Why is it that anger is so inconvenient? ((OPEN to any))

A figure made his way through the murky light of a new moon; there was very little save shadow and darkness but he could see clearly; a gift he'd always possessed. He stepped surely over fallen branches and thick undergrowth as he made his way further into the forest. His black cloak skimmed the foliage and he moved almost soundlessly; he'd grown up in forests similar to this, and he knew how to move with the night, become one with it and blend in. Tonight he'd chosen thin flexable boots to cover his feet, they were nice and he could feel rubble beneath the soles, it was reassuring. He felt his blood coursing beneath the fitted black tunic he wore, and the thin black trousers skimmed over his flesh like second skin. He had on heavy gloves, he planned on destruction, and it wouldn't do to have his hands bloodied.

Soon he reached a suitable location, a sort of clearing in the thick growth of trees, there were ancient towers of living greenery here...good they'd fit into his plan nicely then. Tonight Marco needed to burn off some anger and frustration. He had just learned a secret so vile and repulsive as to cause even his black heart to take notice. HE pulled the cloak's concealing hood off and his platinum blonde hair flashed dully in the almost nonexistant light. He was certainly the brightest thing in the forest tonight, he pondered what creatures he might attract... a grin stretched his features at the prospect of a sparring partner other than the trees.

He stretched lithely for a bit, relaxing and preparing muscles for the work he intended to give them. He looked to the North, East, South, and West in turn, drawing on ancient spirits and calling forth powers of protection, warding, and forgiveness.

Then without further ado he slipped into a ready stance and unleashed a torrent of blows onto the three nearest treetrunks. Each blow sounded with a satisfactory thud and jolt against his fist or foot. Blue eyes glinted with satisfaction, yes this was just what he needed... well he could think of other forms of getting the confusion and betrayal out of his system, but a good workout was always cathartic. He paid no heed to any sound other than his own noise as he continued to move in Kata and attack the forest savagely. True, he had one ear open to any intrusion that might invade his senses, he was no fool; he'd cast a simple barrier ward to warn of visitation, but tonight he was prepared to release the beast he carried within. Darkest heart born of hatred and pain, he unleashed another barrage against a now fallen trunk. It had crashed to the earth with a satisfying crunch as it tore through the canopy overhead and met with the firm ground below.

He would make his peace with Mother Earth later, for now he needed this release.

Christabelle had seen Marco entering the forest and she followed after him curious as to what he was doing. She hadn't seen much of him lately and was curious as to what was wrong. She could tell by the look on his face when he had walked by her and not even acknowledge her presence.

As she walked through the forest she cursed herself for being in her school uniform as she knew she wouldn't be able to move as fluently in the forest as he seemed to be moving but she had caught up to him as he entered the field and began to cast a circle. She hugged herself against a tree, one that when he started he seemed to have missed in attacking. "Whats wrong?" she asked looking at him curiously.

Marco felt the intrusion into his circle, but he also felt the familiar presence. He realized he'd passed her and not spoken...intent on this destruction so necessary tonight. He paused only to acknowledge her words, "Bad news on the home front."

His countenance darkened further as he thought of the words in the owl post. He uttered a power cry and blasted his fist through another tree. Splinters of wood flew away from him and landed as needles in the trunks of their closest companions. His blue eyes went darkest black. He was consumed with the knowledge he had learned, and in the form of a friendly missive... He wondered who his dear friend was to deliver such a message.

He had to almost dismiss her; if he didn't get this anger out here he might take it out on someone. He knew Mother Earth understood ths, and he knew she would forgive him for destroying her trees. He would have to atone by planting saplings in the days that followed. He cast these thoughts aside adn resumed his tormented rage filled attack.

Christabelle wouldn't have normally entered a circle like this but she figured she'd eventually be forgiven and entered the circle walking up to him. She hadn't received great news lately either. "I'm sure this isn't the way to solve it." she replied to him carefully placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked looking at him, "I've got all night after all." she continued to say trying to calm him down.

Marco's body shook when she fully entered his circle, but he stilled when he felt her concern and she had the nerve to lay her hand on his shoulder. His shoulders slumped as he pulled his rage inward, tucking it back into his chest where it would fester until he could release it again. This was his way, and there were none who knew the true darkness of his heart.

He thought of Godric, and a tiny grin curved the corner of his lip for a second. He turned to look at Christy, his face blank, his eyes jet black reflecting the tiny pinprick of light that was all there was in teh forest. He had no words yet to say, the thought was pushed deep into his heart. This was no secret for her to bear with him. He had to carry it alone for now; it was too hurtful to him personally. There was still a slight question to the validity as well as the author of the letter, and unresolved these would weigh his decision to reveal the information and when as well as to whom. So for now all he could do was cast the empty face to her gaze and try to fathom the weight on his entire world view.

Christabelle was the female look a like of Godric, but however the fact that she had the nerve to come up to him and touch him truly said something about her. "Come on Marco, it can't honestly be that bad." she said not sure if she would be right about it or not. It couldn't be as bad as losing the one you loved and then try again to find out they had themselves turned knowing you hated what they had become.

Marco picked up on her own dark emotions, and it fueled his rage fanning the fire yet again. "Christabelle... I'm not entirely in control of myself right now, I've been hurt deeply by words... isn't that extraordinary? I can face a vampire, kill another in the face of research, and yet I can be harmed by the mere mention of a ghost from my past! By what must be a lie, yet my heart feels the truth in the written letter!

I do not wish to harm you, that is why I came here tonight, to let this anger dissapate in a positive way." he looked at the destruction he had caused so far and knew it was nothing to what he was needing to accomplish to calm the edge off this darkness and anger that ensnared him, and overflowed inside him.

His eyes glinted black ice and he began to shake again. "please give me a moment and I will try to talk to you..."

He turned and moved to the farthest edge of his circle where he pummeled a tree that had a girth of six feet around until it too cracked under the onslaught and tumbled noisily to the forest floor. He began to destroy it and felt her concern well up again, tampering his attack and he felt the foreign substance of tears coursing down his cheeks. His punches and kicks became frantic as he cried for the biggest loss of his life, --his childhood had been colored by this loss, and his youth tempered by its ringing reminder carried in his father's voice.

He fell to his knees in the detritus he had caused and wept openly, he threw his head to the sky and cried out, "Mother, Damn you!!!"

She nodded to his telling he would tell her in a moment understanding why he would say that. She had been in situations like that too. However when she saw his tears she couldn't stand it. She always had trouble seeing men cry. It hadn't been something she was used to, and maybe it had been because of her twin cousin. He always seemed to become the fore front of her thoughts in times like this. So did Nick. She had actually started crying with them when either one of them cried but she was finding she was having to fight it with Marco.

Then she heard his outburst. His mother....Someone she thought had died. Marco never mentioned her, even in passing and she thought she remembered saying something about her dying when he was younger. "Is this what this is about?" she asked looking at him, "Your mother?"

Marco made no movement to hide his tears, he heard her softly spoken words..her inquiry.

His mother... yes that was the one thing to evoke emotion in him, he who had felt nothing and not even cried since her death. He who had been told she'd died at the hands of amuggle car accident. It had fed his hatred of muggles to the point he could not stand them anymore. He who was pureblood always sought out his own type. It had been important in his giving his heart to Godric, for both of them.

But now a stupid letter had his whole world turned upside down. He had the parchment, tucked deep in his belongings, as if hiding it could change what it said. But the photograph could not be gouged from his mind's eye. He would know that face anywhere... she had not aged a moment. It only proved what the letter had spoken. He knew the truth of it, for he was master at subterfuge and knew the secrets of tampering with a wizard photograoph. It wasn't easy, but could be done.

He looked at Christy with dark eyes streaming tears. "How could she lie to me? How could everyone?" His voice was hard, angry not hurt as he should feel, his emotional respinse wasn't sadness, but betrayal and deepest fury.

"I don't know." she said looking at him. "Maybe she wasn't the one who lied to you." she suggested knowing it probably wouldn't help the situation. "You can't blame her for it." She looked at him curiously, "What exactly happened?" she asked him not taking her eyes off his.