Out Of the Darkness

Chapter 38

Acheron's mercury eyes snapped open hearing a sudden caterwauling sound that irritated his sensitive hearing. Annoyance thrummed through him, he had literally just fallen asleep after coming in from a hard nights work keeping the streets of New Orleans safe, sticking mostly to the graveyards. With a sudden blink he was up and dressed, the annoyance giving way to curiosity, especially when he pinpointed where the sound was coming from. He remembered the day very clearly, Harry had gone to deal with the police officers who had almost killed their Dark-Hunter - and he still couldn't get used to it, no longer beholden to Artemis - he had returned utterly blood soaked and muttering under his breath as he borrowed one of Simi's jewels promising she could get three in replace of the one he took, which of course Simi acquiesced to the request. The most beautiful sight had to be his eyes, his green eyes had been clearer than normal, glowing with power and ringed with mercury, his eye colour. One that Harry always seemed so fond off had never once been disgusted by.

-0 FLASH BACK 0-

Ash felt Harry's teleportation into Katoteros, five seconds later Harry was making his way towards one of the many empty rooms that made up his home, their home. He was covered in blood, he was positive he even noticed a tooth in his hair; his hands however, were cleaned promptly. Ash followed him, wishing to discuss what he had seen and done to the officers, but judging by his muttering he wasn't sure they were even on Harry's mind at the moment.

Harry of course, felt Ash's presence, even when he was guarding his powers, making him seem mediocre at best, but even that didn't put it off. He had a very, very drawing presence; even Non-magicals realize there was something about Ash they best avoid. He would need an amethyst; it would work best with what he had to do. Inwardly thanking Remus for his smarts, for without him Harry wouldn't have thought to even do this, he was an idiot for not doing it sooner.

"Simi, may I borrow an amethyst from you?" Harry questioned, having noticed that Simi was definitely not on Ash's back.

"Why does Akri need my stones?" Simi asked, not making an appearance, she could hear them just fine from where she was.

Harry's lips twitched, she was pouting, "I'll give you three of your own choosing if you let me have one," he bargained, knowing she wouldn't be able to say no to that. Ash was smirking as he watched him evidently curious about what he was planning.

"Akri-Harry can take just one," Simi said pleasantly enough, but that tone was usually only used when she wanted to eat someone with her BBQ sauce.

"Thank you," Harry said wryly, smiling in wicked amusement. Extending his right arm out, his hand and fingers curled slightly as though he was holding a ball in his hand. A few moments later, quite a large amethyst smacked with a thud in his outstretched hand. Triumphantly, he placed it and secured it on a marble table, it sank in, preventing the jewel from moving from its place.

Ash observed the stone his mercury eyes barely concealing his curiosity. He wasn't familiar with Wizardkind magic, which was very, very different from his own god powers. "What will it do?" he enquired, his usual mysterious persona missing but he stood there no less intimidating, well except if you were Simi, Kat, his mother, Harry and of course a few others who actually knew him such as Savitar.

"How often do the gods come down from Olympus these days?" Harry asked, as he waved his hand, a map zooming out of nowhere and began to unfold, a glowing red circle emitting small beeps as it moved around the world map.

"Apollo and Artemis were the only two who have in the last century, all others have their business is conducted up there," Ash answered, it wasn't the norm for the gods to visit anymore, Artemis and Apollo both did for very different reasons, Apollo for sex and to ensure the continuation of his doomed line, while Artemis usually came down for him. Neither could accomplish that feat anymore, at least Artemis couldn't, Harry had ensured that.

"Except when Hecate visited me," Harry pointed out absently, grimacing as he was once again reminded of the blood on him.

"What happened?" Ash frowned, once again reminded of Harry's bloodthirstiness. Not that it was a bad thing, he loved his Matera even knowing what she would do if she got free. It wasn't as though Harry had ever hidden the jaded side from him, in fact Harry thought he was too soft, but Ash genuinely believed that just because you could do something didn't mean you should. He had seen and done enough in his life, he just wished for peace and thanks to Harry that was fast becoming a reality.

"The police offers were found lacking humanity," Harry said bitterly, once again thinking of the awful memories and shuddering, that itself probably told Ash a great deal of information on what the officers were truly like and what they had probably done. They deserved a lot worse, and would have done so, if not for his violate reaction not five minutes ago. Closing his eyes, he put his mind shields up to maximum, having no desire to see what they had done again. They had caused so much hurt and pain, not just to his Dark-Hunters, but humans who had been just as utterly helpless against the officers. They were supposed to uphold the law, not take it into their own hands; Merlin there was no words for their depravity. They were worse than the people they arrested, they had no honour, no pride, just greed and selfishness taking whatever they wanted, murdering whoever they wished.

"What is the spell looking for?" Ash asked, the beeping was intermittedly, going from one country to the next, it was…fascinating.

"This spell will track any magic used by gods, I am using a little of the magic Hecate and your mum gave me to anchor it, if it works…I might actually be able to find Selene and Helios." he had promised Apollymi to do everything he could to see her freed and he would live up to that promise. Nobody in this world deserved their mother more than Ash did.

Ash wanted to ask 'why' it was on the tip of his tongue but he already knew why, Harry wished to replace Artemis and Apollo with the older gods, the titans and thus free his mother. She was bound by her word to kill Apollo and Artemis and if she did not, she would die herself, and that wasn't something his Matera would contemplate. Almost as if Harry could hear his thoughts, Harry began speaking yet again. If Apollo and Artemis hadn't tried to screw Harry over and remove the love he felt for him, he didn't think this would be happening. Harry was very, very vindictive when wronged.

"If this worked the way I wanted it to…it will lead me to Helios and Selene, the gods of the sun and the moon, we know how to transfer the powers over, your mum can get the revenge she deserved without destroying the world…and they can pay the price for what they've done…added to it, I think…I think it might end the curse on Apollo's bloodline," Harry said, licking his lips.

Ash inhaled sharply, the thought of that being true was…quite breathtaking. No more Daimons, no more souls being taken from innocent humans. All this was almost too good to be true, he had gotten used to the way things were and thought they'd never change. Then Harry came into his life and changed everything, made him realise he was worthy, and was going to such extreme lengths to give him his Matera back and stop a war that had been fought in the shadows for long from continuing. The fact he wanted to was mesmerising, he didn't think he could love Harry anymore than he already did - yet he was proven wrong. Each day Harry surprised him, and that love grew greater still more so than even learning that they were soul mates. Even if it didn't work, Harry was doing this for him, and he would never forget.

"It won't affect those who've already changed of course, but those who have yet to reach the dreaded age…they'll live," Harry answered, "I think the curse is attached to Apollo if it's the magic though…then I'm wrong." he didn't think he was though. "It's difficult to be one hundred percent sure though, I've seen curses like the ones on Apollo's blood, it wasn't until the Headmaster of Hogwarts changed that it died off, and the curse that ensured that no Defence teacher could keep his or hers position for longer than a year deteriorated."

Harry held his hands against the purple stone, pouring in his magic, and it was strong immense magic, it would need to be if he was to find the two gods…albeit if they were even alive at this point. Harry gasped out and began to sway, having used a lot of his magic and reserves to do the spell, he didn't fall though, as Ash reached out and grasped a hold of him. Harry simply closed his eyes reverently, trusting Ash wholly and completely, and with that he fell unconscious.

-0 END FLASHBACK 0-

"It worked," Harry said breathlessly, an elated laugh slipping past his lips, an entire month had gone by since he'd done that spell, he honestly thought it would either never work or it would take centuries if ever for the gods to use their magic. Of course, it may very well be some other god sneaking down to do Merlin knows what…there was no saying whether it was the gods he was aiming for. "I almost can't believe it! But it worked!"

Ash merely observed his fiancé's jubilation, grateful that the loud shrieking was no longer grating on his sensitive hearing. He was actually surprised too, he hadn't expected it to work, but hadn't told Harry this. Nobody had seen or heard such a whisper of the Titan gods of the moon and sun since the Olympians had taken over. Zeus couldn't find them, even Artemis and Apollo couldn't, and they had searched high and low for the pair since it was conceivable that the two could return and fight them for their place. "Were you able to make a good excuse to Margaret?" he commented, as the beeping red light circled a particular area of France if he was reading it correctly.

"We were finished, I was just helping her put away the rest of her shopping," Harry said smiling sweetly, he was very fond of the older woman, she was kind and caring, a truly generous and beautiful soul who helped anyone in need. The fact she had remained that was truly the most wondrous miracle. Harry would continue to ensure nobody messed with her or took advantage of her kindness. He might not be staying across the road from her anymore, but he went by when he could regretfully had to spin a few lies about his life when she asked, but most of it was the truth, he'd moved in with his fiancé, not feeling truly comfortable about the break-in or the fact someone had been watching his home. She'd proclaimed that Ash was a keeper and never to take him for granted. In fact, Ash had come a few times, extremely protective over him, due to his pregnancy, he was over six months pregnant now, not that anyone would be able to tell. If he had a tight fitting shirt on maybe, but the small bulge was easily concealed. "She misses you," she was under the impression that Ash worked as a private investigator, that he was his own boss. It gave him the liberty to leave if he must or not there at all.

Ash nodded, wrapping his arms around Harry, incapable of not touching him for a second more. Their schedules were hectic, they didn't spend near enough time together as either would like. Between Harry's searches, independent study, his lessons with Savitar and Takeshi, meeting up with the others in Sanctuary, helping out when he needed to. Visiting Margaret and of course, any calls that came when Ash was otherwise indisposed. Ash had always been busy, but without Artemis in his life…he had so much more free time, and that free time spent pain-free. "How are you both?" he still couldn't see anything, all he knew was that he was having a son, and saw the picture of the scans. It was as liberating as it was painful; he just wanted to know that both of them were going to be fine. He had spoken to Carson quite a few times and they had everything ready for when the time came, how it would come though was a mystery to them all.

"He's becoming more and more active," Harry said amused, glancing down at the hand splayed protectively over the small bump. Even after over a month of knowing he was pregnant his mind was still unable to truly comprehend it. He doubted he ever would, he just didn't have the damn equipment for it to happen for Merlin's sake. It shouldn't be possible, but it was, he and Ash were going to have a son in three months time. They were going to be fathers, but they couldn't both use that term without ending up confused, "What exactly is he going to call us? We both can't be dad?"

Ash mused thoughtfully at that, burying his nose into Harry's neck as his fiancé leaned back snuggling into him.

"I know Bampas is Greek for papa or dad if you will, but you aren't Greek you're Atlantean, is it insulting?" Harry questioned casually, tapping his wand on the paper world map as the spell continued to get the location of the god's right down to where they were, name of the street and all.

"The languages are very similar," Ash answered, "As you've told me time and time again, the past is the past, I want to think of the future…" and having his child calling him by the Atlantean or Greek version of father was definitely not going to help him keep the past where it belonged. He had been living in the darkness for so long, he refused to go back to it, and not when Harry had coaxed him out into the bright, bright sunlight figuratively of course. "Papa sounds good," he would be there when his child spoke for the first time, they wouldn't grow up knowing who he was and unable to tell him a damn thing. "My daughter and Sin have invited us to dinner next week," and that was when he planned on telling her that he was having a son younger than his granddaughter.

"Which ones Sin? Was he there that night at Sanctuary?" relishing in the warmth and comfort Ash provided, idly tapping his wand against the paper.

"He was," Ash confirmed warm bursting in his veins as he remembered what happened at the beginning of that night, so many others standing with him despite the fact it may have been the death of them. He wasn't used to it, and would never get used to it, Harry hadn't been there but he had a feeling Harry would have just stood there smugly, with an 'a told you so' look on his face. "Black hair, topaz coloured eyes, taller than you,"

Harry laughed, "That's not hard to do, and I think I remember him, he was one of the last few to go home, well other than Zarek that is." most of the Dark-Hunters were taller than him, they'd evidently been kept in grow bags growing up, they were also absolutely stunning creatures, he could admit that, not that he felt anything for them, beauty wasn't everything, he'd rather have someone who could understand him after all and he'd found that in Ash without even looking. "Can't wait, home cooked dinner sounds really good actually," he and Ash had been so lazy lately, just teleporting into cafes or getting take away food for their meals.

The red halo around the map beeped once more before becoming redder and less translucent in colour before ceasing to pulse. Harry actually looked at it for the first time, "Hum, France, not what I expected, I'll be honest, Cassis, huh, you coming?" glancing at Ash. He understood if Ash didn't come, after all they were still gods and he wasn't exactly a favourite…understatement really.

"Yes," Ash replied immediately, as if he was going to let Harry go alone and face two gods…he'd rather die than let anything happen to him, and they had no idea who they were truly facing, whether it was Selene and Helios so, yes, he would go with him to ensure both Harry and his sons safety. "Are you sure I can't talk you out of this?" he asked again, already knowing the answer.

"I didn't come this far to back out now," Harry said determinedly, he would if it killed him, free Apollymi, give Ash his mother back and deal with those two undeserving gods who thought they had the right to do whatever they liked to the god he loved. Plus, he was truly curious to know if he was right or not. "You be careful, I mean it, don't do anything to get hurt…" or killed but he didn't dare say it, couldn't say it, he wouldn't be able to live without Ash.

"I won't," Ash promised him, even though he knew he wouldn't keep it if anything looked to be happening to Harry, who knows what stress could do to the baby or Harry so he would try and keep his word. Thankfully he hadn't worded it in a way that would make sure Ash had to keep his promise. Their word was law after all, and he knew that more than anyone else. It worked regardless as Harry relaxed against him again.

With the location in mind (full address) he teleported them out of their home and straight to France.

The heat was pleasant and reminded Harry of their brief stint in Greece.

"Shall we go to a café and wait?" Harry suggested, in no hurry to get home and definitely in no hurry to sit outside someone's home and watch the area like an idiot.

Ash agreed, Harry was extremely hungry these days, eating more than he normally would, but considering he was eating for two it was perfectly normal. The café didn't hinder their view of the home that was supposed to be the house the gods were currently residing in. considering all the boxes it was safe to say that they were just moving in, perhaps that was why Harry had sensed their powers, as they obviously would make their home secure as possible, added with trying to keep the gods from finding them…well that required a lot more intricate powers which left them momentarily vulnerable to detection.

Harry bought himself a large order of food, while Ash informed the woman that he didn't want anything. Harry's green eyes gleamed as he passed over a blood pop, all the while licking his lips. Although they did purse slightly when met with the shades he liked so much to cover his eyes.

Suddenly Harry stuttered and began choking on his own drink twenty minutes later.

Ash was vaulting out the chair, patting at Harry's back, eyeing his surrounding suspiciously.

"Bloody hell," Harry croaked, eyeing the two new 'owners' of the property they'd been watching. His mind flashing back to his first year, vividly reminded of the portraits of the wizard and witches he was seeing before him. The first book he'd seen them in was just pencilled portraits, but a few others…as well as the chocolate frog were in colour.

Ash frowned, "What is it?" he could sense their powers now, there was no denying they were the gods Selene and Helios but he was mostly wondering at Harry's reaction.

"T-they're well, they're better known in my world as Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel, the only known makers of the Philosopher stone." not that they needed a damn bloody stone, they were immortal, was anything about the stone true or merely a ruse to play off the fact they had stayed in one area longer than should be humanly possible? Harry's hands gripped the chair tightly feeling very angry and betrayed, he had felt so badly because Dumbledore had destroyed that stone, he had felt as though he had caused the inevitable deaths of the Flamel's…and all along…Merlin help him, he was so angry.

And Dumbledore? Was Dumbledore actually alive? He had the favour of two gods…swallowing thickly, flashing back to the way the Headmaster's office had been…was it possible? Was anything truly what he thought it was?

"Do you wish to return home?" Ash asked Harry looked furious, he couldn't risk any displays of power happening here, and the supernatural world must be protected at all costs.

"No," Harry said stiffening up determinedly, "Not without them." they would get to go home just as long as they weren't as bad as Artemis and Apollo. He wasn't sure how he would prove it, but he would find a way. They'd obviously been hiding a very long time, with a few stipulations he was sure they'd agree to his conditions, and they would need to keep their word.

He still couldn't believe it, Perenelle and Nicolas Flamel were gods.

There we go! Will Ash bring Teddy as a surprise for their wedding? Doing something for Harry even though Harry is terrified of what his godson will think of him for leaving? I actually got the idea to use the Flamels by Spenning :) so big thanks to them :D I did intend to have it more dramatised well Harry being more dramatic when he figure out who it was but I'm happy with the outcome...which is getting closer and closer to its end thank goodness! AS much as I love the story its been one of the most difficult ones to end...so there we go! Hope you're still enjoying it! R&R please