Dark Embrace

The Light One

Denyn city used to be a beautiful place filled with sunshine and flowers. The warm air always felt so welcoming and I loved breathing it in while I took long, tranquil walks on the beach with my mother when I was younger. The feeling of nostalgia when the sun hit my skin for a split second was the only reason I stayed here. That, and the fact that traveling outside of town was forbidden. And of course, we can thank him for that. It was not totally his fault — of course our beloved hero and those on his side could stand down and just let him do what he wants but for all we know, that could end in disaster. Carter was the only one who knew what he was up to but never told anyone. Only briefly and only the obvious "take over the world" nonsense. But I refuse to believe that was the case, or at least, not the only case. 

Footsteps slowly approached the door; I could hear the left foot and the right trampling closer and closer.

"We're under attack," Carter said, with concern and with a side of a disappointment.

"Again?" I asked, "is he here this time?"

"No. Just his army of imbeciles," Carter replied, "Of course he's too scared to face us, making them do all the dirty work."

I sighed, "I want to come help this time."

"Absolutely not, do you not remember what almost happened last time? Please just stay in the panic room while I take care of this"

"Be careful. Please."

"Always."

Carter grabbed his mask and suit and left the room as I quickly scurried to the panic room. He didn't even say I love you this time, I thought to myself. The thought vanished as I heard all the loud banging and booming sounds outside. I could hear a few cries and a few screams in the distance.

Shattered windows. I hoped Carter was going to be okay. He usually is, as he was gifted by the God of lightning, his ancestor. Zeus. The gods vanished about half a century ago without selecting a new ruler. Carter was in line for the throne of Olympus, or what's left of it, as he was the last descendant of Zeus. Fragments of Zeus's light was engraved in his blood, powerful as ever, even if it was so slight. Our current world was in the absence of the gods, a tragedy. Their presence kept it balanced for, well, the beginning of time. And of course, on the daily, people with all traces of the gods' fragments fight to become the next ruler.

I always wanted to help fight back with the team. I didn't have powers or any skills but I felt so out of place always hiding while they went out and risked their lives. I wanted to know more about everything the world has come to. Everyone too.

***

The smell of the dreadful yet warm coffee brewed as I poured another cup.

"Order for Lara?" I said, as the young woman picked her cup up and walked away without a thank you, "Hi, what can I get for you today?"

"A medium iced coffee," said the man wearing a smirk on his face, eyeing me up and down. It took me a minute but I realized it was him, the dark one.

He was not a self proclaimed villain or anti hero. He came out of nowhere, with no name. Just a face. He was confident enough to not hide his physical identity in the public eye when fighting but today, he wore sunglasses to hide his dark eyes. I could recognize his bone structure anywhere though. Carter decided to just call him "the dark one" as he brought Denyn into a dark spiral since his arrival. And so, that is what we all call him. Poetic, really. 

I was distraught and in disbelief that he would come for something as normal as a coffee. Surely, he drank blood in the morning, I thought to myself. In a panic, I started yelling.

"Love, it's seven in the morning. Can I please just order?" he said in his deep yet soft spoken voice. I paused for a moment and realized the scene I was causing.  Hell, no one would recognize him without his cheesy villain suit.

"Umm...I- sure?" I said with a gaze only he could understand. Fear but also anger.

"Not everything is about you, hero."

"Not sure you have the right person, I'm no hero."

"Your little boyfriend, I meant."

"You mean my fiancé?" I said.

"Good luck with living with that for the rest of your life," he chuckled.

"He's half the man you'll ever be."

"Watch it. I could kill you with the snap of my fingers, darling. I'm sure that would make your precious little hero sad. Wouldn't want that, would you?"

I rolled my eyes and punched in the order, "that'll be four seventy-nine. And who would make your coffee if you were to do something like that?" 

He paid quickly and grabbed his order when it was ready. He waved his finger and opened the door and I heard a small little chuckle as he departed. From an outside perspective, he could seem like a genuine human being. Funny. Charming. Sane. Maybe in another timeline.

I did not tell Carter about the encounter. He'd have me quit and then I'd have to go through the resume, application, and interview process again. All of which I found absolutely dreadful. Jobs require experiences and skills but how does one gain experience and skills if no job would hire you? That is the actual paradox and dilemma of the world, forget about everything else.

"Does your burn still hurt?" I asked.

"It's healing up," Carter said as he looked at the big burn across his forearm, "Fighting him with my weather powers is impossible when he could just use his stupid telekinesis to turn it against me."

"Is Lauren still working on developing the telekinetic dampener?" I asked.

"She's been working on it for years. She always runs into problems." Carter said. I could see his disappointment and frustration on his face as his brow furrowed. I could tell he didn't sleep well last night because of the loss; his purple under eyes almost complimented his light brunette hair. I ran my hand over it slowly.

"Let's talk about something else." I said.

He grabbed my waist and pressed his soft lips against mine. "I meant something more on the lines of wedding plans." I giggled.

"I want to get married when the dark one is defeated. I want the crisp air and clear skies. I want to hear the birds chirp happily. I want to live without a target on my back. I don't want a marriage where he could just take you away at any moment." He replied. He proposed a little over a year ago and not a single word of our wedding plans has been spoken. Nothing about who's coming or what flowers are going to be there. Nothing. 

Carter was in love with someone before. It was not marriage-worthy but it was during prom. Stacy and him were crowned prom queen and king a few years back. Moments after, the dark one's army flooded through the place and Stacy was one of the few casualties. That was way before I even met him. But I knew the trauma haunted him. It would anyone. Losing someone at any time and at any given moment is terrifying.  

"I know but-"

He cut me off, "And we just got engaged not too long ago, there's no rush."

"I guess so. Fair enough. Let's just cuddle and get some rest then"

And so we did.