Out Of The Darkness

Chapter 7

Talking To His Mother

'Be careful what you say even in passing. Your word is law' the words his mother had spoken to him in warning rang through his ears. This situation really had gotten out of control. If Harry could read the diary, and he ended up with the second one…it could be a disaster. The prophecy said he'd bring it about, (bring about the end of the world) not Harry, but by getting involved he might have set it in motion. He felt ill, he wished he knew whether Harry really did or not know the language. Thinking of his mother, who he couldn't see, but he could speak to her mentally.

"Matera?" Ash asked calling out to his mother with his mind.

"Apostolos?" she said quickly, Ash knew she wasn't hiding from him in fear of making him angry at her.

"What is going on with the discovery of Atlantis?" Ash asked hr.

"Nothing. Stupid humans. Even when I tell them how to open the seal to my prison, they can't follow the simplest of directions. Where's an Atlantean when I need one?" Apollymi wistfully.

"Dead courtesy of you, Mum." said Ash dryly.

"Oh don't remind me…Did you need something, m'gios? You've been very quiet lately." asked Apollymi.

"I've been busy and I have a problem. Someone's found one of Ryssa's diaries. Do you know where it is?" he asked his mother pleadingly.

"Yes," she replied very hesitantly.

"And?" Ash asked.

Apollymi didn't answer.

"Matera?" asked Ash.

"Yes?" she replied her voice sharp with impatience.

"Don't play this game with me. I need to know where it is. Now." said Acheron.

"I'm your mother, don't you dare take that tone with me." said Apollymi.

"Please, Matera, where's the journal?" asked Ash his voice softened considerably.

"I can't tell you," she finally said.

"Dammit to hell, Matera, answer me!" said Ash angrily.

"You do know how to knock don't you?" asked Harry opening the door staring at Ash as if he'd lost his mind. "There's really no point in shouting in a language I don't understand." his green eyes were regarding Acheron in amusement.

Ash blinked, heat scalding his cheeks he must have been speaking out loud. He still hadn't gotten any answers from his mother, damn it this so wasn't his day. He scowled when he noticed the amusement on Harry's face - he didn't like being embarrassed he'd had enough of it to last his entire elongated life.

"You coming in?" Harry asked the door wide open for him to enter.

"Thank you," said Acheron gracefully entering despite his tallness, then again Harry was just as tall as Ash. Both men did walk or rather stalked with a graceful air around them.

"You know I've not forgotten what your eyes look like since the last time you saw me," said Harry rolling his eyes in exasperation. He didn't this guy, he seemed to damn confident and graceful, yet he cared what people thought about his eyes? Then again Harry knew better than to judge anyone. He knew the pain and aguish a simple smile could hide. He'd done it himself more times than he could remember. He'd never judged a book by its cover, or a person by their looks. He wasn't about to start now.

"Do you know if your team got another journal?" asked Acheron cautiously; he had just gotten out of Harry's suspicious book he didn't fancy being put back. Or worse still being told to leave, he had to stay here keep him safe and be the first one to get their hands on the bloody damn journal.

"I have no idea," said Harry simply.

"Would you be able to find out?" asked Ash.

"No, all of them are out of calling range." replied Harry without being forthcoming on why they were out of 'calling range'. No Muggle phone or electronics worked in magical schools. It was because of all the wards they had surrounding the place to stop Muggles or anyone unsavoury finding it.

"Either way everything was taken, if you want an answer contact the authorities." said Harry his voice bitter. There was nothing he could do about it, they couldn't find Troy. Plus everyone had been Obliviated; to bring it up would bring the memories back. Finding Atlantis wasn't as much a priority of keeping his team safe. To keeping magic guarded at all costs. Well that was a lie, he had kept the dagger and the comb, and it had been so incredibly well preserved and had hints of magic on it, as if someone magical had charmed it along time ago. "Okay," said Ash, shifting his bag to his other shoulder.

"I'm going to head to my place to grab some clothes, here's my number if you so much a see a shadow call me, I only live a few blocks away." said Acheron.

Harry took the phone number his face bursting with amusement, it was as if he was trying to stop himself laughing or smiling. Harry successfully stopped his amusement, looks like he had a protector, poor guy had no idea Harry could protect himself. Too bad he couldn't tell him that, Muggles didn't react well to it. "Okay," said Harry biting the inside of his lip, he really should be telling the guy to leave and never come back. Everyone else around him was being hurt right now; he knew he'd blame himself if anything happened to this guy. Unfortunately Harry was too weak, too lonely to be able to say the words. Just like he had been when Hermione and Ron had always wanted help him. At least the others were safe at the Academy with magic surrounding them.

As soon as Ash was far enough away he teleported himself to Greece. He appeared outside the door of Gus Tsigas's. Gus' father had been a Squire, one of the human servants who helped Dark-Hunters. As an adult, Gus had gone to work for the Greek Government, thus helping not only Ash, but other Greek Dark-Hunters when they needed it. He knocked lightly on the door as so not to scare Gus's wife, Olympia who had no idea about the paranormal world her husband was involved in. not to mention the fact it was two o'clock in the morning here.

Gus opened the door scowling "This better be important Acheron." he said sully.

. "Would I wake you for any other reason?" Ash asked Gus.

"Yes," grumbled Gus. Ash laughed softly at his surliness they both knew he would never bother Gus unless it was important.

"The government confiscated artefacts from a group of Archaeologists was there a journal amongst it?" asked Acheron.

"No, nothing like that," said Gus shaking his head, he knew because he'd been there and saw everything they'd confiscated. "I thought you were omnipotent shouldn't you know this?" he teased.

"I come with restrictions and unfortunately this is one of them." stated Acheron.

"There was no journal, I hope it helps." said Guy shaking his head.

"It does, thank you." said Acheron, as he walked away, before he did he turned back and said "It's a boy by the way." Gus' wife was pregnant.

Gus grinned proudly, "Thanks for letting me know."

"No problem." said Acheron before he flashed himself from Gus' house to his own home in New Orleans.

"Matera?" asked Acheron.

"Are you going to yell at me again Apostolos?" asked Apollymi.

"I'm sorry," said Acheron as guilt hit him, he regretted being short with her. In all his life his mother and Simi had been the only ones who'd really loved him. Because of that, he hated loosing patience with them. "I didn't mean to take my anger out on you, but will you please answer me one question?"

"Someone else has the book," she told him. Not the government, not Harry and not his friends.

"Who?" asked Acheron.

An image of his mother appeared before him. Her swirling silver eyes held sadness and regret. "I would give my life for you and you know that. But I can't answer that question. Its existence is tied too tightly to your own. You are a father yourself. You know that you can't always give your children what they want. I'm sorry Apostolos."

Acheron so badly wanted to take her hand in his, to feel her touch, just once in his life. "I understand. I don't like it, but I understand." he said.

Apollymi took a deep breath before she spoke again, "I know what Savitar told you. But he was wrong about one of those outcomes. I won't let anyone kill you. Not again. If anyone comes near you, I will schism the realms and unleash my army for your protection. I am the goddess of destruction and I don't care what happens to this world of man. You are the only thing I love, and I will kill whatever and whoever I have to to save your life."

"I love you, Matera." said Acheron her love and devotion meant everything to him. He so wanted to be able to see her, just once but he couldn't. If he took one step into her realm he'd free her.

"Then release me." said Apollymi.

He shook his head at the one request he could never fulfil. And it broke his heart. "You will destroy the world if I do."

"In anger, I swore to kill Artemis and Apollo for what they did to you should I ever be free of Kalosis again. We both know that if I fail to keep my word, I would perish. So you're right I would have no choice except to end the world on my release." she admitted sadly.

"And I have no choice except to keep you there." said Acheron.

"I'll never understand how you can bring me so much pride and pain at the same time. I don't agree with your loyalty to a race that betrayed you…no, they did worse than that - they tortured and abused you in a way that deserves no compassion or leniency. But I respect your convictions even when they violently collide with my own. No mother could be prouder of her son, Apostolos. Go find your book and know that I'm here to help you in any way I can." she told her son.

Acheron held up his hand so she could place hers against his. It was the closest they could come to touching. Part of him wanted to release her at any cost. Having suffered the way he had, he couldn't live knowing he'd hurt someone else like that. At least not unless they deserved it. "Go with my love, Apostolos, do us both proud." she said.

Acheron faded back to New Orleans; he stood on the balcony of his apartment at 622 Pirates Alley that overlooked the courtyard of the St. Louis Cathedral. It was dark, but he could hear music drifting from the Old Absinthe House below, as well as laughter and chattering from people on the street. He thought about going back in time to get the journal before this happened. Unfortunately he didn't know how it would disrupt the present. What changes it could incur. It could all work out well. Or the earth could end. Had he already sown his own destruction? He'd given Harry back the journal and there was another one out there somewhere.

"Protect the boy, Apostolos, keep him safe…" said Apollymi but there was an odd note in her voice that told him he might not need much protecting.

"What are you saying Matera?" asked Acheron curiously.

"I shouldn't tell you this, but the survival of the world hinges on keeping him safe." said Apollymi.

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked surprised. Something was going on; his mother didn't normally do that.

"Because I love you. Now go." said Apollymi.

Ash hesitated but at the end of the day he knew the truth. His mother wouldn't have told him unless it was truly important. Fine he'd protect Harry, and he would protect himself.

"What are you doing Apollymi?" asked Savitar furiously.

"Get out you bastard," snarled Apollymi angrily.

"You shouldn't have told him that," said Savitar who wouldn't move.

"Who are you to lecture me on what should and shouldn't be done?" said Apollymi defiantly.

"You are tampering with fate." said Savitar his eyes flashing from lavender to silver and then turned dark vibrant blue.

"I am protecting my son. If that's a crime then punish me. Oh wait; I'm already being punished for protecting him. So be it." said Apollymi snarling angrily at the man.

"This isn't a game," said Savitar his eyes narrowing in on Apollymi's.

"No, it isn't. I don't play those. I never have." said Apollymi walking past him, but before she could Savitar grabbed her arm.

"I didn't have to contain the powers of the gods you destroyed on Atlantis the way I did when you went wild on them. But for me, the other Chthonians would have torn you apart for that." he hissed.

"So what? You want me to thank you?" she snatched her arm free of his grip. "The only thanks I owe you is for helping Apostolos learn his powers. For that, I will always be grateful to you. But there's as far as my gratitude goes. If you really think I fear you or those other mortal gods you run with think again. In this universe, only the primal source out powers me. There is nothing I fear."

Savitar's face turned cold, brutal. "Not true. You fear the loss of your son and so long as you fear that, you're as controllable as the rest of us."

"Don't push me Savitar," snarled Apollymi the Chthonian had obviously hit a very raw nerve.

"And don't push me. You may be a goddess of birth, but I'm a lot more than just a chthonian and you know that. I survived a hell you can't even imagine and its fires forged a core of steel within me. You want a battle, pick your sword. But remember the number of gods before you who sought to kill me and failed." snarled Savitar.

"In turn, you'd do well to remember that I destroyed not only my entire pantheon, but my very family to protect my child. Don't get in my way, or we will find out once and for all which of us wields the most powerful sword." said Apollymi. Giving as good as she received from Savitar.

Savitar wanted to choke her, but she'd always been this way. Stubborn to the core of her being, "Fine, but consider what happened the last time you tried to protect him. The suffering you're tampering caused Apostolos, is that really what you want?"

Apollymi's eyes teared up and Savitar felt bad for throwing it in her face, for causing her that pain, but she had to realize she couldn't tamper with Acheron's fate. "Damn you." she said.

"I was damned long before this." he scoffed "Let fate unfold as it should, Apollymi. I beg you to stay out of this. For all our sakes."

Her crystal tears glimmered like diamonds on her dark blonde lashes. "Keep him alive for me, Savitar. Otherwise you know what will happen."

Savitar inclined his head. "I will do what I can but in the end we both know only Apostolos can make the fate we want for him."

Because if Acheron screwed this up, he wouldn't alone in his suffering.

The entire world would be destroyed.

Now how many of you want me to have it so Apollymi and Acheron see each other? dont tell me that this chapter didnt get to you - i know it did me :) and ash's book too poor guy! i think when i read ash's book it was the first time i saw Savitar so nasty to anyone other than the brief sentences here and there like the panther race he destroyed becuase one had annoyed him...ouch! i have to wonder what made Savitar the way he was and id love to see him get his own happily ever after lol :D sooo acheron is here to stay happy with that :P will i have ash sense harry's magic when he goes back? and sense it during the motorbike race? enough to be curious about it? but the question is would ash actually ask? can you actually see him asking? hm...and will harry have the ability to heal quicker than even ash? ash can heal but it takes time! no i'm not trying to make harry better than ash becuase lets face it - ash is awesome and we dont know the full extent of his powers even now because he keeps it hidden :P but it would be nice that harry can do a few things better than ash. R&R

another question - if ash can see the shades why hasnt there been any indication? i've never ever actually in the books been told he can see the shades...but he had to he brought IAS back his first dark hunter somehow if he can see them why doesnt he help them? hm soo curious i was thinking about ash not being able to see the shades and harry being able to :P also thinking of a few other things will harry be able to help the shades move on? where do they go in greek mytholody? elysan fields? or something (ill need to look it up) but you get my meaning will harry help them for everything they'd done in servive of mankind help them move on and find peace? not wander alone lost to the world? R&R PLEASE!