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World of Darkness



Chapter 3: The Cursed of the Darkness



(A/N I'd like to take a quick sec to thank those who told me I wasn't excepting anonymous reviews. I wasn't aware of that. I've remedied that now. On with the fic!)

The moon had risen to her peak that night, she glowed in the sky like the eye of a God. Constantly watching all those who lay beneath her. Never blinking or turning her gaze away. The all seeing eye that looked into the night and knew it's secrets. Sinister secrets that spoke of coming battles and wars, secrets that held pain and suffering for her smallest child. Yet the child must use the gifts given to him, and find strength through her other children of the night. If he didn't there would be no hope for those she watched. Such a burden to fall on one so new to her gaze, she would watch him and guide his path. Then she could only pray he learned his lessons well. The moon focused on another area now, a land that only she and two others could see into. There, in the void, a blight upon all mankind was moving ever closer to her youngest child. Searching for him so that his will would once again remained unchallenged. Her child was unready to face him so soon. So the moon did something she hadn't done in longer than she could remember. She interfered and blinded the evil blight so that he could no longer feel her child. Still, all was not so simple, another searched for the boy. One who did not belong to her kingdom and therefore she had no control over him. It was as if the very fates were conspiring against her youngest child. If this other found the boy, he would end the journey before it ever began. For now the boy would be safe from the other, her child was in the company of the night. For now all she could do was watch as a figure moved with inhuman speed through the forest and another followed by moving through the very shadows that surrounded him.

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Fiona marveled at the way the boy moved, it was like nothing she had ever seen. It was effortless and he seemed to just melt into the shadows before emerging somewhere else. The speed at which he was making the transitions was amazing, if she didn't have vampiric eyes she wouldn't have been able to see the way his figure just melted before he disappeared. She was tempted to take the long way home just so that she could continue to watch his movements. To get a longer chance to study the boy for a weakness that she couldn't find.

"It's not much further. Just another few hundred yards and we'll reach the entrance." It was pointless to Harry how far away they had to travel. It didn't take much concentration to move like this, he wasn't actually entering the void so he didn't have to focus as much as he would have.

The trees past in a blur as the two made there way through the forest. Fiona just kept pondering what would happen to the boy when they reached the cave. She had given him her word that she wouldn't let anything happen to him, but was she leading him to his death. Harry was pondering similar thoughts, yet all the time it felt like this was where he was supposed to be. This was his chance to escape into a life that he was meant to live. Maybe he could find a home somewhere, someplace with people like himself. Maybe there were others who had no family like himself. Perhaps he could start a new with them, and erase the Dursley's from his mind.

Who was he kidding, the Dursley's had left their mark on him and he would never be able to ignore that. They were right after all, he was just a freak. He would always have the scars and no amount of love could bring back what was taken from him. He would always remain a orphan and alone, no new power could change that.

A traitorous tear slipped out the corner of his eye and he wiped it away as he continued to move. A couple of minutes later they arrived at the entrance to a very large cave. Fiona stopped at it's entrance and Harry stepped out of the shadows next to her. The cave entrance was much bigger than the one he had chosen as his home. It was so big that Harry wouldn't know what to do with it.

"Stay close by me young shade and if a fight begins I want you to leave. I can't protect you from all of them at the same time." Harry nodded his consent and the two made their way into the mouth of the cave. They walked for several minutes before entering the first chamber. Several smaller chambers and tunnels seemed to lead off into all directions, and Harry was instantly aware of how large the cave was. He once again thanked whoever was watching for his golden eyes because the cave was very dimly lit and only few torches were scattered to provide illumination. Harry was aware of many eyes on him as he walked with Fiona.

"Well well, It looks like a stray followed you home Fiona. A little midnight snack for your friends." Harry recognized one of the two men. Who ran from him earlier.

"Back off Taylor, or I will snap you in two." But Taylor did not back off, in fact several others joined him in blocking Harry and Fiona from proceeding.

"I don't think so, this little one is mine. I think he'll taste quite interesting." Three Vampires that Harry didn't see grabbed Fiona and drug her off to the side.

"Leave the boy alone you bastard, or I'll rip you to shreds!" Fiona cried out and thrashed at the three that were trying to restrain her. Harry thought she might get free, but another Vampire added his strength and held her still.

"You'll get what's coming to you latter, you know the penalty for bringing someone here. But now it is time for the kid. That was a cute trick you pulled back in the clearing. A illusion charm, you must be a wizard. I haven't had wizard blood in a while, I wonder if you'll scream while I kill you." That was all it took to send Harry into attack mode. Fiona had told him to leave, but now they were going to hurt her as well. Harry couldn't let his only guide be hurt.

Taylor didn't stand a chance, he had glanced over to make sure Fiona was watching and when he turned back Harry was already in the act of striking. Harry struck with all the anger, confusion, and pain that had been building in the last two days. The void within him was no longer a calm emptiness, now it churned liked an anger see that Harry couldn't control. Four shadow arms shot from Harry's chest and stabbed into the vampires shoulders and thighs. They pushed him back and pinned him against the wall, all the while driving deeper until they had skewered him and bit into the cave wall. Harry had lost control of the void within him and now it was striking all who threatened him. A darkness so deep that only Harry could see through filled the cave and Harry sprouted another five shadow limbs which lashed out at anything that came in reach of him. Screams echoed through the main cave as limbs were severed and body's were torn asunder. The scent of blood filled the cave, only serving to drive the vampires into more of a frenzy. The four that held Fiona released her and she rose to her feet.

"SHADE, STOP THIS NOW!" Harry heard her voice and fought to calm the void. In seconds he had managed to call for order once more. He returned the cave to it's barely light atmosphere and surveyed the scene. Blood was splattered on the floor and Vampires were now pouring into the chamber like agitated bees. Five of his shadow limbs now moved casually around his body, ready to turn aggressive at the slightest threat. Four were still firmly implanted into Taylor and held him to the cave wall. Harry turned to face Taylor and spoke in as controlled a manner as he could. Which, after seeing what he had done, sounded closer to being hysterical then anything else.

"Apologize to Fiona now." Harry spoke timidly at first, then when the vampire cursed at him so he changed his tactic. Harry brought one of his shadow arms to Taylors neck.

"I don't know if it will kill you, but if you don't apologize I'll cut your head clean off." When the vampire didn't respond Harry pressed the limb up against the vampires neck and drew blood.

"OK, enough! I'm sorry." Harry smiled at Fiona and pulled his limbs back. Perhaps Uncle Vernon was right. It was OK to bully someone into getting what you want. If you were stronger then someone than it didn't really matter and you could just take what you wanted.

Harry pulled his shadows back into himself and Taylor fell from the wall. Harry walked back over to Fiona and stood by her like nothing had ever happened. A silence fell over the cave, which was soon interrupted by a mans shout.

"Fiona Debaou! What is the meaning of this? I demand you answer me now!" Two men walked into the circle. One had long black hair and wore modern clothes, the other had white hair and he wore clothes of the softest red velvet Harry had ever seen. Fiona had fallen to her knees in a sign of respect, many others lowered there eyes and didn't meet these two in the eyes. But Harry's gold eyes meet with that of the man with white hair and the two never looked away from each other.

"Sire, I came across something rather unusual while preparing to hunt tonight. I thought that you or the eldest might be able to enlighten me. I did not mean any disrespect or to break the laws. However Taylor saw fit to detain me and my young acquaintance. Shade, was only defending himself when Taylor sought to feed off him." The two vampires looked at Fiona for a moment and then turned their attention to Harry.

The vampire who Fiona addressed as sire circled around Harry, weighing for his worth. Trying to unlock whatever mystery the boy held with his eyes alone. He stopped behind Harry and leaned closer to the boys ear.

"Sleep!" The one word echoed in Harry's ear like it was spoken by a thousand voices. He felt compelled to listen to it, just like back in the forest with Fiona. However this time it was so much stronger, as he began to fall asleep. Harry saw Taylor smiling in the corner where he had pulled himself to his feet. Then Harry was asleep in front of the watching Vampires.

"That wasn't so hard now was it. There is nothing special about humans Fiona, as my oldest child you should have learned this centuries ago. Now all you have to do is feed." Fionas' sire let his fangs sink into Harry's neck and began to drain the boy of blood. The eldest watched on in curiosity at first, then the curiosity turned to horror.

"STOP!" His shout forced all in the chamber to cease what they were doing. Even Fionas' sire ceased to feed. The vampire with white hair usually never exerted this level of control over his children. However there was no time to be wasted. As the life drained from the boy, so too did the voice that allowed them freedom.

The emergence of the two voices had been weighing heavy on the elders mind since the night before. As his oldest child feed upon the boy, one of the two voices weakened till the eldest could almost no longer deny the commanding voice. Yet he struggled to find the strength to make his command. Once the feeding stopped the second voice no longer weakened. It grew a bit stronger and then stabilized. Instantly the elder knew that this was the child chosen by the darkness. The one who the darkness had chosen, yet was still innocent enough to never be tempted to bring control of all dark forces underneath him.

"Take the boy to my chambers, and let no one enter it. If anyone touches the boy then I will destroy you all!" The elder vampires words held no jocularity. No one questioned the threat, they knew he was completely Serious.

"Fiona, you have done well. You have served me well, and you have provided hope for all of us. Come to me in an hours time, and bring with you one of your choosing. Christian, come with me." Fionas' sire, Christian, followed the elder out of the main cavern and into a small series of tunnels that lead to some small chambers next to the elders dwelling place.

"Sir, why did you stop me from feeding? I was making a point to my child." Though his face did not show it, Christian was truly perplexed with the elders orders.

"Can you not feel the difference child? Can you not feel the change?" Christian looked perplexed at first, but then realization struck. His already pale face grew even more pale.

"Surely that young boy could not have anything to do with what we have been talking about. He is just a child, there is no way so much could rest upon him." Christian was just trying to deny what he now knew to be the truth.

"I haven't a doubt that the child is the chosen one of legend. Tell me, have you heard of the news from the Wizarding world?" A grimace came over Christians face.

"You know how much I hate dealing with wizards." The elder just gave a dry chuckle to his child.

"If you are going to lead this clan one day, you must learn to look beyond it. However I will not hold that against you. It seems that a small boy has gone missing from his guardians." Christian was even more perplexed at the change in conversation.

"What does that have to do with the boy? It makes no difference if the boy is a wizard. His responsibility is to us now." Christian was getting impatient with the way the elder was treating him.

"It makes a difference when shade, as he is calling himself, is Harry Potter." Christian was shocked to say the least. This would complicate matters greatly.

"They will begin to search for him then. If he stays here he will be a danger to us all." The elder had already thought of this and had prepared his plan accordingly.

"I realize this, however we can not just send him out from our company. It should be safe for him to stay here for a while. There is much work to be done in that time. If a vampire could destroy him so easily, as you so adequately proved, then what chance would he stand against Drayor. We must prepare him for his future battles. That is where your child will serve us again. Her and whoever she chooses will be responsible to teach him." Christian looked aghast at the elders plan.

"You can't be serious, giving our secrets to a mortal. That has never been done before." The elder raised a hand to quiet his child.

"And it shall never be done again, however our only hope rests in this child. He must be able to defend himself." Christian became resigned to the necessity of the situation. He would do his best to carry out the elders decision.

"Should we tell the boy about what he is to be facing?" Christian had no idea how to proceed, despite his age he still had much to learn. He especially didn't know how to deal with humans, let alone human children.

"No, he will know when he is ready. Until it is time only you and I will know why the boy is being prepared. Now I have work for you, while the boy is here I want you to influence the minds of humans far away from here. Make them believe they have seen the boy, we must keep the wizards away for as long as we can." Christian nodded and then walked out of the cavern just as Fiona was walking into it. He stopped her before she entered.

"Do your work well my child, more depends on it then you could ever know." Fiona had no idea what her sire was speaking of, but she swore to it none the less.

"Fiona, my grandchild, take a seat by my side and speak with me." Fiona sat at the elders side, questions burned in her mind and she had no idea how long she could go with out there answers.

"Grandsire, what do you wish to see me about? Does it concern the boy, have I done some wrong that I need to be punished for? If so I thank you for sparing me the public humiliation." The elder shook his head and then raised his hand to silence his grandchild.

"I have work for you my grandchild, important work that is unprecedented. I charge you with the training of the boy in the ways of the blood." Fiona was perplexed, she had promised not to harm the boy. She couldn't do as he asked of her.

"Grandsire, I have given the boy my oath. I cannot harm him here, I cannot embrace him into the clan and teach him our ways. I beg you to choose someone else." The elder showed no emotion, but silenced her protests once more.

"Relax my child, you are not to embrace him. Only teach him the ways of the blood. I am well aware that those are secrets meant only for us, but there is more than you know at stake. Have you chosen the one who will assist you?" Fiona wanted to retract her previous decision as to who she would choose. However she had already informed her choice that he would be answering to her.

"I had chosen Taylor, so that I could enforce my position above him. However, now I wonder if that was a wise decision." The elder considered the matter for a moment.

"Taylor will do well, you must overlook your differences with him and work together. Now go, I want to speak with the boy alone. You can start with him tomorrow night, the dawn is fast approaching and I grow ever more weary. Remember my grandchild, you and Taylor are to tell no one of your task." Fiona left with more questions then she had entered with. It was not her place to question the elder, she would tell Taylor of their task and prepare. Perhaps the future would unwrap more of the secrets the boy held, only time would tell. One thing was for certain, she had been placed to do a task of more importance than any other vampire ever. She wouldn't let her sire or the elder down, they had placed much faith in her. She would work the boy until he bleed, and then she would work him harder.

The elder watched Fiona leave before rising to wake the boy, he had chosen well. Fiona would make sure the boy was well educated in the vampiric practices of the blood. They had little time, and much to teach him before he would be forced to leave the safety of the cave.

"Wake up boy!" The elder called to the figure who was sleeping on the bed in his chamber. Harry stirred from his slumber and sat up. He felt strangely weak and tired even after his nap.

"What is it you want boy?" The elder took a seat and watched the boy ponder his question. Harry wasn't sure what he really wanted. He wanted to leave the Dursley's, and he had. He wanted love, but that was something no one could or would offer him. Above all he wanted his mother and father, he wanted to know what they were like. He wanted to know more about them then just there names. He wanted acceptance and just to be hugged by someone who cared about him. Just one person who cared if he died or not. God, am I really that bad of a person, Harry screamed at himself, am I so worthless that no one can stand me. Just one friend, that was what Harry wanted, one person to be there in his darkness with him. Maybe if someone was there the darkness wouldn't be so dark.

"I'm going to make you a offer boy, one that has never been made to your kind before. You stay with us for awhile and we will teach you things you could never dream of. Or, you can leave now and go back to being on your own." That wasn't what Harry wanted, or did he. He was so confused, when he was with the Dursley's all he wanted to do was get out. Anything was better than that, but now where did he go. He was searching the dark for where he belonged, did he belong with these Vampire's? There was only one way to find out.

"You do not have to decide now. You are safe here and you don't have to worry about attack. The dawn comes quickly and I can see that you are still tired. Sleep here in my quarters for the day and you can make your decision when the sun falls once more." The elder turned and left the chamber. Harry decided that staying for a little couldn't hurt, and he was tired. Fine he would decide the next evening. With this in mind Harry crawled back under the blankets and closed his eyes once more.

****** Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter!



Fireangle: Thanks, glad you like the fic! Thanks for reviewing!

Tima: Thanks for reviewing! Glad you like my writing style.

King Crimson Fan on a Mac: I appreciate the review, thanks!

Zeon Reborn: Thanks for taking the time to review!

Tom: Sorry, can't say that I have. Is it any good? I'm always looking for a good read. As long as it doesn't get to Satanic or anti-Christian and stuff. My mum would absolutely kill me if I was reading stuff like that. I usually stick to classics like Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park. I'm a Jane Austin fan, but if you say it's good, I'll check it out.

Icewind Stormfire: No, I wasn't aware, thanks for telling me! Thanks for the review as well!

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chibi- Tenshi: I accept them now, thanks for telling me! And thanks for taking the time to review!

PheonixMan: Thanks for reading my fic, and I'm glad you find it well written!

BlackDragon: Thanks, I was hoping it would flow well. I really wanted to make sure everyone knew that this wasn't going to be another fic where there is no plot and it fizzles out half way! As this chapter shows, Harry doesn't know to much about anything. He's unaware of Drayor and his place in the wizarding world. He is aware of wizards now, but he hasn't really gotten to finding a connection between himself and them. Harry's got a ways to go before he starts doing wand magic. Wand magic would imply Harry having dealings with the wizards and that won't happen for a little while. I always appreciate the review! Thanks

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