Out Of The Darkness

Chapter 24

Nick Makes An Appearance

Both men wandered into the bar which had significantly been vacated by people who were suddenly eager to get away. This caused Harry to snigger some more, he truly loved this world. To think he'd passed the bar before and never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined this. He wanted to see some of them in their true form; he imagined they would look magnificent. Who would have thought searching for Atlantis would have lead to this?

"Hey Harry, Ash, how are you?" asked Aimee as she grabbed beer bottles from behind the bar. She smiled at Harry obviously extremely happy to see him alive and well.

"Good, you?" asked Harry taking a seat at the main bar Acheron sat down beside him. Both of them were big and intimidating, the poor Muggles or Humans as that world calls them looked at the both with wariness.

"Same," said Aimee leaving the bar and handing the beers to the two humans sitting at the booth. She grinned wryly just remembering Maggie sitting with her friends, before she'd met Wren. She never in her wildest dreams expected Wren to find his mate. He had been so reclusive; it just went to show you couldn't deny the animal in you that wants to mate. Wren had given her hope that she would be able to stay with hers.

"Can I get two beers and Gumbo please?" said Harry, when he realized they weren't about to say anything.

Aimee looked startled for a few seconds before nodding her head, scribing it down on her notepad before disappearing into the kitchen. Aimee was just so used to Ash not eating anything she hadn't thought to offer Harry something. Not that Harry had to wait long; there was always Gumbo on offer, ready to eat. It was one of the more popular dishes so it was no surprise really.

"Been busy lately?" asked Harry as Aimee returned with their beer, Ash was content just to remain quiet and let Harry talk.

"Its about the same, we get a lot of customers in the warmer weather, you know how New Orleans is." said Aimee, they got good money, a decent income during those months.

"Actually I don't, I never really ventured very far," said Harry, he attended college and University, or shopping but other than that he was in his house. He had not tried to fit in; he had been too hurt to do it. He had never made a single friend, despite the attempts of others trying. "I don't suppose us being here is helping either." grinned Harry wryly, still amused, I made Ash roll his eyes at his lover. To him it was annoying and very…old it had happened so often over the years. He spent quiet a bit of time in Sanctuary or nearby.

Aimee laughed in amusement, Harry really was sweet, and she could see why Ash had been drawn in.

"Speaking off, just how do Daimons afford places to stay? To eat?" asked Harry out of the blue. I mean they hunted humans at night, killed them - how did they afford to live.

"Magic," said Acheron simply.

"You can create money with magic?" asked Harry doubtfully.

"No, they can't." said Acheron, "But they can create anything else they need and they do not need to feed."

"They live in undergrounds and realms, they don't have homes." said Aimee. She was surprised by Harry's questions, judging by Acheron he had obviously been unprepared for Harry's questions too.

Harry wanted to curse himself, of course they did, that was one thing he didn't like about Ash's mom. She allowed Daimons in her realm; they were hunting on innocent people. No sorry most of them were hurting innocent people, Ash told him about some Daimons only feasting on evil humans. Harry knew though that the world wasn't black and white, the humans were low down on the food chain whether they liked it or not. They thought they were at the top, how absurd really. It wasn't just Daimons or Demons after them, there was gods, vampires, werewolves and wizards. He couldn't save them all; it was a hard notion for Harry. He had sacrificed to save he world from Voldemort. He had been stupid enough to think that Voldemort was the only problem. To think if sometime during that Apollymi had gotten free the world would have ended regardless.

"Harry?" asked Acheron staring at Harry in concern he had been quiet for five minutes.

"Yes?" asked Harry dragged out of his thoughts staring at his lover in surprise.

"Are you okay?" he asked frowning hoping Harry wasn't getting depressed on him again.

"I'm fine, just thinking." said Harry, "Thanks Aimee." as a bowl of Gumbo was placed in front of him. He couldn't have dug in quicker; to be honest he had expected not to feel hungry as Ash never ate. How wrong he was, he was very peckish, he guessed it must be voluntary. He wouldn't starve to death if he didn't eat.

"Since you know what is basically a place, a lot of buildings the Fidelus Charm might work on it. Stop people from ever being able to get remotely close to it. Which would mean nobody would die, I just don't know if it would work." said Harry as he continued his meal, a small frown marring his forehead as he thought about it. "Can't hurt to try." he mused to himself. Hoping Acheron would pick up that he was talking about Atlantis.

"Let's do it then," said Acheron, he wanted to see Harry use more magic, he was still amazed by how his magic differed from his kind of magic. Harry had both kinds of magic, and he'd yet to use it other than to blast out of the temple. He had been so shocked feeling it, the knowledge that Harry was almost as powerful as him was a great comfort. He would always be able to protect himself, regardless of that Ash wasn't about to let Harry out of his sight. If it helped Harry's peace of mind then he would have done it himself if he'd been capable. He had been around so long, seen so much death that he was used to it. He knew he couldn't save everyone; Harry perhaps hadn't come to terms with that yet.

"Alright," agreed Harry, finishing his Gumbo before pushing it away, giving Aimee the money for his bill and a tip. "Next time I'm here, I want to see you in your true form." he told her surprising her greatly.

"If you are lucky," said Aimee as they both headed for the door.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," teased Harry as they both disappeared out into the night.

"Do you think he…?" asked Dev appearing at Aimee's side.

"Nothing would surprise me," chuckled Aimee, Harry had done nothing but surprise them since Acheron had brought him to Carson. He had not been the harmless human they had all thought he was.

Just then the bears and other were-hunters all heard Nick outside, starting his crap again. Nick had always been annoying as a human/squire but now…he was just down right intolerable.

"You," scowled Nick staring at Acheron as if he was dirt underneath his shoes. It was obvious the young Dark-Hunter hadn't planned on bumping into them. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes upwards. He had things he wanted to do, listening to Nick wasn't one of them. He truly couldn't tolerate the guy, Dark-Hunter or not. He wondered if he should just give the bloody Dark-Hunter his soul back. He had been able to take Artemis' surely he could somehow blast the idiot's soul back inside him? It was worth a shot and he couldn't think of a better person to try it on. He certainly wouldn't miss the idiot if it all went wrong. Unfortunately Acheron had a soft spot for Nick, why Harry didn't know. Harry didn't judge him though; well he did, because he couldn't understand why Ash liked him.

"Don't start Nick," said Acheron glaring at Nick, the glare would have melted steel even with his sun glasses on.

"I haven't even begun," said Nick his lip curled in repugnance.

Really Snape would have been proud of that sneer mused Harry wryly. "Listen here, and listen good. Me and Ash have had worse childhoods than you can fucking possibly imagine you stupid git, so please do us the favour and leave the pity party to others." snapped Harry.

Harry felt rather than saw the fist coming his way, and with grace befitting the seeker he had once been he dodged it. Rolling over he jumped up like a cat waiting on Nick's next move. Harry put his hand up stopping Ash from interfering, he realized Nick needed told otherwise there would be no saving him.

"You don't know what the hell I've been through so shut your fucking mouth," snapped the Cajun furiously. Once again taking a swipe at Harry, he was genuinely surprised Ash hadn't done anything to stop it.

Ash had to stop himself killing Nick where he stood, he was very possessive of Harry despite the fact he could protect himself. So he forced himself to relax, but he watched everything with an eagle eye ready to interfere if it got too heated. A small part of him glowed with the knowledge Harry really loved him. Each day Harry continued to surprise him, defending him above and beyond. Acheron hated confrontations; he would avoid them if he could. Especially Nick, he hated what had become of them, they'd been good friends. Or at least as good as they could be judging by the fact he never revealed anything about his life.

"I do know instead of dealing with it your pawning the blame on everyone else rather than where it lies." said Harry dodging the fists barely able to stop his magic from reacting.

"I know where it lies and one day ill find out how to kill him." said Nick viciously.

Harry laughed "Yes, go ahead and try it will result in your death." stated Harry truthfully. Nobody would harm Ash and get away with it, "What's really bothering you Nick? That Ash couldn't save everyone? It's a hard lesson to learn isn't it?"

"Fuck you, you don't know what its like when I happens to you, you will!" snapped Nick, finally reaching Harry and punching him in the stomach, Harry retaliated in turn by throwing a punch of his own, landing Nick on he floor, blood gushing out of his nose.

Ash bit his own tongue, as he watched the scene in front of him, it had gone too far now. He was ready to fry Nick's ass once and for all, and show him just how powerful he was. The humans were no trouble he could just make everyone forget. It's why no one realized how powerful he was, when he used god powers he changed memories so they didn't know.

"You mean loosing my parents?" asked Harry freezing Nick on the spot, that punch was free the next one would cost him his life. He'd been bullied enough in his life to allow anyone to do it to him again. He was not a punching bag for anyone. Grabbing the front of Nick's shirt he began talking, his frustration he'd felt for the past week coming to the forefront. "Newsflash Nick Gautier, I already lost them. I grew up not even knowing their names or how they died…or even that they were murdered. You had your mother; it was more than I ever did. You are a lucky son of a bitch and you can't even see that. People die Nick, after being a squire all these years you should know that. Yes it's a shame that she died, it's a shame you didn't get there in time…but I wonder what she thinks of you now…you joined the people responsible for her death you've sunk lower than anyone I've ever known you actually disgust me. Considering I've met my share of scumbags believe me I know what I'm talking about. Look in the fucking mirror and you'll see what you've become." the magic disappeared and Harry removed his hand from Nick's shirt in disgust, as if he couldn't bring himself to touch him.

"I mean it, leave Ash alone, he might seem all powerful and all knowing, but even he cannot be everywhere at once. Another thing he cannot see anything regarding his own future all Dark-Hunters will tell you there's limits to their power. Considering he loved your mother he couldn't see her…do you get what that means?" Harry's voice was full of passion as he spoke defending Ash as he'd done since finding out the truth about him.

Nick seemed devastated, he just lay there unable to move, unable to speak just staring dumbly up ahead. Nobody had spoken to him like that; they'd just demanded and pitied him. For the life of him, he just couldn't summon up a witty or sarcastic come back. Truth be told he felt sick, Harry was right…he was right. It echoed around his mind un-relentlessly.

Ash winced; Harry had put it very bluntly, only he really knew just how much Nick missed his mother. Yet Harry did have a good point, one he hadn't thought about before. Nick had joined the people who'd killed his mother, but he also knew Nick's mother wouldn't care either way, she'd have forgiven him. It's just what mothers did; they forgave their children for whatever they do. He was grateful when Harry backed off; he was beginning to feel very sorry for Nick.

Harry took pity on the man; backing away he shook his head, before lacing his hands with Ash's. Harry nodded his head to Dev and one of his brothers, thanking them for not interfering as they disappeared to Greece. It was time to get rid of Atlantis once and for all; no more harm would befall innocent people. Harry would make sure of it.

Not sure about this chapter at all, i really really don't what do you guys think? will i just put an epilouge up? or would you like to see harry and savitar fight and train? i mean truly specially with how this chaper is! i dont know why but it just seems lacking...in all areas any ideas what it could be? to make it better? R&R PLEASE GUYS