Elyssia opened her eyes to a dark room. She could feel silken sheets against her skin, sweat sticking them to her naked, toned body. She couldn't make out the face of her partner for that night and his name eluded her though she made no effort to try and remember. The previous night's events were pretty much a blur and highly similar to the last several days except with different guys each time. It didn't seem important to her really; who she had gotten into bed with, only that somehow the emptiness within her might be filled, even if only temporary. She used them as much as they used her, so at least it was a two-way thing.
But the gaping space in her soul where her twin had once occupied couldn't be restored at all by any physical means such as this. Each of the Ravenors had their own ways of getting over problems they'd encountered in their lives. Alaric had found ways to drown his sorrows and past horrors with alcohol. Valius let his pent-up feelings through destructive means, destroying everything within reach until he'd calmed down. Elyssia, much to her twin's disapproval, overcame her troubles through physical and sexual gratification. It had always worked…up until this time.
Lying in the bed, she still only felt the pain and loss, just as raw as when she had first the news of Alaric and Valius' passing. Her partner shifted but remained asleep, worn out from the night's events. Silently, she slipped out of bed and started pulling on her clothes. She felt unclean, shameful at her attempts to try and overcome her grief but maybe if she kept at it…eventually the pain would fade. Without a sound, Elyssia closed the bedroom door behind her and left. Time to return home again…
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She decided to walk, rather than apparate. It took her an hour in the cool chill of the early morning to reach home, the familiar sight of the Ravenor estate looming into view, the powerbase of the Ravenor clan, now two fewer. It was built several generations back by the some of the male Ravenors as a home, a few defences short of a fortress. It had belonged to her and Valius' father until a few years back when he had been killed in action while on a mission with the Aurors during the Dark Lord's time. Such was the fate of all the males of the Ravenor bloodline… To live as an Auror and die in battle… She had just never imagined the same would hold true for Alaric and Valius.
Elyssia walked up the drive, a wide walkway through the front lawn, movements slow and measured. It took all her willpower to return here, this home where Alaric and Valius had lived, where they'd grown up and trained and ate and slept. It was where the weight of responsibility lay, on her as the oldest child now, meant to be looking after Regina and Sasha, Alexius and Briareos. They were her charges now and she feared failure, to fail them now that the job was passed to her by Valius.
Her twin had been so strong, a warrior without peer. Elyssia possessed equal strength in magic and her body was trained as Valius' had been. But she lacked his will, his enduring spirit that allowed him to surpass her in all things while he had been alive. The things he had gone through to protect the family and the wizarding world would have broken her. Elyssia Ravenor now had to step into a role she'd wished she never would have to, both due to the weight of it and the only reason that it would have fallen to her.
At last, she reached the front door and entered, closing it behind her quietly. It had been like this for the past several days, her returning secretly in the mornings like a small school kid out after her curfew. She sighed and slowly made her way into the living room, maybe to crash on the sofa. It was dim but as she entered, there was a click as the lights came on. She started and looked around. Already seated there were her little sister, Regina, and Sasha, Alaric's little sister. Neither looked little now, both now young women. They both rose to their feet as Elyssia turned to face them.
Sasha stepped closer to her, eyes tired but now narrowed in distaste. "So where have you been, Elyssia? Out again all night?"
"Yes… Not that it's any of your business." She didn't want to talk about this. Elyssia made for the doorway.
Before she had taken a step, a hand rested on her hand and spun her around. She was face to face with Sasha. The younger Ravenor was furious. "Don't give me that shit, Elyssia! It's our business when you're meant to be looking after us and you're not even here! We could be killed, killed like Valius and Alaric and you wouldn't know. You wouldn't fucking know."
"Sasha, I…"
"Save it, Elyssia! I don't want to hear any of your excuses. You think you're the only one hurting but we all are. We need you here. Valius wanted you to take over for him if anything happened to both him and Alaric but now I don't see why. I thought you used to care about us but where are you when we need you? Out. Away getting fucked by some stranger, no doubt."
There were tears in Sasha's eyes. She hated herself for speaking these words but they were what she felt in her heart, a rage to lash out with to wash away the grief. Regina felt the same but Sasha voiced the words her cousin wanted to keep to herself. "You know… Even Kara Ous's been around. She stopped by to see how we were doing, to see how you were doing. But you weren't here and she stayed, to look after us until the morning to make sure we were safe. Damn it, Elyssia. She's not even family but she cared more than you."
"I can't handle this now. We lost Val and Alaric. Now it's like we've already lost you too. Can't you see that? I can't take it anymore, Elyssia. If you leave us again like that, just don't come back. Please, just don't."
There was nothing Elyssia could say. She was stunned as the full force of Sasha's words hit home, the tirade replaying in her mind, word by burning word. She barely noticed as the younger girl hurried from the room, holding back her redoubling tears. Regina regarded her older sister with sad eyes before following Sasha without speaking a word. Shaking, Elyssia sank to her knees slowly, head in her hands. She couldn't deny anything she had said despite her efforts to.
She'd been running, running from accepting the loss, from the responsibilities placed on her. It was time to stop running. It was time to do her duty and honour the memory of her brother by fulfilling his final request.
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Two months had passed. Elyssia had stayed at the Ravenor estate, training. Her body was drenched with sweat as she moved back and forth, hands moving between guarding and striking. She wore black camo pants, the standard-issue Auror type that had been introduced under Alaric's command, and a dark t-shirt that clung to her body as she repeated the motions again and again. She'd woken at six in the morning and been training until now, pausing only to take in water.
That's how it had been since her…talk with Sasha. Since then, she'd been training for combat, to take over the role left to her by Valius. Her past flippant lifestyle had been pushed aside as she took up her new duties. She knew the training drills, she had complete command of all the magic Valius had known. It was only the drive to actually put in the effort that had held her back. And now she had it.
She finished her next hour and stopped. Her muscles were barely fatigued and her breath was light and steady. Pulling a towel hanging from the nearby weapon rack, she wiped her face and then tossed it aside, walking for the stairs so she could lie down or something on her break. She walked upstairs and stopped by the kitchen. Sasha was sitting there, eating lunch with Alexius and Briareos.
The two males, now both grown men, were talking quietly to one another and greeted Elyssia as she entered. Sasha looked over but when she met her gaze, she looked away, eyes down at her food. Elyssia sighed but left her younger cousin to her evasion. Regina had later told her that Sasha regretted all the things she'd said but couldn't bring herself to apologise. Well, she shouldn't have to. Her words had been a reality check to Elyssia and without it, she'd still be in the same state as before.
The doorbell rang and she to get it, opening the door to find Kara Ous. The younger woman looked better than the last time she had last seen her; more composed, less grief-stricken…and very visibly pregnant. "Oh…" Elyssia's eyes widened in surprise before remembering her manners and welcoming her inside. "Kara… It's good to see you. You…better sit down."
They moved into the living room and she helped Kara sit down. She leaned back into one of the sofas opposite her, hands on her lap. "You look like you've gotten a bit better, Kara. I heard you've been around to check up on the others. Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. I thought you might need some time out anyway. I loved Alaric but I can't even begin to imagine the pain you went through to lose your brother like that."
"Thanks anyway. I mean it." Elyssia had held onto the question for some moments now, wondering whether it was rude or not to ask so plainly but her curiosity got the better of her. "So…your baby…is it…Alaric's?"
"Damn…" That was…something of a surprise. Alaric and Kara had been close but Elyssia had never seen this coming. Alaric usually told her these sorts of things but this seemed to have slipped his mind. So…he was going to have been a father. A few more months… But now… It seemed so unfair. The kid would grow up without his blood father. Sure all the Ravenor children had grown up mostly without parents but they had at least know the warmth of both parents' affections for a short while. "Damn, Kara. I'm sorry… If there's anything I can do to help, you know you can just ask. You're family in all but name, you know. I…"
There was a crash from the hallway outside, followed by a groan that sounded like Briareos. Elyssia was on her feet in a flash, wand in hand. Kara made to rise too but she waved her to stay put. She advanced slowly and was almost at the doorway when a black streak seemed to flash by. It was a person, clad from head to foot in black material, face covered by a balaclava-type mask. "Hey…"
The figure seemed to hesitate, spinning around. There was a wand in their hand. Before they could act, Elyssia raised her own, a bolt of energy smashing into the stranger, causing them to slump by the front door. She approached cautiously, wand aimed at the prone figure. Glancing around the hallway, she saw Briareos, unconscious, lying face down, his wand just out of reach. Just as she was close enough to tap the figure with her foot, she heard Kara shout her name a second before there was the cold chill of metal against her neck.
"Careful now, Elyssia Ravenor. We're not here to fight." A woman spoke, right behind her with a knife at her throat, her voice soft and calm. Slowly, Elyssia raised her hands, wand dropping to the carpeted floor. The woman seemed to relax slightly. She didn't react fast enough as every muscle in Elyssia's body tensed. "Shame… I've been looking for a fight."
Her hands snapped up, seizing the woman's wrist so she couldn't move her knife. An elbow swept back, winding the figure, followed by flipping her over her shoulder and dumping her on the ground. Elyssia thought that should do it but her assailant was not done yet, rolling and coming up. Elyssia aimed a boot for her skull, three powerful kicks that the woman parried with her open hand, stepping in and sweeping her supporting leg beneath her. Elyssia felt herself falling back but went with it, a hand-spring carrying her over and her feet cracking into the woman's jaw as she flipped over, knocked her opponent down.
The woman attempted to rise, knife still clenched in her hand but Elyssia didn't let her. She lashed out with her foot, kicking her arms away, causing her to drop back down, unsupported. Hands working with precise motions, she disarmed her with a flourish, silver blade flashing in the light as it slapped into Elyssia's palm. She drew it back, ready to strike…when something caught her eye.
There was a marking on the blade, a rune almost identical to the ones on the blades up stairs, the combat knives that had belonged to Alaric and Valius. It was the symbol of the Zodiac unit, the special black-ops Auror unit that they had both been a part of before they had died. The thirteen operatives, all the sole survivors of the Accelerated Auror training program, trauma-hardened and supremely skilled warriors had supposedly been dispersed, some having become integrated into the normal Auror hierarchy like Alaric, Valius and Glaedr. The rest had just disappeared, carrying out assassinations and special operations that Alaric needed done without all the red tape.
The woman groaned beneath her and Elyssia eased off her slightly, leaning back so her knee wasn't pinning her by the chest. The other was stirring, unsteadily pulling themselves to their feet. They both sat up and pulled off their masks, their motions remarkably similar. Once the masks came off, the reason was more understandable. They were both identical; sharp features, bright green eyes and deep brown hair falling down to shoulder length now unbound by their masks. They looked no older than Sasha and Regina… Elyssia had seen their files in Valius' room when she was cleaning for her brother; Aurelia and Alexia Kys, designated codename, Gemini.
Sighing, Elyssia pulled the one at her feet upright. Twins…just like her and Valius had been. The two brushed themselves down, composing themselves. By now, Sasha had appeared and was bringing Briareos around, unfazed by the appearance of these two other women in their hallway. "So…what brings you two to our house today, girls."
The one she had taken out second was grumbling to herself as she turned to face Elyssia, looking, not resentful at being defeated, but more sheepish. "Well, I'm Aurelia Kys and this is my sister, Alexia. I thought Sasha would have told you about us already… Anyway, Valius' final orders to our unit was that, if anything should happen to both him and Aly, we should look out for the rest of their family; being you, Sasha, Regina, Alexius and…Briareos." She glanced over at the Auror trainee who was only now recovering from where they had taken him out.
A faint sadness tinged her voice as she continued. There was no blood tie between those of Zodiac unit but they had all fought and near died together for the greater part of 2 years. Though they were supposedly hardened to the touch of death, deep within, even these veteran assassins felt such a great loss. "Since they…died, there've been a constant guard on this place, rotating two of the unit every day to keep an eye on the place and step in if trouble arises. Today is…Amelia and Samuval's turn. They're around here…somewhere."
"Hmm…" Elyssia ushered the two girls inside to the living room and had them sit down next to Kara, who shifted herself to give them room. "Well…if you're not on guard duty, what are you actually doing here then? And dressed like that…?" She raised an eyebrow as she now ran her gaze over their outfits. Both were clad in black body-suits, tight against their athletic forms, weapon harnesses strapped to their bodies, holding their knives, wands and some other hidden equipment. "And also…what happened with Briareos?"
"We didn't choose to wear these…" The girl was defensive, which amused Elyssia to some degree that she could be embarrassed by something like this while would happily stab and gut a dark wizard with her knife in a second. "We're dressed like this because we had to enter the estate unseen so no one would know we were here to deliver a message to you. We came in the back way when we ran into Briareos who thought we were enemies. He had his wand out so we had to subdue him before he could cause any commotion…and then you turned up."
Aurelia reached into one of her side pouches and handed a scroll over to Elyssia. Task done, the twins rose, fully recovered from the injuries they had just taken. "Valius said to give you this if something happened. Anyway…we have to get going now, Elyssia. We're already late and Kesian's going to be pissed. There were more people watching your house than we originally thought so it took longer to get in. But don't worry, we're better at it than they are. If they try anything, we'll kill them."
They were being watched…? Elyssia felt a chill at those words, suddenly grateful that there were, in turn, watchers of their own looking out for them in secret. So there was this Amelia and Samuval looking out for them today and the Kys twins would pop up from time to time. And then there was… "Wait, you two…who's Kesian?"
Aurelia was already gone but Alexia looked back, hand on the door. "Kesian Danaan, Zodiac Twelve. He's our acting commander in Valius and Aly's…absence. We'll see you soon, Elyssia. It's been nice to meet you." Then she was gone and Elyssia was left with Kara…and the scroll in her hand.
"What's it say…?" Kara voiced the thoughts in Elyssia's mind but it took some effort to do. This was a message to her, penned by Valius in the event that he died. Some of his last remaining thoughts and words, directed at his twin sister, now resting in her hands. It was another tie that hadn't yet been severed between them.
With some effort, she broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. There it was… His words in his bold script. Her eyes scanned the letter once, twice and then she rolled it back up again, placing it on the side table carefully. A will… He'd left her all his possessions and the job of training the others of the family…for war. More war, more battles… Elyssia looked over at Kara and sighed. Was this the kind of world Alaric's son was to be born in to…? And people thought the trouble ended with the end of the Dark Lord… How wrong they were…
