Disclaimer: I own nothing JKR owns all before you. I do not make any
claims.
Disclaimer: I own nothing JKR owns all before you. I do not make any claims.
World of Darkness
Chapter 7: Veiled Future
The rolling movements of the wagon jostled Harry from his slumber. Green tired eyes opened onto the wooden interior of the sleeping compartment in the Gypsy wagon. Strange noises assaulted his ears from all directions, noises that had been absent for the past few days. Birds singing had become a oddity after living in the depths of the cave. Even stranger was the sound of the wooden wagon trundling along it's path. Harry looked about him to find that the cabin was deserted of all life. The children who had slept around him were gone and he was alone.
His clothes were neatly folded at the base of his bed, and his boots were placed on the opposite side of the wagon. After pulling his green tunic over his head, he fastened his pants with his belt. The he pulled on his boots so that he could leave the wagon and see what had drawn him from his slumber.
The wagon door opened onto a world Harry hadn't seen in days. The sun was at it's highest point in the sky and was sending it's rays down into the trees. The bright shine hurt his eyes and he squinted to block out the foreign invader.
Children were running and playing alongside the wagons, while adults rode horses or directed the wagons. Harry jumped down to the ground and landed on the unmoving earth, thankful to be out of the moving wagon. He wasn't entirely sure who he should talk to, but the awkward moment disappeared when the girl from the night before ran up to meet him.
"Come on, we're playing tag!" With that she tapped Harry on the shoulder and ran off with the other children. Harry had never played tag before, but he understood the idea and joined the game. Some of the older children seemed to enjoy picking on the younger kids before running out of their reach. For some reason this bothered Harry and he made it a point to only tag those older than he was. It also helped that if they got to far ahead he could use a bit of blood magic and catch up to them in a flash. What was the fun in magic if you couldn't use it for fun every now and then. Of course he was discreet in his use of magic. He didn't know just how much the Vampires had told them.
After a little while the older children realized that Harry could catch them and played a bit more fair. In an hour Harry had made more friends than he had in his entire life. It was strange to have friends, he didn't even know how good it felt to have them in his life. Now here he was, laughing and playing with kids his own age. For the first time he could just be a child.
"Time for lunch! You kids better head over to where the wagons circled." One of the Adults dispersed them from their game, and the group made their way to where a fire had been built. Harry didn't feel tired at all, he didn't really want the game to end but he complied anyway. Perhaps it was because he wasn't tired, or maybe he was afraid that this moment of simple happiness would disappear with the wind.
Harry was given a bowl of stew and then took a seat on a tree stump out of the way. He didn't really know how to interact with these people. They were always smiling, and Harry couldn't see how they could be happy over nothing at all. He much preferred the quiet Vampires, you didn't have to talk around them. They existed in a constant comfortable silence, no words were needed to express desires. Here they thrived on communication with each other. To be honest he couldn't decide what he liked more, the comfortable silence or the happy laughter.
"Hello there, I trust you slept well? We expected you to sleep longer, I've been told you developed a odd sleeping pattern. I didn't really get a chance to welcome you last night. Do you have any questions?" The man who had introduced himself as Demetri the night before had sat down on a adjacent stump next to him. The man hand a kindly face and a seemingly gentle nature. He was warm and gave Harry a sense of comfort to be around him.
"Actually, I do have a few questions. I was wondering where we are going?" The larger man smiled at Harry and proceeded to refill his stew bowl. The thick stew splashed into the bowl, and Harry once more thanked whoever was listening that he was back with people who ate real food.
"We aren't actually going anywhere." Harry gave him a skeptical look, of course they were going somewhere. You were always going somewhere, even when you aren't traveling you are still heading to some goal. It just isn't always that easy to determine where that direction takes you to.
"But we've been traveling all morning, where are we headed?" Harry decided that the gypsy must have been pulling his leg. Going nowhere indeed, everyone in the camp seemed to have some destination in mind.
"Actually, we don't go anywhere in particular at all. The Muggles don't take very kindly to us. Because we don't practice many of the conventional forms of magic we are allowed to live openly in Muggle areas. Since we don't follow a lot of the Muggle laws they don't want us near them. So they send their officials to send us off, or occasionally they try to force us into leaving. Instead of giving them the chance we keep moving. Same thing really applies to the magical world, we live at the edges of both societies." That fit into what Harry had heard about. It seemed that this was just another case where people were harshly judged for things they didn't do. The Gypsy's lived a free life and only listened to their own rules, that was kind of how he wanted to live.
"What kind of magic do you practice then?" Harry had already learned that the magical world kept itself separate from the Muggle world. Fiona had told him that Wizards used excuses like Muggles would want answers to all their problems if they knew about magic.
"Mostly divination and potions. We don't use a lot of the more rare magical ingredients, and we are careful to not allow Muggles to know our recipes." This just served to confuse Harry. Those were definitely magical branches of study, how were they so open around Muggles.
"I thought Muggles weren't allowed to know about magic?" Harry had forgotten about the soup he was eating.
"Of course Muggles know about magic. Whether they choose to believe it or not is another story. Muggles will often come to us for cures to their ailments, or to see what their future holds for them. That's one of the ways we make money." Now that Harry thought about it, he did remember stories of gypsy's selling love potions or reading the future. He just never believed in any of it, perhaps their was more out their to magic.
"But won't all Muggles want answers to their problems?"
"Most Muggles don't even believe what we do is real. Part of magic comes from those around believing it is real. Those who don't believe in magic don't seek us out, and we are happy to help those who do. Magic is a gift and we should share it, that's one of the things we disagree with the rest of the magical community on. Since they can't track our potions or divination they can't stop us, so we are free to do as we please." This was an entirely different view on magic that Harry hadn't hear yet. Perhaps the gypsy's understood something that most wizards didn't get.
"Is their anything I can do to help out while I'm here?" The older man looked at him carefully for a moment. He sized the young boy up and seemed to think of what he could let the boy do.
"Well, we always have some work to do. I'm sure there is something you can help with. I was also asked to allow you to join in the children's training. We teach our children how to defend themselves from a young age. Though it may not be the best thing for a child to learn, it is necessary. Sometimes people aren't always as accepting of us as others are." Harry didn't like the implications that Demetri was referring to.
"Yolaf, this young man wants to be put to work." A tall man dressed in work clothes walked over. Demetri led Harry over and introduced the two, then he left to continue his responsibilities as head of the Gypsy tribe.
"Let's see here, we are chopping some fire wood. You can take the smaller pieces over to the supply wagon." Harry agreed eagerly and followed the adult over to some other men who were using axes to chop through logs that were placed on tree stumps.
Harry along with a group of other boys collected the wood and took it over to the storage wagon. At first Harry stuck to the pieces that he could lift, but soon he grew bored with the task. It would be so much easier if he just picked up a lot at the same time. It would be even easier if he grew twelve shadow arms, cut, sliced, and then carried the wood himself. Since he couldn't do that, he decided to just increase his strength. Harry focused for a moment and felt the tingling surge through his muscles.
This time, instead of just collecting one smaller plank he stacked three large logs and carried them over to the wagon. The work went quickly and soon the boys had caught up to the adults progress.
"Damn, I swear this blade is dull. It couldn't cut through my grandmothers roast." One of the adults threw his ax to the ground in frustration. Yolaf stopped his work and gave a mighty belly laugh.
"That doesn't speak to poorly of the ax! I've had your mothers cooking and I know you need two men just to cut through it." The other men began to laugh, and even Harry had to stifle a giggle. While the adult talked Harry walked over to the ax that lay on the ground. He lifted it from the ground and could tell that it was definitely heavy. If it weren't for his improved strength he wouldn't have been able to lift it. To be on the safe side he let more magic release in his body. It seemed the more he did this the easier it became to control. Instantly he felt even stronger than he had before. The ax now felt like a simple twig in his hands, something that he could easily snap in two. An urge to test his strength brought his attention to the log the man had attempted to split. It had been set up on a large tree stump, and it looked as thick as the stump itself.
Harry tightened his grip on the handle, it's wooden handle splintering a bit in his hands. Then he lifted the ax above his head and brought its blade down on the log. He watched in amazement as the blade bit through the log and cleared straight through the stump. It plunged deep into the ground and stopped at the end of the swing.
Harry looked up to see the men staring at him, his cheeks reddened under their scrutiny. Instantly he began to fear that they would make him leave. Not that he couldn't just return to the Vampires, but he did begin to enjoy the presence of the other children. Other darker thoughts began to well inside him, like what if they judged him like Wizards judged Vampires.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it. I just wanted to try the ax." The men continued to stare at him like he had grown a third head. Harry's fear began to mount and the shadows cast by the trees rippled. It was Yolaf who stepped forward and broke the tension.
"I'd say that ax is plenty sharp enough. Perhaps your mothers cooking has slowed you down more than you thought." The group burst into laughter again. Harry calmed a bit, then pulled the ax free of the ground. He tried to draw some of the magic back to where he could feel it had come from. It left him feeling weaker and there was a desire to feel the strength once more. However, Harry would head what he had been taught. He wouldn't deplete the magic just in case he needed it.
"Come Shade, it's time for lessons." Harry turned to find that Demetri had come to his side. The man always seemed to have a smile on his face, he was always warm. He also seemed to have a laugh that spread happiness to all around him. Harry hadn't known him for long, but he took a liking to Demetri.
Harry followed the large man over to a group of children his age. It seemed that Demetri instructed them in whatever they learnt. A tug at his sleeve drew his attention to whoever was standing beside him. Alea was holding on to his arm and beckoning him to draw closer so she could whisper in his ear.
"Demetri has asked me to help you during the lesson. After he speaks I will take you to receive your tools." Harry nodded to the young girl and then turned his attention back to Demetri. The man clapped his hands to draw everyone's focus.
"Ponder this while you train, than answer me later. Who is it who decides what is right and what is wrong." With that Demetri clapped his hands once more and the group began to disperse.
"Come Shade, I will take you to Oran. He will give you your tool." The young girl put Harry at ease and he followed her. Her smile made Harry want to laugh, she was like a ray of light in his darkness.
"What tools do you mean, is it like a hammer?" Alea just shook her head and laughed at him. The laugh didn't come across as demeaning, not like his Aunt used to laugh at him.
"No, Oran will explain when we get their." Harry watched as she walked, he wanted to ask her about the night before.
"I've never seen someone dance like you did last night. The music was beautiful as well, I really loved listening to the songs. Do you do that every night?" Alea smiled at him and pulled her hair out of her eyes.
"Oh yes, we always sing and dance in the evenings. If you liked the music so much I'm sure my uncle, Demetri, would love to teach you how to play." The idea of him being able to play such beautiful music was something he couldn't fathom. Still it pleased him to think that he could hear it whenever he wanted.
"I'd like that a lot. But I wouldn't be sure which instrument to choose." Alea pondered this for a moment.
"Then don't decide. You can be like me, I refuse to choose just one when they all are so wonderful. I vowed to never stop until I can play them all. My uncle tells me that the music comes from inside you. The instrument only serves to draw it out." Harry liked the idea of the music being inside him, though he couldn't picture what song he would sing. He only knew that it would be sad and lonely.
The two walked to one of the older looking wagons. Alea opened the door and they stepped into the interior. The light from the outside glinted off metal weapons and reflected in the wagon. Once the door was shut the bright light turned to that of candles that filled the room
"Alea, is this the young man who was to meet me today." A tall gangly man walked out from behind a crate and approached the two children.
"Yes Oran, he is here to receive a tool." Harry was still a bit perplexed as to why they called these weapons tools.
"I was wondering what type of weapon I'll be receiving?" Oran seemed to not like the term weapon.
"I am tool master in this camp, but let me tell you about my tools first. A weapon is something that is sent out with the soul purpose to kill. I do not have weapons here, nor anywhere in this camp. I give tools which can be used to build your future. A tool used in the right hand can do many beautiful things, in the wrong hands they are nothing more than a weapon. Only when you truly understand your tool will you realize what sets it apart from every other weapon." The man seemed to drift away while he looked at his tools, then he flashed back to the present.
"Why don't you find something that interests you." The man smiled at Harry and motioned to the rows and rows of tools.
Harry walked around looking at the strange blades. All seemed to be distinct in different ways, but he could see how each was capable of causing damage. Perhaps that was what the man was talking about, he only saw them as a weapon. Through training he might be able to see it as a fine instrument capable of beauty.
A long rood that was taller then him drew his attention. It had a long blue teak shaft that made up it's body. At the bottom was a metal shod, the round bulb would be capable of breaking bones. The top was a foot long blade that curved towards the middle. Not enough to be considered a hook, somewhere in between straight and L shaped.
"The Glaive, a fine choice. It's an excellent polearm for while on horse back, but I think that may be a little to heavy for you. The teak shaft has a heavy lead core and I'm not sure if you could lift it." At first Harry was hesitant, but with some blood magic still strengthening him he didn't find it to much of a bother at all.
"Are you letting these children hang around your 'tools' again." Harry spun around to find a women with long black hair standing by the entrance. Her features were aged, but she was still quite beautiful.
"You may not approve Emilia, but it is necessary. You can stick to your tea leaves, and I'll keep to my tools." Oran glared at the women, but she seemed to ignore the look. Harry was interested by this women who wore long red robes.
"Come children, why don't we allow Oran to go back to his fiddling." Alea nudged him forward and the two of them followed the women out of the wagon. It was a bit awkward carrying the long Glaive with him and after experimenting he found it easiest to hold it at his side with one hand. Harry couldn't help but ask this women questions.
"Can you really see the future?" The possibility of someone seeing the future was scary. If a person really could see the future, where was the fun in living the present. If there was one set future could you really control anything.
"I don't see the future, I see stories. We each are writing our own stories in life, I just tell you what the next chapter might include." That didn't entirely confirm any of his worries.
"You say might? Does that mean that what you see doesn't always come true." The thought that he had no control over his life was what really bothered him.
"The future is like a river. It always moves, always changing in it's course. However, no matter what course it takes it still reaches the ocean. Thousands of paths all leading to one destination. I can only look and see a path in a million, it's your choice to choose your own path. So the answer is yes and no." This woman was definitely confusing to say the least.
The group approached another wagon. This one was much smaller than the last, it's windows were covered to prevent outside light from seeping in.
"Leave your Glaive here, I don't allow them into my wagon." Harry propped his weapon up against the wagon and then followed the other two into the wagon.
"Come sit down, Let me see the path you walk on." Harry was a bit nervous but he sat down before her. The room was decorated in red and purple cloths that were draped from the ceiling. Lamps provided candle light for the room and a feint scent of sage was on the air.
The woman took a bag from the side of the table and dropped it's contents in the center of a triangle on the table. Beads, rocks, feathers, and even bones fell onto the table. They scattered and formed a pattern in the triangle.
"Your path is a uncertain one, it is constantly changing. You never take two steps down the same one. Destinies intertwine and fight to draw you in a certain way, but you struggle to find your own course. Still, obligations will close in on your right and your left." Harry had no idea what she meant, but maybe she could answer other questions.
"Tell me, can you read the past as well as the future?" The woman gave him a thoughtful look before gathering the contents of the bag and dropping them once more.
"Your past and your future will one day meet. The answers you seek lay in the darkness, seek out a moon kissed man who lives to the north. He holds truths and falsehoods, though he doesn't know which are which. It is up to you to take what you may find and determine the truth." Harry thanked the woman and stood to leave. He had enough of this for one day. Yet before he was able to leave she halted him.
"Wait, your path is strange. It runs in a course, yet doesn't reach a destination. I cannot find the end." Harry looked at her expecting more. Yet she had nothing else to say.
His Glaive still rested against the wall of the wagon when he left. He had much to consider, if the answers to his questions lay to the north then could he return to the Vampires. He wanted to see them again with all his heart, yet he seemed to be going further and further away. The answers to many of his questions lay to the north, so for now that is where he would go. One day he would return to the Vampires, but that day was not now.
******
Two weeks passed and Harry still remained in the Gypsy camp. No one questioned his choice to stay with them, and as long as they headed north he would continue to travel with the band. He was worried that he hadn't heard anything from the Vampires, but he knew that if he needed to he could return on his own. He had kept up his studies on the Vampiric language and used this to read some of the books on blood magic. A lot of the concepts he didn't understand, but he had learned about some of it's uses in magic.
Applying his skills in the Vampiric language he was able to compose a letter to be sent back to Fiona and the Elder. Demetri had assured him that the letter would make it back to them, and they sent it back with another Gypsy clan headed in the opposite direction. In the letter Harry attempted to explain what he was doing, and why he would not be returning. Still he felt bad that he couldn't tell them in person. Of course he could step through the shadows and return, but the temptation to stay may be to strong.
He had progressed well in other areas also during his stay. Oran had taught him how to wield the Glaive and his skills increased by the day. He worked hard not just to impress Oran, but to hopefully see the beauty that Oran could see. Oran would spend hours talking about the art and simplicity of the motions, Harry still couldn't find the beauty Oran spoke of. Still, he would continue his search for this beauty.
The Glaive was not the only thing he studied. He found nothing more relaxing than learning to play the recorder or guitar that Demetri had given him. He had progressed well with both, but he had natural talent with the recorder. It became common to hear him playing the eerily haunting notes late into the night. Whether he played a new song or just some melody he composed, it always left a sad feeling in those who heard it. Demetri said that his music expressed to much sadness for a child to ever have. Only Harry knew just how right the man was.
Harry learned where to find strange plants and herbs and how to combine them to create potions for healing or other uses. Emilia taught him some of the basics of her art, but they never spoke of her first reading. Most importantly Harry began to learn that life wasn't always sad. He watched parents interact with their children and friends talk together. It was like seeing how beautiful life could be. Even though he was seeing a new side to life, he was watching it from the outside looking in.
All through his time with the Gypsy's one thing had remained a constant. That constant was Alea, and Harry was grateful for her. She spent all her time with him, and for the first time Harry had a best friend his age. She stayed with him while he practiced the techniques with his Glaive. She danced while he played his recorder, she even stayed up with him late into the night to watch the stars sparkle in the heavens. She was the first person he ever felt like he could tell her anything.
Harry attempted to blend in and become a helpful member of the Gypsy camp. He helped in whatever way he could, no matter what was asked of him. It made him feel good to be a part of the group. In fact, that's what he was doing right now.
They where climbing up a hill to reach a small town where they planned to camp for the night and Harry was guiding a horse at the front. If their was one thing Harry got used to it was traveling. They never stayed in one place to long, which in his opinion was a good thing. He had not forgotten that somewhere out there were wizards who were searching for him. The fact that they constantly were moving was definitely a bonus.
A loud crack and a horses cry drew him out of his thoughts. Harry spun around to watch as a horse broke free of it's wagon and the large wooden compartment began to roll backwards. Adrenaline kicked in and before he knew it magic was circulating through his muscles. It strengthened him more than he had ever dared to try. The feeling was a rush that speed through him like nothing he had ever felt.
He was reacting before others had the chance, his body already moving to speed him down the hill. The only thing in his mind was stopping the wagon. By the time he reached it, it was already speeding down the hill. With two more bounds he had overtaken it, and managed to put his body in front of the wagon. Exhibiting strength no normal human had he meet the oncoming wagon with both hands put out to brace it. The speeding mass slammed into his hands and drove his feet further down the hill.
Harry searched deep within him to find the blood magic he needed. Calling the strength to him he was able to slow the wagon down to where it stopped on the slanted surface. Pain rippled through his arms and legs as he fought to keep the wagon from sliding loose once more. Seconds flowed by like minutes, and minutes like hours, as he waited for help. The sound of approaching voices were his only assurance that help was coming. The men worked quickly to anchor the wagon. Soon Harry found that he could release the wagon and it didn't slid further down. His muscles were still infused with strength and the adrenaline still demanded action. Harry took a moment to center himself, and he was able to draw back the magic.
His body was exhausted, he had to allow some of his blood magic to remain just so he could keep walking. No one looked at him oddly, they had all gotten used to the fact that he had in human strength and speed. Harry once more thanked whoever was listening that they didn't toss him out because of his ability. If anything they had begun to use him to work in areas where he could get practice in using the magic. Thanks to this practice Harry had been able to gauge around how much blood magic he could use before he depleted himself. That's why Harry knew that his body needed rest now, what he didn't know was that this day would test his limits.
Harry rested in a wagon for the rest of the day. He was thankful for the small respite that had been allotted to him after what he had done. When evening fell and they had set camp near the town Harry was more than happy to sit around the fire and eat the evening meal.
Alea sat to his side and the two talked about their days. She told him that it didn't take to long to get the horses re-harnessed after he went to sleep. She scolded him for sleeping all day, because now she would have to stay up late with him. Not that either of them really minded.
Harry had just taken out his guitar and was running through a few cords to warm up for the dance that evening when a rustle in the bushes caught his ear. At first he dismissed it as a wild animal, but when another bush not to far away from the first moved he began to worry. The feeling that he was being watched wouldn't leave his mind. It was almost like his senses were preparing for something to happen, what that would be he didn't know. The shadows began to quake at their masters unease, they rippled like liquid on the ground.
"WE'LL TEACH YOU VAGRANTS A LESSON!" Various shouts and slurs were called out from men who leapt out of the bushes. Many of them carried bats or metal pipes, and they spread through the camp hitting the unsuspecting Gypsy's.
Alea jumped from his side and ran to where a man was hitting her uncle. She threw herself on the older mans battered body.
"Please leave him alone! He hasn't done anything to you." The man with the pipe smacked her to the side. Another man grabbed her and dragged her towards the forest while the first resumed beating the battered gypsy.
By this time most had gathered their weapons and were fighting off the disgruntled townspeople. Harry watched as most of the attackers fled back into the forest, but no one went after Alea. It was up to him to protect his friend.
Harry grabbed his Glaive and ran into the forest in the direction of where the men had taken his friend. Anger swept through his body as he barreled through the underbrush. Lights up ahead signaled the presence of some of the townspeople.
The scene that Harry saw horrified him, the limp body of Alea lay on the ground while some of the townspeople laughed or kicked her body. Harry's blood boiled and he let his blood magic rage through his body. His anger worked like a alien force and gripped his mind and actions. It drew deeply into the void and brought out the pain and hate stored deep within his past. The magic raced through his being, bringing him to his strengths limits. His senses increased beyond what he could have ever imagined. He could hear their heart beats, he could smell the cheap colognes on their collars. The shadows deepened around him, making his body look like he was walking in his own personal night. His eyes shifted to their golden sheen and glowed in the folds of his anger. This people had seriously pissed him off.
"LEAVE HER ALONE" The group looked up from her body to see the seriously pissed off boy. Most rubbed their eyes, attributing the seemingly blanket of darkness to fading vision in the night. Yet the shadows remained wrapping around the boy. Still he was just one boy, what could one boy do.
"Get him!" Two of the villagers with bats ran forward to meet the boy with the glowing golden eyes. Harry let the shadows reveal the long weapon that he carried at his side. The men seemed to reconsider for a moment, but they had already committed to the attack.
One brought his bat towards Harry's head, but he easily sliced through it with the hooked blade of his weapon. Harry continued his swing and brought the metal shod on the other end of the Glaive across the mans shoulder. His increased strength caused the blow to shatter the bone and brake the arm in two. With speed no human possessed Harry stepped out of the other mans reach and drove the metal shod into the mans knee cap. His scream of pain echoed through the clearing as he dropped his weapon and fell to the ground. Some of the men tried to take the girl and go, but Harry would have none of it.
"NO, no one leaves!" He hissed out the last part of his sentence. As his words echoed in the clearing the outside world seemed to disappear as a impenetrable cloak of darkness fell over the entire clearing.
"Did you think it was fun? A game maybe? Well it's my game now." The men spun around to try and find the voice that seemed to come from all around them. Harry laughed at their futile efforts to find him, and his laughter haunted the glen.
Harry jumped down from a tree he had used as a perch and speed into the dark clearing, his golden eyes shining with anger. Using his speed he destroyed the small lanterns which cast feeble light into his world.
"Now your in my world!" Screams echoed as the men stumbled around on the forest floor. Yet Harry wasn't done playing yet, no they must pay for those they hurt. If he had learned anything from the Elder, it was that we are responsible for all our actions.
Harry didn't need his eyesight to see the men in the darkness. He could hear their hearts and crunching they made while searching for some form of escape. He was the hunter now, he would punish them.
He leapt from the tree and brought the metal shod down onto a crawling mans back. He wasn't sure if he had broken the mans back, nor did he really care. Something in the power had overtaken him, and the only thing that mattered was making them pay for those they hurt.
Screams flew from their throats as Harry toyed with them one by one. Making sure to break them enough that they could still feel the pain without passing out. He didn't want them to find a easy way out. His fun was just beginning, and they were in for a long night.
A brilliant flash of light blinded Harry, he turned to see that some of the men had found their jeep and had turned the headlights on. The light bit into his darkness and illuminated the scene of carnage that littered the clearing. Five of them had made it to safety and were attempting to escape. His heart skipped a beat when he saw they had collected Alea when the light illuminated the glen. The car speed through the forest in their attempt to escape.
Weakness overcame Harry as he realized he had used way to much blood magic that day. His efforts this morning had drawn him past his breaking point. He felt weak all over, but he knew he couldn't rest now. He had a decision to make, but he knew what he must do to get Alea back.
Harry stumbled to a fallen man and brought the sharp end of his Glaive across the mans chest. Blood welled from the would, and Harry wasted no time in plunging his face into the red puddle that was forming on his chest. The liquid instantly gave him more strength, immediately refilling his reserves. He drank greedily and deep and in seconds it had brought him to the peak of his current abilities. Now they would pay!
The shadows enveloped him as he leapt through the void and landed 50 yards in front of the jeep. The vehicles headlights illuminated his blood covered face and chest, this combined with his still glowing eyes gave him a demonic look.
Instead of slowing down the vehicle only speed up in a attempt to run him down. Harry watched as the jeep got closer, then when it was within a meter he leapt into the air and landed on the hood. His Glaive slammed through the metal hood and dove deep into the engine. Then in one smooth motion he leaped off the car.
The vehicle swerved and slammed into a tree, fire burst from the hood. The man ran into the forest while Harry took the time to remove Alea's body to make sure she was still alive. She had a pulse but her body was badly beaten. He was so absorbed in her that he did not notice that the men had not run far. That is until a burning pain ripped into his shoulder and out his chest. This was followed by three more burning pains, then he slumped to the forest floor.
"We got the demon boy!" The men rejoiced and threw their hand in the air, while Harry lay on the ground in pain. He reached a hand up to find three hole where bullets had ripped clean through his small frame. The pain was like a fire raging in his being. As he felt the wounds he became aware of the strange tingling sensation that he had felt before. Then like it had never come the pain was gone, his magic had sealed his wounds.
The shadows darkened around the five, and their attention returned to the boy who still lay on the ground. Shadow tendrils extended from his body and lifted him off the ground, suspending him in the air like a puppet. His eyes blazed with golden fire, and the men knew they were in trouble. Before they could take aim and fire again shadows leapt from their surroundings and chained them to trees. Harry let the binds tighten till he heard ribs breaking. Then he let his tendrils stab out at them, tearing chunks of their flesh from their bodies. They dripped blood, but their pleas fell on death ears.
Harry watched as they screamed in pain, the haze that had settled over his vision slowly receding. What had he done, how many had he hurt. The binds that held them disappeared and the shadows returned to their normal state. He rushed to Alea and lifted her off the ground, he extended a single tendril to pickup his Glaive, then he stepped back through the shadows to the camp.
The camp was a mess, the Muggles had really done a number on some of the wagons. Harry lay Alea down to get treatment and then began to help the rest of the injured. By morning the wagons would have already moved out. Many of the townspeople would be in the hospital. Tales would be told of a demon boy with inhuman strength, and a command of the darkness. Police would consider these people as being off their rockers, but one old wizard would attempt to unravel what really happened. One question would be on his mind.
"Where are you going Harry?"
******
A/N Thanks to all those who reviewed, and sorry for the wait. Life got real busy real fast. But I'm back on track.
Tom: Harry will see the Vampires again, just for story purposes I can't just let him stay with them for all eternity. It made me sad when he had to leave to. Drayor is very powerful and has a hell of a lot more control over the void than Harry, but your kind a right seeing how the void choose Harry. It sort a formed a symbiosis with him. And I did get that page, thanks for sending it! Always appreciate the Review.
knot2be: Thanks for the review, and I won't let Harry get to powerful. Though I must say I enjoy terrorizing Muggles with big scary powers.
VB: I'm sorry, I really liked him to. I nobody dies for a little while, but it was kind of necessary. Thanks for reviewing!
muggle: Thanks for the review, they are human. But I don't think Harry will be staying with them that long.
Animagiman: Sorry for the wait, I've been a little busy. My other story has another update coming very soon as well. I'm glad you like my stories. Thanks for the review!
ZeonReborn: Thanks for the review and your thoughts. Tell me what you think of the concept of their immortality. Do you think they look at it as a curse or a gift. I can see it being either way.
Angelis: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you liked the chapter. I hope to see you review again!
Dumbledore: Thanks for the review, and yes Harry will end up at Hogwarts. And I really do like the word great, it's definitely a great word! I appreciate the review! I decided that if I was going to write a AU I was definitely going to take it in a entirely new direction, and I appreciate your comments!
Jarvey: Here's a update, and thanks for the review!
DaBear: Yeah, I hated killing the old guy as well. He was cool! Thanks for the review!
Gara: Yeah I know he does seem to be a bit wise sometimes, I think I just get carried away expressing points and such and it just bleeds into him. But I think that after he continues to spend time with the people he meets he would definitely cultivate a different persona.
BloodRedSword: Yes he will, but Harry's journey won't just be about learning new magic. He is laying the bricks for his future outlook on life. The more people he meets and learns from the wider view he will get of the world.
No longer a Lone Wolf: Thankyou very much for the review, and I hope to get another!
BlackDragon: Harry will meet back up the vampires, but for a time he won't be living in any set area. He's off into the wild blue yonder with a group of blood thirsty vampires as his companions. Does that sound a bit odd?
Phoenix Flight: Yes, he is. Thanks for the review.
A-man: Thanks for the review, he will be making his first trip to Hogwarts in a couple chapters.
Rachel A. Prongs: Thanks for the review, and I will admit there are some fics that I can't help but read no matter how many time people write them *blush*. The only problem is that they usually are never completed, alas we are all just lowly fanatics. Thanks for the review, I really appreciate it.
Fair Lady Ravenclaw : Yeah I can definitely get annoyed with the wizards sometimes to. I wanted to show what it may be like looking at it from the other angle. Show my readers what the *predators* might actual feel while their being hunted themselves. And Just to let you know, I believe that Harry will be reaching the elves. I like elves to! Hurrah to Elves!
Maverick Davis: Thank you very much for the review and I hope to get another.
Suna: Here it is, the next part. Thanks a lot for the Review and I hope to receive another!
Disclaimer: I own nothing JKR owns all before you. I do not make any claims.
World of Darkness
Chapter 7: Veiled Future
The rolling movements of the wagon jostled Harry from his slumber. Green tired eyes opened onto the wooden interior of the sleeping compartment in the Gypsy wagon. Strange noises assaulted his ears from all directions, noises that had been absent for the past few days. Birds singing had become a oddity after living in the depths of the cave. Even stranger was the sound of the wooden wagon trundling along it's path. Harry looked about him to find that the cabin was deserted of all life. The children who had slept around him were gone and he was alone.
His clothes were neatly folded at the base of his bed, and his boots were placed on the opposite side of the wagon. After pulling his green tunic over his head, he fastened his pants with his belt. The he pulled on his boots so that he could leave the wagon and see what had drawn him from his slumber.
The wagon door opened onto a world Harry hadn't seen in days. The sun was at it's highest point in the sky and was sending it's rays down into the trees. The bright shine hurt his eyes and he squinted to block out the foreign invader.
Children were running and playing alongside the wagons, while adults rode horses or directed the wagons. Harry jumped down to the ground and landed on the unmoving earth, thankful to be out of the moving wagon. He wasn't entirely sure who he should talk to, but the awkward moment disappeared when the girl from the night before ran up to meet him.
"Come on, we're playing tag!" With that she tapped Harry on the shoulder and ran off with the other children. Harry had never played tag before, but he understood the idea and joined the game. Some of the older children seemed to enjoy picking on the younger kids before running out of their reach. For some reason this bothered Harry and he made it a point to only tag those older than he was. It also helped that if they got to far ahead he could use a bit of blood magic and catch up to them in a flash. What was the fun in magic if you couldn't use it for fun every now and then. Of course he was discreet in his use of magic. He didn't know just how much the Vampires had told them.
After a little while the older children realized that Harry could catch them and played a bit more fair. In an hour Harry had made more friends than he had in his entire life. It was strange to have friends, he didn't even know how good it felt to have them in his life. Now here he was, laughing and playing with kids his own age. For the first time he could just be a child.
"Time for lunch! You kids better head over to where the wagons circled." One of the Adults dispersed them from their game, and the group made their way to where a fire had been built. Harry didn't feel tired at all, he didn't really want the game to end but he complied anyway. Perhaps it was because he wasn't tired, or maybe he was afraid that this moment of simple happiness would disappear with the wind.
Harry was given a bowl of stew and then took a seat on a tree stump out of the way. He didn't really know how to interact with these people. They were always smiling, and Harry couldn't see how they could be happy over nothing at all. He much preferred the quiet Vampires, you didn't have to talk around them. They existed in a constant comfortable silence, no words were needed to express desires. Here they thrived on communication with each other. To be honest he couldn't decide what he liked more, the comfortable silence or the happy laughter.
"Hello there, I trust you slept well? We expected you to sleep longer, I've been told you developed a odd sleeping pattern. I didn't really get a chance to welcome you last night. Do you have any questions?" The man who had introduced himself as Demetri the night before had sat down on a adjacent stump next to him. The man hand a kindly face and a seemingly gentle nature. He was warm and gave Harry a sense of comfort to be around him.
"Actually, I do have a few questions. I was wondering where we are going?" The larger man smiled at Harry and proceeded to refill his stew bowl. The thick stew splashed into the bowl, and Harry once more thanked whoever was listening that he was back with people who ate real food.
"We aren't actually going anywhere." Harry gave him a skeptical look, of course they were going somewhere. You were always going somewhere, even when you aren't traveling you are still heading to some goal. It just isn't always that easy to determine where that direction takes you to.
"But we've been traveling all morning, where are we headed?" Harry decided that the gypsy must have been pulling his leg. Going nowhere indeed, everyone in the camp seemed to have some destination in mind.
"Actually, we don't go anywhere in particular at all. The Muggles don't take very kindly to us. Because we don't practice many of the conventional forms of magic we are allowed to live openly in Muggle areas. Since we don't follow a lot of the Muggle laws they don't want us near them. So they send their officials to send us off, or occasionally they try to force us into leaving. Instead of giving them the chance we keep moving. Same thing really applies to the magical world, we live at the edges of both societies." That fit into what Harry had heard about. It seemed that this was just another case where people were harshly judged for things they didn't do. The Gypsy's lived a free life and only listened to their own rules, that was kind of how he wanted to live.
"What kind of magic do you practice then?" Harry had already learned that the magical world kept itself separate from the Muggle world. Fiona had told him that Wizards used excuses like Muggles would want answers to all their problems if they knew about magic.
"Mostly divination and potions. We don't use a lot of the more rare magical ingredients, and we are careful to not allow Muggles to know our recipes." This just served to confuse Harry. Those were definitely magical branches of study, how were they so open around Muggles.
"I thought Muggles weren't allowed to know about magic?" Harry had forgotten about the soup he was eating.
"Of course Muggles know about magic. Whether they choose to believe it or not is another story. Muggles will often come to us for cures to their ailments, or to see what their future holds for them. That's one of the ways we make money." Now that Harry thought about it, he did remember stories of gypsy's selling love potions or reading the future. He just never believed in any of it, perhaps their was more out their to magic.
"But won't all Muggles want answers to their problems?"
"Most Muggles don't even believe what we do is real. Part of magic comes from those around believing it is real. Those who don't believe in magic don't seek us out, and we are happy to help those who do. Magic is a gift and we should share it, that's one of the things we disagree with the rest of the magical community on. Since they can't track our potions or divination they can't stop us, so we are free to do as we please." This was an entirely different view on magic that Harry hadn't hear yet. Perhaps the gypsy's understood something that most wizards didn't get.
"Is their anything I can do to help out while I'm here?" The older man looked at him carefully for a moment. He sized the young boy up and seemed to think of what he could let the boy do.
"Well, we always have some work to do. I'm sure there is something you can help with. I was also asked to allow you to join in the children's training. We teach our children how to defend themselves from a young age. Though it may not be the best thing for a child to learn, it is necessary. Sometimes people aren't always as accepting of us as others are." Harry didn't like the implications that Demetri was referring to.
"Yolaf, this young man wants to be put to work." A tall man dressed in work clothes walked over. Demetri led Harry over and introduced the two, then he left to continue his responsibilities as head of the Gypsy tribe.
"Let's see here, we are chopping some fire wood. You can take the smaller pieces over to the supply wagon." Harry agreed eagerly and followed the adult over to some other men who were using axes to chop through logs that were placed on tree stumps.
Harry along with a group of other boys collected the wood and took it over to the storage wagon. At first Harry stuck to the pieces that he could lift, but soon he grew bored with the task. It would be so much easier if he just picked up a lot at the same time. It would be even easier if he grew twelve shadow arms, cut, sliced, and then carried the wood himself. Since he couldn't do that, he decided to just increase his strength. Harry focused for a moment and felt the tingling surge through his muscles.
This time, instead of just collecting one smaller plank he stacked three large logs and carried them over to the wagon. The work went quickly and soon the boys had caught up to the adults progress.
"Damn, I swear this blade is dull. It couldn't cut through my grandmothers roast." One of the adults threw his ax to the ground in frustration. Yolaf stopped his work and gave a mighty belly laugh.
"That doesn't speak to poorly of the ax! I've had your mothers cooking and I know you need two men just to cut through it." The other men began to laugh, and even Harry had to stifle a giggle. While the adult talked Harry walked over to the ax that lay on the ground. He lifted it from the ground and could tell that it was definitely heavy. If it weren't for his improved strength he wouldn't have been able to lift it. To be on the safe side he let more magic release in his body. It seemed the more he did this the easier it became to control. Instantly he felt even stronger than he had before. The ax now felt like a simple twig in his hands, something that he could easily snap in two. An urge to test his strength brought his attention to the log the man had attempted to split. It had been set up on a large tree stump, and it looked as thick as the stump itself.
Harry tightened his grip on the handle, it's wooden handle splintering a bit in his hands. Then he lifted the ax above his head and brought its blade down on the log. He watched in amazement as the blade bit through the log and cleared straight through the stump. It plunged deep into the ground and stopped at the end of the swing.
Harry looked up to see the men staring at him, his cheeks reddened under their scrutiny. Instantly he began to fear that they would make him leave. Not that he couldn't just return to the Vampires, but he did begin to enjoy the presence of the other children. Other darker thoughts began to well inside him, like what if they judged him like Wizards judged Vampires.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it. I just wanted to try the ax." The men continued to stare at him like he had grown a third head. Harry's fear began to mount and the shadows cast by the trees rippled. It was Yolaf who stepped forward and broke the tension.
"I'd say that ax is plenty sharp enough. Perhaps your mothers cooking has slowed you down more than you thought." The group burst into laughter again. Harry calmed a bit, then pulled the ax free of the ground. He tried to draw some of the magic back to where he could feel it had come from. It left him feeling weaker and there was a desire to feel the strength once more. However, Harry would head what he had been taught. He wouldn't deplete the magic just in case he needed it.
"Come Shade, it's time for lessons." Harry turned to find that Demetri had come to his side. The man always seemed to have a smile on his face, he was always warm. He also seemed to have a laugh that spread happiness to all around him. Harry hadn't known him for long, but he took a liking to Demetri.
Harry followed the large man over to a group of children his age. It seemed that Demetri instructed them in whatever they learnt. A tug at his sleeve drew his attention to whoever was standing beside him. Alea was holding on to his arm and beckoning him to draw closer so she could whisper in his ear.
"Demetri has asked me to help you during the lesson. After he speaks I will take you to receive your tools." Harry nodded to the young girl and then turned his attention back to Demetri. The man clapped his hands to draw everyone's focus.
"Ponder this while you train, than answer me later. Who is it who decides what is right and what is wrong." With that Demetri clapped his hands once more and the group began to disperse.
"Come Shade, I will take you to Oran. He will give you your tool." The young girl put Harry at ease and he followed her. Her smile made Harry want to laugh, she was like a ray of light in his darkness.
"What tools do you mean, is it like a hammer?" Alea just shook her head and laughed at him. The laugh didn't come across as demeaning, not like his Aunt used to laugh at him.
"No, Oran will explain when we get their." Harry watched as she walked, he wanted to ask her about the night before.
"I've never seen someone dance like you did last night. The music was beautiful as well, I really loved listening to the songs. Do you do that every night?" Alea smiled at him and pulled her hair out of her eyes.
"Oh yes, we always sing and dance in the evenings. If you liked the music so much I'm sure my uncle, Demetri, would love to teach you how to play." The idea of him being able to play such beautiful music was something he couldn't fathom. Still it pleased him to think that he could hear it whenever he wanted.
"I'd like that a lot. But I wouldn't be sure which instrument to choose." Alea pondered this for a moment.
"Then don't decide. You can be like me, I refuse to choose just one when they all are so wonderful. I vowed to never stop until I can play them all. My uncle tells me that the music comes from inside you. The instrument only serves to draw it out." Harry liked the idea of the music being inside him, though he couldn't picture what song he would sing. He only knew that it would be sad and lonely.
The two walked to one of the older looking wagons. Alea opened the door and they stepped into the interior. The light from the outside glinted off metal weapons and reflected in the wagon. Once the door was shut the bright light turned to that of candles that filled the room
"Alea, is this the young man who was to meet me today." A tall gangly man walked out from behind a crate and approached the two children.
"Yes Oran, he is here to receive a tool." Harry was still a bit perplexed as to why they called these weapons tools.
"I was wondering what type of weapon I'll be receiving?" Oran seemed to not like the term weapon.
"I am tool master in this camp, but let me tell you about my tools first. A weapon is something that is sent out with the soul purpose to kill. I do not have weapons here, nor anywhere in this camp. I give tools which can be used to build your future. A tool used in the right hand can do many beautiful things, in the wrong hands they are nothing more than a weapon. Only when you truly understand your tool will you realize what sets it apart from every other weapon." The man seemed to drift away while he looked at his tools, then he flashed back to the present.
"Why don't you find something that interests you." The man smiled at Harry and motioned to the rows and rows of tools.
Harry walked around looking at the strange blades. All seemed to be distinct in different ways, but he could see how each was capable of causing damage. Perhaps that was what the man was talking about, he only saw them as a weapon. Through training he might be able to see it as a fine instrument capable of beauty.
A long rood that was taller then him drew his attention. It had a long blue teak shaft that made up it's body. At the bottom was a metal shod, the round bulb would be capable of breaking bones. The top was a foot long blade that curved towards the middle. Not enough to be considered a hook, somewhere in between straight and L shaped.
"The Glaive, a fine choice. It's an excellent polearm for while on horse back, but I think that may be a little to heavy for you. The teak shaft has a heavy lead core and I'm not sure if you could lift it." At first Harry was hesitant, but with some blood magic still strengthening him he didn't find it to much of a bother at all.
"Are you letting these children hang around your 'tools' again." Harry spun around to find a women with long black hair standing by the entrance. Her features were aged, but she was still quite beautiful.
"You may not approve Emilia, but it is necessary. You can stick to your tea leaves, and I'll keep to my tools." Oran glared at the women, but she seemed to ignore the look. Harry was interested by this women who wore long red robes.
"Come children, why don't we allow Oran to go back to his fiddling." Alea nudged him forward and the two of them followed the women out of the wagon. It was a bit awkward carrying the long Glaive with him and after experimenting he found it easiest to hold it at his side with one hand. Harry couldn't help but ask this women questions.
"Can you really see the future?" The possibility of someone seeing the future was scary. If a person really could see the future, where was the fun in living the present. If there was one set future could you really control anything.
"I don't see the future, I see stories. We each are writing our own stories in life, I just tell you what the next chapter might include." That didn't entirely confirm any of his worries.
"You say might? Does that mean that what you see doesn't always come true." The thought that he had no control over his life was what really bothered him.
"The future is like a river. It always moves, always changing in it's course. However, no matter what course it takes it still reaches the ocean. Thousands of paths all leading to one destination. I can only look and see a path in a million, it's your choice to choose your own path. So the answer is yes and no." This woman was definitely confusing to say the least.
The group approached another wagon. This one was much smaller than the last, it's windows were covered to prevent outside light from seeping in.
"Leave your Glaive here, I don't allow them into my wagon." Harry propped his weapon up against the wagon and then followed the other two into the wagon.
"Come sit down, Let me see the path you walk on." Harry was a bit nervous but he sat down before her. The room was decorated in red and purple cloths that were draped from the ceiling. Lamps provided candle light for the room and a feint scent of sage was on the air.
The woman took a bag from the side of the table and dropped it's contents in the center of a triangle on the table. Beads, rocks, feathers, and even bones fell onto the table. They scattered and formed a pattern in the triangle.
"Your path is a uncertain one, it is constantly changing. You never take two steps down the same one. Destinies intertwine and fight to draw you in a certain way, but you struggle to find your own course. Still, obligations will close in on your right and your left." Harry had no idea what she meant, but maybe she could answer other questions.
"Tell me, can you read the past as well as the future?" The woman gave him a thoughtful look before gathering the contents of the bag and dropping them once more.
"Your past and your future will one day meet. The answers you seek lay in the darkness, seek out a moon kissed man who lives to the north. He holds truths and falsehoods, though he doesn't know which are which. It is up to you to take what you may find and determine the truth." Harry thanked the woman and stood to leave. He had enough of this for one day. Yet before he was able to leave she halted him.
"Wait, your path is strange. It runs in a course, yet doesn't reach a destination. I cannot find the end." Harry looked at her expecting more. Yet she had nothing else to say.
His Glaive still rested against the wall of the wagon when he left. He had much to consider, if the answers to his questions lay to the north then could he return to the Vampires. He wanted to see them again with all his heart, yet he seemed to be going further and further away. The answers to many of his questions lay to the north, so for now that is where he would go. One day he would return to the Vampires, but that day was not now.
******
Two weeks passed and Harry still remained in the Gypsy camp. No one questioned his choice to stay with them, and as long as they headed north he would continue to travel with the band. He was worried that he hadn't heard anything from the Vampires, but he knew that if he needed to he could return on his own. He had kept up his studies on the Vampiric language and used this to read some of the books on blood magic. A lot of the concepts he didn't understand, but he had learned about some of it's uses in magic.
Applying his skills in the Vampiric language he was able to compose a letter to be sent back to Fiona and the Elder. Demetri had assured him that the letter would make it back to them, and they sent it back with another Gypsy clan headed in the opposite direction. In the letter Harry attempted to explain what he was doing, and why he would not be returning. Still he felt bad that he couldn't tell them in person. Of course he could step through the shadows and return, but the temptation to stay may be to strong.
He had progressed well in other areas also during his stay. Oran had taught him how to wield the Glaive and his skills increased by the day. He worked hard not just to impress Oran, but to hopefully see the beauty that Oran could see. Oran would spend hours talking about the art and simplicity of the motions, Harry still couldn't find the beauty Oran spoke of. Still, he would continue his search for this beauty.
The Glaive was not the only thing he studied. He found nothing more relaxing than learning to play the recorder or guitar that Demetri had given him. He had progressed well with both, but he had natural talent with the recorder. It became common to hear him playing the eerily haunting notes late into the night. Whether he played a new song or just some melody he composed, it always left a sad feeling in those who heard it. Demetri said that his music expressed to much sadness for a child to ever have. Only Harry knew just how right the man was.
Harry learned where to find strange plants and herbs and how to combine them to create potions for healing or other uses. Emilia taught him some of the basics of her art, but they never spoke of her first reading. Most importantly Harry began to learn that life wasn't always sad. He watched parents interact with their children and friends talk together. It was like seeing how beautiful life could be. Even though he was seeing a new side to life, he was watching it from the outside looking in.
All through his time with the Gypsy's one thing had remained a constant. That constant was Alea, and Harry was grateful for her. She spent all her time with him, and for the first time Harry had a best friend his age. She stayed with him while he practiced the techniques with his Glaive. She danced while he played his recorder, she even stayed up with him late into the night to watch the stars sparkle in the heavens. She was the first person he ever felt like he could tell her anything.
Harry attempted to blend in and become a helpful member of the Gypsy camp. He helped in whatever way he could, no matter what was asked of him. It made him feel good to be a part of the group. In fact, that's what he was doing right now.
They where climbing up a hill to reach a small town where they planned to camp for the night and Harry was guiding a horse at the front. If their was one thing Harry got used to it was traveling. They never stayed in one place to long, which in his opinion was a good thing. He had not forgotten that somewhere out there were wizards who were searching for him. The fact that they constantly were moving was definitely a bonus.
A loud crack and a horses cry drew him out of his thoughts. Harry spun around to watch as a horse broke free of it's wagon and the large wooden compartment began to roll backwards. Adrenaline kicked in and before he knew it magic was circulating through his muscles. It strengthened him more than he had ever dared to try. The feeling was a rush that speed through him like nothing he had ever felt.
He was reacting before others had the chance, his body already moving to speed him down the hill. The only thing in his mind was stopping the wagon. By the time he reached it, it was already speeding down the hill. With two more bounds he had overtaken it, and managed to put his body in front of the wagon. Exhibiting strength no normal human had he meet the oncoming wagon with both hands put out to brace it. The speeding mass slammed into his hands and drove his feet further down the hill.
Harry searched deep within him to find the blood magic he needed. Calling the strength to him he was able to slow the wagon down to where it stopped on the slanted surface. Pain rippled through his arms and legs as he fought to keep the wagon from sliding loose once more. Seconds flowed by like minutes, and minutes like hours, as he waited for help. The sound of approaching voices were his only assurance that help was coming. The men worked quickly to anchor the wagon. Soon Harry found that he could release the wagon and it didn't slid further down. His muscles were still infused with strength and the adrenaline still demanded action. Harry took a moment to center himself, and he was able to draw back the magic.
His body was exhausted, he had to allow some of his blood magic to remain just so he could keep walking. No one looked at him oddly, they had all gotten used to the fact that he had in human strength and speed. Harry once more thanked whoever was listening that they didn't toss him out because of his ability. If anything they had begun to use him to work in areas where he could get practice in using the magic. Thanks to this practice Harry had been able to gauge around how much blood magic he could use before he depleted himself. That's why Harry knew that his body needed rest now, what he didn't know was that this day would test his limits.
Harry rested in a wagon for the rest of the day. He was thankful for the small respite that had been allotted to him after what he had done. When evening fell and they had set camp near the town Harry was more than happy to sit around the fire and eat the evening meal.
Alea sat to his side and the two talked about their days. She told him that it didn't take to long to get the horses re-harnessed after he went to sleep. She scolded him for sleeping all day, because now she would have to stay up late with him. Not that either of them really minded.
Harry had just taken out his guitar and was running through a few cords to warm up for the dance that evening when a rustle in the bushes caught his ear. At first he dismissed it as a wild animal, but when another bush not to far away from the first moved he began to worry. The feeling that he was being watched wouldn't leave his mind. It was almost like his senses were preparing for something to happen, what that would be he didn't know. The shadows began to quake at their masters unease, they rippled like liquid on the ground.
"WE'LL TEACH YOU VAGRANTS A LESSON!" Various shouts and slurs were called out from men who leapt out of the bushes. Many of them carried bats or metal pipes, and they spread through the camp hitting the unsuspecting Gypsy's.
Alea jumped from his side and ran to where a man was hitting her uncle. She threw herself on the older mans battered body.
"Please leave him alone! He hasn't done anything to you." The man with the pipe smacked her to the side. Another man grabbed her and dragged her towards the forest while the first resumed beating the battered gypsy.
By this time most had gathered their weapons and were fighting off the disgruntled townspeople. Harry watched as most of the attackers fled back into the forest, but no one went after Alea. It was up to him to protect his friend.
Harry grabbed his Glaive and ran into the forest in the direction of where the men had taken his friend. Anger swept through his body as he barreled through the underbrush. Lights up ahead signaled the presence of some of the townspeople.
The scene that Harry saw horrified him, the limp body of Alea lay on the ground while some of the townspeople laughed or kicked her body. Harry's blood boiled and he let his blood magic rage through his body. His anger worked like a alien force and gripped his mind and actions. It drew deeply into the void and brought out the pain and hate stored deep within his past. The magic raced through his being, bringing him to his strengths limits. His senses increased beyond what he could have ever imagined. He could hear their heart beats, he could smell the cheap colognes on their collars. The shadows deepened around him, making his body look like he was walking in his own personal night. His eyes shifted to their golden sheen and glowed in the folds of his anger. This people had seriously pissed him off.
"LEAVE HER ALONE" The group looked up from her body to see the seriously pissed off boy. Most rubbed their eyes, attributing the seemingly blanket of darkness to fading vision in the night. Yet the shadows remained wrapping around the boy. Still he was just one boy, what could one boy do.
"Get him!" Two of the villagers with bats ran forward to meet the boy with the glowing golden eyes. Harry let the shadows reveal the long weapon that he carried at his side. The men seemed to reconsider for a moment, but they had already committed to the attack.
One brought his bat towards Harry's head, but he easily sliced through it with the hooked blade of his weapon. Harry continued his swing and brought the metal shod on the other end of the Glaive across the mans shoulder. His increased strength caused the blow to shatter the bone and brake the arm in two. With speed no human possessed Harry stepped out of the other mans reach and drove the metal shod into the mans knee cap. His scream of pain echoed through the clearing as he dropped his weapon and fell to the ground. Some of the men tried to take the girl and go, but Harry would have none of it.
"NO, no one leaves!" He hissed out the last part of his sentence. As his words echoed in the clearing the outside world seemed to disappear as a impenetrable cloak of darkness fell over the entire clearing.
"Did you think it was fun? A game maybe? Well it's my game now." The men spun around to try and find the voice that seemed to come from all around them. Harry laughed at their futile efforts to find him, and his laughter haunted the glen.
Harry jumped down from a tree he had used as a perch and speed into the dark clearing, his golden eyes shining with anger. Using his speed he destroyed the small lanterns which cast feeble light into his world.
"Now your in my world!" Screams echoed as the men stumbled around on the forest floor. Yet Harry wasn't done playing yet, no they must pay for those they hurt. If he had learned anything from the Elder, it was that we are responsible for all our actions.
Harry didn't need his eyesight to see the men in the darkness. He could hear their hearts and crunching they made while searching for some form of escape. He was the hunter now, he would punish them.
He leapt from the tree and brought the metal shod down onto a crawling mans back. He wasn't sure if he had broken the mans back, nor did he really care. Something in the power had overtaken him, and the only thing that mattered was making them pay for those they hurt.
Screams flew from their throats as Harry toyed with them one by one. Making sure to break them enough that they could still feel the pain without passing out. He didn't want them to find a easy way out. His fun was just beginning, and they were in for a long night.
A brilliant flash of light blinded Harry, he turned to see that some of the men had found their jeep and had turned the headlights on. The light bit into his darkness and illuminated the scene of carnage that littered the clearing. Five of them had made it to safety and were attempting to escape. His heart skipped a beat when he saw they had collected Alea when the light illuminated the glen. The car speed through the forest in their attempt to escape.
Weakness overcame Harry as he realized he had used way to much blood magic that day. His efforts this morning had drawn him past his breaking point. He felt weak all over, but he knew he couldn't rest now. He had a decision to make, but he knew what he must do to get Alea back.
Harry stumbled to a fallen man and brought the sharp end of his Glaive across the mans chest. Blood welled from the would, and Harry wasted no time in plunging his face into the red puddle that was forming on his chest. The liquid instantly gave him more strength, immediately refilling his reserves. He drank greedily and deep and in seconds it had brought him to the peak of his current abilities. Now they would pay!
The shadows enveloped him as he leapt through the void and landed 50 yards in front of the jeep. The vehicles headlights illuminated his blood covered face and chest, this combined with his still glowing eyes gave him a demonic look.
Instead of slowing down the vehicle only speed up in a attempt to run him down. Harry watched as the jeep got closer, then when it was within a meter he leapt into the air and landed on the hood. His Glaive slammed through the metal hood and dove deep into the engine. Then in one smooth motion he leaped off the car.
The vehicle swerved and slammed into a tree, fire burst from the hood. The man ran into the forest while Harry took the time to remove Alea's body to make sure she was still alive. She had a pulse but her body was badly beaten. He was so absorbed in her that he did not notice that the men had not run far. That is until a burning pain ripped into his shoulder and out his chest. This was followed by three more burning pains, then he slumped to the forest floor.
"We got the demon boy!" The men rejoiced and threw their hand in the air, while Harry lay on the ground in pain. He reached a hand up to find three hole where bullets had ripped clean through his small frame. The pain was like a fire raging in his being. As he felt the wounds he became aware of the strange tingling sensation that he had felt before. Then like it had never come the pain was gone, his magic had sealed his wounds.
The shadows darkened around the five, and their attention returned to the boy who still lay on the ground. Shadow tendrils extended from his body and lifted him off the ground, suspending him in the air like a puppet. His eyes blazed with golden fire, and the men knew they were in trouble. Before they could take aim and fire again shadows leapt from their surroundings and chained them to trees. Harry let the binds tighten till he heard ribs breaking. Then he let his tendrils stab out at them, tearing chunks of their flesh from their bodies. They dripped blood, but their pleas fell on death ears.
Harry watched as they screamed in pain, the haze that had settled over his vision slowly receding. What had he done, how many had he hurt. The binds that held them disappeared and the shadows returned to their normal state. He rushed to Alea and lifted her off the ground, he extended a single tendril to pickup his Glaive, then he stepped back through the shadows to the camp.
The camp was a mess, the Muggles had really done a number on some of the wagons. Harry lay Alea down to get treatment and then began to help the rest of the injured. By morning the wagons would have already moved out. Many of the townspeople would be in the hospital. Tales would be told of a demon boy with inhuman strength, and a command of the darkness. Police would consider these people as being off their rockers, but one old wizard would attempt to unravel what really happened. One question would be on his mind.
"Where are you going Harry?"
******
A/N Thanks to all those who reviewed, and sorry for the wait. Life got real busy real fast. But I'm back on track.
Tom: Harry will see the Vampires again, just for story purposes I can't just let him stay with them for all eternity. It made me sad when he had to leave to. Drayor is very powerful and has a hell of a lot more control over the void than Harry, but your kind a right seeing how the void choose Harry. It sort a formed a symbiosis with him. And I did get that page, thanks for sending it! Always appreciate the Review.
knot2be: Thanks for the review, and I won't let Harry get to powerful. Though I must say I enjoy terrorizing Muggles with big scary powers.
VB: I'm sorry, I really liked him to. I nobody dies for a little while, but it was kind of necessary. Thanks for reviewing!
muggle: Thanks for the review, they are human. But I don't think Harry will be staying with them that long.
Animagiman: Sorry for the wait, I've been a little busy. My other story has another update coming very soon as well. I'm glad you like my stories. Thanks for the review!
ZeonReborn: Thanks for the review and your thoughts. Tell me what you think of the concept of their immortality. Do you think they look at it as a curse or a gift. I can see it being either way.
Angelis: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you liked the chapter. I hope to see you review again!
Dumbledore: Thanks for the review, and yes Harry will end up at Hogwarts. And I really do like the word great, it's definitely a great word! I appreciate the review! I decided that if I was going to write a AU I was definitely going to take it in a entirely new direction, and I appreciate your comments!
Jarvey: Here's a update, and thanks for the review!
DaBear: Yeah, I hated killing the old guy as well. He was cool! Thanks for the review!
Gara: Yeah I know he does seem to be a bit wise sometimes, I think I just get carried away expressing points and such and it just bleeds into him. But I think that after he continues to spend time with the people he meets he would definitely cultivate a different persona.
BloodRedSword: Yes he will, but Harry's journey won't just be about learning new magic. He is laying the bricks for his future outlook on life. The more people he meets and learns from the wider view he will get of the world.
No longer a Lone Wolf: Thankyou very much for the review, and I hope to get another!
BlackDragon: Harry will meet back up the vampires, but for a time he won't be living in any set area. He's off into the wild blue yonder with a group of blood thirsty vampires as his companions. Does that sound a bit odd?
Phoenix Flight: Yes, he is. Thanks for the review.
A-man: Thanks for the review, he will be making his first trip to Hogwarts in a couple chapters.
Rachel A. Prongs: Thanks for the review, and I will admit there are some fics that I can't help but read no matter how many time people write them *blush*. The only problem is that they usually are never completed, alas we are all just lowly fanatics. Thanks for the review, I really appreciate it.
Fair Lady Ravenclaw : Yeah I can definitely get annoyed with the wizards sometimes to. I wanted to show what it may be like looking at it from the other angle. Show my readers what the *predators* might actual feel while their being hunted themselves. And Just to let you know, I believe that Harry will be reaching the elves. I like elves to! Hurrah to Elves!
Maverick Davis: Thank you very much for the review and I hope to get another.
Suna: Here it is, the next part. Thanks a lot for the Review and I hope to receive another!