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The Moon Child's Dart	By : Hnoss Category: +G through L > Legend of Dragoon Views: 1437 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: not own Legend of Dragoon and I'm not making any money here either.

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The Moon Child's Dart
Flora_Winters
Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Dragoon and I'm not making any money here either.
Summary: Spending years seeking justice for his murdered parents, Dart returns to his second home, finding it in flames. Now he has to rescue his best friend and find out who ordered his kidnapping and the destruction of his village. An epic adventure awaits them all. Language, MM, OC, Violence
Prologue
Night had fallen and the wind whispered to him through the open bedroom window. The curtains rustled like falling leaves as shadows danced about the room. Thunder echoed in the distance and he could hear the soft chiming of bells on the warm breeze. A limb from the old oak was rapping against the far window. It was going to be one of those long nights again where he couldn't fall asleep.
He rolled over on his bed with an annoyed sigh. Was he beginning to suffer from insomnia? It was like he couldn't go to sleep anymore during the nights, and when he did fall asleep, he would dream of horrible visions. He would wake up screaming in terror with tears staining his face.
There was always a voice, too. It was a powerful, commanding voice. The voice was always telling him to slaughter all in his sight. When he would turn to see who was issuing the orders, he would be tormented with the sight of a million corpses scorched and rotting all around him on a great battlefield. He would be covered in blood, holding up a ripped out spinal cord, laughing insanely as he licked it dry.
The memory of his latest dream caused him to shiver a bit. He didn't like it. Why was he dreaming such terrible things? He could never so something so horrible. He got up, deciding to go take a walk in the garden out back. The flowers always soothed his tormented mind.
He slowly made his way down the old wooden steps on silent feet and out the backdoor. A flash of vibrant pink lightning caught his eye as it lit up the sky in the distance. A few seconds later, it was followed by a small rumble of thunder.
He loved storms. They always excited him, filling him with a wild energy. He was always in awe of their awesome might.
A warm breeze whipped through his dark locks and he could smell the night blooming jasmine. It was his favorite except for the moonflowers. The moonflower would always be his favorite flower.
He walked up to the old plum tree and smiled a little sadly as he put his pale hand up to the smooth brown bark. He gently traced the letters that had been carved into it all those years ago. A few pink blossoms fell around him.
"Dart," he whispered like a small prayer on the sweet scented breeze. He missed his best friend with all his heart.
He closed his eyes as he traced his name in the tree. He prayed that his friend was safe and healthy. He missed him so much. A day never went by that he didn't think about him.
He could remember the pain he had always seen hidden in the deepest depths of those sky blue eyes. The Black Monster had destroyed Dart's village, killing all of his friends, and his parents in a deadly blaze. The blond would wake up in the nights, screaming in terror with tears of hate in his eyes. There was so much pain in him. Pain he wished more than anything he could have healed.
The kids in the village didn't want to have much to do with Dart. He was always so quiet and reserved. They viewed him as spooky and made fun of him behind his back because he didn't have a mommy or a daddy. Children didn't know death and they can be very cruel.
Even though Dart lived with him in his parent's house, they weren't friends. Well, that all changed the day Dart had saved him from a wild dog in the forest. The blond had jumped in front of him, shouting at the dog to go away, waving his arms around, and making himself look bigger than what he was. The stupid beast had run off with its tail tucked between its legs. He still remembered hugging Dart, telling him that he was his hero.
Then one night, he woke up to the sound of someone sneaking out of the house. He discovered that it was Dart and followed him out to the barn, hiding behind some old wooden barrels that smelled of wine. Dart was just a few years older than him and a little bigger.
He watched Dart light a few candles and pick up a stick hidden under the golden hay. It was long like a sword and the blond began to swing it at an invisible foe. He would act like he was pushed to the ground, kick out with both feet, and jump right back up swinging away once more. He looked like an expert. How long had he been doing this? His movements were mesmerizing. He followed Dart out every night when he would do this. Those nights turned into weeks which turned into months.
The spiky haired blond would remove his shirt and hang by his hands from a low rafter and do what some of the boys called chin-ups. In the beginning, Dart had started out small, and as muscle built up, he did 200 a night. Those months turned into a year. He had secretly watched Dart practice and workout for a year, watching his body change.
"What is the Blake Monster, Dart?" He had asked, stepping from the shadows one night, causing the older boy to spin around. His half naked body was drenched, glistening with salty sweat.
The blue-eyed boy quickly put his shirt on, covering up his golden flesh, making him laugh. Not matter how much he grew to know Dart, the boy was always so shy around him.
"A murderer. A demon." Dart told him, wiping the sweat from his face with a dirty rag. "It is a frightening black shadow with the wings of a dragon. It can shoot fire from its hands, Shara."
Shara slowly walked over to the older boy, looking up into his eyes. "I've watched you all year, Dart. What are you doing?"
"I'm going to find it," Dart told him. His blue eyes looked like molten topaz. "And I'm going to kill it for taking everything away from me."
"How?" Shara asked him. "You're only a kid."
"I'm bigger than you," Dart had teased him. Most of the other kids were, too. But, Dart even towered over them now.
"How can you hope to fight and win against a monster that has the power to destroy an entire village, killing all who lived in it?" He asked in a very serious manner, putting his hands on his hips.
Dart looked down at his feet. His hands were balled into tight fists at his side. "I'll think of something."
"You'll die, Dart," Shara whispered, hugging him. The blond didn't smell as pretty as he looked. "I don't want you to die."
"I still have lots of training to do," Dart told him, putting his muscular arms around his smaller frame. "I will begin my training with Master Tasman in the morning. He is going to teach me how to use a real sword."
Shara looked up at him. "Master Tasman?"
Dart nodded. "I'm going to train harder than anybody and become the greatest swordsman in the whole village."
Shara smiled. He could see the determination burning in his eyes.
"I'll be able to protect you better, too," Dart told him. "If I had been stronger, that dog in the forest would never have dared to try and attack you."
"That was my fault," he said, letting him go. "I shouldn't have wondered away from everyone."
Dart smiled and then frowned. "I stink."
"I love you," Shara said, ignoring him sniffing his underarm. "I don't want you to get hurt or…"
"You love me?" Dart asked him. He looked and sounded shocked.
Shara punched him in the arm. "Yes."
Dart pouted, rubbing his arm. He then laughed. "I love you, too."
Shara opened his violet eyes and looked up at the starless sky. That night had been so long ago. Dart had become a great swordsman, but he has been gone for over five years now. He kept praying to the gods every night and every day that he was safe, well, and warm.
His amethyst orbs suddenly narrowed. Was that a falling star? It flew by high over his head and he gasped in stunned shock when it struck the village tower. The whole thing exploded into flames. He stumbled back in horror when hundreds of fireballs began falling from the sky.
"No." He whispered, backing up.
The explosions were like thunder. He could hear sudden screams. He cried out and ducked down when the window behind him shattered. He slowly rose to his feet, looking out. Everything was in flames and the screaming was horrible. Was this the Black Monster's doing? Had it killed Dart and come for them?
He saw a dark shadow walking through the twisting flames. He stumbled back in terror, and turned for the steps. Where were his parents?
He flew up the steps, racing for his parent's bedroom, running inside. He froze in his tracks when he saw a dark shape standing over them. He cried out when he saw crimson on the massive blade. The creature in the horned mask howled with laughter as it brought the sharp metal down once more, breaking bone with sickening snaps.
A strong arm came swiftly around him from behind, and something was placed over his nose and mouth. The smell was sweet as he struggled to get free.
"Don't fight it," a voice chuckled in his ear. "You'll only make it harder on yourself, pretty boy."
He struggled even harder. Dart wouldn't have gone down without a fight. He held his breath, stomped on the guy's foot, elbowing him in the gut as hard as he could.
"You little bitch!" The guy in the mask roared. "Get back here!"
He stumbled down the steps and out the open door. He was screaming silently for help in his head as he ran. His parents were dead and he could hear more people screaming for their lives. Why was this happening? They were a peaceful village. His parents were dead. His friends were being killed. It was the same as Dart.
"DART!" He cried out in terror, racing through the burning garden. His vision was blurring and he stumbled.
"GET HIM!" A loud voice shrieked in rage. "AND DON'T YOU DARE HARM HIM!"
He fell to his knees because his legs had stopped working. There must have been something in that rag. He was blinded by tears of fear and rage. His head was suddenly thrown back by an invisible force as a vision assaulted his mind.
There was a giant tree in the midst of death, holding up a moon in its all encompassing branches. The silver-blue sphere pulsed like a heartbeat, glowing with magical lights. It was a womb and something was screaming to be let out.
It was him who was screaming. He felt like his head was being split in two as strong hands pinned him down flat on his back. He gazed upon the faces of his masked attackers.
"LET ME GO!" He screamed, thrashing and kicking. "LET ME GO! MAY THE GODS DAMN YOU ALL!"
"You may wish to silence him now," a gentle and cultured voice advised from the shadow of the burning willow tree. "The gods may just turn around and obey his curses."
A foot connected with the side of Shara's head and darkness took him in its numbing wings. The only think he knew was the salty taste of his tears.
OOOOOOO
"Um, Sir," a nervous captain said from behind him. "I think he's dead now."
The Hooded Man turned around with a venomous hiss. "I told your men not to harm the boy in any way." He looked down at the dead soldier's beaten corpse and smiled. Blood was pouring from his gaping mouth and his brains were oozing from his nose holes and from the crack in the side of his skull. It was such a colorful sight in the firelight. The flies and birds would certainly enjoy this meal.
"Where is that boy?" A voice asked from behind him. "And was this attack on Seles necessary?"
"Emperor Doel commanded it," The Hooded Man told him, turning away from the soiled soldier's stinking corpse. "I have healed the captive myself, General."
"Take me to him then," the General said, dismounting from his steed.
The Hooded Man led him to where the young man was laying. He watched the General go down on one knee before him, pulling a jewel from his pocket. He love how the firelight danced across the sleeping boy's gorgeous face. He really was something to look at.
OOOOOOO
A beam of light from The Moon That Never Sets illuminated the jewel in the General's gloved hand. The Hooded Man watched as the young man's smooth forehead began to glow and spill forth with brilliant light that was blindingly radiant. There was so much power trapped within that moth white flesh. His dark locks began to slither and coil about his face like serpents. The light illuminated the darkness, causing the torchlight to pale in comparison. The moon above suddenly looked so much bigger than it had been.
"Amazing," the General said as the light slowly faded away. Clouds had passed over the never changing moon. "Just who is this guy?"
"That is not your concern," The Hooded Man told him, dismissing him from his attention entirely. He only had eyes for the boy now.
This young man had the power to reduce this world to ash. He gazed down into his beautiful face and smiled darkly. Here was the soul of an all-powerful deity. The last fruit of Soa. He had found his deity and now all he needed to do was obtain the three keys which would release the god's body from the night sky's starry embrace.
"Here is my utopia," he whispered to the sleeping divinity. "It will be so beautiful."
Amber eyes flashed with magic. His kind will once again rule the world from castles in the sky, and he would be their king. All creatures would once again bow to his kind or be completely consumed by his wrath.
"Come, my little Lord," he chuckled, lifting the teen up into his powerful arms. "I need to put you away someplace safe until I need you."
Lightning flashed, illuminating his handsome face as thunder bellowed. He walked off through the flames and smoke towards his steed. Flying would be quicker, but he had to keep his ancient heritage a secret. It wouldn't do for these maggots to find out that he was a Wingly, a member of the truly favored fruit of Soa.
"So lovely," he said, racing off like the wind through the night. His black stallion was born from magic. "I may not want to hand you over to my "Emperor."
The young man moaned in his sleep, whispering a name.
Dart? Hmm, who could that be?
It didn't matter. The man was either dead, or he would be hung like the rest of the survivors. It was such a pity he wouldn't get to watch. He did so enjoy watching these human worms dance at the end of a noose. Kickers were his favorite. They put on such an amusing show.
"Faster!" He snapped at the racing beast. "FASTER!"
Lightning struck something to his left and he laughed over the crashing thunder.
OOOOOOO
Golden sunlight was filtering down through the emerald green leafs onto a spiky blond head. The young man was napping under a large tree and rolled over onto his back with a loud snore. That was when something round landed hard on his forehead and bounced off. He opened one blue eye and then the other, looking up. There was a squirrel looking down and it looked rather angry with him.
"Sorry," he yawned, stretching as he sat up. "I snore when I'm really sleepy, little guy."
The long eared squirrel chirped like a bird and ran up the tree. He couldn't help but laugh. And people said animals were stupid. He had just gotten beat up by an annoyed squirrel for snoring too loudly under its tree. He picked up the round rock and chuckled as he rubbed his forehead. That might actually leave a tiny knot.
He leaned back against the thick trunk of the tall tree and sighed. He pulled out a piece of paper he had found blowing in the wind. There were rumors of war and he hoped they were just that, rumors. He didn't want to have to think about the people in his village being harmed because some stupid king was greedy for power.
He folded the paper back up and put it back in his pocket. The last thing he wanted was to be attacked by a flock of birds for littering. That would just be sad and most humiliating.
He got to his feet and stretched again. Oh, he couldn't wait to take a real bath and sleep in his own bed again. That was just one of the many things he missed about home.
His mind suddenly wondered to the one person he couldn't wait to see, too. He had missed Shara from the moment he had left sight of the village those five years ago. He would dream about violet eyes ever so often.
"I promise I'll come back when I kill the Black Monster," he had said, carving his name and Shara's into the old willow tree a few days before he had left town. "And when I do, I'll carve an infinity symbol that will link our two names for forever in this tree."
"You're my best friend, Dart," Shara had smiled, playing with a blood red rose in his hand. Those beautiful violet eyes had burned into him. "And if you die, I will summon up your spirit and torture you for lying to me."
He remembered gulping in some fear. He knew Shara's temper was legendary. The young man was like a storm when he was angry. All the young people in the village would run for cover when he let loose with his category five winds. Shara was so funny when he was on a rampage.
"Will you really?" Dart had asked him, fighting to keep from laughing.
Shara had nodded his head and then hissed in sudden pain. Dart remembered how a single thorn on the rose had pricked his friend's index finger. He had taken that smaller hand in his own and looked at the small bead of blood. He put his lips to that pale finger, licking his friends tiny wound. Those amethyst gemstone eyes were wet with molten tears.
"In blood," Dart whispered, letting his finger go, and took up the rose. He pricked his own index finger with the same bloody thorn and smiled when Shara took his wound to his lips. They were as soft as the petals on the rose and even redder.
"In blood," Shara had smiled as the tears streamed down his cheeks. "I'm in you and you're in me."
He looked up at the sky which mirrored the color of his eyes. It was good to be coming home. He couldn't wait to see the look on Shara's pretty face.
He could hear the galloping and the sound of horses in the near distance and decided to go see what all the noise was about. He ran through some yellow and purple flowers, hopped over a fallen tree, and stepped out onto the dirt road.
He could make out soldiers in imperial uniforms as they raced by on their snorting steeds. What in the world were soldiers from Sandora doing all the way out here? Were the rumors he had read and heard about true?
He jumped back when two soldiers ran up on him with their weapons drawn. They looked like they wanted to kill him just for being where he was.
"Who are you?" The one on the left demanded, pointing at him with a sharp spear. The blade glittered in the sunlight. It looked like it could tear through flesh like warm butter. "Are you a Basil spy?"
Dart looked from one to the other. Were they for real? What the hell were they going on about?
"Answer us!" The soldier on the right roared, swinging his sword at him, in which Dart easily blocked with his own blade.
"You dare to oppose us, rebel scum?" The soldier on the left growled, making his horse rear up to kick him.
Dart stumbled back and the ground suddenly shook under his feet. A loud roar filled the air like thunder, causing the horses to scream with fear. He spun around, looking up with wide eyes. There was a huge green monster coming right for him. It looked like a cross between a praying mantis and a scaly lizard.
The soldiers cried out in terror and took off on their horses, leaving him there to face the titanic creature. It looked like something that had come out of a nightmare.
The beast's massive jaws struck down at him and he ducked to the side, just missing the razor sharp snap of its deadly teeth. Speaking of which, the monster's teeth were like the size of his blade.
He jumped out of its mouths reach again and began to run for his life. It was the only thing he could do. There was no way he could fight against whatever the hell this thing was.
It crashed and it thundered after him through the woods. He dodged around trees it pushed over, jumping over a few. There was no outrunning it. He thought he could escape it in here, but it snapped down massive trees as if they were toothpicks.
He stumbled over a rock, falling to his knees. The monster was howling and bellowing from right behind him. It was over. It was all over. He wasn't going to be able to keep his promise to Shara. The violet-eyed boy was just going to have to summon up his ghost and torture him for lying to him.
"No!" He growled, getting back to his feet. "I refuse to become monster shit without a fight!" He spun around, swinging his sharp blade. It flashed silver in the sunlight. "Bring it on, you ugly bitch!"
The giant beast howled and Dart suddenly felt arms wrap around his waist from behind. He was quickly lifted at least twenty feet into the air and he found himself slowly falling behind a large boulder off the dirt trail.
"Be silent," a woman's voice commanded him. She possessed the kind of voice you didn't want to argue with. "Or I will let him eat you."
He remained very silent. The monster sounded pissed at losing its meal. He listened to its angry growls and the earth shook under its fury. He could hear trees crashing to the ground as it angrily lumbered off, and the quaking of the ground slowly faded away.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and his rescuer let him go. He jumped to his feet, spinning around, coming face to face with a goddess. His savior was extremely beautiful and had eyes like black stars. They were just that dark and mysterious.
"Thank you," he gasped out, realizing he had been holding his breath for some time. "What the hell was that monster?"
"A dragon," the pale woman said as her dark hair fluttered in the warm breeze. Why did it smell like smoke? Was something burning?
"A dragon?" Dart asked. He realized that he was still very much terrified. His legs were shaking.
"It makes me wonder though," the slender woman mused as if he were not even there at all. "Why would those soldiers need a dragon in order to destroy the village over that hill?"
Dart's blue eyes widened in renewed horror. He shook his head, grabbing at his hair. "WHAT?"
"The village," she said, pointing up the rocky slope. "It is in flames."
He took off running as fast as his leather boots could carry him.
"There is nothing left!" The woman called after him.
"That village is my home!" He cried, running with fear in his heart, and rage boiling in his veins. "SHARA!" He raced up the hill. No! This wasn't happening. The smell of smoke was only getting stronger. "SHARA!"
OOOOOOO
The dark headed woman watched him run off and suddenly gasped in surprise when the magic stone in her pocket began to glow with a splendid radiance. "By the gods," she said, looking up, seeing the young blond vanishing over the hill. "Could he be…?"
In a bright flash of light, she took to the sky on magnificent wings of darkness. She was going to watch this boy and see if her hypothesis was correct. It was odd as she watched him race down the hill, slashing his sword through shrieking, cowardly men. His movements looked just like…his.
She shook her head. That past was just that, the past. All she had now was the lonely and endless future. Her life and her future held nothing but sacrifice.
But, this boy was so strange. There was a fire burning deep down inside of him, waiting to finally burst out. She could hear the power in his wrathful cries and see it behind each powerful swing that took off an enemy's limb. The young warrior was like a volcano on the verge of an explosion.
"Show me," she called gently on the wind, knowing he couldn't hear her over the blood pounding in his ears. "Show me your power."
OOOOOOO
"You cowardly son of a bitch!" Dart cried, ramming his blade straight through a screaming soldier's breast. He twisted, making the murderer piss himself before pulling his crimson stained sword free. The body fell to the bloody and scorched ground, twitching in its mess. "What have you bastards done to my home?"
He was blinded by his rage. Why did this have to happen? Houses and buildings were scorched and in ruins. There were bodies littering the streets like discarded dolls.
"NO!" He yelled, falling to his knees before his home. It was completely destroyed. It looked like it had exploded from the inside out. "SHARA!"
Tears of rage stung his eyes as he looked at the scorched willow tree. He got to his feet, walking over to it. His and Shara's names were splattered with blood.
"What's this?" A voice asked from across the wrecked garden. "How did you escape the gallows, pretty boy? Did that old man save you from having to dance on air, too? Well, we're going to find all you traitors and string you up."
Dart turned on him and the solider took a startled step backwards, stepping on a single violet flower. His nostrils flared in outrage. This fucking bitch was soiling his and Shara's special place. Oh, he had to die. There was no forgiveness for this sin.
"Where are the people who lived in this house?" He growled, stalking towards the solider. His face was splattered with blood, and he knew he looked crazed. Hell, he felt crazed. "TELL ME, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!"
The solider smirked, drawing his stained sword. "I killed the old man and woman while they slept peacefully in their own bed."
Dart froze. No. The fucking coward!
"As for their son," he smiled, licking his lips. "I fucked his white flesh before the General had him carted off to Hellena."
Dart's face suddenly went dead. He looked like there was nobody home. He slowly cocked his blood splattered head to the side like a venomous serpent and his mouth twisted into a poisonous sneer. Oh, he was going to kill him. He was going to fucking kill him.
He moved so swiftly that the soldier's sword went soaring through the air, falling to the ground with a metallic clatter. The solider found himself flat on his back and Dart shoved his sword down through his pelvic region with a loud shout. The solider threw his head back, screaming in agony, grabbing at the sword, cutting his hands all to hell as he tried to pull it free.
Dart twisted the blade, causing the doomed worm to arch his back, screaming for help. Oh, help wasn't coming, you little bitch. Oh, no. You're going to die. You're going to fucking die.
"You raped my Shara!" He snarled, pulling his blade free. The crying soldier was soiled with his own blood and piss. "AND YOU DARED TO SMILE AT ME!"
The man screamed and dart drove his blade down through his neck, severing bone in the process. The guard gurgled and the light left his eyes. He pulled his sword free with a scream, and just started hacking away at the rapist's body.
"OH, GOD!" He screamed, kicking the dead guy over and over. "YOU MONSTER!"
"Dart!" A loud voice shouted over his frantic yelling. "Dart!"
He felt arms wrap around him from behind and he snarled like a wounded animal, dropping his sword. "Let me go! He killed my family! He raped my best friend!"
"Calm down," the man's voice told him, squeezing him to the point where it cut off his air. "He's dead. You killed him. He's paid for his crimes."
Dart gave one last vicious kick and sagged like a limp noodle in Master Tasman's firm embrace. He never could outdo the man when he had him trapped like this. Even after five years of experience, he was still no match for this move.
"Shara wasn't raped, Dart," Master Tasman told him, loosening his hold on the gasping blond. "He was captured and taken into custody by the Imperial Army of Sandora. One of the men was very adamant that he wasn't to be harmed in any way."
"But…"
"That evil bastard just said that to blind you with rage," he told him. "Unfortunately for him, you see better blind."
"I have to save him," Dart said as Master Tasman let him go. He stumbled, picking up his blade. "I have to keep my promise."
"Dart…"
"He's all I have left," he whispered as the tears finally spilled from his eyes. "The Black Monster took everything away from me, and now these fucking assholes are doing the same."
"The soldiers are gone!" Master Tasman shouted. "You can come out!"
"DART!" A young boy and young girl cried, racing at him their arms wide open. They got him in twin death hugs. "They took Shara! The monsters took Shara away!"
"You're safe," Dart said in relief, hugging them back. He had not seen Ceri and Zel since they were only four. He was so happy they were safe. But, he didn't see their mother in the crowd. No…
"My son!" A woman sobbed in agony, leaning against a friend. "They hung my son!"
Dart closed his eyes. He was surrounded by death and sorrow. Oh, they would pay. He would make the man or woman behind this attack bleed from orifices they didn't even have yet.
"I'm sorry, Dart," Master Tasman said. "But, your adoptive parents are among the casualties."
"How do you know Shara wasn't…?"
"I just do," he said, nodding his head, winking. "Because that guy was still breathing before you chopped him up."
Dart laughed and Ceri wiped his tears away as Zel hugged him even tighter. "You're my hero, Dart," he said.
"You love Shara," Ceri said. "Go bring him home. We have to make the flowers grow again."
"He will," Master Tasman told her. "But he needs to rest first."
Dart smiled at the children and slumped forward.
"Dart!"
He could see violet eyes looking down at him from the cold and distant shore from a moon that never sat.
OOOOOOO
Shara was curled up on the bed, glaring at the spider in the corner. He had made a deal with it earlier. If it stayed on its side of the cell, he wouldn't smash its guts out all over the wet floor.
He shivered from the cold. Wasn't Hell supposed to be hot? This place was freezing.
"How are you doing in there, princess?" A guard asked, snickering from the open window in the door.
"How's your friend?" He asked, taking his violet eyes off the spider, looking at the jerk. "Will he still be able to hold a job here with just one eye?"
The guard's face fell and he snarled. "You better watch your mouth."
"Or you'll what?" Shara asked, sitting up, waving an index finger at him. "Open this door up and get your eye stabbed out, too?"
"If it wasn't for that Hooded Man," the guard hissed. "I'd come in there and make you scream."
"Oh, I love it when a man talks dirty to me," he said, rolling his eyes. "How big of a man are you?" He asked, holding up his pinky. "It'll take more than that to make me scream."
The guard punched the bars with his fist. "That could be your pretty face!"
"Yeah," Shara said, nodding his head in agreement with him, and still kept his pinky up. "But this really is the size of your dick."
The guard slammed the window shut, kicking the door really hard, and Shara leaned his head back against the wall. He looked over at the spider and sniffled. He was terrified.
The tears fell again. What were they going to do with him? They had killed his parents and destroyed his village.
"Dart," he whispered, getting to his feet, looking out the tiny little window. The Moon That Never Sets was looking down at him from its icy heights. "Please…keep your promise."
OOOOOOO
The tiny candle had burned out and the only light in the cold cell was from the mysterious Moon That Never Sets. The spider crawled up the wall to where its web was and Shara shivered from the wet chill in the air. This terrible place was disgusting and it smelled horrible, too. He suddenly heard a strange roar and a shrill scream filled the silent air. It caused him to set up on the bed with a frightened start.
What the hell was that? He could hear wicked laughter coming from outside the door to his dank and freezing cell. "It sounds like the boss has fed his pet," the male voice laughed. "That gives us room for new meat."
The cruel voices faded away and Shara wrapped his arms around his legs and began to hum the lullaby Dart had sung to him all those years ago. It was a tune that always helped him not to be frightened when he was feeling scared. Dart's voice always reminded him of a gentle burning flame that was filled with comforting warmth.
He let the honey sweet melody flow from his petal red lips like crystal clear water springing from a silver fountain. His eyes were closed and he lost himself in the song. He pretended that Dart was right there holding him in his arms, telling him that everything was going to be okay.
"You have the voice of a siren," a deep voice said, causing the song to die on his lips. He fell back against the hard wall with a start. There was a tall man in a dark hooded cloak standing in front of the closed door. The cloak looked to be finely tailored and very expensive. All he could see of the man's face was his cleft chin, square jaw, sensual pink lips, prominent cheek bones, and an aquiline nose. He must be a very handsome man. He wanted to see his eyes.
"Who are you?" He demanded, getting to his feet, preparing to fight for his life. "Why have I been brought to this stinking pit?"
The stranger gave him a crooked smile. It was sensually seductive and his teeth were so white. If it hadn't been such a cold smile, it would have made him all weak in the knees. "That is a secret I'm not willing to share with you just yet."
Anger flooded Shara and he balled his hands into tight fists at his side. "What do you want?"
"I would like for you to continue singing your haunting melody," the Hooded Man told him, revealing a thick woolen blanket in his creamy white muscular arms. The man had the body of a warrior. "It takes me back to better days when great palaces floated like clouds in the vast sky."
Shara blinked his violet eyes and stood perfectly still as the Hooded Man approached him on booted feet. He held his breath as the taller man gently wrapped the thick blanket around his bare shoulders. A large gloved hand carefully tucked his loose locks away from his smooth brow and gently caressed a flawless cheek.
"Why did you attack my village and have my parents killed?" He asked the man, stepping back from his wicked touch. There was blood on this man's hands. He couldn't see the crimson stains, but he could smell it. "You could have just snuck in and taken me without anybody having to die. Nobody would even know who had done it."
The Hooded Man chuckled and it was melodious. He rubbed his cleft chin. "The man (if one would call him as such) who rules here is a fool."
Shara narrowed his eyes, taking another step back from him. "Are you going to hurt me?"
"How you are treated depends solely on your actions," the Hooded Man told him, cocking his head to the side.
Shara's nostrils flared. He wanted to jump him, claw his face off, tear out his eyes, and throw them out the window. He hated this bastard and he hated this stinking hellhole. Oh, he wished the gods to strike this place to the ground and step on it.
"Your eyes speak a million curses," the Hooded Man said, taking a step forward. "You desire to attack me. You desire to make me pay for what I've done."
"I do," Shara said. He suddenly threw the wool blanket over the Hooded Man's face and jumped him. "I HATE YOU!"
They both fell to the ground with Shara on top. He raised his fist with a scream, finding that there was nobody under him. He spun around and the Hooded Man had him on his back, holding him down by his throat.
"That was amazing and very sneaky of you," the Hooded Man appraised him with a big grin. "If I had been just a silly guard, I'd be throttled to death right now no doubt."
Shara's breath was ragged and he squirmed under the bigger man's weight. "GET OFF ME!"
"I kind of like having you in this position," he chuckled, giving Shara's smooth white throat a gentle squeeze. The man laughed even harder when Shara bucked under him, grabbing his wrist, trying to force it off him. The Hooded Man quickly pinned Shara's hands over his head by his wrists, grinning into his frightened face. "You're a very beautiful man. I expected nothing less."
"What are you going to do?" Shara whispered, struggling weakly against his much larger foe. "Please…don't hurt me."
The Hooded Man smirked with those full sensual lips. They looked like they had been carved from pink crystals. Violet eyes widened in shock when the Hooded Man began to nibble playfully on his bottom lip. That was when he struck like a serpent, kneeing him in the groin like a cobra spitting in a man's eyes.
The Hooded Man grunted in painful discomfort, squeezing Shara's wrists to the point that it caused the younger man to cry out in pain.
"You're vicious!" The Hooded Man laughed out loud. "Oh, you attack at such convenient and opportune moments."
Shara snarled in outrage. "You let me?"
The Hooded Man nodded his head, suddenly standing before the door in a whoosh of cold air. "I was merely testing your will to survive."
Shara quickly sat up, rubbing his aching wrists. He knew they were going to be bruised. "Who are you?"
"No," the crazy guy said, advancing on his fallen form like a black shadow, looming down at him with eyes hidden in darkness. "The question is…who are you?"
Shara was left all alone with that question lingering on the silent and still air. He put his fingers to his bottom lip, shivering from the slowly fading kiss. He slowly got to his feet and begrudgingly wrapped the wool blanket around himself. He was confused, angrier, and scared as hell. What if that guy had intended to do more than just kiss him? How would he have fought him off?
He sat back down on the bed and curled up on his side. At least he wasn't all that cold now. He continued to caress his bottom lip, thinking about what the guy had asked him.
"Who am I?"
He didn't have a clue what the hell these assholes wanted with him. He was just a guy who lived in a small village in the middle of nowhere. Why was he so damned special? No! Why was he so damned cursed? That was more like it. Why the fuck did his parents have to die?
He cringed when another long howl filled the air and a blood chilling scream of terror echoed for what felt like forever. The frightening sound hovered in the air like a bad smell that wouldn't go away. He didn't want to be here anymore. He pulled the warm wool over his eyes.
"Dart…"
OOOOOOO
The Hooded Man walked across the swinging rope bridge and stopped to stand in the center of it. All the little pieces were beginning to slowly fall into their right places. Oh, he couldn't wait for the real fun to begin. He was just itching to cause some more panic and destruction.
"Who the hell is that boy?" A blood thirsty voice asked from behind him. "Why is he so damned important?"
"That is none of your business," the Hooded Man told him, turning around to look at the fat monstrosity before him. Ugh, he was disgusting to look at. "Why don't you go eat something, Frugal?"
The warden narrowed his squinty eyes behind his horned helmet. "Why did you say, puny man?"
The Hooded Man turned his back on him. He didn't have the patience to deal with foolish ugly people. "Just do your job."
"You don't command me, little man!" Frugal bellowed, swinging his mighty club. "Only Emperor Doel commands me!"
The Hooded Man spun around in a hiss, drawing his sword from his jeweled encrusted scabbard, knocking the hideous looking man on his fat ass with a kick in the gut. He put the tip of his razor sharp blade to the idiot's throat. "If there is so much as a scratch on that boy's beautiful body," he whispered in a voice that crept like deathly frost along the green. "You will wish that I had killed you here and now for your impudence." He let his deadly blade bite into that sinking flesh just enough to draw blood. "And if you ever speak to me in such a manner again, I will cut out your tongue and slap your ugly face off your fat neck with it. Do I make myself clear, fat one?"
Frugal's bloodshot eyes narrowed with rage and the Hooded Man chuckled at the fool's powerless discomfort. He had just belittled the disgusting warden in front of his little peons. Oh, he loved it.
He turned his back on him once more, ignoring a man's scream as he plummeted to his death. Frugal had just dropped a peon off the side of the bridge. He rolled his eyes. The fool was lucky that all his men didn't turn against him and poach his fat ass. They outnumbered him greatly. Hmm, perhaps he would plant the seeds of rebellion in some young man's ear later. He was certain that poor soul laying broken down there somewhere had friends in this place. Oh, this could be fun, too.
He looked at the strand of dark hair that was wrapped around his index finger. "Soon," he chuckled, thinking of how wonderful it had felt having that gorgeous sleeping deity squirming under him. "Soon I shall obtain my Utopia."
He smiled as he fondled his engorged member that was well hidden under his black cloak. He pictured those violet eyes burning into his like twin suns. It had been so long since anyone had ever made him feel desire for fantasies of the flesh. He made his way to his quarters so he could relieve his weeping tension in private.
OOOOOOO
There were blood red moonflowers blooming all around him, permeating the air with their sweet fragrance. The moon was high in the sky and the sound of water tickled his ears. He looked to see that there was a shadow of a man in the garden, sitting under the swaying branches of the blooming plum tree. Moonflowers were blossoming all around the still form and the bloomed at his feet were stained with crimson radiance.
He slowly walked up and looked down at the broken body of his best friend. Those violet eyes were wide and staring at nothing and blood dripped from the corner of his gaping mouth like ruby droplets.
"No," he gasped, falling to his knees, pulling the body into his arms. "You can't take him away from me, too! It's not fair!"
Blue eyes snapped open, burning with a fiery glow. Dart sat up on the bed, looking around. His armor, boots, and sword had been removed.
"Master Tasman?" He asked, looking around.
"I see you're awake," Master Tasman said, walking into the smoke scorched room. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm fine," he said, getting to his naked feet. "I have to save Shara."
Master Tasman nodded. "You really will do this? You do realize that Hellena is a terrible place."
Dart looked at the older man. "I don't care what I have to do in order to get Shara back."
"I can't go with you, Dart," he said, looking away from him. "I have to stay here and defend this village should those bastards return."
"I understand," Dart said, sliding his feet into his brown leather boots. "I can do this by myself. I will be easier if it's just me."
"That I have no doubt," Master Tasman told him.
Dart put his armor on and grabbed his sword. "I will save Shara and bring him back."
"Dart?" Master Tasman asked, walking up to him. "Do you still have those feelings for him?"
Dart took a startled step back. "I told you I never wanted to talk about that, Master."
Master Tasman shook his head. "He is your best friend, Dart."
"Yes," Dart said, nodding his head. "He is my best friend. He is my little brother."
"Every day he would walk out to that tree, Dart," he said, smiling warmly at him. "Every day he would trace your name over and over, humming that lullaby you taught him."
Dart secured his sword, fighting to keep his feelings under control.
"He loves you, Dart," Master Tasman told him. "He loves you more than a best friend, more than a brother."
Dart looked at him. "I have to go now."
"Just ask him when you save him!" He shouted as Dart ran out the broken and burnt door.
Dart ran from the village and into the forest beyond it. His heart was in turmoil and his mind was like a firestorm. All he wanted to do was save Shara and make the bastard responsible for killing his family pay. He would sort the rest out later. He had to focus or he wouldn't be able to do anything but die in the process of rescuing his best friend.
"I'm coming, Shara," he said, racing among the trees, hopping over roots, scaring squirrels off into the bushes. "I'm coming to kill the bastards who took you away from me."
OOOOOOO
The Black Monster watched the fiery blond race across dusty trails through the green forest from the azure sky. Her long raven hair billowed about her beautiful face as her shimmering wings flapped with shadowy brilliance. Her curiosity had been tickled by crimson splendor that was the young man below her. She wanted to see what his guy was made of. Would the blazing inferno temper him into a powerful weapon or would it simply burn him away to nothing but ash in the scorching winds?
She analyzed how he cut down monsters left and right as they jumped from their hiding places to attack him. His movements were precise and graceful. His footwork reminded her of a dancer on air once upon a floating castle in the sky. He was trained, but if he passed her test, he would have much more to learn. There was so much she could teach him about being a warrior. Was this a sign? Did he honestly have a slumbering dragoon spirit upon his person? Was it going to awaken and choose him to rule it? She would just have to wait and find out.
The blond ran across a fallen log that was lying across a deep gorge. A wild river was raging below, cutting through the mountainside like a dagger. He moved as though he was possessed by the very essence of vengeance. He had to be possessed by something. No sane man would ever willingly venture into Hellina's fanged maws.
This person he was going to rescue must truly be something treasured. She has been unable to hear him from above, but this person must be very important to him. It had been centuries since she had last seen a man become so blind with rage that he cut down soldiers left and right like this one had done back in that devastated village. He had left none of them breathing. He had taken down twenty soldiers without so much as stopping to take a breath until the last one was twitching and soiling himself on the blood soaked ground.
She had watched him lose his mind and hack that last soldier into several pieces, screaming at the top of his young lungs. She honestly couldn't believe her ancient eyes. He had been absolutely brutal and unmerciful about his actions. It was like she had been looking at her own twisted reflection in a distorted mirror. That boy had reminded her so much of herself in that moment as she had watched and listened to his anguished sobs. His whole world had been destroyed, just like hers had been all those millennia ago.
There is no comfort to be found in this sad world. There is only sacrifice and so many more will have to be made. This is the sad truth of life. Some people are allowed to be happy while others are destined to be alone and sorrowful forever. This poor child will soon find that out. Happiness is not free and it is never secure. Nothing in this world is stable unless the fickle Creator has written it so.
She would never allow the past to become the future. She will never let that happen, no matter how many people she has to kill in the process. Better that a few die by her hand than a whole world in the blink of a crazed god's eye.
"Show me," she whispered down, keeping easy pace with him. "Reveal to me the power you possess."
OOOOOOO
Dart had to stop running. It was hot and the sweat was pouring down his handsome face. He had forgotten how hot Seles could be, but now he was quickly remembering. If it wasn't for those Sandora bastards, he could be swimming with Seel right now.
Oh, he hated them. He wanted to kill them all. They all deserved to die for their actions. There would be no forgiveness from him. They were unworthy of such mercy.
He should have snatched a horse. It would have been faster than foot, but there hadn't been a single one left in the whole town. The murderers had stolen every last one. It was going to be a really long time before Seles ever recovered from this.
That was when he stopped dead in his tracks. His feet came to a frozen halt. He looked around, taking a deep breath, feeling it now.
His adoptive parents were dead.
It hit him like a blow across the face, stunning him. His family had been taken from him again.
He could hear The Black Monster growling in the distance as he watched his mother race back towards the burning village in the falling snow. That terrible roar filled his ears. That horrible beast had been death walking, breathing devouring flame.
He tried to force his tears behind prison gates but they were too strong and broke through. They were streaming down his face as he started to walk again.
He had been so happy to be coming home after a really long time only to devastatingly find that it was not the way he had left it. It had been burning down around his ears. He had stood atop that tall hill blind, deaf, and dumb. He hadn't known anything until he suddenly saw that he was covered in his enemies' blood and being pulled off a mutilated corpse that he had been hacking away at with his gore splattered sword.
I never should have left. I never should have gone away. If I had been here, I could have protected my family. They wouldn't be dead. Shara would be here with me. We might not be in the village, but at least we'd all be together and safe.
Why did I have to be so stupid? Why did I choose to leave? I left behind the one person…the one person who means more than anything to me in order to find a murderer that can't be found. Shara…Shara is having to pay for my stupidity. He depended on me to protect him from the bad things. I failed my…my only real friend.
The hatred and the rage burned through his veins like molten rock. He had to save Shara or he would die trying.
NO!
He wouldn't die. He was going to save Shara and then he was going to get him out of that hell. He was going to bring him safely home and take care of him forever. He would never allow the bad things to ever hurt him again. He would keep him safe.
Please, he prayed as he began running as fast as he could again. Please protect and keep Shara safe. I can't lose him, too. I need him. I need to see his eyes and see that bright light that's always shining out of them.
The hot wind blew through his golden hair as he ran.
I love you, Dart…
He wiped the tears from his eyes, running through a pack of monsters, cutting them down, ignoring their pitiful cries of pain. If they didn't want to die, then they should have just stayed the hell in bed. He wasn't in the mood to care.
"You really should just run away," he told a really tall tree monster. It snapped at him with its roots and limbs. They looked like slithering, slimy tentacles. "I'm not in the mood to be fucked with and the town does need lots of wood in order to start rebuilding."
The tree growled, rearing back, getting ready to strike at him for real this time. He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes to slits. Well, he had warned the damn thing. He couldn't wait to hear the tree scream as it fell to the ground.
"COME ON!" He yelled, racing at the beast, swinging his sword down with all his might. "I'LL TEAR YOU APART!"
His blade echoed and the tree screamed over his wild laughter.
Shara…don't leave me all alone…I don't like being alone…
OOOOOOO
Shara could feel the bags drooping under his bloodshot eyes. He had cried and stayed up all night in blind terror. His parents were murdered, his village destroyed, and he was the prisoner of a killer psycho.
He was exhausted and he dared not close his eyes in this place. There were so many frightening noises and he could hear people crying out in horror. He kept thinking that something was going to come out of the shadows and grab him, or that door was going to burst open and the guards have their way with his flesh.
Those monstrous roars were still making him tremble. They were feeding prisoners to that thing.
He felt like screaming and running at the door, throwing himself against it until he either got out or passed out from exhaustion, which really wouldn't take too much at the moment. How could anybody possible manage to stay sane in this hellhole and not tear out their eyes with their own hands was beyond him.
Another frantic scream made him jump, causing him to fall off his pallet, landing in the floor with a painful thud. He groaned, looking up, seeing a large spider scuttling towards him across the wet floor.
"Back off!" He yelled, scrambling to his hands and knees, hissing at it. "We had a deal!"
The spider froze in its tracks, looking at him with all those eyes. They were glowing in the shadows.
He took a deep breath. What was it doing? Was it thinking of ways to attack him or run away? He really hoped it was the latter.
Then it chirped at him. The spider had actually chirped at him. Spiders didn't chirp. He just looked at it.
What the hell?
It scuttled closer, causing him to hold his breath in fear. A tiny ray of light from the window played across its fur.
It had fur? It was silver fur, too.
A moon spider?
He thought back. They were really rare. They were hardly ever seen anymore. What in the world was it doing in a terrible place like this? He knew they liked darkness, but they also needed moonlight to live. They basked in the sliver rays, eat it.
"Hey," he said, recalling their gentle nature, not feeling so afraid of it anymore. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, little guy. What are you doing here? This place is terrible."
It chirped at him again, scuttling closer. He carefully reached out with a pale hand and the spider was actually the size of his palm, not counting the furry legs. It had a silver crescent on its back now that he could actually see it. It was definitely a moon spider.
It bumped into his hand, making him jump just a little. He had blinded a guard in one eye, but he was terrified of little spiders. Dart would laugh at him.
Dart?
The tears came again.
The spider chirped.
Why are you crying, Beloved?
His violet eye widened as he looked around his cell. There was nobody there.
"Who is there?"
I am here, Beloved.
He looked up at the ceiling, seeing nothing. The voice was too tiny and airy to have come from outside the door. All the guards were male and definitely didn't talk with such kindness. That was when he looked down at the moon spider.
No. It wasn't possible. Was it?
"Are you talking to me?"
The spider hopped, giving a chirp.
Yes.
He started to laugh. He was so tired and frightened he was hallucinating.
"Oh," he said, getting lower. "What's your name then?"
Snowdrop.
He nodded his head. Okay, he hadn't made that up. Had he? He didn't know. He was too tired.
You look sleepy, Beloved.
"Yes," he said, letting the spider crawl onto his hand, carefully lifting it up to his face. "I really am, Snowdrop. Are you speaking into my mind?"
The moon spider chirped.
Yes. That is how we speak to each other.
The spider was talking into his mind. Moon spiders were telepaths. That book had never mentioned that.
"I'm sorry about yelling at you," he said, apologizing. "I am afraid of spiders."
Many are, Beloved.
"I can't tell," he said, petting the spider's back. "Are you a boy or a girl?"
The moon spider sounded as if it were purring.
I'm male. Females are much bigger.
"I see," he told him. "My name is Shara."
Snowdrop chirped happily.
You don't have to talk out loud, Beloved. I can hear your thoughts. This place is bad for you. Bad people have hurt you and you're afraid. I wish I could help you, but I'm too small. Will this Dart come save you?
Shara shook his head. "I don't know, Snowdrop." He was too tired to care that the spider could read his thoughts.
I do have a very special gift though. My bite can cause instant paralysis.
Shara gazed into Snowdrop's many eyes. "Will you bite people for me?"
Do you want me to, Beloved?
"Why do you keep calling me beloved?"
Snowdrop chirped.
You just are. Do you want me to bite people?
Shara nodded. "Can you peek under the door and see how many people there are watching it?"
Yes, the moon spider told him. I'll go see right now.
He put Snowdrop down and watched him scuttle across the floor like a sliver gemstone. Now that he took the time to really look at him, he was very pretty. This was one spider he could grow to love.
I see only one, Beloved.
Only one?
"Does he have a key?" He whispered.
There was a moment of silence.
No.
He dropped his head.
"Come back to me then," he said, taking a seat on his bed. "I don't want you to get hurt by those people."
Those humans will not hurt me, Beloved. I'm real good at hiding.
"Will you do me another small favor, Snowdrop?"
Yes. You sound really tired, Beloved.
"I really am," he said, reaching down, picking the little beauty up. He looked into those many eyes. "Will you please watch over me while I try and close my eyes for a little while? I feel like they're going to fall out of my head."
Snowdrop chirped. Of course, Beloved. Sleep is good.
Shara smiled. "Thank you."
And if someone comes in, my voice will be really loud in your head. It will wake you up very quickly.
Shara nodded. That would be very good.
I can jump really high, too. And if I'm scared enough, my toxin can be lethal.
Oh, that would be very good.
"If I somehow find a way out of here," he said, lying down, putting the spider on his chest. "Would you like to come with me, Snowdrop?"
You would like for me to come with you, Beloved?
Shara chuckled. The moon spider sounded very surprised.
"I would like for you to come with me very much," he said, closing his eyes, feeling sleep coming upon him. "Nobody should have to suffer this place."
It does smell bad here, Beloved.
That made him smile and he began to hum to himself. The song Dart used to sing to him always made him feel warm and safe.
Your voice tastes like moonlight, Beloved.
He continued humming, falling deeper into rest. He could see Dart standing on a cold and distant shore, reaching out for him with open arms.
Please, Dart. Save me and my new friend.
To be continued…
Dear Reader,
Yes, I am about to update with a new chapter in just a few moments for those of you who have already read this. I went back and changed a few things and reposted this story. A new chapter is coming very soon. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I truly appreciate it. If you liked it, please give me a review. I enjoy reading them. I hope all is well.
With much love,
Flora
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The Moon Child's Dart