Hi Hi there Merlin fans and my lovely awesome followers, and whoever is reading this story of mine with love and thanks to all of ya, thanks for your lovely reviews, and happy reading to you :-)

Darkness within a heart. Part 2.

For the first five moment's it was as if everything stopped, as if someone push pause on a movie making time itself frieze. Everything seemed to fade away into the distant background until eventually nothing could be heard, not the traffic, or the people on the streets.

Quinn was frozen in place, she couldn't move, even if she wanted feet felt like they were encased in cement.

She tore her eyes from the boy she once knew and looked at Merlin. Who looked as surprised as she was.

For a moment she thought he was frozen in place, but she knew by the flash of gold in his eyes that wasn't the case.

Merlin held out his hand to her and whispered, his eyes flashing gold."Aliese"

When she was able to move it took her a few moment's to walk to River the boy she once knew long ago.

"River-" she began when he interrupted her.

"Quinn! You're not safe here!" exclaimed River. She frowned at him, 'that was odd' she thought.

The boy she remembered was so strong and brave, but this man that stood before her seem to be very much afraid, but the question is afraid of what?

None of this felt right, as if there was something warping the air around them, almost like there's something dangerous lurking in the shadows somewhere, but Merlin was here, so she wasn't too worried about it, as long as Merlin is here she has confidence that everything will be alright. But it was still unsettling though.

Quinn could feel something, it was as gentle as a summer breeze but it was there, it was something that both frightened her and excited her at the same time.

But she can't exactly put her finger on what, but whatever it was it was getting closer, but she felt safe, Merlin was with her.

"Quinn! You're not safe here" River repeated, a little more forcibly and urgently this time.

"What?!" She asked smiling "Merlin's with me, so I'm-"

"QUINN!"

She was once again interrupted, but by Merlin this time rushing forward and thrusting his hand in front of him, at the same time River grasping her shoulder in standing in front of her "Shieldan!" Merlin shouted.

A Shield appeared in front of them protecting them from fire as she turned. As soon as the flames appeared they vanished.

Quinn looked around, for the first time realizing that they were no longer standing in the middle of the bustling City of New York, instead it look like the city itself was completely deserted.

Most of the buildings were falling down, it looked as if Mother Nature was claiming the City as her own once again.

Quinn was more than confused, she didn't know what was going on.

She was a little startled, yes, but she won't show that she's afraid, what good would that do?

"Merlin" she whispered almost afraid to disturb the silence of this unknown place, as if doing so would cause a disaster that is unimaginable. "Can you be so kind to explain to me what is going on?"

"Have no idea" Merlin replied, just as quiet.

"Oh, wow that's comforting"

"What is?"

"that the greatest Warlock that has ever lived has no idea what the hell is going on, that is really comforting" Quinn tossed her arms in the air.

"Your Merlin!" She gestured with her hands. "You of all people should know what's going on"

"I don't know everything" he said looking at her.

"Well, you should"

"Well, I don't"

"And why don't you?"

"Because I don't!"

"Well maybe you should do something"

"And what would you have me do?!"

"I don't know! Something!"

"Like what?! If you have any suggestions I'm open to them!"

"Well, do you know what happened at least?" She asked gesturing with her hands around them.

"A spell" came Merlin's simple reply.

She rolled her eyes "obviously this was a spell, what else could it have been?"

"Why ask me then? I don't have all the answers"

They both fell silent when there was laughter in the distance. Though the laughter was child-like it made all of Quinn's hair stand on end, and a cold chill settled in the pit of her stomach when the owner of that laughter appeared.

The woman's long white hair flowed behind her like a wedding veil, her alabaster skin seem to glow in the pale light, it was just something creepy about the woman's presence that made her blood run cold.

The new arrival war all black, and when she stopped five feet in front of them her eyes landed on Quinn and River, which she really would prefer her not to.

Merlin stepped in front of them, his hand raised slightly in front of him, prepared to protect them from any harm that may come there way.

"So, you have finally come to join me" said the stranger smiling. "I am so glad. I had been waiting for the both of you"

"What!?" exclaimed Quinn Merlin and River simultaneously.

Everything inside her screamed that this woman standing before them was extremely dangerous, and not not to be trusted.

"Like hell I would join you" hissed Quinn.

"Oh but you will" she said, then looked at Merlin. "I wouldn't Merlin, I don't want to kill you as of yet, time will come for that. And besides I will just block any spell you shall cast against me" she said in a board tone. "and if you try I'll kill Quinn where she stands, without blinking a eye, and we both know I can do just that"

Merlin was quiet a moment before asking "What do you want from her?"

"Now now Merlin, where's the fun with me telling all the secrets right away? For now I want you to wonder what the future holds for the three of you"

"I won't-" Merlin began when the woman's eyes flashed gold. Quinn and River managed to catch Merlin and lay him gently on the ground before he fell quite possibly getting seriously hurt.

"Merlin?!" She tried to stir him awake with no use.

"Don't worry Quinn, your boyfriend's alright, he'll wake up in a few hours. But I needed to get him out of the way so you and I can have a talk"

She glared up at the woman, she was a little angry now, but it's not like she could fight someone that has magic when she had none, but that didn't stop her rising to her feet, prepared to fight if need be.

"You have a fire in a strength within you" said the woman smiling at her."You have a very difficult Choice ahead of you, i can only hope that you choose the right path"

"What do you mean by that?" Quinn asked, frowning.

"You soon shall see" With that, the woman turned and walked boldly away.

"Who are you?!" Demanded Quinn, stepping forward, refusing to be in the dark with some things. "What's your name?!"

The woman stopped and turned to her. The woman look down at them as if they were dirt beneath her feet, as if she held all the cards to their fate, and Quinn wanted nothing more but to wipe off that smug look on her face.

"Name's isn't needed in my opinion, do you agree?"

"You know our name's" said River stepping forward to stand beside her. "How is that fair?"

"Tell me who you are!" Demanded Quinn. "Or i'll-"

"You'll what? You'll kill me?"

"If I have to" Quinn replied without a moments thought. And how would she do that exactly? She has no idea, but if there was a way she would do it without a moment's thought, that thought scared her a little bit, the thought that she wouldn't hesitate taking a life, not even for an instant, not when it came to Merlin, or anyone else that was in the way of the crossfire.

The woman started to turn and walk away, when Quinn shout it on the top of her lungs. "WERE DO YOU THANK YOU'RE GOING?!"

Something she never felt before exploded out of her, it was like energy force of some kind.

The woman turned, blocking the force with a shield. Quinn was confused. Did she do that? Or-

She glanced quickly over at the still unconscious Merlin, then she met River's eyes. The look she saw in them told her everything she needed, it was her, but how?

She glared at the woman who began to laugh hysterically, it slightly pissed her off.

"You don't know?" asked the lunatic when she had finally collected herself.

"Know what?" Quinn didn't manage to keep the trimble out of her voice.

"That you have Magic, not as powerful as Merlin, but it's there, hidden away in a tiny box with a lock" the woman smiled evilly. "And I'll find the key to unlock it"

With that the woman turned and begin to walk away.

Quinn hardly noticed, she was still confused and angry about what she just learned. How could this be possible?

"Elitherine, my name is Elitherine. I look forward to seeing your decision in the near future Quinn, I look forward to see the darkness grow Within, until next time" the woman, Elitherine said without turning around as she walked out of sight.

Almost immediately the city went back to normal, as if it was nothing but a nightmare and they finally woke up from it. But she hardly noticed the noisiness of the city, it was as if her whole world just shifted, and it was filled with nothing but confusion.

There were so many things that she didn't understand, there was one thing she understood perfectly,Quinn did not like this Elitherine, there was something dark and evil about her, as if she herself was the darkness that was going to blockout the light.

With love to all :-)