Out Of The Darkness

Chapter 38

"You know, there's not a single torture device used to torture someone, out there that could quench my desire for your blood." Harry knelt down beside Artemis, on the other side of the circle. "Not even the most inventive of Zeus' punishments for those who were unfortunate to piss him off. It speaks volumes really, since I've never been one for torture."

Artemis blanched, so far, the focus had been on Apollo. Which made sense, since it was Apollo who actually killed her son, and Stryker was…particularly vindictive. Like seriously, he might prefer 'just killing' as he put it…but damn, he'd clearly picked up a lot from his, what did he call her? Zephyra whoever she may be.

"However, wizards and witches could be just as vindictive too." Harry commented casually, his hand in position as if he was actually holding a wand. It was second nature this instinct, although his weapon training was going rather well too, Savitar definitely wasn't hesitating to pull no punches. "Of course, we don't tend to draw it out, not like gods, our bodies aren't able to repair when our innards are ripped from our bodies. They do tend to die horrible excruciating deaths though."

"You're nothing but a filthy rotten coward," Artemis spat out, her green eyes glaring malevolently at Harry, as if imagining a million different ways to kill and torture him herself.

"Really?" Harry asked amused, "I'm the coward? If you say so." Ruefully shaking his head, honestly, it was amusing to hear someone so cowardly calling him one. "It's odd that a goddess could be so weak, given their powers, their reputation…"

"Crucio!"

Stryker's head jerked around to Harry, hearing the Latin for torture. His usually cold, closed off features became filled with curiosity. Now why would he need to use words to get his magic to work? Then he noticed that it was a different kind of magic that was encompassing him.

It also seemed to cause Artemis unending and relentless pain, as Harry just knelt there watching it, with a placid look upon his face.

"You know, this spell was left on a witch for five minutes, over and over again, for…what…twenty minutes? It left them catatonic, drooling messes, they didn't even deserve a smidgen of what happened to them…you however, deserve every single second and then more." Harry commented icily, "Only problem with that is that you wouldn't know who, when or why, now that is entirely unacceptable. I want you to know who's killing you when you eventually cross over."

"And that doesn't need to be the end, you master all domains, which includes the underworld. You and Acheron will be able to crossover whenever you please. Just because your earthly suffering will be over…your eternal ones will begin and it's so much more fun." Death commented, the voice becoming more feminine.

Harry gaped, "Wait, you're like a metamorphmagus?" staring at the 'female' version of death. "Which one is this?" entirely enraptured by Death and paying no attention to the ex-goddess-of the hunt.

"I was called Mors in this body, Roman mythos," Death said, smugly pleased that he had startled the mostly unflappable young man. "And the preferred term is shape-shifter, we aren't human, we don't care for the human terms, I am neither a he or a she, I just am." Humans had this tendency to fit everything into neat little boxes, so that they were 'understood'.

Almost everyone that met Death were afraid, ran from it as if death was the true evil in the world. Most people thought they could outrun, outwit, stop death but it just wasn't possible, even gods themselves could never run from him when it was their time.

Apollo and Artemis had everyone fooled for so long. Had everyone believing that they were truly immortal, that if they died, then this particular world would be lost to them. That gods and humans alike would perish. Go figure it would be his chosen that would reveal their duplicity to the world.

"Like Loki," Harry murmured, he was the only other god he could think of the top of his head that actually changed gender frequently in mythology.

"If we must use that example, then yes," Mors said haughtily, he was rather put out, after all Loki wasn't exactly a major god in any religion. Whereas he was one of the most major deities, the top three as a matter of fact. It's like comparing the Jester to the king, quite ludicrous really.

"Did you hear that?" Harry cooed at Artemis, as she lay there twitching, the after effects of the Cruciatus curse excruciatingly evident. "I'll be able to visit you even after you leave the mortal coil."

Acheron stood behind him, ever watchful and protective. It was a surprise to see he could literally enter Hades domain. Last time he'd been there…no, he didn't want to think about it. He'd been happy enough really; his life hadn't been a good one and frankly he'd been so very tired. "If you are the god of death, who is Hades?" Acheron questioned; his tone respectful but deeply curious.

"Hades is the god of the dead, he is not death, also the king of the underworld." Mors declared, the vision of 'Mors' the female figure melting to give way to a distinguished gentlemen with black hair tied up, with his usual scythe back in hand, dressed fully in black get up. Relaxing, the god felt far more comfortable in this guise. "He would get incredibly annoying if I didn't add that part. Believe me, I wouldn't be able to go down for at least a decade."

Harry sniggered, "I guess it's not true that he's the more laid back of gods?"

"He is the best of them. You'll want to visit one day; I know his number one who would very much like to see you." Death examined his nails as he listened to the music that was screaming coming from Apollo and Artemis.

Harry glanced up at Death, perplexed by the statement, "Who's his number one?"

Death smiled fondly, he himself crouching down towards Harry, and begun to recite the ending of a very familiar tale, "It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life…"

Harry shivered, the words causing goosebumps to appear upon his skin.

"Ignotus Peverell," Harry whispered in awe, his great-great many times, removed grandfather. Family, he could actually see family, something he was so desperate for.

"He'll be pleased to know his family line continues," Death answered, even if it was under a different name, or should he say two different names?

"You befriended a human?" Stryker asked, staring impassively at the figure. He wasn't stupid enough to even attempt to piss of the deity. Especially not Death, he didn't have a death wish after all.

"That human as you call him, evaded me for over three hundred years after his time." Death stated, entirely too amused.

"Humans don't live that long," Stryker found himself genuinely befuddled for the first time in his life. Only one percent lived to be one hundred, compared to him and his kind they were blips on the radar, well most of their kind. Some chose to die rather than have this existence. More than he liked to think about, its why he was delighting in causing his father such agony. He deserved it for each and every young boy and girl who had chosen to kill themselves suffer the agony of dying or worse becoming a Daimon. Some of them had been too pure, too kind-hearted to do what needed to be done. He didn't understand it himself; he'd seen it but it baffled him to this day.

"The children of Hecate, the children of magic, live elongated lives." Death explained, he was rather fond of Stryker and his significant other. They were deliciously evil, but regretfully predictable.

Stryker's eyes widened, magic, children of magic. His gaze slid over to Acheron's partner, and he realized just how different Harry was. Magic on top of god magic? From more than one deity? It was a terrifying prospect considering he didn't know what Hecate's magic entailed, but nobody got on the goddess Hecate's bad side, not even Zeus, he'd done it a few times and paid very heavily indeed. Those times Zeus was transformed into an animal was Hecate's doing.

Green eyes met Stryker's, his face impassive, but his eyes? They gleamed with a merciless that told Stryker that what Artemis and Apollo were gone through would pale in comparison to what Harry would put him through if he pushed him.

"Crucio!"

Stryker's gaze zeroed in on Artemis, her flailing, and her screaming in agony, as she scratched at her face in a futile effort to stop the pain.

"Would you like to feel what she's going through?" Harry asked slyly.

"Harry," Apollymi scolded him, "Don't tease Stryker."

Stryker felt his heart (that he would deny existed) twist like someone was inserting daggers and twisting them. Apollymi was the closest to a mother he ever knew. His family…by Zeus don't get him started on them. Apollo, his father, had forced him to marry someone 'preferable' and then cursed him into this existence when his mistress and son died. He'd been welcomed in Kalosis with Apollymi, who ensured that sunlight was gone, allowing them to roam safely and freely within.

Harry sighed, "Fine," he muttered dramatically as if she'd taken away all his fun. Truth was, he could see the tentative truce or perhaps something more solidifying in this joint venture they had going on.

He could only hope that it would hold.

"As fun as it would be to see you a drooling mess unable to do anything other than the basic of commands…" Harry griped, sighing one more even more dramatically, "It wouldn't be any fun, I say again."

"You're repeating yourself," Acheron commented dryly, staring down at Harry, arching a blonde brow. He only ever did that when he was tired, and Harry much like him, didn't need a lot of sleep. Although, Harry seemed to need a few more hours a night.

"Yeah," Harry wrinkled his nose, "How long have we been here?" he knew it was longer than it should be. The sun hadn't moved position in too long a time. The sun should have gone down and perhaps even back up. They were suspended in a bubble and time itself had ceased.

"It's going on forty-nine hours," Acheron commented, "Not including the hours before the shield was erected."

Harry swallowed thickly, "Wait, seriously? It's been that long?" no wonder he was exhausted, and had they really been torturing Apollo that long? It didn't feel like that length of time at all. "Does time move differently in the bubble?" or was it affecting him different from everyone else? Seriously? Forty-nine hours? Although, it did explain why he felt tired.

"It has," Acheron murmured, "We could leave…" unfortunately, Acheron didn't even get a chance to finish his statement.

"Not a chance," Harry declared almost as soon as 'leave' left Acheron's lips. He was honestly surprised Acheron actually suggested it. Once this was all done and Apollo and Artemis were gone…he knew Acheron and Apollymi were going to need to spend time together. "Although, you really should let Simi out, I do think she'd bring up a few newer ways to get revenge that we won't think of."

Acheron closed his eyes; he did not wish to bring Simi into this. She would find it much too gleeful; he was sure.

"I'll even barbeque the 'heifer goddess' for her, she can smother it in her sauce." Harry promised.

Artemis wasn't the only one to blanch at the mere mention of cannibalism. Then again, it wasn't, was it? "It's not like it's cannibalism, is it? They're two different species…the only problem I have is how she has regular bowel movements with what she eats." Rubber and all that?

Acheron choked on his own laughter, the urge to facepalm strong but he somehow resisted.

"Come on then," Harry urged, standing up, a mischievous twinkle coming to his eye, "Simi, off!" he'd heard Acheron doing it, although Acheron had said he didn't actually need to vocalise it. Thinking of it was enough to have his daughter demon emerging from the 'Simi tattoo' Harry fondly called it.

Simi emerged.

Harry's brows rose in surprise, glancing up at Acheron rather impressed. Like seriously, he couldn't believe that had worked.

"Oooh, is it barbeque time for the Simi?" turning to Acheron with such a look of utter devotion and hopefulness that Acheron was naught but putty in her hands. One of the most powerful beings in all the universe caved pathetically easy to the demon he had raised as his daughter.

You could positively feel the envy and jealousy pouring from Artemis. Her green eyes just stared at it; Artemis hated it. Which was what Artemis called Simi, it, loathing the closeness Acheron shared with the demon. The love he held for her might be a more accurate term. "Get rid of it," she couldn't help but demand, she couldn't bear anything else seeing her utter humiliation. Especially not that, the thing she couldn't kill, even if she was capable.

Simi hissed, her body shifting into her demon form, her red and white marbled skin, identical to her mother's own form. "The Simi can eat?" eyeing Artemis as if she was a vault filled with jewels and gems. Her red horns were positively glowing so bright that it was more difficult to look at them than the sun itself.

Acheron opened his mouth to instinctively say no to Simi. He never let her eat humans. In fact, in Simi's opinion, he constantly told her no. Which was actually false, he rarely denied Simi anything she desired.

Before he could actually vocalise anything, Artemis let out a screech by the likes he hadn't heard since Harry had got the better of her that day. It felt like a lifetime ago, when he'd fed on Harry that first time. In fact, she was almost making his ears bleed, so it was worse.

It took a few moments for Acheron to comprehend what he was seeing. Artemis was writhing on the sand in agony, clutching her thigh. A thigh that wasn't attached to her lower leg. The wound had been cauterised, amateurishly he deduced, and the smell was making him feel rather sick. Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone in a million years.

He turned away when Simi began to devour the limb with great delight with her hot sauce. He pinched the bridge of his nose, so done with everything that was happening. He just wanted peace, was that too much to ask? He opened his eyes and found himself smiling fondly. He had his mother, a partner that would do anything for him…two daughters and a son-in-law, yes, life was good, even if this little hiccup was going far longer than he wished. He had never been one for watching people suffering, perhaps except when he lost his temper.

"What are her teeth made from that she can gnaw on bone like it's a biscuit?" Harry asked in fascination, if he attempted that, as a human, he'd likely lose all his teeth.

Stryker snorted, amused by the question, the demon Simi, had ceased her 'demon' shape and turned back into a more human form. Which was almost identical to Acheron, if he had a twin, you'd think she was it. Tall, slender, black hair and even her eyes matched Acheron's.

Not including the blood and what he was sure was sauce as well all over her face.

Simi devoured that leg alarmingly quickly.

Harry glanced at his two old friends, "Yeah, I'm glad they're not awake to see this." He muttered to himself, just how much had he changed that this didn't even cause him to bat an eyelash? Then again, having read all he did about the gods and the punishments they so loved dispensing.

The thought of Neville becoming even more disenchanted with the world. The war had changed him, not too much though, Neville had remained Neville despite all he'd had to do. He was such a soft spoken optimistic young man when they last spoke. Merlin, he hoped that…somehow, that remained. Considering who he'd be dealing with on a regular basis, Harry doubted it would happen.

Turning his attention to Apollo, "It's time," he stated, and before their eyes, Harry transfigured a copper bull, that had Apollo within its confines.

"If I wasn't already in love," Stryker muttered, his wife was the most vindictive creature on earth. Just watching her work renewed his love for her. Yet Harry was rather…creative too. Who would have suggested this? Then again, some of the old ways worked best.

Acheron's eyes darkened, a seething pit of jealousy and rage caught him off guard.

"Sorry, already spoken for," Harry stated, and he was far better looking than Stryker, not that the guy was bad to look at, he just didn't find him attractive. Even if he did, it would only be a thought, nothing more would come of it. As if he'd risk his life with Acheron over anyone. "Incendio!"

A fire lit under the bulls copper stomach.

"You do realize you don't need to vocalise the incantations, correct?" Death pointed out. He really should get used to using his god powers instead of his wizarding ones.

Almighty bellowing of agony was his answer.

"Huh, wonder if that's why they call it a bellowing bull," Harry commented, as the copper heated up under his spell.

"They never used copper, it was usually brass or bronze." Death informed him, inhaling sharply, the smell of burning flesh and incense filling the air. "I do love the smell of burning flesh in the morning."

Harry grunted, the urge to say it wasn't morning strong, but he reckoned Death was likely right. Ugh, it sucked, he was actually really very tired. He wanted his bed. He set the fire to be hotter, as Apollo's screams began to wane.

He didn't want to leave here with them still alive.

"Apollymi!" Harry whined, he actually whined, when Apollo appeared whole and alive outside of the bronze bull. "I promise I'll take you down so you can do whatever you like to them in the underworld."

A speculative look overcame the powerful goddesses features, "You can do that?" seeking confirmation, she was in no way finished with them. They deserved a millennium of the pain she'd endured, what her son had endured.

"I'll be going down to see my family," Harry stated, "And yes, I can do that." He instinctively knew, after all he was the Master of Death before this happened, which means he was able to come and go from deaths domain.

Simi attempted to breach the circle, to eat the rest of Artemis, only to cry out in pain, her demon form emerging and hissing.

"Here, Simi," Harry said, breaking the circle, and the runes, thus making it defunct. He did the same with Apollo who was still being systematically shocked

"No, don't you dar—" Artemis hissed out, trembling in terror, still shocked by the removal of her leg like it was nothing. Worse still, seeing it just being eaten by the demon whilst watching her brother roast.

"As fun as it would be to let you suffer, we're not like you," Harry stated, "I'm not like you," he corrected upon hearing Apollymi's clearing of her throat. Huffing a little, shaking his head, "I never thought I'd use this one," he grimaced before pointing his wand straight at Artemis, "Avada Kedavra!" the green light shot out of Harry's hand and slammed into the red headed ex-goddess.

Apollymi nodded at the correction, she'd never let anyone believe she was going soft. She was the goddess of destruction, and he would need to remember that. She wasn't by any definition good or righteous, and as long as Acheron loved Harry, he would be safe. Just like her granddaughter and Sin was safe from any and all harm.

Harry relaxed, sighing softly, glad that they were gone. Harry watched their spirits raise up, now allowed to leave without Apollymi's magic harnessing them. Keeping them there until she tired of their punishment.

Death raised his hand and turned it into a fist and the two spirits disappeared.

"Did everyone see that?" Harry leaned over and asked Acheron, although everyone likely heard him.

"Yes," Acheron answered while the others stared in confusion, see what? Acheron was fascinated by what he was seeing, they looked like shades, but he knew they weren't.

"Remember, he shares your powers," Death commented wryly, "Nobody else can see the spirits, and yes they will in the underworld." He added, as if he knew it would be one of the questions asked. Shades were different to spirits leaving their bodies and passing on.

"Cool," Harry murmured, "Now I can hear my bed calling for me, so as lovely as this was, I'm leaving. Goodnight."

"Do remember to eat, you're eating for two," Death said, sounding all too amused, before he disappeared in a black mist taking with him his two newest spirits. Knowing that Harry was going to want something truly gross in a while, and luckily he had a man who could get in and out of closed shops undetected to stop himself being victim of Harry's ire.

You could have heard a pin drop.

What a way to find out you were pregnant.

"I'm going to kill him," Harry uttered, stuck between anger and awe. Suddenly all the symptoms he's felt made a little more sense.

Harry had some of the goddess of creation in him, and Harry had wanted a family so deeply he'd twisted his own magic to meet his desires. Actual family that was his, and not just someone else's family like the Weasley's. Thus, he had created a child of his and Acheron's, at least, after all this time, he'd gotten what his heart innermost desired.

A child.

A/N – I know it feels so rushed but come on, they're gods they could torture someone forever and not get bored lol but I wanted them well out of the picture with no hope of return as lovely as a 'bubble' was. but if you'd like to see them tortured some more, I can post a chapter of Apollymi and Harry having a trip to the underworld ;) perhaps even show Hades? Will Harry ultimately come back with a Cerberus?

The end bit with the news about the baby definitely didn't go how I originally intended, not that I can remember much about the original ending…I lost all that plot ideas and actual information when my computer bit the dust. I remembered the bit about Death and his various incarnations though how could I not? I loved the idea although it might be a little meh to everyone, but I had fun writing it ;) R&R please