Darkness Ascendant, Part I

Disclaimers: see prologue
Warnings: see prologue


Chapter 3

Someone was going to die-most likely slowly and painful-when Luxien found out what he’d discovered at the latest crime scene. Trevalyane sighed as he entered the expansive loft, stretching his wings as with a thought dim light flooded the whole place. Of course, he amended his thoughts, there’s nothing to say that he has to know. After all, the trace was almost non-existent, there’s nothing to say that I didn’t imagine it. Trevalyane winced internally at how hollow the unconvincing lie sounded even to himself. He shook his head as he walked through the loft. He couldn’t lie to his best friend. They had been through too much together in the past and knew each other too well for him to be able to keep something this potential big from the other Sky Lord.

Moving soundlessly towards the large windows of the balcony, the soft glow from the lamps turning his ginger hair copper, he wondered how Luxien’s meeting with their Commander had gone. Opening the French doors leading outside, he breathed in the night air and took a step forward. Invariably his thoughts turned, as they always had a habit of doing, to his roommate and best friend. He smiled softly and sighed into the slight breeze. Leaning his forearms on the railing he gazed over the city. Funny, he thought a wry twist of his lips, how no matter what they were like before, all Sky Folk ended up wanting to be as high up and close to the clouds as possible after their Awakening. There was just something in their nature, he mused, that seemed to demand their closeness to the open air and that ever-present lure of freedom. Luxien had once told him that he’d never felt more alive then when stalking the skies, up there where nothing else existed except for him and the elements. His gaze grew distant at the thought of his best friend. Whatever he’d been expecting that time at the training camp when he’d first met the other man Luxien had not been it.

The camp had been sparsely housed and populated by only a few of the most select Bright Lords. Trevalyane sighed inaudible as he scanned the rough craggy cliffs surrounding the camp, the few scattered trees obscuring most views, the sinking realization hitting him that the majority of the other command trainees were at least five years older than himself. His back stiffened minutely, he’d always had to fight for respect among his fellow warriors because of his age, it seemed he would have to do the same here as well. Yet he revealed none of his thoughts or feelings as he continued to follow the commander through the encampment-his face a perfectly attentive, indifferent warrior’s visage. Yet for all that he seemed to be ignoring his surroundings and its people, he was carefully making a note of and cataloging everything, even the tiniest, most miniscule detail.

They eventually stopped in front of a cabin far to the back of the training facilities, near the base of a steep, moss and rock covered hill. Tilting his head slightly as if to get a better look, Trevalyane could find no reason why they should be stopping here first, rather than getting him assimilated into the training routines.

“Take a good look, kid. Cause this’ll be your home for the next few months. Consider yourself lucky-unlike the other trainees here, you’ll only be sharing with one roommate. But then again….maybe not so lucky all things considered.” When Trev made no comment or movement other than a sharp, perfunctory ‘yes sir’, the older soldier added, “Well what are you waiting for trainee? Get yourself settled and acquainted with your new training partner for the duration of your stay.”

And with a sigh, Trevalyane had done just that.

Although he had to admit, he’d been more than a little surprised by what he found waiting for him. Luxien was anything but what he’d expected. He’d expected someone more like the rest of the trainees-arrogant, rude, vicious and dumber than a brick….or maybe not dumb for no idiot could have joined the elite training facility…perhaps strategically challenge would have been a better description-individuals unable to think outside of specific formulated lines and thought patterns.

Luxien had been none of those. Witty, cheerful and somewhat humble about his sheer charismatic magnetism with a wicked sense of humor and a razor sharp, knife keen mind for battle that went unequaled. And beautiful. It was not just physical but a light as well, a brilliance that shone from within. That light had grayed and dimmed in the centuries passed.

He sighed as he remembered how open his friend used to be despite his potential for cold-blooded ruthlessness. Now, ever since the war and everything that happened he’d watched his friend become more and more withdrawn, pulling into himself further with each and every day.

“Keep thinking that hard and you’ll ruin your image as a brainless sex god.” A dry humorous voice spoke up from behind him, startling out of his reverie. Trev smiled slightly not at all hurt by the statement. At least his friend’s sharp wit hadn’t dulled over the past few decades. Turning around he leaned back against the railing, elbows up on the several inches wide concrete.

“And we can’t have that now can we?” He replied with equal dryness. The soft light from inside reflecting off of the other man’s hair, haloing his face. Neither one had changed much since that first time they’d met save to grow a few inches-although Luxien was now nearly as tall as Trev, neither one could be considered tall. But looks were deceptive they were both two of the best fighters among the Sky Folk as well as the most powerful.

“So how did the meeting with Oberon go?” Trev asked casually. Luxien snorted. “About as well as could be expected. I’d have preferred having a hole drilled in my head or taking on a crazed mob of darklings but I had to get stuck listening to him go over things with me that we already know or rather don’t know, considering how things are going.” Luxien paused, tilting his head back to look at the stars. “There was one good thing that did come out of the meeting though.”

“Oh?” Trev smirked slightly, knowing his friend was deliberately drawing the matter out. “Do tell.”

“He’s considering having us cease surveillance.” Trev froze. The smile wiped from his face with one short sentence.

“Shit.” Bad idea, he thought, extremely bad idea. “Luxien…” He couldn’t catch what the other man was feeling as they broached the subject, which was always a bad sign.

“Don’t worry,” Luxien replied coolly as he tilted his head down again to stare straight at Trev, “He assured me that if we did it would not be complete or permanent.” His lips curled in a sneer. Trev fell unusually silent, leaving each man alone with his thoughts.

“What about you? Anything new at the latest scene?” Luxien’s melodic, somber voice broke his train of thoughts. Trevalyane shrugged. “The same as always. Everything done completely methodical, almost ritualistic. No evidence-whether physical, emotional or pranic-that we can trace.” He paused, hesitating. There had been something new, something different and although he’d decided earlier to share that bit of information with the other man, now that the moment had arrived, he wasn’t so certain it was a good idea. Especially not after hearing what Lord Stick-Up-His-Ass was thinking of doing. It wasn’t that Trev didn’t like or respect his superior. Hells Bells, the man was a military genius. However, when it came to people and their subtler interactions, the man could be a complete idiot.

“Trev?” Luxien inquired, watching his friend curiously. The ginger-haired man had gone unusually quiet-strange for someone so out going and normally unstoppably chattery. But Trev didn’t register his friend’s question. He was busy trying to decide what to tell him. He could clearly remember what happened the last time Luxien lost his cool and it was not an experience he carried to repeat, and the information he was thinking of sharing was most definitely something Trevalyane was concerned would cause the other Sky Lord to lose his calm.


“We will divide our forces. Hit them here. And here.” Luxien gestured to the map that he, Trevalyane and the other leaders of the army were hunched over. “We’ll converge at this point-that way they’ll be back into a corner with no escape.” Trev remained somber and silent as he listened, as the other Bright Lords nodded their assent. “Remember to raze every dwelling in your path. They most not have any options left open to them.” The older men murmured their understanding as they began to file out of the tent. “No mercy.” Luxien added as a way of farewell greeting. Utterances of ‘No mercy’ in various different tones answered him, until everyone had exited-leaving Trev alone with Luxien.

“Lux….” Trev began but stopping and wincing inwardly as he saw Luxien flinch minutely at the old time nickname. “Luxien…” he began anew but never finished. This time he was cut off by Luxien himself.

“Do you have a problem with the plan, Trevalyane?” The cold, impersonal tone cut him to the core of his being.

“Yes. Those are innocent people we’ll be killing, no slaughtering in the process of winning.” Hard, emotionless golden yellow eyes turned to bore into him.

“There are no innocents in this war.” Trev swallowed around the lump in his chest at hearing the callous remark uttered by his friend. The war had hardened them all, but recent events had seemed to cut out any remaining shred of decency and compassion from his friend. He knew from the tone of Luxien’s voice that there was no arguing with him on the matter-there would be no compromises, however, he had to at least try one more time.

“But Luxien…”

“Was there anything else, Commander?” The emphasis on the last word making the statement even more impersonal hit him like a slap in the face.

“No. Nothing. If you’ll excuse me…” He replied stiffly and bowing formally at the neck left the tent as well. Even though deep inside he knew that it wasn’t Luxien’s fault and that the other Bright Lord probably shouldn’t be left alone at the moment, he had to get out of there-the atmosphere in the command tent had suddenly become stifling and claustrophobic.

“Trev?” The louder, more insistent question broke through his reverie.

“What?” He shook his head to clear the last remnants of memory from his mind. Luxien was staring at him with a slightly amused smirk. You spaced out on me for a moment there. What where you thinking? Luxien’s musical mental voice accompanied by the cool, balmy feel of his pranic presence like a fresh ocean breeze on a warm day. Nothing much. Just reminiscing. Trev replied, thankful that it wasn’t a lie. He knew that out loud he always had a hard time lying to the other man, but mind-to-mind he found it next to impossible. There was just something about Luxien that pulled at you, could make you do or saying things you hadn’t even known you were thinking. Luxien seemed to accept that reply as he moved to join Trev by the railing, gazing out over the city.

Silence reigned for a few moments before Luxien spoke up again. “So nothing new found at the crime scene? That’s a pity.” Next to him he could sense Trevalyane tensing up and stiffen. Ducking his head, he hid a self-satisfied smug grin. He’d been right in his assumption that there was more to the story, something Trev was hiding from him. His eyes narrowed slightly. Deliberately hiding from him, which meant he had to know. For whatever it was that would cause his best friend, his spirit brother to hide information from him, had to be important. After all it hadn’t escaped his attention at how quiet and solemn the ginger haired man had become at the mention of new developments in the case. Oh how the mighty have fallen, he thought derisively. Here we are, two of the most powerful, not to mention respected Sky Lords-war heroes and feared by Dark Lords and darklings alike-and we’re reduced to acting as policemen.

“No. Nothing new.” Trev’s neutral reply caught his attention, as did the displacement of air as he pushed back from the railing and prepared to leave. Luxien lashed out lightening fast and caught his friend’s upper arm in a steely vice-like grip. Without looking at him, Luxien spoke up quietly,

“Liar.” The muscles in Trev’s cheek twitched and jumped at the accusation. The words hurt especially because they were true. Still he didn’t say anything in his defense as Luxien continued,

“I think you owe me an explanation since you’re going out of your way to keep this from me.” Luxien’s voice while still soft carried a hint of steel as he finished. Trev sighed and dropped his head momentarily in defeat.

“Alright. You’re right. There was something different this time around.” Trev paused as if trying to decide what to say next, as if organizing his thoughts with difficulty. “The words were not just written in blood this time-this time blood magic was involved.” Luxien felt himself stiffen as well. Blood magic. Dangerous and powerful. There was something more going on then any of them had initially realized if blood magic had been used.

“And?” He prompted. His gut instinct telling him there was more, that blood magic wasn’t the full extent of what was going on-although it was a bad sign and definitely a delicate issue, it wasn’t something that would make his friend lie to him.

“And when I tested it, I caught a faint pranic trace. Just briefly. For a split second, even less.” He rushed to add the last part, dreading where this was going.

Luxien narrowed his eyes dangerously. He had a sneaking suspicion of where this was going, but he needed to hear Trev say it, needed that vocal confirmation.

“Go on.” His voice dropped to a soft almost hissing whisper. Next to him Trev closed his eyes. “It was his.” For a moment the grip on his arm tightened almost painfully in reflex before he was let go. Yet neither one moved very far, even though Luxien had taken a step forward. Once more brought together in close contact, only this time it was Trev who had reached out and grabbed Luxien’s arm.

“Luxien don’t.” Despite the warning in his voice, there was also a hint of pleading, of quiet despair.

“Don’t what?” Luxien replied, the words colored dark by tightly controlled fury. Trev could almost taste the dark anger as it laced every fiber of Luxien’s being. Don’t do anything…reckless. Something you might regret later. His normally warm mental voice tinged with gray with concern. Of course not. I thought you knew me better than that. Luxien retorted sharply, slightly self-deprecatingly.

Sighing in defeat, Trev’s arm dropped to his side. No more words were spoken, neither man looking at the other, as Luxien launched himself off the balcony and into the air. As Luxien’s form fast became invisible against the dark horizon, Trevalyane reached out one last time. Be careful my friend.

Wind whipped past his face, flinging his hair this way and that as he rode the air currents. Luxien closed his eyes as he flew, breathing deeply in the cold night breeze. He loved it up there, among the clouds, close to the starts-no one in existed in the world save for him and the elements. Up there he was truly free. No restraints. Opening his eyes again as he neared his destination, he frowned. He could understand Trev wanting to keep the information from him-after all he couldn’t have received worse news. Bad enough knowing the bastard was still alive and that for now there was nothing he could do to correct that problem. But now apparently he was involved in the murders and blood magic. Damn! But this was bad. He ran a hand through his wild hair as he slowed down and began his descent, back towards civilization.

Banking slightly to the right as he settled back into a comfortable glide over the city, he let instinct guide him to where he wanted to go. A slow anger simmered in him. He could understand Trev wanting to keep the information from him-it wasn’t the logical thing to do but then again Trev tended to follow his emotions more than his head. Still, even if he could understand his friend’s motivation for lying, that didn’t mean he was happy about it. A soft growl rose in his throat. Sometimes it seemed as if his friend thought him nothing more than a youngling in need of protection when in fact he knew, probably better than anyone else, just what Luxien was capable. No, his face smoothed, he had to be fair. Trev was most likely trying to protect everyone else from him rather than the other way around. He chuckled ruefully. And rightly so. Luxien would be the first to admit, if only to himself, that he although he generally was a calm individual, when his ire was aroused no one that got in his path survived. No one that is except…

His expression darkened as his thoughts trailed off, knowing full well where this line was going. Pausing, his wings beat steadily as he hovered in mid air-one hand going to absentmindedly rub his chest, right above his heart. Even muted as it was, the connection was still there. He couldn’t feel it at the moment but he didn’t’ have to all he had to do was think about it to know that the tie between them was there-whether he wanted to or not. Of course if he truly concentrated, he knew that it would flare to life once more-and the consequences of that was something he was not ready to face. Not yet. Perhaps never. Shaking his head to rid himself of thoughts he’d sworn nearly a century ago not to entertain he moved on flying gracefully, effortlessly along the air until he reached the better part of the city-where some of the most upscale buildings and homes were located.

Intelligence reports had led him this far, now it was time to allow instinct to take over. Opening himself up to the full spectrum of his senses as a Sky Lord, he began picking through the various pranic trails left in the area-weeding out all the human ones first and then the weaker Sky Folk until finally he found what he’d been looking for. Absentmindedly he realized that he would have found what he was looking for much faster and easier if he’d open himself to the bond, but he quickly dismissed that thought.

Pranic scent caught, he sped off again at a breakneck speed-all else around him ignored as his focus narrowed down to the trail before him. Oberon had mentioned earlier to him about resuming surveillance-Luxien narrowed his eyes in thought as cold wind cut across his body. Did that mean that the Commander had already known about the Dark Lord’s involvement? If so that meant that his superior was keeping both him and Trevalyane in the dark. What purpose could that possible serve? No, he shook his head. The pranic trace left in the blood magic and the possibility of increased surveillance were nothing more than coincidences-even if they did surround the same person. Then again, he thought to himself, at the risk of sounding paranoid, there is no such thing as coincidence where he is involved.

Luxien swooped down and perched on the edge of a rooftop, across the street from a tall, old fashioned building seemingly constructed of glass-dark tinted glass even the occasionally balcony appeared to be made of this material. Yet it wasn’t glass but a much tougher substance of the same appearance-tough as titanium yet crystalline in appearance-completely synthetic of course. He smirked slightly, a hard edge to it. Ah what secrets we keep! Wouldn’t the humans just love to know even a fraction of what we do-and yet they never question if all they are taught is all there is to know or not. Staring at the building and the obvious wealth it implied, he idly wondered how the Dark Lord inhabiting it managed to keep his nature hidden from the humans-for that was the only way he could have risen to such a status among them. He knew why the Bright Folk did nothing for the same reason the Dark Lord was still alive-they didn’t dare move against him-not openly-he was too powerful for that. The same as Luxien himself and Trevalyane. Very few of their people could top them.

Movement caught his eye on the top level of the building-from the loft. The sliding door was opened and a shadowed, winged figure appeared-pausing in the doorway before moving out to lean on the frame. Silhouetted by moonlight, the figure could clearly be seen. Tall, powerful, lean figure with well-sculpted muscles that he didn’t need to see to know were there. Thick shoulder long black hair with long bangs coming to the chin, framing an elegant almost arrogant hawkish face. The iridescent brownish eyes glowing red in the silvery light-eyes, which were currently trained on him, where he perched like some great predator on the opposite rooftop. His eyes hardened and his lips curled slightly at the all too obvious smirk on the other Sky Lord’s face. A smirk that invited comment-if he were someone as impulsive as Trev then most likely he would have done exactly that reached out with his mind and said something. But he didn’t. Neither did the other try to establish contact. Between them no words were necessary. It was enough simply for them to see it each other-for one to smirk and the other to glare-and in that silence between them more was traded then mere words could cover.

For what seemed like eternity the moment stretched, the tension growing with each second, becoming more palpable till the air literally sang with emotion. Finally with a sneer, Luxien bunched his legs under him and launched himself of the rooftop, heading away-to where he wasn’t sure. Not home. Not yet. Just anywhere that was away. At the same time that the Dark Lord turned around, back inside the loft. Unfortunately for Rhadu and Luxien, they’re slight staring contest and obvious antagonism had not gone unnoticed. Luxien had flown no more than a few meters when another body swooped into his path, nearly colliding with him.

“Get out of my way.” He uttered harshly in a voice chipped with ice. Even as he spoke he took in every miniscule detail of the other person. Black wings. Female. Pale blonde hair flowing past her shoulders. Pale gray eyes. Triangular face and olive skin. Pranic scent crackling with power, fury and deceit.

“No.” The reply was delivered in a calm, determined tone-a voice used to giving orders and having them obeyed. “Not until you hear me out, Bright Lord.” The title added as an afterthought. Luxien arched an eyebrow insolently, face devoid of all emotion save detached amusement.

“I suggest, Lady” he drawled, “that you remove yourself from my path before I’m forced to do so for you. And believe me if I have to it won’t be pleasant.” He allowed his shields to drop a smidge to accompany that statement. He watched drolly with dark delight as the Dark Lady paled visible and winced.

“My apologies my Lord, however, this is important to both of us. It involves the Dark Lord Rhadu Xiwydyr and those darkling murders.” Luxien froze in his movement to veer around the bothersome lady. Slowly turning his head slightly to the side in acknowledgement that he was listening.

“You have my attention for the moment. Talk fast.” She seemed to relax at this.

“My name is Inanna Zemos, one of higher ranking Dark Lady’s. For decades now I’ve worked with and for Rhadu. We both know how powerful is and what exactly he’s capable of.” Luxien gestured impatiently for her to continue. “He knows about the murders, more than he’s letting on, and yet, with all his resources and knowledge, he will not lift so much as a finger to stop them.” Luxien eyed her askance, studying her strangely.

“I appreciate the information even if it is something I’m already aware. What intrigues me is why you, a Lady of the Dark, has so much interest in stopping the murders of humans by one of your own kind.” Inanna’s expression darkened, becoming slight more unpleasant at the old form use of her title. She knew that there was no point in trying to fabricate some excuse as the Bright Lord she’d intercepted was at least as powerful as Rhadu-he would be able to smell and taste a lie.

“I have no interest in preserving human life. However, the darkling murders are bad publicity for my people and that I do care about.” Her voice lowering into a near growl. “Rhadu’s negligence endangers my people in that way. I cannot work against him myself,” she slid closer to Luxien, running one perfectly manicured hand up his arm, voice dropping to a purr, “I need help. Help from someone like you.”

“I think not.” Luxien’s voice dropped, growing colder, his golden eyes hardening as he gripped her roaming hand painfully tight and threw her away from him, sending her tumbling in the air before she managed to snap her wings at the correct angle, righting herself several meters away from him. Her face twisting in an ugly vicious sneer,

“Very well. You’ve made your choice, you blind idiot.” Beating her wings downward in one powerful move she shoot up into the air and away from him. You think you’re so much better than me simply because you’re a Bright Lord. Her mental voice carried to him when she was nothing more than a disappearing black shape in the night horizon. You’re not you know. If anything your worse than me. Her voice gained a dark, cruel edge colored faintly by self-satisfaction as it dropped to a whisper. You carry his taint. It poisons everything you do. Everything you are. Cutting, mocking laughter erupted and echoed as he whirled around in the air, snarling at the wind as the sounded faded into nothingness. Wrestling with the surge of scalding hot fury that rose up in him at the words he growled and barred his teeth at nothing, wishing in that moment, for more than anything, to have someone to kill or torture even. Eventually calming down, he crossed his arms over his chest and smiled self-deprecatingly. The worst part wasn’t that she’d been wrong in her insult but rather that she’d been right. And he knew it. Flying off he headed for the woods. The need for the kill that had risen in his blood had to be satisfied and a good hunt in the middle of the night would do nicely.

Rhadu tapped his index finger on his chin as he gazed out the window in contemplation. An unexpected turn of events this was. But not without some satisfaction. He had begun to become bored with the way matters were progressing but now with Luxien placing himself back on the board, the game had just become that much more intense, intricate and dangerous. For centuries now, since the war begin, the antagonism between them had been a monstrous chess game, incomprehensible to others, a deadly violent, passionate dance-and entirely personal. His lips curled in a malicious smile. Yes, indeed, the resumption of their game would indeed make things more complex-definitely worthy now of his full attention. For Luxien to show up at his doorstep so to speak like this was unmistakably a challenge. One Rhadu would relish rising to meet.

Smile dropping, he narrowed his eyes. Some interferences would be tolerated, others would not. A slight movement behind him brought him back to the subject at hand.

“Have you found what I asked about?” He spoke out softly, his voice carrying in the darkened room.

“Yes.” Without a single inflection, the reply was given.

“Excellent. You know what to do.” A brief nod as a shadowed figure moved away from the farthest wall and towards the door.

“One more thing.” Rhadu called out never looking back.

“My Lord?” The shadow paused at the exit, hand hovering over the knob.

“The dear Lady Inanna has become something of a nuisance-take care of her for me.” The shadow bowed his head in answer. “As you will.” Hand once more reaching for the knob.

“Oh and Umbra?” the Dark Lord carelessly added, a cruel smirk gracing his lips as his eyes gleamed with an unholy red light. “Have fun.” Unseen in the darkness, his smirk was answered by the shadow, as a spark of anticipation and hunger flared in the other’s eyes. Folding black wings against his back, the shadow left swiftly and silently-thoughts colored by blood and pain already taken shape in his mind.