Amaranth

Shadow Mercenary
Rated: Mature
Darkness Reborn/Amaranth

Prologue:
Most Darkness wielders were male hosts to the Estacado family line for generations. But one thing changed that. It took interest in the female descendants that came into the world and who were related to the family. Some female hosts wielded the power, but often forced them to kill that it wants. A few were successful into using their female hosts to kill, even consume their minds.

One man named Michael Estacado did serve as a hitman for the Franchetti family, but one woman named Nerissa Crossnic who was trying to make things right in her life. She was still a young woman when she met Michael. They started dating and eventually fell in love. But when Nerissa found out she was pregnant, it lead Michael to making a choice and he picked to raise the child with his new love. They both had a daughter and named her Mackenzie Jennifer Talia Crossnic Estacado. Jimmy The Grape, a close friend made sure they got the money they needed. It was a risky procedure.

Throughout the years, Michael had Mackenzie in ballet, martial arts and gymnastics to keep her prepared for other things when she got older.

On her 15th birthday, he took her out to celebrate it. Going to Astoria for rides and fun after winning the martial arts competition. In Chinatown in New York which lead to a tragic event. A mysterious gunman fired trying to kill Michael only shooting Mack in the leg injuring her, but other bullet shot Michael took to save her life. He died in her arms until help arrived and since then Mackenzie always mourned on her birthday. March 6th was Michael's birthday as well.

Present Day: Mackenzie is a senior in college. Her fellow friends Elijah Craven and Melanie Kury were her best friends and backed her up.

~Darkness Rises When Silence Dies~
Darkness. That cold feeling I've been sensing for weeks. I keep hearing that creepy voice. Calling me. I keep seeing this mirror with some shade.....black as night.
"[Mackenzie.......come to the dark...!!!]"
"No! Leave me alone!!"
"[You can't escape your fate!! You belong to darkness!!]"
Tentacles reach to grab me as I try to grab hold of the ground. It pulls me in toward these demons reaching for me as if I was going to Hell itself. Wake up!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I felt a nudge at my shoulder as I woke up. Snow was falling outside on a March morning. The groundhog said early spring. Yeah right. I look down to see my bull terrier Sparky holding his leash in his mouth while sitting on my bed.
"All right all right. Let me go shower and clothes then I will walk ya."
He barks and jumps off the bed to go wait by the door. I keep having these damn dreams over and over. It's the same. My twenty-first birthday was coming up. Eli thinks 'Yay I am old enough to drink'. I'm not of a drinking type. The fact last time when we took him out was last fall. His birthday landed on Halloween. He is superstitious about vampires and werewolves. Mel dressed as a vampire for a joke Freshman year of high school. He fainted. We spent most Halloween watching scary movies, but also going to parties. That is if that one girl Stela Grundy didn't keep throwing us out over misunderstandings. Lucky for me the cops in my area know me too well. They know I'm no trouble maker. Stela has a problem with me because of my last name. My name is Mackenzie Estacado. My mother is Nerissa Crossnic. She is still handling things since my father's passing.

After a shower, I got dressed and took Sparky on a walk. But he grabbed a couple roses with his mouth before we walked out. We visit my father's grave every morning. We came by and he set them on the ground. Staring at his tombstone still pains me. I have a scar in my left leg from the gunshot wound. I wish I knew who killed my father. I miss him. The snowflakes hit my face as I felt a tear fall from my eyes. I heard a whimper as I looked down.

"I'm okay Sparky. Just....in sorrow. Come on. I'll feed you when we get home."

After we got back, Mel was already up pouring cereal in a bowl.
"Want me to fix breakfast?"
Melanie: "Nah I got it."
"No really. I was in a French toast mood."
Mel gave a nod, but kept her bowl out still. I went to get the stuff out of cabinets and got started on it. While making the food, Eli came out with his books and tossed some on the table. Mel gave a disgusted look at him.
Melanie: "Eli, really? We're about to eat."
Eli: "Oh right." -Pushes the books off almost hitting Sparky but missed as he leaps aside.-
"Eli!! Watch it!!"
He seemed startled afterward, but always had to be careful. I set the table and brought the food over.
Eli: "So, I hear someone is turning 21 soon. A couple days?"
"Don't remind me."
Melanie: "Eli, give her a break. You know what happened six years ago?"
Eli: "Why don't we do something fun for once?"
Melaine: "He has a point. Maybe we can go to a club and you might meet someone to your liking?"
"Yeah? Like who? Stela would just keep making them think I'm some plague."
Eli: "F*** Stela. You're a very pretty gal, Mack."
"Eli, you said I'm like a sister to you."
Eli: "I'm complimenting you."