Out of the Darkness

Chapter 3

Meeting Again

Ash read the journal that night, in his home in Katoteros while his demon companion, Simi, watched QVC eating a large tub of barbeque popcorn. Simi had been a gift from his mother for this twenty first birthday. Simi could become a dragon tattoo on Ash's body, and for most part she went everywhere with him. Simi would eat anything she got her hands on, even humans if given the chance. Fortunately Ash didn't let his Demon run riot, nobody but a select few knew about her. Not even his Dark-Hunters did. Acheron thought of Simi as his daughter, and was very protective of her. Do anything to her and Ash would wipe the floor of you. They wouldn't even find enough of you to bury you with. He could deny Simi nothing, and Simi in turn took advantage of it. She loved sparkly objects and ate a lot of it. Hence why he was right now enduring QVC on his screen, if she saw anything she liked he'd demand his credit cards. She truly had her Akri which was Atlantean for 'Master' wrapped around her finger.

The next morning he spent playing mellow songs, like Enrique Eglesias making Urian and Alexion cringe in horror. They had never seen Ash like that before in all the time they'd known him. Alexion had been one of the first Dark-Hunter's ever created; he'd been called Ias then. Ash had gotten his soul from Artemis but it had been a mistake. Ias' wife had dropped his soul before Ias had been ready for it turning Ias into a shade. Ash guilty of what he'd done brought Ias back with his blood. Savitar hadn't explained more about that particular power. However Alexion was alive, which could be considered a win, better that than a shade. A Shade was what became of a Dark-Hunter should they die without their souls back in their bodies. They couldn't move on without their souls after all, they were stuck destined to roam between worlds, unable to eat yet starving, unable to drink so their thirst went unquenched for all eternity. A shade. There were quite a few Dark-Hunter's who'd been turned into shades, and Ash mourned for each one of them. Urian was an ex- Daimon, who'd been killed by his own father. Ash who was able to create and destroy life, put Urian back together just like humpty dumpty. Urian was now a spy in the Daimon ranks, keeping an eye on his father for Ash. Who he owed his very existence to.

Acheron really didn't know what to do, he'd been an asshole, and he knew that. He'd be an even bigger one if he didn't return the journal. The boy was British, yet he claimed he could read the journal…if he could why did he need him? Dare he take the chance that the boy did know? If he had found one journal there was probably more. He needed to keep the boy close just in case he did. Since he couldn't get a read on him it made things even more complicated.

Digging out his phone he decided to phone Julian, find out more about their conversation.

"Hey Ash," said Julian.

"Why did Harry Potter say he needed me?" asked Ash getting straight to the point.

"He wanted the journal authenticated," said Julian, "Did you return it?"

"Not yet, I'm going this afternoon," said Ash and he would he decided. He needed to keep an eye on the boy, he really hated being blind. "Can you find his address?" he could sense Julian's surprise on the other side of the phone. Ash heard clicking of a keyboard before Julian told him the address.

It was in New Orleans that was good.

"I don't know if it's recent," said Julian for all he knew the boy had long since moved.

"That's fine," said Ash, "I'll let you go."

Julian shivered at how spooky Ash was, just as he'd said that someone had knocked on his door. "Come in," called Julian as he closed his phone and put it on his desk.

Acheron teleported himself a block away from Harry Potter's house. The fact he couldn't hear or see anything from him was still bothering the Atlantean. Plus Harry seemed to be one of the exceptionally rare people immune to his aunt Epithymia's curse. He'd never once stared at him, not like everyone else did. He knew the boy preferred his own gender, he'd seen him glance at the men working in the Habitant for Humanity as he'd walked over. Glance being the key word, he didn't linger on them, and he'd not stared at him. That was a blessing on its own; if the boy hadn't been out to find Atlantis he'd have considered becoming friends with him. Unfortunately Atlantis could never be found. He supposed he should start with an apology and go from there.

The houses in this area were quite expensive, he'd seen better but it seemed the boy was well off or had parents that were. He hoped Harry didn't still live with his parents…he could do without the run around or gaping parents possibly hostile you could never tell. The green Porsche he'd seen Harry drive away in twice was here, that was a good sign. The garage door was open, and the music was blaring from inside it, he walked forward until he caught a sight of him.

Ash had to withhold a moan of appreciation; Harry was working on a motorbike, a pair of denim shorts on with his top stuck in the back pocket. His chest was bare and filled with sweat as he worked. The muscles rippling as he did so, his long dark hair was tied back, his red highlights glinting in the sun. A bottle of Budweiser sat not to far from him or the bike. The bike itself was a beauty, that's saying something coming from Ash, he had his own beauty. Custom built as well, he could tell Harry's was. He felt curious about the names down the side. Prongs, Padfoot and Moony and Lily with a Lily flower under each name very curious. The name he'd decided for his bike was 'The Marauder'. He really liked the guy, why oh why did he have to be interested in Atlantis?

"What the hell are you doing here?" asked Harry surprising Acheron. How the hell had the boy known he was there? Nobody usually sensed him like that, and he still had his back to him. Now he finally understood what it felt like for his Dark-Hunters when they didn't see him coming.

"I'm returning something I think belongs to you," said Ash his voice deep and commanding.

Harry turned to face Acheron in surprise and suspicion "Right and how did you get my address?"

"Everything is put into the system at some point or another, especially when you attended college and university." said Ash wryly. His green eyes were full and vibrant, he'd never seen green eyes that particular shade before.

"Not everything," smirked Harry his eyes twinkling as if he was hiding a secret, and of course he was. He was still bent over, tinkering with his bike despite the fact he was eyeing Ash.

"I'd also like to apologize for the way I was, I'm not normally like that," Ash said honestly, handing the book over, which had its wooden case on it protecting its precious cargo. Harry took it and placed it on a free bit of the table he had in his garage.

"Let me ask you something, if someone had humiliated you like that, would you actually accept that apology?" scoffed Harry. "Pass me that spanner while you're here." he added as an afterthought.

"Depends," said Ash handing over the required tool, getting a good new of Harry's tanned torso and a small view of Harry's backside. He'd never seen a human quite as good looking as him. Of course he was nothing on some of his Dark-Hunters, platonically speaking. For a human though he really was sexy as hell, and he'd seen his share of humans over the years, both as a boy and a god. He wasn't flawed in the slightest, even Adonis would have been proud to claim this boy as his.

"On what exactly?" asked Harry his voice extremely sarcastic.

On whether he'd been human or a god, as a human he'd have taken it as a god? Well he'd have killed him or left him alive to regret it. Nobody embarrassed him now and got away with it. He was a god, a final fate and he'd be damned if he lost any more self respect he'd managed to tie together for himself. "Whether it was genuine or not," said Ash, it's not as though he could tell the boy what he'd just thought.

Harry just snorted at Ash, throwing the spanner on the table, before he stood up. Another thing Ash liked about him, Harry was tall 6'4" Ash was 6'8" there wasn't much difference in height between them. Harry bent over again picking up his beer; he held it for a few seconds before threw it in the bin.

"Want a beer?" asked Harry, nobody could say he didn't have manners. Considering he'd raised himself, he'd done rather well that way. He was mostly polite and respectful; he didn't know why he was letting this man stay on his property. Why he hadn't just kicked him out. He'd never met anyone so enigmatic; he tried to destroy his presentation, and then was a dick head at their second meeting. Now he'd gone out of his way to bring back a journal and apologize…that wasn't the acts of a spoiled selfish dickhead. Hell he could have just sent it thorough the mail; at least he was man enough to apologize to his face. For that act alone he'd earned Harry's grudging respect.

"Yes please," said Ash surprised, dare he actually drink it? Who gave someone a beer to someone that had humiliated them…or tried to anyway. Harry had deflected it as if he'd been accused of worse all his life. The others he'd humiliated had turned into a stuttering mess. They'd not responded to his accusations…they really should have had a reply ready. Not everyone believed Atlantis was real…he was grateful for small favours in that regard.

Harry threw an unopened beer in Ash's direction, opening his own with the opener and then throwing it at the guy. Leaning against the table, he stared at him, as if he was a strange experiment that had gone haywire. "Why did you do it?" he asked seriously, thinking why the hell was he letting the guy stay? Why hadn't he bloody told him to leave? There was something about him…something he couldn't put a finger on.

"Look I was a shithead in Nashville. I admit it and for that I apologize completely. I don't normally embarrass people like that. Its just I know for a fact Atlantis is only a myth. You found some really interesting artefacts, but that's all they are. It's apparent to me that you are a brilliant and sincere scholar and I can appreciate the dedication. However you're wasting valuable time on a moot topic." said Ash.

"How do you know it's a myth?" asked Harry he sounded amused now, not insulted.

"How do you know its not?" Ash replied right back; damn he knew Harry was never going to give up. He was going to continue searching for Atlantis, damn his mother for not telling him about people poking around her ruins.

"We are at an impasse it seems," said Harry wryly, taking a long drink of beer before putting it down. Picking up a rag, he began to wipe his motorbike of fingerprints and dirty oily smudges.

"Nice ride," said Ash it was the only thing he could think to say.

"You got one?" asked Harry a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Custom built Hayabusa-Turbo," said Ash with pride.

Harry whistled in appreciation, "Nice," he said impressed.

Suddenly a phone began ringing, Harry didn't twitch he knew it wasn't his.

"Ash, go." said Acheron sounding irritated.

He listened on the phone, drinking the rest of his beer in a long gulp.

"Fine, I'll be there soon," said Ash, unless Harry was very much mistaken there was no way anyone had time to say a sentence. He was definitely intrigued by this man, and it wasn't all to do with his looks.

"I have to go," said Ash he sounded regretful Harry idly noted not sure what to make of that at all.

Harry nodded and said "Goodbye."

"Bye," said Ash and with that he left.

Harry watched him go, deep in thought, why did he keep bumping into the guy? Harry didn't believe in coincidences. He'd come for a reason, he had a funny feeling it hadn't been just to apologize and hand him the journal back. Whatever it was…he had a feeling he hadn't seen the last of the gorgeous Goth. Harry didn't know how to feel about that either.

Oh Harry had no idea.

I'm not sure if this chapter is believable...what do you guys think? the first hint of attraction for both our boys :D now will i go down the route with harry's people being arrested as well? or will i get straight to business of someone coming after harry for the journal? and how on earth will i get ash to stubbornly stay at Harry's to keep him safe? when harry can keep himself safe? and would you like to see harry have a few friends? like tory did? or mostly always himself? not letting anyone close? sort of like ash? ... unless i come up with something it might be a while before it can be updated again but fingers crossed something comes to me :D do you like how Harry's almost as tall as Ash :P hehe poor Ash he thinks harrys' a defencles human and harry...probably thinks the same thing about ash oh this is going to be fun! when do you want magic exposed? the motorbike chase? harry having no choice but to use it as his life was in danger? or will it be before to try and get ash out of his house? after getting irritated at the man for thinking he was defenceless? :P R&R PLEASE!