Darkness cannot defeat darkness, only light...

-Martin Luther King Jr.

He flexed his muscles shifting from the pain of having his arms strung up above him. The chain tightened its hold in response. A hiss escaped his lips, as it broke into the skin, causing fresh blood drip down his arms, over the already dried blood.

Like a living thing, the black metal twisted and worked its way deeper with every struggle, blocking his body's ability to regenerate. A toy that could only belong to THAT woman. It was annoying, but the pair of piercing eyes glowing in the corner of the room posed a more immediate threat.

She sat there. Unwavering in her resolve to watch his every move from the shadows of her perch, on what used to be HIS chair in HIS home, the crafty little one had stolen it all in less then a day. How did she even get in? He sighed shifting through the day's earlier events trying to think of anything unusual.

Though he lived alone his palace was built like a fortress there was one way in and the gate was always shut. And like any other day in his complacent existence of solidarity, he was collecting and sorting souls; guiding them through the gate to join the River Zenshi. Being able to glimpse at a life without ever having to leave the comforts of his home was one of the many perks of being immortal.

While figuring out where to place a particularly naughty soul, he was ashamed to admit that he did not sense the presence of the small fury as she burst through the room taking him down and leaving him strung up half naked and bloody, like a piece of trophy meat. The first woman to ever get the jump on him, quite literally. With a wave of his hand he could have fixed this mess... if only he had his hands... stupid woman.

He struggled, craning his neck, looking for anything around the room that might help free him from his bonds.

The room was dark. Thin rays of dusty light shone through the high window casting long twisting shadows in the corners of the room. His eyes, well adjusted to the low light, made out her shadow shifting back and forth in a predatory stance on the chair.

"You there!" He called to her, trying once again to get a word or a reaction from that steely gaze. "Girl! Are you listening? Do you plan on telling my why you have me tied up?" She turned her head feigning disinterest while still keeping one sapphire orb on him.

"I'm assuming you don't know who I am. So I'll give you the chance to release me and I may show mercy. Fail to heed my words and I will put some real fear in you!" He boomed, trying to make his voice sound as intimidating as possible. A bluff really, he was no warrior.

The girl cocked her head, her teeth glowing in the darkness as her smile grew wider. She leapt down off her perch her long midnight hair flying in dark waves as she advanced on him. Her deep blue eyes held no emotion yet she was giggling.

"You are a funny, threatening to put 'fear' in me. How will you do so when you're all tied up?" she racked her clawed hands across his chest giggling louder as blood spilled out.

"Crazy bitch," he growled through clenched teeth. He had succeeded in getting her attention. Probably not the best idea.

"Ziya! Stand down," a bodiless voice echoed from the corner of the room.

The girl's head snapped to attention to where a figure seemed to manifest from the shadows, taking on the corporeal form of a beautiful woman. Her long black robes billowed behind her as she strode towards them. Hair, black as the night, was intricately woven on top of her head framing a fox like face from which two silver eyes danced.

"Hello mother you always do know how to make an entrance," The list of unwanted guests just keeps growing. His jaw set in a firm line. Her presence always came with the stench of misery.

"How is my favourite son doing?" the sarcasm dripped heavy from her voice.

"I'm your only son."

"True," she tilted her head moving closer to inspect him. "You look terrible." Her face contorted with satisfaction as her eyes roamed his bare chest now scorched with long bloody gashes.

"You have your... thing to thank for that," his head nodding toward the young female. She stiffened at his gaze, crouching down as if posing to strike.

"Oh that's right I have not formally introduced you to my daughter have I?" She smiled, moving to stroke the girls hair.

"Daughter? Another one of your projects mother? That thing you made will never be one of us it's just another soulless doll." He spat. He was never fond of her inventions, toying with natural order was of the highest taboo.

She reached out a clawed hand grabbing his face, forcing him to look at her luminous gaze.

"That THING," she hissed, "is more my child than you ever were. My own goddess blood flows through her veins."

"Just because you dress like a goddess,doesn't make you one." he sniped.

With a swift motion she plunged her long fingernails into his chest grabbing a hold of his heart. A cry escaped his lips as she tore through flesh and bone.

"You should know better mother," he looked up smirking through the pain. "Even if you destroy this body, they will make me another."

"You're just like him," she hissed. "Same eyes, same sickening attitude. Hiding behind his war dogs, doing your part in his play like the good boy you are.You never did understand my vision. I wish I never had such a disappointing child." Her words were menacing, though the statement was nothing new.

"Destruction of the Five Gates is not a vision, it's insanity." his retort lacked bite, as he laboured to get words through his lips. "The Guardians will know something is wrong, they will come for me." He said it as if to reassure himself that this dire situation would not last. They should have been here by now.

"You think I fear those weak creatures?" She scoffed. "Now where is the key?" Ah so that's the reason for this visit, the pieces started clicking in his brain. He mentally kicked himself for not seeing it sooner.

"The gates of Nirvana were not meant for you Namira. You will never get in."

Her grey eyes flared squeezing her fingers tighter on his rapidly beating heart.

"Well then let me relieve you of your duty my son. For good this time."

Horror spread across his face as her words sank in.

"You wouldn't dare." He looked in her eyes, the dismal truth reflected back.

"Goodbye my son, you did please me, sometimes." Her eyes swam, just briefly, before squeezing his heart till she felt it burst in her hand. Blood pooled from his lips as his eyes rolled back, head lulling to the side. He was dead. Pulling her hand out of his chest she grasped the feathery vapours of his soul before it could escape.

"Ziya come here." The obedient doll walked over, eyes curiously fixated on the the swirling vapor in her master's hands. With a swift motion she plunged it into the girls breast wrapping it around her heart with expert care. She slid her hand out covered in slick black sludge. The wound closing almost instantly as it was removed.

"My child," she stroked the side of her face smearing a line of black blood on her porcelain cheek, "you are my last hope. Come now, say goodbye to your brother." She picked up her robes behind her heading down the double staircase of the hallowed palace toward the door.

"NAMIRA!" An army of golden knights stood outside waiting, shields glistening in the sun. One man stood in front, the feathers on his helmet swaying lightly in the breeze.

"Oh look the cavalry's here." She tossed her hair, sending a black wave screeching towards them.

"Down!" their leader shouted hitting the ground. A few did not make it in time, their bodies vaporizing as soon as they hit the inky wave. Souls rose, crying out, from the dust where they rose to the top of the palace circling the beacon looking for a way in, but the way was shut.

"You're too late!" She shouted down at the soldiers prostrated on the ground before her, amusement shining in her eyes. This was just the beginning. With a flick of her hand she summoned a dark void at her feet, grabbing Ziya, until both of them sank into nothingness. Then they were gone.

The soldiers fanned out through the palace, it was the captain who found his body in the dark chamber.

"Quick, over here!" The men ran to his aid.

With a swift slice of his blade, he cut him loose. The black metal twisting on the ground still looking for its victim to ensnare. He captured the strange metal in a hollow cube, as evidence. The Merla would want to study it.

"Grab his body," he ordered. "There may still be a piece of him left to salvage." The guardians hoisted the god's limp form, then headed for the exit.

"The gate is shut," one of them whispered to the commanding officer. "What will happen now?"

"I'm not sure," he answered with unease. This was a question for the Oracle.