In the Darkness

Chapter 11

He came awake slowly and painfully. He didn't open his eyes or make any indication that he was awake in case she was awake as well. He didn't need to go through any more torture than he did the night before.

He lay motionless listening to her soft steady breathing. Her arms were delicately wrapped around his waist and chest and her face was softly pressed into the crook of his neck. The feel of her breath and skin upon his flesh made him almost wreath with disgust.

He briefly wondered what time it was. It couldn't have been to late for his lady rarely slept in.

A soft knock was heard at the door as if on cue. "M'lady," said the soft voice of one of the maids. "Your breakfast is ready."

She gave a slight sigh and then a small yawn as she said, "Thank you Kara I'll be down momentarily."

She sat up, holding the silk sheet up to cover herself from the morning chill and leaving him bare. She looked down at the still boy lying next to her. Tracing the edge of the collar he still wore she smiled seductively and asked, "How did my little pet sleep last night?"

When he didn't answer she grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. He refused to open his eyes however and this gained him several slaps to his already stinging face until he opened them.

He stared at her coldly and this caused her to laugh. Letting go of his chin she stood up letting the sheet fall to the floor exposing her naked flesh. Putting on a nightgown and a robe she walked over to the door and opened it slightly.

She turned towards him and said, "You will join me down stairs for breakfast once you make yourself presentable." After she said that she turned around and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.

He sat there a little longer before standing up himself. He slipped on a pair of boxers and a pair of black jeans that where thrown onto the chair that sat in front of the desk situated next to the bed. Then he put on a pair of boots. He picked up the black t-shirt and slipped both his arms in it but stopped in front of the full-length mirror next to the door. He turned and looked at his back to examine the damage.

There were ten long deep gashes, obviously from her nails, starting in the top center of his back. Five sloped downward right and the other five downward left. He slid his head into the shirt and saw the scratches on his face from when she slapped him. Glaring at the mirror he walked out of the room.

He walked through many halls and down a flight of stairs before reaching the dining room. When he entered he saw Morleena sitting in a tall chair at the head of the table. Seeing him she motioned him to sit down in the chair to her right. He did so and waited patiently for her to finish eating. He was not offered any food himself. He was there only because she wished to speak with him. He was not privileged enough to eat with her as an equal.

He sat there silently, content with staring at the painting of Aphrodite hanging on the wall across form him. His amber eyes showed no emotion. When she was finished she waved her servants away and looked at him seriously.

"I have something I need you to take care of for me," she said.

"What is it?" he asked, only to happy to have a chance to be away from her.

"One of my babies has found another Keeper," she said. "However, an ally to the Chosen One has already contacted him. A young girl.'

"And you wish me to kill her," he stated.

"And bring the Keeper to me," she finished.

"Has Drake not returned then?" he asked.

"No," she answered. "It seems that the Keeper I sent him after was a lot more difficult to attain than expected."

"It's been two months though," he said. "Are you not worried?"

"No," she said coolly, "I trust Drake to get it done."

That sent a small wave of anger through him. If he himself had taken two months to finish a job she would punish him.

He hid the anger well as he stood up and asked, "And where is this Keeper you wish me to find located?"

"On colony XX-6687," she said writing something down on a piece of paper. She handed it to him and said, "Here's a description of the Keeper and the girl." He stood up, took it, bowed to her and walked out of the room.

He reached the front door to her mansion and looked in one of the mirrors situated near it at his completely healed face. He walked out the door relieved that he was finally going to have something to do.

He thought about taking one of his weapons with him but he doubted that this girl would be much of a problem. Plus, one walking around in public with a sword slung to their back usually gains unwanted attention.

On front of the house sat his motorcycle. He growled at the thought of one of her servants putting there filthy hands on it to drive it up here while he checked the black bag on the back to make sure the daggers he always kept in it were safe. Seeing that they were he put on his black helmet and got onto the bike. Starting it up and he drove through the front gate and onto the main street.

<><><><><><> (I don't think I've used this yet. Oh well. This means change of scene)

They were sitting in Corvus' little one room studio apartment. It was quite cozy (in other words, it was extremely small). There was a small kitchen area in one of the corners and on the opposite side of the room was his bed. Next to the bed was a desk with a computer on it. Next to the desk was a door the lead to a closet and next to the kitchen was another that lead to a bathroom. The entrance was across from the desk.

There were no chairs save the one at the computer desk that Destiny was sitting in with Whisper in her lap. Their host plopped himself down onto the bed and asked, "Ok so what do you want to know?"

"Yeah I want to know something," Destiny said sternly. "Why is it that I couldn't find any records of you living here?"

He smiled and said, "Because I got rid of them."

"But why would you do that?" she asked.

"For the exact reason you were looking for me," he said. "But I guess it didn't work as well as I had hoped."

"What are you talking about?" she said. "It works perfectly. I wasn't able to find anything about you. And I'm one of the best hackers in the rebel army." Realizing her mistake too late she brought her hand to her mouth.

However, Corvus took no notice of it and continued, "But you still found me."

'It really was more of an accident,' Whisper said. 'If the two of you hadn't bumped into each other we would still be out there looking for you.'

"Why are you hiding anyway?" asked Destiny.

"Because someone is starting to gather the Keepers," he said.

Whisper stood up, 'No it can't be. Not now. Do you know who?'

He shrugged. "No I don't know who it is but I do know that they have one in their position. Possibly even two by now."

"But they haven't opened any of the gates yet…right?" Destiny asked nervously.

"No they haven't," he said, "and there's no telling when they will."

Whisper looked up at Destiny. 'We have to find the other Keepers and make sure this enemy doesn't get them.'

Corvus clapped his hand together and smiled. "Perfect," he said, "I've been needing to go on a vacation. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning." Realizing the looks that Destiny and Whisper were giving him he said, "C'mon try to look on the bright side. There's no use worrying about it. It'll only make you wrinkle." He started laughing at his own joke.

"I'm sorry but I've never been really good at looking at the bright side of things," Destiny said with a sad looking face.

"Well then I'll tell you what the bright side is," he said. Clearing his throat he stated with a huge smile, "We're not dead," and then with a thoughtful look he added, "…yet."

Destiny fell out of the chair anime style. (You know. With the legs in the air, twitching.) Whisper ungracefully fell on her face.

"What?" asked Corvus. "I'm right aren't I?"

Standing up Whisper said, 'How can you be joking at a time like this?'

"I don't know," he answered, "But I've always been pretty good at it. Especially in the worst of situations."

"I'm sorry Mr. Corvus but I think the end of the world should be taken a bit more seriously than that," Destiny said standing up from her position on the floor.

"Hey just call me Corvus and forget all about that Mr. junk," he said looking at her sternly. A smile spread across his face though as he said, "Besides, formalities scare me. Hey are you hungry? I'll try to make us something to eat." He got up and started rummaging through his cabinets.

'Oh whisper what have I gotten myself into?' Destiny asked.

'A battle that will decide the fate of the universe,' the cat answered.

"Gee thanks for the comforting," She said out load causing Corvus to look over at them.

"Did you say something?" he asked.

Nervously she answered, "No, nothing at all." Then she asked whisper, 'So what do we do with the Keepers after we find them?'

'I can't tell you,' Whisper said

'Why not?'

'I just can't,' she said and left it at that.

To be continued

<Firefly> So how was that.

<Corvus> What have you done to me?!!!

<Firefly> Made you more likable.

<Corvus> MORE LIKABLE!!!!!!!!!!

<Clo> Yeah Corvus I like you a lot better in her story.

<Corvus> *Growl*

<Clo> *poking Corvus* Wow!!! I didn't know birds could growl.

<Firefly> I was going to make this into two chapters but I was getting sick of the short chapters where nothing was happening so I wrote a bigger one.

<Corvus> Nothing happened in this chapter either you know.

<Firefly> I know but next chapter something will.

<Clo> Really? What?

<Firefly> I'll give you a hint. We get to meet my alternate version of someone from the Gundam Wing show.

<Clo> Who?

<Firefly> They have blond hair and that's all I'm telling you.

<Clo> <Corvus> That's not fair.

<Firefly> Sure it is. R&R please and see if you can guess who it is.