Title: Lust of a Dark Soul
Author: Vash the Unholy
Beta: Lutris Argutiae (Chapter not beta'd)
Chapter: Fourteenth Hunt: Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.

Deep within the darkness of Marik Black's cathedral turned fortress the young lord paced back and forth in front of a mirror. The mirror itself was an odd thing. The glass was black as night and shimmered like water. Oak in a deep brown color bordered the dark glass. Ancient Greek runes cared into the wood gave the age of the object, though it looked to have been made mere days ago. It was undeniably beautiful. Though it was he who was reflected in the mirror, it did not move as Marik did. As he walked before it, the reflection stood in place, glaring at him. While Marik fidgeted with an ornate ring on his finger, the reflection stood with its arms crossed in a protective gesture, guarding the ring. Marik glared at it furiously.

The ring was an object of wonder. It consisted of two separate stones woven together in an elaborate pattern. A midnight blue sapphire and an earth green emerald crissed and crossed to form a rather complex weave. The stones themselves were solid, with no break in them allowing them to link. The ring was dressed with the same runes the mirror wore. Harry's ring was dominated by the sapphire stone, while the mirror was dominated by the emerald.

Marik stopped inform of the mirror, the glare that was becoming ever present in place. "What," he began in a quiet, cool voice, "do you think you're doing, siren? We had an agreement as I recall."

The reflection smiled. I was a smile that was both innocent and sweet, while being in no way friendly. It looked out of place on its face. "Indeed we did, my little darkling." Its voice was unquestionably that of a woman. It was quite disturbing to hear from his own body, Marik mused time and again. Its smile faded as quickly as it appeared. "But you've yet to find suitable payment. Power isn't free after all."

"With your tastes, Derva, it isn't as simple as you make it sound. Every choice I've made you rejected."

Derva pouted playfully. "Is it my fault you have poor taste in women, hmm? That Crevan girl was a find, I admit, and almost acceptable but had no magic. The transfer would have killed her instantly."

Marik raised an eyebrow. "That would be the point, no? Rid the body of the soul so you might take control?"

"NO!" Derva growled angrily. "If the body dies during the ritual, I die as well!"

Harry shrugged at his reflection. "You'll just have to exercise patients then."

"Patients?" the siren asked tightly. "For nearly six years I've allowed you to do as you please. I think I've been patient enough!"

"Let me do as I please?" Harry asked in annoyance. "Of course you have. And never once have you pushed my will or tainted my soul."

"Of course not!" Harry gave her a look. "Well I might have pushed once or twice, but I don't remember you complaining. They were Death Eaters after all. You've always known our… contract… would taint you as well."

"Maybe I didn't, but Zabini would have served a better purpose alive."

It shrugged at him. "What's done is done." Derva replied cheerfully. "No point in dwelling on it. Let us look forward to brighter things…:"

"Such as removing you from this prison?"

"Now we're getting somewhere, darkling." An angry smile crossed his reflections face. "My patients begin to wane, sorcerer. Free me, and soon, or I'll take your body. It should suffice until I find a replacement."

Harry closed his eyes in thought. "What about the Weasley girl?"

"Absolutely not!" Derva replied after silently searching his memories. "The girl wouldn't have been fit to work as a stable hand in my day."

"Fine," Marik said in irritation. "What about the Italian medi-witch, Giovanna?"

"Hmm," The creature mused as it probed his mind. Vain, narcissistic, and arrogant little wench isn't she?" Harry personally thought the two we quite alike in that manner, though chose to nod silently. Derva sighed in defeat. "Very well. She will have to do, I suppose."

"Good," He answered. "I'll prepare the ritual. Should take only a few days to gather the needed supplies."

First impressions of a person have a way of sticking around in most cases. If, for instance, you thought of someone as an intelligent and brave person, chances are you would always see them that way. The same is true of a negative impression. Probably more so that the positives. It was probably for this reason that Luna 'Loony' Lovegood had dismissed the accusations against Harry Potter. But with madness comes insight, they say. Luna could always see the dark emotions in him. Ronald was never very good at keeping secrets, so many had some idea of his life away from Hogwarts. But even with those emtions, she was able to placate herself that he wasn't a danger. The he fought the Dark Lord for so long helped.

Could she have misjudged him, though? Was he the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing? Or rather, the snake in the lion's den. She had ben wrong before, so to thnk she was now was not so far fetched. But he had spent his childhood fighting what he had supposedly become. It made no sense. Life rarely did though, she found.

Actually, she mused as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. It did make an odd sort of sense. He had spent so long staring into the abyss that it had changed him. It mattered very little to her anyway, since she had very little contact with him. His strange sense of amusement at her attitude wasn't enough to build a proper friendship it seemed.

She stopped and stared at the white door, taking a deep, chilled breath as the cold nipped at her red cheeks. Despite her eccentricities, the apartment looked normal in every way. Velma, a orange tabby, lazed about on the sofa. An aquarium containing a plethora of fish in every shape and color bubbled quietly in the corner. The blasted drip from the sing beat its annoying drum like beat. Harry Potter sat calmly sipping tea while petting Velma.

For one said to be an absent minded fool, Marik was impressed with the girls ability to draw her wand with such fluidity and speed. He wondered if the petite blond was more than she appeared. Before the door had finished closing, Luna had her wand levelled evenly between his eyes. Marik continued to sip his tea as if this was normal behaviour.

"Now, Luna," He drawled in an amused voice. "What would your muggle neighbours think if they saw you drawing your wand?"

"It would simply reinforce their beliefs that I am … Not right. A grown woman waving a stick about like a weapon." The off handed comment came out easily. "Good evening," She greeted calmly. "Though, I admit you have me at a loss as of how to address you. Is it Marik now, or will Harry suffice?"

"I have a preference to Marik, if you don't mind."

She looked at him with an oddly amused expression. "Why would one so anti muggle wish to use the name of a very well know Muggle myth?"

"Because… It's fitting, don't you think?" He asked conversationally. "The story of the purest of heroes becoming the greatest of villains."

Luna snorted in an unladylike way. "And yet I'm the delusional one. Do you truly believe yourself to be the greatest of villains? Seems awfully arrogant of you, no?"

"No, I don't." he said in a dismissive manner. "They do," he continued waving a vague gesture. "What I do believe, however, is that I am the hero the world needs. The one who will rid our world of this pathetic parasite known as muggles. They pollute and kill out planet with every action they take."

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Magic has begun to wane and leave our world since they gained dominance. It is tim for our return to power. The days of the great sorcerer kings with return!" Passion laced words flowed forth with emotion running through his eyes as he stood.

"Kings?" Luna asked curiously. "You intend to share your power?"

"In a manner of speaking. On the surface, yes, it would seem that way. But in the end I will always be in control. To let control go completely to others would be to invite ruin to my goals."

"Interesting. Then what part do I play in all this? What could Loony Lovegood possibly offer you?"

"Its always best to offer a position in person. I'd like you to join my inner circle."

Luna studied him curiously, her wand still ready at a moments notice. "You want me to serve within your most trusted?"

"As an advisor, yes. Lucius does wonderful, but ultimately his views are limited."

"And should I refuse?"

He smiled a dark mockery of a kind smile. "We both know the answer I think."

"How very true," she said as she flicked her wand at him. "ERUIK!"

Marik batted the pale orange spell to the ground easily, retaliating without effort. He entertained himself attempting to hex her into a pile of slop for nearly twenty minutes. Marik had to admit he was impressed they young blond lasted ten minutes against him, let alone twenty. It wasn't that she was more powerful or more skilled, rather that she was able to dodge most everything he threw at her. It was beginning to get frustrating. As the duel raged on longer, his concentration became focused solely on her as he became more determined to immobilize the girl.

Luna used the lack of transportation wards to her advantage as she saw Marik becoming angrier and more frustrated. Appearing behind the dark lord, she wasted no time in flicking a reductor curse at his back. Marik turned in to avoid a fatal hit, but would up twisting his wand arm into its path. The shoulder deformed as the bones shattered with a resounding snap.

Marik gripped his broken shoulder with is free hand, his wand lying at his feet. He growled at her furiously. "Lucky break for you, Luna, my dear." He quickly scooped up his wand in his off hand. "But I fear it is time for me to leave." With a smile and a twirl, he vanished, leaving her curse to smash harmlessly into a wall.