Chapter Ten

I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is. That an illusion can be anything the mind sets up for us, but the greatest illusion that can sometimes be hard to grasp, the hardest part of understanding a dream reality is that it is far harder to kill a phantom than in a reality, than in the real world. I would know seening as I have plenty of Phantoms hunting my reality and my illusions.

''You're a dream. Like everything else.''

''What is going on here?!'' Was Faith's first unknown as she sniffed through the unfamiliar air. She didn't know where she was. A part of her couldn't bare the thought of the unknown she'd stumbled into. To keep herself in a state of relaxation, to breathe in the shiftling atmosphere, to be unable to stri and to await something unknown, uncomprehended, and terrible all at once? Was starting to become unbearable. The surrounding air around her reminded her of the few minuets she'd spent stumbling around, as if a blindfold had been tied around her head. The pain of her burnt flesh and boiling blood brought the events of the horrible flames, back inside her, resurfacing all at once, as if the broken reality from the smell of smoke and ashes, had cleared the stench of the smoke from her mind. Reliving the pain all over again, had her muscles torn and her mind fuming. It would seem that while she was still suffering from the sever pain, she'd barely had time to notice the movements of the strange, shadowed out, figure closing in on her. Her fingertips broke the tears of the burnt hunters jacket, that still covered the red sploshes of patches of burnt skin, as her fingers glided down the side of her, returning with the decorative dagger. The confident falls of footsteps captivating her attention, slashed, pressing into both of her ears as the shadows around his features loosened. Surprised, a blur of anger plushed in every single corner inside her body as her mind captured every part of him. The white hair, that fair completion, those amber - honey like eyes, every part of him burned solid images into her memory bank, where she was going to make sure they were never allowed to leave. His skin was glowing. Nothing about the way he gazed straight at her, was soft. His chest looked like a big block of marble and yet if it wasn't for the glowing shine of his light colored skin, she might've thought closing her eyes, could cease this nightmare.

Even though he hadn't taken any more steps towards her, the smell of him was still just as strong, as the first time her eyes had laid upon him. The first time being in that room, where he'd wanted to force her to take the life of the tortured, Arrow teen. He smelled of mist and pure darkness, an alluring mix of all so horrible scents that brought nasua to her stomach. Pinching her skin with solid tears rolling down her fair, tired cheeks, she felt the dagger loosing against the once tight hold she'd placed on it, previously, as his lips twisted into a wide, evil smile. There had always been something about him that she hated, even most, during their first encounter. Darin Grey had a voice meant for spreading evil, and bringing pain. But now, right now, Faith could see he was directing all of that evil, all of that pain towards her. Towards her and her alone. He sounded like black marble, but without the stones. Rough, hungry, and powers given to him in which he used to murder. The wickedness of his marble voice brushed against her cheeks in circles of dark, and peppermint. ''It's good to see you again,'' he hissed, amusement behind every word that dare leave his lips. ''Surely you remember me?''

''So,'' Faith stared mind strong, body tense as she felt her fingers shaking uncontrollably. ''Is this your way of telling me you're really the villan?'' Darin stared at her with still amusement presented behind those soft colored eyes, as he turned his lips into a twin line, releasing his grip only when he needed to take a breath, which wasn't to many times. ''Well, I'm definitely not Prince Charming here to rescue you.'' He smiled.

''Funny,'' She paused to smile, eyes closed, only to re-open them with laughter spreading/covering under her cheeks. ''I already knew that,'' Faith said. ''Besides, even if you were Prince Charming, I wouldn't let you rescue me anyways. I have eyes for somebody else.'' A part of her wanted this to be a nightmare, a fever dream for the second time, anything but the work of magic! The scent of sulfur and death spreaded around her, as a blur of wings followed by feathers captured her attention. This time, Darin was inches in front of her, their bodies so close to one another, with one hand stretched out in front of her, she could use her fingertips to brush his skin. Darin shifted his gaze, taking in the lovely amounts of white light surrounded all around them. Faith didn't know where she was, or what he what he had planned for her, which ultimately worried her even more than a few moments ago.

''I know. You have eyes for Valdin? Don't you? Don't try to change the subject by lying to me. I was the commander, his leader, don't tell me what I saw was a mistake. The way he feels he needs to protect you, the way he looks at you, the way he feels about you? Please, don't try to fool me, Faith.'' His light colored hand was under her chin now, forcing her eyes up to look at him, as the next words out of his mouth, reminded her of a snake, for the way his tongue curled and rolled back into his throat. ''Don't worry, I can keep a secret. When you awake, tell Valdin to burn that letter, he won't be needing it.'' Darin snarled sightly, the sound of his tongue, burnt holes into her memory, as she swore spects of black, crystallized gold, took turns dancing in his perfectly shaped irises. ''Where ever you go, I will be there, lurking in the darkest trenches. When you fall fast asleep, all you'll think of is my face, my touch, my voice, because right now, at this current moment. You've just been given the honor of becoming the devil's poodle.''

As the sharp pericing of his voice slowly disappeared, she couldn't stop herself from imagining an invisible bind around her neck, a bind used like a leash to keep her in check always. She wished she could just break the bind trapping her, but the deeper fear inside her kept shouting things at her. Yelling and shouting at the top of its lungs, hopeful that she'd finally take a second and listen. What would happen to her, to everyone if the bind Darin had placed on her, broke? He wasn't just an ordinary god, he was the god of darkness?! Meaning what ever he wished to happen would happen. What ever he wished for her, had a greater chance of breaking her worse than how Cardin had broken her.

''Bark for me, sweet Faith.'' Amusement and playfulness danced circles along his handsome features, as adrenaline sprung through her insides. Without even a second to calm herself, she felt his touch against her hand. The grip he held around her hand, around the dagger, twisted inhumanly, as with disgust spreading through every inch of her, she allowed it to drop to the floor, leaving behind a ''clink'' as it fell before her feet. Faith felt something freeze inside her, forcing her back to hault, her breathing to pause, as Darin's cold temperature vanished the small bit of warmth she'd collected inside her. His touch disappeared after a few seconds, as he brought his hands together, eager to adjust the corners of the black gloves he possessed, pulling the edges of them up, stretching the material so it was more comfortable. Her thoughts went to the thought of Valdin, and she saddened, her eyes dropping to the bottom below her. She turned to follow Darin's gaze, saddened by the thought of what might happen next, not just to herself, but to everyone she held dear.

''Why don't you just leave me alone? Why can't you just leave us both alone..'' Anger fooled her cheeks, as she cuffed her eyes with her hands, eager to hide herself from everything and anything.

''Us?'' Darin stammered, hissing the words till they were sharp like knives.

''Yes us!'' Faith repeated. ''Valdin and I. Why are you so hellbent on destroying everything.''

''Maybe it's because there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or perhaps? There is somewhere you are afraid to travel too? At the end of the day, it's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt because it matters....but here's the real question, why let it matter in the first place? Why let people love, only to get destroyed thirty years later?''

''I don't understand what you mean.''

''Of course you don't, your just a worthless human! There's no explaining anything to creatures like you!'' The heat of her anger, vanished, only to be replaced by fear circling across her face, capturing inside her cheeks, as her arms started to shake. ''Turn around,'' he ordered. ''What?'' Her eyes widened as her lip dropped, worry controlling her next words. ''Why?'' The look on his sharp, marble expression told her he was serious, as the dark shadows took turns masking his forehead, shaping and blinding her from searching his eyes. She tried to turn away, but the smell of his darkness filled her senses with an urge to keep fighting. To try to do everything in her power to convince him of better. Suddenly she blew out a breath, releasing her fear and feelings into the blank, white, room, as she shook her head, turning away, fully, as she shut her eyes in the process. She took a quick glance at the spot he'd once been standing only to find him gone, and all traces he'd even been there, wiped clean from the surface of the tile, floor.

Brave don't mean you're not scared. It means you go on even though you're scared. And for once, Faith wasn't sure how she was going to break free from this ancient mess.