*story #6 featuring Shadowstar. This takes place after ‘Night Crawlers’ and the episode ‘Hunter’s Moon’ Keep in mind this is a different reality from what many know. This Flicker is a different one, but that will be touched upon in later stories. The character of Rhayna was introduced in the story “Hell Hath No Fury Greater than Thee” For a listing of all the stories, http://shadowstar.risanet.com/Imagination/gargoyles.html

THE AGONY OF MEMORY

By: Amanda A. Hilliard “Shadowstar”

~ “The angel opens her eyes... pale blue colored iris presents the circle and puts the glory out to hide.” Lightening Crashes: Live~

CHAPTER 1: A CRY FROM THE NIGHT

The green cloak brushed the midnight wind with grace and ease. Flicker’s rusty hair turned with the wind and landed over his greyish eyes as the currents picked up. His thin fingers brushed away the locks that fought back with invisible forces. The ever changing eyes searched the coastline for something, a feeling of sorts... a feeling that lead him to only feel concern for what is to come.

The air remained cold and silent only to be rustled by the breeze. The deep blue oceans brushed upon the shore with the perfection of nature as Flicker clenched his fist tightly and hit the ledge of the balcony. The slight slap of flesh and block echoed in the night.

“You sense it to,” a soft voice echoed behind him.

Flicker was startled with the cut of silence. He turned around to greet the eldest of all faery children, Rhayna. Her aqua blue eyes reflected his eyes of deep concern and uneasiness. Her cobalt-blue hair coiled itself around her purple cloaks. Amidst the burning blue energy which poured from her left eye laced a feeling of concern for the immortals. Flicker had only known her briefly, but something about her made it easy to read the emotions emanating from Rhayna’s soul. So much of his own personality was seen within her... a personality he knew he shared with another Flicker in another reality, somewhere else... His memories served him as much.

“Rhayna, I didn’t-”

“Expect me? I know,” she smiled brushing away the black streaks of hair that kept whipping her face gently.

Flicker’s eyes stared at the black crescent that marked her collar bone. It symbolizes the first and condemned generation of faeries. The crescent is known to the children of Rhayna, two of which are still lost to them.

So much history delved behind the faery who had been punished for warring against the gods. Flicker almost found himself amazed by it. The three triplets were born with a fascinating power when combined... and it led them to war and corruption. The brother, Uly died in a consumption of his power. Rhayna and Brie challenged the gods to take their brother’s soul back... They failed. Rhayna was punished to watch the hell beast that resided below Avalon knowing the doom of her land. Apollo took their second child from her, and the boy has never been seen again. Through it all, Rhayna humbled her arrogance and kept the light and hope she always wielded. ‘How can she live knowing she has lost two children?’ Flicker thought completely unable to understand her feelings on the subject.

Something inside of him almost felt no sympathy for her. He was hardly a child of Oberon... more like a freak of nature. Nobody knew the real truth behind this Flicker. They saw him come out of the mirror as a freak accident of an experiment gone bad. He was a piece of another, somewhere else. This Flicker, who stood before Rhayna was not to exist, but he did. His life for 2000 years was thought to be a lie to others, but he has learned to play the part well. He was almost killed by one of Oberon’s servants... Shade was closer to him than he’d like... the darkness of all the light Flicker produced. And maybe that what put a bond between he and Rhayna and gave him a fascination with the stories behind the one named Shadowstar. All of them were pulled to this point of time by a hard past of pain incarnate.

“You know of things to come,” Flicker said completely leaving his jocund attitude behind.

Rhayna walked past him and stared out to the oceans. Flicker sighed at his unanswered question and turned back around to the sea. Her ways were as mysterious as his own, and it became extremely frustrating at times.

The wind shifted directions, and Rhayna looked up to the moon as Flicker’s rust hair brushed her face. He pulled it back as Rhayna’s gentle voice began to speak of what is and what will be.

“The Weird Sisters could never predict what will come... The night speaks of a hell spawn emerging. Hades is not finished. Hellfury was stopped, the gargoyles made it out of Hades... He won’t stop until he knows the full extent of our power and weakens the core,” Rhayna replied saddened to speak the truth.

“But why?”

“They want Avalon. It has always been Avalon against Olympians. Even the love that Brie and myself had for Apollo and Ares could not close the rift... my brother is in their rift of evil and hate... They covet Avalon... and who could stop them all? Who would be the thorn in their side? Certainly none of us... I fear they will try to kill Shadowstar before she can stop them.”

“Her power is that strong?”

“It’s too much for them to compete with alone... Hades knows her power is not as strong since she is away from Kindred power... He saw it when Remy Nathanial inadvertently attacked her.”

“How do you know this?”

“Correspondence with Puck.”

“He’s fond of her.”

“He better be, they share a psi link. Those things would be a pain if you hated who it was shared with,” Rhayna replied.

“But what happens now? We can’t stop them.”

“We must protect our own and not show weakness.”

“You think the gargoyles will be okay?”

“Puck and Shadowstar are there.”

Flicker sighed wishing there was something they could do for he was sick of playing the victim. He didn’t want Avalon to always be on the defensive... he wanted an end to the long game of war. Since the dawning of time the Olympians had their eye on Oberon’s land. When the vampires sent all living gods but three to their final doom in Hades, the lines had be started. Recently, all the god’s anger has hit them far more severe than the previous time. First, Hellfury was released who kidnapped all the faeries and tried to steal Avalon from Oberon’s midst. Next, Jeremy Nathanial was killed. He was the greatest of all vampires who was their prophesized end. Goliath, Brooklyn, Shadowstar, and Laren, a vampire woman (who resembled Shadowstar in a vampire form) travelled into Hades to take Remy back. They defeated the shadows of the gods and took Remy to the living world where the hate that swept the earth was lessened and almost erased... and who knows what is to follow.

Flicker’s mind swam with these facts as his eyes focused down on Rhayna’s suddenly preoccupied gaze. Her mystics and mind stretched out to the depths of Avalon to find the cause of this feeling.

“The hell spawn is unearthed... I can feel he has been here for a short while.”

“Wouldn’t he be here already?” Flicker questioned.

Flicker stopped his words and watched a creature pull itself up on the beach. He became very defensive hoping this was not the demon who came from hell itself. A white figure it was. It crawled on the ground like an injured pup. The black wings stopped moving as the figure collapsed to the ground to serve no further motion.

“Come,” Rhayna said quickly pulling Flicker into teleportation with her.

They jumped to the dusky sand and sped to the creature. The sand clung to Flicker’s knees as he knelt down by the fallen.

“A gargoyle,” Flicker whispered as he turned the creature over.

Sand lay crossed the closed eyes and matted in the hair the gargoyle. His eyes stared at the black marking that ran down the right eye and cheek bone. His heart instinctively knew who this was. He brushed the sand from the pale face and brushed back the black hair. Rhayna looked at the massive wounds that the gargoyle met.

“Let’s hope she makes it to dawn,” Rhayna replied trying to stop some of the bleeding.

The heavy rushes of blood made it onto Rhayna’s cloaks leaving dark splotches of lifeblood.

“It’s futile...” Rhayna said.

Flicker tore apart his cape and wrapped green strips tightly around the wounds. The pressure subsided much of the bleeding but became stained in the action. He watched the raspy breathing of the dying gargoyle. He had a fear for her safety that he never felt before.

“Come on, Shadowstar, you are not going to die on me,” Flicker replied putting pressure on the cuts.

Her mind drifted in and out of consciousness... Shadowstar knew she could not heal with Kindred sorcery protecting her from changing into stone. The pain would not allow her to move and her body was too weakened from the blood loss. Maybe a small telepathic message could be produced... she tried... and fell into complete comatose.

“The bracelets... take them off,” Flicker commanded with Shadow’s thoughts piercing his mind.

Rhayna unclasped the silver bracelets that held Kindred sorcery. Without them, Shadowstar could finally sleep if she made it through the night.

“Come, let’s get her to the castle,” Rhayna replied.

“Oberon hates her.”

“Oberon’s not home, and I’m not going to leave the child on the beach... she’s a gargoyle,” Rhayna said and then chuckled slightly.

“What?”

“Looks like somebody I once knew.”

Rhayna wrapped her shimmering blue power around the dying and teleported into the castle. Titania looked at the arriving guest. She frowned in disappointment with who it was. She never liked this Shadowstar, but this Shadowstar was an immortal gargoyle... and dying.

“Flicker, you know my husband’s feelings about her,” Titania scolded.

“She’s dying,” Flicker simply stated wiping off his blood stained hands.

“Any fool can see that,” Titania remarked rolling her eyes.

Titania’s thin, blue figure walked over to the levitating body. Her face remained long and almost uncaring. She took Shadowstar from Rhayna’s power and set the comatose one onto the ground.

“Allison, bring the child new bandages,” Titania said quickly speaking to the oldest of Rhayna and Apollo’s children, “We have no more healers... Ladybug was the last... Let’s hope she can make it on her own,” Titania said getting up ready to leave the throne room.

“But we have to be able to do something!” Flicker exclaimed not accepting Titania’s word.

“There is nothing!” Titania raised her voice leaving abruptly.

“I’ll go talk to her,” Rhayna said softly looking up at the aggravated Flicker.

Flicker bowed his head solemnly as Rhayna took Titania’s path out. His hazy grey eyes stared at the light and unrhythmic breathing of the pale one. His heart found a fondness to her power and her ways. Something about her reminded him of a faery... but she was not. He collapsed to his knees and slowly wept for the dying. Nothing like this has ever swarmed his heart. Something magnetized his soul to her, and Flicker hurt seeing her like this.

The dawn slowly beat against his face, and the one brushed by his auburn hair turned to stone with the rising sun.

CHAPTER 2: THE HUNTED

Titania paced outside the door while the twilight neared. She knew Oberon would not approve of Shadowstar’s presence. She stopped her motion when metallic boots could be heard down the hallway. His king like figure started to come into focus with white cape trailing behind him. A frown stretched across his face as Titania expected.

“She’s here,” he said bluntly.

“She’s dying,” Titania simple stated peering through the crack in the door.

“There’s something about her presence ever since I first met her...” Oberon whispered into Titania’s ear.

His eyes watched through the shining strip of light coming from the room. He could see Rhayna and Flicker holding vigil next to the stone figure.

“What do you know of this Shadowstar?” Titania questioned Oberon.

“She is of the immortal people, the Kindred... their realm is out side of hers. She can strangely tap into other realities with them backing her. She doesn’t have many memories... they were swept away when she was given immortality. She came here after some major blowout with them, and has raised some havoc here and there,” Oberon whispered.

“So she’s a mystery.”

“Even to herself... with powers seemingly diminishing ever since she left them.”

“Do you think she could be?” Titania started.

“That’s not for us to find out... It was one of Hades’ goons that did this to her. I can guarantee it,” Oberon sighed.

“Could it get to Avalon?”

“She’s smarter than that. Come, this is not our battle today, my queen. Rhayna and Flicker have taken it up.”

“Can they face a hell beast?”

“It won’t be a hell beast. We can defeat a hell beast... we must protect Avalon.”

Titania nodded in understanding and took Oberon’s arm. He smiled and placed his hand over Titania’s. They walked off down the decorated hallway with their cloaks trailing with the light breeze.

The wind ruffled the hair of Rhayna who lay on her side asleep. Flicker’s eyes slowly opened to take in the falling sunlight. As he straightened his tunic, twisted from slumber, the last ounces of light flickered off of this face.

The stone skin started to crack and peel away like a bad sunburn. Rhayna jumped up from the noise and watched the stone shards fly at all directions. They stopped inches from her as she glowed with power. The gargoyle roared weakly and wriggled on the ground like stretching after a long slumber. Her cobalt eyes focused on the marble ceiling. With realizing where she was, Shadowstar tried to pull herself up from the ground.

“AUGHHH!” She gasped grabbing her ribs with one hand and stopping her fall back with the other.

Flicker instinctively reached out for the gargoyle to hold her up.

“Easy,” he replied as Shadow tried to stand.

“We must leave... he’ll follow me here,” Shadow replied weakly quickly losing the strength from the sleep.

“Who?” Flicker questioned her.

“The Hunter... from hell.”

“I knew it was Hades. Come, we have to take you away from here... we will go for the help of the only one who can,” Rhayna replied putting her arm around Shadowstar for support, “Athena better not be busy.”

Shadowstar fell limp for a second and almost pulled down the other two with her gargoyle weight. They pulled her back up. Flicker tightened the bandages around her ribs as Shadowstar gasped for air. Flicker took off the other bandages that covered the once existent flesh wounds. He nodded to Rhayna who teleported them away.

A white light showed sign of travelers in Athena’s temple. Flicker walked Shadowstar to a corner and helped her sit down. She wrapped her wings around herself and moved her black hair away from her eyes. Her mouth began to speak, but Flicker silenced her.

“You’re weak. Save your strength.”

“I’ve never been this helpless... and I just got over injuries from saving the immortal world... Heh, who would have guessed,” she replied losing her life once more.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this, Shadowstar. Hades will burn in... oh wait, he’s already there...”

Rhayna walked to an icon of Athena. She lit a flame that would reach the heart of the goddess . . . This was the only way she knew. Only a god could help defeat a god... or at least a spawn of Olympus. She stepped back from the candle and looked over at the faery and the gargoyle. Something familiar was felt around this gargoyle, and it troubled Rhayna not to know.

“She reminds me too much of the past, of Midnight... None of that, there’s a hit man on the loose. If we allow Shadowstar to fall, part of Avalon may fall with her.”

* * *

The cold air of Manhattan filled his lungs as the frosty air clouded around his words. His demon face laughed with the thought of her escape. He touched the freezing water with his silver clad gloves etched with the seal of Zeus. The water drops swirled around the lightening. His brown eyes took in the evil which he was born to produce.

“So... you got to Avalon. I’m surprised you were able to swim. Now, there would be no way that Oberon would allow you to stay... I don’t need the wisdom of Athena to know where you are,” he chuckled.

He stood up tall and mighty bearing the gifts of the gods. He was sent to kill and retrieve Zeus’ sword. This Hunter was forged out of the hate of the gods and was endowed with Zeus’ lightening, Poseidon’s sea, Artemis’ moon, Hermes’ agility, Hera’s jealousy, and the charm of Dionysus. The minds of the gods together gave him the power to break through her powers... and he feels no remorse. Eutaru will gladly kill all who stands in his path. His heart knows nothing of remorse. One target, one mission. It’s his purpose to exist, and he will not fail.

“Shadowstar, it's useless to run, I will kill you.. Your power is lost... Hestia’s virus was certainly effective... you can barely fight me. I expected you to put up more of a battle.”

Eutaru shrugged and clapped his hands together to produce a deafening echo.

“Artemis, send me your moonlight chariot to carry me to my destination’s end,” he called out into the still night.

His eyes fell on the now rippling pond from which a chariot emerged. His shimmering boots stepped onto the wooden base. He grabbed the leather reigns of the appearing moonlight horses.

“Your time’s almost up gargoyle. Say your final goodbyes... chariot take me to the creature... to Athens!” he hissed as the silky horses pulled him through the horizon.

* * *

Rhayna’s bare feet paced along the marble floors. Her hands were wrapped around her stomach impatiently. Her eyes glanced back and forth between the gargoyle and the doorway. She knew time was running out... but from what? What was the Hunter? How could he weaken such a power to the extent of death? Rhayna felt the silver bracelets of Shadowstar’s around her arms and marveled at Kindred power.

‘I wish I knew more of this gargoyle... the more I hear, the more I suspect she was nothing but a pawn with the potential to channel all their Kindred powers to her own.. nothing should have been able to destroy such an omnipotent power, nothing the gods could construe... the only ones who could tell us what’s wrong is the Kindred, and from what I understand, they aren’t very trust worthy themselves...” Rhayna thought as many questions poured through her mind.

Flicker’s eyes opened after a brief rest. He didn’t know what to feel, think, or do. The waiting was killing him... No, it was killing Shadowstar. She became more limp with the passing moments. He just sighed as Rhayna turned to his direction.

“Be patient,” Rhayna said softly.

“How can I? She’s going to die! That stupid Hunter is still out there... This just doesn’t make any sense, Rhayna. She’s too powerful to let this happen.”

“This only begins to raise questions,” Rhayna replied quickly turning her head towards the door.

“What?” Flicker questioned.

“Hide her,” Rhayna commanded as she started conjuring up her power.

A shadowy figure slowly trekked up the stairs as metallic boots struck the stone stairs. Rhayna hid herself behind a pilar as Eutaru entered the temple.

“I know you’re here,” his icy words echoed through the air.

Rhayna’s heart pounded into her throat as she shuddered at his words. His voice had that of a hell beast that had help her captive for thousands of years. Her fists formed tightly as her palms few sweaty with hate. She knew this was the doing of Hades once more. Rhayna whipped around the pilar and shot a blast of magic at him hoping to stop his ways.

The blue energy ricocheted off his gloves and instinctively fired a lightening blast at his attacker. It hit Rhayna in the shoulder and pushed her back with the force. Flicker bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. He had to protect Shadowstar at all costs.

“You cannot stop a child of the gods,” Eutaru told the injured Rhayna.

“No, but I can stall you,” she replied, “Forgive me Athena.”

She tore a statue from the wall and plummeted it into the back of the creature. One punch from his fist shattered the marble to pieces. Rhayna shield herself from them and struck Eutaru with another blast. He remained unaffected and walked towards Rhayna.

“Wouldn’t Hades be proud if I killed one of the three?” Eutaru taunted preparing to serve Rhayna the final blow.

“Halt!” An overpowering voice echoed through the temple.

Eutaru turned around and focused on the voice... her flashing eyes stared coldly at the Hunter as she unsheathed her glistening sword. Medusa’s face stared back at him with a fierce ugliness. The warrior goddess stood before them, and the faery’s hearts rejoiced.

“You dare desecrate the temple of Athena? Get out now! And maybe I will spare your life!” She ordered.

“Give me the gargoyle.”

“I give you your life. Now get out!”

Her echoing vicious voice caused Eutaru to run from the temple while yelling, “It’s not over!”

Athena rolled her eyes at his words and walked over to Rhayna.

“What has my Uncle done again?”

“Truthfully, Athena, I don’t know... Shadowstar is the only one who could say.”

“She’s hurt?” Athena questioned.

“Possibly dying.”

“Bring her to me.”

“Flicker!” Rhayna shouted.

Flicker jumped up and looked at the goddess. He nodded his head in reverence as he looked solemn at the same time.

“I don’t want to move her. She’s too weak again,” Flicker replied softly.

“That bad, huh... I didn’t think Hades would want her out of the picture...” Athena said while walking to Shadowstar’s location.

The candle light danced off of the motionless face of the dying. Athena crouched down beside Shadowstar and just watched silently for moments. Her eyes shared the concern of Rhayna and Flicker.

“The only one who can tell us is Shadowstar... And it doesn’t look like she’ll be awakening any time soon... we need a damned Kindred and those bastards won’t tell us anything,” Athena sighed.

“Will she be safe here?” Flicker questioned.

“Safe, but her health will grow worse. We have to stop him before we can get her to Avalon... dammit, Shadowstar, wake up for us.”

Rhayna took the scabbard off of Shadowstar and handed it to Flicker.

“You are the most skilled... of my siblings, I am the least. Protect her with your life,” Rhayna replied.

“What are you planning?” Flicker questioned.

“I won’t know until she wakes,” Athena replied.

Shadowstar stirred as a reflex.

“Shadowstar,” Athena whispered to her.

Athena placed her hand on Shadowstar’s forehead to feel for fever. Something inside the gargoyle made her release a telepathic message.

“Rhay? What’s...” Flicker started.

Athena’s eyes filed with a green glow of energy. She was seeing the events that brought the great gargoyle to the end of the lines.

“I see it clearly,” Athena replied weeping for the one they will lose that day... for no power could help a Kindred.

CHAPTER 3: THE ALMIGHTY WILL FALL

Her mighty wings rested against the walls of Wyvern as a comical faery tossed a ball back and forth. Shadowstar laughed in her boredom as the gargoyles were on patrol.

“You’re just mad that Goliath won’t let you patrol... I’m not surprised after the way you’ve been treating him,” Puck mumbled tossing the ball at her.

“I’m not a child, Puck. You all seem to forget that I’m possibly thousands of years old,” she said telekinetically stopping it wailing it back a Puck’s head, “And what was I supposed to do? Pretend I loved him when I clearly do not! I thought I did. But now, I don’t.”

“Yea, the Kindred so conveniently took away you memories. And now that you went through that telepathic backlash, you’ve been such a brat! I think this is a big hoax set up by the Kindred to make you fall,” Puck said dodging the ball and conjuring up a pie.

“Only recently have I been doubting everything I’ve known... my slightly diminishing power is the first- Don’t even think about it!” Shadowstar said stopping the pie and redirecting it.

Puck dodged the pie and formed a ball of Jell-O that bounced off of Shadow’s force field.

“You’ve caught them in lies before. I think Iara and Xavier aren’t telling it all... and I think that Lorelei knew the truth.”

Shadowstar picked up a chair and threw it at Puck in hurtfulness.

“Don’t bring her into this. Lorelei was like a mother... and Opaque killed her!”

Puck ducked below the flying chair, “Why would they send her when they knew how powerful Opaque was?”

“What you suggest is monstrous...”

“You know it’s a possibility.”

“There are many possibilities,” Shadowstar replied standing up.

“Star, don’t be such a brat about this! I swear, Alexander listens better than you, and he’s a baby!”

Shadowstar sighed and shrugged her shoulders. She wrapped her massive black wings around her body. Small flints of memory pierced through her mind... Her eyes kept seeing blue... nothing but blue and darkness... She shook her head and pushed away the thoughts wanting to move forward but not back.

“The memories,” Puck scolded.

“I can’t deal with the memories... when the future holds an inevitable war.”

“I dunno, Flaky. I think your past may be extremely important.”

“I don’t care,” She stated starting towards the Wyvern door.

Puck didn’t have time to react, but before he knew it, Shadowstar was struck in the back with a quick bolt of lightening.

“Powder! You should have sensed- Watch out!” he yelled speeding to her spot.

Eutaru dove from Artemis’ chariots and headed towards them with metallic fists. Puck tried to stop him with his own mystical power but it didn’t work. Shadowstar rolled out of the way and fired psionic blasts. She hit him in the abs but her power was useless.

“I can’t stop him alone. Puck, protect Alexander,” Shadowstar ordered diving from the strike.

“But you’re helpless!”

“I’ll be fine! Go!” Shadowstar ordered rolling from another blast.

Shadowstar pulled herself up the walls of Wyvern. Eutaru hit her in the back with Zeus’ lightening. She screamed in pain and weakly levitated herself to the top. Her wings opened and took her on the currents. She dodged and twisted through the stray blasts while firing several behind her.

“It’s almost futile,” Shadowstar grumbled as her shots were become more and more useless.

She dove over the misty harbor hoping to lose her peruser in the haze. She didn’t know who he was or what he wanted. He just had the power of the gods.

“Why are you pursuing me?” She screamed pulling a telekinetic shield around herself.

“You’re the only thing in Hades’ way... Now you pay,” Eutaru snarled raising his hands above his head.

He released a stinging bolt of lightening that seared through the haze with ease. It gave Shadow no warning. Lightening ripped through her shield and electricity tore at her body.

“No!” She screamed in agony falling towards the water.

Eutaru cackled and controlled the waters that pulled her underneath its currents. Shadowstar opened her eyes only to see the shadowy figure dwelling over the water. She fought against her own weakness to pull herself through the ripping currents. Her breath started to diminish as she pulled to the surface. Her lungs gasped for air and fright when Eutaru dove at her from the sky.

“I shoot you now, and you are electrocuted,” he replied lifting her up by the shoulders.

“I have no quarrel with you.”

“I don’t care,” he said dropping her hard onto the land.

She tried desperately to read his mind to telepathically stun him, but her power seemed utterly useless. She fired her weakening plasm bursts at the Hunter, and he laughed at Shadowstar’s folly. He inched closer as she nervously tried to pull herself backwards. She panicked and stumbled backwards. He inched closer as her cobalt eyes widened. Her ribs grinded against her flesh, broken from the fall.

“Aughhh!” She gasped trying to pus h away the pain.

“Give up now,” he taunted staring at her with mesmerizing brown eyes.

Dionysus’ charm captured her mind for an instant. She blinked and rolled over to crawl away. He grabbed her wings, and Shadow screamed with the pain of bones crushing.

Pain had never consumed her so much. She collapsed to the ground with tears of fear rolling down her dirty white cheeks. He pulled her face up by ripping back her midnight hair. She cried with the pain and tried to lash back but her bones ached too much.

“Please, don’t kill me,” she gasped wanting the horror to end.

“I’m not going to kill you... but the hate of all the god’s will.”

Crimson energy swirled around his demon body. Shadowstar clawed at the ground and tried to manage an escape. Eutaru back handed her with his metallic glove cutting her across the lip. She cried out but was not heard. The crimson poured into Shadowstar creating a pain so great... a pain that would ultimately cause her fall.

All gods combined to put their being into the creature. The energy which he created held a virus sent by Hestia to kill the gargoyle slowly by tearing apart the mind. The mind was Shadowstar’s strength, but they knew, in time, it would be her own weakness.

She slashed him with her claw and knocked his feet out from under him with her tail. She gasped with extreme weakness and pulled herself up slowly. She grabbed the railing to the docks while holding her ribs together. Her body limped along the docks as the creature persued her once more. She tore out the dock below him and sent herself off the docks. With her last breaths, she chanted the words to Avalon, arms barely able to keep her afloat. Her eyes closed with weakness as the current softly took her along with it.

The beach felt soft among her battered body. Her eyes looked up to see the castle of Oberon. Her arms gave out indefinitely, and her body and soul drifted into eternal darkness to rarely see the light again.

CHAPTER 4: FLICKER OF HOPE

Shadowstar opened her eyes briefly as her pupils flickered with the light. Her voice was hoarse and raspy. She could feel Hestia’s virus taking over her mind.

“Flicker...” she whispered.

He looked quickly at her becoming lost in the dying gaze. His fists were still wrapped around the sword he took from Shadowstar. He looked like a helpless child hiding from the enemy.

“Rest, Shadowstar.”

“No, not much time left. You have to stop him... Hades can’t win.”

“You’re not going to die! Sleep, Shadowstar, you can’t die.”

“Don’t... leave me.”

“And don’t you leave me.”

Shadowstar closed her eyes once more while her soul tore itself apart. Flicker looked down at her and sighed. Her felt something inside this gargoyle that no other contained. The stories behind her were awesome, but there was something about them, about her.

“Don’t die on me, okay. We all need the all famous Shadowstar to help us in the days to come,” Flicker whispered quietly.

* * *

Athena’s brow furrowed in concentration as she poured the melted candle wax onto the floor. Her eyes watched each drop slowly form a picture while it hardened. An arrowhead... lightening... and the crescent moon. She smirked for the answer came easily to her.

“It looks like you and I are in this battle,” Athena chuckled placing the eternal candle upright.

“How do you get that out of mounds of wax?” Rhayna question skeptically.

“Years of tradition... well, look at it this way. I don’t think Shadow could get up and fight any time soon,” Athena remarked picking up the wax, “He can’t hurt me with his power.. not even the gifts of the gods can injure me... but you... Dammit, why do they have to be so selfish?”

“Two against one is better odds... Are you sure no other god walks?”

Athena fell silent fully knowing Apollo lived... was it her place to tell Rhayna, Apollo’s past love? Athena shrugged off knowing that Apollo’s presence may only complicate things more.

“None but Hades and myself.”

“Then we will steal back the gifts alone.”

“Steal? Avalonian, we can’t steal anything. We must kill the beast of Hades.”

Rhayna sighed in displeasment. She had caused enough atrocities in her day to want an end to the bloodshed. It may be the only way, but she wanted an alternative.

“Rhayna, you know how the Olympians work. It ends in death or it doesn’t end,” Athena said standing up.

“But they did not kill me.”

“Has it ended yet? You know as well as I that this is just a prelude,” Athena stated taking a spear from the wall.

“My siblings are yet to be reunited,” Rhayna commented.

“Doesn’t matter anymore. Uly has already fallen to hate... Take this,” Athena said tossing Rhayna a spear.

Rhayna caught it and stared out the door of the temple. Her heart sank with the words of the goddess, but her mind pushed her further on.

“Let us do what we must,” Rhayna snarled in her returning arrogant voice.

“Apparently, Hades didn’t humble you as much as he would have hoped to,” Athena quipped.

The candle light dance with their movements as the god like ones walked to the entrance. The moon beared it’s beams on Athena and the demon stared up on them.

“So he sits on Athens and waits,” Athena replied watching Artemis’ chariot circle.

“We now become the hunters,” Rhayna snarled.

“You’ve changed.”

“No, I’ve just emerged.”

Eutaru caught sight of Athena’s temple once more. He laughed at the two who stood in the doorway. Victory was not his. His confidence was great, but his intelligence seemed to lack. He brought the chariot about and headed north to the candle light. The moonlight horses dove to the steps, and Eutaru jumped to the ground. Evil brown eyes met the flashing eyes of Athena. Dionysus’ charm passed by her.

“Don’t think it will work. I know Dionysus’ game,” she stammered coldly.

His tall presence almost coward Rhayna instantly, but she knew better than that. Eutaru was nothing but another Hellfury... a beast that she was a slave for by ordered of Hades and Zeus. Her vengeance would be known.

“You will join Hellfury in oblivion!” Rhayna screamed tossing down the spear and releasing massive amounts of mystical energy.

Eutaru stumbled back in the ultimate surprise of Rhayna’s fury. She levitated through the air and fought against him with all her might. He fired lightening at her which she dodged from. Rhayna tore the ground from under him and buried him beneath the soil. Her hair moved viciously while her eye glowed fierce and powerful. Athena walked down the steps and drew her sword. She forced it down through the dirt hoping to strike him.

“Get back,” Athena said as the ground shook.

Eutaru cracked through the soil with Zeus’ lightening rods. Rhayna created a stone shield around herself to protect. She dealt him an uppercut to the jaw in return. He was barely injured and attempted to hit her back. Athena sent a gold boot into his back to stun his concentration. Athena then sent a blow to his armor with her sword. It only clacked off it leaving no damage. Rhayna picked him up with her power and tossed him over hear head.

“Rhayna?” Athena questioned.

“Revenge,” she answered as Eutaru latched onto her arm.

Her misjudgement led to her demise. He sliced through her shield and knocked her out with his metallic gloves of pure steal. Athena tried to stop him with Rhayna’s discarded spear. Eutaru knew he couldn’t stop Athena, but he could stall her. That was certainly how he’d win this battle. Before Rhayna knew about it, Eutaru wrapped his hands around her waist, she was flying head first into Athena. Rhayna’s faery head cracked into Athena’s breast plate. Both women fell to the ground.

“Rhayna, get up!” Athena said frustrated trying to push the faery off of her legs.

Eutaru cackled wickedly and used this opportunity. He bolted up the stairs with the skill of Hermes. Athena looked up and realized that she and Rhayna tailed the first defensive.

“I should go.. no, they have to prove their own worth. I alone cannot defeat Hades in the end,” Athena replied aloud justifying her actions.

Flicker rested his head against the marble wall pondering all the why’s to the situation.

“I don’t even know her... Yet, I’m drawn to this gargoyle like none other. I wish she would just wake up... I want to know her,” Flicker started until he heard a noise, “No... I can’t do this alone. Dammit, Shadowstar, I need your help!” Flicker whispered loudly shaking the gargoyle with frustration and fear.

The faint breathing slightly picked up, and Flicker’s eyes perked up. He knelt over her and placed his hands on her face staring intently at the vast whiteness.

“Come on, Star! I knew you have it within you to keep fighting. I need you help now, more than ever, or this demon is going to send us both to Hades. And I know I certainly don’t want to spend the rest of my eternity with that guy. Come on, Shadowstar! Fight... please! Fight for me,” Flicker coaxed trying anything to animate the gargoyle.

“I don’t think she’d be much of a help anyway,” Eutaru hissed standing above Flicker.

His heart leapt into his throat upon hearing the voice, but he has not lived to fear. Flicker has faced death numerous times, and Eutaru was not instilling anything but hatred. He was given his orders and there was no way he’ll give up. His icy eyes shot back up to Eutaru as a cold frown stretched across his face. He put his hands around the silver sword of Zeus as the scabbard unsheathed. Green cloaks trailed to the ground as Flicker stood above the fallen. He was the last defense.

“Are you preparing to die for the weakling?” Eutaru questioned.

“I won’t be the one dying today... It’s not on my schedule.”

“It will be,” Eutaru replied lunging at Flicker.

Flicker leapt over his attacker and wrapped a color whip around Eutaru’s arm. As Eutaru released a bolt at Flicker, Flicker used all his might to pull Eutaru into a wall away from Shadowstar. The bolt singed through Flicker’s cape making him most unhappy.

“I just had this thing cleaned,” he grumbled.

“That’s not all that’s going to be destroyed.”

“Yea, your ugly face.”

Flashing spots crossed Eutaru’s eyes as he was blinded by Flicker’s manipulations. As Eutaru stumbled about, Flicker kicked the demon square in the jaw. Eutaru saw the sword coming at him in an alarming rage. His silver gloved knocked the blow away. His mighty fist knocked Flicker across the room with ease.

“What the hell was that? Geez, I thought I was winning,” Flicker whined as a bolt of lightening headed directly towards his face.

Flicker rolled under it causing the electricity to ricochet off the pilar. Seeing a stray head for Shadowstar, he tossed the sword to intercept the blast and angle back towards Eutaru. The electricity buried itself into Eutaru’s heart leaving him screaming in agony. Flicker leapt up to grab the sword and made a mad rush towards Eutaru.

“Any last words, demon spawn??” Flicker screamed as the sword buried itself deep in Eutaru’s heart, “May you rest in HELL!”

Flicker’s head dropped in exhaustion as his eyes raised to see a weak figure walking towards him. Her eyes looked like she was battling hell as her arms stretched out in front of her broken body. Flicker was almost alarmed at this sight. ‘Why is she doing this?’ he questioned to himself.

“No more!” Shadowstar screamed conjuring up her last energy.

Flicker never noticed the demon arising behind him. Shadowstar found it within herself to use the last of what she had. As he released Zeus’ fury from his gloves, she sent invisible strangulation to Eutaru. He screamed in his death with the sword lodging itself further into his cold soul. Shadowstar fell backwards in final agony as the lightening stuck her heart. Flicker witnessed this while he pulled the sword from the dead beast’s heart. Flicker stumbled to her falling body as he sheathed the sword to hold her in a dying hope.

“You saved me,” Flicker whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.

“And you saved me... thank you,” she trailed of closing her eyes.

A solitary tear made it’s way down her motionless face. Flicker held her in his strong arms and cried. His auburn hair fell over his face and onto hers. It was at that moment his heart seemed to break and his eyes opened to watch the last minutes. ‘The simpleness is so beautiful. Her parents must have been special... Star, there is so much mystery around you. You can’t leave me... you can’t leave any of us,” he trailed off.

He flinched for a moment concentrating on the torn shirt. He moved away the tattered material to see a familiar mark on her collar bone.

“It can’t be... your... you can be saved. Athena!” Flicker shouted with everything he could muster.

Athena ran up the steps carrying the still very unconscious Rhayna. She looked at Flicker in question. Instantly, she noticed what Flicker had.

“Flicker, what were you doing?”

“I’d laugh but there’s no time. Avalon is the only thing that can save her.”

“We leave now!”

CHAPTER 5: SHATTERED MEMORIES

Oberon quickly fled down the hall as he sensed a return of his children. He stopped at the doors of the throne room and just stared. ‘Why did I sense two?’ he questioned himself.

“Is Rhayna okay?” he questioned as his feet took him across the floor.

“Fine, but-” Athena started.

“I can see how Shadow’s doing. What do you expect me to do, Flicker?” Oberon questioned almost annoyed.

Never has Flicker felt such a disgust against Oberon. Yea, it still hurt the fae to think of the assassination attempt, but this time was different. This gargoyle was one of Oberon’s own, and he was too blind to see it.

“Look Oberon!” Flicker shouted harshly moving away the tattered clothing, “She’s one of yours! Have you been to damn arrogant to see it! Has your disgust blocked all feelings? She’s no longer some traveler who decided to make a rest stop on your planet! She’s one of yours! And I’ll be damned if I watch her die when Avalon can save her!”

Flicker’s eyes burned with his anger and frustration at Oberon’s emotionlessness. Oberon smirked at Flicker’s outburst. Flicker became more enraged and his breathing became heavy.

“Heh, so Shadowstar, we find out why Titania and myself sensed something strange of you... welcome to the family,” Oberon replied almost joyously as he knelt down by the gargoyle’s side.

“Can you help her?” Athena questioned.

“I better or my daughter is going to raise hell once more,” Oberon said placing his had over Shadowstar’s heart.

He could sense a fluctuated of power surging about Shadowstar. Power was being lost but an unknown source seemed to be trying to gain power. One conclusion entered his mind on light of everything that has happened.

“Whatever Hades did to her isn’t the main influence. She and Avalon’s power can fight that, but something is messing with her power... I think the Kindred have a lot of explaining to do,” he grumbled focusing on the orb as slight power flickered in it, “Get that off of her!”

Flicker took the orb off of Shadowstar and instantly a great mass of energy swarmed from her body and she lurched in pain and power.

“Let it go!” Oberon shouted as Flicker became drawn into the wave.

Both seemed to be lifted by it and thrown to the ground as their minds merged onto the psychic plane. Athena got up to move Flicker’s body, but Oberon halted her shaking his head.

“No, their minds are one now. We can’t move them... Get Goliath. This is going to kill him,” Oberon said with a softening voice.

“Why?” Athena questioned.

“From what I can tell, the Kindred messed with her power to scarring levels... She’s lucky to make it this far... most likely, if she leaves the healing power of Avalon, she’s not going to make it far.”

“Hestia’s virus didn’t help.”

“No... if she didn’t have the faery power from us, she would have been dead already... Athena bring him here, and Puck for a matter of fact... Might as well bring all of them. Goliath will need them.”

“Oberon, I’ve never seen you this... compassionate.”

“I learn my lessons quickly... after my attempt on Flicker’s life... you learn much humility and humanity while in the appropriate setting.”

“I’ll return shortly,” Athena answered softly as she vanished from Oberon’s presence.

“Avalon, give you daughter strength to heal while her mind battles the unthinkable,” Oberon said as the white energy from Avalon poured around Shadowstar.

Rhayna made some soft noises and stirred on the ground. Her eyes let in the light of Avalon as she focused on the bluish face of her father. He smiled as she arose.

“What?” she questioned resting back on her hands.

“Arise my child... we’ve found your second child.”

“What?” she screeched as her eyes widened.

“Look for yourself.”

Rhayna looked troubled as she realized the truth of her own suspicious. She bit her lip and trembled with fear and disgust for herself. How could she have not known her own? Oberon opened his arms to his daughter as she fell into them to be comforted. Father and daughter sat together in vigil for the dying.

* * *

Flicker opened his eyes to a place unknown to him. It was not of senses but of the mind. The trees and flowers had nothing but color and depth. The sweet smell of Avalon was nonexistent in this place... and it certainly led him to question as he walked through the trees of the past.

“Am I dead?” He inquired of himself.

“You’re here,” A voice said from behind him.

Flicker turned around to see an almost familiar body. It was Shadowstar but not Shadowstar. There were no wings or tail... her coloring was more faery like... fleshy and rosy. Her black main trailed down her back accentuating her collar bone and face markings.

“Who are you?” Flicker questioned.

“Who are you?” Flicker questioned as the woman walked bare footed towards him.

“I’m Shadowstar.”

“Not the Shadowstar I know.”

“She doesn’t even know my existence. The Kindred made sure of that. I need your help Flicker,” Shadow replied placing her hand on his arm.

“Why?”

Shadow sighed stepping back from the skeptical Flicker. She looked around the mental surroundings.

“Well, you don’t have much of a choice. You’re in her mind now, and if she dies, you go with her.”

“But-?” Flicker stammered.

“Stop your whining! I am her faery part, and without me, she’s as good as dead. You care more for her than you even realize... so stop the childishness!” Shadow scolded.

“What makes you think you know anything about me?”

“Truthfully, I don’t care. I don’t want to die, and I sure as hell know you don’t,” Shadow replied showing much of Shadowstar’s gargoyle personality.

“What do we have to do?”

“Help her accept and realize the memories the Kindred locked away... She has to accept me.”

“That’s simple.”

“You think?”

“I’m Flicker. I can accomplish anything.”

Shadow rolled her eyes, “You’d be surprised.”

Shadow fell silent as the surrounding went dark. A white gargoyle flew above and the two ducked below her. Shadow followed the male as the scenery changed. The walked onto the landing of a castle. The actual Shadowstar walked around lost. Flicker perked up and tried to run for her, but Shadow stopped him.

“She may not even see us... even still, we cannot interrupt the process her mind has chosen to follow.”

“This psyche stuff is so confusing.”

“Heh, it’s all in the eye of the beholder, and that’s the beholder,” Shadow said pointing to the gargoyle.

Shadowstar wrapped her wings around her pale gargoyle body. Her eyes looked confused as she walked around the dreary hallways. She stopped in her tracks as two beings came onward. Her feet backed her into a wall while she silently panicked but the two walked right by her.

“Who?” She whispered as she started to recognize them.

“Rhayna, is it almost time?” The male gargoyle questioned the faery by his side.

“Soon, Midnight, soon.”

“What will Apollo think?”

“Same thing I thought when he had an affair with Cassandra.”

Shadowstar followed the two and focused on this midnight... The similar features is what astounded her. Everything down to the cobalt eyes and face mark. Shadowstar pondered for a second as the two exited the corridor. She lowered her eyes to the ground and then quickly raised them to chase them through the door. Her feet suddenly rested on the thin wall of a parapet. Her arms shifted to keep balance.

“What?” She questioned taken off guard by the change.

“Where is she?” Shadowstar heard herself say loudly.

She turned around to see her younger, more naive self. Her feet took her down to the stone floors as Midnight seemed to pass right through her. Shadowstar jumped back with the odd feeling of being intangible.

“She’s on Avalon,” midnight replied gruffly.

“So she abandoned me to the center of Europe?!” The young one challenged.

Shadowstar snickered in the midst of her confusion... that had to have been her younger arrogance... but who abandoned her?

“Rhayna loves you... but you can’t challenge the gods!”

“She did!”

“She failed!”

Her cobalt eyes widened to take in the words.... Rhayna? Was she... no, that was impossible.

“I’m a gargoyle, not a faery,” Shadowstar whispered to herself as the floor collapsed beneath her,” What the hell?” She questioned starting to open her wings.

As Shadowstar fell, dark figures rose above her. She could hear herself scream as blue energy raptured through the air. The voices had no words but an incognito of voices. Faces started shifting like clay under a sculptures hand. For brief instances, Shadowstar could recognize them... Iara, Xavier...

“The Kindred?” She gasped in pain.

The energy fluctuated and tried to break any will she had left. The light above her became more clouded and distant as her body fell closer to the end of a bottomless pit.

“If you will not willingly join us, we will take you by force!” Iara hissed sending sharp electric pain through the frail gargoyle body.

“Why?” She groaned trying to shield herself with useless faery power.

“You’re nothing without us, and with you, we will channel eternal power! But your memories are ours for you will know nothing but our world!”

Green power poured into her and burned through her eyes and veins. Her eyes fired ferociously as her body lurched and twisted in sheer agony.... and she was struck. The ground hit her like a steal beam striking her blind. Her weary arms lifted her up to see Lorelei, her best friend.

“Tell me what this is,” Shadowstar replied gripping the pain.

“This is your life,” she answered inching towards her student.

“The lies?”

“All true.”

“You?”

A streak of bright energy struck Lorelei and shattered her image. Shadowstar screamed in anguish as her best friend and mentor was killed before her eyes. Xavier’s laughter rose above her small voice.

“It will not be known. Ever!” Xavier hissed as the Normandy wind suddenly took her back and knocked Shadowstar into the mud.

Her weeping face looked up to see herself holding a vampire child. She recognized the companion to be Remy Nathanial. Everything slowly pieced itself together with the events of the past months... but it overwhelmed her to realize them now.

“They’ll be looking for you.”

“I know, Remy. Give her to a family to care for her... she is destined to be a vampire...”

Shadowstar watched herself be struck by more Kindred power. Her voice scream for an end to the vicious memories that were striking her will with the greatest pain. She cried into the mud as Remy took flight with the child and her own image disappeared.

“Tell me, Kindred! Do you steal these memories also?” Shadowstar roared from the ground in her agony.

Iara appeared above her body as the facade faded away. The memories were set and pulled from the hidden safeguards in her mind.

“And now, with your power supply gone, memories restored, and hate instituted, you will die for betraying you people,” Iara sneered drawing her sword.

“You betrayed me! Stole everything I knew and used me! I hate everything you are!” Shadowstar cried while pulling herself up under the rain.

Her tears became consumed by the water that trickled down her stained face. And death was almost inevitable to her now broken mind. And now, she was not going to die alone. She was going to take her hate with her. Iara ran at Shadowstar with the silver blade glowing. Shadowstar used her weak telekinetic hand to pull Iara’s feet out. She grabbed the sword as it flew in the air and brought it down to shatter all Iara was... the image drifted away into the stormy sky, but the hate would always remain.

Shadowstar threw the sword away and collapsed to her knees while the drops of rain ran across her back.

“The truth is so clear... who am I now? What am I now? Everything for centuries was a lie... all a lie...” she sobbed not even noticing the figures fading into her view.

The faeries slowly trudged along the mud to a broken being. Flicker looked extremely sympathetic and yet cautious. ‘This was too easy,’ he deducted as he knelt down in front of the weak. Her eyes slowly traveled up to meet the ashen grey eyes of the auburn haired faery.

“Flicker?” Shadowstar questioned.

“Yea, I mean, I happened to hear how a gargoyle was going to go into a psychic shock, and I decided to go along for the ride,” he smirked.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be... you need a friend... and a friend I am.”

“It’s not over, is it?” Shadowstar questioned as Flicker brushed away the black hair matted to her eyes from the rain.

“No, it’s not,” Shadow replied pointing to a massive wave of energy heading toward them.

“What is that?” She questioned.

“Let’s put it this way, Shadowstar. You accept me and your past now, or you die in that last wave of Kindred power.”

“No! You are not me! Never will I be fae... I am Kindred... a gargoyle,” Shadowstar screamed as the surge grew closer.

“I am you whether you accept it or not. I am yours by birth, by right. The Kindred stripped me from your mind to use you... and now, its time to make us whole... for your life, for Flicker’s... realize who you are once and for all. You are not an omnipotent Kindred and you never were. You are faery… and you are gargoyle,” Shadow tore back stretching out her hand for Shadowstar to grasp.

“Please, Star... you’ve always been one of us... please,” he whispered as tears ran down Shadowstar’s face.

Shadowstar listened to the pleas and watched the wave come closer. She felt Flicker’s fear and Shadow’s distress, but the lies and the hurt of it all overwhelmed her weak heart. She didn’t want to face all the truths to everything. It would change her forever. Everything was shattered in a few minutes of realization. Everything was not right... She was abandoned, lied to, stolen from... As the wave pursued their final deaths, something inside the hate made her grab the faery hand. The two enveloped into one final being. The hate made her want to finally rise above the Kindred and show them who she finally was. The energy hit, and Flicker screamed in agony as the surge electrified him. He had no power to stop it. Her eyes burned with the mystical energy as she dove over Flicker to protect him from the power. She closed her eyes and concentrated to build up the strength and safeguards against the raging pain left to destroy her once and for all. The green energy deflected off of the mystics her mind could produced and vanished into non existence.

Flicker opened his eyes while letting the memory of the pain go away. Shadowstar opened hers almost sorrowfully, rolling off of the faery she protected from death. Her eyes became lost in the cloudless sky of her mind. Flicker sat up and bit his lip while looking at the muddy and scarred gargoyle. ‘What do you say to someone who just saved your life but in that had to accept a life they never asked for... and in turn had to face lies...’ Flicker questioned himself while lowering his eyes in sympathy.

“Don’t think I can’t hear your thoughts,” she replied gruffly, “That’s my special gift... my mind... even if it’s not as strong as I thought... You get light and I get a mind...”

“I’m sorry...”

“So am I.”

“Don’t be so cold, Shadowstar. You’re not the only one who has been lied to for thousands of years. Hell, I came out of a mirror! At least you have parents and are not some side effect of a side effect of an experiment... Yea, that’s right. You are yourself. I am somebody else!” Flicker replied harshly.

A solitary tear rolled from the corner of her eye as the two minds faded from a psychic existence.

CHAPTER 6: HEART BREAK

Goliath watched his love as a tear ran down her battered face. He felt a strange heart break as he knew he would be losing his angel... even though she clearly did not love him...

Simultaneously, Shadowstar and Flicker’s eyes shot open as the blinding light to too their eyes. Their pupils adjusted to the moonlight that they had not seen for quite some time. Flicker quickly sat up not sustaining much damage. Shadowstar remained motionless as the thoughts filtered through her mind. ‘At least I didn’t lose the ability to block them out... but I feel I’m reduced to telepathy and some telekinetics. No more fun with plasm bursts and such... I have to learn my faery power... maybe that will prove to be almost as fulfilling,” she thought as the eyes watched her, ‘But I have greater things to worry about besides power.’

“Shadowstar?” Goliath questioned.

Her eyes became harsh as she jumped to her feet ignoring any injury or weakness. Her emotions were now kicking in, and she was not soon to forget what pain has just crossed her face. Goliath almost looked hurt by her now harsh demeanor.

“I don’t want to talk to anybody,” she snarled staring into one on Oberon’s mirrors, “I need to deal with my past alone... nobody can help me and this hate.”

Everybody stared at her with either hurt or sympathetic eyes. Goliath, Puck, Brooklyn, Bronx, Lexington, Angela, Rhayna, Elisa, Hudson, Xanatos, and Broadway all stood behind her... and it made her very uncomfortable. She didn’t want all these people around her questioning who she really was. She turned around quickly with eyes burning and the tears falling like they did under the Normandy rain.

“What? Do you want to look at the freak show? I’m not even fully gargoyle! Some genetic melting pot that was divided and hidden away... like separating of water... harsh and cold... and painful to reunite. That me! I finally have the faery back, and I’m not liking it one bit... My entire life has been a lie! Do you know what it feels like? I’m not even Kindred... You know why? Because they used me! They stole thousands of years of memories from me... and lied! I have a sister and a brother! Hell, I have parents... and a vampire child!? It’s some twisted story that can only be created for film, but it’s happening to me! Here, Shadowstar, here’s you power, just don’t destroy any planets with it... It’s not even my power! They claimed I had it! I am nothing... just a toy! And now, they’ve torn me apart so much I’m going to be scarred for ages! They tried to kill me by using my mind, my only gift, against me... I don’t want to talk to anybody! You faeries abandoned me and that left me to the vultures of the Kindred... Let the used and weak child be ALONE in her home...” Shadowstar cried and screamed in her rage hurting many people who stood in the room but not Flicker... he understood her anger.

Rhayna looked down in shame for all she had done. Titania and Oberon felt the sting of their actions so many years ago. They should have been there for the girl when she was young. They weren’t so the blame of this atrocity fell partially on their shoulders.

Goliath eyes fell sorrowful never feeling such a denial and hate from Shadowstar... and she didn’t care because her hear had become closed to all feelings.

“Shadowstar,” A Kindred voice called from the mirror.

A hand stretched from the mirror as Shadowstar grabbed it. Her arms and might tore Iara from the mirror causing her to land on the ground sliding on her back to Oberon’s feet. She laughed at Shadowstar sinisterly as she sat up with her emerald hair trailing behind. Her eyes glowed purple as she rose to her feet.

“You now know the truth... Ha! And now you will meet the price that you have evaded... Meet the oblivion Lorelei tasted,” she hissed sending a wave of energy at Shadowstar.

Shadowstar dove out of the way as six different beams of energy whipped Iara to the ground.

“Who defies the Kindred?” She hissed.

“We all do,” Oberon answered standing above her with fist wielding much energy.

“We protect out own,” Titania remarked coming to his side.

“You stole my child,” Rhayna accused standing to his right.

“And my sister,” Allison continued stepping forward.

“No more,” Puck continued.

“She is now out of your hands, eternally,” Flicker finished.

Iara stood up greatly annoyed by the insolence of the mere Earthians. Alone, she truthfully could not fight the entire room and not hurt the girl. Yet, in her deceitful heart, she understood their motives and decided to compromise.

“Well then, I’ll give you a choice, Lord Oberon. She can come back with us, do her penance, and be restored completely to her former self... majestic, invulnerable... powerful. OR she must remain on Avalon to sustain her life and power away from her ‘love’... and be with her true kind. Away from Avalon for more than two days... and she will die. The choice is yours, Lord Oberon,” Iara almost taunted knowing the price of either choice would be a small hell for Shadowstar to endure.

“Why don’t you ask her to make the choice?” Oberon replied becoming frustrated with the Kindred, “And I always thought the Kindred were good and not deceitful.”

“All’s fair in war... and I believe I ask you, Lord... she is a child.”

And it became time for Shadowstar to take it no longer. Her hate snapped into a blister of fury. She stared at the mirror and caused it to ripple like the tide pool of the Kindred.

“I am not a child!” Shadowstar screamed releasing a blinding faery power.

Invisible hands wrapped themselves tightly around Iara’s fighting body. Every minuscule amount of Kindred power Iara had help compared to nothing that Shadowstar’s hate contained. Shadowstar lifted the lying one and barreled her through the mirror.

“Never will I be on of your kind!” Shadowstar yelled as her right hand shattered the mirror into infinite pieces.

Her blood trickled onto the shattered reflections as Iara’s voice rippled away, “You’ve made your choice...” and the mirror stopped its waves. Shadowstar could never be Kindred again. Her knees crumbled to the ground with her fists laying helplessly to her sides. She raised her face to the sky and cried with the agony of a tortured soul. Tears and blood trickled and mixed among the infinities of a cracked mirror... and lifetimes of memories distorted for those possibilities... and her life shattered forever.

Goliath began to step near his love, but a quick glance from Oberon halted the leader. Goliath’s heart lurched in pain as he realized that he and his love could never be together again... Shadowstar closed her eyes and wept for his pain... and the pain of everybody else who’s lives were broken by the deceit of it all.

“Do you want us to leave?” Oberon questioned softly breaking the silence.

Her tear stained face turned slowly to meet Oberon’s sympathetic eyes. Her face grew cold and remained angry. Her words kept the harsh tone of a hurt soul who could do nothing but sting everybody else.

“What good will that accomplish? You will all still be sitting outside crying for the poor, unfortunate Shadowstar... Get it all out now, why don’t you... Now and forever, nothing is every going to be the same,” she said clenching her reddened fist.

She stood up and glance around the room. No more did she feel love. Her soul burned venomous hate. Her mind was now selfish and did not care for the others... and they would remember her with disgust.

“Go, now, Goliath, and only remember me with good thoughts... for I am going to the pits of hell itself...”

“No, I will follow you to the ends of the Earth,” he replied torn by her words.

“No! Don’t you see? Don’t you realize that I do not love you, Goliath... I cannot. I cannot return... leave now or you will be hurt more... from truth,” Shadowstar said hurting with every last word.

“But I love you!”

“But I feel love no more...”

“That’s not true!”

“Isn’t it? You have not seen what I have! You never felt the pain and anger I had to... and you do know this lie I have lived! Go, now, before you heart bleeds any further... and go, knowing that I did love you, but I am no longer the Shadowstar you knew... I am a whole...”

“We’ll miss you Shadowstar,” Brooklyn said softly speaking for his clan.

“This isn’t goodbye. Avalon is always open to you,” She replied.

“I wish you well,” Angela said, “You’re like a mother.”

Shadowstar fell silent and just nodded her head to Angela’s words. The gargoyles turned their back to Shadowstar to leave the throne room. Goliath looked at her with sorrowful eyes. He knew that this was once more the end... their love was not a mistake, but something that should not have been among the fractured and twisted world Kindred created for Shadowstar. He had know nothing but joy since she entered his life, but deep down, he knew he could never hold onto her. Tears fell from his eyes as Shadowstar turned her back to him.

“Everything has come full circle,” he replied putting his talons on her shoulders, “I will miss you my Shadowstar.”

“And I, you,” Shadowstar whispered, “Take care of him Elisa,” Shadowstar said telepathically to their friend.

Elisa nodded as Goliath and she headed for the door. Athena followed them out to teleport them away. Puck stepped forward as he felt all her emotions through the psi link.

“Where the hell am I supposed to go now? What am I to do?” She growled as friends approached her.

“Powder, you do as you have always done. Live, learn, and kick everybody’s butt who stands in your way,” Puck smirked hoping to lighten her mood, “If you need me, you know how to find me,” Puck said tapping his head and disappearing in teleportation.

“I need to be alone... to think... and realize what they took away from me.”

Oberon and Titania stepped forward to speak to her. For all the mistakes they made, they could do nothing now but be there for her.

“We should have recognized it earlier,” Oberon told her, “It’s not like us... I failed you, my child.”

“No, Lord Oberon, I failed myself.”

“It’s a tangled web, and we will help you, my child.”

“You cannot help me this time... This is something I have to do alone...” Shadowstar growled calming her anger.

“Very well, then,” Oberon replied, “Come, my Queen, there is not much more we can do here.”

As the blinding light flashed thought the room, Shadowstar looked around to realize that the only there who remained were a mother, a sister, and a friend. Her words remained inside her mind for what could she say to a mother that so long ago abandoned her? How does one look at a sister who is not know to her? The bloodlines are strung, but they are not felt. Shadowstar quickly glanced away and slowly took herself to the door. Her bandages were still set and a limp still noticeable appeared on Shadowstar’s legs. Flicker noticed the unhealed ribs had been aggravated again... and yet, he knew that her hate and disgust sheltered any pain she felt physically. Rhayna remained silent feeling the sting of what she had done. She went to reach out for Shadowstar, but Allison held her back.

“No, mother, let her be to herself... You can see it in her eyes. She will not accept you as willingly as I. Her life has become annihilated,” Allison replied holding onto her mothers violet cloaked arms.

She looked behind her blue hair and to her eldest daughter. Her face was that of an agonizing parents, and it had suddenly become years older.

“But she is my daughter and your sister,” Rhayna replied softly.

“Rhayna, I can’t believe you are acting this selfish. Do you think she cares who you are right now?” Flicker bursted becoming extremely angry with the situation.

“Flicker, stay out.”

“No, Rhayna, I was in her mind. I saw what she saw. I felt the pain! I had her despair in my veins... She was kicked around by the people she viewed as teachers... everything she has lived has been a lie... precious memories were stripped away. Don’t tell me I don’t know how she feels. I’m probably the only other person that remotely knows what she’s going through... and from you all, she knows abandonment... from her own people,” Flicker said sharply to one of his dearest friends.

Rhayna slouched in her usually prominent stature. Her feet picked up as she allowed herself to levitate through the air. The dancing light of the glowing eye kept their attention on their elder. She could never imagine that this was the feeling the night sky was giving them days before.

“I’m sorry, Flicker, I should not have assumed what I didn’t know... When you have a child, you will know the pain tearing at me, the pain I have known for centuries... I can only hope Shadowstar will accept me in time... It’s taken me centuries to forgive myself for leaving my children, a terrible mistake on my part... I can’t help but feel responsible for the Kindred influence... I just hope Hades does not decide to capitalize on this turmoil,” Rhayna continued to say very mundanely as she drifted around the throne room.

“Will you stop worrying about Hades! We have to deal with what we have now.”

“And, you, Flicker, have no clue what he is capable of and what he is planning to do to Avalon!” Rhayna remarked recalling her punishment by Hades.

“Maybe I don’t, but I think you need to prioritize your life before you even ask her to be a part of yours.”

“You have no right to judge me.”

“You’re right. I don’t know you as you don’t know me... or her...”

“Then what’s the point?”

“Healing,” Flicker replied turning for the doorway.

Rhayna looked out to the oceans where Shadowstar first crawled onto the sandy beaches. How could one predict they would find a child from a simple cry for help from the night? She smirked as she thanked Eutaru for bringing them back together... Hades was probably kicking himself for uniting another powerful link to the chain.

Flicker stopped by the table as he headed out of the room and noticed that the two bracelets were taken from it. Shadowstar was still using Kindred sorcery. He silently walked out of the room hoping that he can help heal some of the wounds that were left deep and bleeding.

CHAPTER 7: A NEW LIGHT

Her body made no sound except a sweeping sound of a levitating figure. She slaped her bracelets of sorcery around her thin wrists while partially being stained by the drying blood. No sleep would stop her... it was time to search her soul. Her feet touched the ground as she stopped by a large mirror... an odd looking mirror Shadowstar had never seen before... her eyes looked around the dim walls and realized that she had never been in that sector of Oberon’s castle.

A chill rolled up her spine from the eerie feeling that filled her senses. Something was emanating from the mirror, something familiar. Her talons reached out to touch the cold and dusty glass as she detected a presence which made her back her hand away. She blew onto the dust as it came back into her face. She coughed as the dust rose through her nostrils.

“It’s mine,” A voice echoed down the stairs.

She immediately recognized who was following her. Shadowstar did not mind his presence, but she would much rather have been alone at this point in time.

She watched the auburn haired faery walk quietly down the steps. He, himself, looked as if he had been from hell and back. His eyes were tired and concerned. He walked towards her with slight glimpses of injury seen in his features. He tossed her the scabbard which he still held. She caught it and placed it back on her belt as he grabbed her right talon to look at her injuries. Shadowstar tried to pull her talon from him, but a harsh glance stopped her resistance. He tore a strip from his cape and wrapped it tightly around the wounds.

“You should sleep so it doesn’t scar,” Flicker replied gently.

Shadowstar quickly took her talon away from him and stepped towards the mirror. She did not need to be told what to do at this point.

“They’ll forever be a stigma of my choices... my pain...” she replied solemnly.

“You’re other wounds need healing.”

“They will in time.”

Flicker walked over to Shadowstar and watched the reflection that came back to her weary eyes. He wanted nothing more but to be there for her if she would let him in... and he knew she sensed his thought so he kept his emotions on mind. Only through her own mind and soul would she realize what she held in her reach.

“Where do I go from here?” She questioned dropping a bracelet from a wrist.

The silver clicked off of the stone floor and rolled back and forth until force stopped it.

“Where life takes you.”

“How can I heal with so many lies revealed?”

“With my help... and you will.”

Another bracelet dropped to the ground and echoed down the hallway with its light graze. Shadowstar looked at her palm and noticed the scars forming always forever reminding her of that day. She turned around and looked up at Flicker who stood slightly over her. She pushed away the loose hair that fell in front of his beautiful and solemn face. She placed her talons on his shoulders and spoke few words.

“Thank you,” she replied softly.

Flicker smiled down at the girl before him and knew he needed not to reply. He also knew that the pain was going to sting for ages to come.

“The healing takes a long while,” Flicker replied putting his hands over hers.

“But I can never allow the pain to heal alone,” she answered with tears welling up in her eyes, “I just don’t ever think I can comprehend what they did to me.”

She moved her hands away from his shoulders to wipe the tears from her eyes. He smiled as her knowing that this was the first step of seeking and living with the truth.

“It will take some time,” Flicker spoke taking her into his arms.

She rested her head on his sturdy chest as the tears came and went with no warning at all. He brushed the raven hair back form her face as Shadowstar began to feel sheltered and loved... a strong feeling that built strength under a weak structure. With Goliath, it was an insecure infatuation, but now, there was something different that they both felt... and for once she had no explanation for it.

“Dawn will be nearing,” Flicker said softly.

“Allow me a few moments of peace before the sleep. I have much to think about... to face.”

Flicker nodded and went to step away. Something in their eyes sparked the quick burst of emotions. Shadowstar wrapped her arms around Flicker’s neck as he wrapped his arms around her thin waist with her black wings resting against his hands. Their need for each other in their lives became as simple as a kiss that bonded their lives together immortally. They held each other close, eyes closed, and breathed in the intoxicating aura’s of their passion and emotions. As their lips separated, they looked back into each other’s eyes. Flicker kissed her forehead as she then rested it on his shoulder. He placed his cheek on the top of her head and stroked her black mane of hair with his hand. She knew that this is where their hearts should be... two souls, lonely, stranded and fractured, found each other after years of heartbreak.

“I will see you when you wake,” he whispered taking in the mystical aura she had around her.

She picked up her head as they separated from each other’s arms. She placed her talons on his neck and face and studied the faery that stood before her. She kissed him gently and stepped back.

“Until the night... G’journey,” Shadowstar whispered.

“G’journey,” Flicker answered turning to walk up the stairs.

She watched his green cape, tattered and torn, ripple with his motions through the dim light. As he faded away, Shadowstar’s heart fell heavy once more.

“So many truths to bear in one day... and my hate finds love... a love that is like none other... but it can only shield the rage I feel for what they have done,” Shadowstar spoke as telekinetic hands gathered the silver bracelets from the ground.

“My injuries are not that strong... so says I... No, I promised. My word is my bond as always. I can’t lie to him... Sleep will take me tonight, but tomorrow, I will confront those who abandoned me and left me to the Kindred bastards. And maybe someday there can be an end to the lies and hate...”

Shadowstar grew silent as she was weakened by her own harsh reflection. Her talons touched the dusty glass as her skin turned into gargoyle stone, bandages and all. A slight flicker of energy sparked from the mirror that she touched... only to be a sign of the future to come... the lives of the two faeries were never going to be the same... as things always turn out that way...

...and in the darkness of Hades, a dark and hateful god stared through death. His eyes narrowed and a smirk stretched across his face... Avalon was falling into the will of the gods... and the light forever would remain dim from the truth scars more than the lies that blinded their eyes... “Beware, Avalon, for the end is near...” the words trailed into the darkness...

~Fin~

Coming soon: The answers and origins of both Flickers (seen in the tales written by Flicker himself) and the Armageddon is approaching... Hades’ is emerging... Avalon beware. “Armageddon: The Battle for Avalon” approaches... and all things finally reach full circle.