FIC: As the Sun Doth Daily Rise (The Dresden Files)

[schizoauthoress]

Written for apocalyptothon 2010.

Title: As the Sun Doth Daily Rise
Author: D.L. SchizoAuthoress // schizoauthoress
Recipient: avariel_wings
Fandom: The Dresden Files (books)
Rating: G
Word Count: 1997
Spoilers: Changes (the latest Dresden book) does heavily inform the backstory of this fanfic.
Warnings: Surprisingly, none. Except that I'm evil.
Summary: The Carpenters grow 'em morally upright and heroic, doncha know.
Notes: Title taken from a hymn, "As the Sun Doth Daily Rise", which is -- according to my source -- from the Latin, translated by J. Masters and adapted by Horatio Nelson. In other words, it's not mine. I trimmed a verse from what I quote (as church services are wont to do, so I figure there's at least precedent) since I just couldn't fit it in.

Thanks to my beta-reader, bluezybunny for the grammar/spelling check. Sadly, I don't have any fellow Dresden Files fans on my flist that I could ask for a beta, so any errors in canon are mine and mine alone.

As the Sun Doth Daily Rise

Harry Dresden had been missing for three days when the vampires struck. The Red Court had been completely wiped out by his actions down in Mexico, and the Black Court was eager to take advantage.

Ever since the White Council had backed the publication of Dracula and spread knowledge about the weaknesses of the Black Court, that race of vampires had been seen as a small and politically weak faction. They had been content to seem such, but the coordination and effectiveness of their first attacks -- spread all over the globe, in places and against people that were calculated for maximum impact -- revealed the truth of the matter. While the White Council and the Red Court had exhausted their resources in the covert war, while the White Court dealt with inner strife and backbiting, the Black Court had spread like a cancer, slow and insidious.

Sanya had rushed into battle, but within a few hours, Rome was burning. As was London, and Paris, and Berlin, and a thousand other cities all around the globe. People who ran were taken down in the darkness on that black night, only gaining a brief reprieve with the sunrise. Mass panic and looting followed. Many people became embroiled in petty fights over safe ground, holy ground, but enough banded together that civilization didn't entirely crumble in the space of two weeks.

The modern technological infrastructure destroyed along with the Masquerade, but it still took about a month for the White Council to agree to reveal themselves and join forces with those who resisted the Black Court.

Harry hadn't come back.

****

As the sun doth daily rise,
brightening all the morning skies,
so to thee with one accord
lift we up our hearts, O Lord.

"This," Alicia grunted as she removed the left headlight on 'Karrin's truck' with a decisive jerk, "is why early cultures were sun-worshippers." She passed it on to her 'assistant', Hope, and picked up the replacement that she'd fabricated in her mother's metal shop. The pickup hadn't really belonged to Sergeant Murphy before, but a civilization-ending war changed things (actually, it had belonged to another SI officer and had passed into her hands when he was killed during a night patrol).

"The headlight on a 1999 Toyota Tacoma?" Hope asked as she carried the item in question into the garage.

Alicia shot her youngest sister an annoyed look. "Don't be deliberately obtuse, Hope; you know better." Alicia shoved her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and peered closely at her work as she threaded the extra wiring into place. The new headlight had the capability of switching from regular to UV light. Alicia had already added a lightbar to the top of the cab and in front of the grill, all with UV lightbulbs, but it never hurt to have a contingency plan.

It had taken several months to get this far in modifying the vehicle. Even though the Carpenter home was one of the few places where one could be safe at night -- something her father chalked up to being a former Knight of the Cross -- that only extended to the actual home itself, not the property. Overcast days, where the protection of the sun was sporadic, were much more common now. They were just lucky that free-roaming Renfields were rarely seen in Chicago, as well.

Molly told them that the changed weather was likely due to Mavra and her cronies, Black Court vampires who could use magic. Sometimes Alicia was surprised that sun-worship hadn't come back in vogue; after all, it gave the resistance fighters mobility without forcing them to deplete their power sources.

"Go ahead and explain it to me, Leech," Hope replied, grinning. "I know you love to do that."

Alicia sighed. She really hated that nickname, and she didn't see why she had to put up with her little sister calling her that. Then again, she was dealing with someone who had preferred to be called 'Hobbit' a few years back. "No, Hope," she said, with exaggerated patience, "not the headlight. The vampires. You know, like the ones that killed Parker DiMartino's family?"

Hope winced. She'd just started to notice boys and care about dating a few months before the Black Court started this latest war. Parker was... had been... a cute boy who shared her passion for music. She'd been trying to work up the courage to ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance before the whole mess started, but the school closed down. "Now twist the knife counterclockwise..." she muttered. In a tone of voice that Alicia could hear, she said coolly, "Go on."

"Back then, the night belonged to all kinds of deadly creatures, just like now with the vampires," Alicia continued to speak as she went around to the open driver's side door and turned the truck on. "But the daytime was safe. They felt protected by the sun, so they didn't consider it a huge leap of logic to assign divinity to it."

The headlights didn't show up well in the sunlight, but Hope reached up and tugged down the garage door so that the faint circles of light were visible against its surface; she flashed her sister a thumbs up to signal that the normal low beams were working.

Alicia flipped the switch, and stronger light from the UV bulbs beamed out of the headlights. "But I'm sure that if they could see this night-patrolling pickup truck in action, they might start worshipping the headlights anyway," she said, looking over at Hope with a small smile. She shut off the engine, then closed and locked the door. "Thanks for your help, Hobbit."

Hope tried to smile back. "You're welcome, Leech."

"I guess I deserve that," Alicia shook her head. "Sorry, sis. I know you really liked Par--"

"Matthew probably wants some help sharpening stakes! I'm gonna go check!" Hope exclaimed. She ran across the lawn and into the house.

"Way to go, genius," Alicia sighed again. "Might as well see if anyone else needs help."

After all, safe sunny days were a rarity now.

****

Be our guard in sin and strife;
be the leader of our life;
lest from thee we stray abroad,
stay our wayward feet, O Lord.

Michael stared down at the sword he held in his hands. Sheathed and lying flat against his palms, Amoracchius looked... not wrong, it was impossible for a tool of the Lord such as this to ever look wrong, but... the sight of it filled him with sadness. Harry had vanished before passing the sword on to someone. The task had fallen to Michael to find a bearer for the Sword of Love. All three Knights of the Cross were needed in these dark times.

And because of that desperate need, it was even more likely that all three Knights of the Cross would fall in battle.

'Sanya continues to fight, though he is not as alone as he once was. Sergeant Murphy has taken up Fidelacchius, and you know she had been unsure of it before this.' Michael silently berated himself, 'How can you be so selfish? How can you keep Amoracchius off the battlefield now..?'

Familiar hands reached out to cover his, the contact breaking him out of the dark thoughts that held him. "Michael," Charity said solemnly, "don't try to decide this on your own. You know who to ask for help."

Michael's lips tightened. "I know who should bear the sword. I've prayed about it... ever since I woke from the operations. But I can't..."

Charity grasped the sheath of the sword in her right hand, pulling it out of the way as she stepped closer to Michael. He wrapped his arms around her. She asked quietly, "It's supposed to be Daniel, isn't it?"

"Yes," Michael whispered back, feeling his heart break as he admitted it.

****

Clouds rolled in at four in the afternoon, hiding the sun. Michael conferred with Sanya on the phone, and then he and Charity gathered up their children and headed for Saint Mary of the Angels.

All surviving holy places -- churches, synagogues, mosques, temples -- had been converted into strongholds to protect the remaining humans from preying vampires. Saint Mary of the Angels was no different. In fact, because Gentleman Johnny Marcone had provided for the armament of Chicago-area holy places, it was one of the best.

****

Quickened by the Spirit's grace
all thy holy will to trace
while we daily search thy Word,
wisdom true impart, O Lord.

"Mavra has been seen in Washington, D.C. and our forces have been gathering for a confrontation. They hope to take out her vampiric coven. And I can't justify holding this off any longer..." Michael closed his eyes briefly, whispering, "God give me strength..."

Charity took his hand.

Michael opened his eyes and looked at his eldest son. "Daniel," he asked, in a steady voice that betrayed none of his feelings, "will you take up the Sword?"

"Dad, I've been waiting for you to ask." Daniel answered. "Of course I will."

Daniel took Amoracchius in his hands. For a moment, Michael felt like the dark-haired young man holding the Sword of Love was a stranger to him -- a powerful stranger, touched by the hand of God, a warrior who could and would turn the tide of battle and help create a victory for good. 'Where has my son gone?' he thought, 'Where is the little boy I loved and protected all those years?'

"Come on!" Amanda said excitedly to her brother, "Mama and Alicia made a set of armor for you. I'll help you put it on."

"All right, Mandy," Daniel said with a smile, using his free hand to ruffle his sister's golden curls. "Let's go."

Molly walked over to her father as they headed off. She touched his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "He's become a man who can love and protect others." When Michael turned to her, surprise clear on his face, Molly flushed and explained, "I couldn't help it, Daddy, you looked so sad. But I shouldn't have looked inside your head. I'm sorry."

"It's all right, Molly. Thank you." He kissed her cheek. "Will you be... taking part?"

"I'm transport, of course," Molly replied, referring to the fact that they would need the Ways in the Nevernever to get to Washington D.C. from Chicago in time, "but I'm sure they'll need the One-Woman Rave as a distraction, too."

"Don't worry so much, Michael." Charity broke in, giving his hand a squeeze. "I'll be there to protect her. Have some faith."

"I do, Charity," Michael replied, "I have faith in you... and in all of our family."

"We learned from your example, Daddy." Molly hugged him hard. "We can do this. Pray for us?"

"With all my heart."

****

Once the Ways had closed behind the last of the war party, Michael looked around at the ones left behind. A skeleton crew of fighters and magic practitioners remained to protect those who could not fight. Matthew and Alicia were among them. Amanda had joined one of the nurses in preparing medical supplies for the inevitable use they'd be put to by next dawn. Little Harry was playing with other children his age.

And Hope... he joined her, kneeling before the altar. (The kneeling was a little difficult, but he'd ask her for help regaining his feet later.) She clutched a set of rosary beads in her hands, murmuring 'Hail Mary's over and over.

Michael folded his hands in his lap and began to pray.

****

Praise we, with the heavenly host,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
thee would we with one accord
praise and magnify, O Lord.

"You ready for this, Danny boy?" Karrin Murphy asked.

Daniel rolled his eyes at the nickname, but replied in a serious tone of voice, "Ready when you are, Sarge."

"This is just too weird..." Karrin muttered, "Storming the White House."

"Once we get rid of the vampires, we'll build a new one," Daniel suggested cheerfully. "With all of us together, we can do anything."

"All right then," Karrin retorted with a grin, "get ready to win!"

The two Knights of the Cross charged across the White House lawn as twin explosions on either side of the building -- courtesy of the Wardens -- rocked the earth. Swarms of Renfields, freed from the control that kept them docile, poured out of the building. Screaming their defiance, the resistance fighters met them head on.