Title: Dark Times

Author: Ageless Light

Beta-ed by: Nobody right now! But I'd like one! Please PM me if you are interested.

Characters/Pairing: Zacarias De La Cruz and Ashelia Sole, Amelyn Stormcloud and Dominic Dragonseeker, and Iris Airan and Lojos.

Genre: Romance/Fantasy

Summary: The mission to Romania was just the starting point. Now that they have found each other, their stories were just beginning. The next installment to Dark Moments featuring our leading couples!

Rating: T (Contains content suitable for teens and older)

Status: Continuous (Incomplete)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Dark Series Universe or any of Christine Feehan's characters. I do own the OC's though. I went to babynames. com for my character names though. A nice reviewer PMed me and told me that the book the original concept of the Ways came from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series. I however, have altered their purpose, make-up, and description to fit my fic. They are very different since I haven't even read the story, but if you like epic fantasy books; I encourage you to check them out.

Spoilers: Up to and including Dark Slayer (The most recent novel in Feehan's Dark Series). This is the sequel to Dark Moments and I recommend that you read that first. You can access it through my profile

Created on: July 26, 2010. Edited on January 8th, 2011

Word Count: 2,053 (Total: 9,813)

"Talk" – regular talking

Talk- Inner thoughts

"Talk"- Speaking telepathically

A/N: Installments, for lack of a better work, of Dark Times will be chronological, so you can think of this as a loosely structured story. It is in fact going somewhere but since I will be focusing on the different couples it may take a while. Just to be warned the length of these "chapters" will vary. Some will be as long as the chapters for Dark Moments and others will be as short as a drabble.

Chapter 4

Slipping Away

The grumble could be heard through-out the entire room and everyone turned to look at her. Or rather the large noise that came from her. That's so embarrassing. Cheeks tinged pink and she made sure to let the others know she was getting something to eat and would be back soon. Reaching for her connection to the Earth she carefully migrated her way through the branches, with her hands and occasionally even her feet touching, sticking, to the bark as she climbed back down. Iris was descending from one of the relay stations tied to their defense system. It was evening but not too late and she realized that she had been so caught up in work she forgot to eat. Again. Now I'm turning into Ashe. Hopefully I won't run into her and have to deal with her chiding. Oh. There was something else I'm forgetting too. Racking her brains was of no help and she couldn't remember forgetting anything but still the feeling persisted. Oh well.

As she moved toward the main tower she shrugged her shoulders and started weaving her way around. Reaching a collection of circular platforms around some of the Kapock trees, joined together by bridges made of rope and wood, she maneuvered her way around while being suspended 150 feet in the air. This was the main tower, even though it was made up of several trees and interconnecting structures with levels both below and above her.

The main tower was always busy since it was the heart of their camp. It was always fully staffed and they worked in shifts to accommodate the KATT squads' receiving missions or dropping off reports. Caleb's office was located inside of the central tree and it was where they held their senior staff meetings. It was also the only place in the compound that held a direct entrance to the Way's. It was an emergency passage and the closest exit or base from it was located in Costa Rica, their largest and most secure base on the Western Hemisphere outside of the United States.

A blur of color on her left attracted her attention and she turned to see Tomas coming around a platform. Instantly, he spotted her and headed her way. The younger Jaegar brother looked much the same since she lost saw him. But at the time they were in the middle of a SAR operation so she wasn't able to check in with her once escort.

"Sisar." He greeted her in his native tongue. Standing there in front of her she couldn't help but compare him to his direct older sibling, her Lojos. Tomas was of the same height with the trade mark Jaegar dark sapphire colored eyes. Every time she had been in his presence he had been mild-mannered and a pleasure to be around. Lojos once told her that his younger brother had a sense of humor and that he missed it very much. From the conversations with her escort turned adoptive brother she could see certain elements that supported his theory.

"Tomas. It is good to see that you are well." He inclined his head at her words before responding.

"Thank you. It is a pleasure to see that you are well. Matias and I are going to the De La Cruz Ranch."

"oooooh a guy's night?" She whispered teasingly but Tomas was unfazed.

"You could call it that but it will not be relaxing at all. We have a strategy meeting. There is much to discuss. What about you?"

"I was just about to grab something to eat since I worked through dinner. Do you want to come?"

"No need." With that he raised his hand which was holding a small picnic basket.

"You brought me food?"

"No. Lojos gave it to me, to give to you. He knew you were going to forget dinner so he had something prepared earlier."

"Oh. Great mind's think alike huh?"

"Well, actually-"

"Yea, yea. Someone did something important and we all are better for it. Blah. Blah." Iris said with a straight face while waving a dismissal. Tomas looked reproachful until Iris could no longer hold it in and laughter outright. "Chill Tomas, I was just trying to get a rise outta you." When she reached for the basket he held it back away from her and she frowned.

"You are not to eat it yet. My brother is coming to you in a few minutes to escort you to your newest assignment and asked to share it with you." Her heart stuttered and the breath in her throat caught. Hope swelled in her breast and she squashed it down. Yes, she wanted Lojos but she wasn't sure he really wanted her. He said he did, but forever was a long time and add that to my responsibilities, who would really want to stay around? Besides he makes me crazy, why would I want to be with him for eternity? Noticing that Tomas was waiting for her response she uttered the first thing that came to her mind.

"Like a d-date?" She stuttered and cursed while the tall male seemed nonplussed.

"I am unaware of the word's meaning. Please explain. "His head was tilted and his eyes narrowed slightly in concentration. Just like a puppy. The act didn't work on her and in typical Airan fashion had a momentary loss of control and a bad judgment call. And so she pushed the hunter off the edge of the platform in a flash. Tomas kindly let her do it and simple tossed her the picnic basket before plummeting to the ground and shifting into mist. His bait was an attempt to reduce her anxiety and she was irked that she had been manipulated so well.

With a closed mouth shriek and a childish stomp of her foot she continued on her way while carrying the basket only because she was hungry and she did not mean to share it with Lojos.

(Scene Change)

The pair had been at the construction site for almost an hour and she was just about done with her interference. The construction site had been abandoned for the night and as long as they worked around the patrol groups they would be fine. It was sadly easy; then again the enemy was unaware of their existence and was only looking for the Carpathians.

When the compound was sufficiently tampered with she moved towards the surrounding area. The rocky landscape would prove helpful for future distraction. Carefully she placed the seal she created onto the surface and channeled some of her energy into it. The seals contained small barriers that would expand upon her command. As they expanded they would come in contact with outside forces, nature or the enemy and react accordingly. It was an effective diversionary tactic.

"This is ridiculous. We have to report our findings right away." She exclaimed to Lojos once she was finished.

"I agree that the others need to know about the traces of mage energy here but now is not the time. You need to rest and eat something for dinner."

"Alright well I'm sure there is some small clearing or decent tree we could eat in on our way back."

"No, follow me. I have something to show you."

"Eh?" Was her articulate reply. With a small secretive smile, a facial expression that she didn't remember ever seeing, he simply held his hand out and waited for her to come to him. When she did he embraced her tightly and took to the skies, sifting their forms simultaneously.

"This still feels weird." She sent to him along their psychic bond.

"You will adjust to it. I am sure it feels much like the 'sifting' to your other form." She hadn't thought of it that way but had to agree. While she was unable to sift on her own, she had changed with the aid of others before. Lojos on the other hand didn't comment on her talking to him via their personal link. She didn't have a choice in that form but she could have waited to be able to speak to him, face to face. Instead she chose, unconsciously or not, to speak the true way of lifemates. It pleased him.

"So where are we going?"

"We are going to the Amazon River."

"That's kinda big and doesn't answer my question." Projecting the image of a sigh to her he answered her question.

"The basin part. With the help of the De La Cruz brothers we will be able to see it from there." She continued to pester him but he wouldn't answer.

As they flew over the landscape he pointed out some of the things he learned from her friend's brothers. Carefully he would rush down and into the canopy so they could see how different the forest was at night. They flew through a nest of spider monkeys and he could feel her laughter as they played with the small nocturnal creatures before moving on.

Finally they reached their destination and he set them down gently on a tree. It was in a quiet and undisturbed spot overlooking the river a bit. Once his lifemate was situated he opened the picnic basket and handed her a chicken salad sandwich and a can of Dr. Pepper. Two of her favorites. She was suddenly glad she did not eat it earlier and she tried to hide her smile.

"Now watch. It may be better to see it through my eyes." At her widened eyes he explained how simple and right the merge was for them. After a few moments of silence in which she thought it over she decided to try it. Lojos wouldn't hurt me after all. And I do wanna know why he dragged me all the way out here. Carefully, she slid her mind into his. The concept wasn't anything new but this was a different mind. She had tried to limit going through his. Though he told her none of it was private from her she just felt that it was too big a step. But since she was not there to rifle through his thoughts she felt at ease.

Together, through one pair of eyes they watched the water's surface. Excitement filled her and she looked at where he gestured. Not seeing anything she went to tell him there was nothing there but he shushed her. Shushed me? But before she could retort she saw something peak through the surface. It drew her attention and she couldn't figure out what it was. Only that it was an odd triangular shape.

Whatever it was it disappeared only for similar objects to appear nearby. Then something jumped out of the water and she could see it clearly. If Lojos hadn't been holding her she would have moved forward to get a closer looked and fallen in, only to be lost among the strong current.

"Is that a pink dolphin?" Her awe and childish rapture warmed his heart and he wished to everything in the world that he could have taken her during the day time to see them in their natural light. Where the sunlight would glisten off the water and their unique skin color would shine. He would have ensured her safety, gotten a hold of their minds, and then she would have been able to swim with them.

"But how? I –I mean they aren't nocturnal?"

"If they are in search for food they will. I just had to give them some incentive and a little nudge." He explained it but she barely heard him. Instead she focused on the mammals below her. She watched as they moved around in an odd dance until she realized they were playing with each other.

Breaking the contact she forgot about her food and moved into his arms. Gently she placed her hands on his head, framing his face. Her tattoos of hydrangeas' and sea shells practically glowing in the silver moonlight.

"How did you know I've always wanted to see them?"

"I remember you mentioning it while we were leaving Romania. I just had to find some and make sure it was safe."

"You know for a guy who hasn't dated or even bother with the opposite sex, you sure do leave quite an impression." The smile grew on her face slowly as she inched her way even closer to him.

"I do?" With a committal hum she leaned forward and placed her lips gently on his.

Thanks for reading! Please review and leave your thoughts/comments and advice!

Until the next chapter,

~Ageless Light

****Notes/Comments****

1. Kapock Tree- is a tree not only located in the rainforest but in similar climate. It grows above the canopy reaching on average 200 feet tall and can be around 10 feet in diameter. The leaves, bark and seeds have medicinal properties and it even gives fruit.

2. Great minds think alike- was a reference to the quote by G.B. Shaw, "if everyone is thinking alike then someone isn't thinking. Though many people always think it's a could thing when people think alike and not many know this saying.

3. The Pink Dolphin- Is true and the do reside in the Amazon. Though they are endangered. Go google picutres of them they are adorable!

****Translations****

Carpathian:

Sisar- sister in Carpathian.