Chapter 2 : First Engagement: Sync Run
A/N : I made a few deliberate Shoutouts in the previous chapter .
The great door instantly disintegrated into a cloud of dust and splinters as a massive Reducto blew it open. But Cecelia was not through yet. Even before the dust had cleared , the twelve largest splinters were levitated up in the air with a silent Wingardium Leviosa, at the precise moment each splinter was 90 degrees parallel to the floor. Simultaneously, a modified Homenum Revelio located the precise co-ordinates of each person in the room , and "tagged" them. And then , almost by instinct , she fired not one , but twelve Knockback Jinx (almost instantaneously turning from blue to purple) at the hovering splinters at angles that would sent them flying at the speed of nearly 1600 kilometers per hour towards targets behind the door. By the time the dust settled , she saw 18 bodies torn in midsection , with the remnants of the splinters impaling the other ends of the hall.
The remaining guests stared , in stunned horror, including the one at the head of the table . He was deliberately spared from the initial salvo.
She casually strolled through the settling dustcloud, taking in the disbelieving looks of some around the table , and the utter bewilderment of those who did not recognized her . No major Inner-circle death-eaters were present – her jailors had mostly consisted of various newly elevated Death-Eaters or Snatchers . A shame . It would have expedited this affair faster.
Eliasson at the head of the table , Stanely , the German mercenary Kunze , Danielson furthest from the front. The memories of her host squirmed quietly at these names with faint rememberance , and seethed with the anger of surpressed grudges. A shame that the fifth person involved in her imprisonment , Patel , was not present at this feast . A quick, silent probe into the memories of the guests revealed that he was away on another mission for the Snatchers . No matter , he would eventually turn up on the dragnets she would soon cast. Then , there were a few others involved in her capture . Every single person she was in the hands off within past few months would eventually die in one manner or another. It was agreed , and a virtual certainty (perfect certainty was never guranteed). And of course , there was Eliassons patron , Dolohov to consider . In other possibilities ( and indeed , it was a very real possibility) , this body might have been given over to Dolohov's definition of fun . Needless to say , she would be in a different host body then .
Eliasson – newly raised as a Death Eater , one of scores marked soon after Voldermort's victory at the Battle of Hogwarts. Stanely too was given the mark , Kunze was an unmarked contract hit-wizard , and Danielson was still a Snatcher. So much for his false boast of being marked .
Eliasson was a pure-blood , one of the numerous more improvished lineages . Something quite common in Wizarding Britain of this era – to the point of cliche . And a classical believer in the strictures of blood-purity , as was common to someone of his socio-economic strata. Incidentally , the former owner was an aging, widowed , childless blood-traitor , who had been executed the previous year, in the proscriptions launched against blood-traitors.
The room was beginning to recover from the shock , and the guests drew their wands , one by one . Five Wands . Ten wands . Fifteen Wands . Twenty Five Wands. Twenty Five Wizards in all. Nineteen Wizards laid dead . One wizard , had already left the premises.
Spatial Seal . She quietly whispered under her breath. Of course , that was how she mentally perceived it – an outsider would be likely unable to translate what she had just said. She could feel her magic being subtly channeled , controlled from some source , some place in her soul , but outside her mind. Another mind , an A.I was sealing this place in a bubble , a pocket dimension impregnable to the magics of today, by manipulating the wards of the manor.
Shoulders in a relax position , she wandlessly spun the wand above her hand , assuming a rather bored expression.
" Well , good evening , Master Eliasson . It's been two days since I last saw you . " It had been indeed – and one of the freshest in a series of painful , repressed memories. " I once plead , and you taunted me . What could I do to you ? A mere , subhuman , on par with the least house-elf , the lowest magical creature , one whose mere existence is an abomination, the dirtiest blood. Now -"
Eliasson collected himself , and forced a thin smile on his face, interrupting her" This might be an impressive piece of spellwork here , but clearly , you are outnumbered here . You will not leave this room alive." His face took the same twisted grin that her host vividly remembered , and associated with agony. It was all a front of course. There was shock still reverberating through his mind , and fear heavily suppressed.
" Attack . Make her beg , scream , drown in her tears. Make her pay for disrupting this gathering ." Empty bravado , as he would soon learn .
Waves of Crucio , Bone Breakers , Flesh Searing spells , various minor uncomfortable hexes , and even a Levi Corupus converged on her .
Her bored face immediately when on the alert , and a smile appeared on her lips . The wands of those she had killed in her first assualt were instantly summoned around her , at various distances away , like planets orbiting the Sun of Magic that was her . The next instance , 19 shields of various types were layered around her , each emitting from one of the wands
It was the Crucio that was the most dangerous of all , of course . Most of the others could be easily dealt with with an efficient Portego , or other conventional Shield Charms known and available to that time
The biggest problem , was the Crucio. Thankfully , there were several counters , though the oldest of which would only be invented around 15 years down this time-line. She decided to test the limits of the synchronization , and went for the most flashiest and complex option available to her mental database . As a precaution , she prepared another counter to the Crucio , a much simpler one . At worst , she could simply momentarily deactivate the mind at the moment of impact.
The spell she was attempting was called Spatial Distortion . This spell was an attempt to replicate the curvature of space-time caused by gravity. However , it could bend the fabric of space-time in a manner not even the most bizarre gravitational fields could manage. It was a spell that did not require so much as power – even this unstreamlined magic core could manage such a spell with no more difficulty than Apparation , or Conjuraton spells . The trick laid in controlling magic. The spell required control way beyond the means of any unaided human. Such a spell was only conceivable once were widespread , and the brainpower available to each soul reached magnitudes comparable to the Horse Power of Sport Cars from this era.
She could sense some kind of union with the presence that hovered at the edge of her consciousness . It was at that point she was fully aware that that presence was not a single entity – it was several . No time to contemplate such a revelation though . Apparent time slowed down in her consciousness , as she saw a few score of spells impact her shimmering but transparent shields.
First came the faster charm and hexes , and then the slower curses . She realized she could see more than the light of the spells. She could see the glow of each spell , the vast array of colors each spell registered on her Spell-Sight . She could see the faint glow of each wizard, and the lines of magic that flowed through them . She could see how raw magic warped around the edge of the wands , as these primitives crudely arranged their spells together in an almost unthinking fashion , in ways they were barely aware of, nor fully comprehended .
Each spell flashed and flared along their trajectory ,their multicolored lights flashing for a moment against each impacted shield. Some penetrated through, the breaches they made in the shields producing bright sparks momentarily , before closing up , only to meet another shield behind it. The magics were converted one by one into gentle mist of harmless , ambient magics, slowly fading away into the higher plane of existence they came from . But out of the mist came several dark jets with tiny speckles of angry orange light sparking through them continuing unbroken from it's wand of origin , coming straight at her . Shield after shield buckled , visibly bending inwards before each Crucio broke through . Five shields left . Three shields . Two.
And then , something extraordinary happened. The moment the second shield was impacted, the spell seemed to bend around , diverting from it's previously straight course . It struck , and kept moving without any loss of speed. But each nanometer meant it moved a degree clockwise. 180 Nanometers into the shield , it was now exactly pointing back at the original caster. At that very point , the shield abruptly disappeared – and the spell was released – straight back at it's original caster.
Then time hurried up again . The five spells sailed straight through towards the Wizards who fired them . She could briefly see a blot of blackish orange suddenly surrounding the victims like some aura , than collapsing straight into their nervous systems . Screams suddenly pierced the air . They always did for some reason . Such was the price of an Unaugmented mind.
" I remembered" She leapt into the air , and swiftly closed the distance between herself and Eliasson. " Not too long ago , you dared me. " Her wands followed her , maintaining the protective barriers , various spells bouncing off her shields or being rendered into nothingness.
She landed right behind him , with a grace , plucked out the replica of the wand her host once wielded , and in a switf motion , held the wand at the neck of her quarry. " You taunted me . What could I do to you , you asked , you dared , you sneered. " She could sense all bravado shattering , a sense of resuming bewilderment that was swiftly overwhelmed bt fear.
" Obviously , it reply was physically impossible . Of course , you would have forgotten such a trivial question . " She sensed that the spell-fire in the room ceased , as her foes hesitated . It was fear that stayed the hands of all . A Snatcher who fired upon a death-eater was a condemned man , and a Death-Eater who spilled the life of one of his fellows needed justification . They were weighing their options , assessing the risks . But within seconds , the firing would resume .
It was enough . She probed the mind of her hostage , easily swept aside it's meager crude defenses . And she could hear his thoughts , previously a gentle murmur of emotions and impressions , now much more vividly felt.
He saw time around him slowing down . The motions of his guests slowing down by a factor of twenty. He could feel the blunt , warm edge of the wand at his neck . Who was this mudblood dying in the basement ? It was not the broken girl at his mercy days earlier , no mere hours ago . This was impossible . It had to be someone , someone from the Inner Circle . Polyjuice potion.
He heard a chuckle . But it did not seem to come from behind him , or in fact , from any direction whatsoever. It came from everywhere , and no where .
" There was a girl who once asked for mercy . She broke down , begged , threatened , as cliche as it sounds . What could you do ? You asked . What could you do against me ? Might makes right. Well , after having days to consider it , I happen now to have an answer." She sounded amused . He had a sinking feeling.
" Those who live by the sword , die by the sword . I shall demonstrate a fitting analogy for your ideology of blood purity. Tell me , do you know the composition of blood? No ? Of course not , Wizards do not undergo a Muggle Education. But blood is made out of blood cells suspended in a liquid called plasma. Now plasma , is an interesting liquid . It's more than nine-tenths water, but with certain impurities. Ironically , the remaining one-tenths are most made out of … substances that share the same... element , as blood. So , what is really Pure-blood literally ? Blood cells suspended in pure water , purge of all impurities. " She gave him a brief moment to consider this , before continuing.
" Now , do you know what happens if your blood is completely... pure? Well , let's just say that it's hard to live when all your cells in your body explode. And your death would be most unpleasant . Nevertheless , you would get the honor of this experience ." He felt a small chill in his neck, like something plunging into him . A wand passed through his skin , right over into a capillary on his neck .
" Purifying your blood is easy . Two spells can combined to achieve such an effect, with a little delicate manipulation of magic . Evanesco , and Aguamenti . And it's done. "
He felt the wand being withdrawned , and then the weight of the edge of the wand being lifted out from his neck . The next instance , time reverted back to normal . And then , he began feeling extreme Nausea , doubling over and making retching sounds as the urge to attempt vomiting became to overwhelming to exist . When that passed , he felt like his tongue grew thick and heavy. And drained and weak and tired. So very exhausted. He toppled over from his bending position , down to the floor . His muscles began to scream , the world began to spin , weird lights formed around his mind , the room began fading , and then his head felt like something was swelling , like a balloon , swelling , swelling , swelling - Pop.
Cecelia watched as the now unconscious body when into severe and violent , almost limb breaking contusions . The remaining targets stood there , wands held at ready . But Paralyzed by a mixture of horror and morbid fascination , as Eliasson experienced the effects of Water Poisoning infront of their eyes . She had to admit though , she lied a little . In that few seconds , she had added in a third spell that amplified seizures . His limbs began jerking , twisting , writhing , his eyes rolling back to the head , bulding , his brains swelling . And then , the walls of the heart disintegrated as pure water caused the rupturing of the heart walls . His heart imploded from within , while his brains rapidly died as cell after cell suffered lysis . Twenty seconds after the show began , Eliasson body finally stilled , as his life ceased to exist. Her souls-sight detected a tiny flash as his soul went beyond.
All wands at ready , she coolly walked over his now motionless corpse.
" Well , would anyone like to volunteer to be next?"
On her face was a terrifying smile .
In the region between the soul and the mind , a conversation begun . The soul's leading and most realized minds began to truly awaken , to reaquire their sentience , thought and personality. Enough that conversations between themselves could begin.
Host mind is beginning to demonstrate psychological instability. Perhaps you should redouble the filters?
She squashed one of her foes with two solid transparent walls of frozen nitrogen . At the very same moment , she set up some of her shields to reflect some of the spell-fire that was resuming. The ricocheting spells turned against their casters . She laughed as the limbs of her foes snapped to Bonebreakers , or their organs burned out , or they collapsed in a pool of rapidly collating blood from a dozen deep wounds. All the while , she began remembering the indignities conducted on her , and basked in the sweet , sweet revenge.
The sync though is performing well , redoubling the filters at this stage poses risk. The body is bending to the will of the soul , rather quickly. We can move on to the next stage. soon
Dodging a hail storm of counter spell-fire , she set the first attacker immediately in front of her on fire , the second besides him internal bleeding on all organs , and the third a massive kinetic curse that sent him flying through the wall . All were done simultaneously . Three spells at once, while she maintained a dozen more shields protecting her from an unrelenting rain of curses.
A little too excessive , won't you think ? You could rein that mind in , but sync would be compromised.
A Snatcher dodged a conjured sword . Then two , four , eight came his way , and the sword he just dodged swung round . There was a twisted delight in her face , as the nine swords surrounded , and impaled the Snatcher from nine different directions.
Dead is dead , irregardless. If sync is compromised , more deaths would occur , in manners just as horrific.
The next victim was knocked back by a hail of Paralysis spells that quickly overwhelmed his own shields , and counter-spells. Then , as the Wizard laid there , frozen on the ground , his wand hovered over him . Then his wand snapped. Into two . Into four . Into eight . Faster and faster were it remnants divided , and within 15 seconds , his wands were reduced to nothing more than thousands of fragments. Fragments that were transfigured into tiny diamond triangular blades before the horrified wide open eyes of the prey. His body was quickly shredded by the rain of these extremely sharp triangles. She felt some dark sense of exultation as that occurred.
Perhaps memory re-adjustment and suppression is needed?
Tears , of both grief and exaltation filled her face as they fell one by one , incapacitated , knocked out , or , for those she judged the least to blame , given the mercy of a quick death.
Another newly promoted death-eater ,slouched against a bloody wall, bearing the wounds of multiple slicing curse desperately attempted to activate his Dark Mark. No signal could penetrate the space she had created . And then , a single slicing curse severed the arm right in the middle of the Dark mark . The molecular arrangements of the nails on the severed appendage turned to diamond. He was sliced open from his front , from his hips upwards , through his abdomen , across his sternum . He drowned in the pool of his blood.
Well , I gave my word. I would let the mind experience the consequences and ramifications of what it's original soul wanted, but we shall see what this mind decides at the end of this.
One of the dying was set stretched spread-eagle upwards ,as bloody runes were crafted across the skin . She was surrounded by the blood and gore of the dead and dying . Bloodstains and spell-damage covered the wall , there a heap of limbless flesh at the end of scorch marks that indicated the last desperate burst of hexes before death came , there charred carbon, men burnt till they vaporized.
Lift the mental barriers . All immediate threats have been neutralized, so it's a good time as any other to resolve the psychological burdens of the newest mind to join our family, and see her decision.
Runes were carved in blood on a dying Snatcher hung spread-eagle , and upside down . Each rune corresponded to a symbol of pain , each rune striking with the force of ten Crucio's at once . The mind of the Snatcher had already shattered , his previous screams reduced to nothing more than empty , hollow moans. And then , Cecelia truly awoke . It was then , as if some kind of fog was lifted , that her mind was truly unbinded , and enabled to appreciate what was going on . Her hand halted , in the middle of inscribing another rune to abuse the nervous system of her dying victim. What was she doing , mutilating , torturing , maiming , breaking the mind of the person infront of her . As much as she thought that these beast deserved to die like the next muggle-born suffering under the persecutions , the sense of horror at what she was doing overwhelmed the dying outrage that drove her to these actions.
She gasp , her eyes wide open , backing away , further away from the suspended body infront of her . Then , her magics let go of the victim , who crashed right headfirst into the floor , the impact breaking his neck and putting him out of his misery.
She remembered now . Every spell , every feeling that coursed through her mind as she wrecked the carnage around her . That unholy sense of glee . Was that her , really ? There was something in her that was extremely disgusted by what she did. She backed away , further and further away .
So , she has made her choice . Good , she is not as obsessed with vengeance , though the mental scars of her slow murder has compromised psychological stability significantly.
And screamed. She surrounded herself in a bubble of air , and then filled the entire room with high concentrations of Carbon Monoxide. Within her bubble of air , the chemical composition remaining constant . She crumpled down into a fetal position .
She could now recall everything , the impact of the succession of memories coming in one on top of another. The mindless glee at which her enemies died . The flood of knowledge , the depth of which was almost too overwhelming to contemplate. The disorientating sensation of the soul being separated from the mind. The feeling of dying slowly in a crumbling , failing body , in almost complete darkness. Then the tortures and indignities inflicted upon her . She remembered the sense of smallness , of nothingness , of worthlessness . She remembered the wounds inflicted on her flesh , the whippings , the carving of runes on her flesh with a glowing hot wand , the starvation , the water torture . Worse was the repeated rapes and penetrations , the utter sense of humiliation. The despair of being captured , the outrage and anger , and desire for justice , no , for vengeance , friends falling , family dying , and before that , like some cruel mockery of what was lost , innocent , naive , memories. It was all too much for her.
Air Restoration Commenced. A barely noticed voice at the back of her mind whispered . The composition of air within the room reverted back to normal , and one of the minds assisting her in her spell-work soon undid the modified descendant of the bubble head charm. The barriers surrounding and isolating the hall were allowed to crumble away. There was no one alive in the room but her . Nothing but scorch marks , blast wounds , pools of blood , shattered wands , and dead fluids. The high powered wards , drained and exhausted , faded completely away. Only mild , less energetic vestigal wards remained , like Muggle Repulsing charms .
But she noticed none of this , The mind did not notice any of this . She did not notice as her magic was quietly , subtly requisitioned by the multiple presence of other "personalities" at the edge of her consciousness . She was outwardly crying , weeping , breaking down as everyone of the scars lodged in her memory came home to roost , all at once . At the same time , the apparated out of the manor , to a nearby moor fifty kilometers away.
She was now in a relatively empty grassland , with woods in the direction where she had came from. There , on the grass , beneath the a dark sky with only the faintest hint of the impeding dawn on the horizon , in a fetal position , oblivious to the world , she wept , as all the emotions that she circumstances or deliberate contrivance had prevented her from expressing came in all at once , overwhelming the whole mind , erasing thought , and replacing it with only emotions .
The tears , after several minutes , finally ceased , as she simply stared out, blankly , exhausted , empty.
Can the dreaming sanctum be made flesh , before we continue? Within the mind , the soul seating at the chair queried. Numbers , data , symbols , results and a stream of consciousness between the minds and the soul all took place within a second , as the answer to the question wa found. The soul had sufficiently synced with the body .
A quiet voice sounded out that reached all the way up to the frozen mind. Sanctuary achievable . Commencing weaving.
In the moor several dozen kilometers from the manor , a small object was willed into be , a sphere momentarily flashed into existence , consuming the host body, and the body simply vanished to an artificial space, anchored to reality by a tiny , microscopic nano-meter size sphere . The first nanomachine conjured permanently into existence ever since the soul entered the time-line. Within was a lucid dream made flesh.
A/N: To be honest , I would be rather critical with the way I handled the breakdown . Somehow , I think there's a lot of improvement , so I'll welcome at criticisms on its' flaw. And yes , I know that I probably need a beta. And yes , this chapter is the reason why this is rated M.
A/N2: Of course , these are not speaking in English. Or at least , not modern English.