Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Chapter 38

Maleficent's black eyes, tinged with a glimmering green glow, narrowed with shrewd interest. The flame surrounding Helios flickered, casting dark, dancing shadows on his face and the cobblestones beneath them. Silence stretched between them, charged with tension and unspoken understandings. The crackle of green fire seemed to echo the subtle shift in the air as she weighed his words.

"An intriguing answer," Maleficent murmured, her voice softer yet no less commanding. "You claim not to desire a world or an army. You seek knowledge, and that, in my experience, makes you more dangerous than a man with ambitions of conquest. Very well, young one, I accept your proposition—for now. However," she paused, eyes boring into him like sharpened blades, "you must show me proof of your word."

With a fluid gesture, she lowered her hand, and the flame around Helios dissipated into harmless sparks that vanished into the night. Helios felt the tension ease from his muscles, but he kept his expression composed, offering only a slight nod. "I knew you would see the value in this arrangement."

Maleficent's smile sharpened into a thin, dangerous line. Her eyes glistened like polished obsidian, a look that held the promise of power and peril. "Understand this: betrayal will not be tolerated. Should you think to cross me, there will be no force in this world or any other that will save you from my wrath."

Helios met her gaze without flinching. The shadows of the night seemed to coil around them, drawn to their dark presence. "I wouldn't expect anything less. Now come in—it will soon be time for the people of this town to sleep, and once they do, I'll take you to observe proof that my words hold merit."

Maleficent's eyes narrowed further as she stepped closer, her dark gown sweeping over the cobblestones as she moved past him and into Merlin's cottage. The room was dim, the light from the moon casting elongated shadows across the ancient tomes and glass vials that lined the shelves. Helios closed the door behind them, the latch clicking softly as he tried to ignore the cold prickle of apprehension running down his spine.

Inside, Maleficent's presence seemed to fill the space, her aura suffocating the room with an almost tangible darkness. She swept her eyes over the shelves of books and magical artifacts with a mix of disdain and curiosity, pausing only when she noticed a small crystal globe glimmering faintly on a nearby table. She traced its edge with a black-gloved finger, as if considering whether it was worth her attention.

"Impressive," she drawled, though her tone made it clear she found the modest dwelling beneath her. "But this is hardly the place I would have expected you to bring me to for proof of your bold claims."

Helios moved to the window, peering out at the silent streets as the last lights of the town began to dim. The time was nearly upon them. He turned back to her, his voice steady, cutting through the stillness. "Patience. The proof you seek is not here. Follow me, and you will see for yourself."

Maleficent tilted her head, her eyes narrowing briefly before she nodded once, sharply. Helios led her out through the back door of the cottage, choosing a path that would avoid the main roads. The moon bathed the garden paths in silvery light as they walked, the air crisp and filled with the faint, soothing scent of night-blooming flowers.

Far away from Merlin's cottage Helios opened a dark corridor. Leading the way he and Maleficent entered and reappeared inside Ansem's castle specifically Ansem's Old lab where Xehanort and Even did their secret experiments. There was a computer identical to the one Helios had accessed before taking all the data.

Helios walked over to the computer and began typing the names of the seven princesses of hearts unlocking the computer. Melifcent watching the whole process unfold spoke, "You seem quite familiar with this machine. I do wonder where and how you learn to access it with such ease."

Helios did look back as he responded, "Of course I do, like I said I'm the one leading them to go down this path. If I weren't able to sneak in here and routinely check their progress how can I make sure they're doing what I need them to do."

"I suppose so," said Maleficent who was no longer interested in knowing why.

Accessing the program he needed Helios opened the wall behind the computer which opened smoothly without much noise. Behind the wall was a glass window that allowed them to observe a chamber lined with steel and glass, dimly illuminated by a soft blue light, adding a sleek, modern touch.

On the walls, there were rows of what looked like glowing, segmented data columns or crystalline structures, illuminated by hearts held within. Helios opened the security cameras which held live footage of the current location where the Shadow was held. There Even and Xehanort were experimenting on the Shadow.

Helios paused and moved aside, glancing back at Maleficent. "This chamber holds the evidence you seek. What you're looking at on the screen is a captured Heartless, one of the creatures drawn to the presence of darkness. Behind me are captured hearts these scientists take from the people of this world. Soon they will attempt to use these hearts to replicate how a heart succumbs to darkness. The best part of this new type of heartless is that the hearts not only make them easier to control but when a heart is captured the new hearts naturally adapt them to whatever world their in."

Maleficent's black eyes, tinged with an eerie green glow, narrowed as she studied the Heartless on the monitor, her expression shifting from skepticism to intrigue. Helios stood beside her, watching her reaction carefully, knowing this was the moment that could solidify their tenuous alliance.

"And how did you come across this information?" she murmured, as though speaking to herself, her voice thoughtful yet laced with a dangerous edge. "And you claim that more of these creatures will come—stronger, more powerful, and more numerous?"

Helios nodded, his expression calm, concealing the racing thoughts beneath. "Yes. These Heartless or so they're called are drawn to the darkness embedded in the hearts of people, feeding on that shadow and growing stronger. Those they feed on will join your legion of Heartless like a plague infecting the world until soon the world's heart becomes yours. With the experiments underway, the scientists will soon learn to harness the power of real hearts, creating Heartless that will become the perfect soldiers for your conquest."

Maleficent's eyes flickered with cold ambition as she turned to face him, the faintest smirk curling her lips. "It seems you are more resourceful than I initially believed, young man. You have shown me proof and laid the groundwork for what may indeed be an army fit for my purposes. But why would someone like you, with access to this knowledge and such keen insight, not use this power for yourself?"

Helios allowed a shadowy smile to cross his lips. "As I've said before, my interests are not in conquering worlds. I have a different goal, one that requires knowledge—knowledge that only someone with your understanding of dark magic can provide. You get your army, and I learn the dark magic I need. Our goals align perfectly."

Maleficent tilted her head, considering him for a long, silent moment. The room was filled with the faint hum of machinery and the occasional, soft pulse of blue light from the crystalline structures in the hidden chamber. The air between them was thick with unspoken implications.

"So be it," she finally said, her voice smooth, the regal weight of her words pressing into the room. "But remember, boy, our alliance is conditional. I shall teach you until I receive my army."