Prologue:
Without Warning or Reason… Treason:
"Mmmmm," Daniel hummed as he leaned over the back of the couch, kissing his wife's feathery fine cheek and lightly nibbling on her earlobe before pulling away.
Simonetta smiled and blushed at the intimate contact her husband had initiated. Even here, in the worst of times he could still be the man she had fallen in love with… and not be frightened into submission.
"Is he asleep?" he questioned with a husky tone into his wife's ear.
"Has been for some time," Simonetta answered, looking at the beautiful baby boy asleep in her arms.
"Let's put him in his crib and then go make sure he has a brother to play with," Daniel whispered, wrapping his arms around his wife in both a protecting and loving embrace.
"Naughty!" Simonetta quietly exclaimed, but blushing happily nonetheless.
"Come on, it's late anyway, he should be in bed," Daniel said, not letting go of Simonetta.
Simonetta proudly smiled at their son, "Let's go, time to put you to bed young man."
The baby in her arms didn't stir or make the slightest sound as he was carried carefully up the stairs flanked by the two people in the world who loved him more than anything else. Already appearing to be a replica of his father, William Daniel Penn had the trademark Penn man hair that refused to be tamed and that cheeky grin that made those around him worry that he was plotting something- his father could not have been more proud of his son, and his mother was only too happy to have a family of her own.
Daniel and Simonetta stood before William's crib and held each other while they watched him sleep, each thinking that the worst would not happen, that they would make sure the worst did not happen.
Simonetta leaned back into her husband, and Daniel responded by embracing his wife from behind, wrapping his arms lovingly around her waist. Daniel placed his head in the crook of her neck just to be cheek to cheek with the woman he loved.
"C'mon love, let's go back down by the fire," Simonetta whispered.
Daniel allowed Simonetta to extricate herself from his arms, but she took his hand and led him back to the living room where they sat on fur rug in front of the fire. He found himself smiling while he questioned on the way down the stairs how Simonetta could constantly disappoint him in jest only to make his spirit soar the very next moment; just trying to figure her out completely was going to make an excellent adventure for him to put in his personal copy of 'Getting Away… the Marauder's Guide to Life'.
Daniel was brought out of his happy musings by the one look he had hated since he had first seen it dawn on Simonetta's face, the look in Simonetta's eyes that he could see now. She was worried, scared, and she was not the only one… and yet there was nothing that he could do but to offer soothing words and a pair of arms to wrap around her. His personal fear for the entirety of the situation he and Simonetta found themselves in, well, he would swallow it down with the very same pride he had had to let go when the decision was made to go into hiding.
"Nothing is going to happen," Daniel soothed, taking Simonetta's hand in his own and pulling her closer to him.
"I hope you're right," was all that she said in reply, focusing on the fire rather than him.
"I know I'm right," Daniel quickly countered and he could feel Simonetta relax against him and her body shifting to face him.
"I love you," she whispered, biting her bottom lip and driving him insane with the tenderness she expressed.
Daniel hands came up to cup his wife's face between them, and the feel of her gently flesh against his calloused palms was enough of a sensation to send a welcome shudder throughout his being.
"More than anything else in this world, Simonetta Penn… I love you," Daniel softly declared and claimed Simonetta's lips with his own.
Simonetta pulled away, giving him an elvish glance, "How can you say you love me more than your son?"
Daniel grinned, making Simonetta's mien turn to one of confusion, "You have certain assets which William does not possess."
Daniel head cocked to the side and he appeared to be appraising his wife's feminine attributes, smiling devilishly the entire time his eyes traced her body.
Simonetta gave Daniel a feral smile, "You are randy this evening."
"Too bad you married me, and now you're stuck with me for eternity!" Daniel exclaimed, as if he had just declared victory.
"Uh-huh," Simonetta replied scooting a few paces away from him.
Daniel instantly looked defeated and cowed by her distance. "Okay, so you're in charge."
Simonetta grinned her victory instead of stating it aloud; it was better that way, and Daniel's mocking scowl only made it all the sweeter a victory.
"Oh, no, you don't win that easily, Mrs. Penn," Daniel stated and lunged at his wife. His fingers instantly went for her sides and ribs, which he knew to be incredibly ticklish.
"NO! STOP!" Simonetta screamed in delight as Daniel ferociously and relentlessly tickled her into submission. "YOU'LL WAKE WILLIAM!"
Daniel continued despite what she had said, "Not bloody likely. I put a silencing charm on his door, and if anyone wakes William," Daniel stopped for a second to look at his wife pinned beneath him, with her flaming red hair tossed all over the floor and smiling up at him, "it will be you!"
Simonetta began laughing again and tried to push Daniel off as he launched into another raid of tickling her and moved his way down her legs intent on getting to the most ticklish part of her body… her feet. There was only one thing she knew that would stop him, so she decided to win this game as well, "Daniel."
Daniel stopped with her sock in-between his teeth while he held her legs from kicking him with both arms wrapped around them, "Mmm?"
"Well, I was going to ask you to kiss me, but that's just disgusting," Simonetta giggled.
Daniel spit-out the sock and reversed direction until he was lying next to his wife and kissing her like the life of the world depended on their passion.
Daniel broke away to take a breath and stared lovingly at his wife, and he swore that his heart was swelling double its size when he saw that very look reciprocated. One of his hands reached up to her face brushing away strands of wayward hair.
"I really love you, you know?" Daniel declared and asked in a quiet confident manner.
Simonetta smiled with victory, again. "I know."
Simonetta threw her arms around Daniel and rolled on top of him, initiating things this time. When she started kissing his neck and eliciting groans from him he asked throatily, "How is it that you always win?"
Simonetta backed away from his neck, proud that there was a love bite forming there already, one she knew he would display proudly to Sirius. Another sign that marriage was not some horrible punishment and that he should marry Allison already and get it over with. "What? You mean the great and savvy Daniel Penn hasn't figured it out yet?"
Daniel hooked his right leg behind Simonetta's and rolled them over until he was on top this time, surprising her, "Pray tell, good woman."
Simonetta snorted at his words, "Honestly! You're my husband, and as the wife my duty and privilege is to win everything."
Daniel was scandalized, "Everything?"
Simonetta almost flat out lost it laughing when he gulped as he anticipated her answer, "Everything."
Then she did burst out laughing while Daniel remained atop her, and she held him in place with her legs.
"Oooooh, you!" Daniel roared playfully, knowing that he was being had.
"You know you love being teased," Simonetta pointed out and bit her lip again.
"Sometimes I think that you're going to kill me with that smile," Daniel warned before dipping his head to kiss her.
"Is it possible to kill someone with love?" Simonetta asked with her eyes closed in enjoyment at feeling the love radiating off of her husband.
Daniel smiled charmingly, "Expect to be destroyed."
"Oh, Mr. Penn!" Simonetta retorted. "Were you serious about having another child?"
Daniel looked into Simonetta's eyes for a second before answering, "Yes."
"Boy or girl?" Simonetta asked.
"Simonetta?" Daniel inquired, ceasing his pursuit of his wife's right ear.
"Yes?" Simonetta asked, wondering why on Earth he had stopped.
"Shut-up, will you?" Daniel smirked, earning a swat on the chest that became a grip by the robe collar pulling him down to her.
Daniel had finally managed to get Simonetta's sweater off, but the buttoned up shirt she wore beneath was giving him some difficulty- he had never had any luck with buttons. Simonetta was quite enjoying watching him struggle with the buttons and was only waiting a few minutes longer for him to surrender and ask for 'assistance'.
Out of nowhere there was a loud and rushed knocking at the front door and Daniel inwardly groaned, forgetting why they were at the safe house for a moment. Then, just as soon his right mind returned to him in seconds he was off of Simonetta with his side-arm at the ready. Simonetta had rolled to the left and up onto her knees and then feet, pulling her own weapon out of the waistband of her tights in the process of getting to her feet and aiming it directly at the door.
Daniel stood before the door and quietly called for the person to make their identity known.
The door to safe house muffled the answer but the answer was clear enough for them to hear the voice of their friend, Pietr.
Daniel rushed to the door yanked it open and pulled Pietr in. He closed and sealed the door almost before Pietr was completely inside.
"Pietr, what's wrong, what are you doing here?" Daniel hurriedly asked, glad to have received a friend rather than foe.
Simonetta visibly relaxed and Daniel threw an arm around his friend, "You couldn't have come at worse time mate."
Pietr started to cry, "Daniel… I… I'm so..."
Daniel didn't allow him the time to finish, "Simonetta, will you make sure William's alright."
Simonetta had already given in to her maternal instincts and left before having been asked.
"Pietr, what did you do!?" Daniel demanded thrusting the smaller man against nearest wall. "Tell me!"
"I was just supposed to… but he… and, oh Daniel, I'm so sorry…" Pietr sniffed.
"Pietr?" Daniel asked, gripping Pietr by his lapels and pinning him deeper into the wall, while turning deathly pale at the same time with the implications of what Pietr had the power to do running through his mind.
"He's on his way, Daniel," Pietr started and Daniel let him go to fall to his knees.
Daniel kicked Pietr across the face with the toe of his boot, knocking the man out and sending several of his teeth skittering across the shining hard wood floor of the cottage. Simonetta came down the stairs holding a calm William in her arm just as Daniel turned to look away from Pietr and at her and his child.
"Simonetta, it's him, take William and go… I'll hold him off!" Daniel ordered, thinking there were so many other things he wanted to say before he yelled for her to leave.
"Daniel!" Simonetta screamed when the power to the cottage cut off, and William turned to look at what all the commotion was about.
"I love you," Daniel whispered and turned his back on his wife in order to face what he knew to be certain death. The door was casually opened with no power available to supply the powerful locking mechanism.
Simonetta didn't say another word and went to the port where she stood inside with William and called out, "Central Station!"
Nothing happened and she looked to Daniel in horror.
"Go! Just run!" Daniel pleaded, hoping she would just make a run for it until she was past the property boundaries and risk waving down a random motorist.
Simonetta ran from the port and disappeared upstairs with William in her arms despite Daniel's pleas. There would be no possible avenue of escape by foot if Rieghard was already within the boundaries with his many followers, and he was after William only... he would ignore Daniel altogether to get to her child. No, there was only one way to insure that her baby survived this night.
Simonetta hastily wrote out a message and sent it away on her portable thankful that the device still had a signal. She sat William in his crib and began her manipulations on this rooms independent security system.
Downstairs, Daniel stood before the largest menace to his world since the last genocidal maniac had been put down by his own grandfather and defiantly faced the monster.
With more courage than he thought he possessed, Daniel raised his wand with an aim directly at Rieghard's heart.
"Good-evening, Daniel," Rieghard hissed evenly. His eyes never left the foolish man before him yet they surreptitiously swept over the room searching for the boy.
Daniel did not return the greeting and did not move from his position.
"No pleasantries then? No brave remarks that you and your accomplice are so fond of?" Rieghard subtly inquired successfully reading his opponents mind.
"I wouldn't want to be predictable," Daniel replied, surprised that his voice did not quaver.
"DIE!" Daniel bellowed, hoping to catch Rieghard off guard as he fired where the demon was standing, only to have it miss completely and Rieghard standing inches away from where the bullets passed him by.
Rieghard raised his finger and shook it back and forth mockingly, "Tsk tsk, I was expecting so much better."
Daniel barely saw the movement of Rieghard's hands before he dove over the back of the couch and out of the way of the blade leveled against him. He was got up quickly and balanced himself on the balls of his feet trying to give his wife and son enough time to escape.
"Very nimble," Rieghard appraised and brought his long with hands together and clapped.
Daniel watched Rieghard tighten his grasp on the rappier to train it on his chest once more. He knew he could not keep dodging, but he was never going to surrender to whatever this thing was that stood before him.
"What did you do to Pietr?" Daniel asked, circling to keep Rieghard away from the stairs and stalling for time.
Rieghard laughed as well as he could for all the changes he had made to his human physiology, "I am curious myself to ask you that very same question… he was the one who came to me."
The color that had returned to Daniel face when he started to duel drained once more from his face. How had Pietr felt betrayed by him? What happened between Pietr, Samuel, Ryan and himself to drive him to this? This had to be another of Rieghard's tricks, another ploy to turn them against each other.
Daniel tried to circle about to the stairs but found his opponent very aware of his plan and Rieghard patiently standing before him.
"Liar," Daniel seethed, the thought of any of his friends turning against another made him sick to his stomach. He knew there had been a traitor within the Order, but his friends would never do that to each other, they were not traitors.
Rieghard grew tired of this game and sneered, "Believe what you will, now stand aside. I have a prophecy to see to."
His blade moved faster than Daniel had time to react for and the killing blow ran him through.
Daniel Penn fell to the ground with the sword of Rieghard impaled through his heart.
Simonetta heard the muttered conversation from upstairs, and prayed to the gods that Daniel had somehow defied the fates and done what was said only their son could do. She knew there would be no escape for her either should Daniel not be able to defy Rieghard. Her reanimation of the nursery's defense system had effectively sealed her and her baby in the room. Simonetta wondered how quickly Rieghard would be repelled once she was gone.
She stood at the door to William's nursery, prepared for what was going to happen. There was one thing that was certain in her mind, that monster would... not... take... her child.
The door to William's nursery was reduced to smoldering ashes at the feet of Simonetta Penn without even the slightest word having been spoken. There had been rumors as to the achievements of Rieghard but this defied explanation.
The snake-like visage of Thomas Rieghard smirking made Simonetta sick to her stomach, and yet she stood prepared to fight the thing she knew just killed her husband. She didn't dare look away in disgust as she had the last time she had faced him.
"Stand aside you silly girl!" Rieghard commanded when he saw the woman standing between him and the last obstacle keeping him from immortality.
"Take me instead," Simonetta offered, thinking quickly to ensure she was dispatched before he laid a hand on William.
"Move," Rieghard demanded with a hiss and stepped forward into the nursery. Simonetta backed up, keeping herself between William and Rieghard.
"Please," she pleaded, feigning desperation to buy his attention. "Not William, take me... take me instead… KILL ME!"
Rieghard backhanded Simonetta Penn across the face and sent her crumpling to the floor as if she was nothing. He looked down upon her form, taking in her broken nose and blood trickling from the corner of her bruised mouth.
"Will…William," Simonetta sputtered and pulled herself up off the floor to stand between the monster and her son for the last time.
Rieghard locked eyes with the annoying woman and only then did she fall dead at his feet.
Simonetta Penn died silently screaming her son's name with her crumpled form landing at the base of her baby's crib.
Rieghard towered over the crib in which the child of Daniel and Simonetta Penn stared wide-eyed up at the epitome of evil. William had yet to make a sound, and the fact that he had no comprehension of what was happening around him only increased the pleasure Rieghard was feeling at this moment.
Glowering at the child he pulled a ceremonial blade from his waist.
When the room recognized the presence of substantial threat to the target it was designed to protect, and the absence of its programmer, the defenses made available for such a scenario activated.