Special Delivery

[Hades Styx]

Hades sat in his living room, his hand against his wand. His fingers spiraled it, and he then pulled out Alexander's old wand. It looked so weak, so...wimpy. Hades frowned. He would only use it if he was wanting to cover his tracks, or if he were in a tight situation and would need two wands. Things were awfully quiet at the house, and Hades had not spoken a word in many days. The silence was helping him control the darkness within, but there was certainly a change in his attitude since the darkness was released. Hades was now thinking clearly, and the mission was clear. Destroy the light. Hades would indeed to that once he saw it was time to. When it was time, Hades would know, and he would take it.

Her stuff was still here, and Hades needed it gone. It was too much of a reminder of how much she had changed him. It was revolting. However, a strange noise echoed in the room. Hades didn't even know he had a doorbell. Raising to his feet, his trenchcoat moving about around him. He crossed the room and opened his front door. There stood an Official. Hades did not speak, but the man did that for him. "Eve Silver has passed, and according to this birth certificate, you are the father of Vritra Aliah Silver-Lutrova. Here is the paperwork, and have a good day." The Official apparated off, and Hades had the paperwork in his hand, as well as the birth certificate. The girl, Vritra is three-years-old. Hades' black eyes landed on a small girl, wearing a black dress, pale skin, and long black hair.

The resemblance was uncanny. Hades barely remembered Eve Silver. Hades beckoned with his hand for the girl to come in, which she did slowly. Even her movements were similar to Hades. It blew his mind, the girl was just like him with perfect blend of the mother. Hades shut the door, and he took a seat. The little girl glanced around, and she had a small bag with her. Hades stared at her, and wondered, why didn't Eve ever tell him that she spawned with him? Vritra slowly made her way toward her father, and one slender hand was upon his cheek, and for the first time, their eyes met. Hades automatically saw the oddness in her eyes. The left was green, and the right was silver. Hades tried to recall if it was genetic from her side of the family, because from his side, nothing like that was in their genes.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Stealth. Careful planning. Timing. Hollace waited for her moment. Silencing charm placed upon herself, the pop of apparition non existent as she appeared within the purple bedroom. Her intended room. Dark brown eyes flicked to the bed, a hot flame licked within her, dousing as the horrible color bled through. How she hated this room, hated being here, the place she had thought to come to such a short time ago. A place where she thought she had found the person, the place, where she could be herself with, speak freely without ridicule. That hope had died, torn from her chest as her heart had been. Fingers cold from nerves, mouth trembling from useless, weak emotion, Hollace Lutrov , soon to be returned to Hollace Stanton, quickly began shrinking her things. Stuffing them into the bag she had brought, working and moving as silently as she could.

Nearly done, back to the door, head lowered as a wave of despair washed over her. She had begun building a life here, with the man who now wanted her dead. She could never explain fully to anyone how horrible it was, having that ripped from her, having to return to the very society who would never understand her.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades still was registering the fact that he had a daughter, right here, touching his cheek and clearing his mind. Hades could feel the control within reach. Vritra had this amazing affect on him. ”Father…” spoke the tiny child. The voice was so soft, so filled with ice and it reminded Hades of the snow. Hades nodded slowly, and he didn’t even notice Hollace enter his house. Hades was still staring into this little girl’s eyes. Hades could see the properness of Eve in Vritra. The girl was raised well. Hades sighed, wondering what would have happened if he had been there with Eve the entire time the child was around. However, Hades did not see Hollace heading toward the door. The girl’s hand dropped, and the girl turned to see the woman. Vritra called out to her, ”Don’t leave. You are secure.” Hades glanced over in Hollace’s direction. His eyes weren’t filled with hatred, but they were now just cold and utter calm.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

No. He wasn't supposed to be home. She heard the doorbell and shamefully she panicked. Bag slung over her shoulder, she thought to head toward the back door, knowing that even though she could apparate in, she would be unable to apparate out. Nearly there. Hollace was nearly there...when she heard the little voice, clear and precise and perfect. Turning, she faced the tiny being, a beautiful little toddler who looked so much like her husband. The bag fell from her suddenly limp arm as Hollace turned eyes with dark circles beneath to meet the smoky eyes that haunted her. Shock stung her nerves, feeling as though a fist had punched through her lungs. Hades didn't look like he wanted to kill her...he looked, oh Merlin...he looked at her as he had before everything bad had happened. Her mouth worked, no sound emerging passed her frozen vocal chords. A moment passed and then, "Is she..your sister?"

 

[Hades Styx]

The darkness within had calmed, like someone had just sprayed it with ice water to soothe it like a burn. The voice that told him to destroy the light was there, but there was something else that played along with it. Did that mean, he had to kill her, or just remove the light? How would he do that without killing her? If that were possible, then Hades could do that. But meanwhile, killing seemed like the only option. The look to kill started to return, but Vritra touched his hand and it vanished. Hades managed to answer in a calm, uneasy voice, "She's...my daughter." Vritra then hopped into Hades lap, and he settled the toddler so she won't fall off. "Are you going to stay?" Vritra stared at Hollace. The poor girl just lost her mom, and she needed a mother-like figure. And now that she had her father, what was stopping her from having a family? Hades said nothing, but he averted his eyes to his daughter.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace pressed cold fingers to her trembling lips, chin quivering as her eyes swam with tears she refused to shed. His daughter. She was beautiful, looking every bit like Hades with a touch of mystery. "Are you going to stay?" Hollace jerked, arms coming to cross defensively across her chest. Clearing her throat, she tried to answer her. "I...," she looked at Hades for help but he refused to meet her eyes. "I would love to," she began, wondering how in the world she could ever explain her situation to this little angel. The rest of what she tried to say would never pass her lips as the toddler interrupted her.

 

[Hades Styx]

The shock was still settling in. This little girl, was his. His own flesh and blood. Vritra had entered his cold heart, and anchored it from ever leaving or vanishing. The little girl seemed happy with her answer, and smiled innocently, "Thanks, woman. I really appreciate you staying with me. With us." Hades sighed and he finally decided to look at Hollace. There wasn't much he could say or do. This child practically had the Death Eater under a powerful spell, one that was unbreakable. That spell...love. It was that bond formed by a father and daughter. Vritra was skillful, using her innocence and her smiles and looks to get what she wanted. Hades admired that.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

"But I..." Hollace closed her mouth and looked from father to daughter. The change in him, it was remarkable yet unsettling at the same time. There was no way she could possibly stay under Hades roof, not after the fight they had had, nor the threats they had made to each other. Romeo and Juliet had promised to slay the other, not out of love, but of an all consuming darkness that drove them apart. Hollace had not slept in days; she did everything on auto pilot these days. Thankfully there was no one to worry about her, to remark upon it, as she had been staying in a small bed and breakfast away from everyone. "You're...welcome," she whispered, eyes falling from child to parent. "Hades..." She wasn't sure what she was asking of him as she said his name, imploring him to tell her what she should do. She felt unhinged, as though some cruel jester was holding out her hopes and dreams to her, dangling them in front of her face. What would be the price?

 

[Hades Styx]

The little girl appeared happy, and Hades could feel it. The girl was cold, but she was pure innocence too. Hades heard his name, and he gazed over at Hollace. An invisible hand covered his vocal cords, and he couldn't speak. A war was fighting, the want to kill her, and the want to spare her. It was almost unreal. It was as if the war was visible in his black eyes. Hades finally found the will to speak, and a cold smirk played on his lips, "Welcome back, Mrs. Lutrov." That voice could go in either direction, and little Vritra was as happy as a midnight summer's dream.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Welcome back, Mrs. Lutrov. A ringing began in Hollace's ears, the roar of her own blood pumping overwhelmingly loud that she nearly swore those words had never passed her husband's lips. She was tired, so weary from everything. Hades words were like a balm to her soul, the rend in her heart that had severed it in two began to shift, to meld, until it was almost as if she could breathe again. The child, she was a miracle, a miraculous small being who was weaving a spell over her father. Hollace came forward, still wary of Hades, and reached out a hand to touch the small cheek. Thank you, her heart cried to the little girl who's name she still did not even know. Soft as a butterfly's wing, her lips brushed Hades, her eyes met his before she stepped away. Out of harms reach, her arms crossed once more, as if to hold everything she were feeling from bursting from inside her. "What's your name?"

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades did nothing but breathe while Hollace kissed her husband. He hated it, he loved it, he was revolted by it, and he wanted more; all at the same time. Hades simply readjusted his daughter in his lap, as he sat further against the couch. Hades murmured to Vritra, "She would be your step-mother." Hades needed for the little girl to know that. Vritra glanced over at Hollace and was unaware that these two had tried to kill each other at one point. Hades wondered, if this was the dark light, the daughter, to guide his way to destroying the light, without taking her life. Only time would tell. "Vritra. I'm Vritra." The small girl had a long name, and couldn't remember it. Thanks to the papers, Hades would remember it.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Knees weak, Hollace wanted to turn and collapse on one of the chairs in the living room. Step-mother. Mother. Vritra's off colored eyes, set in a face more lovely than any child she had ever seen, looked at her as if she were expecting something from her. Questions burned within her, the curiosity not to be denied,yet she knew not to speak them right then. Where was the little girl's mother? How would they take care of her, see that she was nurtured properly? She wasn't even sure if Hades had any milk in the fridge. Didn't little kids need milk? "You have a beautiful name Vritra." It was a lot to absorb, a lot to contend with on her tired mind. "Hades, um, which room should I put my things?" Would they share a room once more, the purple room going to the child? For once, she could see where the room could fit a little girl perfectly, down to the furniture.

 

[Hades Styx]

"Thank you, Step-mother." Vritra murmured about the compliment. She turned to Hades and she hopped off his lap and went toward the bathroom and shut the door. Hades thought in his mind, At least she is trained. Hades stood up and he approached Hollace, "Probably in my room, I suppose, or we could keep you in the basement and freeze to death. Whichever is your choice." He was mere inches from her now, and he saw that she was tired. His hand flew to her throat. Using his body strength, he pushed her against the wall, and he murmured, "You can't leave me. Not until you are dead." There was something familiar about her, and it was inviting. It lured him in until his lips claimed hers.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace stiffened as Hades tall form approached her; she hadn't forgotten anything he had said to her. Every hurtful thing lay dormant within her and although time would have lessened the hurt she had felt, being near him again was blinding her. She was falling under his spell again, that tempting allure called out to her, even as his hand curled around her vulnerable neck. Back to the wall, dark eyes met and Hollace fought against it. Could have shoved him away, to preserve her fragile state, until his lips touched hers. Everything drew her in, the scent of his breath, the familiar yet dangerous spark as they kissed. Her breath drew in sharply as her hands appeared, curling through his hair, parting her lips to deepen the kiss. Oh how she had missed this, mourned this closeness to him which she had thought she would go her entire life without ever experiencing again. Drawing back to bring oxygen to her starving lungs, her hands cupping his cheeks, Hollace met his eyes. "Then I'll be here for a long, long time," she whispered, the spark that had been missing in her dark eyes flaring brightly. "I need to sleep...in our room," she murmured, not wanting to part from his lips, but the overwhelming need to fall asleep right then was too strong.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades felt the kiss deepen, and he could have taken it further, because that war had subsided, and the killer instinct was not here yet. But not only did she break it, but he heard the door to the bathroom unlock. Hades spoke to Vritra, “Your room…it is the room decorated in purple.” Hades heard her footsteps into that room, and he said softly, “Don’t count on forever… I still need to destroy that light, one way or another.” That spark in her dark eyes made Hades back from her, and he removed her hands from his face. “Go sleep. You will wake up alive. I don’t believe in killing someone without a decent fight,” a smirk appeared, feigning the fact that he was not joking. They may be reunited, but for how long? Hades was determined to wipe that light away, and he would do that by any means possible, even by taking her life.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Hollace nodded, her long hair fanned around her shoulders, pink tongue flicked out to moisten her lips, tasting him on them. She turned and walked down toward the hallway, slender fingers trailing the wall. "Good night...Hades," she murmured, eyes meeting his over her shoulder through her dark hair. Pausing, she took a moment to check on Vritra in the purple room. The little girl was such a little mystery. She didn't belong to Hollace, would only be her step daughter, yet already she felt something for the toddler. As though there were something within Vritra that pulled at her. Forehead wrinkling slightly as she withdrew from the doorway, she went across the hallway into the black walled bedroom she would once again share with her husband. Soon they would talk, she thought as drowsily she removed her jeans. Folding them, she hung them across the back of the chair by the dresser. Crawling under the covers, she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades watched Hollace go to his room, before he went to Vritra's to show her around, put her things away and transfigure the bed into a child's bed. After a few hours of talking and spending time together, Hades put Vritra to bed. Night had arrived. Hades tucked Vritra in bed, before he went into his room. He climbed into his bed, and he poked Hollace a few times in the shoulder. Hades sighed, "Hollace, I'm a bit bored. Entertain me." Hades leaned forward and kissed her deeply.

 

[Hollace Lutrov]

Long limbs sprawled across the bed, hair fanned against pillows flattened by tossing and turning. Hollace slept yet it wasn't the sleep she needed, the sleep that would heal her. It was lacking in every element. She jerked out of the restless slumber, Hades words barely registering before his mouth claimed hers. His lips parted hers, her fingers gripped his back, passion slithering between them. Not awake, not asleep, Hollace sighed and gave over to his dark desire. This was what she had needed, wanted, craved, longed for. There was one thing she knew without a doubt, she would sleep good that night.