Lying on the bed Benedict looked at the ceiling of the bed, the dark green curtains folding neatly around the mahogany frame. She felt paralysed, her arms wouldn't move and breathing was a struggle. Eyes fixed on a small fold of fabric she ignored the stinging feeling as her eyes dried from being open too long. Who cared anywho?
She had noticed food had appeared by her side several times now but she just didn't bother eating, her stomach was hurting and so was her head but there were other things more important. She just couldn't get her head around the things that Lucius Malfoy had said. Could it really be true? And then what had happened to Marcus, if that was her causing that, if she had that kind of powers she wasn't sure she even wanted to…
Marcus was leaning over the desk in the office, both hands on the dark wood as he almost yelled at the wizard in front of him.
"I refuse… in case you didn't see what she did to me but she nearly KILLED ME!"
Lucius glared at him coldly
"Your own fault boy, I told you not to interfere!"
"But you…"
Marcus' voice trailed off as he raised himself up right, clenching his fists.
"She's not eating and if she gives up on life there's little we can do to save her, not to say nothing!"
Getting up Lucius walked around the desk
"You knew this would be a problematic stage, we knew the risk when taking this assignment!"
"But… being killed off by a little girl? She's dangerous!"
Lucius smirked
"She's a young woman and from what Ninsy told me happened in the Entrance Hall that evening, she didn't use any curse when kicking you in the head!"
Marcus looked at him, dumbstruck.
"You know about..."
"Yes I know about that – I know anything that goes on in this house. Now forget your pride and go talk to her, it's important for her to see that you're ok!"
"OK?! I felt … like a hand, reaching into my chest, trying to squish my heart!"
Lucius nodded.
"I know…. How do you think her father died?"
As the door opened Benedict wanted to see who it was but her body refused her command to sit up so she stayed still. Hearing the gentle pads of feet walking across the room before he came into view, standing by the side of her bed and looking both uncomfortable and nervous. Marcus cleared his throat lightly, though she made no effort to look at him. Sitting down on the edge of the bed he just looked at her for the longest time.
"So I guess this is all a bit much to take in"
She didn't respond
"You have to understand that we are not doing this to be mean, take your life away or in other ways … well, I don't know how to say it"
Hearing her sigh he gently took her hand, his eyes fastening on the thin gold band she was wearing, it looked like a wedding ring.
"We are going to help you, help you control the curse and learn to live with it.
Marcus knew these were lies but he figured that it was what she needed to hear at present time.
"Who knows, maybe when we've solved this you can return to your world, make a new life, maybe a happier one?"
Another lie
"Or you can stay in this one if you like it here, not everyone that lives in our society are magical as in witched and wizards, there are other creatures as well, none-magical but still powerful."
"I don't want to be powerful"
Her voice was raspy so reaching for a glass of water on the bedside table Marcus helped her to sit, propping some pillows behind her back and helping her shaking hands to hold onto the glass. As she slid back into the pillows and looked at him he sighed
"We don't always get to choose who and what we want to be"
Closing her eyes she breathed deeply
"But you just have to make the best of it"
Giving him a glare her lip curled in a sneer.
"Make the best of being an unstable freak, one that kills or injures people for the littlest things?"
Marcus shrugged
"It could be worse…"
Giving him a doubting look she scoffed
"Please enlighten me!"
As his lip turned into a smirk she narrowed her eyes
"You could be dangerous AND ugly…"
Giving a sarcastic laugh she rolled her eyes at him, something that just increased her headache
"Such a charmer…"
Marcus mockingly looked at his nails before buffing them on the chest of his robe
"I know!"
Breathing deeply she reached for the glass again but Marcus was faster and handed it to her, giving him a thankful look she slowly emptied the glass. Watching her he cracked his neck, something that made her cringe and it earned him another glare.
"Don't!"
Marcus held up his hands in an apologetic manner before the gold band caught his eye again.
"Why the ring?"
Handing him the glass she stopped and turned her hand slightly, looking at the back of it and the small metal ring around her ringfinger.
"It was my grandmother's … and since, well… I have little family so I tend to …"
She cleared her throat, not wanting to share anything personal with him, though something told her that he already knew as much about her as was possibly, meaning, for someone who wasn't her. Marcus could tell she felt she had been oversharing, it seemed written on her face but to be honest, the few words she had said led him to the answer. She clinged to the things that reminded her of better times and of loved ones, the people who had truly loved her and had been able and capable of showing it so deciding to spare her a bit of hurt, he changed the subject
"Hungry?"
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow but she shook her head, something Marcus chose to ignore, she hadn't eaten for days now, he had to get something into her. Calling Ninsy for a plate of mixed bites it appeared in front of them in seconds and offering it to Benedict he saw her turn a nasty shade of green before she leaned over the side of the bed, again spilling her stomach content. Cleaning it up with a wave of his hand he sighed before offering her some more water.
"Want to get some fresh air?"
Nodding he helped her out of the bed, finding her a cardigan he helped her putting it on before guiding her towards the hallway and from there to the door leading to the garden. The fresh air was like balsam to her soul, much needed and reviving. Marcus watched her walk a bit ahead along some of the winding paths, her feet making soft crunching noises on the white marble gravel. Reaching a fountain she sat down on the edge of it, dipping the tips of her fingers into the cool water.
"What are you doing?!"
Marcus spun around and Benedict jumped to her feet, something she soon enough regretted as her eyes blackened and she passed out, collapsing onto the ground. Lucius groaned and waved his hand at Marcus who hurried over and kneeled by her, watching her come to. Gently sitting her up he looked over at Lucius who was wearing a sneer for good measures.
"No trips to my private garden, I do not want the smell of Muggle lingering"
Through her haze Benedict knew that was an insult, a word she needed Marcus to explain to her but right now she didn't care. Struggling to get to her feet, though helped by Marcus, she got up, her vision slowly returning. The young man helped her to get back inside and down in the kitchen where he ordered some food made for her, Benedict remembered her Sensei's word: "Food is the building stone of a strong body" and after what she had learned the last 48 hours she knew she needed her strength, all of it. Eating as much as she could physically do without the risk of spillage she returned to her bedroom after wishing Marcus a good night. She needed to think.
"My Lord!"
The white haired wizard kneeled, bowing his head and kissing the ring on the pale hand in front of him.
"I take it your plan had been set into work?"
"Yes Milord!"
"Excellent!"
The pale faced man returned to the throne in the middle of the room, running his black and red eyes over the hooded figures surrounding him before fastening them on Lucius' face.
"Bring her to me when she's ready!"
Lucius bowed deeply
"Yes Master!"
Reappearing in the study Lucius almost kneeled over as Marcus helped him off his robe. Clutching a hand to his side he dropped the broken pieces of what used to be his mask.
Placing a shaking hand on the mantelpiece he coughed, the taste of blood flavouring his mouth.
Conjuring a chair for the older wizard Marcus helped him to sit down, placing a goblet of healing potion in the hand free, the other one still clutching the side.
"Why?"
Lucius gave a sarcastic laugh
"When has He ever needed a reason?"
Marcus sighed
"I just thought-"
"Apparently not hard enough!"
He drank the goblet empty before leaning back into the chair with closed eyes.
"He wants the girl when she's ready!"
Marcus hesitated but spoke anyway
"So the plan still sticks?"
Lucius opened his cold grey eyes, fastening them on the young man in front of him.
"Of course or she wouldn't be alive!"
Clenching his jaws he merely nodded
"So is she eating again?"
Marcus nodded again, still staying quiet.
"Good, the party is on Saturday, make sure she's ready for that!"
Sending him an angry glare he continued.
"You know of what I'm referring to!"
He nodded again with a:
"Yes Sir!"
Turning he left the room, not looking back a single time as Lucius waved his wand lazily and the mask flew into his hand, whole again.
