A/N sorry it took so long, but I'm not feeling too good, and that
especially sucks around Christmas. I've decided to get Methos and Severus
together about Christmas time, so you'll all have to wait. (But not long,
even I'm not that patient.) Cassandra will show up (As will the twins) in
the next few chapters, but I'm not sure which. It depends on what happens
in this one and the next. Now, before I tell the entire plot in the
author's notes, I will give you the story. In which Adam has a scary dream
(PS. Brownie points to anyone who figures out who the "new darkness" is.)
(PPS, did anyone ever wonder why "scar" is in "scary"? Think this has any
relation to why Harry has his scar? Am I reading too much into this?
Chapter 5
He was in a large dungeon, dark, damp, dank, and dirty. The chains on the walls were old, rusted, and obviously well used. A ring of people stood in the center, all clothed in the same robes and masks. They were swaying and chanting in a language that Methos knew felt familiar, but could not decipher the words or the meanings.
Slowly a man, his chanting higher and more terrible than the rest, entered the center of the ring, standing before an open fire. A word was spoken in a strange hissing language and the flame turned green. He sprinkled many a different powders on it, and finally added a drop of his own blood to the flames. A black smoke arose.
As it floated the smoke formed a vaguely human shape that looked sickeningly familiar to Methos. His mind tossed him a name. "Caspian," he mouthed, unable to do any more. Another smoke-wraith was taking shape, one of a huge goliath of a man. Again Methos's mind told him the identity. "Silas." The third smoke-wraith was rising, and a feeling of dread solidified in the pit of his stomach. He knew this one as well, better than he should. Every nuance about this figure Methos knew, and it scared the living daylights out of him. His mind succeeded a third time with putting a name to a form. "Kronos." All three, as one, then turned and looked strait at Methos.
He was in darkness. Beyond that he could not tell. Though not normally completely at peace in darkness, it normally did calm him down. This darkness did quite the opposite. This darkness was not just the absence of light, but a darkness that had never seen light. The solid dread in his stomach grew.
In the distance he was a tiny, flickering light. It was getting bigger. Was he moving towards it, or was it moving towards him? He could not tell. About ten feet from the flame he stopped, but he did not want to. The flames were calling to him, beckoning him to come even closer.
He resisted.
He could feel and see the flame dance and jump and writhe like a thing living. With a certain suddenness , the flame shrank down to almost nothing, then exploded.
Adam awoke gasping for air, his sheets drenched with sweat. Swinging his bare legs out to the cold air he sat, his head in his hands. He pushed his hair back and exhaled slowly. He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and the cold air was making that fact known to his nervous system, though he paid it no heed. His mind was replaying the dream, the same one he had for over three weeks now. Realizing he wasn't going to get anymore sleep with the dream so vivid, he decided that some physical exertion was necessary.
He cracked his neck and stood, stretching his sleep away. He donned some loose pants, his robes, and his sword from its place next to the bed. He quietly slipped out into the hallway to find an empty area large enough to do the katas that he had known for millennia.
He returned some time later, fully awake, sweaty, and exercised. After a rather long, hot shower, he emerged from his steam cocoon, and dressed himself in a pair of standard-school-issue black robes. (Custom designed with a scabbard for his sword. Now there was no need for a trench coat. Just as he finished tying his sneakers (which he could wear since his feet weren't seen anyway) his stomach informed him, rather noisily that he was hungry. Grabbing his wand he exited his rooms in search of the great hall for breakfast.
It wasn't too hard to find. Just outside of his rooms he met Flitwick, (who insisted that he be called Flit. He said it "reminds me of my childhood, it does") who lead him to the Great Hall, chattering about this picture or that suit of armor along the way. They were stopped along the way by Adam's first encounter (In recent decades) with the castle poltergeist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it was the one and only Peeves.
"Ohhhh! A new teacher! We have much fun with New Teacher! Now lets see New Teac-EEP!" Peeves squeaked quite ridiculously and flew away through the nearest wall. Adam allowed himself a smirk, then schooled his features and turned to Flit, perplexed.
"That was different." Flit was looking at him curiously. "What?"
"The only one," said Flit slowly, "that instills that reaction n Peeves is the bloody baron, and he makes everybody feel that way." Adam shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I have no idea why he acted that way, but if it keeps a poltergeist away from me, all the better." Flit looked at him for a moment long enough for Adam to worry that something had slipped through his mask. Then Flit shrugged, grinned and they continued the chatter all the way to the Great Hall.
A/N 2: I know it's short, but it's the first place I could break before the really long section. That one will be next and up in the next few days. Please keep R/R-ing and have a Happy Holidays.
Chapter 5
He was in a large dungeon, dark, damp, dank, and dirty. The chains on the walls were old, rusted, and obviously well used. A ring of people stood in the center, all clothed in the same robes and masks. They were swaying and chanting in a language that Methos knew felt familiar, but could not decipher the words or the meanings.
Slowly a man, his chanting higher and more terrible than the rest, entered the center of the ring, standing before an open fire. A word was spoken in a strange hissing language and the flame turned green. He sprinkled many a different powders on it, and finally added a drop of his own blood to the flames. A black smoke arose.
As it floated the smoke formed a vaguely human shape that looked sickeningly familiar to Methos. His mind tossed him a name. "Caspian," he mouthed, unable to do any more. Another smoke-wraith was taking shape, one of a huge goliath of a man. Again Methos's mind told him the identity. "Silas." The third smoke-wraith was rising, and a feeling of dread solidified in the pit of his stomach. He knew this one as well, better than he should. Every nuance about this figure Methos knew, and it scared the living daylights out of him. His mind succeeded a third time with putting a name to a form. "Kronos." All three, as one, then turned and looked strait at Methos.
He was in darkness. Beyond that he could not tell. Though not normally completely at peace in darkness, it normally did calm him down. This darkness did quite the opposite. This darkness was not just the absence of light, but a darkness that had never seen light. The solid dread in his stomach grew.
In the distance he was a tiny, flickering light. It was getting bigger. Was he moving towards it, or was it moving towards him? He could not tell. About ten feet from the flame he stopped, but he did not want to. The flames were calling to him, beckoning him to come even closer.
He resisted.
He could feel and see the flame dance and jump and writhe like a thing living. With a certain suddenness , the flame shrank down to almost nothing, then exploded.
Adam awoke gasping for air, his sheets drenched with sweat. Swinging his bare legs out to the cold air he sat, his head in his hands. He pushed his hair back and exhaled slowly. He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and the cold air was making that fact known to his nervous system, though he paid it no heed. His mind was replaying the dream, the same one he had for over three weeks now. Realizing he wasn't going to get anymore sleep with the dream so vivid, he decided that some physical exertion was necessary.
He cracked his neck and stood, stretching his sleep away. He donned some loose pants, his robes, and his sword from its place next to the bed. He quietly slipped out into the hallway to find an empty area large enough to do the katas that he had known for millennia.
He returned some time later, fully awake, sweaty, and exercised. After a rather long, hot shower, he emerged from his steam cocoon, and dressed himself in a pair of standard-school-issue black robes. (Custom designed with a scabbard for his sword. Now there was no need for a trench coat. Just as he finished tying his sneakers (which he could wear since his feet weren't seen anyway) his stomach informed him, rather noisily that he was hungry. Grabbing his wand he exited his rooms in search of the great hall for breakfast.
It wasn't too hard to find. Just outside of his rooms he met Flitwick, (who insisted that he be called Flit. He said it "reminds me of my childhood, it does") who lead him to the Great Hall, chattering about this picture or that suit of armor along the way. They were stopped along the way by Adam's first encounter (In recent decades) with the castle poltergeist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it was the one and only Peeves.
"Ohhhh! A new teacher! We have much fun with New Teacher! Now lets see New Teac-EEP!" Peeves squeaked quite ridiculously and flew away through the nearest wall. Adam allowed himself a smirk, then schooled his features and turned to Flit, perplexed.
"That was different." Flit was looking at him curiously. "What?"
"The only one," said Flit slowly, "that instills that reaction n Peeves is the bloody baron, and he makes everybody feel that way." Adam shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I have no idea why he acted that way, but if it keeps a poltergeist away from me, all the better." Flit looked at him for a moment long enough for Adam to worry that something had slipped through his mask. Then Flit shrugged, grinned and they continued the chatter all the way to the Great Hall.
A/N 2: I know it's short, but it's the first place I could break before the really long section. That one will be next and up in the next few days. Please keep R/R-ing and have a Happy Holidays.