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 (OC), Amelyn Stormcloud and Dominic Dragonseeker, and Iris Airan and Lojos Jaegar.

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.

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

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.

Status: Continuous (Incomplete)

Category: A collection of one-shots.

Spoilers: This fic is obviously AU. However it is current Up to Dark Slayer and including parts of Dark Peril. (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 find the story by accessing my profile.

Created on: January 2, 2011

Word Count: 1,820 (Total-22,500)

"Talk" – regular talking

Talk- Inner thoughts/ Flashbacks

"Talk"- Speaking telepathically

Chapter 11

Answering the Call

Blonde eye brows quirked up in amusement before the figure continued on his way. Lojos scowled fiercely at the back of the man's retreating form. The blue lined collar stood out among the Kylierion's black attire and Lojos knew exactly why that man expressed himself to the Carpathian in such a way. The blue lined collars signified those working under his lifemate on the security and defense of the command center. The sense of familiarity the man exhibited with him was not welcomed.

A squeal of female indignation followed by roaring laughter drew his attention back to the scene at hand. Though he was completely still, hidden within the shadows of the underground tunnels he had positioned himself in such a way that he could see into the nearest room.

The aching feeling filled him and he watched his lifemate interact with her team. The brothers and sisters of her heart. She is like the sun. Blue eyes the color of the sky sparkled in mirth and she made a poor attempt to hide her laughter behind her hands. Her sunshine colored blonde hair was loose and it bounced along with her movements. The werewolf boy was mock howling as they picked fun at him. Lojos had been late coming back from the meeting with Zacarias and even though he needed to have her in his arms, he just watched. On the outside yet with a sense of belonging.

Though he was an ancient and a powerful hunter, belonging to something, to someone, was not one of his strengths. His family had been torn apart by undead monsters in his youth. His parents were cruelly slain along with his future siblings. Together with his older and younger brothers they pursued the master all over the world to claim vengeance. As centuries passed they hunted together, always watching each other's back. Helping each other keep the darkness at bay. They were a family, a broken one, but still a family.

Now everything had changed, Lojos thought. Along with his brothers they were part of a new family. And it had happened almost overnight. Iris had introduced a world filled with light, love, and laughter into their lives. And through her, others came into their lives as well.

Ashelia, Tia, the werewolf, and Dominic's lifemate were the closest and at times it was overwhelming. Especially if one added in the entire Airan House. Time and circumstance demanded for him to adjust, and with his willpower it had happened, but at times he couldn't believe how different his life had become.

In the past he had wished for a lifemate from his own kind, but he had been young and foolish. Now he knew no other would complete him like Iris did. She was of another race and their views often caused conflict between them but as a warrior she knew loss, pain, and heartbreak and still found the courage to stand and fight.

As the days passed he found himself more in love with her, and he did not care of what others thought of their relationship. Older Carpathian women moved with an ageless grace but it was easy to know they were still a race of creatures made for hunting. He remembered his mother who often sat so still, looking out the window for her lifemate to come home one would think she was a statue. The women of his kind were elegant and poised, perfect ladies. Something Iris was not. For which he would be eternally grateful.

Watching her now she reminded him of a young child unable to sit still. Always in motion. She talked with her hands, and constantly shifted her stance as if in a dance, but if one looked closely, you could tell she used every part of her body to express herself. Sometimes she would crank an elbow out as if it was an unusual shrug or jut out her jaw in defiance. It was unusual and without explanation but he loved that she would curl her toes for some reason he had yet to detect a pattern in. She was vibrant and full of life. And it was as if she had so much energy her lithe body could not contain it.

His brooding must have alerted her because she kicked out Ashe's chair, causing the Princess to tip into the werewolf boy's lap, before bounding out of the room and into his arms. For a moment it was just them and it felt perfect. Their minds melded, needing the assurance that the other was truly there. His eyes closed and he breathed in the scent of her hair.

Then the moment ended and she withdrew from his embrace, to quickly he thought. When he opened his eyes he saw her throw her arms around the approaching Tomas. His lips twitched as he repressed a smile, watching his lifemate interact with his younger brother. The first time Iris hugged him, Tomas froze unsure how to handle it. His arms were limp at his sides, covered in vampire blood and his dark eyes sought Lojos' wondering if his brother would become angry. But Lojos did not. Soon enough he believed his brothers would have lifemates of their own, and would be able to embrace and feel the love that he and Iris had for them.

Even now he thought it was a good experience for his brothers, despite the fact that they were still without color or emotions of their own. Instead he and his lifemate shared their thoughts, emotions, and views of the world with them. He believed it would help his brothers to hold on.

Lojos and his brother's loved their parents. They loved the sisters that were unable to live past infancy and they had loved their unborn siblings, but they were gone. Iris was his lifemate, the sister that Matias and Tomas never had, along with Ashelia, and Tia and the others. The brothers vowed that nothing would tear apart this new family. Not the undead, Xavier, or anything else. So when the laughter was abruptly cut off and the call from Amelyn went out, he exchanged a quick look with Tomas, and then put his arms around Iris to shift them to her aide.

Nothing would harm his new family.

(Scene change)

Nothing ever goes to plan as the saying goes. Before soldiers were sent out on operation The Green Mist, the Empire had been planning. Their information network was flooded with inquiries. Extra training to handle fighting groups of vampires and surviving in the forest all started before anyone even set foot in the Amazon. This wasn't the final battle, just a battle. Strategies were exchanged, rejected, and altered while they were traveling. There was not a lot of information, but they were use to working with that.

They dropped down out of the sky or rose from the ground in waves, depending on where they all were when the call went out. The first few minutes of the battle had been tough and severely not in their favor. They were outnumbered and it wasn't until Dominic attacked one of the Master's near him that things got better. Minutes passed and then reinforcements came to even the odds a bit.

The Princess acted every bit the Imperial heir. When she sifted back from her other form she was already glowing from brining her powers to the surface. A quick slam of her foot caused a miniature earth quake. The vampires scattered going after Kylierion and Carpathian alike, giving her a chance to get to the victims. She threw punches and even a vampire out of her way. Gabrielle had come with Tia and once they regained solid form, she shifted immediately and went to protect Ashe. Once cleared Iris had a protective barrier up and Gabrielle rushed in and prowled along the barrier lines watching, waiting to see if a vampire could get through. Ashe went to work immediately on the victims, trying o diagnose their injuries.

It was obvious which fighters were part of a life mated pair. They moved as an effective team, covering weaknesses, and moving fluidly to take down one vampire after another. Together Iris and Lojos played the Master Vampire in command with style and panache. Barriers were erected and dispersed in seconds, throwing all of the undead off. When it was needed the famous twin sai's of Iris flashed in the night. Tomas and Matias were vicious in their fights and they moved to wherever they were needed.

The ground became soaked with blood. Red mixing with black. The earth groaned under so many orders and the air was filled with discharged power. Dominic was injured but many weren't sure if it was from fighting the vampire before or after his cover was blow. Amelyn was nearby directing earth and lighting when needed.

Many of the victims could not be saved. Even if they were the only victim and Ashe was at full strength she would not be able to heal some of the damage. It broke her heart but she was forced to shut down their brain. While unconscious they would quietly and peacefully slip away. Tears ran down her face but it was a call she had to make. Her job was to keep the teams alive. She couldn't waste needed energy in such a way. One of her people or the Carpathians could be dealt a fatal blow or she could be called in to fight, and she needed to make sure everything was measured and planned out to ensure that as many people as possible would survive. That included the victims. The rest would be brought back frozen, identified, with the hopes of contacting family. If all else failed they would be given a proper end of life ritual.

Soon enough Zacarias De La Cruz arrived in all his terrifying glory. His attention had been focused at the attack on one of the ranches. Some of the families under his protection had been injured. When the call went out he was unaware, but his lifemate reached out to him. He expected instant obedience from everyone, but he knew not order her to stay behind. Instead he made her promise not to be reckless. Honor and duty was important to him, but his lifemate's safety superseded all of it. As soon as he could he took to the sky.

He was the one being the undead feared. Even The Five masters, as they called themselves, acknowledged his power and strength. The only major barrier to the undead's victory. But here was another chance to take him out, and they refused. Instead most of the remaining vampires attempted to use their abilities and flee. The Kylierions and Carpathians would have won. They were too good, to organized not to have, but with Zacarias the fight ended quickly.

Here is the latest installment to Dark Times! This fic is really close to being completed and will be wrapped up soon. While writing out the final chapters I have been editting the previous chapters. Thank you for reading! Please take the time and put your throughts/comments/advice in a review! Your reviews fuel my passion for writing!

Until Next Time,

~Ageless Light

**News**

My lovely comrade who acts as my beta and soundboard is the other writer under this name. She writes all of the SGA fics. Well she was recently challenged to complete the 5 Ways Challenge. This challenge focuses on how characters meet and the other alternate possibilities. I'm sure many of you know that not all of our thoughts are kept in a story. In fact when writing Dark Moments, I had numerous and different scenes on how Zac & Ashe met.

Well since she has taken up the challenge and has found it enjoyable she extended the challenge to me. After all we are both Ageless Light. So I have been playing around and if the response is good I think I have enough to post the other moments when Ashe & Zac could have met. Please let me know your thoughts?