The GLOW!

A/N Pardon the esoteric ending – but it has always been planned. I have back burred this – so I am posting the ending now, which has been written for months – I may post intervening chapters eventually – however, for now this is done.

His sleep was dreamless – but not formless. It was as if every experience of his life was cataloged for him, and put in place, all the puzzle pieces fit together and he could see – for the first time his true purpose. He'd always known, he'd stated it many times, but deep down, something always made him question it. Some desire to be something other than what he was – to be better.

He woke freer than he'd been in years, no doubts, no regrets. He went downstairs and fixed breakfast for both of them. She was his – but somehow he doubted he'd ever truly own her. Last night something had happened between them – not just physically, but something else, her power in his mind – accepted freely for what it could give him at the moment somehow fixed whatever was wrong with him. He could feel the rage, touch it, use it, but it no longer consumed him. He had a sudden urge to see her – to thank her for what she'd done.

He took the stairs two at a time. She was up there, waiting, behind that locked door. He wanted to tell her it was done. He had finally understood, he finally knew why he existed. He threw open the door, but the room was empty. The bathroom was as well. There was no sign of her. She couldn't have gotten out, it was impossible. He snarled, and put his fist through the mirror on the dresser. SHE ESCAPED! He had told her, he would track her to the ends of the earth if she tried.

In the shattered mirror he saw a slip of paper lying on the bed. He turned and picked it up. It was folded once, his name on the outside.

Victor:

It is time for me to go. You understand now. You no longer need a keeper of your soul. You truly understand what you are and why. The pain, the anger, the hatred are nothing to fear, they are a part of you. The Glow simply pushed them away. Now you have faced them – faced them and understand.

There are those who are born to be heroes, to fight the good fight, to be noble and good and righteous. There are those who are born to be their opposite. You are one of those. Without you, they cannot exist. Without them, your pain and anger would destroy you. They give you something to focus on, to concentrate all that energy on. Without your darkness, their light would not shine.

You call me Chara…that is partially correct. I am Anam Chara to you. Friend of the Soul…but you no longer need me. You finally are free of your demons. Free to be what you are, without regret. If you love, it will be fully, if you hate it will be freely, if you kill, it will be because that is the creature you are.

Forever:

Anam Chara