In the Cover of Darkness

[Hollace Lutrov]

Russian winters were cold and harsh, the days short, the nights seeming to last forever. Hollace's lightly glossed lips twisted into a smirk as her thoughts turned to her black haired husband and his penchant for the night. A rushed wedding had slowly turned into an interesting marriage, one that kept both parties on their toes. Where once Hollace had woke like clockwork a half hour after the sun rose, now she woke toward the night in the late afternoon. She had refused to sleep in the purple room and her favorite time was when she woke to see Hades silver eyes watching her. The night brought with it a beautiful stillness, she had taken to painting the ocean at night or the desert or the mountains. There was as much beauty to be found in the darkness as there was in the light. And the one leading her with promises of more was her ghostly pale lover.

She held the canvas tote of potions ingredients closer to her body and tilted her head, hearing an unfamiliar sound. Curiously she followed it to a dark portion of the outer banks of the town she had shopped in. Dark woods courted the winding road and in the cool fall air she scented pine and dying leaves. New Zealand's apothecary offered the freshest ingredients and the chance to leave behind the cold snow for a day had been beyond tempting. The noise became louder. Someone sounded as though they were in pain. Withdrawing her wand, she unwisely left the unpaved road into the woods. Her boots snapped twigs under her feet, the light from her wand provided scant light in the inky blackness of the night. The clouds were thick that night, covering the silvery full moon.

"Are you in trouble?" she called out, coming closer to the source.

 

[Grezhen Varius]

Grezhen was bent down, collecting some herbs for his wolfsbane potion. He had taken it, but he grunted in pain. Sometimes he just hated having this curse. Ever since Rakas had gotten sick, Grezhen could not go out and collect the herbs earlier. This was risky. But at least the clouds were protecting him from the moon's rays. As long as he stayed in the darkness, he would be fine. His miscolored eyes glanced up when he heard someone's voice. Grezhen's senses were heightened, especially now. He could smell her shampoo in her hair, and something else that was slightly familiar. Grezhen stood up, and he turned to face the girl. His green eye was the only one that permitted his eyesight.

"Um, miss, it might be a good time for you to leave the area. The moon could be out soon, and I don't want you to be hurt." His curly dark hair with red streaks in it was a furry mass area his pale, adorable face. Though he was pale, and dots of sweat decorated his forehead. His voice was tired, and he wore only jeans and a tee shirt. He was rather exhausted though. Being a werewolf was not a very good thing, especially when he was around people. He went miles away at times, or locked himself up in his basement just to protect people, especially Brunhilde.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace raised her wand a bit higher thought kept it lowered enough not to be threatening. The haze of light from the tip of her wand illuminated the strange looking man. His hair, his dress, the manner in which he spoke and moved triggered alarm within her. Yet he seemed to be in such pain that she could not in good conscience, what was left of it, walk away. "Are you sure I cannot help in some way?" She kept a good distance between them, subconsciously aware that he was not quite safe to be around. She had a good grip on her wand and ready to fire any curses should she need to. She wished she could see him more clearly to see if there was any visible hurt, the parting of the clouds was sudden yet allowed bright moonlight to illuminate his body. She could clearly see his oddly colored eyes and the feral look upon his face.

 

[Grezhen Varius]

"Its a full moon... Unless you can control the clouds. I beg of you, please go!" Grezhen had never attacked a human before, and he really didn't want her to be here when he transformed. Though it was not as painful as before, it just tingled. The moon came out, and Grezhen felt that familiar wave of nausea hit him, hard enough to made him kneel. The tingling occurred, and his eyes turned golden. One eye was lighter than the other, because of his pale blue eye that he was blind in. Bones stretched and curved, skin ripped, and masses of brown fur covered his body. The once adorable male was now a vicious animal. At first, the wolf had its eyes closed, knelt down. However, the human smell intoxicated the wolf, and it released a fearsome howl at the moon, golden eyes opened and the hungry wolf leaped toward the helpless human with his powerful limbs.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace had never seen a werewolf transform except in text books and muggle films. Nothing could describe watching a man turn into a vicious, snarling wolf in front of her very eyes. Her pupils dilated in fear and she dove out of the way as the wolf leaped toward her. A breathy scream escaped her throat before it choked off. No other thought filled her mind except to escape, to flee and get away from the rabid creature. Hollace fired a stunning spell at it and turned to sprint through the woods. She had to get to the road, had to get back to the town. At the last moment she thought to disapparate away. But it was too late and she was stopped mid spin.

 

[Grezhen Varius]

The wolf was angry that it did not get his prey so soon. However, the human was no match for the wolf. The wolf was faster and stronger. She could snap like a twig. But now that she made him angry, the wolf was going to play with his prey before he would devour her. The wolf grabbed her, flesh tearing, this human was going to be scarred for life. Blood dripped off the wolf, as he released another howl at the moon, claiming his prey. He dragged her body a few yards, leaving a bloody trail behind her. Screams of pain did nothing to phase the wolf. However, a soft "meow" could be heard. The wolf turned its large head to see a white, persian cat darting through the woods. Abandoning his prey, the wolf darted after the cat, leaving the human on the ground.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Undescribable pain seared through Hollace's body, guttural screams tearing from her throat. None of her nightmares or anything she had experienced throughout her young life, nor with Hades, could have prepared her for this. It was terrible, it felt like fire rushing through her veins, the anguish causing her to blank out in spotty moments. The wolf left her and Hollace laid there in the middle of the unpaved road, her flesh laid open, blood coursing freely as her heart worked double time to keep up with the shock. She laid there, coughing up blood and whimpers escaped her blood flecked lips. Hollace prayed for oblivion but it wouldn't come. Hades. Tears leaked from her eyes, mixing with the dirt on her cheeks from her fall. She cried out weakly for her love, knowing that he could not hear her.

 

[Arnost Zhefarovich]

Arnost was walking through the woods, and he glanced up at the sky. Full moon, it was always a nice night to have a full moon out. However, a sickening howl caused Arnost to narrow his black eyes, pull out his wand, and light the area around him. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a large werewolf running by, chasing after a cat. It ignored him, luckily for the beast. Arnost shook his head and he inhaled the air. Blood. Arnost could smell that metallic substance. He muttered, "I see the beast had a lovely meal." Arnost rolled his eyes, and he continued to walk on the unpaved road. However, there was something laying in the way.

There was the supposed meal. She looked like a gore fest. Arnost approached her and bent down. The woman was in a pool of blood. Arnost smirked deviously, "I bet that hurts. It isn't nice to become a dog's meal, is it?" Arnost examined the results, wondering how in the world she was even living after looking like that. However, it was the teared up eyes and her hair that made Arnost recognize the woman. "Hollace Lutrov, Hades' wife." So much for ignoring her to leave her to die. Though her death might be sooner than she realized. She was attacked by a werewolf, and because of the damage that was done, it was hard to tell if she was bitten. A large hand rested on an injured shoulder, squeezing to grab a good hold on her, before apparating her to the Zhefarovich Manor.

He put Hollace on a long couch where Asparuh performed the brand of the Zhefarovich's. Arnost summoned a house elf. "Fetch Nicolette Styx, now. We need a healer and fast." The house elf apparated off, and Arnost wondered where Asparuh was, and what would he say about this whole ordeal. It was not long before the twins were side by side, waiting for Nicolette.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette had absolutely not been expecting a house elf to come fetch her so late in the evening and tell her she was needed at the Zhefarovich Manor. Whatever the reason was though it had to be important for them to actually pull her over in her current stage of pregnancy, and this late at night. Nicolette apparated to the Manor with the house elf and waddled after it into some room that she had been in many times but couldn't really name and let her golden eyes linger onto Asparuh and Arnost. "Okay, what's so damn important that you had to-Oh my god!" She stopped in mind sentence when her eyes locked onto the form of young girl, who was pretty much drowned in blood. Her golden eyes widened to the size of saucers and within moments she understood why they had summoned her here. Rushing over to the girl she immediately knelt down next to her checked the girls' pupils; the poor girl was in shock. "What happened to her?" Nicolette asked over her shoulder as she moved some of the girls' clothes around to have easier access to the girls back, where the wounds were most severe, when she was told it was done by a werewolf her eyes narrowed for a moment before she went back to beginning to heal the girl.

"Okay, I know this is going to hurt, but your going to have to trust me and relax." Her voice was calming and gentle, the poor girl was already in probably a lot of pain as well as some severe shock so she knew she needed to be gentle with her. Thankfully Nicolette had brought her medical supplies with her, she held her hand out and grasped the bag when it flew into her hand. "You guys might want to keep an eye on her, I can't tell if she was bitten or not...so there may be a chance that she could become one as well." Nicolette warned to the two of them before she opened her bag and began to pull stuff out, this girl was definitely lucky that she was still even alive, it looked like she had lost a lot of blood, even enough to make Niccy nervous. Hastily Nicolette pulled out a blood red bottle of Blood replenisher Potion and uncapped it; "I need you to drink this." She gave the girl a small dose of it quickly before she recapped it and went back to cleaning the wounds and closing them up, there was so many of them, and many of them were deep, there would definitely be some scarring. If Nicolette wasn't such a skilled healer, then this girl would probably be extremely scarred and possibly lose some of her mobility. "Your lucky, you get to keep all your limbs and there's not going to be much scarring. But you will need some serious bed rest." Nicolette closed up the bad of medical supplies and finished the last of the healing, the girls clothes were still stained with blood, in fact the smell was almost intoxicating to her nose.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace whimpered as someone grasped her shoulder. Her flesh burned, pulled and she prayed to whomever was listening to take the pain away. Let me sleep. Please, please. Her words, unknowingly spoken from her, were an odd range as she lay belly down on the couch. Her cheek pressed to the cool fabric, her long fingers clenching and unclenching spasmodically by her head, tangling in her long hair. The pain didn't stop, wouldn't stop and through the calm voice that sounded through the haze of agony she was aware of others around her. It was as though a film had dropped over her eyes and she was seeing through a fog. She thought she would choke as she was forced to swallow some foreign liquid. Swallowing hurt, breathing hurt, the fingers, cool and expert on her back, felt like needles poking into her flesh. Hollace jerked and cried out, wishing she could grab onto something, onto an anchor to get away from the pain. Hades. Please.

Time ceased to exist as she moaned and at one point tried to crawl away from the hands on her wounds. Hollace was unable to even pull herself onto her elbows, paralyzed from the pain. Slowly it receded until she each shuddering breath she took became less and less jarring. Until the pain faded away to become a dull ache and the shock began to slowly fade.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

Asparuh glared down at the injuries. "Injured by a werewolf... And there is only one way to tell if she will turn into one." Asparuh glanced over at Arnost, before his black eyes glared down at Hollace. He was starting to just hate her even more than he did the last time he saw her. Why didn't Arnost just leave her there to die? It would have solved everything. His eyes basically drilled holes in her skin, as he was extremely irritated. "Nicolette, after you heal her, clean up all this blood. I don't want blood of a possible dog all over my Manor." It takes ages to get this entire manor clean, and Asparuh will not have this mess. It was that simple. He murmured, "Someone needs to go fetch Hades and Kalif. Kalif and I will have to take Hollace down to the deepest levels of the manor, and if she turns, she dies. If she doesn't, then Hades will have a scarred wife." Asparuh folded his arms across his chest, and he waited for Arnost to go get the two of them.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette finished healing the last of the girls' wounds that were not on her back and carefully moved the girl over so she was laying on her back, the poor girl looked so drained it wasn't funny. Once she was on her back, Nicolette did random things like check her pulse, checked for a fever, and other random things to make sure the girl was getting over her shock alright. "Kid, you alright?" She asked her as she stared at her oddly, the girl could see her now but Nicolette wasn't exactly sure if the girl could register the fact that she was speaking to her. Turning her gaze from the girl to Asparuh she looked slightly shocked. "Your going to lock her up?" Nicolette asked she she used a quick cleaning spell to get rid of all the remaining blood like Asparuh had asked, although she was sort of against the thought of some girl being locked up in the dark like she was, she had to agree that werewolves were not something to be taken lightly. 'This girl is Hades' wife, eh?' Her sparkling eyes shifted to the form of the girl before she stood up slowly and let her hands rest of her swollen tummy, it still had become a shock to her that Hades had gotten married, but it's not like she really minded all that much.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif was in his own home, relaxing as he graded papers. A loud crack was heard, and Kalif glanced up to see the tall figure of Arnost. Arnost had told him to come to the Zhefarovich manor, before apparating off again. Kalif shook his head and wondered if that was where his wife was. Kalif stood up from behind his desk. He put on his traveling robes and he apparated from his home. Reappearing beside his father, he glanced down at the bloody mess. He raised an eyebrow and he murmured, “What is the meaning of bringing me here to see a woman slashed up and wearing hardly anything?” Kalif wondered what in the world was so important to bring him here. Kalif's eyes landed on Nicolette for a moment, before shifting his eyes to the girl once more. She healed the girl, and the mess was gone, but Kalif had to admit, he did not want to see what she looked like when she came in.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades was at home, and he had a rather funny feeling about today. Something was going to happen that he did not enjoy. And when a hand on his shoulder came from behind and apparated him to the Zhefarovich Manor, Hades knew that it wasn’t anything good. He turned from Arnost who was his ‘kidnapper’. The sight that his stormy eyes landed on was horrifying. It took a lot to scare Hades, and this one, it mortified him. What in the world could cause more damage to a human body than he? It was outrageous! Hades muttered, “Hollace! What the hell happened to her?” Hades was more than upset. Something like that should never happen to anyone, especially not his wife unless he were the cause of the injuries.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace hissed and her back arched as it came into contact with the couch. The pressure more than anything on the rapidly healing slashes burned. Her hand appeared by her side, coming up to wearily push the dark hair from her face. Her dark brown eyes slowly focused on the blonde woman tending to her. A weak whisper threaded through her parched lips. "Thank you." She couldn't answer the question posed to her, unsure of anything at the moment. Even when Hades became a bit overzealous with his knife, that could never compare to what she had just been through. Hollace heard his voice in the room, her head rolled on her neck to see him, her hand came up toward him weakly before falling against her bare stomach. "Hades."There were others in the room, she slowly registered that his family were gathered there.

Gaining ground on shaky legs, she walked to him and all but collapsed against him, her arms flung around his waist. "Take me home, please take me home," she begged in a low voice, turning her face into his broad chest. She wanted to go away, to forget this had ever happened and to heal at home. Their home.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

Asparuh used his Legilimency to inform Hades and Kalif of what had happened. Werewolf attacked her. Their reactions would have to wait. Though Hollace had already gotten on her feet and was going toward Hades. The Death Eater reached out and his hand landed roughly on the brunette's head, clinching her before he slung her backward to get her off of Hades. "Kalif, you and I will be watching in case she is one. Arnost, hold Hades back. Nicolette, stay here. This might be the last time he ever sees his wife again." Asparuh bent down and grabbed what was left of her shirt, before he dragged Hollace out of the Patriarch's lair, and down toward the basements with his son following, both had their wands prepared. The basements were at least fifty feet underground. If she were a werewolf, no one would ever find her body. It was not long before they were down in the dark basements. Everything was stone, and Asparuh closed the door making it look even more terrifying in there. Two candles lit the area, and Asparuh and Kalif had their wands drawn and aimed at Hollace. Asparuh informed, "If you are indeed a werewolf, and transform, then you will die here. If not, consider yourself lucky."

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace barely felt Hades warmth before she was cruelly pulled from him. Crying out as she landed on the floor, the rough movement pulling at her back and nearly rendering the skin apart again. Thankfully the healing was strong and the skin was rapidly generating. "No," she said weakly, trying grab at what she could and finding nothing to hold onto. "This might be the last time he ever sees his wife again." Dark eyes widened, teared before she began struggling in earnest. She screamed for her husband, reaching out for him. No. No no no no! She couldn't be locked up, not again. Hollace looked younger and far more vulnerable than her barely twenty years.

By the time they were downstairs, her strength had ebbed and then faded until she was flung to the floor where she sat against the wall. "Please. I just want to go home. I'm not different," she rasped out, throat tight with exhaustion and fear.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette resisted the urge to smile brightly when her husband arrived and instead kept her gazed onto Hollace as she got up from the couch and started off towards Hades. "Hey, you were just healed, watch it!" Nicolette warned tiredly, she didn't feel like cleaning up anymore messes and probably sounded extremely rude but she didn't quite care. However her bitter attitude cleared up once Asparuh decided to intervene, and slammed the girl onto the ground before she dragged her away. 'The last time he will see his wife?' Nicolette's golden orbs widened slightly as she watched Hollace get drug away, that scene was all too familiar for her because she had encountered this situation with James far too many times. "Poor thing." Was the only thing she muttered before she winced when she felt the baby kick her strongly, she couldn't wait for that feeling to stop.

"Oh man." When Arnost was told to hold Hades back, Nicolette gave him a sharp glance and pulled her wand out just in case Hades decided to completely flip out. She felt bad for him, but she wasn't in the mood to deal with kids and their issues today, hopefully Arnost would have no problem in restraining him.

 

[Arnost Zhefarovich]

Arnost nodded at Asparuh as he watched Asparuh drag off Hollace by the shirt, Kalif following. Arnost knew better. Kalif hated werewolves with a passion, and if Hollace were one and married to his son... That would not end up pretty at all. Arnost immediately wrapped his two massive arms around his great-nephew, restraining him in a powerful hold. Arnost knew that this boy would not be able to break free so easily, if at all.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades' eyes widened when Hollace was slammed into the floor by Asparuh. Hades barely got a word out, when he watched Hollace being dragged away. Kalif was following, and when Asparuh ordered Arnost to hold Hades back, there was a good reason. Hades tried to fight. Hades shouted in Russian, "You can't do that to her! She is mine! Hollace!" Arnost's grip was powerful, and Hades could not fight the man off. Hades had his jaw taunt, and his eyes were flaring with wrath. How dare they take her away! They can't just do that to her! The vows...wedding vows... They always had something to do with protection from dangerous things, and he couldn't even protect Hollace from an attack.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif descended the long stairs and once Asparuh closed the door, Kalif waved his hand over the door and it sealed. Kalif murmured, "Father, we will not know if she turns into a dog until night. Are you willing to wait that long?" Kalif was. There was no way a werewolf would ever be with a son of his. Kalif's black eyes bore down upon Hollace, swirling with hatred. Kalif had saved Jaken and Kaleb once from a werewolf, killing it. Now, he would do the same for Hades. Kalif had his wand pointed at Hollace, and he said, "Keep talking and you will find your grave here, Mrs. Lutrov." Kalif was definitely not in the mood for this. In fact, his own Death Eater side had appeared, and his coldness was turned into evil. All because of this incident, it changed Kalif's demeanor. Though he was as stiff as a statue, Kalif was ready to kill in case Hollace turned.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

"I'll wait a month if necessary, Kalif. There will be no werewolves in the family. I will make sure of that myself. This is just precautions in case she infects one of the purer relations," Asparuh answered. A few hours were no big deal to this man. They flew by for him. Wand at ready, he held it firmly in front of him, ready to kill Hollace in case something were to happen. Only time would tell in her case.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace closed her eyes, arms coming up to wrap around her lean torso. Her head fell forward, dark hair blanketing her face as tears began to silently fall from them. She did not make a sound, too steeped in misery to cry fully. Hades. Her ever helpful mind replayed over and over the look in his smoky eyes and the roar of his enraged voice. Long hours passed under the watchful, cold eyes of the two men she was now related to. Hollace was cold, tired and dearly wanted something to eat or drink. Her skin felt as though it were crawling, sweat began to bead on her forehead and fine tremors wracked her thin body. Fever had set in but if it were the change coming, she did not know. After too long a time, her head came back to rest against the wall and dark eyes locked the younger of the two men. Fever had brightened her eyes until they glittered darkly, nearly black in the candlelight. "If I'm to die," she said softly, her voice eerily calm, "could it be at the hands of my husband?"

The two in front of her were unknown, she had never formally been introduced to them and for that she was grateful. Hollace did not fit anywhere it seemed. Not with her blood family, not with the people who walked the streets, safe in their normality, and not with her new family. They had saved her life but for what means? Only to wait and snuff it out should she change into a monster. She did not want to die nor did she want to live a cursed life. But it would be a life, a manageable condition, one these men did not share her views on. To them she would be a dog to be put down, no matter the wolfsbane she would take, no matter the precautions she was sure Hades would reinforce. Hollace was at the lowest point in her life and she had never felt so alone.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

"No, if you were to die, it will be by our hands. It is our job." Kalif glanced around and wondered just how much time has passed. A house elf appeared, and brought down a glass of clear water and a plate of fruits and vegetables for Hollace. Kalif asked the elf for what time it was, and the elf replied with that is was nearing dawn. Kalif spared a glance in Asparuh's direction. "I don't think she will transform yet...if she is one. But most newly werewolves have enhanced abilities and are able to run faster than normal. We might want to test her in the morning... If she fails, she dies. And her body will have to rot down here." It was obvious that Asparuh agreed, but would Hollace want to be in a manor full of pure-bloods?

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace gratefully took the food from the small house elf and thanked it before thirstily drinking the water with shaky hands. The fruit was overly sweet on her tongue, the vegetables good and fresh with a nice bite. Yet when the plate was empty within moments she was still hungry. She wanted meat, something hardy to stick to her stomach. The rabbit food hadn't satisfied her empty stomach. She set the empty dishes aside on the floor, they disappeared instantly. She didn't want to die, not by them. If she were to be snuffed out early, she wanted it to be Hades hand driving the blade between her ribs.

"What will happen now? Can I see Hades?" She wanted away from these cold men, if only for a few moments, to speak with her husband. To feel his arms around her, perhaps for the last time.