The Darkness Of Light

By: Eva Marie Rayne
Rating: PG-13, but racier chapters will be identified in advance.
POV: Julia
Ship: Juliark
Background: Sydney was really brainwashed into being Julia. Mid-S3 with flashbacks to her first 2 years.
Summary: This is a work in progress that is currently being worked into chapters & so on.

Chapter 1

My name is Julia Thorne. Two years ago, I was recruited as a freelancer for a group called The Covenant. I was part of a 4-man team led by Simon Walker. Simon and I had managed to have an...interesting working relationship until 2 weeks ago. He was discovered by the CIA and he was killed.

"Julia." My name was uttered into the tiny room by my boss, McKenas Cole.

"I'm sorry, what?" My mind was constantly going back to the night Simon was killed.

"Your attention seems to be...wavering lately." he said, "Is there something wrong?"

"No. I just haven't been getting much sleep." I answered. McKenas was kind of like an older brother to me, so he always worried.

"Well then, your objective is to observe Mr. Sark. The Man has some sort of interest in him, so I suggested you for the job."

"I guess I should be grateful, but what about my work with Lazarey?"

"It has a link to Mr. Sark somehow, but we're not sure. You'll have to postpone it for a few days."

"Alright. What's the mission?"

"Mr. Sark is staying in Argentina to meet with a contact. He'll be waiting at the Espiro Bar in Buenos Aires tonight."

"Who's the contact?"

"You are, my dear." he replied, "You'll meet with him to propose a partnership. Something like taking down other organizations with your combined intelligence."

"And if he refuses?"

"I'm sure you'll find a way to persuade him."

So that was that. I'd have to seduce Mr. Sark into a partnership for the benefit of some person whose real name or identity I didn't even know. Right, then.

I went to my apartment in Rome to pack a bag. Always looking out for me, McKenas called to let me know that my plane was waiting for me at the airstrip.

I got to the plane quickly with a smile. McKenas always let me use private charter flights for missions because he knew I hated flying with the masses. Commercial flights leave you with an unbearable stench, the food is horrible, and I always get stuck near some non-English speaking woman with 12 raucous kids.

The flight to Buenos Aires didn't take as long as I expected. After leaving the plane, I was left in the late afternoon sun to call McKenas and arrange for transport to my hotel.

"Cole." he answered.

"I'm in Argentina."

"How's the weather?"

"I need transport."

"Always with business, Julia. I'll call Miss Santos to pick you up."

"Tell her to hurry."

"Patience, dear."

"I mean it."

"Alright. I'll see when you get back."

"Not if I see you first."

"Touché."

"Call Santos already, McKenas."

"As you wish. Goodbye."

"Bye." I snapped my phone shut. About 10 minutes later, Miss Santos arrived to take me to my hotel.

"Thanks for picking me up." I said, throwing my bag in the back seat as I got in.

"No problem." she replied, "By the way, I don't think we've officially met. I'm Nadia Santos."

"Julia Thorne."

"So what brings you to Buenos Aires on Covenant business?

"Observation and infiltration."

"Mr. Sark, right?" I looked at her quizzically.

"If there's a mark in Argentina, I'm told about it. I usually also pick up the agents that land near Buenos Aires. I'm not a field agent, but I'm definitely someone in the know." she explained.

"Mr. Sark is a point of interest for The Covenant, so I'm supposed to meet with him." After another bit of small talk, we arrived in front of a rather fancy hotel.

"Here we are." Nadia said, handing me a room key, "You're in 156 and a limo should arrive around 9pm to take you to the meet."

"Thank you." I said, grabbing my bag as I got out of the car. I walked quickly through the lobby of the hotel, trying to get to my room as quick as possible.

Once I got to it, I realized it looked a lot like Simon's room in Sevilla. The memory brought a smile to my face as I thought about what we did that night. Once we'd come back from the night's job, we spent the rest of the evening ripping off our clothing and giving ourselves to one another.

If only I didn't get up to go get ice. I thought.

-FLASHBACK-

I wrapped myself in a robe and went to the ice machine. While I was out of the room, 3 CIA agents stormed in and shot him. I never even heard the shots. I came back upstairs to all kinds of commotion and saw Simon lying lifeless on the floor, covered in blood, with the signature CIA 3-shot pattern on his chest.

I felt a few tears sting my eyes, but quickly wiped them away. Tears were weakness, and all I knew was darkness, pain, hate, blood, and lies. Granted, some of those feelings showed weakness when expressed publicly, but that's why I constantly remained stone-faced about everything.

I unpacked my bag, putting everything in its proper place. I then washed my face and took a good hard look in the mirror. I would get through this without emotion and get back home in one piece to ask for a week's time away. I knew that McKenas, being like my older brother, wouldn't hesitate. I'd been working nonstop for the last 3 months, even more so for the last 2 weeks since Sevilla.

I'll never admit it to anyone, not even McKenas, but I needed Simon so badly. He may have been an ass sometimes, but being by his side filled a huge void inside of me.

I threw my head forward, my face plunging into the cold water of the washbasin. Now was not the time for this. I had to meet with Mr. Sark in almost an hour.

Get your head back in the game, Julia.

I pulled my face from the washbasin, looking at myself in the mirror. Water trickled down my cheeks, dripping off my chin. I gently dried my face and looked at myself again.

"You can do this." I said to my reflection. I then went to get myself changed for the meet.

I wore a simple black satin dress that stopped just above the knee. It was edged in black lace and had a very low-cut V neckline with spaghetti straps. I paired it with a pair of black heels with straps that wrapped up to my mid-calf and a simple black lace choker.

I was feeling very good about myself as I did my makeup, putting on black eyeliner with silver eyeshadow. A sweep of light blush and a coat of clear sugar gloss later, I was ready to go. I made sure my hair looked okay in its loosely clipped back state and looked to the sky outside my window.

"I miss you." I said, trying not to cry. I smiled to myself, grabbed my purse, and made my way downstairs.

The limo was waiting for me when I came out of the front door of the hotel. The driver kindly opened the door for me, before getting back in and driving to Espiro.