving."

Ash stopped strumming his fingers on the guitar his eyes flashing the only show of his anger against what had happened.

"This isn't the first time is it?" Harry questioned as he sat down, leaning himself against Ash's legs sighing in contentment despite the conversation topic.

There was a brief pause, "No," Ash admitted tiredly. "I doubt it will be the last. Where was his squire?" that was what they were for! To protect and serve, he had paid a heavy price to get Artemis to agree to that back in the day.

"In the cell with Troy," Harry explained, "They're safe now," able to sense just how much it was affecting Ash despite the fact it was over.

"Thank you," Ash said quietly, thank you for saving them, thank you for being there for them when he couldn't, thank you for caring, the Dark-Hunters were their people now, they belonged to both of them, Artemis may have begun this but now she had no power to create more or harm them or even try to and force him to barter for their souls. Harry was a miracle, a godsend, he'd never forget that day where Harry had so blatantly claimed him for all the gods in Olympus to see. To defend him in a way that nobody else other than Savitar or his mother ever had. Harry just didn't care about his past and that…that made him magnificent in Ash's eyes. Now Harry was giving him a child, a son, another miracle. One he would see born, one he would be able to raise, to love, as he should have loved his daughter.

"Come on, let's get to bed," Harry decided, standing back up, linking his fingers through Ash's urging him to stand, although the reality was if Ash didn't want to move, Harry would have a tough time getting him to do so. Yet he didn't resist, he placed his guitar down and walked with him, bringing Harry close to his body, eyes closed in utter contentment of the moment.

Before long they were sliding into the sheets undressed as they laid claim to one another, reaffirming their bond as Ash drank deeply from Harry taking the nourishment he needed, but had in the past been forced to debase himself to get. He was the luckiest being in all the world, Ash thought as he gazed down at the blissed out face of the man he loved beyond reason. Each day Harry pulled him out of the darkness that had been his life and into the bright, bright sunlight.

There we go I finally managed to get a chapter out! Not as long as I would have liked but considering its been a year since it was updated (much to my shame especially since it's so near completion, I actually wanted to delete a few chapters and end it where it would have been a good ending)...BUT thanks to Alexandria101 the muses managed to spit out a bit as we spat balled a few ideas and I think I will actually be able to get this story finished which I'm very grateful for I don't like leaving stories unfinished :D now I know not much happened in this chapter but I do need to build up to the ending :D the question remains though do you wish to see the end of Apollo and Artemis and Apollymi freed or will she merely see the marriage through the mirror unable to go to her son? Can Ash have it all? I do love a vindictive Harry :D I also hope I did Ash and the other Dark-Hunters justice with this story :) R&R please!