"Mom!" Alina cried rushing to the tub,
She reached inside and pulled out her still form. She turned off the faucet and began checking for vital signs, there were none. Alina panicked; what should she do, what if she died?! She began pounding on her mother's chest screaming,
"Breathe!"
She tilted her neck back and blew air into her lungs
"Breathe damn you!"
There was a rush and a clatter, Kelsey was winded leaning against the hall way door frame. Her face was pale and sweat streamed in rivers down her body. She took in the scene and slid to the floor looking as if she would faint.
"Don't, Mommy, please no." Alina whispered looking at her limp body.
"Don't leave me, please!"
She pounded again
"Don't you leave me!" she screamed
"Wake up!" her chest gave a shudder
"Wake up!" she pounded again
"Wake up!"
Her mother's chest rose and she began coughing and sputtering, purging her body of the foreign fluid. Alina quickly turned her on her side and rubbed her back, patting her and whispering reassuring words in her ear. Tears were shamelessly flowing down her face, but all she could think was praise to whatever powers that be, she thanked every god she'd ever heard of.
Alina looked at Kelsey, she was still gasping and perspiring, she looked like a landed fish.
"Hold your head between your legs; I don't want to have to make room for two."
Kelsey silently obeyed and put her pounding head between her shaking knees. Alina wrapped her mother in a nearby robe and cradled her in her arms. She stirred and groggily looked up into her daughters tear filled eyes.
"Ali?"
"Yes Mama, I'm here."
"What…" she looked around her and noticed the full tub, the wet floor, the strange girl hyperventilating in her hallway. She guessed what ever happened had something to do with her. She tried to remember what she was doing. She ate, then slept, ate some more, then she wanted a bath, she got up to the bathroom, turned on the water, stripped down, got in, and….and what? She couldn't think for the life of her what happened after that, next thing she knows her daughter is crying holding her in the floor. It suddenly clicked, she knew what happened. She was so ashamed, embarrassed and proud at the same time.
"You knew something was wrong?" she asked Alina's shaking form.
"I always know,I feel it. I just never said anything."
Her mother nodded, "that's why you've been fussing, you know when I'm going, don't you?"
Alina looked away, not liking her questions any more.
"It's okay baby. I feel it; this is my last day."
"No mom!" Alina shook her head violently, "you're gonna' get better!"
"Shhh, baby, its okay, I'll always be here." She said placing a weak hand on her heart." I want to see myself first."
Alina sniffed, and wiped her face quickly. She picked her mom up and precariously set her on a stool in front of a small vanity. Her mother looked into the glass and felt the last bit of will to live leave her. Her hair was thin and wet, sticking to her pale and gaunt face. Her eyes were encircled by large black bags. They were no longer a cerulean blue, but a dull aqua. They were rimmed red, and her whites looked more yellow than anything. She sighed,
"Look at what I've become."
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Alina said stepping up behind her, she looked over at Kelsey; she was looking a lot better, she motion to Alina to stroke her mother.
"I'm simply ghastly!" her mother said with a small sad smile.
Alina began to stroke her head lovingly, "No you're not."
"Oh yeah, then what am I?"
Alina looked over to Kelsey, she was motioning something to her, it took a minute for her to realize what she meant, she mouthed 'are you sure?' when she nodded, Alina sighed and closed her eyes, stroking her mothers head more tenderly.
"You are the very being of beauty. With fiery crimson curls, they feel like silk. Your skin is fresh and glowing, your eyes were always the brightest and most beautiful anyone has ever seen."
She heard a gasp but kept her eyes closed concentrating. With every word she spoke, her description became true. Her mother's dull hair was full and soft, she could feel the silken tresses under her fingers. When she finally took the courage to open her eyes, she gasped herself, tears slipping again. Her mother was exactly as she remembered her in her health, back when they went to the park, when she was still the beauty from England, as the locals called her. It was as if the clock was rewound and twenty years of pain were taken from her.
"Wow" Kelsey whispered. She remembered her sister telling her about beauty spells for the sick. It takes a full health for them to work, they feed off pride of the user, that's why they were so dangerous, people become addicted and vain. If a person had no pride, like Alina's mother, then it fed off something else, physically. In short, this was a parting gift to her; she would die remembering who she used to be.
"You see mommy?" Alina whispered in her ears, tears falling on her shoulders as her eyes drooped, "you will always be the beauty of England, the beauty I can only aspire to be." Her mother's eyes were nearly closed completely now, she struggled with one last breath as she whispered to Alina,
"I love you."
She slumped in her chair and her head lulled against Alina's shoulder. They stayed there, just being with each other for a long while. Kelsey came up behind her and encircled her waist.
Alina picked up her mother and walked into the hall way. Kelsey followed silently. They walked down to the end of the hall, there seemed to be nothing more than wood paneling, but Alina kicked it, there was a loud crack and the paneling split, she kicked again and the panel as a whole flew off. There was darkness and cold draft. Alina walked forward and started to descend, Kelsey guessed there were stairs. She followed down clinging to the walls. When they reached bottom of the steps she was lost completely. She heard rustling and movement. Then silence.
"Ali?" she asked fearfully
There was a scratch and a small light, a flame moved in the darkness and then titled, then there was more light, and little by little the dark room was illuminated. It was breath taking and so sorrowful. There was a large stone slab on pillars, Alina lay her mother there, it was surrounded by flowers and there were candle stands all around the room, Alina moved from one to another lighting the large white sticks. It was dank and gloomy, but it memorialized her mother with in a morose shroud. Alina stopped her movements and kneeled before the shrine in the center of the room. There was thick fury carpeting, like a sheep skin, she just stayed there, looking at her mother.
"What now?" Kelsey asked softly, not wanting to break the quite of the room
"Now?" Alina sniffed, "She made a will, set her affairs in order, legally and such, my grandpa has it all."
Kelsey nodded, "but what about you?"
"I just… I'm sorry but, could you leave? I kind of want to be alone."
Kelsey nodded and stared in the other direction, she made it half way up the stairs, and she heard the sobs start. She closed her eyes and walked all the way up, she was across the house and at the front door when there was an earth shattering, heart wrenching sound of pure agony. Tears were falling but she didn't notice. She just walked on, walked back to school and sat in the quad. The clouds came and the sun seemed to die. Rain is the tears of angels she thought sadly. She looked at her watch, time stood still for no one, but it sure seemed like it. They weren't even gone an hour. She mustered what strength she could and trudged back to class. Her things were at her seat, and the whole of the room stared at her as she entered.
"Are you alright Ms. Fowler?" Her teacher asked. "You look rather ill."
Kelsey nodded silently and sat in her seat; the teacher stared at her for a moment then shrugged and continued on with the lecture at hand. She closed her eyes and felt tears burn against her lids; she put her head in her arms and silently cried. She had never seen anyone die before. She couldn't even comprehend what Alina was feeling right now. Time went on and she moved mechanically, not answering anyone, not even acknowledging their existence. To her there was nothing, nothing but the look in that woman's eyes, the pain in Alina's voice, and the numbness in her own being. She could only register one thing, she wanted her parents.
Saturday came and went, and slipped into Sunday. Kelsey was limp to the world. Her host family was starting to worry. But they gave her her space, writing it off as a phase, she went through those a lot. The days went by in a messy blur for her. Before she knew it, it was already Thursday. Everyday she went to school but she didn't listen, the counselors had questioned her, but they came up with the same conclusions as her host family. She was amazed, how did no one realize that Alina hadn't been to school in days? Did they not see her empty seat?
Everyday after school, Kelsey ran to her house. And every time Alina had stayed as the last time she saw her. She was looking pale and sickly, never leaving her mothers side, never responding to outside interference. The only sign that she was still alive was her change in position. She had moved from kneeling on the floor to laying, then the last time Kelsey had been there she was curled up to her mothers side like a small child.
She wanted to stay and be with her, but she still had to get home. It was about the time she would normally go to see Alina that her ride paged for her at the front office. She trudged along and met her host sister silently. They walked that way to the car. She got in, put on her seatbelt and put her head against the window.
"Hey, you cool?"
She sat silent.
"Well, you'd better cheer up, we got a surprise for you!" the girls cheeriness irked her. She wanted nothing more than to be left alone with her thoughts; she guessed that's how Alina felt. She decided she wouldn't see her for a few days, see if her position amended. She thought it rather odd to keep her mother's body, and what's more not tell anyone about it. But she had her reasons, Kelsey guessed. She was so immersed in her thoughts she barely even notice that the car had stopped.
She opened the door and walked in the house going straight to her room. She lay on her bed and watched the red digits on her alarm clock slowly change. Somewhere in her starring she fell into a fit full sleep. She woke with a spasm when her host mother shook her hours later.
"Kels baby, are you okay?" she asked concerned.
"Fine, what is it?" she asked groggily.
"Come downstairs!" she said happily.
She drug herself from her bed and followed her mother to the living room. The bright lights were burning her eyes and she couldn't see. It took her a whole minute before she registered what was there. Her mother and father sat there on the couch sipping lemonade. They smiled, but seeing the look of her they immediately frowned. Her mother asked worriedly,
"What's wrong?"
Kelsey's eyes welled up, and so many things wanted to spill from her mouth at once, she rushed over to her mother and fell to the floor. She shied away from her mothers touch and began sobbing at her parents feet,
"What is it baby??!" her father asked
"When we were at aunt lily's house, and her broom went missing, it was because I told Jake to take it, so he could take me flying, we didn't mean to crash!"
They looked at her confused; she only took gasping breaths and continued on.
" mom when you kicked dad out of the house for a week," she choked on her words, saliva and snot free falling, her being unable to wipe them away fast enough," Daddy didn't loose your wedding ring, I did!" she cried out wiping at her eyes fiercely." And when you owled me about Meggy being born, the owls weren't lost, I got your letters, but I didn't send in the information so you couldn't have the baby!"
Her parents gaped at this bit of information.
"why would you do that?" her mother asked resting her hand on her stomach, the baby was able to be born anyway, they just turned the paperwork in late, but the ministry gave them quite the fuss over it.
"I didn't want you to replace me!" she cried into the floor,
"Replace you?" her mother gasped
"Why would we do that princess?" her father asked quietly
"Because-because-….." she choked again," I didn't mean to! I wanted to go to school and make you proud! I wanted to do everything for you! I'm sorry I couldn't, I didn't mean to be like this, I didn't want to be a squib! I'm so sorry!" she cried shaking.
Her parents cried out and rushed to the floor taking her in their arms.
"Baby no!" her mother sobbed petting her hair lovingly.
"We love you! You! For all that you are!" her father said,
"And all that you can become, magical or not!" her mother whispered
They all sat there after a moment, just holding each other.
"Kelsey, what brought this on?"
"I never realized what it would do to me, if I were to loose you guys."
"Loose us?" her father asked holding her in her arms.
"With everything going on, if something were to happen to you, either of you, well…I guess I just wanted you to know, in case of…." She trailed off looking at the tile floors.
"Come lets get off this cold floor, you'll catch your death!" her mother said with a small smile. Kelsey grimaced; her mother never knowing just how painful the utterance was to her daughter. They sat on the couch and idly chatted about trivial things. Kelsey was still quiet and held a dark air about her. Her parents asked her again what was going on, and she would have told them too, but her host mother came in looking rather shaken,
"There's an older gentleman, he's waiting to speak with you."
"Oh! He's early, please show him in!" her father said happily
"Who's early?" Kelsey questioned innocently
"It appears I am."
Kelsey swiveled in her seat, her eyebrow rising. The older gentleman had a white beard that reached his navel, and he must have been a good 6'5 at least. He had long white hair that was currently pulled back and brushed, but what was stranger still was his attire. He wore a rather loud purple pinstriped suit with a matching bowler in his hand. He seemed so very familiar and his description rung many bells in her head. She concentrated hard on who he was; suddenly it all came back to her!
" Next thing I know, they're in her room drinking tea and talking about unicorns and fairies! Old guy just sitting there talkin' like he actually knows the stuff! Got her all excited. He's weird no doubt,"
"Dumbledore!" she cried rising from her seat.
He held a twinkle in his eye and he smiled, he was in fact rather odd in comparison to the rest of the world, but he held such affability in his manner she doubted very much he was anything but a big teddy bear.
"Yes, I'm afraid I missed an appointment and since I had to speak with your father anyway I thought it best to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak!" he laughed
"But you're here!" she gasped
"Well I never was one for physics, but since I am at present nowhere else, I must be in fact, here." He smiled and gave a small chuckle, he reached in his pocket and popped a small yellow candy in his mouth, he held out a bag to her, "lemon drop?"
"You're here!" she cried, she ran to him and grabbed him urgently
"Kelsey! What has gotten into you!" Her father cried jumping up
"No, Dumbledore! Alina, she needs you!" she said
The amusement started to wane, "what has happened?" he asked taking her arms gently in his.
"Ahh," she tried to formulate words but was unable to do so, her throat long since giving up. She shook her head and looked away. Taking deep breaths she tried to articulate to him what happened. She said in a rushed broken sentence.
"Bath, mom, Alina's all alone….she hasn't left in days, just staying…"
It was more than enough for Dumbledore. He stepped away from her and asked,
"Where is she?"
"Home." She whispered
"I am sorry but we are going to have to reschedule this meeting." Dumbledore said turning to go, he disappeared with a snap before he even made a foot passed the threshold. Kelsey said quietly hoping someway he would hear,
"Help her."
Dumbledore arrived at the house where he'd spent many a happy summer, and many more holidays. He walked the rooms; they were much the same as always. The kitchen was bare, with expiring food in the fridge. There was no fire in the fireplace, if this was not a tell-tale sign that something was amiss, the large gaping whole in the end of the hallway was a dead give away. He strode toward it. He could make out a small staircase and carefully made his way down. There was an illuminating glow coming from below. As he made the landing he looked around the room.
There were lush rugs of fur on the floor, large cast iron candle stands were strategically placed around the room. Their large white sticks burning, tears of used wax sliding down their shafts. There was incense on a small table, and in the back center of the room, was a large sacrificial looking table. It was surrounded by flowers, and laying there lifeless was Giselle, Alina's mother.
He walked over to her, as he grew closer he realized her face had improved, her curls back to their red radiance, her body no longer thin and sickly. For all appearances, she looked in full health, and in fact quiet a few years younger than normal. When he was next to the slab he noticed the black wraith curled against her side. He reached out and brushed ebony strands away, Alina's sleeping face stared back him. She was pale and held large black bags under her eyes, she looked sick if anything. He reached out to stroke her cheek and retracted his hand and if he'd been bitten. Her skin was ice cold; in fact her lips were blue! He shook her and called out to her softly.
"Ali, Ali!"
Her eyes opened as if in a trance, her dazed eyes looked at him, but did not see him.
"You silly girl, did you wish to join your mother so soon?" he muttered to himself as he slid his arms under her and lifted her up.
Her hand clung to her mothers and she moaned out her head lolling to the side,
"No!"
He tried to detach them but she was insistent,
"No! Mommy!" she cried.
"Shh, There, there." He whispered pulling her hand away.
He walked her up the stairs and placed her on the couch. He conjured a chair and sat beside her. He then started a fire in the fire place, the roaring blaze was helping and he had no fear, she would recover physically. He then conjured a bowl of soup and spoon fed it to her. She ate two bowls and then drifted off to sleep. He pulled the thick blankets over her, her coloring returning. He sighed and walked back down to the basement. He stared long at Giselle, she had become so much like a daughter to him; ever since she wrote that letter to him, just to inform him, he felt duty bound, how could he leave the poor girl alone? She felt so lost; she needed someone, and her little girl, his little girl, his little Ali. How could he not love her? He sighed sadly again, then reached into his robes and pulled out an envelope made of yellow parchment. It had his name scrolled in a fine bold hand, inside was her last wishes, he didn't understand them, but followed her request. He stepped closer to her, making sure the spell wouldn't miss; he closed his eyes and let his magic do the rest.
Alina woke up but couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. She was tired and sore, but more than that, she felt the constant emptiness that had fixed with her since her mother's spirit left. She was serious, she could always feel it, when it would wane she knew she was having a particularly hard day, and when she fell in the tub, her spirit all but flickered away. She lay, enveloped by warmth, and felt nothing. She slowly opened her eyes and peered around the room. Her grandfather sat in a soft chair she knew didn't belong to them, a bowl of lucky charms in his lap, the TV on, he laughed at the show. She peered around him, she couldn't help but smile. He was watching jeopardy.
"Hey Gramps," she sighed sitting up.
He turned and smiled at her. "Good morning Ali." He reached out and stroked her hair, "I'm terribly sorry." He said
She nodded and sighed. "Do you still have her will?"
"Already taken care of, which reminds me, this is for you." He handed her a small envelope, so small it could barely carry a tooth. She opened it and poured it in her hand, a small red stone fell into her palm, it was garnet, but the shape of a diamond. She didn't trick her self though; she knew what it was, or really, who it was.
"May I ask?" He said nodding at her palm
"She was always the gem of my heart." She said smiling sadly.
"She also wanted me to give you this," he said handing her a larger package. "She special ordered it."
Alina took it and opened it. Inside was a polished rose wood box, she opened it and it was lined with dark green velvet. And inside, made of silver, on a thick silver chain, was the head of a wolf. The etching and details of the wolf were amazing! She smiled and tilted her head at it.
"What? Is it not to your liking? " he asked quizzically.
She looked at it hard, scrunching her eyes up slightly. The red gem floated into the air, breaking in two, the little pieces traveled over to the wolf's face. She scrunched her eyes harder concentrating, the gems settled themselves in the sockets of the wolf's eyes, and a small light came from both stones. She let her face relax and stared at her work, it was like it had always been that way. She smiled and put it on looking proudly at her grandfather.
"It's perfect."
