• Chapter 3
    Darkness came out of his room after a few hours. While he was in there, he thought about their requests and how he could help them. Walking into the living room, he took notice of Aya standing at the large window, looking out over the city below. He looked around quickly, seeing Jinx asleep on one of the couch pillows. Darkness walked over to Aya and stood next to her.
    “Beautiful isn’t it?” He asked her, gazing upon the many bright lights and signs below, making a beautiful lit up scenery.
    Aya looked at him, her blue eyes scanning his face, figure, and appearance. She found it strange that Jinx would come to someone like him for help. His hair was long and black, sweeping past his muscular torso, that shown tightly under the wife beater. His skin was tan, seeming as though he always spent his time in the sun. His eyes an inhuman shade of silver that shimmered underneath his bangs when the light hit them just right. Her eyes moved down and took notice of the combat boots and baggy black pants. She moved her gaze back to his face before shrugging and turning to look back out the window. Darkness looked at her for a moment, not understanding her actions.
    “Tell me, why is it you do not speak?” He questioned her, hoping to get some information about it client.
    “She witnessed her parents’ death.” Jinx replied from behind them.
    Darkness rolled his eyes and sighed. “Great you’re awake.”
    Jinx flew from the couch pillow and landed on Aya’s shoulder. She turned her little body forward so she too could gaze upon the beautiful city.
    “When she was six, a demon came to her village. For days he terrorized the people, giving the false hope, killing their live crop and farms, poisoning their water. On his last day he killed every villager one by one. Aya’s mother hid her so the demon wouldn’t kill her as well. Sadly though, the demon knew Aya was hidden and killed her parents in front of her. He left her to live and be the only survivor.”
    As Darkness listened to Jinx tell Aya’s pat, he felt a light tug in his heart. It wasn’t pity, but the idea of their past having something in common. Darkness hung his head causing his hair to fall over his shoulders and cover his face.
    “I’m sorry about your tragedy.” He said quietly and heartlessly.
    Aya huffed as she rolled her eyes and moved away from the window. She plopped down onto the couch and crossed her left leg over her right knee. Darkness turned and seen what she had done and he too walked over to his chair and sat down; placing his left foot on top of his right knee. He looked at Aya and noticed the light from the lamp reflected beautifully off Aya’s eyes, giving them a shimmer. He stared in a daze at her eyes, noting she didn’t display any emotions.
    “What about you?” Jinx asked, snapping Darkness out of his daze.
    “What about me?” He asked blankly.
    “I mean why do you live alone?”
    Darkness sighed and stood from his chair. “That is none of your business.”
    He walked into the kitchen and opened he freezer looking for something to eat. Jinx glared after him and flew into the kitchen, landing on the counter.
    “Asking why Aya is a mute isn’t any of your business, yet still we told you.” She continued to argue.
    Darkness closed the freezer door and looked at her dumb-founded. “We? You were the one who told me everything. Aya didn’t say anything.”
    Jinx rolled her eyes. “Either way, you were told information that you didn’t have to know. Now tell me why you live alone, it’s only fair.”
    Darkness huffed and cursed violently under his breath. “Because my partner left me.” He answered simply and plainly.
    “Your partner? You mean you didn’t work alone all this time?”
    Darkness rolled his eyes and sighed as he leaned against the refrigerator, crossing his arms over his chest. “A few years ago my girlfriend passed away which left me here alone. Now would you please stop asking questions about my personal life?”
    He pushed away from the refrigerator and opened the doors again. Jinx watched him for a moment, curious as to why he acted like he did. Sighing Jinx flew back into the living room and sat down on Aya’s shoulder, grabbing a few strains of her hair and braded them. Darkness stood in the kitchen preparing their dinner. He mind raced with thought of Zoey, causing his heart to feel dark and empty.

    Placing three full plates on the table, Darkness called the girls to the table. Aya walked slowly as though she were shy. Jinx flew straight to her plate and sat in front of it, looking at in dumb-founded. She turned to look at Darkness as he took his seat at the head of the table.
    “Exactly how do you expect me to eat all of this? I mean the pork chop its self is bigger than me let alone the plate.” She complained.
    Darkness rolled his eyes as he picked up his fork. “Sorry you’re just going to have to deal with it. I don’t have pixie sized plates.” He hissed.
    The three of them sat in silence for a moment before Jinx sighed and began struggling with her food. Darkness placed his fork in his mouth and looked at her, getting slight amusement out of it. His eyes moved to Aya who was sitting there quietly looking down at her food, her hands folded in her lap. Her long auburn hair resting over her shoulders, making her crystal blue eyes shine brightly. When Aya looked up from her plate, Darkness looked down quickly as though he hadn’t even noticed her. Aya reached over to Jinx’s plate and placed it in front of her. She picked up her fork and knife and began cutting the food for her friend. When everything was cut into little pieces she placed it back where it had been and went back to staring at her food.
    After a few more moments of silence Darkness grew uneasy and dropped his fork, moving his eyes to look at Aya. “Is something wrong with my food?” He finally asked her.
    Aya shook her head and stood from the table, moving back toward the window. Darkness watched after her, taking in the sway of her hips and her curvy figure.
    “Aya doesn’t eat much.” Jinx said.
    Darkness turned to look back at Jinx. “What do you mean?”
    “You see, she hasn’t had a decent apatite since she was born. She can go four days and not get hungry. Also when she does finally eat she won’t touch meat. She’s raised animals her whole life and grows attached to each one of them.”
    Darkness turned to look at Aya. She stood at the window, her arms wrapped around her waist, her hair flowing to her rear. She seemed so fragile, like a porcelain doll standing there silently. Darkness turned back to his plate and looked down at it shamefully. Why did he feel bad that he made the wrong food? She and Jinx were just clients and nothing more. Growing irritated, he stabbed a piece of cut pork chop with his fork and shoved the food into his mouth.
    Jinx giggled causing Darkness to glare at her. “What?” he hissed.
    “You,” She said giggling. “You think Aya is cute and you’re ashamed because of your ex-girlfriend.”
    Darkness dropped his fork and swallowed his food. “Excuse me?”
    Jinx giggled a little and waved her little hand in the air. “Don’t feel bad, every man who has come across Aya wants to be with her.”
    Darkness rolled his eyes and leaned away from her. “I don’t’ want to hear this. Just keep your stories to yourself.”
    Jinx looked at him for a moment; taking in his flustered cheeks and odd eye movement. A devilish grin spread across her face as she leaned in toward him. “She turns them down every time. Though it’s hard to win the heart of Aya.” She said shrugging and turning back to her food. “Especially after Sebastian died, she hasn’t been the same since toward men.”
    Darkness closed his eyes with aggravation and huffed. He didn’t care to hear the pixies stories. Everything that came out of her mouth was useless information that only pissed him off. Jinx looked at Darkness from the corner of her eyes with attitude. When she seen Darkness not look up wondering about Sebastian she turned to him.
    “Do you want to know who Sebastian was?” She asked.
    Darkness shook his head and focused on his food. Jinx frowned when she realized he wasn’t falling into her trap. “Sebastian was Aya’a Fiancé. He too was a hero just like you.”
    Darkness slammed his fork onto the table and stood. “I told you I didn’t want to hear your childish stories.” He yelled at her before storming off to his room and slamming the door shut. Jinx could hear the clicking of the door lock and smiled.
    Darkness flung himself onto his bed and stared blankly into the darkness at the invisible ceiling. Anger sat in his stomach as he breathed heavily. He didn’t want to help the girls not in the lease. They were nothing but nosey, annoying, talkative clients. Who cared what happened to them?
    Darkness could hear a lite tapping noise coming from somewhere around him. Slowly he opened his eyes to see he was still in his dark room. Moaning he rolled onto his side and snuggled against the pillow, closing his eyes hoping for more sleep. The tapping noise sounded again, causing Darkness to open his eyes and sit up. He looked around the room and waited for the sound again. When it came again he jumped from the bed and stalked over to the door. He unlocked it and pulled in open, finding Jinx hovering in front of him.
    “What do you want now?” He asked angrily.
    “Aya’s gone!” She cried.
    When the little pixies words reach his ears, Darkness was suddenly alert and out his bed room door searching the apartment.
    “Are you sure she’s gone?” He asked her hastily.
    Jinx nodded. “I’m sure of it. Normally I can hear her thoughts but they suddenly quiet and as soon as I opened my eyes I realized she wasn’t here anymore.”
    Darkness paused and turned to look at her. “Shouldn’t her thoughts be available at all times?”
    Jinx shook her head. “Normally they are but unless something, like a wall or spell is blocking them I can’t hear them.”
    Darkness huffed and walked over to the window to look out over the city. He studied each person that moved down below until his eyes lay upon Aya. She walked stiffly toward the dock as though something was leading her. Darkness darted from the window and to the door. Flinging it open he ran down the hall to the stair well and down to the street. Running as fast as he could through the crowds of people, he moved toward her. As he got closer, the sea of people seemed to get denser, slowing his movement down. No matter, Darkness kept Aya in his sights, worrying more with each step she took.
    Darkness finally broke free of all the people and ran towards Aya.
    “Aya!” He yelled after her.
    “Aya, stop right there.”
    Aya didn’t respond to his request, she continued to move toward the edge of the dock where her shallow, sharp grave awaited her. Darkness felt a pain in his chest as the thought of her falling onto the rocks below. He picked up his pace and race toward her. Aya stopped in her tracks as her bare feet touched the edge.
    The cool sea breeze blew, whisking her hair behind her like a silk cape. She held her arms out beside her and began to lean forward; falling to her death. Darkness came up behind her and wrapped his arm around one of the poles and the other around her waist, pulling her back to safety. Aya fought against him, kicking her legs in the air. Tiredly, Darkness let go of the pole and fell back onto his butt, falling onto his back; Aya sit in his arms. He closed his eyes trying to slow his heart and breathing.
    “What were you thinking?” He huffed.
    Aya didn’t say anything as her fist threw softer punches and she stopped moving. Puzzled, Darkness lifted his head and seen that Aya had fallen asleep on top of him. Sighing, Darkness dropped his head back onto the wood dock and sighed.
    “Great, she’s asleep.” He muttered.

    Darkness walked through the open door of his apartment, carrying Aya in his arms. Jinx flew beside him and took a look at Aya as he carried her to his room. He placed her onto his bed and walked back out of the room, Jinx followed behind him curiously. Tiredly, Darkness plopped down onto his couch and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
    “Where did you find her?” Jinx asked landing onto the arm of the couch.
    “Near the dock.” He muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
    “The dock? Why on earth would she be there?” Jinx asked.
    “I don’t know, why don’t you go wake her up and ask her yourself? Just leave me alone alright. I’ve had a long day dealing with you two as it is.”
    Jinx sat there a moment watching Darkness. She didn’t understand his actions, one minute he was flustered by just looking at Aya and then the next he’s a jerk. Sighing she flew from the couch and into the room where Aya slept silently. Darkness waited a moment before opening opened of his eyes slightly to see if she was gone. When he didn’t see here there anymore he sighed with relieve and stood, walking to the window. He put his right arm on the window and laid his forehead on his arm looking out over the city as he mind swam with thoughts of Zoey.
    He could still see her standing at the window with a cup of coffee in her hands as she watched the sun rise each morning over the city. Darkness smiled slightly, enjoying the lingering memory. Suddenly Aya’s face appeared in his mind. Her blue eyes surrounded by long dark lashes, her pink lips that were always turned down at the corners. Darkness shook his head and pushed away from the window angrily. He walked back to the couch and sat down, stretching his legs over the black cushions. Slowly his eyes grew heavy and soon he too was fast asleep.
    Chapter 4
    “Darkness.” Came a faint voice.
    “Darkness, something is wrong.”
    Darkness slowly opened his eyes to see Jinx floating above him.
    “What now?” He asked closing his eyes once more.
    “I don’t know if you know this but something is in your closet.”
    Darkness’s eyes snapped open. “What do you mean something is in my closet?”
    Jinx didn’t answer; instead she flew off and disappeared into his room. Darkness sighed and stood from the couch. Tiredly he stalked into his room and looked around. Aya sat on the floor in front of the closet door and jinx sat on her shoulder.
    “What’s going on?” He asked annoyed.
    Aya turned her head to look at him and pointed her finger at the back wall of the closet. Darkness sighed and walked over beside them, bending down and sticking his arm into the closet. A slight breeze came from the back of the closet. Puzzled, Darkness squatted down and inched closer into the closet. A slight cracking noise could be heard which sent alarm screaming in Darkness’s veins. He turned and looked back at Aya and Jinx.
    “Get out of here.” He told them sternly.
    Aya remained sitting in her place, staring at Darkness. He frowned and turned to her, grabbing her by the shoulders.
    “I said get out of here. Run down stairs and wait for me to come to you. Now go!”
    He said shoving her backward. Aya scrambled to her feet and ran out the door, Jinx following close behind her. Darkness turned back to the closet just as the wood began to splinter and crack. Suddenly the wood separated from itself and flew around Darkness in a storm of debris. Darkness shielded his face, causing him to fall onto his rear and against the bed. A slow growling nose began to emerge from the closet as a dark mist like shape came from the hole in the wall. It took form before Darkness, revealing it’s human form. A tall, lanky man stood before him. His back was hunched, his hair long and thin. His fingers were long and boney like the rest of his body. Where his eyes should have been, were two dark holes, and displayed on his face was a yellow, pointed teeth grin.
    “Darkness my old friend,” He spoke in a raspy, water gargling voice. “How have you been?”
    Darkness unshielded his face and stood, glaring at the man. “What do you want Jarmel? I have no business with you.”
    Jarmel’s smile fell from his face. “Have there been mortals here?” he asked randomly.
    Darkness shook his head. “Not since Zoey, now what do you want?”
    Jarmel smiled once more and walked past Darkness, heading into the living room.
    “You see, I’ve come to speak with you about your brother.”
    Darkness followed behind his guest and glared at his back. “I have nothing to do with him.”
    Jarmel laughed and sat down on the couch. “That’s the issue Darkness; because you’re in the Earth realm you have no communications to out realm so you haven’t heard the news.” He stopped speak a moment and inhaled deeply. “There was someone else here. As for mortals, you speak the truth.
    “Who has been in my home is none of your concern, now state your business and leave.”
    Jarmel frowned and stood from the couch. “I can smell your fear Darkness, what are you hiding?”
    Darkness looked to the floor. “I’m hiding nothing and I’m not afraid so you must be smelling your own stench.”
    Jarmel growled deep in his throat and grabbed Darkness by his. “Listen to me half blood, I can kill you in a second. I’m saving your life for your brother. Prepare for a great battle Darkness because everyone is against you.”
    Jarmel dropped Darkness and walked back to the room. Stopping in the doorway he turned and looked back to Darkness. “Make sure you keep the girl around, she might be of some use.” He said before dissipating in to nothing.
    Darkness rubbed his throat and stood from the floor. Time was up, he had to go. He knew the day would come but not so soon. Sighing he walked into his room and grabbed his sword, and trench coat. Pulling the black coat over his arms, Darkness said goodbye to his old home and left the apartment. He took the elevator to the ground floor and met up with Aya and Jinx.
    “So what happened?” Jinx asked looking at him anxiously.
    Darkness moved his silver gaze to Aya, who had her blue eyes locked on ground in a daze.
    “Nothing.” He said quietly as he walked past them. “If you want help you’ll follow. If not, get lost.” He said harshly without turning back to look at them. Jinx tugged Aya’s hair and pointed after him. Aya nodded and followed quickly.
    The trio walked for a few miles in silence. Darkness lead the way, followed by Aya who was a few step behind. Jinx remained on Aya’s shoulder fast asleep.
    As they walked Darkness’s mind wondered beyond the present issue. He was curious as to what Aya’s story was and if she was something worth keeping around. As for Jinx he could do without.