The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 11 Part 3: Three years ago

     "That was a colossal waste of time... Why the hell am I even going to these therapy sessions?" Asked Derek as he pulled a full whiskey bottle out and started gulping loudly. Lisa just glared at him and put a hand on her hip. "THAT'S why you dumbass. Ever since you got back, you've done nothing but drink enough to kill 5 men a day! And when I ask you to stop, you just say cryptically dark shit like 'Whatever kills me makes me stronger!' like a loner edge lord!" She told him as they got in Silver's jeep. Derek stood up in the back passenger seat as he always did, even though it was illegal, while Lisa sat behind Silver. "We've run out of options it seems... We can always try this new experimental drug that was government-funded... The therapist recommended it." Said Lisa as they sped home." Derek scoffed at the idea "Drugs? Really? You really want me to trust my mental health to a co-dependency?" He asked while sipping more whiskey. Lisa just lowered her eyes at the bottle. "Wouldn't be the first time..." She stated. Darkness finished the bottle and grunted, "Quit judging me for drinking!" He yelled before Lisa smacked the bottle out of his hand. "I'm NOT judging you for drinking! I like to party too! But THIS?! This is just killing yourself to run away from your problems! I just... I want my brother back! The one who carried me on his shoulders when I was down! The one who watched me during my music lessons!" She said frantically, tears streaming down her eyes. Derek just sighed and nodded slowly. "Fine.... if it means that much to you... I'll give this stuff a try." He relented. Lisa wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly as she nodded.

    Derek sighed Nervously at the waiting lobby of Pure Mind Solutions with Silver at his side. He was never really told what this 'Neural Nirvana Injection' really did, or how it was supposed to help with his PTSD, but it had the backing of multiple therapists in the area, so he was willing to trust it. "Alright, Mr. Sonata... We are ready to see you now." Said a Tall blonde woman in a black suit with a white robe around her. Derek noted her nametag and nodded. "Yes, Dr. Saryn..." He said as he waved to Silver. "Hope this works!" She told him supportively as he nervously nodded. Derek sighed and sat at an offered chair as he showed his arm. "So uh... Doc.... How exactly does this... work?" He asked apprehensively. Saryn laughed and stepped out of the room, after a few minutes her voice came over the intercom. "Don't worry Mr. Sonata, Neural Nirvana works by routing dopamine into the stressful parts of your brain, with a strong enough reroute, it should push away those awful repressed thoughts!" She said as some medical staff slowly came in and took his arm. Derek braced himself as he felt the thick needle enter his arm. As the syringe emptied into him, he felt a light calming sensation. Derek slowly began to smile as the stressful thoughts subsided. In fact, those thoughts of war felt good. he began to grin wide as he thought about the people he killed like he had the chance to do it all again. He reached out and began punching brutally at the soldiers he saw, with beyond-normal strength. He laughed Maniacally as he gleefully slammed someone's head into the wall repeatedly, leaving a bloody stain on the wall. Finally, he looked down and saw a frightened enemy backing away, he reached out and grabbed him by the throat and lifted him above his head as he grinned even harder. Slowly the drug in his system began to wear off and his eyes widened when he saw the soldier he was holding turned into a panicking Silver. He dropped her quickly and looked around, the 'soldiers' he killed were medical staff... he had killed innocent people while high on a drug he trusted... "I... I'm sorry Silver!" He said as he sprinted off with Silver trying to get him to come back.

    Derek sobbed in an abandoned apartment he found shelter in as he looked in the mirror, any of the calming effects the drug gave him were gone, and he felt far worse than ever, but nothing felt worse than the guilt he felt over almost killing his own wife. "Why... Why do I keep messing up?" He screamed into the mirror as he tried once again to drink himself to death. the memory of everything he did started repeating stronger in his mind. "I Just wanted... to be normal again." He grunted as he pulled his Colt 1911 out of his holster and looked at it. "Sorry, Lisa..." He said as he put it to the left side of his head and fired. Everything went black for a as Derek hit the floor, Then slowly he opened his eyes again. "Is this death? I feel better at least." He said as he stood back up and looked in the mirror. Derek had blood from where the bullet had gone, but he noticed far more than that. His sun-damaged face was now clear, and his hair was a vibrant Dark purple. He gasped in astonishment as black tendrils grew from his back. "I.... have Aura! OH MY GOD, I HAVE AURA!" He exclaimed as he put his gun away. "I Gotta tell Lisa and Silver!" He said as he ran off.

    Silver was on the phone frantically trying to find where Derek had gone when she saw him sprinting into the house. "You're back!" She said as Derek hugged her. "Yeah! and I Transcended! I have aura now!" He said as he showed off his tendrils and hair. Silver nodded "Amazing! How on earth did you achieve that?" She asked in shock as she looked at him. Derek smiled, "It happened when I shot myself!" He blurted out. Silver felt as though her heart broke. "Y-you tried to kill yourself?!" She asked in a panic. Derek just laughed, "Who cares?! If I knew that's all it took, I would have tried it sooner!" He said in excitement. Silver gasped in shock as tears ran down her once flawless face before she hit him hard in the jaw. "YOU SELFISH BASTARD!" She yelled as he hit a wall from the force of the punch. "WHAT WOULD LISA AND I HAVE DONE IF WE LOST YOU! WHO CARES ABOUT A NEW TRICK?!" She asked as Derek held his jaw. "Oh my god..... I'm sorry..." Said Derek as the clarity finally caught up to him. Silver just hugged him tight and sobbed into the nape of his neck. For the first time in a long time, Silver wasn't flawless, she was a mess.

    Derek sighed softly as the weeks passed. With Silver and now Lisa both stressed out over his attempt on his own life, he needed a job to get his mind off things. But with a dishonorable discharge on his record, trust in him was low. Word on the street was that he could get a job as muscle for some rich guy, Derek knew him as Mr. Capryse. The job sounded out of Derek's comfort zone but Derek needed the time away from home, so Derek arranged the meeting as quickly as he could. Mr. Capryse smiled softly as he sipped his coffee, "So Derek Sonata... you come to me asking for a job... Well, I can offer you that!" He said with a grin. Derek was caught off guard almost instantly. "I uh... didn't even say anything... your information is good!" He said nervously. Mr. Capryse just laughed and nodded. "I suppose it is, but anyway let's talk! I need a contract killer! Quick and Efficient! Your military record says you were good at that! Cept the discharge! Think you can do that?" He asked with a grin. There was a long pause before Derek nodded. "Yeah... Yeah, I can." He said confidently. Mr. Capryse nodded and pulled up Derek's Bank information. "SPLENDID! Now first thing's first! You'll need a code name! Ya got one?" He asked curiously. For Derek, there was only one name he could possibly use. The one all his friends gave him so long ago. "It's Darkness." He said firmly. Mr. Capryse nodded and wrote it down. "Edgy! I love it... Welcome aboard DARKNESS! Hope you like coffee, we love it here!" He told him. Darkness just nodded and took a cup. He just eyed himself in the mirror as Mr. Capryse told him about his job. Derek Sonata was gone, all that was left... Was Darkness.

    

The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 11 Part 2: Three years ago

    Derek sighed softly and set up a spot six hundred meters from the spot Truck marked on the map. "Little far for firing range for my liking, but this should do." He said as Xaldin got in a firing position with a scoff. "Puh-LEEEEEZE Darkness, this baby can fire up to thirty-six hundred meters, and you best believe I could nail that shot! Still wish they would have put me through sniper school... Shouldn't have lost my temper over that Autism joke...." Said Xaldin with a defeated sigh at the end. Derek just raised a brow, "There's that word again... My little sister got diagnosed with 'High functioning Autism' and I don't know what that means... Like she grasps things one way but doesn't with others? What does that mean? Like she's smart, but a little dumb?" He asked curiously. Xaldin grimaced and leered at him. "It MEANS she does well in certain aspects of social interaction but struggles in certain ways.... another term would be 'Neurodivergent' No it doesn't mean she's 'a little dumb'... I thought YOU'd be better than that." He responded coldly. Derek just put his hands up. "Sorry sorry! I don't know what that means! One moment I'm in high school, the next I minute I'm marrying my girlfriend so I can adopt my little sister and then joining the Army... All I really know is..... this." He said as they looked out at the bunker where the enemy was supposed to be stationed. Xaldin just nodded and sighed. "Sorry... It's just a touchy subject for me... I barely got in due to my own diagnosis, and it's caused a few fights... some people lump it in with 'Mental retardation' and it pissed me off to be called that so many times... it's cost me a lot of opportunities." He explained. Derek nodded and sighed. "That's fair, I'm sorry if I offended you... Thanks for the lesson." He told him as they prepared for alternating shifts.

    A couple days passed and Fatigue started taking its toll on Derek and Xaldin. "Hey man, I think we should try and get back to base." Said Derek, but Xaldin just leered at the bunker. "They'll pop out as soon as we leave... No, I'm not leaving until I hear the soft rewarding 'Plink' sound of my firing pin connecting with the bullet." Said Xaldin. Derek shook his head and looked at their Assault packs. "Look man, with the gear I took off Truck and Golem... we only have a few days out here left at most... It was a long hike this far as is... if we don't"

"Plink.... Plink... Plink..." Said Xaldin over and over while he stared out at the bunker. Darkness just tried to relax so he could be ready for his shift. 'It's YOUR fault Truck and Golem died!' Derek just sat up at that, but he saw Xaldin muttering while staring at the bunker. "We've been in the heat too long Xaldin..." Said Derek before rolling over.

    Three Days had passed and Derek had predicted correctly, they were out of supplies. Derek was starting to get worried about the trip back even more, and the nightmares were really starting to wear him down. "Xaldin... buddy... I think we might be fucked." He said, but Xaldin just began chuckling. "Any minute now First Sergeant... Plink... Plink... Plink!" He said with a dehydrated rasp in his throat. "Fuck man.... look we can't just stay out here... I'm going to see if I can steal some supplies, Cover me.  He said nervously, hoping Xaldin was still mentally intact enough to understand him as he got up and travelled slowly to the bunker.

    Darkness kept his rifle at the low ready, his vision was a bit foggy from fatigue and dehydration, but he knew it was do or die at the moment. As he got to the bunker, he noticed a camera pointed at him and quickly tried to circle back. The sound of a gunshot hit Derek's senses before the feeling of a bullet penetrating the right side of his chest did. Derek winced and fell as he coughed. At long last the bunker finally opened and six men came out laughing and mocking Derek as he crawled backwards. Derek glared as they could tell through their body language and attempts to sound American they were mocking him. "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!?" He demanded as they spat in his face and hit him in the forehead with an AK-47. Adrenaline was all that was keeping Derek Conscious as he spat blood back at them. "WELL GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU WANT! I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE! I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE!!!" He screamed as the one who hit him put the barrel of their AK-47 to his head. Derek just closed his eyes as he heard a gunshot, then blinked as he heard five more, Xaldin had shot them all in the head while laughing maniacally and yelling "PLINK!" loud enough for the echo to reach Derek... Derek just coughed and nodded. "Yeah.... Plink buddy..... Plink..." He muttered before passing out from his wounds. 

Derek grunted and woke up what felt like an eternity later as he sat up. "Hngh.... how long was I out?" He grunted while looking around, he was back in the medical section of the base. Lieutenant Smith just glared at him. "A WEEK!" He muttered as Derek looked around. "Where's Staff Sergeant Xavien Aldin?" He asked frantically, but Smith just scoffed. "That babbling loon is being sent home for medical discharge." He explained. Derek gritted his teeth as tears began to drop from his eyes. "I didn't... get to say goodbye." He muttered. Smith just rolled his eyes. "If I were you I'd worry about yourself... You left base for some revenge mission because two soldiers died? WE OUGHT to strip you of your rank." He said sternly. Derek gritted his teeth harder as he glared up at Smith, but Smith just continued on. "It was a mistake to promote you in the first place, you're too young and emotional... not that you were ever leadership material... honestly I'm counting the days until you get someone else kil-" Smith was cut off by a mean left hook to the jaw from Derek. Smith screamed out in pain from his broken jaw as the medical staff rushed in, but Derek was still ready for more as Smith was taken away.

    Within the next month, Derek Sighed as he touched down in New York where Silver had moved with Lisa while he was Deployed. Derek was given the ultimatum of Dishonorable discharge, or time in a Military prison, and with his friends either dead or no longer accessible, the choice had been made clear. "BIG BRO!" Said a young blonde girl that Derek barely recognized as Lisa hugged him close. Lisa had grown so much that it felt like Derek barely knew her anymore. "I missed you SO much! I have a lot to tell you and-" But she stopped in horror when she saw that far-off look in Derek's eyes, she felt trapped in Darkness as if his very existence was pure pain for both of them. in her recoil, she let go and watched as Derek walked to Silver, who offered a hug. It was in Silver's Arms that finally, at long last, Derek felt fully at peace. Silver and Lisa just looked at each other in shock as the man they knew was clearly gone... This Derek... was a million-piece puzzle... one they knew they'd have to put back slowly if they even could.

The Aurian Chronicles: Chapter 11 Part 1: 3 years ago

                                                                 Flashback 

The hot sun beat down over the Middle Eastern desert. A local FOB had been packed with tents filled with soldiers ready to head out for their approved missions. Staff Sergeant Xavier Aldin sighed softly as he barged into The first Sergeant's tent with breakfast chow in hand. "Wakey wakey Darkness, you're needed at HQ!" he said with a chipper smile while he watched a hung over Derek Sonata slowly get out of bed. Xaldin for the last time, it's First Sergeant now. Keep the cringy callsigns saved for missions." He said with a grimace while quickly getting dressed and blousing his boots. Xaldin just laughed and shook his head, "No can do top, rank up to Command fuckin' Sergeant Major for all I care, you'll always be the deep voiced young punk who shams out of every day mission he can so he can drink all night... you're lucky you even made to Staff Sergeant, I don't even know how you got to be Top!" Teased Xaldin. Derek just rolled his eyes. "And I don't know how I got stuck with such a disrespectful NCO." he retorted, but Xaldin waved him off. That's because I am the one who always covered your shifts you ungrateful fucker! you made your rank in TEN years, bare bones it's usually it's fifteen minimum, and daily courses or not, you'd still be my rank without all the slack your team took for you." He said with a grin. There was a pause as Derek faced him. "You're right... Thank you Xaldin." He told him as he went off for his mission briefing.

Derek sighed tensely as he looked around the convoy. He didn't like how spread out his team was, nor did he like the multiple changes the Officers were making. This entire Operation is turning out to be a shit sandwich... I don't want my men to be the ones that take a bite.." He muttered in the back of his Humvee. First Lieutenant Smith just glared at him, "First Sergeant Sonata, you JUST got your rank! Don't go thinking we won't take it if you don't stop questioning authority!" He yelled. Derek glared at the lanky man and just looked out the window. Before he could finish his thought, an explosion went off in front of them and took out the front of their vehicle. "IED!" Called Derek as he helped Smith out of the truck before checking on his Driver. "Call up the report, I'm going to check on the other trucks. He told Smith before running to make sure the other trucks were okay. After a few minutes, Derek heard gunfire off in the distance. "We're too spread too thin! I told you! he yelled at Smith as they filled empty seats and scurried back to base.

The next week had Derek as anxious as ever. The multiple papers he had to sign were nothing, most of his men were gone out on missions, some of them even missing for a few days Xaldin being one of the only ones left. After a few more days had passed, Derek could no longer take it and joined a rescue team, almost throwing a fit that the equipment was the top priority. "I don't care about toys, I want my troops back," he told Smith to his face before heading out. After a few hours, Derek saw a junked Humvee and stopped the truck he was on. he took Xaldin with him and followed the tracks in the sand. what he saw chilled him to the bone, it was two soldiers from his company, a seven foot tall muscular man with brown hair and blue eyes, and a similarly built African American man with a scar on his right cheek. "TRUCK! GOLEM!" HE screamed as he checked their wounds. Both men just coughed and leaned up "Heya Darkness.... lovely weather huh?" Asked Truck while Derek bandaged them the best he could, not noticing Golem writing on something. Derek sighed and just got Truck in the Combat carry position while Xaldin got Golem. "Don't worry bout us, First Sergeant, there's still an ambush out there, get them cleaned out.... before they get more of us." Muttered Truck. Derek  sighed "Don't worry about that boys, we gotta focus on patching you both up, then we can set up......" Derek stopped mid-sentence when he saw Truck's arms dangling, he looked back and saw Xaldin had stopped a few feet behind for the same reason. "Xaldin?" He asked slowly. "Yeah, Darkness?

"Our men died in our arms didn't they?"

"..... Yes Darkness..."

Derek breathed a hard sigh before loading the bodies in one of the trucks before looking at what Golem wrote, it was a map leading to a small outpost, likely where Truck and Golem were attacked. "Come on Xaldin, we got some assholes to waste." He muttered Xaldin grabbed his rifle and nodded "Roger that First Sergeant." He said calmly as they marched through the desert heat.

Hellbent: INKED chapter 3

Claire sighed softly at the local Taco Time with a couple burritos in a blue tank top and tattered jeans with her favorite flip flops on. across from her was a middle-aged man in a U.S. Army physical training outfit. Claire sighed and looked into his eyes. "What can I help you with Sergeant Beckett?" She asked lazily. The man sighed, "Would it hurt just once for you to call me DAD?" He asked as he crossed his arms. Claire just sipped her soda and glared at him. "Considering the day you saw my tattoo, you declared me 'No daughter of yours.' why YES I think it just might." She answered simply. Michael Beckett just rubbed his shaved head and sighed. "Look.... Claire... That was a long time ago, after your mom died, I just wanted what's best for you... and I still do! Laser surgery isn't that bad, and I'm even willing to pay for it if you'll just enlist! you can travel and get more inspiration for all those drawings you like to do! get rid of that stupid tattoo shop nonsense and follow in my footsteps!" He said with a bit of hope in his voice. Claire just grunted and looked at her food. "So my Boyfriend has this little brother right? he makes bigger versions of these with fresh ingredients. He calls them PURRITOS! Cute right? But it's not just a cute name, those things are to fucking die for! Wanna know why? Because when someone has a dream, and nobody tells them their dreams are stupid... beauty thrives! But the main point here is that I could be face-deep in one of those delicious things by now, Instead, I'm forcing myself to pretend this junk is better in an effort to rekindle a relationship with a man who walked out of my life years ago.... only to realize he hasn't really changed." She said with a sad sigh. Michael just frowned. He wasn't sure where his Daughter got THIS much attitude from, or this bizarre idea that life grafting ink onto flesh was better than the time he amassed in the service, but he at least owed it to himself to try to make her see reason. "I Still love you, Claire! When I heard your home and shop burned, I took time off to come back to this country! And what do I find? You shacking up with some loser druggie bum, and his cross-dressing little brother who looks like a hippie! I raised you better than that!" He said sternly. Claire's eyes narrowed at him. "You can insult me, mock my dreams, spit on the way I live my life, and even try to pressure me into a life I don't want... But don't you DARE mock Blake or Branch... when I had nothing, they gave me everything! When some asshole burned my shop down, BLAKE was there to kick his ass! Blake manned up and helped me in every way you have not! In the short time I've known him, he's been a bigger part of my life than you ever have! When you change your attitude, we can try again.... until that time comes, goodbye Sergeant Beckett!" She said as she stormed out of Taco Time. "Claire! Don't you DARE walk away from this conversation!" Called Michael before the door slammed.

Claire's drive home felt like a blur. if there was traffic or anything in her way, she barely noticed or paid attention as she sped home. As she pulled into the driveway, she let out a long sigh before swallowing it and walking in, sliding out of her clothes in the hallway as she accidentally pushed Branch out of the way and bumped into Lazaros' shoulder. "EXCUSE ME!" he said as he glared at her, only to freeze when he saw no light or life in her eyes. "Everything okay Claire?" Asked Blake as he walked in from his room. Claire barely noticed him as she grabbed her bikini. "Gonna get some extra hours on lifeguard duty." She said robotically while getting dressed. Blake just looked at her carefully. "I take it meeting your dad didn't go well?" He asked while trying to look her in the eye. "Then I'm going to go surfing all night, no need to wait up." Continued Claire as she reached for her board. Blake quickly moved Claire's surfboard out of the way and hugged her tight. Claire just tried to reach for her board frantically. "Blake please let me go..." She begged as she shook while gulping for air. Blake just locked in his grip and squeezed her in closer. Finally, Claire just hugged him back and frantically sobbed into his chest. Branch just sighed and looked to Lazaros, "I Say we give them some space, Claire looks hungry still, A good Purrito and and some of your cupcakes should help her feel better." Lazaros nodded and sighed as he headed with Branch to the kitchen.

A bit of time passed and Claire was digging into her fresh food. "Oh thank GAWD! This is way better than those sad pathetic excuses for burritos Taco Time had! She said happily, Lazaros just scoffed, "I should HOPE so! I Did not spend all that time training in culinary arts just to lose to fast food!" He answered simply. Claire chuckled a bit, she didn't like Lazaros' stuffy attitude much, truth be told he came off as a pompous ass when she first met him, but the man loved Branch, and he had the skills to match his ego. "Thank you... all of you... this could have been one of the worst days of my life if not for you three." She said softly. Blake, Branch, and Lazaros all just smiled back, Branch getting ready to serve the cupcakes, which got Claire all the more eager to dig in. She knew there were more run-ins with her Father to come, and that the food was only a temporary fix. But for the time being, she had everything she could ever want all in one room.

The Aurian Chronicles: Chapter 10- More than one kind of recovery

 Silver sped into the Hospital parking lot and parked crooked as she ran into the lobby, screaming in panic until she finally found Derek waiting outside Lisa's hospital room. "There you are! how is Lyte is she-?" But Derek put his hand up to stop her... "Lisa is fine... and after tonight..... I don't think either of us wants to use Code names right now Silver." He said as he hugged her. Silver sighed in relief, learning they were both okay, "And yet you still call me Silver?" She asked in a teasing, yet sad voice. Derek just kissed her. "Well you DID Legally change it my love... but I'll call you Sera anytime you like." He promised as she hugged him close. "You can call me slut or whore for all I care, as long as the love of my life and sister-in-law are still living.... and there's an extensive amount of foreplay involved."

"Silver for the love of GOD! Not now!" Whined Derek as his currently Black hair flashed purple, Silver just giggled and lifted him. "Only teasing dear.... Now... tell me what happened before my healing power needs to fix my heart attack"." She begged in a pleading voice. Derek just sighed and explained how he went to pick her up like always, his fight with Blood Angel, Lisa being attacked, and his transformation into a void monster. Silver cupped her mouth. "My god... I knew there would always be a target on your head... but Lisa? This is a new low... so why are you out here? Shouldn't you be with her?" She asked softly. Derek just sighed and shrugged. "I Don't even know what to say to her... This is MY fault, I know Blood Angel only attacked at Zach Farley's request, I killed his son after all...and I know Lisa hates me... I did abandon her for all those-" But he was pushed to a wall and held in place by Silver. "Now you listen to ME DARKNESS! That little girl has not stopped thinking about you since you left! even when she was at that little mall Pizzeria she told all the little mascots how much she loved and admired her big brother! Do you think she cares that you're a killer?! FUCK NO! She just knows that YOU know it's not what you want in life! Now get your fucking ass in that goddamn hospital room before I kick your ass to the heavens above and spike you all the way down to hell!" She told him as she let him go. There was a brief moment of silence before Derek laughed as his undamaged skin turned its normal shade of white, and his Black limp hair glowed Purple. "God I fucking love how you think! now THAT'S why I married you." He said as he smiled at her, but now she glared hard at him. "EXCUSE ME?!" She demanded. Darkness just sighed and rolled his eyes. "I Also married you for your smoking hot body..." He added with a smack to her behind for good measure. She kissed him passionately and nodded. "Goddamn right you did! Now get the hell in there you Lovable gothic bastard!" She said with a proud grin.

The door opened and Darkness sighed as he walked in on Lisa Glaring at the ceiling. "Heya uh... Lyte! Are you feeling any better?" He asked as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Lisa just slowly turned her head to him. "I saw what you looked like... before you turned into that monster... you were stabbed FAR more times than I was... AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK ME THAT?!" She demanded angrily. Darkness just looked down. "Yeah... I know... but I'm feeling better, and you're not so-"

"Do you even care how hurt you were? Did you even think about it?" She asked him with tears slowly starting to form in her eyes. "Did you ever stop and think about how I would have felt if I lost my brother again?" She asked while looking into her eyes, her heart rate slowly increasing. Darkness just sighed. "Lisa...I love you more than anything... you are some of the only family I have left... It's just... things changed after the war... I didn't even know who I was...then that therapy session, and that drug... it fucked with my head... This job took my mind off of it all you know?" He asked as he sat by her. "Look, if it makes you feel better... I've been slowly thinking about how I want to do something else anyway... a passion project... even if it's not music." He said with a sigh. Lyte just sat up gently and looked at him with a raised brow, "I'm listening... Darkness." She encouraged. Darkness sighed and looked her back in the eyes. "I want to help people... I want to make a place where people don't have to feel like I do... for soldiers who want to give more than what they felt they gave... I want to build opportunities for the misfits in our country... I have to do more jobs in the meantime... But I want to move on soon." He said as he looked back down.

Lyte just took in everything Darkness said and breathed a puff of air. "I gotta say... I still want you to be the musician I know you can, but this... I never expected any of this." She said as she couldn't help but smile. She then began to giggle a bit, before lightly laughing. "My brother... I thought I'd never see Derek... even with purple hair and black tendrils, you are still my brother Derek... no more talks about how trying to blow your brains out killed you, and I'll forgive you... Deal big brother?" She asked as she held out a hand. Darkness just smiled back and shook it. "Deal little sister," he said before she hugged him close. 

After a tender moment, Lyte let him sit back down. "Derek... I think enough time has passed since then... Do you think you can finally talk about how you got discharged?" She asked sweetly. Darkness just Sighed "Lyte... do you really want to-?" But he saw her staring intently at him. He just sighed and invited Silver in, who looked at them both curiously. "If I'm going to talk about my time in the Military. I want BOTH of the people I love most in the world to hear it... sit down, Silver." He said as she lifted her dress and sat the bare skin of her behind down in his lap to get comfy. Causing both Darkness and Lyte to roll their eyes.

"So you want to hear about my time in the Army? Fine... let me tell you about what it was like over there."

The Aurian Chronicles- Chapter 9: Learning the Hard way

    Amanda Cross sighed softly as she looked out into space as she followed Mr Capryse down a busy street, she was roughly half an hour out of her jurisdiction, a solid hour away from Capryse's home, and worst of all, she was only in a pair of Jeans and a dark blue low cut tank top. Which meant nothing to really defend herself. "How I let you talk me into this little trip out in the city I will never know... in case you didn't already know, we are NOT friends, Mr. Capryse!"

"OF COURSE WE ARE! You just haven't really figured it out, my dear!" Responded Mr Capryse as he kissed the back of Amanda's hand, causing her to blush angrily. She tried to look over to the other member of their company, which happened to be Mr Capryse's wife Saryn. She stood at about almost six feet tall, and was dressed in a black leather dominatrix looking suit, with a white professional lab coat over it. To say Amanda felt intimidated by her presence was a gross understatement. Saryn's piercing blue gaze met Amanda's before she snorted. "Do try to put up with my husband's eccentricities for a bit longer. You'll come to find he's simply playing chess five steps ahead... even if he is a fool." She exclaimed in a thick Russian accent. Amanda was a bit caught off guard the rest of the trip as they stopped by an Italian bakery. 

Mr. Capryse stepped out and greeted the owner, an ageing wide Italian man with multiple briefcases. Both men chuckled and exchanged a few good jokes before the old man took his leave in a sports car. Amanda's eyes narrowed when she saw bags of powder inside one of the opened cases. "This is a DRUG deal!" she yelled as she stepped closer to the both of them. "Au contraire my dear, this is a drug EXTERMINATION!" Corrected Mr. Capryse, causing Amanda to raise a brow. "I'm listening...." She said carefully. Mr, Capryse just chuckled and sighed, "You see Ms. Cross, as this part of the city has grown, the types of people that frequent it have changed... I don't particularly like drugs and children being so close together, so I have made a deal for its distribution to be moved outside of the area." He explained with a grin, already knowing what she was going to say. "Why don't you just halt the production altogether Capryse?" She asked, but he simply laughed. "That's just not how things work... right now it's quite EASY to just condemn this area, and eradicate anything or anyone involved.... but crime vacuums are a real thing! By doing this, I don't have to make a bigger mess than I need to!" He responded. Amanda growled and went to retort before a white and gold limousine pulled up, followed by a squad of five cars. Amanda's eyebrows raised as none other than Zach Farley stepped out with a lit cigar in his mouth. "well well well, if it isn't the golden boy of the New York syndicate.... On MY turf...." He stated, sending his captains to confiscate the briefcases. Mr. Capryse smiled as he watched each member of Farley's men sample a bit of the Cocaine in each briefcase before loading them up in their cars. "You're standing your ground I see Zach... PRIDEFUL! but unfortunate nonetheless!" He admitted, but Mr. Farley just chuckled. "Hiding behind that goth fucker won't save you, once he meets MY boy, you'll have one less employee." He said with a glare. Mr. Capryse rolled his eyes. "The fact that you think Darkness is my ace in the hole shows you are too lazy to do your research... Though I will admit he IS a valuable employee. your time here is running out Farley, I suggest leaving New York soon." He warned. Zach just grinned. "I've got your drugs, I've got your highest earner under attack, and I've got you cornered here... and you've the audacity to try to bluff ME? You, your wife, and your little witness here are going to see your last days soon." He retorted. Mr. Capryse just shook his head. "Oh really?" He asked as he pulled out a cell phone and pressed it, activating the C4 inside of the drugs in the briefcases, and inside of the samples Farley's men tasted. the explosion caught almost everyone off guard, including Amanda who collapsed to her knees, watching the chunks of cars and bodies rain from the sky. "You and what army?" Asked Mr Capryse as he escorted Saryn and Amanda home, leaving Zach Farley cowering on the floor with an obvious case of shell shock.

Five hours later, Amanda was staying in a guest room of the Capryse Mansion, downing a bottle of bourbon to calm her nerves. "This.... demon! He just casually destroyed those thugs like it was nothing! it was horrifying, inhuman and.....appealing! I've always wanted to wipe scum off the streets but he's doing it literally!" She exclaimed with a blush. after a few seconds she slapped herself, "NO NO NO! he's a criminal! the most dangerous one I've met at that! I can't let him win like this.... but... I'm running out of options here... maybe I can try meeting this Darkness guy... get to find a weak spot or something" She said before turning out the lights and trying to get some sleep, but Mr. Capryse's smile remained on her mind.

The Aurian Chronicles - Chapter 8

 Chapter 8: Blood Moon on the Rise

Lyte sighed softly as she changed back into her regular white top and rainbow sequin white pants. It had been another great night at the club she was DJing for and she wanted to get home to watch a movie with her big brother. “God the energy was electric tonight! And the best part of the night has yet to begin!”

“I’ll say! Your big brother isn’t even here yet!” Said a man’s voice as he slowly walked in. Blood Angel smiled and straightened his blood red tie over his lighter red undershirt and straightened his white suit as he sized up the young and beautiful Lyte, who smiled politely back at him. “Oh! Hey there! You must be a friend of my big brother… if you want we can wait til he gets here.” She exclaimed with a cheerful grin, one Blood Angel just returned. “Oh….

I’m looking forward to it.” he replied as he advanced on her.

An hour later, Darkness sighed as he pulled up to the club in his Challenger, he walked in slowly to a dark empty club. “LYTE? I’M HERE!” He called out. He could already tell something was wrong, the party was over, but the club should still be getting cleaned. “Shit….” he said as he turned on the lights, there were piles of bodies in odd places, some of them on further inspection were formed into words. “Party…. On the dance floor.” Read Darkness as he stepped out into the moshpit. The lights slowly turned red as Blood Angel appeared on stage. “VOID WALKER! It’s truly great to see you… I’m… I’m such a big fan!” He said as he clapped his white gloved hands together, Darkness just pulled out one of his Colt .45s and glared up at him. “If you know who I am, and what I do, that must mean you work for another syndicate, I’m guessing Zach Farley hired you.” He said. Blood Angel merely heaved a guilty sigh. “Yes… That bastard had to be the sour note to our meeting… You see Darkness, I’ve always admired your work! I’ve flown oh so very high with all of the blood you’ve spilt! I’ve almost touched the very heavens itself! Alas… Unfortunately, Mr. Farley has summoned the very Blood Angel who loves you to be your downfall… what cruel, tragic IRONY!” He said as he slashed at Darkness with a knife. Darkness harumphed and went full Void and stepped through Blood Angel, but Blood Angel merely smirked and calmly kept the knife inside of Darkness, who panicked a bit and dove away, some of the knife still in his back as he rematerialized. Blood began flowing from his wound and into the shaved part of Blood Angel’s head, forming a bloody lock of hair. “That Void walking move you use is an awe-inspiring skill, but you can’t use it for too long because it tires you out… I know your tricks… and I am NOT just a thug” He said with a melodic laugh. Darkness just growled and fired at him, but Blood Angel used Darkness’ own blood as a shield to protect himself. “ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, VOID WALKER! I am the BLOOD ANGEL! I can use blood to shield myself, I can make wings to fly if I so choose, or I can super coagulate it into hard blades… like so!” He said as he fired sharp blades of blood at Darkness, who took one to the leg as he ducked for cover. “Well, lotty fuckin dotty… You aren’t the only other Aura user I’ve fought, and you WON’T be the fuckin’ last… freaky little Asspuke!” Said Darkness as he pulled out a small staff, he pumped a bit of his energy into it and formed a large scythe with a purple blade. Blood Angel just chuckled. “Not even going to waste any more time playing cat and mouse, are we? Good!” he said as Darkness slashed through his wings, but Blood Angel was ready with real knives in both hands, with Darkness’ Scythe stuck in his wings, Blood Angel was free to stab at him. Darkness pulled out both of his handguns and fired at him, one gun fired real bullets, and the other fired Void bullets, which tried to lash out at Blood Angel, but he merely used Darkness’ scythe to shield them off. “AHAHAHA NOW THIS IS A REAL DANCE” He screamed out at Darkness before booting him in the face and throwing his scythe at him, missing him by a few inches. “Now then, how would you like your….everything pierced?” He asked as he threw knives into Darkness's stomach and fired more blades of blood at him until his wings were gone. Darkness just chuckled weakly as he coughed up blood. “Seems you have a limit to YOUR Powers too Angel fuck!” He exclaimed. Blood Angel just smiled. “Indeed, no blood? No powers! And sadly those corpses I used to stock up on are running low… luckily I have a battery reserved just in case!” He said as he pressed a button on the stage, causing a barely breathing Lyte to appear. Darkness’ eyes rose in horror as the usually bright and vibrant Lyte weakly crawled to him. Darkness fought threw the immense pain he was in to hold her. “Big Brother…. Help me…” She said as she coughed up blood. “Awwww isn’t that sweet?  What’s it like to have family care that much for you? I wouldn’t know, I KILLED all of mine!” Exclaimed Blood Angel with a laugh. Darkness lost focus and began to grit his teeth as hard as he could while narrowing his eyes at Blood Angel. Purple bolts of energy began to crackle as the rational part of his mind tried to remember what Mr Capryse told him when he first started, ‘Now remember Darkness, keep it PROFESSIONAL. Never let it get personal.’ But Darkness knew everything was well past that. All of his hatred began pouring into his aura, causing his body to turn fully black, except his veins which gleamed bright purple. Multiple black tendrils grew out of him, and his teeth turned into purple interlocking jaws. Blood Angel’s smile faltered a tad as the light was sucked out of the room. “My oh my Darkness, what’s happened to you?” He asked as he threw multiple knives at Darkness and Lyte, but Darkness’ Tendrils smacked them away. “YOUR NIGHTMARE!!” Responded Darkness as he latched his tendrils around Blood Angel and bashed him repeatedly against a wall. As the light faded from his eyes. Blood Angel looked at the blood flowing from his body. “Blood… Beautiful… Beautiful… Blood…” He said with a weak laugh before he passed out. Darkness grunted as the rational part of his brain returned and he slowly turned back to his normal self. His body was fully healed, but he was now far beyond exhausted. “Gotta… help… Lyte.” he said as he carried his sister to his car and drove her to the hospital. Unbeknownst to them. A pink skinned, red haired demonic woman in a red dress walked to the huddled body of Blood Angel and healed him just enough to preserve his life. “What… was that immense power… I thought YOU were my Hell knight… but that void user… that power… that seductively sinister power! Ohhhhh yesssss.” She moaned as she sucked her middle finger seductively. “Darkness…. I’ll do whatever it takes to have you for myself… no one resists the Shadow Queen!” She said as she rearranged some of the leftover corpses to spell one name. “KAYLA”

The Aurian Chronicles - Chapter 7 part 2

   Chapter 7:2 Dates Part 2

“Honestly Lyte, I offer to take you anywhere you want to go, and you choose a Mall Pizza place?” asked Darkness as he sat across from his sister, who puffed her cheeks out adorably at him “In case you forgot buster, I practically grew up here! From being a little girl doing all the dances to getting my first job at the nightclub here!” She said defensively as Darkness just chuckled “I’m kidding hun, honestly I am just glad you had something to make you not feel alone while I was overseas, you and Silver were always on my mind you know!” He said as a giant Larry the rat costume shuffled up to their table and started his dance “I’M LARRY THE RAT, I’M WHERE IT’S AT! I’M EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE LITTLE CUDDLY MALL RAT! I DO MY DANCE, FROM HERE TO FRANCE, TIL CHEESE FLOWS FROM MY GULLET TO MY UNDERPANTS! Can I take your order?!” He asked, after a bit of cringing on Darkness’ Part, they both placed their orders as Darkness forced a smile. “Well, that was….. So why did ya want to have this date Sis?” He asked quickly, Lyte sighed and shook her head with a small smile. “I  just wanted some time with my big bro! We never really get to see each other much, either I’m working, or you’re….working… I just miss your company!” She said as he shrugged and nodded uncomfortably “Yeah sorry about that, I am planning to take some time off if you want-”

“I REALLY wish you’d just stop altogether…” Said Lyte looking into his eyes, Darkness just groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I Should have known that’s what this was really about…”

“You don’t even like your job! You are way better as a musician, I could have you in the studio first thing in the morning if you ask, why do you keep fighting me on-”

“BECAUSE THIS IS ALL I KNOW ANYMORE!” Shouted Darkness, causing everyone to look up at him. “Look Lyte, I can still play instruments, but the young me you sat around and listened to died some time ago, the notes are at my fingertips, but the things I wanted to write about aren’t… that war… It took from me so many people… I just can’t bring myself to do it… let’s leave it there.” He said sadly, causing Lyte to glare at him with tears in her eyes. “That’s bullshit and you know it! Mom always said the music may change, but it’s always there! I KNOW you can get back on it if you try… But working for Mr. Capryse is just SO much easier, isn’t it?!” She said on the verge of crying, Darkness just shrugged. “Honestly? Yes, yes it is… like it or not, there are a lot of awful people here, and knowing they can’t harm anyone else makes me proud of the work I do… I KNOW that means something to you, I heard about Sophomore year, that man you blinded with your prism aura for getting too handsy?” He asked, making her breathe harder. “Please… D-don’t m-mention that again.” She begged, causing him to realize what he was saying. “Sorry Lyte, but if anything, it proves my point, some people gotta die… But I suppose….For you, I’ll at least consider other fields of work, for now, I just want to spend time with my little sister.” He said, causing her to calm down and try to resume a peaceful meal with him.

A few blocks away, Zach Farley sat in his office with a glass of wine in one hand, and a Cuban cigar in the other. “And I want that purple-haired fucker TOAST by the end of the month, I want things to be CAPICHE WITH CAPRYSE! He said, trying not to chuckle at his own stupid joke. On the other side of the table, a tall medium skinny man just rolled his eyes as he looked at the target and fixed his white suit and red tie. “So it’s Settled, ‘Darkness the void walker’ fights the Blood Angel… on one hand, I am happy to fight such a worthy opponent, on the other hand, I was always a fan of his brutality!” Said Blood Angel, causing Zach to raise a brow. “Ey! I paid damn fine money bringing you here! Don’t get cold feet cuz you wanna kneel down and suck Goth dick you little-” But he was cut off mid-sentence with a knife to his tongue.

I know your type, Mr. Farley, you demand so much death, but you’ve never actually killed anyone yourself, you aren’t HALF the man Darkness, or Mr. Capryse are! Still, I can’t turn down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” He said as he pulled his knife back and slid his own arm with it. Blood flowed off his arm and onto his head and back, giving the shaved side of his head Red hair, and his back wings. “So Mr. Sonata! GAME ON!” yelled Blood Angel as he laughed Maniacally through the night.