The Darkest Hour

[Asila]

You are so sweet! You're beginning to make me feel silly for giving up on this story all those months ago!

However, it really is very complicated. This story evolved far quicker than I could write it, part of the reason I got so frustrated. Let me just say that in the final ten pages, some of this stuff begins to clarify itself. Or perhaps only get more complicated. Everything that you've listed has a lot of history behind it. Also, the pages that follow the remaining ten that I am now plotting are going to address even more of these problems.

Now, on to your list!

1.) Midnight was friends with Azirath when she was young. There's actually more to it than that. I think I'll give part of this away, since it's going to take me a while to build up to a point in the story where I can reveal this. Midnight actually created Azirath. This feat has cost her more greatly than she currently understands, but that problem I will leave for later. However, I will add that Midnight does not realize that she created Azirath. She thought he was the spirit of a stream, since he has seemed to appear out of the water...I am planning to incorporate this memory in the story. As for Midnight creating Azirath, quite a few complications have arisen as a result, a couple of which become apparant very soon.

As for Rav, he originally ran across Midnight when he came to destroy Azirath. The Knights do not approve of created creatures. They deam such creatures unnatural and twisted. Even more of a threat is the one capable of creating such a thing, since such individuals are very powerful and usually unstable. Azirath, possessing the ability to phase into Rav's world, accidentally drew attention to himself. The Knights sent one of their own to slay this abomination and track down his creator. This is where Rav comes in. When Azirath realized that one of these Knights was out to destroy him, he tried to warn Midnight, and in doing so say goodbye, but Rav found them before he could say his farewell. I know this explanation is not complete, but I don't want to spoil everything. Beleive me, in time I will explain all.

2.) You got this one! As for being evil...well, I tend to complicate evil. There is a lot of history behind this vampire that we have yet to discover. Oh, and he was connected to Midnight even before he tried to turn her, but that is yet another plot twist.

3.) I already explained this one in 1...

4.) I suppose 'magical knight' is one way to phrase it. However, he's no longer hunting Azirath, though relations between them are not great. I'll only say that since Rav has decided to spare Midnight, he has also chosen to spare her creations. You may be able to guess the reasons for this by now...if not, I'll just continue to be a pain about with-holding information. ;D Also, Azirath sees Rav as a threat. These two haven't seen each other since Azirath originally fled Rav, escaping him but leaving Midnight in danger. That is something that he still regrets deeply, though Midnight has forgiven him. Anyway, Azirath is still convinced that Rav is some kind of homicidal self-righteous warrior and does not trust him.

5.) Jade was born to our dimension, as was Midnight though there is more to her than that. However, that's something I get to explain later. As far as our heroine knows, she has never left this dimension, though one of the final revelations in my story proves otherwise. Rav and the vampire are the ones who normally reside in the other dimension.

And that's about it! You've already managed to pin point all the major themes in my story! And I can no longer blame myself for getting overwhelmed. Jeez, there is so much going on here, and I've only revealed half of it on this page! Not even!

I have one final hint for you, though. There is a shadowy past behind the King that directs the Knights. This history involves both the vampire and Midnight...and it's not exactly pleasant.

So many connections...*shakes head* I really have to add to the beginning. A story like this one deserves a stronger beginning than the one I have given it. But I'll just have to worry about it later...

[Asila]

A sharp pain in his shin had him turning back to the captured girl. Azirath’s Chosen? He wondered, comparing her white and black hair and green eyes to those of the false being. A mage closely resembled the being the represented his, or in this case, her, spirit. But that was impossible. Azirath was a created being, no different from the gargoyles posted outside. But somehow the unthinkable had happened. If he couldn’t trust his own eyes, he could trust his sixth sense. This pair was bonded.

A swift kick followed the first and Rav quickly stepped out of range. Judging by the hatred that glittered as strong as Azirath’s in her eyes, she would have done a lot more harm to him had she been free. Rav only waited for her to exhaust herself.

It didn’t take long. Soon she was drooping with exhaustion. Her fatigue, however, didn’t lessen the venom in her words. “You have no right to ask me that question, let alone to attack my friend. Azirath and I are welcome here.” She paused, her gaze sliding past him.

Rav suddenly became aware of the energy that now crackled in the air. Even as he sensed it the blood magic intensified, whipping the air in the room into a small cyclone. He recognized the aura immediately. Vampire.

“We are welcome,” the girl repeated, even as he spun. “but if Midnight’s fury is any clue, you are not.”

Midnight? Not any more. There was no humanity left in the wraith that stood before him now. Her eyes glowed an intense red the color of freshly spilled blood and her long black hair writhed about her head like black fire. Her expression was one of cold fury, blank except for the dramatic V of her knit brows.

She held her arms out from her body and hissing orbs of red lightning gathered before her palms.

Rav threw up a shield just before a score of lightning bolts lanced out in his direction. He dropped his shield as soon as the attack ended and returned the assault, sending a hundred black blades whistling in her direction.

Midnight brought her hands together with a resounding clap, combining the orbs of lightning.. The spheres expanded, destroying the blades before they could strike and slamming into Rav before he could erect another shield.
He crashed into a wall and fell to his knees, drywall raining down around him. He looked back to Midnight and cursed, rolling just before a lance of energy struck him.

“You have to let me go!” The girl shouted over the howling wind. “She’s only trying to protect me!”

Rav stared at her, skeptical. Before he could answer, a high-pitched humming and the smell of ozone signaled another attack. He summoned a stronger shield and braced it with a burst of power. It flickered when the bolts of lightning struck it, but held.

A sound of frustration caused Raven to glance back at the girl.

“Don’t be an idiot.” She ground out, struggling against the restraints. She stopped abruptly, gasping for air. When she continued, her voice was faint. “I’ve seen her like this once before. You can’t fight her. Just let me go. I can reach her.” She fell silent, her face tinged with blue.

Rav cursed his stupidity and immediately severed the bonds. That spell could have killed her. Had he left the bonds in place, they would have crushed her. The binding spell he had just used was designed for sorcerers, people strong enough to destroy any other restraint. It leeched into their reserve of magic and subdued them by turning their own strength against them. The more the warlock fought, the more viciously the bonds would restrict. A sorcerer would survive the onslaught. A human, without any magical defense, couldn’t.

[Seven]

More cliff hangers! Damn you Asila! You're making me love you and hate you simulateniously! I hope you're happy! *frowns with arms crossed*

Just kidding. Though it seems you do enjoy messing with your readers by ending each post at a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next update to see what happens!

[Asila]

The girl fell to the ground, unconscious…or dead.

The glow of Midnight’s demon eyes brightened. She dropped into a crouch and put each hand on the ground. The wind stilled, plunging the room into ominous silence. Even Azirath stopped battering the door. Then, just as everything stilled, all hell broke loose.

The room began to warp, the walls ballooning outward and the ceiling soaring out of sight until all Rav could see was darkness. The walls rippled as though they were no longer made of boards and plaster, only a thin membrane that was disturbed by an outer storm.

Shadows deepened and leapt to life, misshapen serpents and ungainly dragons with eyes that glowed the same blood-red as those of their controller.

“She’s summoning the denizens of the Underworld.” Zelinril’s fearful voice rang out in his mind, confirming what he already knew. “You have to get out of there!”

Rav leapt toward the door he had locked, no longer concerned about Azirath’s presence. Azirath was something he could fight, if it came down to a battle. The monster behind him would be a challenge, assuming he stood a chance at all.

He disassembled the spells he had placed on the door and tried to turn the handle. A malignant energy lanced up his arm and he nearly blacked out. He staggered back and turned to face Midnight, scrapping all fantasies of her innocence. He knew better now. Even if the words of the Council hadn’t been enough to turn him back to this mission, this display of dark power was.

Zelinril’s shriek filtered through the pulsing walls, but even his Familiar couldn’t reach him now.

One of the shadows detached itself from the wall to his far left and lumbered toward him. This one resembled a man, if men had crooked blades for fingers and spines erupting along their arms.

Rav drew his sword and let his magic coat the blade in violet shadow. Physical weapons alone were no good against creatures such as them, but they served him as a focal point for his energy. There was little a blade like this couldn’t slice through, whether the object in question was physical or insubstantial.
The shadow man swung a heavy, lethal arm in his direction. He met the blow with his sword, severing the creature’s arm. Even as the appendage hit the ground, the creature pressed on, unfazed by the loss. He ducked the next blow, sensing as he did so that another creature had detached itself from the shadows.

This one resembled a barbaric gargoyle of a completely different breed than the sort that guarded the premises. It stretched out it’s triangular head on an impossibly long neck, as though simply curious. Driven by instinct, Rav hastily stepped aside just as the creature struck, snapping jaws studded with curved serpent’s fangs on the space he had just inhabited.

The shadow man came back, slicing at him with two arms instead of one. Surprised, Rav met this attack as he had the first and severed the creature’s limbs. As he blocked another lunge from the gargoyle, he saw the shadow man’s arms materialize. They were drawing their substance from the darkness that rose around them. He wouldn’t be able to permanently harm them until he killed the one who summoned them.

[Asila]

Other forms began to drift from the dark corners of the room. A few even dragging themselves from under the bed, and Raven realized he didn’t stand a chance. Should he try to reach Midnight, he would be incinerated. The writhing bolts of pure energy that surrounded her were proof enough of that. There was no escape, no fighting his way out of this situation. He had underestimated her badly, and he would die for it.

Surrounded and without a hope for victory, he continued to swing his sword. He wouldn’t give up and die. Couldn’t. The impulse to fight to the death was too strong. Just as the horde of shadow creatures began to overwhelm him, he felt another presence in the room.

The girl? He drew a second blade and spun, decapitating, severing, and brutally slicing into every creature the swords raked across. For a moment his assailants fell back, each too crippled to press an attack. The lull wouldn’t last long, but it gave him enough time to find out what had become of the girl.

She was rising, slowly lifting herself from the warping floor. Green flames leapt around her. Her aura, he realized. She was a witch, a powerful one judging by the intensity of the magic that blazed around her.

Even in such a dire situation, the irony couldn’t escape him. There was no record of a strong witch within the archives of his people. It just didn’t happen. Only the males carried the trait strongly. Magic, among females, was more rare and subdued than the power of even the weakest wizard.

Yet here he was, in a house with two witches strong enough to match him. One currently bent on his destruction. The other trying to save them all.

The girl reached out for Midnight, her blazing green magic gently brushing against the violent red of Midnight’s shield. It faded slightly, and the formerly crazed expression shifted, as though she were listening. Even the shadow demons halted, pausing in a rough circle around Rav while they waited for another command.

“Midnight, it’s okay now.” Jade said, her voice shining with compassion. “You saved us. You can rest now.”
The fierce wraith that was Midnight relaxed slightly, releasing her hold on the dark magic at her command. The shadow demons faded first, followed by the original structure of the room and, more slowly, her fatal defense faded until the sickening sizzle and flicker of lightning no longer invaded the room.

The door slammed open and Azirath bounded through, followed closely by Zelinril. Each Familiar rushed to the side of their Chosen, Azirath Shifting and pulling the girl to him in a fierce embrace. Zelinril dropped his head over Raven’s shoulder and pressed him against his feathered chest, equally grateful to have his Chosen back alive.

Satisfied that Rav had come to no serious harm, the griffon looked to Midnight. Though she had dropped her attack, she remained crouched on the floor, her eyes still flickering red. “She’s still angry.” The griffon broadcast the statement so that Azirath and his Chosen could hear as well. The girl turned back, staring at Zelinril for a brief moment before examining Midnight.

[Asila]

You know, after having my computer crash and realizing in a most painful fashion how easily I could lose the stories that I have written, I have decided to post what I have finished of Darkest Hour right now. That way it will at least be here until I decide on the means through which I am going to back everything up. *sheepish smile*

[Asila]

“Part of her still wants to harm you. I would have let her kill you if I hadn’t known she would regret it later. Midnight doesn’t hold a grudge for long.” Seeing Rav’s expression she stopped and stared at him in disgust. “Apparently the same can’t be said for you. What’s your problem, anyway? From what I saw, you tried to kill her first.”

He clenched his fists but managed to harness his temper. If he made one threatening gesture in the teenager’s direction, Midnight would probably forget her temporary truce and decide that death by shadow demons was more to her taste. “It doesn’t concern you.”

She glared at him. “Whatever ‘it’ is almost killed me. By my way of thinking, it is now a concern of mine.” She stepped closer, and suddenly Rav realized it was the girl, not Midnight, who was the immediate threat. “I suggest you do something to bring her back. If she dies from this loss of energy, I’ll personally give you a reason to regret it.”

He didn’t move. “If you are as concerned as you seem, you must not have the slightest idea what Midnight really is. I assure you, the world would be better off without her.”

“Are you insane? She has never caused anyone any harm. She’s the only reason I still believe life is worth living. She’s saved everything on this piece of property, human, creature, or feline, and you want her dead?”

“You don’t understand.”

The girl gaped at him in open disbelief. “You’re unbelievable. Look, we don’t have time to argue. If you aren’t going to help, I’ll kill you myself. I can handle the guilt.”

He was willing to bet that the girl wouldn’t feel any guilt at all, but as he began his sharp reply Zelinril brushed past him.

As Rav blinked in confusion, the griffon approached Midnight. In a gesture that was almost unheard of, the griffon touched the tip of his beak to the forehead of a human that was not his own. In a rush, Rav felt all of her rage, fear, and sense of betrayal through his Familiar. He closed his eyes and tried to stave off the tumult, but the power of the mixture was impossible for him to handle.

Zelinril withdrew, putting an end to the inner war just as Rav began to collapse. He regained his balance and blinked slowly, taking a moment to try and organize his scattered thoughts.

He had yet to manage the feat when a tired voice murmured “We have to straighten this out.”

“Yes, we do.” Rav replied to Midnight’s statement. His words, however, were eclipsed by the teenager’s statement of “No fucking shit.” The words, though in answer to Midnight‘s statement, were obviously aimed at him.

Midnight turned and pinned the teenager with a sharp look. “Jade.” The words were a mild warning.

Jade’s fierce stare didn’t waver. Rav returned the glare, irritated and unwilling to back down.

He saw Midnight shift in his peripheral vision and turned in time to watch her struggle to her feet. He took a step forward but Zelinril was already beside her, helping brace the witch as she cautiously stood. Disapproval was evident in the griffon’s frown. “If you two idiots would have taken a moment to stop baiting each other, you may have noticed how exhausted Midnight is.”

[Asila]

Zelinril turned to Jade. “And if you could manage to subdue your anger until your friend has been taken care of, you might be able to stop her the next time she tries to waste her already scarce strength.”

Jade scowled, but before she could voice a scathing response, Midnight collapsed.

***

She was floating, her limbs hanging loosely in the open air as she spun through the darkened void she had fallen into. The air was cool and refreshing, the soft smell of earth sifting into her lungs. She knew that if she opened her eyes she would be surrounded by stars. Stars and trees and moss covered earth.

Her world shuddered and she stirred, wondering what it was that had disturbed her paradise.

Another tremor. And another. Sleepy and irritated, Midnight opened her eyes.

When she recognized the man who carried her, her heart stilled. She had thought him familiar, when she first saw him lurking on the outskirts of the party. She had almost remembered his dark yet somehow vibrant red hair and his blazing crimson eyes. His ethereal beauty and grace.

Entranced, she had followed him into the surrounding trees, leaving the bonfire and it’s brilliant light dancing behind her without fear or regret. Even before she had been able to find the mysterious stranger, she had fallen.

It hadn’t been an accident. The ground had been sure beneath her feet, the way lit by the light of the almost full moon. She had not stumbled.

He had hurt her. The back of her head throbbed unmercifully and the warmth that pooled at the base of her skull hinted at blood. She shifted, testing her strength and wondering if she could fight her way free of his grip. Judging by the feeble shaking of her limbs, she could not.

He looked down at her. “Ah, Miri, you are awake. I am sorry I had to ambush you, but the humans wouldn’t understand our cause.”

Our cause? Midnight closed her eyes, trying to battle confusion and wondering who Miri was. She wanted to know why this man had attacked her.

He didn’t say anything more, but Midnight knew she couldn’t just let him carry her off without a struggle. She rallied her determination and began to fight.


“Midnight!”

She opened her eyes, feeling frightened and bone weary. But she recognized this voice and she realized that it was not the vampire who carried her now. That had only been a dream, a horrible memory. It was Azirath who had her now. An old friend.

“Please, put me down.” She gasped. He hesitated, but her distress was apparent and he chose to set her down.

She knew she was being foolish. She could trust Azirath, he would never harm her. But she hated being carried, hated feeling helpless, and she wanted to stand on her own feet. The memories were too near.

The moment Midnight was standing on her own she began to relax, the memories fading within their crystal mausoleum. She looked around her, her vision focusing way too slowly. She was still in her room, standing only a step away from her bed.

It seemed that only minutes had passed since she lost consciousness. Jade still stood near the door, fixing a piercing glare on their dark-clothed attacker. Her gaze slid briefly to Midnight, laced with concern, but her attention quickly returned to the dark-eyed opponent who clearly returned her vehemence. She refused to turn away from him for even a moment.

[Asila]

And their attacker watched each of them warily, his feet spread apart and braced, his frame tense, his hands curling slowly as he fought to appear harmless even though Midnight knew he ached to draw a blade. A Knight. Wasn’t that what Azirath had called him earlier? His deadly posture told her that the reference wasn’t just a metaphor as she had earlier assumed.

Looking at each of the people who stood around her room, she realized that they had a lot to sort out. Animosity hung thick in the air and everybody seemed poised on the brink of battle.

Midnight turned first to the Knight. “What is your name?”

He jerked, startled. “What?”

“Your name.” Midnight repeated, her tone suddenly cold and sarcastic. She bit off the next comment, wondering why a lifetime of suppressed anger had chosen this particular moment to surface. Swallowing, she forced it back. “I can’t continue to think of you as ‘the man’ or ‘my opponent.” She continued, this time her voice warm with kindness. “I won’t help an enemy. But for an ally,” she shrugged. “I will do what I can.”

The man stared at her, looking conflicted. “Raven.” he finally muttered. “But I go by Rav.”

“Raven?!” Jade snorted in disbelief. “The guy who almost killed me goes by the name of Raven?”

Rav glared at the incredulous girl. But before he could respond, Midnight quickly interrupted. “Sorry,” She tried to explain, “But in this area, Raven is usually a feminine name and Jade is slightly egotistical.”

Rav's mouth twitched into an involuntary grin. On the other side of the room Jade scowled.

Midnight smiled faintly, amused by the obvious rivalry between the girl who she thought of as a sister and the man who she should think of as her enemy. She took a moment to drag her mind back to the reason they were there, but before she could begin the world started to slide out of focus and she pitched forward.

Everything was black. Dark and soft, with the gentle scent of fresh air. She curled into it, trying to keep her stubborn mind from darting back to consciousness.

“Have you all been blinded by your hatred?” A now familiar voice rumbled, echoing through her head. Midnight twitched in surprise, then told herself she was being foolish. This was the third time she had heard this voice slide through her mind today. If he hadn’t done her any harm the first two times he’d spoken to her, he wasn’t a danger to her now.

Still, a lifetime of memories argued that it was best to keep communication on a vocal, and safer, field.

As Midnight’s vision began to focus with it’s previous sluggishness she saw the creature, a griffon?, watching her with kind eyes.

“I know this hurts you,” He told her, and Midnight realized that he had somehow felt her flinch. Panic began to edge in on her, and she struggled to force it back. This is Zelinril, not the vampire. She chanted the words over and over to herself. Belatedly, she realized she was lying on a powerful, outstretched wing.

Of course. Zelinril wasn’t reading her mind, he could simply feel her tension. Midnight was surprised by how much this realization calmed her.

[Asila]

“But it is the only way I can speak with you.” The griffon continued cautiously. He tilted his head, imploring. “Why don’t you rest?”

That was exactly what she wanted, to slip into the blackness that was always at the edge of her vision and fade into death, an end that had threatened to claim her for months but had never been as close as it was now.

Instead she mindlessly leapt to her feet, a mistake. She stumbled again and Raven snatched her into his arms. “Who hasn’t had a turn?” she mumbled as he finished the short trip to her bed, referring to everyone‘s tendency to catch her when she fell.

“Zelinril is right.” He proclaimed as he laid her on the bed, his voice tense with irritation. “You’re weak. You can’t help anybody right now.”

Midnight froze, feeling the rage that was always just beneath the surface smolder in her eyes. She found herself looking away, afraid that if she met Raven‘s harsh gaze she would lose control. She realized that he wasn’t the cause of her anger, only the trigger. She hated him for the cruel statement, but hated more the truth that rang with cutting clarity through the words.

Midnight heard Zelinril ruffle his feathers, taking offense to Rav’s callous comment. She didn’t blame the man for his thoughtless statement, but his griffon apparently did.

“Never mind,” she said hastily, interrupting Zelinril before his frustrated retort could penetrate her tumultuous thoughts. For over ten years the only voice that had ever breeched the security of her mind had been the cold, liquid yet somehow abrading voice of the creature she had tried so fervently not to remember. Now that the initial surprise of hearing another voice echo through her head had worn off, the telepathy was beginning to stir disturbing memories that she preferred to leave forgotten. Even though Rav and Zelinril’s presence in her mind was always a calming influence that didn’t interfere with her own thoughts and opinions, it reminded her of the destructive, shattering presence of the vampire. And the memory brought panic.

Midnight’s hands clenched into fists. The shadows trembled, leaping to life like onyx flames, but she was too weak to sustain her anger. The violent emotion left her as quickly as it came, followed by a low whooshing sound that had her glancing up curiously. Everybody in the room had just released a breath that she hadn’t even realized they were holding. Under different circumstances, she would have laughed.

“Don’t worry. After one such episode, I don’t have the strength for another.” Midnight lifted her gaze, eyes narrowing as they locked with Rav’s. “As dearly as I would love to brutally disassemble our arrogant friend, I’m afraid we have to resort to talking this out. Since you, Knight, were the one who began the initial attack, it is only just that you tell us your reasons for trying to harm us all.”

Rav crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the burgundy wall behind him. It seemed for a moment that he would not answer and it took all the remaining willpower that she possessed to keep from baring her teeth in irritation.

Finally, he said in his deep, resonant voice “I have come to find you and learn by whatever means necessary the location of the vampire, Savirith.”

[Asila]

Midnight didn’t answer. The name had triggered yet another memory. “Who are you?!” She screamed at the fearsome, garnet-toned man. Everything hurt, yelling, breathing, but she had to know his name. She had to know the name of her captor, even though he hadn’t spoken to her since the night of her abduction. The night of his first beating. How easy she had gotten off then, in comparison to what she had to endure now.

“You don’t remember?” He had growled, his venomous voice halting the downward spiral of her thoughts. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he sounded hurt. “My name is Savirith.” he informed her with contempt. “In your first life, I was your brother.”

He had left then, leaving her in the darkness of the windowless stone cell to ponder his disturbing revelation.

“What did he do to you?” said a gentle voice Midnight didn’t immediately recognize. She realized that she was hugging her legs to her chest, her face buried in the elbow of her free arm which rested on her knees. She was shaking.

“Tell me.” the voice implored, “if he hurt you, I can help.” Rav? She had forgotten that he could be so kind.

She was about to tell him everything when the reality of what had just occurred struck her with the savagery of a previously forgotten blow. She had just fallen to pieces over the mention of a name, as though the past ten years had gained her nothing. Mortified, she clenched her eyes shut and groaned into her arm.

The pressure of a strong hand came to rest on her shoulder, offering silent comfort. The fact that she needed it only bothered her more.

Reluctantly, she lifted her head. “Please tell me that I didn’t just phase out in front of all of you.” She looked around, gauging their reactions, and had to suppress another groan. She had definitely put on a show. Jade was obviously stunned, her eyes sad and thoughtful. Azirath was tense with anger, his expression twisted with guilt. Zelinril’s large, empathetic golden eyes were as sorrowful and compassionate as Jade’s and Rav…Rav’s countenance was thunderous, despite, or because of, she realized suddenly, his kind words.

Midnight wondered why he behaved that way, first acting as though he felt responsible for her well-being, then provoking her as only a mortal enemy would. Honestly, the guy was more moody than- She destroyed the thought, unhappy with the comparison she had come up with.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.” She murmured, distraught. “The memories are so close now. He grows nearer.” She still couldn’t bring herself to say his name. Thinking it was agony.

Raven’s eyes sparked. “He’s coming here?”

Midnight nodded. “Usually, I remember very little of the time I lost to the vampire when I was young. Only when he decides on another attempt to claim me do the dreams begin. The more often they occur, the closer he is. If I’m dreaming by day…” She shrugged, “It won’t be long now.” She finished hopelessly.

“No!” Jade’s defiant exclamation broke the silent reverie of the small group. “He’s left you alone for all these years. Why will he come now?”

“Because,” Midnight whispered, “I am dying. I know you can see it, Jade. My stamina is nonexistent and my strength is slight, the health of a much older woman. I am only twenty-six, and already I spend more time asleep than I do awake. Every time I close my eyes, Death looms ever closer. I will not survive for much longer and he knows it. He will come to me before I die. This last time, he may win.”

[Asila]

Jade and Azirath both sucked in an outraged gasp. “No, I will not allow it.” Jade stoutly proclaimed.

“This time, we are with you.” Azirath assured her vehemently.

Midnight found herself looking away once more, her expression being the feature she didn’t trust. For though she was touched by the loyalty of her two oldest friends, she did not believe they could help her. Her foe was too powerful, and she had grown weak.

“Look at me, Midnight.” This last was Rav, his tone stern and commanding. She didn’t budge.

“Midnight,” a rough hand grabbed hold of her chin, firmly turning it to it’s source. Reluctantly, she looked at him; deep-violet eyes boring into her own. She shivered, forcing back another vision in which garnet eyes had starred.

Rav’s expression hardened. “Savirith will not reach you.”

She flinched at the name. Frowning, he continued with only a slight pause. “I came here to destroy him. If he comes for you, he will only fall beneath my sword.”

Her gaze slid through him as they would through mist. Impossible. Nothing could destroy the vampire. Hadn’t she tried everything? He was too fast, too strong…

A dull throbbing in her jaw pulled her back from her despair. “Trust me in this,” Said Rav fiercely. “He will not reach you.” He continued to stare at her, waiting for her reply.

“I believe that you will do what you can to stop him.” Midnight said guardedly, refusing to hope. The knight slowly released her, obviously unsatisfied by her answer. Tough. Life had taught her never to put any stock in blind faith. The promise of a former enemy, however convincing his change of heart, wouldn’t change that.

“You attacked me because you thought I served the vampire that you are hunting, correct?”

Rav nodded slowly, unsure of where she was heading with this statement.

Midnight sighed, “Then I’ll have to tell you everything. It is a long story. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it is easy to see how you could have thought me his ally.”

Midnight braced herself, trying to harness the unruly emotions that her tale would soon release. When she felt that she had properly distanced herself from it all, she began in a calm voice. “He came for me when I was twelve. I was at a party with my mother, and I was watching the bonfire when I saw him. He emerged from the surrounding woods and stared at me for a long moment. He looked familiar, as though I had known him once but couldn’t remember where I’d met him. So when he disappeared into the trees, I followed. As soon as I was out of sight, something struck me from behind and I blacked out. When I woke again, he was carrying me.

‘Ah, Miri, you are awake.’ He noted…” Rav’s eyes had widened when he heard the name, meaningless to it‘s bearer, but somehow notable to him.

Midnight watched expectantly, waiting for him to explain his reaction, but he simply shook his head and nodded, signaling her to continue.

She rolled her eyes and picked up where she had left off. “…when I woke again. He continued with the most peculiar phrase…‘I am sorry I had to ambush you, but the humans wouldn’t understand our cause.’

His words confused me. I didn’t know what he was referring to, and worse, I didn’t know where he was taking me. So I began to fight him.