-1Prologue
A wolf's howl fills the night air, shattering the silence like a rock through a windowpane. Red eyes glint in the moonlight as a dark figure painted in shadows lifts his head to listen to the chilling sound, wind brushes through long silver hair and near white lips pull back in a silent growl to reveal sharp pointed teeth.
Knee high black boots crunch dried leaves beneath them as the figure is pushed forward by a hand on its back. A rumbling snarl bubbles from the man shaped thing's throat as it turns to look at the human that had pushed it. The shackles on its wrists rattle as it tries to bring its arms from behind its back.
Another human nudges it with the tip of his sword, indicating for it to move forward. With another snarl it walks toward the stake that stands in the middle of the clearing.
A semi large group surrounds the stake, piling dried grass and logs around it. The figure is walked to stand in front of the stake, then the humans turn him around and wrap a chain attached to his shackles around the stake.
The leader of the humans takes a flaming torch from one of the other humans and at his signal everyone else backs off. The leader holds the stake forward, lighting the grass around the stake. The figure winces as fire blazes through the dry wood.
It grits its teeth as the humans cheer and glares at them through the smoke. It's red eyes alight on one human in particular, who is actually not a human at all.
(you dare show your face here traitor.) it mind speaks to the black haired one.
Golden eyes glare into his.( Your time is at an end Dark Lord, even I, who was once your most loyal servant can see that.)
(I am still needed in this world.) The Dark Lord insists crying out as flames lick at his legs.
(Perhaps, Perhaps not.) is whispered in his head before he loses all concentration, throwing his head back he screams into the night. The humans standing out of reach of the fire shiver at the sound as they watch their long time enemy be consumed by the cleansing fires.
The white robed creature standing with the humans blinks his golden eyes, he wants to say that the tears in them are from the smoke but he knows that that is a lie.
(my lord, Forgive me.) out of his sleeve he takes a sharp knife. Firelight glints off of it as he studies the blade.
Rolling up both his sleeves he places the tip of the blade against his left wrist. He closes his eyes and plunges the knife through his skin and drags it up his arm, then he quickly does his right wrist as well before he loses feeling in his left.
Blood pours down his arms and it is not until after his body has fallen to the grass that the humans notice what he has done.
Chapter 1
Marron claws his way out of sleep, his heart pounds feverishly in his chest and his breath comes in strangled gasps. His golden eyes sting with sweat as he blinks them open and his long black hair sticks to his face and neck. Slowly he sits up and looks over at his undisturbed companions as he tries to catch his breath, his heart still pounds as if he has just finished running uphill for many miles. He grabs at his right wrist to stop the bleeding, then is stunned as he realizes that there is no blood.
"A dream," He gasps out not sure whether to be relieved or more frightened then he already is, puzzling to himself he lays back down onto his sleeping mat, "it was a dream." It had seemed so vivid though, he is somewhat disturbed that he had dreamt something like that. He touches his wrists again, just to be sure.
He glances at his sleeping companions then slowly stands and navigates his way around the sleeping lumps. The floorboards creak under his feet and he stops as his older brother, Carrot Glace, turns over in his sleep. Marron stands silently gazing at his brother in a slightly distracted fashion, unconsciously he rubs his right thumb against the inside of his left wrist, realizing what he is doing he frowns to himself and stepping over Tira Misu makes his way toward the cabin's door.
The block of wood that poses as a door opens with an animal like squeal and Marron winces at the high pitch sound as he steps out into the cool pre-dawn air. He closes the door behind him and stands staring into the forest his hand still resting on the metal door handle. His breath mists in the air, silver tendrils rising above him to swirl and disappear. Marron runs his hands through his long black hair and glances up and the clear sky. The stars are slowly winking out, but Marron can still recognize some of the brighter constellations. At the edge of the horizon, the sun is slowly beginning its daily cycle. It will be another warm sunny day.
Silently walking over the dew covered grass Marron slips into the dark forest, squinting his eyes so he can spot the gnarled roots before they can trip him and raising his arms to fend off the tree branches that hang down and threaten to tangle in his hair. Finding a fallen tree Marron sits down and closing his eyes, steadies his breathing to a slow meditative rhythm.
"Marron, are you alright." Marron spins around, nearly losing his balance in his hurry. His brother stands a few feet away.
"sorry if I woke you." he apologizes as he sits back down.
Carrot shakes his head, "you didn't." He moves toward Marron and sits on the log beside him, "You alright?" he asks again.
Marron nods and closes his eyes again, "yes."
"Good." Carrot's fist unexpectedly collides with Marron's face, sending the younger Glace to the ground. Marron stares up at his brother as he touches his jaw. Carrot glares down at him.
"Brother, Why?" he asks, bewildered by his brother's behavior.
"You know why Traitor!" The words that are snarled from his brother's mouth do not belong to Carrot. Marron's eyes widen and he shakes his head as he crawls backwards away from the thing that is not his brother.
Carrot leaps on him, hands going around his throat and clutching tightly even as Marron thrashes underneath the older boy. He punches at Carrot's arms, digging his finger nails into the older Glace's cheeks and kicking him in the stomach. Carrot wheezes and rolls off of him, Marron leaps to his feet turning to his brother is a fighting position.
Where Carrot had been now stands a silver haired man glaring at him with red eyes. The man approaches him and a calm feeling falls over Marron, he relaxes out of his fighting position.
"I could forgive you Norram." The man raises a hand and cups Marron's face. Leaning forward until their faces are inches apart, "do you wish to be forgiven?"
"yes." Marron answers tilting his head to press against the man's hand.
"Then join me, the time for me to rise again is fast approaching." The man's eyes flash insanely and he presses his lips to Marron's harshly, "Join me, and together we shall make the world as it was before."
"With rivers of blood, and mountains of corpses?" Marron asks.
"Yes." The man bares his teeth again and slides his hand through Marron's hair.
"No." Marron snarls, the man jerks back as if slapped, Marron continues even though he has no idea what he is saying "My lord there is no longer a place for you in this world."
"I will make a place." The man hisses.
"then I will do all in my power to stop you." They glare at each other for a long moment.
"so be it." the Dark lord waves a hand and the forest scene around them dissolves, giving way to a grassy field.
Marron looks across the field to where a huge bonfire burns bright against the darkened night. He looks over at the dark lord, who points at his arms. Marron looks down, seeing the bloodied knife in his hands and the stains on his robes.
Not wanting to look he turns around, behind him his team lays mangled on the ground. Chocolate strangled by her own wire, Tira's body slashed to bits her eyes staring forward without seeing anything. Gateau lays farthest away, the gaping wound on his neck the only mark on him. Carrot lay closest, practically at Marron's feet.
Marron falls to his knees, eyes blurred by tears as he stares at his dead brother. He throws the knife to the ground, "I'm sorry. So sorry."
Carrot's head turns toward him, "Marron…Traitor."
"No, I'm not." Marron sobs, "I didn't mean to do this."
"but you did." The dark lord taunts from behind him.
"NO!" Marron jumps to his feet and launches himself at the dark lord, only to have his hands caught in a steel like grip. The dark lord grins and thrusts his arm forward, plunging his hand through Marron's chest. Marron screams as his fist closes around his heart and yanks it out even as it still beats. The silver haired dark lord leans forward and whispers in HIS ear.
"This is what happens to those who oppose me."
The worst way to wake up is to the sound of your brother screaming, Carrot shoots out of his bed and hurries to his brother's, Gateau and Tira are already kneeling at the younger teen's side, trying desperately to wake him. Marron struggles against them as they try to pin his arms to his sides so he won't hurt himself as he thrashes around. Marron screams again and yanking his arm away from Tira turns over and claws at Gateau's wrist, the bigger man releases Marron's wrist with a surprised yelp of pain. Spotting a full bucket of water Carrot grips the handle and turning the bucket upside down, empties the Luke-warm water onto him brother's head.
Marron's eyes snap open and he sits up, for a moment he stares at them as he gasps and sobs.
"Marron," Tira places a reassuring hand on his now wet shoulder, "it's all right, it was just a nightmare."
Marron shakes his head and draws his legs up to his chest, "No." His body trembles and he chokes back sobs.
Carrot kneels in front of his brother, touching his knee lightly, "Marron, It's okay."
Marron jerks away from him, "No!" he quickly stands, moving away from them towards the door.
The rest of the team glance at each other bewildered by Marron's reaction.
"Marron wait!" Carrot stands and races after his younger brother as Marron runs out the door.
Marron dashes off in the opposite direction of the one he remembers going in his dream, he flees from the cabin with no reason other then to get away. He runs for what seems like hours then panting he stops at a sturdy looking tree and sits under it, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them.
He leans his head back and rests it against the hard bark of the tree as he feels the warm rays of the sun seem to seep into his skin like a comforting blanket. Raising a hand he wipes the drying tears from his face even as he feels more threatening underneath the lids of his eyes.
He closes them briefly then they immediately snap open as images again assault his mind.
He chokes back a sob as the he desperately claws at his arms, trying to dispel the feeling of warm blood running down them.
It has been years since he has gotten so frightened by a nightmare, but then Marron is certain this hadn't been an ordinary one. He clenches his hands into fists, trying to stop himself from tearing his own skin open with his fingernails.
He looks up sharply as a noise sounds nearby, his brother's form is blurred by the tears that are once again falling from his eyes, when had he started crying again?
"Marron," Carrot stops in front of him panting slightly from running and kneels down beside him, "are you alright."
Marron shakes his head feeling his body begin to tremble again, "it was a dream." He buries his head into his knees, protectively covering his head with his arms.
"It was a dream, It was a dream, it was a dream, it was a dream, itwasadream, itwasadream, itwasadream." He feels his brother's arms wrap around him and leans into the embrace, not stopping his chanting. Eventually his words become sobs and he is crying against his brother's shoulder.
?
Chapter two
They've been walking in the sun all day, the town they are heading to can be seen whenever they reach the top of one of the waving hills then it is again blocked from view as they head down the other side. Marron seems lost in his own little world as he walks, eyes that usually miss nothing focus on the ground at his feet. His face is composed again, looking at him one could almost think they had imagined the horrifying wake up call. Gateau glances at the beautiful teen repeatedly, almost as if he expects Marron to disappear or worse, scream again.
"I'm starving." Carrot grumbles as they start up another hill seeming to have already forgotten about the events that has happened this morning or, Gateau reasons, he might just be trying to take his mind off it, yes that seems more likely.
For about a half an hour Carrot had sat cradling his younger brother before Marron had managed to calm down enough to stop crying. Then he had acted as if it hadn't happened, avoiding their questions and uncharacteristically snapping, telling them that he'd only had a dream and that it was nothing to worry about.
"We're almost there." Tira states to the impatient Glace.
"But I'm hungry now." Carrot whines.
"I can take your mind off that darling," Chocolate offers and hugs Carrot from behind, he gives a high-pitched squeal and leaps away the red headed Misu on his heels. Gateau rolls his eyes; he doesn't understand what Chocolate sees in Carrot, the teen obviously isn't interested in her.
"Wait darling!" Chocolate yells as the two speed up the hill a dust cloud rising behind them. They disappear over the hill. Gateau watches them with a bemused expression and turns to say something to Marron.
He stops himself as he notices that Marron doesn't seem to have noticed that anything has happened. His black bangs cover his golden eyes as he stares at the dust covered road. He mumbles something and Gateau is about to ask him what he said when he hears.
"Carrot What Have I Told You About Other Women!" Chocolate's voice screams loudly followed my the unmistakable sound of her wire.
The two sorcerer hunters hurry up the hill and look down; at the bottom of the hill is an overturned wagon, Carrot is on the ground screaming for mercy as Chocolate stands above him in her tight leather outfit her face a mask of fury as she expertly whips her wire forward.
"My Carrots!" The attractive woman that owns the wagon shrieks, Chocolate pauses and Carrot's eyes light up and he started to drool as he gets up from the ground obviously thinking it is him she is worried about, only to by smacked back down as the woman hits him with a shovel, then she begins gathering up her scattered orange vegetables.
Carrot bites happily into the fruit tart, moaning in exaggerated pleasure as the sweet taste explodes in his mouth. He chews happily and swallows before taking another large bite.
The other members of the sorcerer hunting team are all also enjoying their meal. except for Marron who is merely looking at his dish, head tilted to the side and brow furrowed like he's not sure whether the food on it is edible or not.
Finally he decides that he's not hungry anyway and that if he did try to eat something he'd probably throw up, which would make his teammates even more worried. Marron stands up, "I'll be in the library."
Tira looks up from her meal, "are you sure, you haven't eaten anything."
"I'm not really hungry." He pushes his chair in and heads out of the dinning room.
"But you'll eat something if you get hungry later right?" Chocolate calls after him.
Marron nods distractedly, not intending to do anything of the sort.
Tira shakes her head as Marron disappears up the stairs, "something's wrong."
The other's nod in agreement, Gateau points out "He's been distracted all day, I think what ever happened in his dream really frightened him."
"oh yeah, it's not like his screaming was a dead give away." Carrot quips sarcastically.
"You know what I mean, usually he'd talk about it to you at least." Gateau states. Carrot sighs.
"Look I'll try to talk to him tonight, but if he really doesn't want to talk then there really isn't much we can do."
Marron browses through the shelves, glancing at titles but not really reading them. The library is warm, the fire in the small fireplace is crackling merrily.
A large black book falls from the shelf above Marron, landing with a loud thump. Marron picks it up annoyed, then stops as he sees the cover. He opens the first page and reads a little.
The book is a scholar's thesis on a dead language, normally Marron would have found it fascinating but now he just finds it horrifying. The problem is not anything the author wrote, the problem is the examples of the dead writing he drew into the book, Marron can read them, all of them.
With a slam he closes the book and reaches up to place it back on its shelf, hands shaking so bad it's a wonder he can lift it. Once it's on its shelf Marron stares at it as if he's afraid it will leap at him.
"Get a grip, it is just a book." he snarls at himself, voice sounding hollow in the quiet library. He turns and hurries over to a different section lifting a random book from its place he sits down at one of the tables.
He opens the book to a middle page and stares at the page trying to concentrate enough to read it. He pulls something out of his sleeve and starts fiddling with it, trying to keep his hands busy.
The pages blur in front of his eyes and images seem to be trying to creep out of the book. Marron shivers and looks away, his eyes find the fireplace.
He blinks and a figure stands in the fire, head thrown back in a scream on agony. Red eyes bore into his.
Traitor!
A sharp pain in his wrist makes him flinch and turn away from the fire. He looks at his wrist, staring at his knife that is slowly being drenched with his blood. He yanks the knife out of his wrist and drops it to the floor, pressing his fingers to the vein in his arm to slow the bleeding.
Carrot washes his face, preparing for bed. Marron stands a few feet away leaning against the wall and the older Glace notes that he is paler then usual.
"this is a nice house, it will be a shame when we actually catch the sorcerer and have to leave." he comments to his younger brother.
Marron looks up startled, "The house?" he blinks, "oh right it's nice, yes."
Carrot stares at Marron, "you alright."
Marron nods and looks away again.
"You sure?" Carrot tries again, he wipes his hands dry on a towel and walks over to his brother.
"Yes Carrot I'm fine." Marron snaps.
"Well if you want to talk about it…" Carrot starts to say but is cut off by his younger brother.
"I don't." He blinks, Marron rarely ever interrupts him and when he does it is usually for a good reason.
Taking off his shirt he slips into the bed they are sharing, staying on his side the buries his head into his pillow and is almost instantly asleep.
He wakes up a little later, staring at the darkened ceiling trying to figure out why he is awake. It takes him only a moment to realize that Marron is not in the bed. He sits up.
Marron is pacing back and forth across the room, head down with his right hand cradling his left. He hasn't noticed that Carrot is awake and is seemingly having a lively argument with himself.
"Yeah I know, not anymore." Marron strides to the end of the room and spins around. (not anymore for what?)
He tilts his head as if listening to something, "I was a fool." he declares. (you a fool? Brother you aren't making any sense.)
Marron stays silent for a moment then laughs a tone of hysteria in his voice. "That's not a very impressive achievement." (What's not a very impressive achievement?)
He walks back and forth silently for a moment, "Can't argue with you there." (argue with who?) Carrot has to bite his tongue to keep the questions in.
"I'm not seeing them your way, just my way with a twist." Marron makes a hand motion and flips a stray lock of hair out from in front of his face.
"not really." there is a tone of annoyance in Marron's voice as he paces faster.
Seconds later he stops cold back straight and eyes glaring at nothing, Carrot has to strain his ears to hear his younger brother.
"No, I can't. but I don't have to like it. And don't call me that." Marron closes his eyes tightly and shudders, "not anymore."
He spins around and snarls, "don't count on it." the hatred in his voice makes Carrot shudder underneath the blankets as his watches his younger brother who's golden eyes seem to shine in the faint candle light.
Marron is still for a moment then his head turns and he stares straight at Carrot, he glares coldly at his older brother before turning and stalking out of the room, slamming the bedroom door behind him.
After a few moments Carrot manages to break himself out of the trance he is in and slips out of bed. Heading toward the girls' room, he is going to need Tira's help.
?
Chapter 3
Norram stands staring at the body on the shelf, listening distractedly to the spiky haired boy and red headed girl whispering quietly upstairs. The translucent image of the dark lord kneels by Marron's unconscious body, right hand on the mage's forehead.
Norram smiles quietly, in his astral form the dark lord can't see a ghost, even this slight power over the evil creature gives him a small feeling of triumph.
Through Marron Norram can feel the dark lord's magic fighting the younger teen's mind for dominance, "You won't win him over my lord," the fire mage promises, whispering into the dark lords ear and knowing he wont be heard, "Even if he serves you, he will never be yours."
Carrot steps into the large library with Tira behind him shivering as he realizes just how cold the room is, he glances at the fire, it is still burning merrily in the fireplace. All the windows are closed so there is no reason for the room to be so cold.
They aren't sure what causes them to turn. Tira gasps and rushes to where Marron's body lays on the floor, his breathe misting in the frigid air that surrounds his body like a shield.
(author's note: Well there's an evil spirit in the air as well as a ghost, that's got to be cold.)
Tira touches Marron's face, then jerks her hand back as she feels how cold it is. A thin layer of frost has covered Marron's eyelashes, making them look longer and mystical but no doubt sealing his eyelids together. His lips are a pale blue and even his black hair looks cold.
"Marron?" she calls nervously, not expecting a reply, she doesn't get one. She shivers and removes her red cloak, wrapping it around the mage's body then turning to Carrot.
"let's get him up." Carrot kneels down on the other side of Marron and slipping his hands under his brother he heaves the younger boy off the ground. Marron's body feels like a block of ice in his arms.
Carrot carries Marron closer to the fire and sets him down and Tira's command and kneels beside his brother, Tira runs to get more blankets.
With his fingertips he brushes a few strands of hair out of Marron's face. Suddenly Carrot frowns and lowers his hand to Marron's wrist, noticing the bandage that is wrapped around it. He removes the bandage and stares at the wound that was hidden beneath.
"Marron," He breathes out in horror and looks up from the vertical cut down his brothers wrist at his brother's still face. Mind numb with shook he holds Marron's cool hand against his chest and slipping his other arm around Marron's waist pulls his brother against him, trying to share body warmth.
Carrot jumps in surprise Marron's entire body jerks, the younger Glace moves his hand up to push off Carrot's hands from where they hold his wrist. Carrot knocks Marron's hands away making the younger teen struggle harder.
"Tira!" He yells, and hears a loud thump as she drops what she had been carrying and runs into the library.
Whatever had been making Marron cold is gone now, instead the younger Glace's body seems to be shimmering with heat. Carrot jerks his hands back as suddenly his brother's skin is too hot to touch.
"Turn around," The silver haired demon demands, Marron glares at him anger boiling in his eyes.
"No." He doesn't want to turn around, he can feel the blood dripping down his arms, he knows what will be there.
Teeth clenched the dark lord orders again, "Turn around now!"
"I won't, I no longer serve you." Marron fights the instinctive reaction to do what the man says.
"Norram…"
"THAT'S NOT WHO I AM ANYMORE!" Marron screams at him, "I am not Norram, you are not my master!"
The dark lord waves a hand in annoyance, "You are," he closes his eyes briefly then looks up at Marron again, desire and longing showing clearly in his insane glinted eyes, "You are Norram, you are Mine."
Marron shakes his head, "no, even if I was Norram." he pauses and glares at the dark lord, "he stopped serving you, he hated what you were doing."
The dark lord nods silently some of the madness fading from his crimson eyes, "yes, I know now that he did, I didn't then."
"If you knew then would you have stopped?" Marron asks, part of him unconsciously becoming calmer as his master also becomes calm.
"I don't…" The dark lord suddenly looks lost, Marron's hateful gaze softens slightly as he waits for him to speak, "do you remember what we were, before I was the master and he the servant?"
Marron thinks for a moment, reaching for the memories that are so alien to him, "You were friends," the dark lord just looks at him, "You were lovers."
The dark lord nods and raising a hand brushes his fingers across the side of Marron's face, a parade of unnamed emotions flow from him into Marron, "you're so much like him, strong, beautiful, loyal to those you serve." he leans forward and Marron finds himself unable to move, the dark lord kisses Marron lightly on the teen's lips then buries his head in the side of Marron's neck.
"when will you stop betraying me my love," He whispers into the mage's ear, sadness reflected in his eyes, Marron shivers as he also feels that sadness.
"I can't betray something I was never loyal to." he says
"You were loyal." The dark lord's voice is muffled against Marron's neck.
Marron shakes his head, "No, he was loyal to you, I'm not…I serve the sorcerer hunters."
"Leave them," the words are whispered but just as compelling as any other order.
"NO, My lord…" The dark lord looks up and cups Marron's face in his hands.
"No, call me by my real name." He says, brushing his thumbs up and down Marron's jaw line.
Marron stares into his red eyes, seeing instead a light green flashing with a secret amusement, "Kieran."
Kieran smiles at him from inside the dark lord and moving forward presses his lips to the fire mage's. He continues kissing Marron, not giving any indication that he is going to stop. Marron though, pulls away his expression somewhere between longing, pity, and disgust.
The dark lord winces and presses his forehead against Marron's, eyes glowing with an insane light, "join me and I swear to you, those you care for will not be harmed."