The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 6: The path of the Silver wolf.

The Harsh winds of the Alaskan winter blew harshly over the forest of Tongass. A lone shadow darkened the snow as it trekked through the snow slowly. A muscular six-foot-three man in a white robe and red raven-shaped mask carried a small girl with Silver skin and a balaclava on her head. She was no more than four feet tall and wore a dark blue silk dress. Both of them wore clunky brown mukluk boots that the man had made himself.

"Where are we going, Daddy?"  Chirped the little girl in Haidan language as she gently kicked her legs. The man stopped and stood her in the snow. "Home, my child... Home," he said in a soft voice as he knelt down to her level and patted her head before removing her balaclava, revealing her to only have a very small tuft of white hair.

The little girl self-consciously tried to cover her head as she puffed her cheeks out. "But this isn't home! Home is in Florida with Mama and Rosie! ...And my friend Derek too! It's so cold up here I can see my breath! I've never seen anything like it back home," she said as she tried to reach for her balaclava, only for the man to pocket it. 

"I know you haven't, dear..." He said with regret as he took off his robe to reveal his medium brown skin. He was wearing only a black pair of self-made shorts to cover himself, clearly unaffected by the harsh cold around him. "If I had my way, you would have stayed here the day you were born... You can thank your mother for that..." He continued.

"I have heard and seen more than enough of the way children treat you at that 'school' your mother is so adamant we send you and your sister to. All because of your skin and hair color from that accident... While I admit it was unfair to blame your friend Derek, and while I ALSO admit that he has been a good friend helping you fight your battles... We are Haidan... we fight our own battles... So I will be training you properly." He told her while he flexed his muscles.

The little girl gulped. "But Daddy.. I don't like to fight." She tried to protest as she backed away, only to trip and fall on her behind. The man adjusted his mask and shook his head. "This isn't about fun, Sera; this is about Necessity... I  once thought of you as my little Raven, but fate has decided to make you my Silver Wolf... As such, you must be fierce like the wolf; you must fight like the wolf." He answered.

Sera nodded and stood up, taking a beginner's fighting stance. "Yes, Daddy... So what do I do now?" She asked with determination in her eyes. The man chuckled and took a more experienced stance. "Now? For the next six months, I will instill in you the pride of our culture, as well as the skills necessary to defend yourself... Who knows? Maybe one day instead of your friend helping you, you'll be helping him!" He retorted.

Sera's eyes lit up at the thought of fighting alongside Derek. Childish fantasies of them going on adventures together began to fill her mind. "I'm READY, Daddy!" She exclaimed fiercely. The man laughed proudly and nodded. "Excellent, my little Silver wolf! Now... hit me with everything you've got and let that pent-up energy flow!" He told her. Sera nodded and threw the strongest punch we had.

Silver opened her eyes and punched a reinforced five-ton stainless steel punching bag back in a slow, steady rhythm as she chanted. "THAT'S RIGHT, I FIGHT! THAT'S RIGHT! FIGHT!" She chanted as her punches got stronger and stronger. "For my family waiting back home. I FIGHT! In the Darkness when I'm all on my own. I FIGHT! Haidan Ancestors, can't you see? Honor pure and ripe in me! Body trained to suit my need, to meet the demand of my creed. I will pledge this until my last rest! I will pledge this until my last breath! I will pledge this until my great death!" She chanted in flawless timing with her powerful punches.

After a full hour had passed, she adjusted her sky-blue training Bra and matching spandex-lined shorts before chugging her grape-flavored vitamin water. "Good training today...  Perhaps one day Father will see how far I've come." She told herself with a proud nod.

A deep laugh came at the entrance of the gym. "Father? Really, Silver?" You still believe our parents are alive?" asked a dark-skinned woman in a rose-colored dress. Her Dark green boots echoed as she strutted toward Silver nonchalantly, as her long pink ponytail trailed behind her.

"Rosellia... Oh, how I've... MISSED you so much." Said Silver with a strained smile as she reached out for a handshake. Rosellia reached for it, only to lightly pinch the braid of white hair on Silver's head where a Golden ring shined. "I'm sure you have, dear sister... I'm sure you have..." She said as Silver smacked her hand away, causing Rosellia to smirk down at her.

"Well, Silver, I really only dropped by to announce I'd be in this dreary state for a little while... Perhaps later on you can introduce me to this quaint little family you've raised? It's been ever so long since I've seen Derek!" She said, smiling wide enough to show her teeth.

Silver's eyes narrowed hard as she glared up into Rosellia's brown eyes. "Why are you really here? You've never given a damn about me OR Derek! What in god's name could you possibly need to be here for?!" She demanded angrily, to which Rosellia waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, calm down, little sister. I'm merely here on some personal business... maybe when we next meet, I'll talk about it with you, or maybe I'll leave without a trace and never see you again! Where would be the fun in knowing the end result in a story that's just beginning, am I right? Anyway, It's been real, and it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun... have fun praying to the ancestors or whatever Father has you doing!" she said as she waved behind her while leaving the gym.

Silver growled angrily and headed to the shower. "She's nothing more than a brat... She has been ever since we were kids.. Not sure why I thought over a decade of not seeing each other would change that." She said while standing under the near-boiling hot water. "That's fine, my REAL family needs me right now anyway... I need to hurry up and get changed if I want to make that dinner date at Larry's." She told herself as she started her many beautification processes.

After a five-minute lather, a ten-minute rinse, the application of a deep root shampoo, and a matching conditioner, Silver finally stepped out of the shower. She then dried herself off, carefully stepped into a metallic sky blue dress, gently eased her size 8 feet into her white heels, and applied her makeup. "Flawless." She said as she blew a kiss into the mirror.

"Whatever Rosellia has planned, it can wait; right now, Derek and Lisa are my main priorities." She said simply as she got into her army green jeep and zoomed off into the approaching night, all her cares being left behind as she hit the road.

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 5: Money vs. Power.

 The morning sun shone brightly over a large five-story mansion. Darkness rolled his eyes as he drove through the massive plantation of coffee beans. "The man has enough money to buy some offshore island, but he wants it ALLLL in New York... Over the top... Over the top." He said as he pulled into a parking lot just outside the main entrance. Darkness went through his phone and extracted the pictures he took from the previous night onto a portable drive as he walked past a large bronze game. "Collect the money, in and out," he said to himself as he kept walking.

On the uppermost floor, a Young Italian man applied a lint roller to the sleeves of his white three-piece Italian tuxedo as he looked into a dark-tinted mirror made of Pure fine carved Onyx. He casually sat down at his Ebony desk while he waited to see Darkness. "Mmm, such a beautiful day! Let's hope this transition goes quickly," he said with a picture-perfect smile while a soft knock rapidly struck his door. "Come in! Come in!" He said happily, only to be taken aback as a young woman walked in wearing a blood-red sequin dress and black heels.

This woman had a creamy white complexion and a diamond-shaped face. Her red pupils locked on his ice blues as she glared at him. "AH! KARRYN! To what do I owe this unexpected intrusion?" He asked as he placed a Solid gold coffee thermos on a personal heater. 

Karryn smirked softly and levitated into a seated position out of her heels, resting her feet on Mr. Capryse's desk. "Tony tony tony.., It's been way too long... Seems like only yesterday I was making a deal with a young up-and-coming little brat in the crime world... Can you remind me what that deal was?" She asked as she looked across the table.

Mr. Capryse just smiled back at her, waiting for his Coffee to heat up, causing Karryn's own smile to turn to a sneer. "Well, allow me to remind you! I give you access to not only aura, but aurian knowledge... and YOU use that knowledge to grant me my aurian army! I see plenty of employees around this admittedly beautiful piece of real estate... But aurian enriched beings? I'm afraid you are in... Short supply." She finished.

The sound of bubbles slowly forming in Mr. Capryse's Thermos could be heard, causing him to gently pick it up and open it while he added two sugar packets to it before taking a sip. "About that... First off, you didn't give me Aura as part of our deal; you exposed me to it before telling me what it was." He said as he poured Karryn a cup without even asking her if she wanted one.

"Secondly, you tasked me with using the research you had from your own world... This 'Aurian Realm' if you will, which you won't even tell me the full name of yet... And expect me to just make you an Aura-powered army to use as you will. I'm curious, if it was that easy, why in god's name do you need me?"

"Listen here, you arrogant brat! Don't you DARE question ME! GIVE ME WHAT I WANT OR I WILL PERSONALLY-!" 

"You did this because you know perfectly well that if you just took a bunch of people to your home and gave them powers, they'd turn on you at the drop of a hat! But me? I establish loyalty where I can, and my wife, Saryn? She's FASCINATED with the human brain... I have indeed been using the knowledge you've given me... Capryse Coffee is my best-selling product because my Aura-enriched soil allows these beans to grow year-round with minimal care. I use the profits I generate to fund my Wife's endeavors, and we use the fruit of those labors to study who and when to bestow Aura upon." He exclaimed patiently.

Karryn's eyes narrowed as her nostrils flared, causing black and red flames to blow out. DECADES LATER, mind you! Your research means nothing if it takes this long to reap the rewards! All the other dimensions I have traveled have borne fruit by now... While YOU, Antonio Capryse, have nothing to show! I GAVE You all this wealth! I can burn it to the ground all the same!" 

Mr. Capryse smiled softly as he held out his hand, forming a crystallized comedy mask over his face. "I'm having a good day, Karryn, don't turn it bad..." He told her as spikes began to grow from it at the sight of red and black flames emanating from Karryn's now dark pink body. 

Before the first blow was struck, the door was forced open. Darkness slowly walked in and sat down in a seat across from Mr. Capryse's desk. "Alright, sir, let's get this done and over with. The wife texted me, says we got dinner later, you understand." He said as he locked eyes with Mr. Capryse, who had quickly made the mask disappear.

"Get out now, boy! This is between your boss and me!" Said Karryn as she threatened him with a black fireball. Darkness glared up at her. "Halloween isn't for a while now, I had an appointment... Now, be patient, and you can carry on with whatever this is when I clock out." He told her with crossed arms. 

Karryn gritted her teeth as she brought her hand back. "I'll teach you some respect!" She said as she threw a fireball at him. Darkness's eyes narrowed as his body turned black, stepping backward through the chair as black tendrils emerged from his back. "I suggest you take this temper tantrum outside, ma'am... I am NOT in the mood." He warned.

Karryn froze in her tracks at the sight of Darkness's powers. After a few minutes, her lips curved upward into a smile. "I see... Seems you HAVE been doing your task... Very well then, Tony, I am pleased with these developments... What is your name, boy?" She asked as she looked at Darkness. 

"Darkness..." He answered as he powered down and sat back in his chair. Karryn just nodded. "Darkness... I'll be keeping an eye on you. Knowing your closeness with Tony, I'll see about a job offer for you down the line... Until next time." She said as she walked out.

Darkness lowered his eyes as he turned to Mr. Capryse. "Are we going to discuss who that was?" He asked. Mr. Capryse just laughed and shook his head. "Perhaps later, but there's no fast explanation for that, and I believe you said you had dinner reservations?" He asked as he cleared his Desk.

Darkness just nodded and got his pictures ready to present. He had many questions to ask about who Karryn was, but he had been working his job long enough to know that every question he got answered would raise more questions, and he would prefer to get back home as quickly as possible.

As Karryn left the mansion, she smirked softly and took to the sky. "Well then, Darkness... Let's see what my very first knight is like." She said while preparing her watch. Before this night was over, she'd have everything she needed to wrap Darkness under her thumb, and if she had her way, countless others would join him.