The White Queen and the Witch Hunter

A/N: This chapter isn't going to be very long but this is gearing up for the next chapter which will be the big fight and the aftermath…the final chapter. I've enjoyed this story but my brain is stuck on another one so I need to finish this one up before I lose my inspiration entirely.

Guest 1: I'm glad you like it hun. I'm enjoying these two quite a bit myself.

Guest 2: You and me both hun lol. I usually make my female characters rather bold and confident, probably b/c I'm not able to be like that in my own life atm.

Chapter 3

By the time they finally made it to Kaulder's home in New York they were all tired of travelling, well Kaulder and Chloe were…Ariande was actually enjoying seeing all of the changes the world had undergone. She had gleaned some information by skimming the minds of those who lived in Ireland or visited it, but that was nothing compared to seeing it all in person for the first time. When they appeared in the living room Kaulder though Dolan would have a heart attack but he merely blinked and shrugged before looking to their newest group member.

"Welcome Queen Ariande, I hope your journey was pleasant? I am Dolan."

"I know who you are, and yes it was quite pleasant thank you."

She wandered around the place a bit, picking up various items Kaulder had gathered over his long life until one in particular made her freeze in place with wide eyes. Kaulder watched her lazily, a look on his face that Dolan recognized as his hunting face, until he saw her body go stiff and he moved to her side.

"What is it little Queen?"

"This…this was mine…long ago. It was a power source for when I'd depleted my energy…I didn't even know any of them had survived…"

"You can have it…if it'll help you get stronger again."

"Thank you Kaulder."

The item she held looked simple enough, a simple crystal vial on a chain but it was what the vial contained that was the important part. The liquid inside was very precious and could restore the energy of a witch if she used too much power for a spell. The only catch was that the vials could only be opened by the witch who created them, in this case Ariande had managed to get lucky. Kaulder raised an eyebrow as he watched her place the chain around her neck without opening the vial.

"Aren't you gonna use that?"

"Not right now…if I drink this I'll be unconscious for a full 24 hours while my magic level rises drastically. I had rather hoped to have that alone time we spoke of before I do that…unless you've changed your mind…?"

The low growl that rumbled from his chest at her playful words caused her to laugh softly and run a hand down his muscular chest with an appreciative sound. Dolan made some sort of excuse about needing Chloe's help with something and dragged her out of the apartment entirely. It wasn't until they were outside that Chloe figured out why Dolan had been in such a hurry to leave, and a little smirk crossed her lips.

"The Witch Hunter and the Witch Queen…now there's a match no one saw coming."

"Indeed my dear. I suggest you go shopping for a bit…no telling how long those two will be at it."

"She's been alone in a dark cave for a long time Dolan…I imagine she's just aching for some company…"

Dolan rolled his eyes and left Chloe alone on the sidewalk so she hailed a cab and headed off to meet with a few friends to tell them the news about their true queen. Back in the apartment Kaulder had pinned Ariande against the window and was giving her slow deep kisses that left her breathless and dizzy, her small hands clinging to his muscular arms. When his nose nudged her chin she tilted her head back and his lips latched onto the column of her throat, gently sucking and nipping at the tender flesh until she was giving him keening little whines that sent his blood rushing south. He lifted her up and smirked as her legs automatically locked around his waist to keep herself against him.

"I ain't gonna drop ya little Queen…just movin to a more comfortable spot."

He carried her into his bedroom and laid her gently on the ultra-soft mattress, his hands slowly stripping her dress from her body with an almost reverent look on his face. Her eyes seemed to glow with power and it took him a few moments longer than it should have to realize that they actually were glowing. Ariande used her power to remove his clothing and it reappeared on a nearby chair.

"That's a handy little trick…what else can you do little Queen?"

"I can do this."

She rolled them both over so that she was straddling his hips and he decided to just lay back and let her have the control for a bit. He could bide his time while she explored him. Her little hands traced their way across the planes of his chest and down his belly until she reached the prize she'd been seeking. A wicked little smirk twisted her lips before she ducked down and swallowed him whole, earning a loud curse as his hips bucked up.

"How the...? Damn woman!"

"Liked that did you? Magic can do so many things Kaulder…many wonderful things."

"I think I might like these things little Queen…care to show me more?"

The two spent the rest of that night in his bed…and the floor, the wall, the shower, the sofa, even the dining room table wasn't spared though Ariande did clean that one with magic afterward. The two ended up curled together in his large bed, her head using his chest as a pillow. Ariande reached out to Chloe's mind and was reassured that her new friend was safe and would return in the morning.

"Chloe said she will return tomorrow morning…she's spending the night with a friend…and before you ask the friend is female."

"We'll see her after noon sometime then…she doesn't exactly do mornings."

"Do you?"

"Oh I do a lot of things…right now I'm going to do you…again."

"By all means…have your way with me My Hunter."

The group of four spent the next several months preparing for the inevitable fight against the one controlling the shadow beings. Ariande grew stronger with each person Chloe managed to convince of her existence, several of whom she met, and eventually she was strong enough to connect her mind to those of every witch on the planet, briefly but it was enough to let them know she was real. As more of them began researching ad believing in her again she felt her power growing exponentially. Kaulder was left in awe when her power reached it's Zenith and her entire being glowed with a soft white light. Chloe couldn't seem to stop staring at her, or following her around like a pup after its mother. Kaulder and Ariande spent almost every night in bed together, her power leaking from her as her pleasure rose and leaving Kaulder reeling as her pleasure became his own. Dolan spent most of his time researching the shadow beings from the past and trying to find a way to destroy them.

"Dolan…the books will not answer all of your questions…but I may be able to answer some of them. Feel free to ask me anything."

"These shadow things have come to our world before…you've fought them before."

"I have…but I had help back then. There were many hunters and they did not merely hunt witches who'd gone dark but anything that was a threat to the innocent. I had a team of them with me when I confronted the one who created the shadows and banished him to the netherworld. Unfortunately when the black queen returned to this world it allowed him to come back as well. I will not be able to banish him alone this time. He is stronger than he was and I will need to connect to my people to stop him."

"Will that be enough?"

"I do not know for certain…all I can do is hope. I will do all I can to save this world and its people…and my people."

"We'll be right here beside you my little Queen."

"I know Kaulder."

"Your Queen? Since when does the great Kaulder bow to anyone?"

"Since she earned my respect and my loyalty. She is more than worthy of being followed by me."

"Not followed…I do not want you to be my follower Kaulder…you are my equal…my partner."

"I like the sound of that my little Queen."

"Oh gross…get a room will ya?"

"This happens to be my apartment kid."

"Ugh…whatever. So…any progress?"

"I have a great number of followers I can call upon now. All that remains is to locate the Shadow Master and confront him."

"How do we find him?"

"We don't…he will find me soon enough."

"How do you know that?"

"He is my brother…he will always find me."

"Your brother? Your own brother tried to kill you?"

"Yes. He is not the same as he once was…he was once a very kind and sweet man…always wanting to help others. Something happened when he left home to go and train with the king's army…he came back different…darker. He was obsessed with power…and then he discovered the forbidden art of Necromancy…the darkest magic there is…he mastered it unfortunately and when I confronted him about it he tried to restrain me at first…to lock me away so I wouldn't fight with him anymore. I think…at that point…some part of the old him still existed…still cared for me…but eventually that too died out and he was colder. The last time we fought he tried to kill me and I banished him. I dread to think what he will try to do this time…he will be very angry I imagine."

"I will do what I can to protect you my little Queen."

"I do not want you to face him Kaulder…he is too dangerous, too powerful even for you."

"You forget my little queen…I'm immortal."

"And you forget that he has power over life and death. He cannot truly kill me, even if he does I will be sent back. I am meant to remain in this world until the end of time to keep the balance between light and dark. Even if he cannot permanently kill me…he can do so temporarily and it will still hurt a great deal. I do not know if he could kill you permanently but I do not want to find out."

"I'll be fine my little Queen. Don't you worry your pretty little head over me. Let me do the worrying alright?"

"How about we both worry?"

"If that'll make you feel better…"

"Hate to break up the moment here but I think we have company…"

Kaulder and Ariande turned to the window where Chloe was pointing and saw a man floating outside. He had ink black hair and equally black eyes…no color, no white…just soulless black. Chloe shivered and stepped behind Kaulder while Dolan ducked behind the sofa. Ariande stood tall, her spine straight and stiff and her eyes screaming defiance.

"Hello little sister…"

The man's voice was low, deep, and dark…and it gave Chloe chills. Ariande seemed unaffected as she stood there with an impassive look upon her face, her body glowing brighter as his dark aura tried to reach out to her.

"Hello brother…come to try and kill me again?"

"Oh no, little sister…of course not, I should thank you for sending me to the netherworld. I'm much more powerful now and the shadows do whatever I ask. No, I am not planning to kill you. I am planning to corrupt you…to twist your shining white light until it becomes as dark as mine and we can rule this world together for all eternity."

"That will never happen and you know it. I will not fall to darkness. That is not the destiny I am meant to have."

"You will join me…willing or not."

The man vanished in a little whirlwind of black energy and Chloe felt like she could breathe normally again. She looked to her Queen and felt her breath catch in her throat as the other woman seemed to fold in on herself. Kaulder caught her before she could hit the floor and pulled her up into his arms, cradling her and letting her head rest in the crook of his neck as he spoke softly to her.

"Shh…it'll be alright my little Queen."

"How can it be? You saw what my loving older brother has become. He used to be my protector, the one I turned to when I needed help…now he's the one I need protection from."

"I won't let him hurt you…I won't let him destroy your light. You are the most pure, and beautiful thing I have ever known and I will not let him destroy that."

Chloe and Dolan silently left the room, moving into another part of the apartment to give the two some privacy. Chloe ended up in Dolan's arms as the fatherly figure soothed her fears as best he could. Chloe used a trick her Queen had taught her and connected her mind to those of her friends who answered almost instantly at the concern that tinged their connections.

[Is everything alright Chloe?]

[You seem distressed. What happened?}

[Is it our Queen? Is she alright?]

[All of you hush for a minute. The man she told us all about? The Shadow Master? He's her older brother…and he just showed up outside Kaulder's place…he…he threatened to try and corrupt her…she stayed strong until he vanished and then she collapsed. I worry for her…I fear for her safety. The aura coming off of him was so dark…I've never felt anything like it…it felt like death.]

[Well fuck me sideways…]

[No thanks…not my type.]

[Man…that's some twisted family drama shit right there…that sucks man…]

[We'll all do what we can Chloe.]

[Do you want any of us to come over?]

[No…not right now…Kaulder is trying to soothe her now and no one should be near that…trust me.]

Mental laughter sounded in her head and she smiled softly, earning a similar smile from Dolan as he realized what she was up to. She closed the connection on her end and curled up next to Dolan, her head in his lap as he read form a book that was thicker than her arm, and remained that way until the next morning.

Kaulder carried Ariande back into his room, their room now he supposed…she'd basically moved in with him anyway and he found he didn't really mind it. He laid her gently on the bed and curled in behind her, smiling when she rolled over into his chest and wrapped herself around him.

"Sleep my little Queen. I'll watch over you tonight, and every night…for as long as you'll let me. We'll banish him again I promise you that…and this time we'll make sure he can't come back again."

Her only response was to shift against him in her sleep with soft murmured words before falling silent again. He gave her a gentle, sweet kiss and followed her into the dream world.

A/N: Kind of a sappy ending for this chapter but I felt it would fit well. The next chapter will be the last one and it will have the final confrontation and what happens after that. Hopefully it turns out good. I hope you all enjoyed this little chapter as I lead up to the last one.